Polaroid is still making instant print cameras?

This is an ad I saw for the Polaroid 14MP Instant Print Digital Camera. You can Google it and probably find it on Amazon or something. It's currently on sale at a daily deal website for $179.99 which they say is a savings of $119.96. So, retail on this is somewhere in the area of $300 give or take a few dollars.

I would buy this thing 1) if it was cheaper like around $100 and 2) if I knew I wouldn't be screwed in the near or distant future with Polaroid no longer able to support this product.

I love the Polaroid instamatics of old. It was the one that spit the photo out the front and there was no tearing off the cover like the other Polaroids that you pulled a tab from the side. I guess that's not an instamatic though, huh.

I remember going on a high school trip for a week in the late 80s and took one with me along with several packs of film cartridge refills. I also had my, well my brother's, trusty old Minolta 35mm film camera. The cost of the replacement cartridges for the Polaroid was much greater than the 24-36 exposures of 35mm film. So, using them in tandem was much more cost effective for a high schooler.

There's just something about instant gratification of seeing a developed picture...okay, it was more like three minutes because you had to shake the photo to help dry the developing chemicals and to make sure the photo didn't get smeared. I had that happen a few times on accident. Anyway, it's not like digital cameras these days because yes, digital gives you instant gratification of seeing what you took but it doesn't automatically give you a printed, archival copy that you can give away or share. Digital images are great but there is always a chance they could get deleted, damaged or whatever before you get a chance to get them printed. Yes, yes, not everyone cares about printing them but for me, I like to print for physical archival purposes the images I want or like most and would like to have two versions of: digital and physical.

I think my office had a few Polaroids that I willingly took off their hands. I figured if they still worked maybe I could find film for them and have some cheap or expensive fun. Also, if I can't find film, maybe I could eBay or Craigslist them and get some dough since I didn't spend anything on getting them. If I can remember where they are, there are like six of them, I'll see about finding film or selling them.

I just thought it was interesting to see something that most see as archaic finding a way back into the world. The real things is way better than Instagram.

My other thought about this one is: how does it print without ink? And if there is no ink, which along with paper is usually considered when saying something is archival for so many years, is this an archival photograph and for how long? If it's not long enough, then digital and "professional" printing is still a better choice.

Canon T2i, T3i, and Snapchick

I was Googling the other day looking for reviews of the Canon T3i compared to the Canon T2i because I'm looking to upgrade my Canon XT. Yes, I still have the old, original digital Rebel! It's done great for me and I guess I really have no reason to upgrade other than I want a new, more recent version DSLR and I'd like it to have decent HD video capabilities. I'm not looking for complete video awesomeness. I just think it would be nice to be able to take video and DSLR photos through one device versus carrying DSLR or point-and-shoot and a video camera. The convenience of having the video option versus not at a time I'm out and about and wanting it is what I really am looking for as the reason of a DSLR/HD Video combination.

So, after visiting many links Google regurgitated upon my search, I'm thinking the Canon T3i in the long run is a slightly better camera for my purposes and preferences. Whether or not I push the virtual "add to cart" and "check out" buttons, is left to be seen. When the new camera can cost around $800 depending on the package or whatnot, it makes holding on to my XT much more appealing. I wouldn't get rid of the XT anyway. I'd give it to my oldest to use and abuse. Good hand-me-downs are always welcome in the Absent-Minded Jay family!

One website that did catch my eye was actually found from browsing YouTube. A video review of the cameras was done by someone and you know how YouTube always posts little video screens of other videos that have some relation to the video you are watching no matter how minute that connection is.

This girl in the video still was in a kind of workout tank top holding a camera. From the small image, she looked fairly attractive with a nice rack. So, it piqued my interest...and only my interest! LOL! Turns out she's pretty informed and somewhat educated about the world of photography and she has a nice range of tank tops and bikinis that she frequently wears/shares through her videos. A bonus in my book no matter what the haters comment on her videos. I mean not everything on a website can be just about photography. Changing it up once every 10-20 videos is not an issue for me especially when it's of this girl in a bikini or half of one in her pool. Who would freaking complain about that, male or female!?

