I got a new camera a couple weeks ago. A Canon EOS 450D. It's called a Rebel XSi here in the US, which I suppose it could be worse. It's called a Kiss something or other in Japan. I haven't had a chance to use it much*. The day before yesterday I went to the Oregon State Hospital (location for the film, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest) I may post some of those images. But today I took some snaps of some roses our neighbor grew that were on their last leg (or petals). This is one of them. I processed this one from the RAW file, converted it to grayscale and did minimal correction. More to follow.
*As for why I decided on the Rebel XSi-- I had a 30D for a while and was just intimidated by it. Too much camera, at the time. I sold it on eBay and bought the Canon G9, which is a great camera and I expect I will continue to use it for its ease and size. I had to get over the stigma of buying something called a Rebel. There really is no reason for me to have purchased a 50D other than the name. It, again, is too much camera for me. Neither did I need the latest incarnation of the Rebel-- although it offers more mpx, it also has the video capability and a built-in microphone, neither of which I need. The reviews indicated that the XSi has many of the same components of the 40D, with a plastic body instead of the titanium. My anal retentive traits will ensure no undue wear and tear. It fits comfortably in the hand, seems intuitive--not very different in controls, etc than the G9, with the benefit of interchangeable lenses, etc. As for why Canon-- that was a no-brainer. I can use my film camera lenses, and, with the exception of owning a Nikon F3 set-up for a few years, I have always owned and used Canon.
