Is it just me.....

[360°]

....but when i go somewhere and there are other photographers using better cameras and lenses( L lenses) i get intiminated and hesitant to take out my xsi with my 18-85is lens....

i feel as if i will be looked down upon

maybe its just stupid, but does this happen to anyone else?

[Lazuka]

nope, results are more important than looking pro.

[avbcon12]

Nope, everyone started out small. at least they should have.

[360°]

i just wish i had money to have a "cool" white lens :(

[RyanQ]

I do feel the same sometimes. There are couple of times though that my lenses were more useful than theirs. :-D

[JWright]

....but when i go somewhere and there are other photographers using better cameras and lenses( L lenses) i get intiminated and hesitant to take out my xsi with my 18-85is lens....

i feel as if i will be looked down upon

maybe its just stupid, but does this happen to anyone else?

If you're this worried about this, then you have issues that go way beyond what we can do for you here... j/k ;) :D

Don't let it bother you. They're probably more into getting their own shots than to make note of your camera. I shoot from the media pits at a lot of airshows and there are all kinds of cameras there, from the guys with 1D and 1Ds cameras to shooters with XXDs and Rebels.

I shoot with a 40D and a 20D and I've gotten the impression the shooters from the local newspaper or the AP don't really care what kind of a camera I have.

[NeoTokyo]

+1

Nope, everyone started out small. at least they should have.

I usually went up to them and talked to them to see how they were doing, what tips they had to give and just general talk.

There is an older couple that go birding down here in Springfield at the conservation dept. trails and they look to have a couple large/long (Maybe a Bigma?) sigma lenses, not sure what they are, in fact I think they are bigger than the 50-500mm bigma. His body looks like an xxD and hers looks like an XT.

They are pretty stand-off ish and when I tried to talk equipment with them I felt like they thought my 40D and 24-105mm combo was crap. This was after they were done shooting and we were in the parking lot.

I'm not birding so my equipment needs are quite different.

They aren't professional I don't think but they are the only people to ever be like that. I have tried to talk to them several times as there aren't many people out there with DSLR's, film SLR's or Canon anything for that matter.

I have a 1DIII with my current 24-105mm and still don't go birding but I don't think I could get on their "Good" side without a huge lens on the end of the Camera! LOL

So far they are the only people to make me feel like my equipment wasn't worth anything.

Hell today I was taking pictures out of the Ford dealership of some Mustangs (Like I have done many times before) and I am also shopping around for when I do buy another one.

Well some guy or gal (Could have been the guy in the Focus or the family on the E-Class Mercedes) called the cops on me while I was taking pictures.

A nice police officer came out and said someone called saying that we (My wife, my 3 1/2 year old daughter and I) were trying to steal a very nice Pro-charged 03' Mach 1 that was open.

I told him that we were just taking picture and we talked shop for a little bit about Mustangs, chargers, challengers, camaros and so on but he knew right away we weren't steeling the car.

Those people saw I was taking pictures and I don't know if they did it because they just wanted to harass someone that was driving their project that day.

We drove our 96' Mustang out to Friendly Ford that day and it is a green car with silver doors and a black front end. It was stolen and stripped, we are putting it back together. We are just waiting for a wrecked Mach 1 to come up for sale and it will be done (Well, done after the Azure blue paint.)

Anyways its not Camera equipment in this case so much but out Project car that was the reason why we felt like someone else was looking down on us.

Just a rant I guess :D

-Eric-

These are a few shots that I took just before the officer showed up.

1.) A S197 Roush in the same lineup.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2631/3693749292_474f702b09_b.jpg
2.) An underhood shot of the Mach 1 and its Procharger
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2535/3692969033_935a76ebe0_b.jpg
3.) A Shot of the Gauge Cluster
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2552/3693778694_2396a2a088_b.jpg
4.) A shot of the Autometer Air Fuel gauge.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2654/3693776422_0ed1d2d7d8_b.jpg

[reddyroc007]

i've felt like this at times but not much can be done about it so i just whip it out and have some fun... the thing that always gets me is how often i meet other ppl with rebels, everyone and their sister has a freakin' rebel!

