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Whilst I am very happy with my Canon SX700 HS camera, I am becoming increasingly aware of its limitations. In particular I do miss my SLR film cameras with good quality zoom lenses. It was such a device that enabled me to fill the frames of the colour slides featured yesterday without poking a lens up the children’s noses and thus spoiling the spontaneity. This would also have captured our garden birds without their constantly taking flight. Who knows, I may also be able to catch them on the wing.
This morning I took the plunge, sought advice from my friend Alex Schneideman, and, following it, researched suppliers on the internet, and ordered on line a second-hand Canon EOS D5 Mark 2 DSLR with a couple of lenses from Camera Jungle. All I have to do upon its receipt is pluck up courage to try it out.
We have both been feeling a bit off colour for a few days. Jackie was able today to return to her weeding and planting
and set the sprinkler operating.
I spent some time deadheading and weeding. It was a dull day, which made work a little easier.
The front trellis now sports a couple of clematises, two pink roses, honeysuckle, solanum and nasturtiums;
while on the opposite corner of the entrance Marguerites blend with potentilla, hydrangea, and the rambling Félicité Perpétue rose. Nasturtiums and geraniums are also in the bed.
On the trellis covering the garage door, a clematis winds above lobelias and begonias in a hanging basket.
Other clematises, such as these over The Head Gardener’s Walk
and The Shady Path, now festoon the garden.
Star of India will soon wind around its obelisk in Margery’s Bed.
From the Kitchen Bed urn
there is a clear view of The Dragon Bed.
This evening we dined on pizza and salad. Jackie drank J.P.Muller Gewürztraminer 2014 and I drank Reserve des Tuguets Madiran 2012.
A good gewurzt is my favourite summertime quaff! 🙂
Good choice, Pauline. Thank you
Ah well; the challenge will be to take even better photographs that you are already taking 🙂 I used an SLR for a short time and loved it but left it behind with another part of my life. Now I am learning to use the iPhone. 🙂
Thank you, Mary. No pressure then. 🙂 You do very well with your phone which produces excellent quality
Thank you Derrick. I am happy enough with the iPhone.
I’m not a photographer. Your photos always look amazing to me. Good luck with your new camera!
Many thanks, Merril
Good luck with the camera! I was lucky enough (Nikon) when I changed to a digital camera, the old non-digital lenses fitted into the new digital camera – albeit that I have to set the settings manually.
Many thanks, Bruce
Of course, all of your photographs are beautiful, Derrick, but I really love the second to the last shot.
Many thanks, Jill. That was my favourite too.
Me too!
I agree with you. Jill. 🙂
I hope you’re both feeling back to normal by now! Whatever camera you use your photos will be excellent!
Very many thanks, Luanne. We are getting there
I’m so glad to hear that!
Oh, good luck with your new camera! Your pictures are already very beautiful. Can’t wait to see the photos when you master your new one.
Thanks, Laurie. Me too
It might have been a dull day but it sure does not look like that from your photographs :). Hope you are both better.
Thank you, Geetha. We are getting there
Welcome Derrick
Your photos are amazing so a new camera will really be stunning!
Thanks very much, Lynn
Most welcome
Wonderful news about the new camera and lenses. Will look forward to seeing the results as you’re able to zoom in close to subjects.
Apart from birds, I think you’ll find yourself taking lots more flower close-ups as you’ll be able to zoom in on flowers which may be further back in gardens beds.
Thanks Vicki. I did wonder about flowers and insects.
My interest in photography kind of fell away when digital came to the fore. I still have my film SLR – even had it serviced in recent memory – and the several lenses I used with it. Unfortunately, the FD mount did not fit my new DSLR. Which was annoying, as they were both Canon. Can you believe I won the digital in a raffle, so I could easily have afforded to buy new lenses, but that never happened. Also, I was mourning that with the film, I could time the precise moment I would hit the shutter, whereas the digital seemed to have a slight delay, which meant I often missed the exact expression I had been “stalking” and waiting for. No doubt all of those doubts have been overcome by now, but in the meantime, I had moved on to other hobbies. I hope you enjoy reclaiming your distance from the subject. I’m trying to rhyme Derrick Knight with paparazzi – have to work on that a bit more 🙂
Many thanks, Gwen. I do still have the film cameras, but they are not practical for a daily blog, which is the only reason I turned to digital 4 years ago.
