Jean-Christophe’s Worldtrip

Finally the first (important) step for our worldtrip has been done: we bought a photo camera. Now for those of you who do not know Jean-Christophe that well, it took Vera quite some of her best conviction techniques to make him see that a worldtrip is actually a good thing because it would give him some real excuse to invest in a new, far too expensive photo camera.

To put it in his language:

“IF worldtrip
THEN photo camera”

So yesterday we went for the n-th time to a camera store “just to see what they look like”. This article is a tentative to describe what went through our heads while at the store…

The promise of a camera-investment was of course interesting for Jean-Christophe and so, since 12 months all Vera heard was “Ah this Canon 350D is quite good finally, and it is getting less expensive, because they are bringing out a new one soon the 400D… but there is Nikon D80 which is very good also, but too expensive… Pentax has brought out a new model that is quite nice, I think it could be good for us because it has a dust and water protection… Oh, they brought out the 400D but oh it is not good at all: it has no battery life and the connectivity is bad which would not be good if we are dependent of internet cafes… Maybe then the Canon 30D would after all be an option, it would be really good for astronomy, but it is also very heavy… Maybe we should wait a bit… because Nikon might bring out something really good… Or we could take the Canon 350D because it is really cheap now and the camera is fine…”

From time to time we went to a store to really “feel” the cameras. And so we did yesterday in order to have a closer look at the Nikon D40 and the D80.


Camera seller: “So here are the D40 and the D80.”

Jean-Christophe: Mmm… I don’t like the D40 in grey like that… Oh, but it is very light… I like the interface of it… But the lens is not so good for us… I’m going to ask if another lens can be put on it… Wow the D80 is really great, but heavy… Wow it makes excellent pictures!! But oh my god, it’s too expensive…

Vera: Mmm… I like the D40 in grey like that… Oh it is light… Ugh, the D80 is really heavy, I am not going to carry THIS around… We might have to look for a backpack later… Ok, the D40 seems fine to me. Let’s take that one!

Camera seller: “No, no, the lens of the D40 for the moment cannot be changed, because it’s sold all together in one kit, so you don’t have a choice… If you want another lens, you have to buy a second one… And then for you guys doing a trip of one year, I think that the camera is not giving enough possibilities… The D80 is a professional camera, it would be great for you guys and I have exactly the lens that you are looking for…”

Jean-Christophe: Mmm… that stinks because I really like the D40…And the D80, my god it is so heavy and so expensive… And then there is this stupid lens that he gave me… Why is it a Sigma lens? I did not check out all the technical details on the internet… I want the Nikon lens… or maybe Tamron… I think this guy is trying to sell us something I don’t want… I don’t trust him…Why does he want to sell us this Sigma lens?

Vera: Oh that’s too bad for the D40… But ok, if we cannot have the lens we like, that makes no sense… Ok, the D80 then… But it is very expensive… I wonder if we have enough money on our account… Because we still need to buy some Christmas presents… And then there is this bag Jean-Christophe wanted… I wonder where I could possibly find one he likes… And I saw those shoes, I really have to go and check them out… I think they would look nice with my new pants… But then I have nothing that goes with it… I think I will return to this store where they sold those really nice sweaters before…

What? Lens? Oh ok, yeah the Sigma lens is fine. The guy seems to be knowing what he is talking about… I like him, he seems professional…

Camera seller: “If you do a trip like that you will need some extra memory cards and an extra battery… And what about cleaning the camera? A UV-filter? A tripod? I will make you a good price for all that…”

Jean-Christophe: Oh my god!!! Am I supposed to die here? That price actually has a lot of numbers! And I am sure he forgot to put a comma!!! No that’s too expensive, it’s way over our budget! I think we should back out, let’s think about it a little bit, we can still look on the internet a bit… Anyway I am sure that there is some other camera coming out soon… With the lens I would like and for a reasonable price… I am sure Vera agrees with me, it’s too expensive. I cannot take a decision like that right now!!! I don’t have internet here! I need to compare! Let’s get out of here and not come back for a long time!!!

