In the throws of post-purchase nausea

[mbarrick]

So I did it. I bought the mongo camera of doom:

Here it is. In addition to the base camera kit I also bought the external battery/grip and a second battery. This will serve me well during fashion shows where I typically run through a set of batteries. Not only does the grip allow me to have two sets of batteries loaded, there is an extra shutter release that makes the camera easier to use on a vertical orientation. It'll be even more fun down the road when I get a longer lens.

So what's so great about the new camera? For one, it is big and black and clearly not a toy so I no longer have to feel like a fool skittering around catwalks. Now I'll look the part. And the images I make will be useful for more than presentation on the web and guides for paintings. The graphic above shows the difference in maximum resolution between my old camera and the new one. At offset press resolution I can get a 45" x 34" print out of this thing. For photo-quality prints I can output to 32" x 24". This means my photos will be able to stand alone as work unto themselves and I can start selling prints. I can't show off any test images from the camera yet since I'm still putting the inital charge on the batteries.

Knowing that my job is coming to an end in a matter of months, I'd be utterly nauseous about the amount of money I just spent is it weren't also for this little ray of sunshine that arrived in the mail today:

My very last statement from the student loan Nazis. Note the highlighted "paid in full". I have - 10½ years after graduating - finally completely paid for my Bachelor of Arts in Visual Arts. So maybe I deserve to treat myself to a swanky new camera with which I will make some art, eh?