All right tech geeks, I’ve just graduated summa cumma laude from the University of Poindexter. With my graduation money (tax refund), I decided to stimulate the ailing economy and purchase a Nikon d200 and some accessories for the Canon HV30.
For the layman, a d200 is a mid-level 2nd generation DSLRcamera. Why not a d300, d700 or D3x you ask? Because Uncle Sam can only be so kind to a poor ISS teacher/YPwhen April 15 rolls around. Actually, I only purchased the camera body; my brother-in-law was kind enough to lend me everything else I needed for a decent setup. You can check out the noobie blunders and beginner’s luck gems here.
An HV30 is a consumer camcorder stretching to reach the height requirement for the up-and-down rollercoaster of the prosumer HDV market. This little am-cam shoots standard definition, HDV 24p, 30p, and 60i all for under $800. With countless accessories one can add to its arsenal including; a hot shoe shotgun mic, dead cat, wide angle adapter, 35mm adapter, lens hood, focus wheel, steadicam, high capacity battery, numerous types of filters and the list goes on, this is the MacGuyver-esque filmmaker’s dream. My additions are a Rode VideoMic, a Raynox 6600 pro wide angle lens with lens hood, a generic high capacity battery, and a DIY steadicam (by the way the DIY wasn’t me).
What does my growing dork collection have to do with anything? Well in the grand scheme of things it really isn’t that important. Stuff is stuff. I’d bet my best friend Eugene Peterson would agree we could paraphrase here, “For the love of stuff is the root of all sorts of evil.” So why point out my contradiction and add crispy kindling to the already blazing camp fire of Post-Modern Christian Hypocrisy? Isn’t it enough that my best bud P-Rob (and the like) is roasting liberal marshmallows and serving up numerous flame broiled whoppers that are juicy enough for almost any Christian to enjoy?
Okay scrap the meaningless metaphors. When it comes down to it, this stuff helps capture beauty and channel creativity. As a guitarist strums out vibrations that enter the ear and bounce around inside la cabeza creating an emotive response, so does a photographer capturing God’s creation from a unique perspective. As a sculptor reshapes a rock created thousands or millions of years ago, so does a videographer forming a collage at 24 frames a second.
Would Jesus like the d200 or Hv30? Jesus used the dirt to write in John 8. He did not use his own fish and loaves with the 5K and 4K. When you think about it (water to wine, healing the masses, fish and coin, Lazarus, numerous others, and yes; the Cross…), of all the truly beautiful things Jesus did, almost nothing was of his own possession. Jesus died on borrowed lumber. And, at the same time, all of it belonged to Jesus. All He had left to give was the only thing He could give. Jesus lived the life of a homeless king. Without a drachma to His name, He became the currency that absolved the debt of humanity. It all belongs to Him.
It all belongs to Jesus, even the techie nerd stuff.
So no matter how many times I appear on Pimp My Camcorder, I must bear in mind the equipment is on loan.
