Thursday, October 21, 2010

Minneapolis at Night from the Guthrie

These are some views outside of the Guthrie Theatre in Minneapolis. Early in October, Doug and I went to Minneapolis to help with that totally fun middle-aged parental past-time known as "helping young adults move." You know, the kind of pleasure that involves dragging dressers and TVs and little refrigerators up narrow stairwells to third floors of old houses. That joy- - and all the while trying to repress any thoughts of "what goes up, must come down." My role is just to cringe and sweat and wring my hands (and paint); Doug's role is to do the actual heavy-lifting.



I'd always wanted to go to the Guthrie, so it was a real treat when Dianna suggested we go see The Master Butchers Singing Club (by Louise Erdrich). It's excellent! It's based on a book by the same name by Erdrich, which is a fantastic book, as are all her novels.



During the intermission, I went out on the balcony and got to take these shots of the night skyline. A tripod would have been wonderful, but I hand-held these. I actually used Brian's camera, the Nikon D5000 and my 50 mm 1.4 lens at f/1.6.



Which brings you to my dilemna.(no, google dictionary; I will not change the "n" in dilemna, to an "m". I've done the research; I know there's a difference of opinion, and I'd miss the "n" too much.)



My dilemna is that Brian never, ever uses this camera, so I bought it from him. Of course, I love my Nikon D300s much, much more. But next year I'm going on a trip to Mexico, and like all good little obsessionals, time is awasting and I have to start my obsessing now. Never mind what I'll wear, I have to figure out camera gear. And I don't want to bring my D300s with me.

So I started researching p&s. Pshaw! I scoff at them! (Actually, the idea of being stuck with a camera that does not shoot RAW would literally ruin the trip for me. I am a jpeg snob! So throw me in a 12-step program, but I MUST SHOOT RAW!)

There's a new breed of p&s, including the new Nikon Coolpix P7000. It really doesn't sound like a good option, especially given the reported 4 second delay in writing the image to the memory card for RAW, but it does weigh only 10.9 oz. One option is I sell the D5000 and buy a Coolpix.

The other possibility is to take a Tamron lens, and the Nikon D5000 (still lots of weight, but less than the D300s, and I protect "my precious") and this could be the "lighter" travel camera.

What would you do?

12 comments:

shirley said...

You could consider the Canon Powershot S95, which has the same sensor as the G11 or G12, which has been compared to the P7000. Much smaller than the G12 or P7000 (if size is the issue).

If you do take the D5000, make sure you practice with it a couple weeks before the trip so you'll be proficient at the controls.

I took my D300 to London and Italy this past year and I didn't have any issues at airports. But that's all I have and I don't mind the weight.

Good luck with your decision!

janett said...

I take my camera on all my trips, why don't you want to take it? Is it the weight? I just obsess about whether or not I'd get the shot I want with another camera. That being said, I've used the G12 and have been pretty happy with the results.

Suzy said...

I don't know about your camera delemna (or however you spell that lol), but these are great and hand held to! I like that your a jpeg snob - me to! When you know the power of RAW it's hard to go back!

Yolanda said...

I always struggle with that issue as well, and I end up taking my good camera because I know I'll be disappointed with anything less. Good luck with your decision.

Jill said...

I've only ever had a p&s up until a month and a half ago, so I'm still trying to get used to figuring out when to bring the big camera and when the p&s will suffice.

And I've never shot RAW before, so I don't have that dilemma either, so take my advice with multiple grains fo salt.

What I love about a p&s is it's in my purse 24/7. I never don't have a camera. To me it's worth having one for that reason alone.

As for that particular situation though, I think I'd bring the D5000, because then you wouldn't have to worry about something happening to your favorite camera. That is one of the options, right? It seems a shame to give up the D5000 for a p&s.

Jill said...

Oh yeah and VERY pretty pictures!

Reds said...

I always bring my "big" camera on vacation - I love my p&s for when I go to the beach - but can't live without my lenses and my real camera!! ;) Great night shots!

Maria said...

I'd never heard of "dilemna"! Really? Did we need one more spelling variation? All my life I've felt like I was playing catch up with the English language, then I've had to learn to decipher all the new abbreviations brought on by texting, and now you give me "dilemna" to add to the little processor in my brain! Et tu, Brute? How could you worry about which camera to take on vacation when we are having a language crisis here???

Margaret said...

I'm not sure what to say about your dilemna! I take my SLR everywhere and try to moan and groan a lot so my husband will offer to carry the bag. :) Love your nighttime shots!

Tracie said...

Great night shots Angela! You should at least bring the D5000 so you can use good lenses on your trip :)

Nicki said...

I vote take the big camera. It is true what Shirley said about the D5000 - the controls are different.

Lovely night shots by the way.

Jill said...

I can't believe I muddled over the whole m/n thing in a totally separate situation, figured I must have been wrong about the "n" the entire time because I'm such a terrible speller, and then posted it as a double m without even noticing your parenthetical remark. Talk about observant!!!!!!!