I only wish that I had the impact on the world of photography that some well-known pros have, because I’ve really got something to say this time…

Oh and I hope you’re sitting down when you read this, cause the 2nd part might be a bit of a shocker…

I’ll probably never be shopping at Samy’s anymore. In the past I’ve gone in because they’ve got an incredible selection, being a big chain store, especially when it comes to camera bags. Camera bag preference is one thing that is SO subjective that I cannot possibly imagine just ordering a bag online sight-unseen. Both of the camera bags I’ve bought were from Samy’s, actually.

They have this tactic however that has inclined me never to purchase there again, probably. Basically what happens is that they price all their merchandise at or just above MSRP, easily 20-30% over what you would pay from a reputable online dealer. Then, they try and win you over by offering about a 10% discount, usually saying “for you, we’ll make it this much, is that cool?” While I do understand that one can expect to pay a LITTLE more for the service and convenience of buying something in person, the Samy’s price hike is just plain huge, in fact it’s in-consistent with other local stores even… Off the top of my head, I paid $17.99 for a strap at ProPhoto Connection (which isn’t even a chain)and then paid $20.99 or something for another one at Samy’s. I also paid $200 for a camera bag at Samy’s, and then saw it for $169.95 at Calumet, right down the street almost. Mind you that $200 was marked down from Samy’s list price of $220, of course…

So, while you MIGHT be able to expect to pay the going price on the HOTTEST items, like the very newest DSLR bodies, I can’t recommend buying anything else there…

Next, (you’re sitting down, right?) I’m having some very frustrating focus issues with my new D200. The 85mm f/1.4 that I rented had some serious back-focusing, as well as the 70-200 VR I just rented and the Sigma 50-150 that I own. The 85mm f/1.4 back-focused so strongly that I couldn’t use it at all any closer than maybe 20-30 feet. My other lenses, as well as the 50mm f/1.4 that I tinkered with at Calumet today, have either no focusing errors, or they front-focus.

Given these irregularities, I’m not sure Nikon can even “fix” the problem, if there even IS a problem. Which prompts me to seriously consider another camera system, either Canon or Olympus. Which would be an incredible shame because Nikon bodies and the D200 (or better) in particular are by far the best-designed bodies out there, in my humble opinion.

However I’m not dumb enough to think that focus errors don’t exist with ALL camera companies. So any decisions, any “switches” will not be made without MUCH research and testing, to be sure.

My first order of business I guess will be to see if Nikon can make my D200 focus reliably. Then if not, I’ll be at Calumet in Encinitas on Nov. 20th to test out the new D300 and D3, and I’ll also have to rent or borrow some Canon / Olympus gear. The new Olympus E-3, with it’s “world’s fastest AF” and two f/2.0 zoom lenses is/are definitely begging to be test-driven…

Also, any Nikon shooters out there who wish to help me restore my faith, if you’ve got a fast apeture prime lens you’d like to let me test out, please let me know and let’s try and hang out ASAP! (I’ll buy you dinner?) I have another wedding in two weekends and I’m very tempted to rent something from the “other side of the fence”…

=Matt=