Anyway, from her youtube site I went to her actual website. It is snapchick.com. I didn't join or anything because I'm not like the rest of the really perverted dudes and I don't need to pay for Internet nudity when I can get it at home or for free on the WWW.

One thing that did catch my eye was the part of her site that said, "Take Me Home." I was like, "SCHWING!" I clicked on the link and this screen capture below is what it took me to. Again, don't get me wrong. Snapchick is a very attractive girl in a weird kind of way for me...kind of like the girl that plays Brittany (I think) on Glee. She's not drop dead gorgeous or stunningly pretty but she's got a look to her that I just can't explain with words. No matter how hot or very attractive someone is to me, there is NO WAY IN HELL that I would pay $39.99 for an autographed 8x10 of Snapchick even though the way she looks in the photo is absolutely eye-catching and almost makes the weasel go "pop." I congratulate her on the ones she has sold to the poor, blind, hairy-palmed guys she has suckered into her web of lustful delusions. But this is one hairy-palmed guy that will not fall prey to such wickedness! However, I do have this image somewhat etched into my memory as one of my favorite no-nude images I've seen across the Internet. So you go Snapchick and continue what you're doing because in my opinion, you are informing us with actual, useful knowledge as well as entertaining us with your "natural talents and gifts."

One reason why fancy digital cameras suck

So, I think I mentioned in a previous post that I purchased a Canon Digital Rebel XT because I wanted to learn more about photography.

It's a great camera, don't get me wrong. But like all things great, it's not without its flaws. This isn't just for the Digital XT but I'm sure all SLR-type digital cameras suffer from this problem except maybe the HIGH-END ones which I'll never own because I could buy a car with how much they cost.

Anyhow, you can't take simple, easy, quality pictures in low-light or dark without the tracer effect. I'm sure there is a photography term for it but I call it the tracer effect. It's where you take a picture and the shutter stays open longer so it can gather as much light as possible for the exposure of the shot. That's great except for you get this acid-trip photo instead of the nice shot of the lights, fireworks or whatever.

I wish you could just point and shoot like the point-and-shoot cameras but it seems it doesn't work this easily or I just haven't figured out how to do it yet.

I researched this problem on the web and all they suggest for a solution is to get a tripod for those low-light/no-light shots! Who carries a tripod with them to take shots of fireworks that you just happened to see instead of planning for it? So, I went and bought a 5" tripod that extends to 15" because I'd like to be able to take decent night photos. We'll see if it works. What about when I don't have a surface to place the tripod on, then what will I do?

Please, please, please if anyone knows how to change a setting or whatever on these digital SLRs (particularly the 8MP Digital Rebel XT), let me know. I'd like something easier and more convenient than a mini-pod.

My new camera: Canon EOS Digital Rebel XT (350D)

I got a new camera...It's a Canon EOS Digital Rebel XT 350D. I spent some decent money on this one and hopefully I'll become better at taking pictures with it to make some money on the side like for weddings or parties and such. We'll see. The following are a few pictures I took just playing around with the camera on various settings and with two different lenses: the kit lens of 28mm-70mm and an extra one of 70mm-300mm. I also have a Pro wide-angle lens but haven't had a chance to play with it. I just got the camera yesterday. Give me time. I will dazzly with useless and/or random photos out the whazzoo!

My dead Speedstream DSL modem...on top is a new one I bought from Best Buy but I'll be returning since my sister had a spare Speedstream modem.

Black and white of...well, it's pretty obvious what it is.

Partial of some fOakleys - fake Oakleys - that my friend picked up in Mexico for $5.

New camera purchase - Canon EOS Digital Rebel XT 350D

I broke down and nervously purchased a new digital camera. As the title says, I bought a Canon EOS Digital Rebel XT 350D with accessories. I was nervous because this is an inexpensive expensive digital SLR. Expensive for me but inexpensive for others, I guess. The camera with kit lens is like $799 at most places online or like $100 more at Best Buy or other local camera sellers. It does come with a $100 MIR so it now becomes $699. If you want accessories, that brings the price back up.

