As I, like many of you, have been waiting for a new Nikon camera body to arrive, a recurring thought has come to my mind. It comes from the words of my father and it might hold a cure for what ails you if you, like me, suffer from common Diseases that Plague Photographers. Whenever I wanted something badly, but couldn’t seem to get it fast enough, he would say, “Anticipation is greater than realization”. To a young, impatient boy then and to an older, impatient man now, those words never seemed to comfort me as my father might have liked. Although never very comforting, they were very true.
We have all been there. Maybe it was that new bike that seemed to take forever to save for. Perhaps it was your dream car that required you spend all of your free time working that extra job. Whatever you were hoping for, the anticipation and build up prior to acquiring it was likely much more exciting than actually getting the item. Who can’t identify with the new car owner that seems less excited about his/her new car after the first car payment comes due? And golfers are notorious for claiming to experience longer drives, straighter iron shots, and more holed putts after changing clubs. Interestingly, their new clubs lose their “magic” after a month and start behaving very similar to their old clubs.
I am sure my father was trying to get me to enjoy the wait and learn a bit of patience. Perhaps he was always hoping that if enough time would pass, my insatiable need to spend my money on some new flashy item would dissipate. Although very wise, dad’s tactics in this area often had less than the desired effects on his not so bright son. You may experience better luck with your kids or yourself. So I pass the lesson on to you. As for me [doorbell chime], I gotta go see what is in the B&H box that just arrived. Maybe if I am lucky, it was me that got Bob’s D800 this time. Enjoy the anticipation as you wait!
About Tom Redd
Thanks for this Nasim, I will enjoy the next (days – weeks – months – years ?) waiting for my D800E to arrive, hoping it comes as late as possible so my pleasure will be (according to you) greater……Noooooo…I’m kidding….!
Kind regards
HaHa, you are quite welcome!
Hi Tom
You are absolutely correct here. I have enjoyed reading all these comments these past few weeks how people are so frustrated that they have not received there new d800. It is like all of a sudden the camera that we had been using and shooting wonderful photographs with no longer works. Did it break? Where did the fun you were having go once you knew there might be something better out there? Maybe it is a flaw in so many of us to not be satisfied with what we have and wanting something we don’t have. Also this new camera is not all of a sudden going to make you that super star photographer. It might enhance what you are now doing but the real power in photography is who is behind that camera and not what is inside that equipment. So maybe we all need to relax and just enjoy the camera we are now using like we did before the announcement of the new d800
Thank you Jack.
Picked up my D4 at UPS 7am this morning!!!!!!!!
D800 should be coming SOON!!!!!!!!
Whoa! :O are you a millionaire ??!!
Oh I am so sorry, your fun is ruined! :) Enjoy that new camera.
Thanks. Can’t wait for the NCAA football season to start, will use the new addition to shoot State Track meet
Good article Tom, I could hear my own father speaking those same words to me as I read through your post. And I too, just like you, never seemed to quite grasp the idea of patience, still to this day, as I wait for a much smaller package to arrive than a new camera body…a new SB-910. My impatience once that arrives will be waiting for the next shipment of D800s to hit the web for me to order. The funny thing is, it never ends. Just like the “new” feeling, and excitement, that wears off after that short time period, its the almost comical fact that even as you fill that imaginary void you think you have…and need to fill, you are simultaneously creating a new one. So, the moment my doorbell chimes, and I open the door to greet the FedEx man, and I sign for my new SB-910…I am mentally closing one imaginary void and creating a new one, which will begin to birth a fast growing Impatient baby which will try its best to suck the life out of me just like the previous one.
Good article Tom,
Jay
Very good points Jay and thanks for reading and for your comments.
I could not have said it any better. You are exactly right
By the way, enjoy the SB-910!
Thank you! I will try not to let my impatience for a new camera body ruin my fun with my new 910…it should keep me occupied for a little while, ha. I’ve honestly gotten better with this over the years, slightly, but I have definitely learned to enjoy my new toys a little more and for a longer time than I used to. I have a few shoots booked for this coming week so Im looking forward to putting it to some use, and soon.
Funny thing my Father used to say that exact thing to me. Oh, wait it was the same guy. Well I didn’t listen any better than you. Enjoy your camera, even though the anticpation will have been better.
Its so amazing how grownups act so childish. I have seen children act better than adults waiting for their D800. The whole situation with Greta and B&H really highlighted this.
Darn it; here I am thinking that all toys come with that wonderful MAGIC button! Sob. Now, come to think of it if that were true, there would be no new toys. Sob again!
Sorry, but you’re wrong.
