Camera quality goes through several stages:

[RKDauph]

[found on a bicycle forum - modified for this addiction]

Camera quality goes through several stages:

1. Just About Perfect: You don't own it yet, but everything you see about it makes you think it's The Answer to your problems.

2. Beyond Perfect: You just bought it; Revel in the self-rationalization of your expensive purchase!

3. Just About Perfect: You've owned it for a while, everything's tuned in just exactly how you want it; you are One With The Machine.

4. Pretty Darned Good: You've owned it for a while, but have started to notice a couple of things. Still your best friend, and you love it's little idiosyncrasies.

5. The Good Camera: Those idiosyncrasies that used to be cute are starting to become annoying. And multiplying. But your love and admiration for it, plus the good times you've shared, makes you willing to overlook most of those things. Plenty of good times ahead with it, even though it can't do everything you want to do anymore.

6. OK, It's Got Some Problems: The number of things you'd like to change about it has started to exceed it's replacement cost. Maybe some maintenance would fix things, but you're starting to wonder.

7. That D$#%^# Thing!: There's another camera, and everything you see about it makes you think it's The Answer to your problems.


Note that how long it takes to go through these stages varies wildly; sometimes it can go from phase 1 to 7 in a matter of days.

Also note: Replace 'camera' with 'significant other', and the list also works.

[ST77]

I think this applies to just about every piece or electronic equipment on the market, computers, cell phones, for sure

[venchka]

A camera I own was...
Deemed by me to be perfect when it debuted in 1972.
Continued to appear perfect while I drifted around with other makes and models.
Looked and felt perfect when I finally purchased one in 2006.
Continues to amaze me with it's perfection today.
Camera name and model number withheld to protect Murph's health and sanity.

[Murph]

THank you for not mentionining the M-5 Leica, which is really not a Leica since the last REAL Leica was the M-4.....

Originally Posted by venchka

A camera I own was...
Deemed by me to be perfect when it debuted in 1972.
Continued to appear perfect while I drifted around with other makes and models.
Looked and felt perfect when I finally purchased one in 2006.
Continues to amaze me with it's perfection today.
Camera name and model number withheld to protect Murph's health and sanity.

[venchka]

Originally Posted by Murph

THank you for not mentionining the M-5 Leica, which is really not a Leica since the last REAL Leica was the M-4.....

You're welcome. And oh so very wrong.

I sold Bubba. Bigfoot has been in mouring ever since. I have fleeting thoughts of adopting another mate for Bigfoot. An M-4 is on the short list. Behind another 5.