My Camera Sucks

First I must rant: here I was at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center and my Nikon was nearly useless. It was constantly either fogged up or had water droplets on the lens. It will fog up seemingly for no reason. If I leave it out of my pocket face-up it will get water droplets like these:

But I can not leave it face down or in a pocket because its light sensor also malfunctions. The only cure for that appears to be shutting it down after every photo. If I do not wait for the shut-down the next photos will be garbage, like these:

Both examples are heavily edited, otherwise nothing at all would be visible. I actually kind of like this one, but the first example is trash.

Lately I have taken to using my new phone (a Samsung something) as a camera when on the water. This is a tricky thing. The phone is water resistant and is in a "Life Proof" case. However, it has no lanyard and no way to attach one. It also does not float. Just imagine balancing in a slippery sea kayak, wind blowing, spray flying, and still being dumb enough to pull out a high tech toy? No, no sensible reader would do such a thing. But I would!

The photos I have taken in the last few weeks with the phone  have shamed my 3 year old water proof Nikon Cool Pix. I find I take less photos on the water but have more good ones overall. Also, as my phone syncs seamlessly with my Google account the photos are waiting for me online. I also find myself using it more often to shoot photos of household objects, pets, and art. I have even used it to take pictures of items I am posting to sell.

I remember reading a camera review about 10 years ago that said phones would replace point-and-shoots quite soon. I did not believe it then but am a believer now. I doubt I will buy another point-and-shoot camera.

Ah, the downside: Besides the fact that it does not float and can not be tied to me, there is also the fact that it is my phone. Phones and radios are generally considered to be part of the mandatory equipment we sea kayakers carry. Losing it could spell so much trouble, beyond the replacement cost, if it were needed to summon a rescue.

Oh, the angst! My First World Problem, oy!

Here are some random shots from the last few weeks, just because:

Yes, this is a cat tree. What of it?

One time, when I was walking these two at a rest stop, a man came over to pet them and talk about his own dogs. After a moment or two his eyes opened wide and he said "thems indoor dogs, ain't they?" And I said "yes, yes they are." I recognize some people would not live the way I do. But I am okay with that.