I agree. One of the reasons I have resorted to the iPad, particularly when I am travelling. Don’t know why I keep the film camera really.
According to ‘Bargain Hunt’ they are now collectors’ items 🙂
Ooooh good. But where to find the buyers? Those shows make it look so easy.
Quite. Jessops, for example, over here will buy second hand cameras, but probably won’t pay very much
A quick glance on eBay looks as if 10 – 30 pound is all I could expect here in Australia.
🙁
“I’m trying to rhyme Derrick Knight with paparazzi – have to work on that a bit more”
Way to go, I’d have thought, Gwen! Even if you pronounce “paparazzi” “paparatz-eye”, you’ve still got some work to do. I can make the link from paparazzi to pa-parasite (which, over here at least, is a closer rendition of their public standing than perhaps you’re aware of) but can’t get any further than that, and I doubt the estimable Mr Knight would thank you for the connection (unless he runs ANOTHER blog where he posts the actual intrusive celebrity pix he takes in his “spare” time).
I have to agree, it does seem a bridge too far, and I certainly wouldn’t wish to offend the Estimable Mr Knight. So perhaps some lateral thinking is in order. Start from Knight and work backwards to convey a link to his passion for photography? I can kick off with Derrick Knight – eyesight, full of light, in good light, close up tight (in honour of his new macro lens). Still a way to go, methinks.
Right, Gwen. Thanks
Thank you, Paul. I have got some snazzy paparazzi pics. 🙂
Good luck with the new camera. There is still a translation between the digital and film SLR and it takes a bit of thought.
Thanks, Lisa – especially for the warning 🙂
How can a day be “dull” when you have a garden like that??? Congratulations on the new camera – I am thrilled for you! I got my Canon for Christmas a year and a half ago, and I swear – at least once a month, I tell my family how much I love, love, love it. It is the most amazing toy EVER!!! You will no doubt have lots of fun with yours. 🙂
Thank you, Anna, especially for the encouragement 🙂
I had a similar reaction when I went from my 1985 Nikon film camera to my Nikon D40 about 8 years ago – I really balked on giving up the film, but I have never looked back. I did have the same sad moments about missing my old macro and zoom lenses, which don’t fit my digital camera, but the joy of taking lots of pictures and looking at them any time I want and simply deleting the bad ones – well, that joy has never gone away. Best of luck, Derrick!
Thanks, Jodie
Some beautiful photographs of your garden, thanks for sharing them.
Thanks, John
Looking forward to even better pics! Head photographer here uses a mark 2 and mark 3 and both come highly recommended!
Thank you, Mek. That’s encouraging.
I know nothing about cameras and little about gardens, but I do know Beauty when I see it – as here in abundance! Congratulations.
Many thanks, John
lovely
I will interested to see how you like your new camera. I no longer have the patience (or neck) for lugging a DSL and lenses around. But I have thought about pulling ours out (George usually uses it) for shots close to home. Good luck!
Thanks, Brenda. I’ll probably just take mine on drives
Good luck with the new camera, Derrick. Lovely photos again. I hope you’re both feeling up to par again. 🙂
Thanks very much, Sylvia. We actually managed to go out for a meal today 🙂
I think Jackie and I are in sync – I love Hoegaarden and Gewurz is one of the few white wines that I like (Reisling is my favorite). Enjoy the new camera!
Clearly, Karen. Thank you
Whatever you are using now seems to be working admirably Derrick, your pictures and vibrant colours are excellent. I use a ten year old Canon 400D, think I might upgrade and was advised that Olympus have great models.
Slainte
Thanks, Ian – delivery due in 3 hours
The Dragon bed is beautiful!
Thank you so much, Inese
Good luck with your new camera. All your pictures are absolutely stunning. I loved the picture with the basket with lobelias and begonias in particular. Have a beautiful evening, Derrick!
Thank you very much, Sofia
Such a voluptuous garden, it makes me want to sing or yell out….lovely shots, as always!
Many thanks, Cynthia. A good word, voluptuous
The film cameras used to be great but no one develops film anymore, which is such a pity. Garden looks lovely as usual.
Many thanks, LL/PS