It's a lovely morning here in the Finger Lakes. A vast pearly cloudbank overhead with a band of blue sky showing in the West made for an otherworldly light as the sun was coming up behind the ridge. A dusting of blown snow made patterns on the road.
Being a SSG (sadly single guy), I've hired a Mennonite housekeeper to come in twice a month to help with the chores. She's eighteen years old and very pretty and, moreover, happy (why are all Mennonites so well-adjusted? Do they know something we don't?), and she works for peanuts by city standards—it's very affordable. She keeps right at it, works straight through, never takes a break, so I never have to worry whether she's slacking off. And she's better than I am at every aspect of housekeeping, so it's not like trying to oversee how she's doing anything would help. I just leave her be, and she does her thing.
Then after she departs I spend about a day discovering everything she did and being happy about it. It's like a series of little gifts. Not only is all the laundry done, but everything is folded—even my socks! The dust bunnies under the bed have vanished. Then I notice that a few things are a little out of place in the refrigerator and...omigod, she cleaned out the entire thing! The putrifying kale in the special vegetable drawer my brother calls "The Rotter" is gone, the little pool of brown liquid it was sitting in vanquished. The interior of the fridge is spotless. All the floors have been mopped, the bed is crisply made, and she even washes the outsides of the windows. Amazing. I don't know how she gets it all done in four hours. TOP World HQ is burnished and gleaming, glowing with good order. O happy bachelor.
And then another nice surprise...as a thank-you for being an affiliate, B&H has sent me a Holiday gift certificate. Nice. Did you know you could give B&H Gift Certificates to the photographers you know? You can send it by email or snailmail for any amount, and include a message. Perfect for those of us who tend to be, uh, a little late with the Christmas shopping. Or, better yet, for someone close to you who might be. "You know, honey...." (Amazon has gift cards too, of course.)
Free next-day shipping for hundreds of items at B&H Photo ends soon, too.
So here's my dilemma: I have to spend the $250...can't stash it in the bank it like a good little Ed.
Darn. :-)
If you had to spend $250 at B&H Photo—forced to—what would you buy? You can of course add more cash to that if you want to...for example, it means I could buy a 27mm pancake for my Fuji for $149 ($399 minus $250) or a 128 GB iPad for $169 ($419 minus $250). But if it makes me spend too much more, then at some point it enters into the realm of a net loss, so I don't want to be thinking, "Oh, great, now I can buy a Fuji GFX 50S for only $6,249.95!"
And I know what the first wise guy is going to say..."You could spend your $250 Gift Certificate to buy me a $250 Gift Certificate!" But of course I can't do that for everybody. Wish I could, wish I could.
And by the way, as I always do, TOP will be on hiatus for several days over Christmas, starting Saturday.
The Day is only days away,
Mike
Original contents copyright 2017 by Michael C. Johnston and/or the bylined author. All Rights Reserved. Links in this post may be to our affiliates; sales through affiliate links may benefit this site.
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(To see all the comments, click on the "Comments" link below.)
Featured Comments from:
Dave Levingston: "I just had to deal with a similar dilemma. The charge card I use the most surprised me with a "points" bonus worth several hundred bucks. And their points can be used effortlessly on Amazon just like real money. So, going through your link of course, that Panasonic 42.5mm lens that I've been eyeing for a year or so is now on its way to my house."
Mike replies: Oooh, yummy. You didn't say which one, but I love both those lenses.
Ken Tanaka: "'It's a lovely morning here in the Finger Lakes. A vast pearly cloudbank overhead with a band of blue sky showing in the West made for an otherworldly light as the sun was coming up behind the ridge. A dusting of blown snow made patterns on the road.' Well I don't think you need any more camera gear. You seem quite able to depict rich landscape scenes with your fingers."
Mike replies: No...I don't need any more camera gear...but...but....
Aaron: "I bought that 27mm pancake a couple years ago when it was on sale, mostly on impulse. It's probably my most-used lens these days. It makes the X-T2 (and X-T1 before that) very comfortable to have around my neck. The camera, with lens, sits between my arm and hip very nicely. Bringing just a camera, no bag, is nice for short outings."
