Eshin Direct

I am now the proud owner of a new Nikon F80 SLR camera. Why am I now an owner of an SLR?

Well…

When I saw the the quality of photos that my friend Brenda took over NY with her Canon EOS-3000V, I started to get the bug to do something to feed my interest in photography.

Being good friends with James and Amy hasn’t helped either, since their obsession with cameras and photography (well, it’s James’ obsession but Amy knows a helluva lot about it too) has rubbed off on me too.

Also seeing some of the online stuff that people have taken like the pictures at Sushicam and the “virgin shots” that Ora displays in her gallery, inspired me that it was the time to get back involved in amateur photography.

I spent the Sunday afternoon shopping with three amateur photographers looking at two models – the Canon EOS-30 and the Nikon F80. Amy, James and Brenda were kind enough to spend the afternoon with me offering advice and keeping me company while I procrastinated and thought about which one would be good. Amy was especially helpful in that she had sourced three good shops in Mongkok, where the prices are lower than the places in Stanley Street in Central. She also served as my translator and dealt with the staff in these places, for which I am eternally grateful and meant that the service was a little more attentive, and through her explanation a lot more clearer (do the translation work, Amy!).

My initial thoughts were to go for the Canon EOS-30, since I was familiar with Canon and seemed to be more actioned packed with features. However, when I actually felt the cameras, the Nikon felt much nicer and more intuitive. Less glitzy but more professional and sturdy by the looks of things.

Anyway, after three shops, a coffee break and in-between, I decided to go for the Nikon F80. The place that I got it in gave me a bag and tripod to go with the collection, which was a good deal. I also ended up with a 28-80mm Nikkor lense to give me some more flexibility in the types of shot I wanted to take.

By the time I forked out for yum cha to thank my friends for the invaluable help, and we ended up in Knutsford Terrace for a quiet drink, the light was starting to go. Of course, it didn’t stop James and Brenda from whipping out their cameras as well, and I think some people thought we were either a photography club or members of the press. Amy was the lucky subject for all three photographers, amateur and newbies alike.

Of course, looking professional is different from being professional. As we were sitting there playing with our cameras, a mobile photoshoot came along with some reflectors, two talents dressed up in evening wear, and a proper Hasselblad type camera. Is that my tail between my legs?

Read the full review on the decision making process in the Images Section.