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Post by kiev4a on Jun 13, 2007 10:08:39 GMT -5
It's interesting to see responses on some other forums to posters who want opinions on what equipment to buy.
If someone says they have bought a Nikon D40 (price $599) and want to find an inexpensive lens for no more than $100, Invariably several posters will advise them to get something like an 80-200 f2.8 VR Nikkor (price over $1,000). Anything else, according to the advisors, would be a waste of money! They don't seem to be able to comprehend that there are folks around who, for a variety of reasons, including financial, don't want to spend that sort of money.
Recently a guy posted on a forum saying he was looking at a used D100 he could get for $350 and thought it would be a good way to get his "feet wet" in digital--he's a long time film shooter. Immediately he was told he shouldn't buy anything less than a D80 ($1,000) or a D200 ($1,600). Anything less would be just silly.
Rather than waste my time arguing with the "ya gotta have the newest thing" crowd, I just sent the guy an email outlining my experience with the D100 and what I believe to be its pros and cons. We exchanged several emails and it turned out he was pretty much like me in the film equipment he owns and his reasons for wanting to experiment with digital. He eventually picked up the D100 and now is happily experimenting without having to take out a loan to finance it.
When I was into computers heavy a few years ago the same types of individuals lurked on those forums. If someone said they wanted a machine to email and do basic word processing, a bunch of people would tell them they need a machine with a huge graphics card and hard drive, a super fast processor--something that cost four times what they really needed--and there was always the insinuation you weren't worth talking to if you were willing to settle for less.
Of course this attitude isn't really that new in photography. There have always been plenty of snobs who claim they only use the most famous and expensive brands and doing anything less marked one as some sort of lesser being.
The snobs don't bother me. I may not have the newest digital or film camera or the biggest or fastest lens. But my equipment does what I ask of it AND in two months both our car and house will be paid off. I can live with that. ;D
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Post by herron on Jun 13, 2007 10:49:20 GMT -5
Oh, does that sound familiar! I have an acquaintance (I hesitate to say "friend" since - despite the fact I see him often at neighborhood functions - he annoys the bejeezus out of me)....anyway, he is constantly showing up with the absolute latest, "my god you don't have one yet?" camera or lens, and goes to great pains to inject himself (and the camera or lens) into everything that is going on. He likens my collection of film cameras to something that belongs in a museum ( or a junkyard, yuk yuk -- I'd like to punch him!), and everyone else's equipment to things not worth looking at twice. He likes to think of himself as the neighborhood photographer and photography guru...but his images all....how do I say this politely?...suck. He saw some of the pictures I took on our cruise last year, and remarked how good they were. Seemed surprised. Wanted to know what new digital I bought for the trip (of course he reminded me of his). When I told him they were from film cameras, an SLR that was 30 years old, a rangefinder that was 50, and a 120 folder that was even older, he couldn't believe it. Sure made me smile. ;D   |
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Post by vintageslrs on Jun 13, 2007 11:07:07 GMT -5
Ron When no-one is watching.......punch him!!!! Bob |
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mickeyobe
Lifetime Member
Resident President
Posts: 7,280
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Post by mickeyobe on Jun 13, 2007 14:18:58 GMT -5
When everyone is watching...........punch him!!!!!
Consider it a community service.
Mickey
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Post by John Parry on Jun 13, 2007 14:53:33 GMT -5
Well said Wayne! When someone on here gets a 'new' camera there are always a few posts telling them the good points of what they've just paid good money for. Unless they ask, we tend to let them find out the bad points for themselves. Our glasses are half full !!
Ron - As I mentioned recently, I was given the greatest accolade - my wife actually said "We'll let John take the pictures - his always come out." Not true, but there's something there !!
Regards - John
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Post by herron on Jun 13, 2007 15:06:38 GMT -5
Sage advice that seems to cover all the possibilities. At least you both agree on one thing....I should punch him!!!! LOL!! ;D
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Post by kiev4a on Jun 13, 2007 15:07:45 GMT -5
John: My wife said something very similar to some folks recently. At my age that's about as good a compliment as I can get from someone of the female persuasion  |
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PeterW
Lifetime Member
Member has Passed
Posts: 3,804
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Post by PeterW on Jun 13, 2007 16:22:50 GMT -5
Agree with you all about equipment freaks. They're an absolute PITA (Pain In The A...). And, you know, they spend so long studying specifications and reading reviews to become gurus that for some unaccountable reason they never seem to show any examples of what their wonderful equipment can do.
