What the Heart Wants...

Yesterday I posted on this very blog that I had made a decision - a very rational decision - about which 35mm camera system I should opt for. I chose the Canon 300V over the Nikon F80, because I had some existing glass for the Canon body and not for the Nikon.

I also mentioned how this was a 'head' decision, rather than a 'heart' one. I've wanted a Nikon F80 ever since they came out (in 2000). but back then I simply couldn't afford one. But now I can. And I really do want one...

Before going off to bed last night (as I write this), I had another 'quick' look on TradeMe (can't hurt, can it?). I had been 'watching' an auction for a Nikon F80 with 70-300mm G lens, but having opted for the Canon I had then cleared all my watch list. The camera obviously failed to sell, and popped up in my search again. Yeah, nice camera (I thought to myself), but it's a little too much, and I'd really prefer an all-black one, rather than the black and silver model they were selling. No sooner had this thought occurred, when a black N80 (the American version of the F80) also popped up in my search! Is that karma or what?

It was getting very late, so I decided to be a bit cheeky and ask for a lower 'Buy Now' for both auctions. I had the Canon 300V coming anyway, so had nothing really to loose. Seller's get asked all the time if they will accept a lower 'Buy Now' price, and usually the stock answer is "I'll let the auction run thanks". Except this time both came back to me almost immediately and accepted my offers! Yikes! What's a boy to do?

My 'new' F60 with 70-300G from TradeMe

Yeah, ok - I brought them BOTH! And no, I don't need them both. But they were kind enough to accept my offers, so the least I could do was follow through with it - right? I mean, it would be rude not to :-)

When they all arrive - the two Nikons and the Canon, I will try them out, get them in the hand, use them, and then decide from there which one(s) I'll keep and which I will sell-on. I 'think' I already know, but I am trying to keep an open mind.

I opted for the Canon originally because it ticked all the boxes of what I wanted in a 35mm body specs-wise, and I had a couple of lenses that I could pair it with to try out when it arrived. Having said that, the lenses I have in mind are 'borrowed', I don't actually own them, so would have to get my own someday anyway.

The Nikon F80 comes with a 70-300G lens, and while I'm not a big telephoto kinda guy, I do like to have a 'cheap' one on hand for those rare occasions when it could get some use. So to complement the Nikon purchases, I've also gone ahead and ordered a Nikkor 35-70mm f3.5/4.5 that will be the standard lens for 90% of the time. It's also a very inexpensive lens, and has often been called Nikon's worst lens! Ouch! But internet searches on this lens produce a mixed bag of reviews and views (surprise, surprise).

My other 'new' N80 - an all black version. Nice!

Some get very dramatic with it and even throw it away on video (I kid you not), while others decide to keep it and add it as their standard walk-around lens. When it arrives I will shoot some images with it on digital (an old D70 I still have) and get the images on the computer to assess the results. But it can't be all that bad, especially stopped down to the mid apertures, can it? Guess I'll find out.

It seems that the heart is ruling the head at the moment, and if the 35-70mm is an ok performer, paired with the 70-300mm, I could have a decent Nikon film kit that would certainly sway the verdict in its favour. And I do love the look of the black N80! Gorgeous! Add a MD-16 battery grip to it so I can use AA batteries and I think I'll be sold! We'll have to wait and see?