Amazon.com - You Baffle Me

[elrhiarhodan]

Sometimes, I just can't figure Amazon out. About a year ago, my Canon 50mm f1.8 lens literally fell apart. I just had taken it out of my lens case and the whole thing disintegrated into its component pieces - like it had been hit with entropy. (Research into the issue showed that this was a common failing with this super-cheap lens).

So, after struggling without a good medium distance prime lens in my kit for a while, and not willing to repurchase the f1.8 cheap piece of crap, I broked down yesterday and ordered the Canon 50mm f1.4 - which is fast and quiet.  I also wanted it in my hands as soon as possible.  Why?  To play with it a bit before the Paley Center event on Tuesday night...just thinking about getting pictures of Tim and Matt with all that lovely bokeah surrounding them makes me, well, squishy.

So anyway, I have an Amazon Prime account, and the first thing I look for is the lens listed as a Prime item.  It is...and I order it.  And it isn't Prime, but the shipping's free.  I click "BUY" and when the confirmation comes through, the delivery date (from Adorama in midtown Manhattan) is late next week.  WTF????

I cancelled the order immediately, and went  back to the item.  Strange, it IS available as Prime, but it's $10 more.  Okay, I can deal with that.  I placed the order, and spring for the $3.99 for next day delivery.  And guess what, kiddies...the darn thing is still cheaper than the one I originally ordered.  That one, Amazon charged sales tax.  This one, they didn't.  Who know why, and at this point, I don't even care.  The order status page tells me the box is out of delivery, so I'll have it when I get home tonight.

Comments

[photoash.livejournal.com]

Wow that's an awesome 'normal' lens - I used to shoot all the time with an older version of that when I was in college :) ! :D Amazon prime's stuff always confused me too when I had an account! :/ It does often make no sense!

though living in NYC :) I am shocked you didn't just pop over to B&H and grab it yourself <3 though the next day shipping was pretty ideal for it arriving at home!

I can't wait to see your pics and hear your report of the event!! :D

[elrhiarhodan]

Ash - I don't live in Manhattan - I live and work on Long Island, so getting into the city during the time that B&H is opened is difficult (they don't have weekend hours). Besides, Amazon is actually cheaper than B&H or Adorama's store prices!

[photoash.livejournal.com]

Ah us living far from the big city forget how hard it can be to travel into it :) I had forgotten that B&H had such draconian hours!

What kind of camera do you have if you don't mind me asking?

[elrhiarhodan]

Actually - I just checked, B&H does have Sunday hours now - must be a recent addition. But that means driving in or taking the train and subway. Besides, camera stores always intimidate me. I'm an adequate photographer - my "good shots" are more a product of luck than skill.

Here are some links to my on-line galleries if you're curious:

http://gallery.me.com/litac/100083 - Cascades 2008

http://gallery.me.com/litac/100058 - Utah - May 2009

http://gallery.me.com/litac/100139 - Canon Beach, OR - 2005

Anyway - I have a Canon 30D that I bought about 4 years ago. It's probably the perfect camera for me...although I've lusted after my sister's Canon 5D Mark II. She's a really serious photographer

[photoash.livejournal.com]

Thank you for sharing your photos with me :D

This is going to sound odd -- but I think you take photos like you write. Your style is so consistent between creative pursuits it's really interesting to me! :) (and I mean that as a compliment though I know it must sound very odd!)

Do you approach both with similar mindsets in what intrigues you?

I like your flower shots and detailed shots, very well composed! :D

Wow what an amazing camera :) I can imagine that it would serve all of your purposes as a hobby photographer! :D I have never shot with anything that nice :)

I used to be hugely into photography in high school and college :) but I'm way back to beyond amateur now. I honestly take 95% of my own photos with my iphone >_> I have over 1.5 gigs of photos on it lol :) I am big on spontaneous photos so it's so convenient! I do have a little pocked canon camera for when I want a little more but I rarely drag out my ancient SLR film camera (good lord can you even buy film cameras anymore? :D I know I don't remember how to develop film that's for sure!)

[elrhiarhodan]

Ash: Thank you so very much. That's an unusual but very accurate assessment now that I think about it.

I like the big picture - landscapes, and need the details too.

A lot of the Utah photos were taken with my iPhone, which is wonderful in very bright light. I would take the pictures and email them to friends back east. It's been a year - and I still haven't done all othe post-processing on the ones I took with the Canon.

Film? Ack - I don't even think Kodak makes 35mm film anymore. I think Fuji also stopped a few years back.

[photoash.livejournal.com]

:) I'm glad you liked it!

I took a lot of photos of the grand canyon with my iphone :D it does do well in bright light! (I wasn't able to go to Zion national park so I liked seeing your photos!)

Ack so maybe film doesn't exist anymore except in the disposable underwater cameras :) that's the only film related things I've bought in years!

[doctor-fangeek.livejournal.com]

Sorry to butt in here, and this isn't actually about cameras or Amazon, but I just found out via someone's comment that came up on my Twitter feed that the Paley White Collar event was moved from next Tuesday (6:30pm) to the following Monday (7:30pm). FYI.

[elrhiarhodan]

Thanks - I'll double check the Paley Center site and confirm.

They should have notified me.