[The Moose]

I don't feel like that because I know it's up to the gear. I shot an indoors 8 hour music festival in March. I was using a 400D, primarily with a 24/2.8 but sometimes pulling out the nifty fifty. I was able to get a media pass because I emailed the organisers and asked for one for experience. He already had a hired photographer and he was shooting with a 5D2, 17-40 and 70-200/4. I showed the organiser the photos I took and he said my photos were so much better than the other guys, not to mention that I was looking around for new angles the whole time and everything too. Fast forward to last month and the guy who organised that festival got in contact with me and hired me for a smaller gig that he put on because his money was better off with someone who he knew could deliver rather than someone who had the better equipment :)

[Headbone]

I shoot a fair amount of music festivals and I used to be a bit intimidated by others using way more expensive cameras and glass, but I got over that very quickly after chatting to a magazine photographer using 5D2 and 70-200 L. He also started off with a 1000D and some decent glass.

Don't be afraid to approach someone and have a chat. More often than not, you can pick up some pointers and tips.

Yes, some of the other photographers will seem a bit stand-offish, but overall, even the guys/ladies using gear that is over 10 times the value of yours will always have time for a chat. Some will not speak to you at all (it happens), just ignore them and take your shots.

Just remember one thing I got from the above mentioned mag shooter: "It is not the gear, it is how it's used."
Incedently, the 5D2 he was using was the magazine's, his 50D was in his bag as backup.

[funhouse69]

I agree 100% you shouldn't be intimidated at all... As someone else said, we all started out somewhere. I started with an original Digital Rebel and slowly worked my way up to better equipment but believe me you can still take / get some awesome shots with any body / lens combo. Its way better to invest your time in learning your camera inside and out and improving your technique.

The best is when you get better shots than the people with the white lenses :-)

[NeoTokyo]

BTW:

I guess thats the kind of Karma we get.... Do good and get bad happen to you.

Last week when the dealership was locked up and there were only 2 Sales reps working on a deal we saw that the Yellow Mach 1 next to the Red Roush I posted was out of gear and didnt have the e-brake on.

It was locked so we went inside and told one of the sales guys there that it was locked and out of gear. They thanked us because they were about to go home and they didnt want to come back to the Mach 1 down the hill plowed into about 3 other Mustang GT's.

Thanks Karma :)

B!tch. lol

[bohdank]

Most of the pros I see at events look completely bored. I have seen guys with low end Sony's in the media pit at fashion shows. They don't seem to be intimidated by the 1D's and D3's.... no, I don't get intimidated, never have. That's something you need to come to grips with.

[HoosierJoe]

It's just you. Yeah, some equipment snobs will look down. Who cares what others think? A true pro will either ignore you because they are busy, or think nothing of it.

[KjellG]

maybe its just stupid, but does this happen to anyone else?

Definetely not me anyways, if anyone tries to put me down (which hasn't happened) because they have "better gear" I'm not even going to dignify them with a response. Well, perhaps with a smaller handgesture.

[Headshotzx]

I own good lenses and accessories but use a 400D + Grip that still gives me great photos. People with 50D kits give me the 'are you nuts? you should get a better camera' look and I just ignore them or show them my photos (:

[mattyb240]

Only once, I was working on an event and learning low light event photography during some down time, I went up an spoke to the pro photographer about how he was using his flash etc etc and couldn't care less when he saw me with my Canon running about the place. He was rude and obnoxious, apart from that incident, never, whenever I am walking around and see someone with a DSLR I just do a polite smile.

[Todd Lambert]

Only once, I was working on an event and learning low light event photography during some down time, I went up an spoke to the pro photographer about how he was using his flash etc etc and couldn't care less when he saw me with my Canon running about the place. He was rude and obnoxious, apart from that incident, never, whenever I am walking around and see someone with a DSLR I just do a polite smile.


Since he was working, he probably either viewed you as competition or just a nuisance. Not to excuse his behavior, but that might be why you got the treatment that you did.

But, in either of those scenarios I would have just gone out of my way to ask questions and annoy the hell out of him, if he treated me like that.

[360°]

someone once told me that white lenses have increase performance due to the bigger chick magnet that they contain....



.... relax that was obviously a joke :)

[Todd Lambert]

Ugh

I think it just swells head tissue, similar to Corvettes and Hummers - thus causing guys to think their penis is larger than it is and that they have more hair on their heads than they actually do.

Pffttt..