Vera: Wow, it’s quite expensive, but then I planned a budget for the camera… Ok, I admit, I forgot that we also need all kind of accessories, but ah well… I don’t think it is that bad… The guy is making us quite a good price I think… Ok, let’s take that one, so that we do not speak about it anymore… I am getting thirsty and a coffee would do me good… And I really have to go to the bathroom… Ok, let’s take this one so we can go…

Jean-Christophe to Vera: “Ok, let’s think about it still a bit. I think the camera is quite cool but the price is just really making me freak out.”

Vera: What? He does not want to take it now? Oh, no! I am fed up with it! Why does not he want to take it? We have to take it today… So then at least we can speak about other stuff then “camera here, camera there”…

Jean-Christophe to Vera: “On the other side, the guy is making us a good price and I think the camera is quite good. What do you think?”

Vera: Let’s take it! Let’s take it! Let’s take it! Let’s take it! Let’s take it! Let’s take it! Let’s take it! Let’s take it! I really have to pee now… Let’s take it! Let’s take it! Let’s take it! Let’s take it! Can we go for a coffee? Let’s take it! Let’s take it! Let’s take it! Let’s take it!

About half an hour later, a few hundred euros poorer…

Vera: “So, what’s next? For whom do we still need presents? I would like to check out the shoes they sold in the other store. Shall we go and have a coffee?”

Jean-Christophe: I feel I need to lay down for a little while. I think I am going to have a heart-attack…

Vera & Jean-Christophe

9 Comments

  1. Posted December 12, 2006 at 22:51 | Permalink

    Eh eh! Et devine qui est allé promener l’appareil photo ce soir?! Jean-Christophe et Daniel! Moi, je les ai laissé après le stand de Flammkuche…

  2. huygens
    Posted December 13, 2006 at 1:02 | Permalink

    Some additional information on this article: any resemblance to Persons living or dead is coincidental and unintentional. Names here-mentioned are purely fictional.

    Une petite précision quant à cet article : toute ressemblance avec des personnages réels présents ou ayant existé est purement fortuite. Les noms utilisés ci-dessus sont uniquement fictif.

    :-p

    Jean-Christophe

  3. Posted December 13, 2006 at 11:00 | Permalink

    Rachel, tu penses pas que tu devrais essayer de les dessiner maintenant? Là avec les photos de ces deux fous, ça devrait quand même te donner suffisament d’inspiration non?
    Moi en tout cas, jai trouvé de l’inspiration pour écrire… C’est pas très dur avec ces deux… ;o)

    Vera

  4. Posted December 13, 2006 at 18:57 | Permalink

    Ben oui, apres ton article j’ai re-essaye de dessiner Jean-Christophe mais au final j’ai juste reussi a dessiner une vingtaine de personnage mais pas un seul JC! Raaaaaah!

  5. Posted December 21, 2006 at 23:10 | Permalink

    public void doWorldTrip(){

    /*prerequisits*/
    Camera JCsNewCamera= new Nikon("D80");
    Set someExtraMemoryCards= new Set();
    ….

    /**
    * @todo: buy/prepear the rest of stuff to do the trip ;)
    */
    }

    ItŽs a great camera!, sure that youŽll do great pictures with it!

    Juan :P

  6. Posted December 22, 2006 at 14:47 | Permalink

    Juan > <b>geeK</b>!

  7. huygens
    Posted December 22, 2006 at 17:48 | Permalink

    Daniel,
    I think Juan was making a wink to Vera’s remark:
    <blockquote>"IF worldtrip
    THEN photo camera"</blockquote>
    :)

  8. Marco
    Posted January 18, 2007 at 17:37 | Permalink

    Is it that hard to choose a photo camera? :D

  9. huygens
    Posted January 18, 2007 at 18:44 | Permalink

    It seems to be has hard to find a suitable camera than for Rachel to draw me :p
    It’s a family trick, so yes for me it takes time…