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Since the photography equipment arrived, I have not had much opportunity to take serious photos because of work commitments, but I have been learning as much as I can about it all and have played around a little to familiarise myself with it all.

I am very impressed with both the camera and the lenses, and what little fiddling around with the flash I have done has impressed me too. I'll post some photos as soon as I have some time to do some serious shots.

In the meantime, I acquired, today, some new photography books I thought I'd mention. They're hardly professional, but they do offer some nice tricks and tips in a nontechnical way. I am looking forward to getting into them. They are a three-volume set by Scott Kelby and come highly recommended.

So far I have just browsed through them, and they certainly look promising - easy ways to get great pics without all the jargon that you read in so many other photography books, of which I have plenty.

I have also taken out a subscription to Practical Photography magazine. Can't do enough reading and learning ahead of the course next year!

Despite the dreadful delays and bad service, my goods arrived this afternoon!

I am thrilled, as you can imagine. This equipment is the seed that will, God willing, grow into a successful photography career once my studies are over.

Here's what came in the box:

Goodies

I am seriously regretting placing my camera and lens order through this particular company.

Remember, the order was placed on October 18. On Saturday, October 24, the money was deducted from my account. Then, on Tuesday, October 27, I received an email:

I thought I'd better send you a note to let you know where your order is as you may have noticed that we have charged your card.  There was a mixup with the couriers so there has been a delay.  Your order should reach you in full either on Thursday or Friday.  My apologies for the delay.

Kind regards,
S

Bad service

Notice how the courier company is blamed. The story changes in the next communication. Anyway, Thursday and Friday came and went. No delivery. So on Saturday, October 31, I sent an email asking what was going on and enquiring whether the order had in fact been dispatched.

This came back:

Absolutely, we had a mix up here and between S and I we made an error. The goods were redirected via a very good client of our in Wellington, he is trust worthy and we have paid him the extra courier tickets to send it to you. It should have been overnight. If it doesn't show Monday morning please let me know straight away and I will hunt it down.

Once again, our apologies, I addressed a Canon outfit to a regular at [a company name] and S saw what was in it and presumed it was yours ( it was yours )  I sealed the box up and sent it.

Too many chiefs, not enough indians.

Thanks for your patience.

G

Well, Monday (today) came and went, and still nothing. So this afternoon I sent another mail informing them it had not arrived and asking whether I would get a refund. I just received this response:

The camera is still waiting to be picked up.  I've spoken with the Courier company and they are attempting to pick it up this afternoon.  That would mean delivery would be early tomorrow morning.  Otherwise it should reach you on Weds morning.

Kind regards,
S

Canon_500D

The delivery of my camera and lenses was delayed because one of the lenses, the Sigma, has had to be brought in from Melbourne, Australia. I opted to have it all delivered together, so the rest of it has been sitting in Christchurch pending the arrival of the Sigma lens.

But there are signs things are about to happen - the money was deducted from my account this weekend, so I am hoping that means my box of goodies will arrive some time this week.

This morning I placed the order for the camera and the associated equipment - totalling NZ$4,789.

If step one in my career change was applying to study the diploma, step two has been completed.

I'm on my way!

Now that the camera question is settled, I'm looking at lenses and a flash. This is what I am seriously considering at present (prices in NZ dollars):

• Sigma AF17-70mm f2.8-4.5 DC $695.00
• Canon EFS 10-22mm f3.5-4.5 USM $1,395.00
• Canon EF 50mm f1.8 II $175.00
• FLASH: Canon Speedlite 580EX II $775.00

Canon_500D

A very good friend, who is also a professional photographer, has given me some good advice following yesterday's post on choosing a camera.

Among other valuable insights he offered, he said the following:

"I know the 5D would be a great camera to get ... but my recommendation would be to consider the 500D and buy two really good quality lenses and possibly a hotshoe flash with the rest of the money ... The general feeling is that you will always be buying new camera bodies, but a good lens can last a lifetime so make the investment in the lens rather than the body."

I take his advice seriously, because he is a good photographer and knows his business.

The 500D it is!

I contacted UCOL to ask what equipment I would need for the diploma programme.

The information I received was to get my own camera, and the Canon EOS 500D was recommended.

I had for some time been eyeing the 5D, which is a considerably more expensive camera. The best price I could find was a 5D Mark II, body only, at NZ$4,495, still a hefty price tag. The best I could find for a 500D body was NZ$1,205.

That's quite a price difference.

Decisions, decisions.

I still would want a camera along the lines of a 5D, but there are other factors to consider at present. Price is important given that I am not going to have an income for two years. Whatever I spend on a camera now will affect what lenses and other equipment I can get. I certainly would need a wide-angle lens plus a versatile lens, say 18mm-200mm or something along those lines. Plus a decent flash and whatever filters I would want.

So I am leaning towards the 500D, which will allow me to spend more on other equipment. I could always use my initial income from photography to invest in a better body later, but the 500D will at least suit me for diploma purposes.

What do you think?

The wait was shorter than I expected. I received a letter from UCOL today stating that I had been accepted into the Diploma in Photographic Imaging programme.

So from next year I shall be a fulltime student again. It has been a long time since I last studied fulltime (I was at university from 1987 to 1990), but I am very excited about it.

The dream is coming true!

I see from a full-page ad in Saturday's Manawatu Standard that UCOL is having its enrolment day on October 6 this year. It's a Tuesday, and I won't be able to be there because I'll be at work, but as my application is in, there is no real need for me to attend, although it would have been nice.

It does indicate that I may still have a long wait ahead of me before I know the outcome of my application. I am sure there will be many people applying on that day, so it will probably still be some time before all the applications are processed.

I guess I just have to be patient!