I've been wanting a digital SLR for a while. I want to get into photography personally but if it turns some profits professionally as well, I'm not against that. I have two digital cameras already but they wouldn't allow me to do things I want to do because of limited zooming, no manual focus and the such. They are nice cameras. One was top of the line HP 2.1 megapixel like eight years ago and the other is a Canon SD500 (or like that) which is a 5 megapixel with a few more features than the HP. Both great cameras for the everyday snapshot. I wanted more.

So, I came into some financial aid money that I could possibly use for this purchase instead of PAYING OFF or DOWN some credit card bills like I originally planned. I also wanted a rocking laptop. I was looking for a desktop replacement laptop but I would still keep my desktops. As mentioned, I just wanted a rocking laptop.

I pondered and pondered, waited and waited, for a sign that told me I should purchase this laptop. The first sign was when I got my financial aid money but I wasn't totally sold on the purchase. It would have wiped out 2/3 of the money and there was no real dent to make in my credit card debt with the remaining 1/3.

I waited some more and a new sign arose but not for the laptop. I saw an entry on the Fresh Deals blog that had the Canon EOS Digital Rebel XT at Amazon for like $759 - $100 Canon MIR and free shipping making it a pretty worthy deal to check out.

I was at work when I received this "sign" and it just happened that a coworker of mine that I helped purchase a digital camera came in my office and said she needed me to do some research to find her another digital camera and she wanted one where you could interchange the lenses. What luck for her, huh?

She purchases the camera from Amazon buys some additional accessories like a 2GB Compact Flash Card, a 75mm-200mm extra lens and some lens filters. Anyway, she was anxious to get her new toy and so was I since I wanted to see how it was before I purchased it.

Well, she had a death in the family and it was like a week and a half later before I got to see and play with her camera. I don't play with it strictly for my fun. I have to figure it out for her and explain the basics to her so she'll understand because she can't learn herself from the instruction manual. Funny, huh?

Anyway, during this week and a half, I couldn't wait. Temptation drew me in and the urge to spend the extra dough in my pocket was too great. I had to buy this camera. I decided I concede to getting one on eBay - new or slightly used. I figured if I didn't like it I could always re-eBay it and get my money back. Turns out this is a very popular camera and eBay was no exception to its popularity.

I watched a few auctions to see how the pricing went. Some people were spending more than the Amazon deal for the same exact item(s) and some were spending just a little more than the cost of just the camera. eBay buyers aren't very smart sometimes. Anyway, I found a few auctions by this one seller that seemed to be a pretty good deal. They were selling the camera with accessories: external flash, 1-6 GB Compact Flash card, USB card reader, 3 filters, wide-angle lens, additional 70-300mm lens, regular case, hard aluminum case, table tripod, regular tripod and a lens cleaning kit. The particular auction I was looking at had a 4GB compact flash card for $1,118.00. Quite a bit above the $699 that originally caught my eye but I think worth it because of all the stuff you got with it. The 75-200mm lens my coworker bought was $193+s/h, 2GB flash card was like $100+s/h, the filter kit was around $30+s/h and then she bought a case locally. So you figure she spent around $1,023 where as I should have spent $1,118. Again, it was a sweet deal.

I used the "Buy It Now" option as it was the only option. I called the company to pay and their sales/cust.svc. guy sold me a couple of additional items. All pretty much needed of course. I purchased an additional "professional" long-lasting battery for $69.99 (originally $89.99 but had a 30% coupon) and a 5-year extended warranty for $199.99 (originally $245 but another coupon). With these "upgrades" I was upgraded to a PRO wide angle lens, PRO filter kit, PRO flash and 2-3 day shipping.

Good times, huh? Are you feeling the excitement too!? LOL!

Anyway, I am anxiously anticipating my new toy. The laptop purchase has been thrown to the "wants" pile especially since I have two other older ones but they aren't desktop replacements.

I want my toy NOW!!