“It's a lovely morning here in the Finger Lakes. A vast pearly cloudbank overhead with a band of blue sky showing in the West made for an otherworldly light as the sun was coming up behind the ridge. A dusting of blown snow made patterns on the road.”
Well I don’t think you need any more camera gear. You seem quite able to depict rich landscape scenes with your fingers.
Posted by: Ken Tanaka | Wednesday, 20 December 2017 at 10:19 AM
I feel your pain!
Posted by: Gene Lowinger | Wednesday, 20 December 2017 at 10:31 AM
There is a lot of fun to pick from there - a 12mm f2 Rokion for astrophotography, the pancake as you mentioned, or for just a little more the 23 f/2.
Me? I'd either blow it all on Fuji Instax and let my Scouts have a photo blowout, or, if I just had to spend it(i'm waiting on the as-yet mythical X-H1 to bump up my X-T1), a nice Billingham bag would be great, even if I know i'll go back to my beat up gray Domke i've been carrying since 19...89? Um.
Posted by: Rob L. | Wednesday, 20 December 2017 at 10:33 AM
B&H have 23 lenses for mirrorless systems for between $230 and $250! For me it would be the Rokinon fisheye for whichever system you are currently using.
Posted by: Andrew | Wednesday, 20 December 2017 at 10:40 AM
Or the fuji 50 f/2...
(I am currently scratching my Fuji itch with a two-week rental: X-T2, 23 f/2 and 50 f/2. Maybe not a great idea because the itch is threatening to turn into a full blown rash. )
Happy Holidays!
Posted by: Yonatan K | Wednesday, 20 December 2017 at 10:48 AM
Printing paper, you don’t need more gear! If you are an Epson fan, they have a buy 2 get 1 free rebate deal on their Signature Worthy line of paper, so your $250 magically becomes $375 though I’m not sure how many boxes you can buy on the deal. That said, I’m a Canson man....
Posted by: Alan Fairley | Wednesday, 20 December 2017 at 10:51 AM
Buy the Fuji lens. A gift that keeps on giving (er- keeps on taking).
Posted by: Steven Willard | Wednesday, 20 December 2017 at 10:58 AM
Another vote for the 27mm pancake, though based on a mere one week with an XT1 and various lenses. The XT1 + 27mm was by far the most fun and forgiving combo--really got out of the way. And, say, isn't 40mme our favorite focal length?
Posted by: robert e | Wednesday, 20 December 2017 at 11:22 AM
Smiles for Mike.
If I owned a Fuji, I'd definitely get that 27mm Pancake. I have the Olympus equivalent for my E-P3 - the 17/2.8 - and it's a delightfully compact and, really, fast enough lens so that on the rare occasion I need to go wider, it's a wonderfully fun way to do so. If the Fuji lens is as good (and I can't imagine that it isn't actually better - Fuji does lenses right ) it'll be a blast that you'd enjoy.
Posted by: William Lewis | Wednesday, 20 December 2017 at 11:26 AM
Why is prettiness a factor in evaluation of housekeeping performance?
[I wasn't evaluating. I was describing. --Mike]
Posted by: Reid | Wednesday, 20 December 2017 at 12:12 PM
get 9 5-packs tri-X for your exacta. now you have a clean fridge to store them untill you use them, just tell the housecleaner not to throw them away. https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/843204-USA/Kodak_1153659_Professional_Tri_X_120_Black.html
or any other film related chemistry for that matter. it is nice not to think about per exposure cost with the camera of your youth.
Posted by: grigoris | Wednesday, 20 December 2017 at 12:20 PM
A vote for the 27mm pancake lens, which is a lovely little lens in the equivalent to your favorite 35 mm film camera focal length--40 mm.
Posted by: Steve Rosenbum | Wednesday, 20 December 2017 at 12:24 PM
Buy paper and ink (or film) and print more.
Posted by: Jeff | Wednesday, 20 December 2017 at 12:30 PM
My strategy for these things is to hold into the gift certificate until I buy something I was going to get anyway. Then I use it and put the money into a special account. Once that account grows to a certain size then I can buy whatever I want for "free".
I got myself a used Fuji X-Pro 1 this way. I never would have bought it with "real" money, but I really like having it.
