I spent the last month or two convincing myself (and my husband) that it was time for me to upgrade cameras after hearing about the release of the new Nikon D810, because:
1. I've had my current camera (a Nikon D700) for over five years now, but the technology in it is more than six years old. (Lenses last forever, but camera bodies become obsolete and outdated as newer technology is developed.)
2. The estimated shutter life on my Nikon D700 is 150,000 clicks of the shutter button, but I'm already over 186,000, which has had me worrying that it may just give up the ghost on me in the middle of shooting something important.
3. If you've read Making the Shot 3, you've seen lots of photos of my old camera, and though she's a lovely girl, she's in rough shape.
So yesterday, I finally hit the 'purchase' button on the new, D810.
And when I woke up this morning, I had full intentions of editing Day Two of our trip to Vashon Island so I could get them posted here on my blog, but then I noticed an email from Adorama saying that the Nikon D810 I had ordered from them was on backorder and no mention was made of when they'd have more in stock.
So that sent me searching online for other reputable sites that had the D810 in stock.
They were on back-order at Amazon, they were on pre-order at B&H, etc., etc.
And then, after reading on Nikon Rumors that Best Buy had them in stock, I started thinking about how exciting it would be to get one in my hands today if my local Best Buy had them in stock instead of waiting 3-10 days for one to ship from an online source.
And once I got through all of the pre-recording voice promtings after calling Best Buy and the representative told me that the closest Best Buy with a D810 in stock was 160 miles away, I promptly told her that I was willing to drive and whipped out my debit card to pre-pay for it.
And then I woke up Cole and Yans (Courtney is at her mom's) while hollering, "Road Trip!" and calculating in my head whether I could make it back home for a 3:00 appointment I had later in the day.
And every 15 minutes or so while we were driving, I'd holler in the craziest voice possible, "Mama's getting a new camera!" and then Annie and Cole would holler back in unison, "Mama's getting a new camera!"
And then, Mama got a new camera...
The battery is charging as I type.
Will let you all know what I think after I get in some shooting with it.
Woohoo, Karen! That is so great! I am so excited for you! :)
Posted by: Andrea :) | July 24, 2014 at 06:13 PM
How exciting. Have fun with it.
Posted by: Regina | July 24, 2014 at 07:09 PM
That's awesome. I love road trips to buy things. :) I live in Boston and bought a Honda Civic in Albany, NY once.
Posted by: ellen patton | July 24, 2014 at 07:47 PM
YAYAYAYA!!! Can't wait to see your first shots from your new beauty.
Posted by: Leslie | July 24, 2014 at 07:57 PM
:)
Posted by: Cathy | July 24, 2014 at 08:01 PM
LOVE new toys!! I love how you documented getting a new one too! I have a love/hate relationship with my D800. I really miss my D700 a lot.
Posted by: Shari | July 24, 2014 at 09:17 PM
You of all people deserve a new camera! So excited for you! I love how the box is in almost every single photo!
Posted by: Kelli | July 24, 2014 at 09:27 PM
Yay! Such happy news! I'm sooooo excited for you!
Posted by: Kathy R | July 25, 2014 at 03:06 AM
Eeeeek!!!! So exciting and I can not wait to hear all about it. Maybe some video too.,.,.,
Posted by: Jennifer S | July 25, 2014 at 04:24 AM
Whew! I was a little worried when I read the intro that you were going to pull a fast one and go all Canon on us!
I can't wait to see what you think of this new body.... it looks pretty big, almost as big as Annie's head (not that she has a big head, just just that it is a big(ger) body!
Posted by: Juli P | July 25, 2014 at 05:33 AM
Congrats on the new baby!!
Posted by: Kelly | July 25, 2014 at 05:53 AM
EEEEEEEEKKKK!!!!! I am beaming ear to ear as I can hear you and visualize your expression while yelling "mommas gettin' a new camera!!!" I miss you! Congratulations!
Posted by: Misty | July 25, 2014 at 06:26 AM
I am sooooo excited for you!! And fantastic that it turned into a road trip, made for better pics! :D :D :D
Posted by: KarinaS | July 25, 2014 at 06:43 AM
YAY!!!!! Mama got a new camera!!! So excited for you!!