Grrr

EDIT: Just checked, and yes - it was moved. Time-wise, this works better for me. Just wish I'd been notified!

[doctor-fangeek.livejournal.com]

Yeah - I was wondering why I hadn't gotten any sort of notification. Their public programs coordinator posted something on Twitter. Then again, her tweet is only from an hour ago, so maybe they haven't had a chance to notify people yet. You think they'd send out emails to the addresses people put in when they bought the tickets.

[elrhiarhodan]

Oooh - you're going too? Wanna do a meetup?

[doctor-fangeek.livejournal.com]

I'm dragging a friend from work (one of many friends that I convinced to try the show) and we're coming up from Northeastern PA, so I don't know our exact schedule yet, but it would definitely be cool to meet, even if it's just a "hey, cool to meet you" thing at the event itself.

[doctor-fangeek.livejournal.com]

Oh, and I just got an email from the Paley center with all the info (tickets honored if you can come on the 7th, refund available if you can't).

[elrhiarhodan]

Yep - just got my notice too.

[ostaras-journey.livejournal.com]

Okay, so first of all, your photos are absolutely beautiful. You have a great eye for composition.

I am envious that you made it to Bryce Canyon. I did a trip around Arizona a few years ago, and got some good shots of Sedona and some wonderful ones of the GC; I'll try and upload some time.

You are pretty far advanced on me with regard to photography skills, though.

Also, I am v. excited that you'll be getting us shots from the Paley discussion. It'd slipped my mind, and now I'm all excited again (and, yes, still JELLUS).

I'm assuming, re. diff in Amazon pricing, one is shipped from in state, the other is not?

ETA: The Paley site does say they moved the date to 7th. Wow. I hope they tell everyone it got moved without ppl having to check it for themselves. =/

[elrhiarhodan]

Thanks for the compliments on my photos!

Bryce was magnificent, and I had a nearly perfect day there. Just enough clouds to make the skies interesting and give me the right amount of shadow at midday.

I would love to see your photos of Sedona and the Grand Canyon. I didn't go to the GC - drove by it twice. I should post the tale of that road trip - esp. the ride through Navajo country. Insane scenery, even more insane driving - pouring rain + 2 lane road + trucks going 100 mph.

EDIT - Re Amazon pricing. The odd thing is that because of a threatened lawsuit, Amazon is supposed to "collect" sales tax on all transactions. But they didn't on this one. I'll keep my fingers crossed that they don't come back and ask for more money.

[ostaras-journey.livejournal.com]

OMG! Tell me about insane driving in AZ!

We finished our trip in Las Vegas, and were driving back to Phoenix that p.m. (leaving at 4pm, 5-6 hour drive no problem).

Anyway, it started raining about half an hour in, and by the time we reached Kingman, it was torrential. PLUS 2 lane highway PLUS... WTF is up with those trucks??? I had to take all my courage in my hands to pass (when, that is, they weren't driving beside one another throwing back a waterfall's amount of water on the cars behind!).

So I feel ya, as they say.

Have you ever been to the GC on another trip?

[elrhiarhodan]

Your trip sounds almost identical to mine.

I had to go to Phoenix last year, and delayed in making plane reservations. There were no direct flights that cost less than $1000 round trip (!!!!), so I flew into Salt Lake City and planned on driving down to Arizona. For some reason (because I can't really judge distances on a map), I thought I'd only need a day and a half. I really needed two days + a few hours. I drove from SLC to St. George the first day, which was an easy haul - about 6 hours. The second day was crazy insane. I had a guide book for scenic drives in Utah, and there was a recommended route through Joshua Tree Backcountry (not to be confused with JT National Park in CA). The most desolate place on Earth, I think - a great place to hide a body.

Anyway, the rode took me in the opposite direction - and after ending up in Littleton, AZ, on the way to Los Vegas, I had to double back 50 miles to St. George, and then head north to cut across S. Utah and then south to Phoenix. Well, I missed my exit and ended up driving through Zion Nat'l Park.

Lovely, but I'm suddenly running two hours behind schedule (I needed to be at a function at 6pm). I drive through Zion, and it starts to drizzle. When I leave the park, the ranger tells me that the best way to Phoenix is through Kanab...the nearest town - but doesn't tell me its 60 miles down the road. I make it through Kanab, past the Giant's Staircase in Escalante, and the sun comes out.

Lovely. Drive through the Vermillion Cliffs (otherworldly), through the downs around Lake Powell and then it starts to pour. It pours all the way through Flagstaff, as I'm driving down the San Francisco Peaks (8500 feet above sea level), through Navajo country, which is crazy insane landscapes from a 1950's sci-fi novel cover. Past Cameron and the South Rim, through Prescott and Sedona and on and on through the pouring rain.

It was like a hurricane, with the wind and the downpour. It wasn't until I crossed into the last valley before Phoenix - when the saguaros and prickly pear cacti started to appear that the rain stopped and the sun came out again.

One of the most exhilarating days of my life. I love that type of adventure - call me crazy.

I also love driving in Manhattan.

[shelley6441.livejournal.com]

I thought that was the reward for having the prime account? Faster service with less surcharges.

Hm. Perhaps I should upgrade to prime.

Tim and Matt together in the flesh - makes me squishy, too. Wish I could be there. Matt is so in love with Tim! Can you blame him?

Squeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!