camera

My digital camera has died. I have a Sony Cybershot DSC-T1. It’s a fabulous little camera. I started suspecting things right before Christmas when every now and then photos would come out with streaks in them, making it look like a heart monitor had been superimposed onto my camera lens. It didn’t happen every time and I managed to get through the holidays with plenty of good shots. Then it started happening more. At first I thought it was related to the cold, as it seemed like the photos I took outside were more prone to distortion, but then I realized it happened enough indoors that temperature couldn’t be the problem. I took the camera to Best Buy (where I bought it nearly 4 years ago) and the guy said the lens needed to be cleaned. Ok, well, that made sense in one respect since I had literally never cleaned it. I felt stupid for not thinking of that myself. It was fine for a few days and several dozen pictures. Then the vertical lines returned. Now when I open the lens, there is just red and pink linear blurs; it looks like someone took a comb through some paint. I spent the end of last week researching new cameras. I have been thinking about getting serious about my photography and getting a really good digital SLR camera. I looked at the Canon Rebel and the Nikon D40, both really good cameras. But then I realized what I love about my camera is the fact that it can fit in the front pocket of my jeans. I can throw it in a diaper bag or pocketbook and not add any additional weight or bulk to my load. So I went back to the drawing board and started researching point-and-shoot cameras. I even went back to Best Buy and played around with several quite a bit. As it turns out, I don’t like any of the current ultra compact cameras. I would stick with the Cybershot, but I’m not a fan of the touchscreen that their current models offer. I like my tiny little camera with its tiny little buttons. I have tiny little fingers that can manipulate them just fine. I like sliding open the lens as opposed to pushing a button to turn on the camera. I just love my camera and I’m not impressed with the features that are being touted as improvements since I bought my camera. And I just can’t get excited about spending $200 or more on a camera that I don’t really really like.

So I went to Sony’s website and, after much hunting around, discovered that many of their cameras have had problems like I’m having. Even better, they are willing to look at the camer aand even possible repair it for free. So, I have some hope that my camera will be fixed. Which would save me the cost of a new one, leaving me room to keep saving up for a nice SLR one day. I’ve also decided via all my research, that I really want two digital cameras. A nice SLR as well as a point-and-shoot ultra compact one. Which seems incredibly decadent and over-indulgent and, oh I don’t know, spoiled of me.

However, my biggest stress about the camera now is that I am not sure I would have it back in time to take it to London with me if I manage to swing taking K over there in a few weeks.