Posted by: Euan Forrester | Wednesday, 20 December 2017 at 12:35 PM
Hey, I’ll swap you my 27mm for your B&H gift card! Since getting the 23mm/f2 the 27mm has become an orphan in my camera bag.
Posted by: Gordon Reynolds | Wednesday, 20 December 2017 at 12:53 PM
For me, I've wanted a smaller "walk around" camera for a while. So I'd grab the Sony A6000 with 16-55mm the gift certificate makes it half price.
Posted by: Matthew | Wednesday, 20 December 2017 at 01:50 PM
Two hundred fifty dollars? Well...after promising my 68 year old self. "NO MORE CAMERAS!" I just spent $85 on a Pen FV (film) body. So, I guess I might get a couple of nice 43mm contrast filters for my Pen Zuiko's . The B&W filters are pricy but I already have one and they are very nice. The balance might go toward a Domke photo vest.
Posted by: John Robison | Wednesday, 20 December 2017 at 02:13 PM
I would definitely buy something that will last for a while like you said the iPad. To purchase supplies like inkjet paper or other accessories would be waste of a "Gift". Whenever I get a gift card it always goes towards a purchase that when I use it I get reminded about the giver or event for which it was received, just sayin. B&H also has a good used equipment section, maybe more bang for your gift card bucks?
Posted by: Peter Komar | Wednesday, 20 December 2017 at 02:37 PM
Mike, get this: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1317755-REG/really_right_stuff_13718_tfa_01_ultra_pocket_pod.html
You'll find it very helpful.
Bryan Geyer
Posted by: Bryan Geyer | Wednesday, 20 December 2017 at 02:40 PM
The beautiful thing about B&H is they sell so much more than photo equipment and computers.
A few years ago, when they were sold out everywhere else, I got my child a Nintendo 3ds from them. Bonus points because no one suspected a package from B&H to be anything other than "Dad's photo crap."
Posted by: MarkR | Wednesday, 20 December 2017 at 02:43 PM
My dictionary indicates a dilemma is (among common definitions) "a situation in which a difficult choice has to be made between two or more alternatives, especially equally undesirable ones: the people often face the dilemma of feeding themselves or their cattle."
Or paying the rent for a house they can't afford to heat…
Lenses, iPads, cameras… ?
What we have are good circumstances and gravy.
Posted by: Bill Stormont | Wednesday, 20 December 2017 at 03:06 PM
Cameras come and go, but a good lens is forever. I'd forgo the iPad, any camera, or any other electronics with a shelf life. If you buy a "keeper" of a lens, you'll still be using it in 20 years.
I recently took a "no new cameras" pledge, and then promptly purchased a Pentax K-1 (through your affiliate link with B&H, of course, Mike). Sadly, my example front focuses with all my manual focus lenses beyond the camera's ability to adjust. So it is going back to B&H for exchange, in hopes that example 2 will arrive properly calibrated. Ah well. Hope you still get the "credit" for the sale Mike.
Posted by: Benjamin Marks | Wednesday, 20 December 2017 at 03:40 PM
Put it towards paper and ink. That should be enough for an 8x10 a day for most of a year. You'll probably get more out of that than most things. And you'll keep your printer in good working order - those things need to be used (says the man who hadn't printed in two months until yesterday).
Posted by: Larry Gebhardt | Wednesday, 20 December 2017 at 03:45 PM
You already know why the Mennonites are so happy.
Posted by: Eric Rose | Wednesday, 20 December 2017 at 03:51 PM
Buy paper and ink, make an edition of signed prints of your work and multiply and monetize the gift ;-)
Posted by: Rodolfo Canet | Wednesday, 20 December 2017 at 03:56 PM
With $250 to spend, I'd go for one Pentax Hotshoe Adaptor F, one Off Camera Shoe Adaptor F, and one F5PL Flash Extension Cord. This gives me a 9.5 feet TTL lead, for just $212...
With the remaining $38, I would buy enough memory cards so I could keep one in each camera bag I own, in the vain hope that I will never, ever, ever, turn up with everything I need to take photos except a memory card, like I did this afternoon.
Posted by: Roger Bradbury | Wednesday, 20 December 2017 at 04:14 PM
Hold on to it for that B&H Deal 'o the Day that will come along in the not to distant future.