[montanawild]

I haven't been looked down (at least haven't felt that way), but I do stand next to guys shooting 1D's at events I shoot. Maybe its the 70-200 and 600 f/4 that gets me respect, but I think its just the fact that I am in there w/ my 40D & 5dII combo getting the job done.

Oh, and I am also the guy that will hand my business card to the lonely looking highschool kid with the Nikon D40 and say, "give me a call if you have questions or want to take a day trip and chase down some wildlife."

[Harleypugs]

Since he was working, he probably either viewed you as competition or just a nuisance. Not to excuse his behavior, but that might be why you got the treatment that you did.

But, in either of those scenarios I would have just gone out of my way to ask questions and annoy the hell out of him, if he treated me like that.

I think this is pretty funny.....

Coming from someone that makes a partial living off of photography I always think...hmmmm....I wonder how this person would feel if I just walked into their office one day and tried to get free advice or just wanted to shoot the bull with them.

Most times the people in question are there working. They are trying to get the shots to make sure their clients are happy. Before I started making money at this I would never approach a tog that was working unless he was clearly on a break or I would offer to help him/her tear down at night and ask a few questions then.

I see everyone here say...well they were rude......were they really rude or were they trying to do their job? Thank about that next time a workign tog says...Hey I am kind of busy, can you ask your questions later? Also ask your self....How would I feel if this person just showed up at my office and starting grilling me for answers to their questions.....

To answer the OP....no don't get intimidated. Take your shots....and enjoy yourself.....

[arkphotos]

I have the opposite problem.
I got a dslr mainly for better snapshots of the family ... and i have a hard time not feeling self conscious among the P&S crowd.

[CyberPet]

Smaller camera and less great glass doesn't make you less good of a photographer. But I do agree that it's annoying if someone "butts in" when I'm working. I love talk "shop" when I'm not working, but when I'm shooting, I don't want to help someone improve their skills.

[SMP_Homer]

I don't care what anyone else drives, where they live or what gear they shoot with...
I only worry about what I'm supposed to do...

but I do get lens envy from time to time...

[Harleypugs]

Smaller camera and less great glass doesn't make you less good of a photographer. But I do agree that it's annoying if someone "butts in" when I'm working. I love talk "shop" when I'm not working, but when I'm shooting, I don't want to help someone improve their skills.


Couldn't agree more...;)

[joedlh]

Don't feel inferior. The xsi is a good camera. (I don't own one.)

I own xxD cameras out of choice, not because I can't afford a 1D. It used to worry me that I might be perceived as an inferior photographer compared to the guy with an $8,000 body. I got over it when I observed such a person doing all the wrong things with his expensive camera.

For example, I was at the D.C. Cherry Blossom festival a couple of years ago. There were people with top of the line Canons and Nikons all over the place. But do you know what? They were taking the same postcard shots that you can buy in the gift shop. I kept looking around for the footprint outlines on the sidewalk and the Kodak Moment signs because that's what it looked like. My daughter who was with me asked why I wasn't taking any pictures. I referred to the aforementioned gift shop.

I had my white lens on the camera. While everybody else was shooting cherry blossoms, I was trying to get a shot of a kite against the marble face of the Washington monument. There were two reactions among people around me: (1) "Hey, the cherry blossoms are over there!" and (2) The white lens made me somebody to be revered. I was like, "Dude, this is my telephoto. I need to bring in the kite. That's all it is."

Never gave a second thought to buying a grip so that only close scrutiny would reveal that I was actually shooting a 20D.

[summerwind4]

Hey, the GUYS THAT DRIVE THE BIG OVERBLOWN 4 WHEEL DRIVE DIESELS PICKUPS ARE THE ONES THAT ARE INTIMIDATED..........overcoming something else i think too:lol:
but cameras are tools..............ever read Photography magazines?

there are a lot of prize winning photos that were taken by P&S's and small bodied/consumer lenses...................

it's not the golf club, but rather the swing......some have it, and others never will..................i can find it once in a while, but not often enough to get the big guns.

[RaymondXTi]

Put a grip on the Rebel, and a red rubber band around the edge of the kit lens. Problem solved!

[jacobsen1]

I only ever get "mental" when I'm the one with the better camera and I know it'll draw attention... But I've gotten over that, ignore the dumb comments and have fun.

but an example, we went to a friends wedding (I was actually a groomsman). I had my 5D and 24-70. Wedding photog had 40Ds (which were BRAND new at the time) and other great lenses... He saw me with the 24-70 (I had the hood on) and made a comment in front of the whole church (this was during the pre-wedding setup shots). Not very professional on his part, but yeah, I HATE that sort of attention (after that people were looking my way as much as his which is something I always try to avoid).

