December 23, 2009
I'm surrounded by color with only a pencil for a paintbrush.
Unfortunately, damage to my EF-S 18-200mm F2.8 en route from Thailand to India has limited my photographic creativity to a 30mm F1.4 portrait lens, which explains why you see a lot more portraits in some of the more recent photos. Fortunately, there are a lot of interesting looking people in India.
This is a mixed blessing, because the limitation has encouraged me to take less shots and simply enjoy the world around me.
Update January 15, 2010
A terribly, terribly convenient Canon World Headquarters and service center means that my damaged and dirty lens is being refurbished for about 1/6 the cost and 1/10 the time as it would have taken back home.
Update February 20, 20210
It took three rounds of opening up that lens before they could get the alignment fixed. Inbetween each round, sdgsdfsdfsdfsdfsdfsdfsd I traveled to different countries for a couple of weeks. In the end, I got the Lens back 2 months after submitting it at a cost of $80 for parts and labor.
Update March 10, 2010
I motorbiked around Southern Laos for 5 days with only my camera and a toothbrush. My lens focus and zoom barrels began acting mechanically faulty. On the 3rd day, several interior components and lenses came lose and are now jumbling around inside rendering the lens useless, once again.
Update March 30, 2010
My hotel was within visual sight of Canon's service center in Vietnam, convenient when you realize there are only Three in Southeast Asia. It was determined that interior cable failed as a result of the Bangkok technical tightening a screw too much All work/cost/time to date is down the toilet since there is not an international warranty on Bangkok's work.
Update April 4, 2010
After I found out it would take 2 months to repair my 18-200mm lens, I said forget it and dropped $650 on an EF-S 15-85mm. Half the zoom for a wider angle was a fair trade off. Plus it has a fancy-fast USM.
Update April 26, 2010
Three weeks later, after 42,000 photos with my SLR, the curtain failed. Hanoi Canon didn't have the part on hand, citing 2 months turnaround time, and is not willing to ship it back to America.
Update May, 2010
Hanoi Canon agreed to attempt to ship the camera to Siagon, where the have the specific part on hand, and back to Hanoi by the 18th. If it does not come back in time I will have to abandon the refubuished camera, a risk I've decided to take.
Update July, 2010
After a failed attempt from Canon in Hanoi, Vietnam to mail the camera out to California, the camera successfully arrive...but they forgot to include my battery. So if you're swinging by Vietnam anytime soon, I might need to ask a favor from you.
Update July, 2010
After a failed attempt from Canon in Hanoi, Vietnam to mail the camera out to California, the camera successfully arrive...but they forgot to include my battery. So if you're swinging by Vietnam anytime soon, I might need to ask a favor from you.
