please empty your brain below

So just a typical day then?
"my crappy Samsung brick" - it's not the first time you mention your dislike of that device. Could you please, for the benefit of those of us who are also considering to invest in a camera, give some hints about what exactly is so bad with this model?
Earls Court are already advertising the dates for next years Ideal Home Christmas Show and according to them it will be taking place at Earls Court in November 2013.
Everyone has a duff model here and there, but Samsung don't really have any history in photography. (Though it's worth noting that Kodak's were horrible too) This means that they don't have much in the way of *great* cameras to balance out the crummy ones.

I'm generalising, of course. There are too many models from too many companies for sweeping statements to be accurate. But on average I'd say Nikon and Pentax have great SLRs and so-so point and shoots. Fuji's p'n's cameras are great, but they don't really have a pro line. Canon does everything, but have a huge number of both hits and misses. Out of the newbies, Panasonic does pretty well due to sharing some tech with Olympus (who don't have the budget to compete, but have the pedigree).

I'm sure someone will disagree shortly. And I'll be DG doesn't tell us about the camera until he's decided if he really likes it or not.
I am interested to know what DG has bought as he's clearly really disliked his current camera. In terms of choosing a new camera there is really no alternative to reading a decent number of magazine / online reviews once you have worked out what type of shots you want to take and what budget you have.

The never ending march of technology means that almost whatever you buy will be superseded within 6-9 months. Sometimes that can work to your advantage as retailers cut prices on good spec but superseded models. The final aspect is to go to a good camera shop and ask for advice if you can't decide from reviews. I have stuck with the same company for years because of the good service and value for money. I won't spam DG's comment box unless he indicates he's happy for me to share the name of the company.

I've used Canon DSLRs for years but there are plenty of good cameras from the likes of Nikon, Panasonic and Sony. Pentax and Olympus produce good "niche" models in particular camera formats.
Shame about Earl's Court...
Burnt Oak? What could possibly be of interest there?
It's my old stomping ground. You could have popped in for a cuppa!
How did you manage to get around all these places in a day (on the assumption that you did)? And do you ever do any work? You seem to have an inordinately enviable lifestyle.

dg says: I had the day off work. Inexplicably, that's how I decided to spend it.
What AndrewWS said
Was the photo of Earl's Court intended to link to a photo of Earl's Court, as opposed to West Acton?

dg writes: Er, no. And it doesn't now, thanks.

What happened to the camera which you replaced with the Samsung one? It must have been unrepairable for you to persist with a camera you dislike so much for so long.

dg writes: It got an unrepairable smear on the inside of the lens. I've not had much luck with cameras lately.
Re Earls Court - Another Olympic venue that's soon to be no more sad.

As to the Samsung Camera I'd be interested to know what is wrong with it. That said I have noticed that the right most side of many of DGs photos are blurred (but the rest in focus, so it looks like a lens problem). Perhaps it's this that is the problem?

dg writes: That's exactly the problem. I spent the first few months assuming the blur was because I hadn't worked out how to set the focus properly.
The Post Office in Watford has moved to the back of WH Smiths, as has one of the other Watford branches of the camera store you visited (at one point there were 3 branches within the ring road alone!)
The Earls Court exhibition centre may be a bit old fashioned looking but it had good transport links.Is the Ideal Home going to Excel?
It is on for 3 weeks and has crowds from the shires. The DLR would need to revert to the Olympic timetable!
The Earls Court exhibition centre may be a bit old fashioned looking but it had good transport links.Is the Ideal Home going to Excel?
It is on for 3 weeks and has crowds from the shires. The DLR would need to revert to the Olympic timetable!
Oh DG - you are a tease! I look forward to revealing in the next few days why you were in such disparate locations.
I had an Uncle who worked on the steel girders when Earls Court One was being built around 1937. It was something he was quite proud of.
Earls Court Two was opened much later in 1991.
I still miss the Royal Tournament which was held there for many years.
It does seem a shame that the buildings are due for demolition for yet more expensive apartments.
Why didn't/don't you take the Samsung back to where you bought it and point out the lens problem?

Surely it's still under warranty, so even if they send it back to Samsung for repair, you could then sell it on when you get it back. Or, if it comes back the same, then you could say that it was a problem with the camera model and insist on getting your money back.

Manufacturers need to know when they are producig duff models - and the only way they get to know is when users complain about product quality.

Now, I know there are quite a few words like 'insist' and 'complain' in this suggestion, but you have rather hated that camera, so maybe you could make an exception to you usual modus operandi? ;)

Hope you bought a Sony again this time...
I think DG has finally agreed to attend all those delightful thing he gets invited to by marketers.

Dear Diamond Geezer. Would you like to visit London's premier petroleum convention, Petex?
Hmmm. Not exactly sure what, or how, but I've got an odd feeling that 'the connection' might have something to do with Australians.
Ummm. Or maybe horses.
Sorry, Chz, but I was very disappointed when I bought a Fuji bridge, but there again I was more than impressed with my current Nikon Coolpix, which I'd say punches way above its weight.
Now I'm feeling old - I remeber watching EC2 being built, from my eyrie in the Empress State Building next door. And now it's coming down again?

Still, I saw the original Island Gardens station come and go in much les time than that!.
Every time I stand on the steps outside Earls Court it brings back memories of being evacuated just before the IRA bomb exploded in 1974. My memories might go a little earlier to a Royal Tournament, but that's not so easy to date. Went back the following day & got in for free, but we never actually got a boat.
kissenme, The Ideal Home Exhibition began at Olympia and remained there for several years, so I guess it could go back there.










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