Posted by: Marilou | July 25, 2014 at 07:19 AM
I heart this post!!! Super excited for you and can't wait to hear what you think about this camera! Have fun playing!!!
Posted by: Lisa A | July 25, 2014 at 07:20 AM
EEEEHHHHH - excited for you!!!
Mama got a new camera!!
Posted by: Nicky from Okotoks | July 25, 2014 at 07:25 AM
WoOOoooHOOOOoooOOOOOHOOOoooooOOO! Congratulations Karen!!! You deserve it! Christmas in July!!
Posted by: Stacey from the Texas Panhandle | July 25, 2014 at 07:39 AM
My first thought was Christmas in July...and as I went to type it...Stacey had the same thoughts as I did...so I will say.....HOORAY! So excited for you and will be waiting to hear about how you love this new workhorse. Giddy-up!
Posted by: janel | July 25, 2014 at 07:56 AM
SOOOOO exciting!!! And I love all the shots. Have fun playing with your new "baby"!
Posted by: Claire | July 25, 2014 at 08:11 AM
How exciting! I'm SO happy for you! Have fun getting acquainted with it.
Posted by: Laurel C | July 25, 2014 at 08:16 AM
Love the visual of your driving to get your camera. So excited for you but bummed that you did not jump back to Canon.
Posted by: Lisa | July 25, 2014 at 08:34 AM
Well HOT DANG summer in the city! (My mom always used to say that? She was cray cray but she made me laugh my arse off!) I'm so excited to see the awesome photos you share!!!!
By the way, I went to Best Buy not long ago and was looking at the 70D aaaand pricing the Mark 5 D III and the sales guy told me THAT camera was only for professionals. Ahem. I asked him if he knew anything about the features on the Mark 5D and he said no, he wasn't really familiar with photography, so I recommended your class to him. :)
Posted by: ~Amber | July 25, 2014 at 08:40 AM
you go girl!
Posted by: melissa | July 25, 2014 at 09:03 AM
yeah! Can't WAIT to hear the reviews (particularly D700 vs D810 and is it worth the upgrade for just regular ol' folks...!) Thanks!
Posted by: rhonda | July 25, 2014 at 10:02 AM
What a fun road trip that would have been! Love your spontaneity, love your spirit, love your cute kids! Yay for a new camera!
Posted by: Adele | July 25, 2014 at 10:26 AM
Happy Happy day!! Congrats Karen!!!
Posted by: Jacki | July 25, 2014 at 10:42 AM
Awesome!!! You paint a beautiful picture for GOING to buy something that makes the heart happy. I don't think receiving a box from an online purchase would have had the same zing. Congrats!
Posted by: SandraA | July 25, 2014 at 11:59 AM
How awesome! I can't wait to see your shots with the new camera!
Posted by: Rachel Millington | July 25, 2014 at 01:00 PM
How awesome!!!! Congrats! Can't wait to see what you think.
Posted by: JulieE | July 25, 2014 at 07:32 PM
Yay for you! I have been saving to upgrade, but I think my camera died last week and I will have to replace it before I am able to upgrade. It has been a sad week without my friend to keep me company! Pitiful, high??
Posted by: Barb | July 25, 2014 at 08:36 PM
How awesome is that!!!! Have fun with your new camera. :) Coincidentally, I have a new one too.. I now have the D7100. A guy at my hubby's work tried talking me into a full frame. I didn't do it, obviously.
Posted by: Michelle | July 27, 2014 at 05:28 AM
CONGRATULATIONS Karen!
Posted by: Sherry Connell | July 27, 2014 at 02:55 PM
HOOOOOOORRRAAAYYYYY!!!!!
Posted by: Tracibub | July 27, 2014 at 03:24 PM
so happy for you :-) eek!! I am totally using this blog post to send to my hubby so perhaps I can pawn off my D90 to my hubby and then can say "mamma's getting a new camera!!" :-) lol can't wait to read your followups about it.
Posted by: Jennifer Lovelady | July 27, 2014 at 04:54 PM
:) So excited for you! I'd like a new camera but haven't been able to justify it because the current one still "works". Maybe I can convince myself with the technology thing! ;)
Posted by: Gena - TX | July 28, 2014 at 08:51 AM
Fist pump… and of course, hugs! Enjoy!
Posted by: Anna from RI | July 28, 2014 at 05:25 PM