Why a big camera?

[Choderboy]

I was taking some pics in the city with my 20D. Approached by somebody who asked "why do you guys carry around those big camers? I've got a little camera that takes perfectly good pictures.."

I wasn't sure how to take him , but I joked that I must have wasted all my money and that I better go trade it in. I suspect he was not after an honest answer , I'll bore people to tears talking about photography if I think they're interested

Just thought it might be fun to see what comebacks people could suggest.

[mbze430]

no one really comes up to me about that... But if someone did. My reply is. "You might want good pictures, I want exceptional pictures".

[Titus213]

If they don't know they will probably not understand anything you tell them.

But I'm with you Dave. Anyone shows any interest at all and I'll bore them to tears.

One way that has worked is to hold the shutter button down on your DSLR for a second and then ask them if thier P&S will do that.

[Rob612]

"Because I can".

That's all I have to say to such a stupid question. I hate when that happens.

[sjd70]

Perhaps a line about "you know how they size of a mans nose is related to ......"

or maybe not....

No offence intended to our super female photographers.

[Tee Why]

I'd just tell him b/c it'm more fun

[cyber_m0nkey]

Tell him the truth, that if he needs to ask that question then he wouldn't understand anyway. If he persists, enlighten him until his ears bleed - he will never ask again

[dpastern]

Tell them the truth - that the SLR gives you more options with photography than a smaller compact digital camera can, quote a few examples (interchangeable lenses etc). Keep it relatively simple, but don't denigrate them. If you do it right, you might just get someone more into photography!

Dave

[jbkalla]

Originally Posted by Titus213

One way that has worked is to hold the shutter button down on your DSLR for a second and then ask them if thier P&S will do that.

Yah, but then they'd probably show you how their p&s takes 30fps 640x480 movies!

I'm horrible with the quick comebacks! I usually wake up at 2am with a real zinger that would have been great 12hrs ago when the incident actually happened...

[Choderboy]

Originally Posted by jbkalla

Yah, but then they'd probably show you how their p&s takes 30fps 640x480 movies!

I'm horrible with the quick comebacks! I usually wake up at 2am with a real zinger that would have been great 12hrs ago when the incident actually happened...

YEP on both points - he did mention " and it does movies too! "

I'm usually a bit quicker , the clever comeback occurrs to me about 2 hours later But if you miss , you miss.

[ssim]

My experience with these types of people are two fold. The first being that it is sometimes very much camera envy. People that would love to have a DSLR but can't afford or justify it. I too will try to give them as much information as possible to let them know just how much fun this photography thing is. I try not to do the sarcastic remarks or actions with them as I know from some other hobbies that this has been done to me and how much I didn't like it. The other type is those that truly do feel that they can do just as well for their requirements with what they have in a point and shoot camera. I've found that you will never change their minds. Best to just move on and let them be.

[Moppie]

I once had someone ask me why I drove such a big car, I quickly replied its because I have small c.................................amera.

Then I got a small and it dosn't sound as effective.

[lancea]

Originally Posted by jbkalla

Yah, but then they'd probably show you how their p&s takes 30fps 640x480 movies!

That's the truth. Several times the very first question I've been asked is "does it take movies?".

I don't think my 20D looks particularly impressive, but it has proved to be a conversation piece. When visiting downtown Dallas last year strangers asked me about my camera. I found Texans particularly friendly but it was interesting that the camera caught their attention. So maybe that's good enough reason to have a "big" camera?

[dpastern]

I've had the usual reaction from time to time (of "my what a big/cool camera" when I'm out with my 1n and 300f4 and personally, I'd rather just be able to disappear and be left alone. I usually just say "thanks" and walk on, minding my own business. Sometimes, you do get someone genuinely interested in photography, and as I said in my previous post, I try to answer them and encourage them to get more into photography. Sometimes you meet another serious photographer, and you sit down and have a bit of a chin wag.

I actually remember being out in Sydney's Darling Harbour back in 2000 pre olympics, and I was taking photos of the cityscape and buildings with my 1n and 70-200 f2.8, and these 3 very attractive young ladies came up to me, demanding that I take their photos, I point blank refused, and told them that I don't "shoot" people. They harassed me for 5 minutes before giving up.

Sometimes it's best to run

Cheers,

Dave

[Choderboy]

Yeah , I'm happy to talk to someone who wants to hear what I have to say.
I'm still appreciating all the advantages of digital photography and it's great to be able to point out to people who are interested what they are.
Pretty sure this bloke did not want to listen though. I suspect he has tried this on numerous times and is in no doubt all us "big camera " people have no idea what we are doing

I have heard people stating those disposeable cameras take as good a pic as any camera! I wish I could be saitisfied with them, it would be so much cheaper.