I suppose that is my problem. I do see the value and uses for this camera. There is nothing I want more than to take a picture to capture that very best moment of my girlfriend's smile, or my desire for this powerhorse of a camera. Or even to a more personal aspect, My first "real" digital camera was the Casio QV-4000, (I used to borrow my fathers Kodak 1.3 mp). In fact, the QV-4000 still blows the pants off some other cameras today. Eventually, desiring more speed, smaller size, I was finally able to save up fro the Casio P700, which I do love, but hardly use on a regular basis. When Casio abandoned their "pro" line, I was disappointed and I knew that if Casio were to return to a "pro" series then I should support it. I think the best things about Casio, is just the wow factor. Even their slogan, "Expect the unexpected" is so fit for their cameras, yet also reflects back on photography, art, even life itself. What I feel I lack with skill, I wish to make up with capability. The price of panasonic's Fz-18 has crashed to what I see as near rock-bottom at $300, this camera is probably the most realistic step for my photographic adventure.
I once worked with a man who was a great photographer, his main hobby was taking photos of trains, his main advice to me was to go all out on buying a camera, essentially don't waste your money on something that you will outgrow; yet make the investment with something you can grow with over time. Though, lately, I guess this is more of a want vs. need scenario. Sure I want the EX-F1, and I can answer honestly that I don't need it, (or the Panasonic FZ-18) So I have two cameras now, and could justify geting the Panasonic for the super zoom (and all the other amazing capabilities it has) while keeping the portability of my P700, I guess I'm just bummed at the high cost of the F1, I mean, I do see the value, and I don't think its over-priced at all, its just that in actuality, it costs $1,000. I guess I'm just rambling or "thinking out loud" here, but I do hope that people support cameras such as the F1 (and Casio) for their innovation and capability that pretty much translate into "earth shattering" new grounds for the digital photographic world. Obviously the camera isn't perfect, and people can tear it to pieces for the things it lacks, or didn't do "right" (such as the EVF, which, is fine IMO, though not good enough for others). I guess the key ingredient is the technological breakthroughs that continue to come. Image stability? Sure, I'd love to have it, but no, I wouldn't get a new camera just to have it. 14 megapixels? Sounds nice, but I have already filled up a huge hard drive with my 7.1. Anyways, it is late, so I'm off to bed, but I will say, with Casio, with the EX-F1, Expecting the Unexpected is basically hardly what I'd say, more like Expect the Impossible. I do so hope this camera does well in sales.
