How come some pros can't even get the model of their camera right?

I've seen a lot of professional photographers who put out some great work, but they can't even get the model of their camera right, calling it the Mark 2 Ds1, D5 Mark 2, or other crazy concoctions.

I know photography isn't about the equipment as much as it is the end results, but sheesh, wouldn't you think they could correctly recite the name of their tool?

My wife can't remember the make, model and year of her car when she takes it in for service, and don't even bother asking which engine it has.

And knowing those things wouldn't make her a better driver.

But she does know the birthday and middle name of every niece and nephew, and the birth weight and length of every child and grandchild. It's all I can do to remember my own anniversary.

Different things are important to different people.

Remember, a lot of people built their careers during a time when a camera was basically a light-tight box that held film. It was the least important of their "tools," and in many genres today, the camera body is nothing more than a computer to capture an image. Creating the image is where a photographer earns his money.

I'm terrible with names and if you tell me you're going to do something on x day, I'll forget 10 minutes later.

Priorities.

Putting names to things is a left brain function and creativity is a right brain function .

Curtis N wrote in post #14345855
My wife can't remember the make, model and year of her car when she takes it in for service, and don't even bother asking which engine it has.

And knowing those things wouldn't make her a better driver.

But she does know the birthday and middle name of every niece and nephew, and the birth weight and length of every child and grandchild. It's all I can do to remember my own anniversary.

Different things are important to different people.

Remember, a lot of people built their careers during a time when a camera was basically a light-tight box that held film. It was the least important of their "tools," and in many genres today, the camera body is nothing more than a computer to capture an image. Creating the image is where a photographer earns his money.

I don't know about your wife, but mine helps me with that all the time.

3Dart wrote in post #14346003
Putting names to things is a left brain function and creativity is a right brain function .

So that's my problem with lack of creativity. I don't have a right brain in my body

Not all photographers are gear heads......designation​s and numbers of items are easy to mix up and forget when it really doesn't matter.

toastyphoto wrote in post #14345798
...photographers who put out some great work, but they can't even get the model of their camera right...

Cunning bastids! They've found a way to lure the critics away from the faults in their actual work.

i think they do that for a reason....they don't want you to know what kind of camera they use..?? artist or so i say "so-call artist" don't want people to know what tools they use they want you to enjoy their work not ask a bunch of questions about what you use and how they use it...i think it is one big secret that they don't want you to know........it ticks me off that people take the EXIF data out of their pics

Fire-Star wrote in post #14346581
i think they do that for a reason....they don't want you to know what kind of camera they use..?? artist or so i say "so-call artist" don't want people to know what tools they use they want you to enjoy their work not ask a bunch of questions about what you use and how they use it...i think it is one big secret that they don't want you to know........it ticks me off that people take the EXIF data out of their pics

Some people lose their EXIF data when they convert their pictures between programs. I don't think they are neccesarily trying to hide knowledge.

toastyphoto wrote in post #14345798
I've seen a lot of professional photographers who put out some great work, but they can't even get the model of their camera right, calling it the Mark 2 Ds1, D5 Mark 2, or other crazy concoctions.

I know photography isn't about the equipment as much as it is the end results, but sheesh, wouldn't you think they could correctly recite the name of their tool?

If you can create beautiful exposures, why would it even matter? Yes, having better gear does make it easier to take good photos, but not everyone with a good camera takes beautiful exposures. Don't worry about what other people say/do, take photos, good photos, and your career will progress nicely.

toastyphoto wrote in post #14345798
I've seen a lot of professional photographers who put out some great work, but they can't even get the model of their camera right, calling it the Mark 2 Ds1, D5 Mark 2, or other crazy concoctions.

I know photography isn't about the equipment as much as it is the end results, but sheesh, wouldn't you think they could correctly recite the name of their tool?

Because they don't care - its a tool that they use, providing it produces a good enough image, is built solidly enough to survive, and they can drive it efficiently it doesn't matter whether its a 1DX, D4 or 350D

toastyphoto wrote in post #14345798
I've seen a lot of professional photographers who put out some great work, but they can't even get the model of their camera right, calling it the Mark 2 Ds1, D5 Mark 2, or other crazy concoctions.

That isn't so bad. At least nobodies life is on the line. I know of police officers that can barely remember the make of their gun, let alone the model and caliber. They carry it all day every day, may have to use it to defend a life at any moment, and they barely know anything about it, or any other, firearms. "Point trigger, go boom" is all some of them seem to know. They qualify their 1 or 2 times a year, barely, and then don't think about it again until the next qualification date. I think some don't even know what caliber their gun is, they just let their armorer give them the right stuff.... And these are officers that are by no means bad at their job.

Meanwhile there are guys on forums that don't even own a handgun that can tell you every little detail of a dozens of models of guns, and discuss the advantages of one caliber over another until they are blue in the face.

Graphics designers, game programmers, etc. work the same way. Some know everything about their PCs and would build them themselves given the chance. Others couldn't care less, they just want the thing to be fast and always work, so they can get to work.

People are different, and none of this means a thing.

i only know one real pro photographer, and she doesn't care what she shoots with as long as she gets the shot.

At my age I think my brain is full. Sometimes I can remember confusing equipment model designations and sometimes I can't remember how old I am. Usually if I call something by the wrong number however, it's because I just don't care.