Camera Blues

I consider myself to be a very responsible person, but you see, when you have children you lose part of your brain. It can't be helped.

Last summer I got sand into my little Canon Elph and two weeks ago, I threw it in the diaper bag, where it drowned in bug spray.   Since then, I have been in a panic trying to figure out how I was going to get a (good) camera (fast).  Meanwhile, praying that nothing picture worthy would happen until I got one.

It's amazing how life seems to create the most magical moments for a camera when you don't have one.

I started shopping and discovered Panasonics newest SLR (which means you can change the lens) the Lumix GF3.  My two thoughts behind wanting this camera were 1. I wanted a really nice camera to learn on and 2. I wanted to have pictures where the object was in focus and the background blurred. My thoughtful and generous Dad offered to pay for the camera.  I ordered it and then promptly returned it.

I missed having a zoom.  To buy the lens that zooms would mean shelling out another few hundred dollars (making the camera almost a $1,000). Not practical.

In the short time I had with the GF3, I must have screamed at my daughter for even looking at the camera a hundred times.  Not fair to her, I brought the object into the house.  I quickly realized, this is not a product for mothers with children.

So for those of us that enjoy photography but don't have the time for the professional level or are able to foresee the future and know that our children (or husands-unintentionally) (or yourself) will ruin it, try the Lumix ZS7.

I read up on this model including many articles written by professionals that this is their new favorite.  Picture quality is superb.  The zoom is smoother, faster and farther than the other brands out there (including Canon).  The features on the camera can keep up with most SLR cameras. A friend of mine (who has the older version - ZS3) and her dad who has a very good SLR, both took a shot of a starry night sky.  The ZS7 came out much clearer and crisp than her dad's SLR.

A compact digital camera perfect for me to learn on and yet practical enough for me to keep in the house.

Can't wait for it to come ...

Here are some pictures I took with the GF3:

Obviously I still have room to grow ...