Macbook Air

image from mbsreport

I'm giddy to report that this is my first post using my new 11.6" Macbook Air. It's a dreary, chilly Sunday afternoon and I'm bundled up in warm blankets on the couch as I type. My previous computer, a 20" iMac from late 2009, is a beautiful machine. Most of my photo editing was done with ease on it, and the super sharp screen was phenomenal. However, I grew weary of having to plop my bottom down on the frankly uncomfortable plastic IKEA chair for hours. And instead of getting a new computer chair, I got a new 11.6" Macbook Air at Best Buy at 15% off retail. It was quite the deal! I don't usually make brash hefty purchases, yet I haven't regretted this one. It's so very thin and light compared to my husband's relatively ponderous Macbook Pro. Sure, it only has 64 GB of storage, which means I am now using an external hard drive for all my music and photos. I rarely ever need to access all my files anyway, and to me, the weight savings and extreme portability is totally worth it. Also, using Spaces to organize my applications in separate panes is a necessity, and I find that everything is so much more organized from it. Because I shoot 35mm film, I usually develop my film and also order a CD of the scanned images. The Macbook Air has no optical drive, but Apple has made it a cinch to connect to another Apple computer and use its optical drive. Since I won't be doing much heavy lifting on this thing, like working with massive Photoshop files, this computer's specs are more than adequate. And when you open it after shutting the lid, it wakes from sleep almost instantaneously. Pretty much amazing.

Oh, and I couldn't help but fall upon this wool and leather sleeve by (previously featured) Etsy seller, ribandhull.

computer: $999

sleeve: $61

Jack Spade Waxwear Nook Cover

image from BN.com

Now I'm not saying go out and buy a Nook. You'd be better off with a Kindle. But if you must, then check out this Waxwear Nook Cover in Chocolate. Handsomest e-reader case BY FAR. By so very far. Browsing through Best Buy's in-store selection always makes me cringe. Go ahead, mash up your technologies!

Handmade? No

Made in: "Imported"

$85

Canon Rebel G Camera

How did I fall upon my film camera for life? A photography whim, a Craigslist search, a bit of lens research, and $130. The used body was $30, and the new "plastic fantastic" 50mm fixed lens was $99. Absolute best combination for the amateur film photographer, IMHO. I recommend this to all of my interested friends. The Canon Rebel G was released in the late 90's, and is an entry-level, all-plastic model. Sure, you can read Ken Rockwell all day long, but at the end of the day, those are only the detailed opinions of one man, and you have to go with what feels best in your hands. I'm sticking to this because I don't agree with high camera rental prices, and I also shy away from spending wads of cash on trying out tons of cameras. You're not going to get a lighter or more compact setup in the DSLR world. (If you want digital, I highly recommend going Micro 4/3, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1. The image quality is spectacular, and you also get DoF.)

I don't claim to be a pro at shooting, as I educated myself on the basics of photography, and then let my equipment do most of the tough work for me. The only film I use is Kodak Gold 100, for minimal grain and those warm, deep film tones that are glaringly absent from digital photos. The lens is really fantastic and adequate for most shooting. The 1.8 f-stop means that the lens opening is wide enough for all but the duskiest shots. An upgrade to to f1.4 will cost you ~$300. I've taken this camera everywhere for the past two years. I set it to autofocus and aperture priority and I can capture each shot with ease and minimal fiddling. And as with most on-camera flash, don't use it.

Made in: ?

Handmade? No

$ Check your local Craigslist $