The New Camera – A Trial Run

Yesterday was one of those nearly perfect spring days.  I worked in the morning and when I got home I had several items on my to-do list (including cleaning bathrooms, ugh!) but the afternoon was so pleasant, I didn’t want to waste it indoors.  Instead, I plopped myself down on the patio with a brand new book and…there went the afternoon!

I had gotten notice that my new camera had shipped and was due to be delivered so I kept one ear cocked for the sound of the UPS truck.  He pulled in just before 5 p.m. and I quickly met him out in the driveway, anxious to open up my new toy!

My new camera is a Canon Powershot SX50 HS.  Unfortunately, I couldn’t use it right away because the ion battery had to be charged first.  So, I spent some time glancing through the “quick start” guide and my husband helped install the software on my computer.  It wasn’t until after dinner that I could finally give it a try.  My blogger friend Jerry from Quiet Solo Pursuits had told me to just put it on P and shoot away.  Unfortunately, by this time it was after 7 in the evening, the lighting was not very good anymore and not too many willing subjects were hanging around the front yard.  I experimented on this goldfinch.

American goldfinch.

American goldfinch.

Then I walked around to the backyard and snapped a couple of the dogs.

Daisy sticking her tongue out at me.

Fat Milo.

I love how I caught Daisy with her tongue out!  The shot of Milo I had to crop some because I had the bottom part of our shed in it.

I have a lot to learn about this camera, especially with using the viewfinder instead of the LCD screen.  It gives it a totally different feel!  I had some trouble centering the subjects in the frame.  But, this was my first attempt at using it, so I can’t be too hard on myself.

Later I sat with my laptop and tried to read through the PDF manual.  That made me feel really stupid and a bit frustrated.  Too many tiny pictures of icons and symbols.  It’s already obvious to me that this camera will do many, many things – most of which I will never try or master.  I am better at learning by doing, so I guess it will require me “playing around” with it to figure things out and get comfortable.  It took me two years to finally know what I was doing with the Kodak, so this could be a long ordeal!!  Thankfully, I do have several close family members and friends who do photography and will help me out. 🙂

Today is rainy and I have a long to-do list with cleaning the house and packing so I probably won’t have much chance to play with it today.  Tomorrow we head to the northwoods for an extended Memorial Day holiday.  I will take my new toy along and maybe the old camera as well, in case I have a meltdown with the new one. LOL  I am very techno-challenged, so don’t expect too much, too soon.