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

I've loaned my camera to a lady-friend (and only a friend) at work to shoot her son playing lacrosse.

I often recommend Canons to friends, work acquaintances and family. When they ask me what's wrong with Nikon I tell them nothing, but if they get Canon they can borrow my lenses when they need it.

It's only gear and I trust them to take care of it. Should something happen, I'll worry about it then, not now or beforehand.

me

zacker wrote in post #2450900
actually yes i do...lol (she has a better eye than me but doesnt wanna take photos... go figure)

Doesn't that figure! I know I was born "right-hemisphere" challenged. Come to think of it, my left hemisphere is not exactly chugging on all cylinders either.

I let others shoot with it as long as I'm there, and I make a point to put the strap around their neck. I even let my 10 and 8 year olds shoot with my 70-200 f2.8 and 300 f4, and they do a pretty good job.

What's funny is to watch the P&S shooters try to compose through the LCD. Most of those say the DSLR is too heavy and complicated, so they quickly give it back.

Im with photogeek and all the others. I'll let people shoot as long as Im there and I make sure the strap is around their neck. I like to educate people about the DSLR's. Most people are very interested.

My dad is a retired pro 87 years old today. His tool was a Hasselblad 500 2 1/4 He's very reluctant to even touch any of my digicams. He admits digital does work but the color looks wrong. I'm happy I didn't get that deep into film and that 95% of my experience has been holding a box of chips.
Sam

Only if they put the POTN strap around their neck. As my wife says, "He won't let you use it unless you have the strap around your neck!"

Jake

When im shooting either friends or family there is always that one person that says "Let me take a picture of you"....... Right at that moment I cringe with fear of my camera being dropped or mishandled. Naturally the shot of me doesnt come out too good as im more concerned about the welfare of my camera while in the hands of one who has no idea of how to work it.