Do you let friends and family hold/shoot your camera?

I don't like to let people even hold my 30D. When my friends ask if they can take a shot I ask if they have ever used an SLR camera before. Most of the time they will say no so that ends it. If they say yes I will ask if they know what ISO SS and Aperture is and if they know how to adjust it. They are stumped and don't know what to say. On the RARE occasion that I do let them take a picture (when they wont stop bugging me) I set the SS off by 4 or 5 stops and if they get the wrong exposure then they really don't know how to use a SLR. LOL is this mean?

I'd be more interested in teaching my friends and family more than sabotaging them so they look stupid. But that's just me.

Mean and maybe a touch paranoid?! If you're worried about the camera being dropped, then I understand, but you could always just drop it yourself. Things happen. If you're worried about them simply taking a picture, then I guess I don't understand. It's not film, after all, and you can always download the picture for them or delete it later. No harm done, as far as I see it. I can't imagine that they could screw up the camera, short of my first point.

haha, I let whoever wants to play with mine, doesn't really matter to me as long as they don't drop it, people seem to like touching a big white lens

It's just fun to hang out and let people enjoy it as much as I do. If they want I'll even go through and teach them about aperture, ss etc...

I do get some funny looks though with a prime. People don't seem to understand why I would spend over a grand on a camera without zoom.

Honestly 99% of the time that this happens we are in a bar scene and have been drinking. I just do not want my friends handling my camera. If my camera is going to be dropped its going to be by me. I have had friends come up to me asking if I can teach them how to take good pictures I and I will sit down with them and teach them all the basics hoping that they will get interested enough to buy a 300D or 350D. But when we are at a club or bar I am the only one that will be touching my camera.

Now that's a little different. People drinking don't need to be touching anything but a beer bottle...

lol your mean!

I dont mind people holding or shooting, aslong as im there.

But I wouldn't let people borrow my camera at all.

SwitchStance wrote in post #2444954
I'd be more interested in teaching my friends and family more than sabotaging them so they look stupid. But that's just me.

I second that. I let everyone use my camera, not to be selfish.

After all its only a 30d, if it was a 1ds at 7K thaen i'd be a little more carefull to who I end it to.

Photolistic wrote in post #2444922
I don't like to let people even hold my 30D. When my friends ask if they can take a shot I ask if they have ever used an SLR camera before. Most of the time they will say no so that ends it. If they say yes I will ask if they know what ISO SS and Aperture is and if they know how to adjust it. They are stumped and don't know what to say. On the RARE occasion that I do let them take a picture (when they wont stop bugging me) I set the SS off by 4 or 5 stops and if they get the wrong exposure then they really don't know how to use a SLR. LOL is this mean?

I guess it depends on who's asking. I took my camera to work recenlty, and I have like 4 co-workers who are into DSLR's...so they each took turns with it. I made a mistake of taking all my lenses with me so needless I heard a lot of "Hey, can you put the other lens on the 30D? Just want to see how it feels in my hands"...I'm OK with...as long as they are talking about the lens in their hands!!!

I don't mind at all. I get a little nervous. But I never get nervous about the lens...just more nervous if someone is not holding it right or don't use the strap. I've got UV filters on all my lenses so finger grease is not an issue!

Photolistic wrote in post #2444922
I don't like to let people even hold my 30D. When my friends ask if they can take a shot I ask if they have ever used an SLR camera before. Most of the time they will say no so that ends it. If they say yes I will ask if they know what ISO SS and Aperture is and if they know how to adjust it. They are stumped and don't know what to say. On the RARE occasion that I do let them take a picture (when they wont stop bugging me) I set the SS off by 4 or 5 stops and if they get the wrong exposure then they really don't know how to use a SLR. LOL is this mean?

All they want to do is look through the viewfinder and snap the button! Do they enjoy playing Jeopardy?

You say you won't even let them hold it... then go on to say they actually do get to take pictures, that you sabotage. Weird, if you ask me. No one has asked to use mine, but they are an older crowd. If they did ask, I'd say sure, as I don't find any need in making my friends look dumb, or to play tricks on my friends. You ask if that is mean, I say yes, mean and a little odd to boot!

nicksan wrote in post #2445034
"Hey, can you put the other lens on the 30D? Just want to see how it feels in my hands"...I'm OK with...as long as they are talking about the lens in their hands!!!

I now need to clean up the soda that is all over my desk. Thanks!

For some people is it is JUST a 30D, but for others financial aptitude in life, it may very well be the equivalent of the $7000.00 1DS!

At any rate, a bar scene would be a little scary to be letting people handle the camera. We all know what happens to judgment when a bit of alcohol is involved!

A camera is just a piece of equipment and if people are interested I have no problem letting them try it out.

If someone wants to borrow a camera to take somewhere I give them a choice between my old Rebel G film camera or the D60 digital and the 28-200 Tamron lens that I never use. If they break or lose any of those I would be happy to let them help pay for a more up to date replacement. A new Rebel XTi costs a lot less than the D60 did when it was new. Maybe I could let them off easy and accept the XTi.

Sometimes I let the family use my Rebel, on auto mode, but only if I am there.
No-one touches my 30D, but my friend who is also a photographer and also has a 30D!

I never minded handing curious friends or relatives my camera, to take a peek through the viewfinder.... 'course I never had it out in a bar (seems a tad dangerous to me - alcohol and "L"s don't mix well ). I always like to share my enthusiasm in photography.

But whether it was my Hasselblad or 5D, there was always a safe, secure way that I let people hold my camera - as I handed it to them, I ALWAYS looped the strap around their neck. They never minded and even felt more relaxed.