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

[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!