I went across to Portsmouth today. I had two reasons for going;
I wanted to go to the London Camera Exchange to see if they had the Sigma f2.8 105mm macro lens in stock. They had two; one brand new, one second hand. They gave the quality of the second hand lens as good, so I had a look at it. To be honest, I could see no difference between it and the brand new lens, I tried it on my camera, and everything worked fine. Given that I could detect no difference and that it was nearly £120 cheaper, I took the option for the 2nd hand lens, which does come with a 6 month warranty. I’m very pleased with the purchase. I did make one silly mistake, any lens that I buy, I automatically buy a UV skylight filter; not just to cut out UV. (which can introduce a distinct blue cast in pictures on a really sunny day especially) but it also acts as a protector of the front element – to which the chemicals in fingerprints are lethal to the quality of pictures. I didn’t buy one, which is why you aren’t seeing any pictures from the lens tonight, and won’t until the filter turns up from Amazon (hopefully tomorrow).
The second reason for going was for me to have a decent browse in a bookshop. This is why I love Cambridge, they have some superb bookshops there. The Waterstones in Portsmouth is pretty good, not as big I think as the one in cambridge but not bad. I had no particular books in mind, but i do have a bit of a routine. looking at the selection of books near the door, I avoided the Science Fiction section, I just don’t knowwaht to readd, although I have now got a copy of Alastair Reynolds Revelation Space on my Kindle, which is apparently a bit of a Space Opera, which is a genre I do like (think E.E Doc Smith, or Larry Niven’s Known Space series – brilliant). I looked with curiosty at the Self Help Section, but didn’t linger long there. There sev eral sections, including travel writing, science, photography, particularly looking for any books on videoing. There was one, but it was far more technical than I needed so I didn’t buy it. As much as I enjoy having a good browse, I generally leave feeling a bit frustrated that I didn’t find the perfect book that would answer all my questions. I’m beginning to think that the only way to find that book is to write it myself!
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