Yes, I did it. It was serendipity. It was blind luck, the kind that doesn’t usually happen to me.
I have been thinking about new camera equipment for my upcoming trip to London, so Giles and I decided to take a run up to Showcase to try out some lenses. When we arrived, we began chatting with a nice guy behind the counter — Danny, I believe. They had several lenses that I wanted to look at — including my current favorite, the Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8 L II USM — and, just on a whim, I asked him if they had a 5D, suspecting what the answer would be. To my delight, Danny’s face lit up, and he said “we have a brand new used one.”
It turns out that a guy purchased a new 5D from Showcase, but he never used it. It sat in a box; he never opened the manual, never opened the battery. The camera was immaculate. And best of all was the price, well below any that I had been able to to find online. Period. Giles looked at me with a knowing grin on his face and said “I think we’re leaving here with a camera.” And we did.
Of course, we had to try it out. When we got back to Macon, I grabbed a charged battery and my trusty Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM lens, and off we headed to Rose Hill to try out my new toy. The day had become gorgeous, reaching almost 70°, so we were able to spend an hour at the cemetery before we began losing the sun and its warmth.
My initial reaction is nothing short than astonishing. The fact that I was able to shoot with the lens wide open in the direct sunlight blew me away. Try that with a 30D; the image would be totally blown out. The 5D’s colors are vibrant and accurate, and the full-frame is lush and so . . . big!
The first twenty-three photos in my Rose Hill gallery are from this break-in stroll. I can’t wait to go do more.
congrats, j!
Thanks, Jamie. I never thought I’d see the day!
Nice photo stroll! I worked near Rose Hill and use to take afternoon lunch walks there. I haven’t been in quite awhile, so it was extremely nice to view your photos. Congratulation on the new camera!
Thanks, Mike. Do you live in Macon?
No, but I have wroked here for some time. I’m a history buff and Rose hill, well, the entire College Hill section of town is facinating.
This is good stuff, man. Very glad to have been in the right place at the right time — and then to enjoy a great ‘stroll afterward.
Thanks — and, enjoy!
Indeed. Thanks. Glad you could be there to help me break it in. More of that to come, I’m sure.