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Life and Times from 2002

Life and Times from 2000

Big Mavica Hits the Scene

“Big Mavica”, a Sony Mavica CD400 digital camera, hit the scene on November 11, 2002.  This was a significant upgrade for me, taking me from the previous camera’s 0.3 megapixel resolution (Sony Mavica FD73) to 4.0 megapixel under Big Mavica (the “big” in Big Mavica always referred to the resolution).  This upgrade brought me many new capabilities, and vastly superior resolution.

This photo set describes the entry of Big Mavica into my world, and the first couple of times that I used Big Mavica before I produced the “Autumn Leaves” Photography set, the first to be produced using Big Mavica instead of the original Mavica.


Placed in a Wal-Mart bag to provide me some handles, I finally got it home.  Needless to say, this puppy did not leave my sight from the moment I picked it up at the post office until now.

Placed in a Wal-Mart bag to provide me some handles, I finally got it home.  Needless to say, this puppy did not leave my sight from the moment I picked it up at the post office until now.


Having stripped off the Wal-Mart bag, I quickly found some scissors and sliced the top open in order to get at the goodies inside.

Having stripped off the Wal-Mart bag, I quickly found some scissors and sliced the top open in order to get at the goodies inside.


First up!  One air bag, to keep things from rattling around.  These aren't nearly as fun as bubble wrap, but they're still neat because they make a big noise when you smash them.

First up!  One air bag, to keep things from rattling around.  These aren’t nearly as fun as bubble wrap, but they’re still neat because they make a big noise when you smash them.


One Mavica, right on the invoice!

One Mavica, right on the invoice!


This is beyond obsession... but this is the box it came in.  I am that excited about this, so I documented every little minute detail...

This is beyond obsession… but this is the box it came in.  I am that excited about this, so I documented every little minute detail…

This is beyond obsession... but this is the box it came in.  I am that excited about this, so I documented every little minute detail...


Inside, we found the first accessories: the neck strap. a CD adaptor (to make the little CDs fit the full-size ring), some cables, and the all-important documentation.

Inside, we found the first accessories: the neck strap. a CD adaptor (to make the little CDs fit the full-size ring), some cables, and the all-important documentation.

Inside, we found the first accessories: the neck strap. a CD adaptor (to make the little CDs fit the full-size ring), some cables, and the all-important documentation.


Digging further in, we found the starter CDs, and the battery pack.

Digging further in, we found the starter CDs, and the battery pack.


So this is what we're got so far... all the accessories previously mentioned, the charger (far right), plus the starter CD-RW disc, in its jewel case.

So this is what we’re got so far… all the accessories previously mentioned, the charger (far right), plus the starter CD-RW disc, in its jewel case.


I think we know what's in this little foam bag...

I think we know what’s in this little foam bag…


Yep!  Big Mavica... straight out of the box, and still with tags on it.  Yep!  Big Mavica... straight out of the box, and still with tags on it.

Yep!  Big Mavica… straight out of the box, and still with tags on it.


Soon after, I hooked on the essential equipment.  The lens cap is tied on, just like on the old Mavica, plus the neck/shoulder strap is now attached.  A new feature was that the middle of it had a piece of rubber attached to it.

Soon after, I hooked on the essential equipment.  The lens cap is tied on, just like on the old Mavica, plus the neck/shoulder strap is now attached.  A new feature was that the middle of it had a piece of rubber attached to it.


So what now... oh, yes!  Let's insert the battery!  So what now... oh, yes!  Let's insert the battery!

So what now… oh, yes!  Let’s insert the battery!


So now let's bring Big Mavica to life, and... set the date.

So now let’s bring Big Mavica to life, and… set the date.


Now, this impressed me.  After setting the date, it told me that the lens cap was still on.  The old camera didn't do this.  The old camera would happily take a picture of the lens cap firmly in place, and even flash the flash for it!

Now, this impressed me.  After setting the date, it told me that the lens cap was still on.  The old camera didn’t do this.  The old camera would happily take a picture of the lens cap firmly in place, and even flash the flash for it!


Now, we put down the old camera and switched to Big Mavica.  This was the first photo I ever took on Big Mavica, DSC00001.JPG, and I took it by accident.  The shutter button on Big Mavica was a little more sensitive than the old Mavica.

Now, we put down the old camera and switched to Big Mavica.  This was the first photo I ever took on Big Mavica, DSC00001.JPG, and I took it by accident.  The shutter button on Big Mavica was a little more sensitive than the old Mavica.


This was the first intentional photo with Big Mavica.  Time to play with this a little...

This was the first intentional photo with Big Mavica.  Time to play with this a little…


The master at work, taken in the mirror.

The master at work, taken in the mirror.


Big Mavica's first glimpse at a fire alarm!  And trust me, it would not be its last...

Big Mavica’s first glimpse at a fire alarm!  And trust me, it would not be its last…


Touring around Potomac Hall playing with this thing, I came across this column, decorated with advice on how to beat stress.

Touring around Potomac Hall playing with this thing, I came across this column, decorated with advice on how to beat stress.


Upstairs on the fifth floor, I encountered a program going on where the girls were making locator signs.  I actually shot this at a lower resolution than usual, since I was playing with that at the time.

Upstairs on the fifth floor, I encountered a program going on where the girls were making locator signs.  I actually shot this at a lower resolution than usual, since I was playing with that at the time.


Back in the room, we take photos of some household effects...  Back in the room, we take photos of some household effects...

Back in the room, we take photos of some household effects…


Wheelock 7002T...

Wheelock 7002T…


And the label on my bathrobe.  Am I having too much fun?  One can argue that the answer is yes...

And the label on my bathrobe.  Am I having too much fun?  One can argue that the answer is yes…


And of course... the room overall.  This is how I like to see Potomac - at 4.0 megapixels!  Much better than 0.3 megapixels, which is what the old camera did.

And of course… the room overall.  This is how I like to see Potomac – at 4.0 megapixels!  Much better than 0.3 megapixels, which is what the old camera did.


Yikes!  That's a lot of packaging...

Yikes!  That’s a lot of packaging…

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