Mellowing of New Cameras

^My guitar has mellowed but the strings need replacement. How about my cameras?

Now that we are seeing a dozen of new cameras crunching through the Internet onto the display shelves and windows, you guys and gals are probably going to shell out money for a new cameras or two. This is question for you, "Do new camera need time to mellow in your hands?"

One common thing about new cars and new muscial instruments is that they both need a transition period to mellow to give better performance.

So, how about cameras?

^The abstract curve of guitar. Mozart commended the guitar as a combination of an orchestra. The body, which boasts the curving lines, contributes much to the commendation.

Like a computer, a digital camera is already tuned in when it leaves the factory whereas the parts of a car needs a certain period of running to narrow down the tolerance.

^I am playing the theme song of the Japanese animation movie 崖の上のポニョ (Ponyo on the Cliff), written by Joe Hisaishi. Hisaishi is a specially talented songwriter and you would not wish to miss his works.

It is likewise in the case of new musical instruments. However, it is not hte tolerance but the "fermenting" of the wood parts in the process of vibration and atmospheric interaction. After a certain period, the instruments will sound much better.

In the case of digital cameras, it is the owner where the mellowing is at play. Some teething problems will face the uncertain owner: What is the (mechanical) noise when the lens zoom? Why are the colours of the image not as brilliant? Why does the camera tend to overexpose a scene?

The solution lies in one thing: the users manual. The mellowing requires the owner to read the users manual in parallel to practising.

The moral of the question is: please, read the user manual whenever you've got a new camera. It is a sin and you are not worthy of the technology if you don't. This is important especially when today's cameras are loaded with features.

Before closing this post, ladies and gentlemen, Hisaishi's Ponyo: