Editorial : The Missing Benefit By Paul Whitham LPSNZ
PAGE 46 OF this issue is devoted to the benefits of belonging to PSNZ. It has appeared in most editions of CameraTalk over the last two years. I wonder how many of you have taken the time to read it or have thought about what it contains. Organisations like PSNZ are often very hard to describe to outsiders and even some members, in terms of what benefits you gain from them. I am sure that as subs come up for renewal a number of people do ponder this question before they renew or cancel. If you look at the list, you will see that many of the items are opportunities to take part rather than concrete benefits given to all members. Only those who take part gain any benefit. To me there is one benefit missing from the list, and that it is the opportunity offered via the close relationship that PSNZ has with our trade partners. At the PSNZ national and some regional conventions, the trade stands have not only provided you with the opportunity to buy, but also to seriously try out camera gear before you make a decision. For many members there are no other opportunities to do this, as specialist camera stores only exist in a small number of centres and even then, trying out gear can be limited to a quick demonstration in the shop. Now, I am primarily a ‘people photographer’ and therefore you could assume that I would have no need for a wide angle lens. I also questioned whether I needed one and over the year have not allowed GAS (gear acquisition syndrome) to cause me to buy something I wouldn’t use. That did not stop me trying them. At both the Auckland and Dunedin conventions I borrowed an 8-16mm f4 lens from Andrew Reid at Panasonic to put it through its paces while out on the fieldtrips. At the end of the day I handed it back.
Interesting close up options
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