#71 | Buy a New Lens

Do you see what I see?

Why yes, I welcomed a new lens into my camera family.  And I am in love.

It is kind of an interesting story on how this lens got into my hands.  I added ‘buying a new lens’ on my 101 in 1001 list because it was the perfect excuse to expand my collection.  

Shortly after I started my project I began looking at lenses and I narrowed my search down to two.  A Canon EF 15mmf/2.8 fisheye wide angle and a Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro USM lens.  Complete opposites.  In June I settled on the fisheye lens.  It was so different and I have never been given the opportunity to use one.  (Dad doesn’t even have one for our film cameras.)  I was all ready to be buy it when I noticed there was no ‘buy now’ button on the internet page. 

Bummer.  

I was ready to buy it and couldn’t.  I called Canon and asked if they thought they would get any back in stock…and soon.  I was told that they should be getting some more in, but had no idea what the time phase was.  So, every day, I checked to see if the lens had come in. Then August came and still no luck. 

In preparation to shoot a wedding I realized I still needed to buy a back up battery.  Crap.  If I ordered the battery online it wouldn’t get to me fast enough.  Then I realized mom could stop by my favorite camera store in KC and pick one up for me.  Then I came to realization that this store might carry the fisheye lens, so I looked it up online.  Still no luck…but they did have the macro lens! 

After a quick discussion with dad, I was ready to buy.  So mom hopped into the car and did the shopping for me.  When she asked the guy at the store about this lens he said, “It’s the best!” 

An hour after I got off work I met mom (and dad!) at the halfway point between where we live and where they are and exchanged goodies. 

It turned out to be a wonderful night.  I brought Abby with me and we hadn’t had dinner yet, and neither had mom, so I ran into McDonalds (we met in their parking lot) and ordered our regular.  Dad stayed in the car because he is still in ‘isolation’ so mom, Abby, and I sat on the curb and ate our dinner.  It was so nice to be able to see both mom and dad on an unexpected outing.  (I usually only see them on the weekend for a few hours.)  And Abby got to enjoy a special dinner of a plain hamburger….and a few fries because she stuffed her face into the McDonalds sack that our food came in.  It was a moment of pure gratitude.  While getting a new lens is super exciting (for me), being able to have this little moment with my family was even more fulfilling.

Of course, when I got home I had to play with my new addition and oh my, I am in love.  I cannot wait to go exploring.  I am so happy with my decision.  As for the fisheye…I’m coming for you next!

9 of 101
Completed: August 21, 2012