They'll lecture anyone who'll listen about how wonderful their latest camera is, and how old-fashioned everyone else's is.
In one instance not long ago I got so fed up I thought I'd be just a little bit wicked. A few of us had all had a few beers, and I made up a completely fictitious specification of a new 24 megapixel multi-mode DSLR with an f/0.8 aspherical zoom lens and known at the moment only as Projekt Z-C 08 (Projekt with a K of course) that's due for launch some time next year and which will outclass anything on today's market.
"Sorry I can't tell you more about it, and which companies are co-operating to make it, but it's still under strict embargo at the moment, so don't let anyone know where you heard about it."
I know this guy won't be able to keep quiet about it, and I'm waiting for my Projekt Z-C 08 [Zeiss-Cosina 2008 perhaps? Or maybe the 08 refers to the lens?] to crop up on a forum somewhere. ;D ;D. Do let me know if you hear about it.
PeterW
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Post by doubs43 on Jun 13, 2007 17:56:20 GMT -5
Peter, I knew there was a dark side to you! ;D I love it when someone takes the bait and passes a completely fabricated story along as being the gospel truth. Ron, I agree that fellow needs a good belt in the mouth... with or without onlookers. If you have a hobby, be it photography or fishing or guns or sports cars or whatever, there's always a certain type of person involved in the activity who must own the best and newest. That establishes them as THE expert... at least in their mind. In my experience they rarely stick with a hobby very long before they move on to something else. I've pretty much given up on telling about buys from ebay because I have a hard time posting and not having it come across as bragging. That has never been my intention so I just don't say anything much any more. Speaking of ebay finds, guess what I won yesterday! ;D Walker |
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Post by byuphoto on Jun 13, 2007 19:10:05 GMT -5
Just the other day, I was at my local lab. I was getting one of my paintings printed on canvas. The local know it all came in and upon seeing it remarked it looked soft to him. Should have used his f1.2 Niko/anon lens on the XYG body(insert the latest and most expensive) I did not say a word. But william, lab owner, told him I shot the photo with a Canon 5D and a canon 85 f1.8. He said he was glad he did not buy one prefering the upper tier of equipment. As I walked out I told William thanks for printing my painting and his face dropped. I was sure the customer would be happy and I know the $400 check would make me so
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Post by kiev4a on Jun 13, 2007 22:07:19 GMT -5
Years ago I had a brother-in-law that always claimed he knew more about any subject than any person in the conversation.
I think it was July 4. we were at my wife's parents place. There were about 20 people at the party. Somehow the Battle of the Little Bighorn came up. Knowing Western history was my hobby someone asked me a question which I was answering when my wife's sister's idiot husband interrupted, saying "No, No. That's not right. What really happened was...."
I let him talk for a little while. Then, in a very loud voice that stopped all other conversation in the room, I told him I was tired of his "expert" opinions. I said he did not know anything about the subject. I said I had researched the event for 20 years and had a library dealing with the event. I noted that what he had just said came from a truly awful movie version of Custer's Last Stand released a couple of years earlier. I told him if he couldn't say something intelligent he shouldn't say anything at all, which in his case would mean he would never speak a work on any topic. I believe I also called him a jerk.
Two of my wife's brothers applauded when I finished.
Soon after that my sister-in-law divorced him. I hope my speech had something to do with that decision.
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Post by herron on Jun 14, 2007 10:17:12 GMT -5
Oh no...I absolutely abhor bruisers and would suggest you not punch the guy!!! You are a gentelman remember. Instead...nonchallantly and innocently TRIP him and then ask for all to hear how he could be so clumsy and fall on his face like that!!!!! Be subtle, subtle, man!! Ron Head Kalamazoo, MI I like your style, Mr. Head! BTW -- After a noticeable absence, you certainly caught up your posts in a hurry! LOL!! ;D |
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