Canon D10

My Canon EF 50mm macro lens got broken for the second time last month. The first one had a problem of the focusing motor, and it looks like the second copy has developed the same problem. At least I can still use a manual focus, but it is pretty much stuffed now (by the way, my first copy lost both auto and manual focus).



I love 50mm macro as it is a sharp and light weight lens, but I now think it is not built for fishing. Unlike other Canon's macro lenses, 50mm macro doesn't have an internal focus, so the lens barrel extends or retracts when it is focusing. I am guessing this allows moisture and dust get inside especially when the lens is used on a river with wet hands, and eventually the motor or the focusing mechanism will get damaged.

It looks like it is too expensive to fix the lens in Australia as I was told the cost of the repair is $350, whereas a new lens only costs $400. I have decided that I will get it fixed in Japan when I get a chance as it will be lot cheaper. In a mean time, instead of paying $350 to get my lens repaired, I bought a new camera.

先月、お気に入りだったキャノンの５０mmマクロレンズが壊れてしまいました。このレンズ、壊れたのはこれで２回目です。最初の一台は、モターのギアが壊れて、オートフォーカスはおろか、マニュアルフォーカスもできなくなり、二台目も、同じ様な症状でオートフォーカスがま作動しなくなりましたが、今回はかろうじてマニュアルでは使えます。

軽くて良く写るレンズですが、インターナルフォーカスでは無く、フォーカス時にはレンズが伸び縮みしますので、もしかしたらそれが原因で水やホコリが中に入ってしまったのかもしれません。釣りで使う以上、気をつけてても濡れた手で使ったり、水滴が着いたりしますので、レンズを新しくしてもまた同じ箇所が壊れそうな気がします。

修理の見積もりは、なんと３５０ドル。新品が４００ドルで買える事を考えるとぼったくりの値段です。なんでレンズは今度日本に行った時にキャノンのサービスセンターで見てもらう事に決めました。それで今回修理に３５０ドル払ったと考えて、新しいカメラを買いました。

It is Canon D10 waterproof camera, so I am no longer need to worry about taking my camera out in the storm or using it with my hands covered with fish slime and seaweed.

When the model came out last year, I instantly fell in love with its submarine look which reminded me of Jules Verne's novel and all those gadgets and sea creatures in the story. It was my favourite book when I was little. Unfortunately it was bit overpriced and I gave up an idea of buying it. The price however has dropped quite bit since , so I have decided to get one (although the retail price in Australia is still way too high I think).

キャノンのウォータープルーフカメラ。これで雨の中で使っても魚を掴んだヌルヌルの手で使っても全然平気です。去年発売された時には、潜水艦に似たその外見に惚れ込んだのですが、値段が高過ぎで諦めていましたが、値段もちょっと下がってきたし、たまたま家族が日本旅行へ行っていたので、ちょうど良い機会だったので買って来てもらいました。

I have been using the camera on a river for the past two days, and it looks like it is a good fishing camera. It obviously can't be compared against my DSLR for sharpness, colour, noise level, focusing speed, etc, but for a waterproof point and shoot, it takes some fine pictures, I think.

Here are some sample shots that I took on a river. I found the focusing is reasonably fast and accurate, but it seems to me that images are quite grainy when they are taken under the low light condition with a longer exposure. I think this is where my Canon DSLR has a clear edge against D10.





Although being based on a few shots, D10 appears to come quite close to my big camera for taking fish shots at least for using for a blog and for small size prints. I am even guessing that the deeper depth of field of a compact camera could be a good thing for taking shots of fish.

Anyway someone told me that a bad picture that you took is still better than something to be a good picture but you didn't actually take. There were many occasions in the past where I didn't pull out my DSLR because it was raining or simply I was being too lazy to get it out of my waterproof roll up bag. Although the bag has been saving my camera well, it is a pain in the neck to open and close, and I can't be bothered some time.

D10 sits in a pocket of my vest or hang around my chest with its special harness. It is ready to go, and rain, wind, snow, they will not stop me now. I can take shots in any weather and for any fishing situations with D10. All I need now is money to go to those exotic fishing destinations.

さすがに一眼レフに比べると、イメージは、シャプネスに欠けるし、ノイズも多いですが、やっぱり使う場所や天候を選ばないのは良いです。どんなに良い機材を使っていても写真を撮らなければ何も意味がありません。D１０ならニュージーランドの豪雨だろうとエクスマスの強風だろうとタスマニアの大雪だろうと平気です。まさに向かう所、敵無しです。