Lifestyle Redesigned

I looking for a new camera lens for my new Canon Rebel XSI. I’ve only had it a few months and can’t say I’ve taken many shots with it. The kit lens it came with is just OK, it is 18 – 55mm, image stabilized, auto-focus. I’m looking for a more all around lens that I can have on my camera most of the time. It needs to be a telephoto zoom as well.

The problem is that there are so many options out there. I’m in the market for a consumer lens, I don’t need any of that expensive Canon L glass the professionals use. Those babies can be in the thousands of dollars.

I’m looking at getting a wide angle to telephoto zoom and there are a couple models that interest me. I’m reading all the reviews and one doesn’t really stand out above the rest. I’m thinking of going with either a 28mm -105mm or a 28 – 200mm. I’d like the extra distance on the 200, but I read that there could be some distortion and other issues. Plus, so of the reviewers mentioned quality issues and lens creep.

Decisions, Decisions. I’m in no rush. I think I may head down to the local AZ camera store with my Canon and see it they will let me take some test shots. I’m also looking at getting a prime lens for portraits, but one thing at a time.

I broke my point and shoot camera on my last vacation. I had been carrying it around in my back p0cket for a couple years with no issues, but I guess time and a few extra pounds finally caught up with me. I had it in my back pocket once again as we were out for a night out on the town. When I pulled it out to take a couple of pics, I found the LCD screen on the back had been shattered. I took it as a sign that I should treat myself to a new camera, and that I needed to get back in shape and lose some weight.

I didn’t decide to buy a new camera straight away, my first thought actually turned to getting it repaired. When the clerk told me that it would cost almost as much to repair it as get a new model, I started to do my research. There are so many options to choose from, I had my work cut out for me.

Now I truly believe in a point and shoot camera you really won’t go wrong by selecting one of the many comparable models from Canon, Nikon, or Sony. They all make good camera’s and at this point in the technology curve they will give any user more features and functionality then they could ever want. Plus they are all readily available at best buy. So why did I go with the Panasonic Lumix you ask, well I’ll elaborate.

I had read some good things about the Lumix line, and knowing what I did about most point and shoots being comparable, I thought I would go a different route. The Lumix FS-25 has a large 3″ LCD, 12 Mega Pixels, and other nice pieces of functionality. What set it apart for me, were a few additional features.

It has a nice wide angle Leica lens that is not easily found on the PNS competitors. It has a 5x optical zoom when most others are at 4x. The Lumix line is known for good shooting in low light situations, and that is something I like to do as well. It also has an intelligent auto functionality that sounded really cool and gets good reviews.

More on the Intelligent Auto settings. Most cameras allow you to select from various settings for portraits, sports, landscapes, etc.. The Panasonic FS-25 does as well. However with the intelligent auto feature, you can turn it on and your camera will decide what type of setting should be used for the picture. It is a little more advanced than just leaving your camera on the normal photo mode. It will actually pic the proper setting/scenario and use those options. Pretty cool.

The problem I found was actually locating a supplier that sold the Panasonic brand. Best Buy does not carry it, and I believe only Circuit City did prior to their demise earlier this year. I had made up my mind that I wanted this camera, but was a little uneasy with not being able to actually hold it in my hand and check it out before I bought it.

I looked online and found Amazon, Adorama, and B&H Camera all carried the model, with Adorama and B&H having the best prices. I ordered through Adorama as I had used them before when I purchased my Canon Rebel DSLR. I got the camera, a carrying case, and 4 GB memory card for the list price of the camera itself. I thought it was a good deal. The memory card was Kingston, but it was a Class 4, the slowest transfer rate. So far I haven’t noticed any problems with the slower card, but I may upgrade to a faster one and see if there is any difference.

I have only taken a few shots with it, but I am quite happy with the purchase. I hope to get out an take a few more snaps when the weather cools down. I want to be ready for my vacation in November.

The President was in Arizona today as part of the tour to sell his health plan. Or maybe it was to see what a horrible economy and housing market looks like first hand. Honestly I’m not really sure why he came. However, I was more than a little embarrassed by the fact that we had some redneck Arizonans out with their firearms at the protest. I think it makes us look like a state of backward hicks, which to be honest, we do have a lot of here so it’s not that far off the mark.

Last week on the President’s trip to New Hampshire a protester made the news by sporting his handgun on his leg at a protest there. It was a big deal for obvious reasons, and the fact that it was not illegal and the police could do nothing about it made it even more crazy. Of course mindless rednecks, not being able to come up with an idea all their own other than when they have to go to the bathroom decided to do the same thing here. Except this time one of them came out with an assault rifle.

I have to wonder to myself what these idiots are thinking. Do they really think it makes them cool or intelligent doing something like this? I have news for them, it makes them look like a bunch of backwoods hillbilly’s or radical militia members. Then again with the article I read the other day about militia groups on the rise in the U.S., that may not be too far off either. But they need to seriously need to pull their heads out of their A**.

Now I’m a supporter of an individual’s right to bear arms and limited gun control, but idiots like this are starting to make me reconsider the later. I’m a gun owner myself, as are many of my friends and we fully enjoy our right. But people like this, who like to flaunt it in the face of so many who oppose it just makes it harder for the rest of us who are responsible. It is people like we have seen today in Arizona that need to be screened before they are allowed to own a gun, or have it taken it away from them because they are irresponsible idiots.

Hey dummies – don’t ruin it for the rest of us, and show your President some respect while you are at it.

I have been sleeping like a baby lately – waking up every few hours and crying. Well maybe not the crying part, but I have not been sleeping well the last week or so. The combination of stress and working out at night has kept me from getting to sleep till 2 or 3 in the morning. Then I’m so tired when I get home from work I take a nap on the couch, which only adds to my trouble of getting to sleep later, it is a vicious circle.

I’ve stopped working out for a few days to see if that will help, last night it did not. I took another nap today, but hope I can get some much needed rest tonight. When I am this tired I am useless at work, and I think it is starting to show, which is no good. I need to pick up my game and start getting things done.

I need to work a couple of weekend days to build up some comp time for my vacation at the end of the year. However if I am having this much trouble getting work done during the week, you can imagine my trouble on the weekend.

I try and clear my mind when I lay my head down to rest, which seems to be my biggest problem. I can’t seem to stop my mind from running. Plus my bed seems to be lumpier than ever these days. I think I may try reading before bed tonight and see how that goes.

Well thus ends another wasted weekend. I did virtually nothing of interest. My weekends have come to consist of drinking beer alone, eating alone, and watching t.v.. I really need to find an outlet or hobby to occupy my time. I guess I’ll make up for it in posts on the internet.

I head back to work and reality once again tomorrow morning, and I can’t say that I’m all that excited about it. It pays the bills, but that’s about it. I think it’s time to start making a few changes. I just wish the economy and the housing market didn’t suck so bad. That would open up a few opportunities for me.

Till then, I’ll be working, exercising to get back in shape, and trying to find a new hobby. I’ve been getting into photography a lot lately, and would love to get out and about, but it is still too f*n hot here. Another month and I should be able to venture outside for longer than fifteen minutes without getting a sunburn.

I enjoy traveling, however that is one expensive past time. I have traveled quite a lot in the past couple years, I guess my job is good for something after all. Though the money should be going into my savings account instead of my travel budget. I think after this vacation I taking in November, my travels will be done for at least one year.