Friday, December 28, 2007 - Tuscaloosa AL

Bird, at Jim Bird's "Acta Non Verba", Forkland AL, December 26, 2007

I never really got the hang of the C-2100 (Steve's DigiCams review)

I want to replace it. It has been frustrating trying to get some of my many pictures at Foscue Creek Park the last few weeks. There's a lot to choose from out there and my limited familiarity with camera optics, digital technology, and all the jargon makes it hard for me to figure out what really really matters to my style of working. Whatever that is - even that is a work in progress this low on the learning curve of photography and discovering my RVing style. It makes me twitch; I could easily make an expensive mistake.

I know enough to know I don't want a dSLR. Or do I? As I write this, the thought occurs that I might not know that. I don't know enough to know what I don't know {twitch}. Automatic cameras are so good that I figure I don't need to get into learning the manual stuff but I may be wrong about that.

Then there's the idea of dragging all that stuff around. Even a camera big enough that it won't slip into a pocket might be a drag so to speak. The C-2100 certainly doesn't fit a pocket and maybe I'm over-reacting to the burden it sometimes seems. Unless I'm expressly out to shoot some pictures it's not with me. Is that important to my evolving style? I don't know.

Will I actually use the pocket camera if I have it with me? Will I find the limited feature set of a pocket camera frustrating? How I can find out? Easy - put one in a pocket and see what happens. Specifically a Canon SD1000 (Steve's DigiCams review).

How's that for justifying a new toy?

In looking at what Wal-Mart has to offer in the local camera department, I was smitten with the design of the Canon SD1000. Seduced by its design I went back to LD to do a bit of research and justifying. Not as a camera but as an object. Is this any way to buy a camera? Ha! Not for most folks but then I'm not most folks. It is for me. At least in part. If I don't like the look and feel of a tool I'm not happy. It's a big part of who I am and long experience has taught me look and feel are not to be ignored (not to slight function which is at least as high on the list).

My research took me to some reviews and discussion forums where I became aware of the practice of trying a camera, or a few, and taking them back if they turn out to not be what one thought one wanted. Blink, blink, I can get some answers to my questions without the financial commitment. Ah ha! Wal-Mart and others have a 30 day return policy. I can buy one, try it for a while, answer some of these questions, and only then decide whether to keep it or not.

Having gotten the justification part out of the way I walked back over and bought one.

Night camp

Wal-Mart Parking Lot in Tuscaloosa AL

Wal-Mart Supercenter in Tuscaloosa AL

Wal-Mart Supercenter Store #715, 1501 Skyland Blvd E, Tuscaloosa, AL 35405 - (205) 750-0823

This Wal-Mart is one of my favorite parking lots for overnight dry camping. There is good, level parking and access to lots of shopping and services useful to the traveler.

• Good level parking, reasonably quiet
• Books-a-Million & Michaels Craft store across the road
• U-Haul propane nearby, Lowe's and Home Depot 1 mile
• Major shopping centers nearby
• Verizon cell phone service is excellent
• Verizon EVDO Broadband service is excellent
• Find other Wal-Marts in the area
• Check the weather here