do YOU guys mind being bothered by others commenting on your cameras?

[back alley]

bothered?


.

[Peter_Jones]

Not bothered in the slightest I get mithered much more when I ride my old Triumph Bonneville

[steveniphoto]

i get a little bothered when people who know nothing about photography try to sound smart. if it's someone who actually is knowledgable in photography then i dont mind having a conversation.

[Peter^]

Usually I think it is great when someone asks me about my gear, especially if they know something about photography. However, I'm starting to get tired of the following conversation:

- "Is that a Leica"?
"No, it's a Zeiss".

- "Really, is it an antique"?
"No, it is still in production. You can buy one new".

- "Wow, so it's a digital camera"?
"No, it's a 35 mm film camera".

- "Can you still get film"?
So this is when I start getting irritated, and Facetious Peter kicks in. I end up saying something like:
"Well, not really. But I make it myself on the basis of Scotch tape, and then develop it with coffee".

[Keith]

I've been bothered/annoyed by one comment about my camera in the time I've been a photographer!

I was at a party and someone spotted my Ikon and asked to have a look. They handed it back to me after noticing the 'Made in Japan' on the bottom and said ... "That's a shame, I thought it was a Zeiss!"

[Archiver]

Never bothered. It's always nice to have someone take pleasant interest in my cameras.

At a wedding several years ago, the pro photog noticed that I was using a Contax T3. Instant conversation about how he used to use a G2 and all the lenses for weddings, and how he loved the system. He had to sell it while it was still worth something and go digital, though.

On the weekend someone looked at the black-taped M9 around my neck and said, 'sexy camera!' I said thanks, and then looked at the camera in his hand. 'You, too! Nice XA!' I said. I have a XA2 which I enjoy very much.

On the same day, a shop assistant said to me, 'that is a gorgeous little camera you have!' We had a chat about cameras and Leica, and after a few minutes we'd attracted the attention of two other women who worked there.

At Bruno's Sculpture Garden in Marysville, Australia, Bruno noticed the Zeiss Ikon around my neck and commented about how good it was to see someone still using old film cameras! We talked about the goodness of film.

At a bookshop in the last few months, the fellow working there squinted at my X100 and identified it correctly. He was thinking of either a X100 or X10, so I gave him the names of a shop or two that had them secondhand. After handling the X100 he said that it really reminded him of a Hexar AF that he used to have.

[ssmc]

It seldom happens, but it doesn't bother me in the least.

One notable occasion was in Glacier NP when I had an M6TTL. A young German bloke did a double-take and said "Cool - very retro!" with a genuine smile. On the same trip a few folks looked at it and said (somewhat incredulously) "Does that take... film? " which made me smile

[Pablito]

Originally Posted by gavinlg

I can't imagine why anyone would be annoyed by people taking an interest in their camera...

Because it can be a distraction when you're working and you wish they would just go away.

Of course it depends on the circumstance. You can make it work for you in some situations.

[Pablito]

Originally Posted by Peter^

Usually I think it is great when someone asks me about my gear, especially if they know something about photography. However, I'm starting to get tired of the following conversation:

- "Is that a Leica"?
"No, it's a Zeiss".

- "Really, is it an antique"?
"No, it is still in production. You can buy one new".

- "Wow, so it's a digital camera"?
"No, it's a 35 mm film camera".

- "Can you still get film"?
So this is when I start getting irritated, and Facetious Peter kicks in. I end up saying something like:
"Well, not really. But I make it myself on the basis of Scotch tape, and then develop it with coffee".

Well, you could develop it with coffee...

[Vince Lupo]

I only get 'bothered' by it when people comment that I must be a really good photographer because I'm using such and such a camera, or have a lot of equipment etc. I usually reply that all it shows is that I know how to spend money.

[igi]

Originally Posted by Peter^

Usually I think it is great when someone asks me about my gear, especially if they know something about photography. However, I'm starting to get tired of the following conversation:

- "Is that a Leica"?
"No, it's a Zeiss".

- "Really, is it an antique"?
"No, it is still in production. You can buy one new".

- "Wow, so it's a digital camera"?
"No, it's a 35 mm film camera".

- "Can you still get film"?
So this is when I start getting irritated, and Facetious Peter kicks in. I end up saying something like:
"Well, not really. But I make it myself on the basis of Scotch tape, and then develop it with coffee".

...but when the police comes in, is it all "tail between your legs" or still Facetious Peter?

[dave lackey]

Do I mind? It happens so rarely, I think nothing of it. It did occur about two months ago at a dance class for my youngest granddaughter where a lady Canon photog and friend of my son's family was surprised I was shooting film.

I handed her the IIIF and showed her how to focus and let her use it a bit.

Passed the time for awhile as sitting outside the class window is booooorrrrrrriiiiiiinnnnnnggggg....

Now I wish I had the M3 that day so she could have seen it, too!

[Mark A. Fisher]

I recently borrowed a Lomo 360 Spinner from a friend of mine, and today I took it to a local sculpture park for some experimental playing around. Right out of the gate a guy says "Is that like a camera?" My reply was "It's not only like a camera, it really is a camera!" Five minutes later much the same interchange, but the lady then says "Isn't it amazing what they can do with computers!" My reply, "This shoots film". She: "Oh, they still make film?"

But then, I'm always using some goofy film thing, like a Holga, or a Diana, or a Mamiya 7II, or a Nikon, or...

Same general conversation, no matter the quality, price, or lens. Unless it's a DSLR, which I also use on occasion.