The zoo is also notorious for this. But hell, go with a 70-300 on a rebel and someone will say something. With a 100-400 you just get more comments, but nothing too bad. I just make sure I bring cards with me whenever I know I'll be getting unwanted attention... That way you hand them a card with your site where those images will be and they're usually super nice and either leave comments or buy prints.

[philodelphi]

I sometimes feel the opposite. As a person who owns a few white lenses, I sometimes feel like I don't deserve them and am just kidding myself. So it works both ways. For example, I happened upon a deal on a TS-E lens... I've had it for over a year now and still haven't gotten anything out of it that approaches what it's capable of. So my lenses put me to shame.

[NeoTokyo]

jacobsen1: I should also get some cards up, ever since I got the 1DIII I have been getting more attention. I see what you mean by bringing extra cards when you bring out the 100-400mm.

I went to PetLand yesterday to take a few pics of the fish there and an employee approached me looking for a photog to get some Band shots for the band he is in.

So the big stuff can help get business :D

[Fade2]

....but when i go somewhere and there are other photographers using better cameras and lenses( L lenses) i get intiminated and hesitant to take out my xsi with my 18-85is lens....

i feel as if i will be looked down upon

maybe its just stupid, but does this happen to anyone else?

Everybody started somewhere!
I was never intimidated by other photographers equipment, just inspired!

[andrewmr]

....but when i go somewhere and there are other photographers using better cameras and lenses( L lenses) i get intiminated and hesitant to take out my xsi with my 18-85is lens....

i feel as if i will be looked down upon

maybe its just stupid, but does this happen to anyone else?


Don't let it bother you... enjoy your shoot.

But do be respectful of the other there taking photo's. Nothing is more anoying than setting up a shot and having someone move/stand in front of you.

[Perry Ge]

What you use makes no difference whatsoever. I use my "crappy" old mechanical Canonet rangefinder as much as I use my 5D, and the real chuckle comes when I'm using that camera with no battery, no light meter, and see someone with a 1D Mark 3 and a 70-200 lens who clearly doesn't know how to use it.

Pics matter, gear doesn't, as long as your tools let you get the shots you want.

[bishoy]

I just feel the opposite...
When I go some place that every one is shooting with P&S or even some Rebels, I feel shy to show up my 40D with the kit 28-135 (although not that much bigger than the Rebels).
I think we should exchange places :)

[benesotor]

Yeah sometimes i get a bit intimidated when someone walks past with a 1d or something, but then i remember im 1/3 his age, and i have a lot of lifetime to get a better camera :)

[DennisW1]

....but when i go somewhere and there are other photographers using better cameras and lenses( L lenses) i get intiminated and hesitant to take out my xsi with my 18-85is lens....

i feel as if i will be looked down upon

maybe its just stupid, but does this happen to anyone else?

two thoughts to keep in mind:

1 - if your camera/lens works for what you're photographing and/or is the best gear you are able to afford, then what others think isn't important. It's what you get out of it that matters.

2 - People who look down on your or try to make you feel inadequate because you don't have as "good" of a selection of gear as they do are jerks, stay away from them.

[rang]

....but when i go somewhere and there are other photographers using better cameras and lenses( L lenses) i get intiminated and hesitant to take out my xsi with my 18-85is lens....

i feel as if i will be looked down upon

maybe its just stupid, but does this happen to anyone else?

No. Like others have said and examples on this forum have proved
in the hands of a good shooter...the 18-55IS can produce a very nice shot.

And in the hands of a crappy shooter a nice L glass and expensive body can produce a crappy shot (although...granted you don't see a lot of those on this site).
Most folks are embarrased to post non keepers or just don't keep them.

But I still take out the XTi and a super zoom every so often depending on the occasion and intent...even with fellow shooters who will take along pro bodies and damn expensive glass. I consider it a challenge to get the most out of what I can do and the gear I've got at the time.

However I will admit that I've taken some bad shots with nice gear when I did not take the time to think before pressing the shutter button. I've kept some as a kick in the butt to myself.

So... No...I'm sure everyone has some humbling shots no matter what they use.