You know, that thing that you would like (or mayhap didn't know existed, let alone would call to you), can't justify, but now at a price that's amazing - and - feels free with the gift certificate.
Posted by: Moose | Wednesday, 20 December 2017 at 04:38 PM
I don't know about the legality of it or what hoops you will have to jump through accordingly, but raffling it among your readers might allow you to multiply the $250 many times over such that maybe you can buy that GFX 50S and a lens or two after all. 8^)
Posted by: JG | Wednesday, 20 December 2017 at 07:35 PM
How about giving that gift certificate to your housekeeper as a Christmas bonus? You never know, she might be a budding master photographer.
Posted by: John Haines | Thursday, 21 December 2017 at 12:09 AM
My 27mm has been attached to my XE2 for 6 months, and yes it really does fit in a coat pocket.
I have come to love the focal length, not just the lens. Something of a revelation, that.
Posted by: Steve Jacob | Thursday, 21 December 2017 at 03:50 AM
I'll have to dash out and get the 27 myself - it is listed at a lot of places locally at around A$279. Normally the Australian price is way higher than the US price.
Then of course, once I have this bargain lens, I'll have to dash out and buy a Fuji body to shoot with it.
[Made me laugh. —Mike]
Posted by: Chris C | Thursday, 21 December 2017 at 04:42 AM
I was thinking you'd spend the gift certificate on the household, as a thank you Christmas present.
Why don't you get her something nice. Fuji Instax for instance. The rest you can spend on yourself.
Yeah it's an expensive gift but on the other hand you got the certificate for free, so you're not spending anything. And she works for peanuts you say.
Posted by: Matt | Thursday, 21 December 2017 at 05:47 AM
Buy a samyang fisheye lens. I think once you wrote that it's only good for demonstrating the fisheye effect. Maybe it's time to revise your opinion.
Cheers
Marcell (fiberstrobe)
Posted by: Marcell Nikolausz | Thursday, 21 December 2017 at 06:44 AM
Mike I sure good you give this outstanding house keeper a good Christmas bonus, she deserves it.
Posted by: David | Thursday, 21 December 2017 at 07:01 AM
The Sony a6500 Deal Keeps drawing me in. If I had $250 to spend, I would go for this camera kit with the cheaper little 16-50mm lens and reward card and sd card. The 16-50mm lens is the one I had with my old NEX6. As I look back on the old files from that combo, I fall in love again with the clarity and mood. Merry Christmas at the Finger Lakes.
Posted by: Bob Travaglione | Thursday, 21 December 2017 at 09:20 AM
faster memory cards and more batteries, no matter which camera you use.
Posted by: Kirk Tuck | Thursday, 21 December 2017 at 09:56 AM
A lens is forever only if you stay in its ecosystem. Not naming no names, but some of us don't have a great track record in that department. Hard drives are camera equipment, too. My choice would be some mixture of storage media, i.e., hard drive, extra cards, paper & ink. No, not sexy, but certainly utilitarian.
Posted by: Hendrik | Thursday, 21 December 2017 at 10:36 AM
Mike
The 27mm is a great option. On my x-e2 probably 60% of the time, making it a light, pocketable (you are wearing a winter coat when you go out I presume) go everywhere camera. The change up to the 35mm makes it much more of a decision whether to take it or not.
Have a great Christmas.
Andy
Posted by: Andy | Thursday, 21 December 2017 at 01:23 PM
"(why are all Mennonites so well-adjusted? Do they know something we don't?)"
Yes, Mike, she (and most Mennonites) know something -- someone -- you don't. They know in a personal way the Reason for the season.
In other news. . .the 27 lives on my X-Pro 1. It's the rig I pick up whenever I go out the door.
Posted by: Dave Jenkins | Thursday, 21 December 2017 at 02:34 PM
As long as you are paying your Mennonite maid a living wage, at least $15/hour, then you shouldn't feel guilty.
Posted by: Laura | Thursday, 21 December 2017 at 05:49 PM
It does seem low-tech people are happier. That’s a problem, because I can’t even begin to imagine giving up high tech.
Posted by: Eolake | Thursday, 21 December 2017 at 07:58 PM