Then the conversation begins with "Oh, I bet your camera takes great pictures"

And so it goes...

m

[jsrockit]

Wait, so you CAN still get film? Who knew!

[Bill58]

The other evening a guy walked by while I was shooting a parade w/ my F2 and he said in jest, "nobody shoots film anymore". We both laughed ......and he's right.

[Bob Michaels]

I had this conversation several weeks ago:

stranger: Hey, what film are you shooting?
Bob: Tri-X
stranger: great film, I shot it for years.
Bob: yep, sort of an old standard isn't it.
stranger: I hated to see it go.
Bob: Uh, it is still being manufactured.
stranger: No, Kodak went bankrupt.
Bob: actually there are reorganizing but still making Tri-X
stranger: Nope, bankrupt, out of business, closed the doors
Bob: Bummer, thanks for letting me know. Have a good day.

[Range-rover]

Hi all,
No It doesn't bother me when someone ask's me about my camera, when I had my
Leica M3 with a 35mm and viewfinder in all that chrome, one day I was taking pictures
and concentrating on a shot when someone ran up and said Wow is that a Leica!, that
was the only time I got spook, ever since then I been more aware what's going on
around me. now the the Nikon S2 i got there will most likely be more looks with that
camera will see how it goes.

range

[gb hill]

An old gentleman asked one time in passing if my Bessa was a Leica. I made the mistake of going to a meetup group event at the NC Transportation Museum with a bunch of DSLR users. Most were pretty cool except one a$$ who kept ranting about how much better digital is to film. Funny thing was the guy he did most of the ranting to was shooting with a 4X5 Linhof.

[sara]

Doesn't really bother me I think! But I did get annoyed when I was at university and friends asking "what camera I used" because they "wanted photos like mine".

[David Hughes]

Hi,

Just a thought, if it really bothered us would we be on this forum?

Regards, David

[goamules]

Most of the comments are short and complimentary when I carry a rangefinder. Several people have told me interesting stories, like the homeless looking man that told me he had a studio in the 70s and shot Leicas. And he knew enough that I believed him. It is distracting, so I'm pretty short but polite unless I really want a conversation. If it's a good looker, I'm bound to talk it up quite a while!

The one rude one was an older guy who walked up to me looking intently at the camera (a 50s Canon IVSB rangefinder), then said, "Oh, I thought that was a Leica. I would have talked to you if it was, but I see it's not...." then he turned on his heels and walked off. I felt like throwing the camera at him.

Large Format is a lot more methodical, and gawkers mess up my process train more so I'm usually a little shorter with them if I'm trying to get a shot and the light is going. But other times I'm happy to discuss the camera and process. It's good PR.

[Dylan Hope]

Only time I feel uncomfortable is when it's someone in my course. Possibly because the camera makes no difference when it comes to film, possibly because I still have a hard time verbally justifying the Leica to myself.

[jsrockit]

Originally Posted by goamules

The one rude one was an older guy who walked up to me looking intently at the camera (a 50s Canon IVSB rangefinder), then said, "Oh, I thought that was a Leica. I would have talked to you if it was, but I see it's not...." then he turned on his heels and walked off. I felt like throwing the camera at him.

You should have throw it... what an ass. I had the opposite situation. I was photographing while I hear a guy talking on a cell phone about my camera... a M9 with a CV 50mm 3.5. He's saying... "yeah, he has a Leica with a 30s lens on it." Then asks me about it a little bit before saying "next time get a real camera ... like a Canon." Mind you, this was a 70 year old man acting this immature. Luckily I was in a good mood that day, so I just laughed. Fools.

[Jamesruff]

i love my cameras, and i love talking to people about my cameras!

[Gabriel M.A.]

Originally Posted by goamules

Most of the comments are short and complimentary when I carry a rangefinder. Several people have told me interesting stories, like the homeless looking man that told me he had a studio in the 70s and shot Leicas. And he knew enough that I believed him. It is distracting, so I'm pretty short but polite unless I really want a conversation. If it's a good looker, I'm bound to talk it up quite a while!

I completely understand that, not many people do. When you're out looking, and people are chatting away, it can be very distracting. Small talk is OK, but some people just go on and on asking specific questions, and my replies tend to be short, not because I'm upset or short with them, but because I'm at that point multi-tasking. It's like driving and playing Sudoku at the same time (but far less dangerous): your performance on both is going to take a hit.

I've become less intent on shooting when I'm out with people, so this is no longer much of a "problem", but I just know how that can be.

Originally Posted by goamules

The one rude one was an older guy who walked up to me looking intently at the camera (a 50s Canon IVSB rangefinder), then said, "Oh, I thought that was a Leica. I would have talked to you if it was, but I see it's not...." then he turned on his heels and walked off. I felt like throwing the camera at him.

Sheez, there's not much room for interpretation there. Yes, what an a-h.

Originally Posted by goamules

Large Format is a lot more methodical, and gawkers mess up my process train more so I'm usually a little shorter with them if I'm trying to get a shot and the light is going. But other times I'm happy to discuss the camera and process. It's good PR.

I remember I was at Bryce Canyon about 11 years ago, and saw a guy with a nice LF set-up. I asked if I could look through the back of the camera, and politely agreed. It was one of those moments when I thought to myself "that's pretty cool, I wonder if I could do this?" He was obviously retired...and me just starting to pay student loans, so years passed before I could get my first LF camera. Which, btw, gets some pretty interesting gawks and comments.