I'd be embarressed if we took the same shot and mine looked like crap and yours looked good. I would have to ask myself...where'd I screw up no matter what I used.

:lol:

[merp]

nope, results are more important than looking pro.

Sounds about right!

During a fourth of July celebration here in Iraq. Combat cam came out with there nikon d2x bodies, and there Army bought expensive lenses. I was like "Damnnn noot fair." I was a little Intiminated, but I went on my way. Shooting with my 40D+17-55 I was very happy with my results compared to them. I went back to my little trailer/room all happy like haha..

It was definitely a +1 Canon type day =) not that's all Canon, but my stuff has yet to fail me =)


I did wish I had my 5Dm2, and my Ls though. =/ to expensive to bring em out here!

[joepineapple]

We all feel insecure at some point about our camera equipment, but doesn't that make us want to learn how to master it? The kind of stuff you shoot with really doesn't matter if you take ownership of the image you shot and are proud of it.

[benesotor]

I actually quite like having a lower end camera, makes you feel like you're really pushing the limit's of its capabilities, and getting the most out of it as you can. Whereas if i had a £10,000 system, i'd feel like i wasn't getting the best that i could... if you know what i mean

[mikekelley]

I see a lot of pretentiousness coming from people my age (22) with 1dIIIs and 5dIIs etc for whatever reason. I shoot a lot of snowboarding and often get told I need to upgrade to a 70-200 2.8 IS. LOL dumbass we are shooting in the sun with blinding white conditions. You are the sucker who has to schlep that hog around all day, i'll gladly keep my f4 and get the same if not sharper results

[eelnoraa]

I think this is more of a problem for newbies. I was like that at the beginning. I wanted to have the coolest gears and show them off in public.

Now, I want to be as low profile and steathly as possible. I don't what people to know what I am using, and I don't care what others are using. After all, it is the result that counts.

[nphsbuckeye]

I don't get intimidated when I've shot sporting events with my 28-135 and the other photographers had lenses that cost more than my car.

[mikekelley]

A lot of people with expensive gear are just plain awful at taking photos too. Something to keep in mind. I know that if I had the tools of some people that I could surpass them in photo quality and consistency quite easily.

[Veemac]

I couldn't care less what other people think of my gear, what I'm shooting, or how I'm shooting it....nor do I care what they're shooting, how they're shooting it, or whether their images are better/worse than mine. I don't need somebody else's permission or validation to feel good about myself.

Maybe I'm a Spock-like alien or something, but I don't feel any envy when I see somebody toting a 1D with a bagful of 'L' glass (whether they're a rank beginner or seasoned pro) - I just think 'good for them'....they've obviously got a real nice kit, and I hope they're enjoying it and getting some great shots. OTOH, when I see somebody shooting a 3-year old Rebel with a "nifty" in green box mode, I don't look down my nose at them...if they're enjoying themselves and the images they're producing, good for them.

I'm not a pro. My gear is better than some and inferior to many (especially on a board such as this), and I'm sure the same can be said of my photos. I'm pretty okay with that. I'm sure I'll upgrade at some point - but it will be because I have a compelling want/need (if there's really such a thing as a "need" in luxuries such as this), not just to try to impress some gear snob with my "pro" body and "cool" white lenses when I open my bag.

[Slimsphotos]

Never felt intimidated by other photogs and their gear. I started with a Sony F717 for acouple of years, then went 350D, and now have both a 5D and 50D with some L lenses. I got my equipment ahead of my abilities because I could afford it at that time, and am now happily improving all the time (hopefully). I do get lens envy, especially when 400mm is just not quite enough, and I see others with 500-800mm, but that's natural in us all I think. We'd all like something else on occasion. And, as I'm not a pro, just an enthuiastic amateur, I'm enjoying myself. If someone wants to look down on me and my abilities, that's their problem, not mine. But I've found most photogs friendly. Plus, with 17 years of military behind me, I'm think skinned :-)

Shoot and be damned as long as it makes you happy (and isn't illegal)

Chris

[cryforashadow]

I know what you mean; that happens to me a lot. But most of the time the other way around because everybody has compact cameras and then there's me with my 350D and kit lens and I think I look funny. And since they have no camera knowledge they think my camera is cool. Yay.

[fly my pretties]

nope, results are more important than looking pro.

Easy to say when you've got a 1D