I need people to think that the D700 has become useless now that the D800′s out. :D
This is very true. As I was reading your post, a film kind of thing was being “projected” through min mind. I still be the same impatient man when it comes to get a new “toy” and frustration takes over if I can’t get it fast enough… and that’s what’s happening with the D800 :), especially after being promised week after week that “it will arrive next week”.
Sir, what is wrong with the production of Nikon D7000 for which I have been waiting for very long time?. In Indian market it is not at all available. When the supply is expected to commence?.
Shashikant, Nikon has suffered through the tsunami in Japan and flooding in Thailand. WIth two of their plants hit hard, production of many of their products has been slowed. As for exact timing for your D7000, I would think your local dealers might know best. Good luck and best wishes.
Oh, now that I know who authored this article, I COMPLETELY understand the lack of patience. It’s a genetic thing we ALL inherited from our father. Good article, bro.
I received mine this week after suffering what seemed like an eternity. Just to share a little tidbit.
The eye piece has a small leaf shutter which when closed down with a small lever allows the
round eye piece to be unscrewed to be replaced by what I assume would be a custom corrected lens.
(A very professional add on) The camera is really well built and has a satisfying heft to it.
Now the real challenge, raising the creative bar.
Congrats Alan, let us know how it goes with the new acquisition.
nice.. i guess our generation is more anxious than our previous generation.
We are all impatient kids :) when it comes to hobbies :)
Well – I’ve just lived through exactly this. Just acquired a D7000 to replace my D5000 plus a 70-300mm F4.5-5.6 , having very carefully read-up your reviews and many others and finally selling my vynil LP record collection and taking all the readies to my local camera shop and doing an excellent deal. You can imagine how it feels to transform the souvenirs of your youth ( all 1400 of them) into the hopes for your future (I’m 68 and I still reckon I’ve got a bright future !) I live in the west of France in the Loire Valley and I was driving past a city called Saumur on the motorway a few months ago and as I crossed a bridge on the freeway, I had a view of the town from across the river bathed in the warm morning sunlight. A few days later I got up at 6 in the morning and found a spot to take photos (with the older D5000 at the time) as the dawn rose over this ancient town in rural France. No satisfaction of buying new gear can ever replace my moment of intense pleasure of processing my photos in Lightroom and seeing my humble efforts on the screen. I am sure I’m not a brillant photographer but I can tell you one thing about life – Gadgets and gear are great but It’s what you do to be creative that is really worthwhile and gives you long-term satisfaction. I’d love to mail you a sample or two of the photos but you need to tell me how. I’m a great fan of your site.
Thanks
Philip Hymas
Seiches sur le Loir
FRANCE
Philip – Thank you for the kind words. You are exactly right, “it’s what you do to be creative that is really worthwhile and gives you long-term satisfaction”. It is clear that your future is still bright – keep shooting and enjoying all the beauty that surrounds you in your wonderful part of this incredible earth.
I don’t know if this goes to Tom or Phil but either way I am sure someone can let Phil know that an old friend is interested in his well being. Strangely although we havn’t seen each other since the 70′s I too am a photographer and even make a sort of living from my hobby/profession. I managed to track Phil down through a simple search and voila! Phil and I also shared a passion for music and hi-fi, I still have the speakers that I bought from him when he was downsizing. Sorry that this is so inappropriate a use of this excellent site but I’ll give it a try and see where it gets me.
Seasons wishes from Crawley. Yes I still live here!
Graham Holder
graham@imagein.co.uk
This is great news and I want to thank Tom and the Photography Life team. It is always wonderful to find old friends from 40 years ago and to find them through a common interest is even better. I’ll be in touch with you separately Graham but felt that my thanks to this great site should be on record. All the advice and tips to keep our passion alive – what more can you ask ?
Philip Hymas
Graham and Philip, glad to be of assistance in some small way. Thank you both for the kind words and for being regular visitors to this great site that Nasim has created. Happy holidays to you both and happy trails!
Very nice words said in this article. The wait seems longer than it actual is.
Anyone has a timeline for receiving the D800 from the date of their order. will appreciate some inputs on this.
Thanks!
Tom, an inspirational way to look at a very frustrating situation. I was able to make the leap from frustration to anticipation after reading your post, and a few days later was fortunate enough to pick up my new D800. I think that I enjoyed the first shot even more after spending a few days in a state of positive anticipation instead of negative frustration. Thank you for your sane words.
Brent – congratulations, I am glad you have yours, enjoy it and thanks for the comment and for visiting our site.
My waiting came to an end when I got a call last week and got the D800 on May 3rd. I didn’t expect it until the end of May, so it was kind of a surprise. Started using it and so far I like it very much. Have given a break to my good old D700 for now. The old D300 has gone up for sale.
Aruna, congratulations! Enjoy the new D800 and thanks for visiting our site.