I did it. I took the next step. I pulled the trigger. I threw myself into the deep end. And I may have even jumped the shark.

As some of you have read, I’ve been doing some camera shopping lately to find a replacement for my good ol’ 5D, which has become like a very old friend. It hasn’t let me down in the slightest, but I’ve got a studio gig coming up where I need higher-res files and figured that I might as well put the budgeted camera money towards a purchase instead of a rental.

So I went and ordered a Canon 1Ds Mark III today. As any camera dork worth his or her salt can tell you, that’s the top-of-the-line 21 (yes twenty-one) megapixel professional body for fancypants people who are probably much more talented than me.

The extra resolution will be nice, though a greater strain on the glass I own as well as my own skills as a photographer. However the other reasons why I think I’ll love it are the reportedly huge and bright 100% viewfinder, superior auto-focus, short mirror blackout, and I have to admit, portrait grip (though I tend to be anti battery grip as a rule).

I know that the replacement or replacements to the 5D will be announced within weeks, and that I’m spending $8000 on a body when I might be able to get the latest and greatest camera at 16MP and half the price, I doubt that it’ll be of the same professional quality. Then again, if it is, the 1Ds will retain most of its value and I’ll just sell it, get the new prosumer model and spend the difference on some L primes.

All of this is academic though, since I need the camera in the next few weeks so I have little choice. When it arrives in the morning, I’ll be sure to share my initial impressions with you all. And I’ll remember to bring a box of Kleenex for all the drooling that will probably be going on.

On a completely unrelated note, I’m severely disappointed with our Congress today, the Senate voting to approve immunity for the completely fascist and illegal wiretapping which has occurred in the past few years. I was supporting Obama, but as of right now he’s lost my vote.

It’s going to be like Christmas Eve in my apt tonight.

<insert excited
energy here>