As most people who follow me know my camera is a canon 350D and he is approaching his seventh birthday (yes, "he" not "it").
He's not perfect but who is? He has some injuries sustained over the years, not long after he came home with me my husband dropped him on a concrete path. His hotshoe was crushed but miraculously avoided any other injuries (to him or my husband, I've still not fully forgiven my husband though).
He survived 2 wild, untrained animals entering our house (also known as children) and last year one of the wild things broke his lens before it learnt YOU DO NOT TOUCH!
He is now getting a little old and athritic, he sometimes grumbles and needs assistance raising his onboard flash but we have come to know each other and work well as a team.
I know his buttons by touch and have memorised his menus. He has some battle scars but unless you know him as well as I do you will probably not see them.
He doesn't have all the features of these new whipper-snappers available but he has been there, by my side, encouraging me to carry on and to take that extra photograph. We've learnt together and he has been my constant companion.
But tomorrow I am getting a new camera and handing him over to the care of one of my dearest friends. She is a woman who is an Od-Mother to my children (like a God Mother but minus the religion), I would trust her to care for my family if anything happened to me and yet I still feel queasy at the thought of handing over my precious camera.
Its not that I don't trust her to look after him, I'm sure they will learn together and she will have as much enjoyment with him as I have, I feel guilty that I am giving up an old and dear friend, that I'm betraying him.
My husband thinks I'm crazy and I thought if anyone was going to understand how I feel it would be someone here.
So, who else is prehaps a little *too* attached to their camera?
Oh and El? (@Elsz) Make sure you look after my baby! I'm really looking forward to seeing you tomorrow x
The old boy has served you well, its now time for him to be packed in fine paper, re-boxed and saved somewhere safe, Its time for him to rest his weary hotshoe and take a bit of well earned R&R. ;-)
Beautifully written. I know that feel. I've had my camera for a little over a year. His name is Nikky. He was my first love, but I'm going to uni or college next year and he's a bit too immature for me now. Been saving up for an SLR for a while now. But I'll always remember my high school sweetheart, Nikky. :P
@gh0st I don't think he would be happy at being put out to pasture, he taught me well and I think he will teach El well too (however I will be keeping an eye on his welfare!)
Tonight we spent some time together whilst I gave him a thorough clean so he's lookign his best for tomorrow.
@remirixjones Make sure you don't discard Nikky completely, you may find his immaturity refreshing when you are at uni/college.
@pete21 I definitely will Peter, I already have an idea for a photo of him and his new "student" tomorrow, although he has contributed many photos to my albums his only apperances have been reflections of the end of his lens and he deserves more than that.
My new friend isn't much of an updrade, it is a 450D which another friend is selling, the main reason I'm switching is I was quoted £150 to repair my 350's hotshoe and I really want to get a speedlite to learn with. My friend is selling his 450 to me for less than it will cost to repair the hotshoe.
I can understand your feelings completely! Rest assured tho that you can always visit if you need to. I agree with Peter ( @pete21 ) - get one last pic which you will always cherish. Sometimes we just have to move on. Good luck! And much happiness with your new baby!
Lovely words Emma. I still have my first digital camera, even though it drowned in the ocean. It will never live again, but it sits in one of my drawers.
I got my first DSLR 7 years ago, and I've upgraded twice since then. I still have the first DSLR, collecting dust and useless to me but I'm too attached to get rid of it. I also have all of my film cameras and will NEVER get rid of those, so I definitely understand what you are going through. I'm proud you are giving him to a new home though where he can still be loved! I'm too selfish for that. ;)
I got my first (and only so far) DSLR last year, a second hand K100D. It certainly has it's quirks...the focus sometimes sticks, it chooses it's own dates at random, and very noisy over ISO 800. It has also been dropped by little people and dragged around the house by the strap (the horror).
But when I finally do upgrade my K100D will not be forgotten as we have been through a lot together and I have learnt a lot from it.
I know what you are feeling. My husband bought the camera I use. I promptly took it for safety's sake.. My hubby would not treat the camera well at all in IMHO..lol. I am looking to update with a new lens and just thinking of the update makes me feel sad for the other lens.. The lens as served me well. Always focusing on what I want, never complaining at any time. Maybe I will have to buy a sister camera, just to have both lens at the ready..lol
Tweets ahoy!
Join the Group
Pin With Me
Emmar, dont do it.
The old boy has served you well, its now time for him to be packed in fine paper, re-boxed and saved somewhere safe, Its time for him to rest his weary hotshoe and take a bit of well earned R&R. ;-)
Btw looking forward to seeing you work together with your new friend.
Tonight we spent some time together whilst I gave him a thorough clean so he's lookign his best for tomorrow.
@remirixjones Make sure you don't discard Nikky completely, you may find his immaturity refreshing when you are at uni/college.
@pete21 I definitely will Peter, I already have an idea for a photo of him and his new "student" tomorrow, although he has contributed many photos to my albums his only apperances have been reflections of the end of his lens and he deserves more than that.
My new friend isn't much of an updrade, it is a 450D which another friend is selling, the main reason I'm switching is I was quoted £150 to repair my 350's hotshoe and I really want to get a speedlite to learn with. My friend is selling his 450 to me for less than it will cost to repair the hotshoe.
But when I finally do upgrade my K100D will not be forgotten as we have been through a lot together and I have learnt a lot from it.