Ever since I fell in love with photography back in 2011 after getting my first camera the goal was always to eventually get an interchangeable lens camera. I was only familiar with the DSLR cameras at the time. To me that was what all the professionals used. That was the most pristine option. So when 2015 came around, and my Kodak took a dump, it was only fitting that I ended up with a Nikon D5200.
That monster of a DSLR beginner camera came with two kit lens and a whole lot of accessories. That thing was a beast. I was impressed with the 24 megapixels, five frames per a second, and all the features a DSLR comes with. I felt like a pro (even though I was/and still am very much an amateur). It didn't take long for this camera to take the place of my Kodak and go everywhere with me.
My first trip with this tank of a camera was Florida, and I was excited about all the pictures I got. I finally had the capability to put my creativity to my photos. I felt like I could do anything with that camera. The best thing was I could finally take bird photos. Ever since I got into birding in 2012 I wanted (I mean REALLY wanted) to get into bird photography. Now that I had the 70-300 mm kit lens and a DSLR camera I was unstoppable. I could take all the bird pictures I wanted. It was like a dream come true. I rolled with the D5200 all the time until 2017.
2017 my life started to change. That's when I met John. I fell in love with John. John loves motorcycles, mountains, and tacos. All the things I love. We started to travel as a couple only a couple months into our relationship. I brought my trusty tank of a Nikon D5200 with me, but I found that I wasn't using it as much on the trip. Just seemed like a big to do every time I wanted to take it out of the car. This is when the camera seemed to become bulky in my life. It just went down hill from there.
I not only started riding on the back of the motorcycle with John, but he also got me my very own scooter. With 125 cc underneath my seat, and a leather jacket on I felt like a badass on that scooter. I was excited to go cruising around the park, and taking photos. Riding on a motorcycle/scooter with a bulky camera should be no problem right? Wrong. I bought a waterproof box for it because I despise camera backpacks, and how am I going to fit a camera bag in a saddle bag? I could put the camera in a dry bag but then it would bang around in the saddle bag. So I tried to work with the box. The waterproof box I bought had to be huge to fit the monstrosity of the camera and it's lenses. There was no way of cramming it into the compartment under the scooter seat. I had to take a backpack with me, and even then it barely fit. It barely fit into the saddle bags as well. It was very discouraging.
I started getting into a funk. I stopped wanting to take my camera places. In fact I don't think I even took it on our second trip to the Smokies as a couple. I just used my phone the whole time. I considered myself a photographer. A photographer shouldn't have to be discouraged on taking their camera with them. Little did I know all that would change the next year.
In early 2018 John bought himself a Sony a5100. He bought it so he could take pictures with me when we went places. This camera is a mirrorless camera. I didn't know there was such a thing until he bought one. Mirrorless? All I ever knew was DSLR cameras. That's what the pros used. Not this mysterious mirrorless camera. However, one faithful day made me change my mind.
I used John's mirrorless camera at the Franklin Botanical Gardens just out of curiosity. It was a dream. The pictures were crisper. The mechanisms worked so smoothly. It was just a beautifully built camera. I never knew I could fall in love so hard with a camera. My D5200 looked so clunky compared to this sleek new camera. It just seemed ancient compared to this new technology. It's what pushed me to take the next step.
I got the Sony a6000 that summer. I wanted to still have a view finder since I use it so much so this was the best budget mirrorless Sony had to offer. This little boss of a mirrorless camera had the same megapixels as the D5200, but could keep up more with my bird photos than the D5200 ever could. It was so compact that it has been a dream to take anywhere and everywhere. I flew with it in my free bag to the Grand Canyon. I rode with it when motorcycle camping in the Smokies. I've went on numerous hikes with it. I fell in love with this camera. I fell hard.
This isn't the end of the Nikon D5200's story, though. She's not sitting in my closet some where as a back up. I decided to give her a new life. She was first given to my best friend. She wanted to get into photography (or at least get her feet wet) so I figured this would be the perfect chance. My best friend decided it wasn't for her so I gave the camera another new home.
John's sister was getting into a photography class, and was looking for a new camera to get started. So I gave her the beast of a camera. She's getting more acquainted with interchangeable lens cameras, and I'm happy I was able to help. I'm happy to be able to give the Nikon some use. I'm so happy I made the switch. I've gotten so many photo opportunities from it, and so many more awaits.
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