Expected: A Bouncing Baby Sony

Thanks to everybody for making the last post so interesting. It was a "throw away" on my part—I saw that review in Winding Road and that post had written itself inside of about four minutes—pure reaction. I never imagined it would garner upwards of a hundred comments and so many interesting pictures and links. That was fun.

I'm going to take a couple of days off now, mebbe a day and a half, mebbe three—dunno. I'll resume when inspiration strikes, I guess. I had a dream the other night that I was photographing Paul McCartney with an M8. I'd fumble endlessly setting the exposure as Sir Paul posed cooperatively, and then when I was ready to shoot, he'd make faces. This happened over and over. I kept misplacing the M8, too. I suspect this qualifies as a nightmare on several levels, but even if it doesn't, I'm pretty sure it's a plain sign I need to tear my eyes off the computer, touch my toes, do some deep breathing, take an amiable amble with the dog, and attack, or at least plan an attack on, one or two heaps of laundry. (Hills 52 and 54 look ripe for takeover. Or maybe they just look ripe.)

Once again—it being that time of the month—I'd like to thank all of you who placed orders for "schtuff" of any description at B&H, Adorama, or Amazon through my links this past month, as well as everybody who took advantage of Ctein's surprisingly successful print offer. Vous êtes très aimable, as my Dad used to say. I had a good month in October, and you get the thanks. I can use a good month every now and then. Especially after last summer, which wasn't so good. Making your purchases through the links on the site doesn't cost you anything, but it keeps an income stream a-flowin' from this essentially indulgent activity for me. Any excuse is a good enough excuse, and I'm grateful.

Holistic 'n' experiential
In a couple of days I should have a Sony A900 in house to put through its paces. I'm going to try to do some "real" shooting with it, rather than "test" shooting, and I think that rather than writing a formal review I'd prefer to just answer some questions people might have about it.

The reason for this approach—stated from the positive angle—is that I want to concentrate on getting a holistic, experiential "feel" for what it might be like to own and use the thing. I'll only have a few days with it, on this go-around at least, and I'd like to find out what I think about it, and what I might use it for, before assuming the burden of explaining to others what they might think about it or everything that they might use it for.

I dunno, once more. We'll see when the time comes.

Cheerio,

-              —Mike, Head, Dept. of Arrancy, Spuriousity, and Verbalacrity, T.O.P.

Comments

[Nick]

If you do get a fast prime in time, how 'bout your best lowlight stuff with the IS on and the ISO where it needs to be? That would be interesting to see. The potential for full frame IS enabled fast primes is pretty exciting.

[Bob McAnally]

In 2002 you said: ” Real Photographers Don't Use Sony’s”

Sunday Morning
July 29, 2002
A Weekly Column By
Mike Johnston
Real Photographers Don't Use Sony’s
http://www.luminous-landscape.com/columns/sm-07-29.shtml

[Mike J.]

Bob,
I've read it. [s]

The title was ironic. I bought that Sony.

Mike J.

[Jon Bloom]

I predict your next nightmare will involve accidentally laundering the A900.

[charlie d]

Slick,

That appears to be a nifty piece of hardware. Wish I had a lens for you. Who sends test cams with no lens?

i have M8 dreams also. I have a recurring one where I am shooting the most potent, ironic, culturally revealing street photos you ever saw. Every time I go to chimp or review the pics I have no lens.

The LCD remains black and free of my amazing dreamy photos.

[Mike J.]

Jon,
Oh, thanks for putting THAT image in my brain.

[g]

Mike J.

[Robert Roaldi]

Have a relaxing few days off, Mike. Might be busy down your way come Tuesday, in what may turn out to be the most important US election in a generation.

[Pavel]

I read with interest your take on the Rolls being something that curdles your esthetic senses .... but then "whoa!" what do I see just above? You are going to handle, no not just handle but actually shoot for days and be seen with a Sony Alpha!
What? Can anyone deny that the Alpha is the ugliest camera ever imagined brought to life?

Perhaps being so ugly it helps the shooter get in the mood to take pictures that are against the grain. I've heard that there are those that hate the though of yet another pretty scenic. The Alpha must be the camera for them.

But then the Rolls Royce is certainly the right esthetic to carry the Alpha and it's owner.

I can see it in my mind. A rich guy. Royce in the McMansion's drive. An Alpha on the shelf - right next to that 70's black velvet elvis on the wall.

Balance in the universe.

[Greg Smith]

forget the laundry!

[Eolake Stobblehouse]

The McCartney dream is totally hil.

In the past year or two I keep dreaming about photographing. With an amazing variety of cameras. Sometimes though I'm really competent and creative. :-)

[Gordon Lewis]

No pressure, but I hope you return with some great photos to share. Sometimes the best way to communicate something about photography is with photographs.

[Peter Hovmand]

Well, I often dream of putting a new Kodachrome film in my mechanical Nikon. Even when I am awake :)