I am really, really...

..getting annoyed with people complimenting my camera and not me! If I gave them my camera they would have no idea how to take a picture. In fact, my camera (350d) is no better than a point and shoot if you just use auto mode. Come on people!

/vent

Do they even see your photos? If not, all they have to go on is the camera itself.


Or are you saying you want compliments on your wardrobe? If so, nice shirt. Oops that's complimenting your "gear." I like the way you wear that shirt. How's that?

Over the holidays I had some relatives telling me how much they loved my photos. They pointed to several and talked about all the things they liked in each shot. So far, so good. The problem started when they tried to compliment me. They started off by telling me that my camera does a great job, then realized what that sounded like and shifted to the saying the camera must make a huge difference. Then tried to clarify by saying that the camera let me take more pictures faster, so that I had a better chance of catching a great shot.

I just laughed as they kept digging away until I stopped them by saying, "thanks -- my camera is a great tool." They appreciated my understanding, and I appreciated the compliments. One of the things you'll see here often is people getting compliments on what great pictures their camera takes. We all know the truth.

well, over christmas, i took my camera to my relatives' to try out my new 85mm 1.8. they thought it was really bizarre that i was looking through the viewfinder and started telling me how their p&s camera is "really good" because "you don't have to do that". they also asked why i'd want such a big camera (an xt, no less) when "they make them so small now".

Jason77 wrote in post #2501838
well, over christmas, i took my camera to my relatives' to try out my new 85mm 1.8. they thought it was really bizarre that i was looking through the viewfinder and started telling me how their p&s camera is "really good" because "you don't have to do that". they also asked why i'd want such a big camera (an xt, no less) when "they make them so small now".

That's backwards to what my family does. The ones remotely interested will be like "hey I could handle one of these. how much would it cost me?" (30D, 580EX, 24-70L) When I tell them, they promptly hand it back saying "I cant afford to even hold that anymore."

I had a similar experience not 2 days ago, a relative commenting on what wonderful pic's my camera takes, so I handed it to him in manual mode with a 2 sec shutter speed ISO100 and dialled up f/stop, at night in a dark living room.

After 15 mins of him shooting blurry black pics he got the idea.

JCR wrote in post #2502058
I had a similar experience not 2 days ago, a relative commenting on what wonderful pic's my camera takes, so I handed it to him in manual mode with a 2 sec shutter speed ISO100 and dialled up f/stop, at night in a dark living room.

After 15 mins of him shooting blurry black pics he got the idea.

I must remember that one...

We got together with some extended family over the holidays and it seemed that everybody had a little p&s in their pocket. I had taken my xt with my nifty fifty. They couldn't believe that my "big" camera was only 8MP and it DIDN'T ZOOM! That in itself proved to them that their little cameras were much better than mine.

According to Albert Einstein, whom I think was a pretty smart man, everything is relative to its point of origin. Consider the source and take photos. You will always be miserable if you rely on others to make you happy.

My parents have a nikon p&s and they never have discounted my camera and gear. However, to prove point and to be a bit of a smart ass. We both were stading side by side taking a picture of my son an nephew. I fired off 5 tack sharp in focus shots before they got one single shot off....

The last three outings my keeper rate has been pathetic - so much so that not only have I NBOT shown anyone the pictures but I'm beginning to wonder why I have put so much time and effort and cahs into the hobby - when cl;early I am not doing as well as I would like...

Oh well, I'll keep on trying!

Don't get upset about it, life's too short as it is and you're unlikely to change peoples conception about cameras in general. In fact just accept it as a complement because however misguided that's how it's usually meant.

Virtually everyone on here knows that the guy behind the camera is at least every bit as important (arguably much more so) than the camera itself.

I too have had those sort of comments. I am sure this has been with the advent of digital P&S being commonplace because to those who have no idea of the discipline required to learn and use a (d)SLR they must produce better photographs than the P&S they are using.

All the explanations in the world will sadly I suspect leave many of them none the wiser.

Having had the like comment again at Xmas from a family member I thought I would make a (new) signature.

Yes, that annoys me too. I get that as a musician as well. "Wow, that tuba sounds real nice." Uhh... what about the years of lessons and practice - do you think that has anything to do with my sound?

Stefan

JCR wrote in post #2502058
I had a similar experience not 2 days ago, a relative commenting on what wonderful pic's my camera takes, so I handed it to him in manual mode with a 2 sec shutter speed ISO100 and dialled up f/stop, at night in a dark living room.

After 15 mins of him shooting blurry black pics he got the idea.

this is what I must do.