Photographic idiots with too much money

OK here is the background. I was working on a few shoots for my editor and I was doing some in a drug store (I'm Canadian so I didn't get hounded by homeland sec.) and this guy walks up and says, "Oh, is that the digital Rebel?" So I reply "yes," and then he proceeds to tell me how his camera is better because it was 25% more expensive. For the record it was a fujifilm s-something, and apparently is is a true digial slr with interchangeable lenses -- but I could care less.

What do you say to these people? Who has the audacity to say something like that?

Be kind, gentle, and understanding.

Your thread title fairly describes me, and I'd hate to think of being treated any other way.

Well Belle, I don't think it does. Unless you go around to all the nikon and fujifilm shooters saying "my new canon gear is way more expensive than yours!" Or a plain english translation, "your sandbox sucks."

To be clear, I was very polite and talked to him about lenses. I found it odd that a hobbiest browsing would tell me that his camera is better while I was getting paid to take pictures!

Just frustrates me. I know my camera isn't the greatest in the world and I know I will likely never own the greatest camera, so I am more than happy with my rebel. And it makes me money.

IT is never the camera, it is how you use it. Sure, a lousy camera will be harder to work with; but, if you are good you will do wonders with it. I find it disappointing when everyong boils a cameras worth to the $$$ paid.

Anyone wanna buy a film P&S for $35,000 USD? It is the best camera in the world, why else would it cost so much.

It is my nature to initially get defensive and argumentative. But in recent years I’ve learned to just let these people think what they want.

It is similar to the person who recently was trying to convince us all that the MKII takes poor images.

He's got the money to buy it, that’s great...how does it effect you.

I'm a student and can never get over how worried people are about other peoples grades or what people think of their grades. I get the grades i get for and because of me, not for or because of you.

Same goes for camera equipment or computer equipment.

So, what do you tell them? Try this "Oh really, that’s nice."

Hopefully it can come of condescending and they'll get the idea that you no longer want to talk to them about this subject because they obviously don’t know what they are actually talking about.

Again, i brought my camera to school near the end of my Sr. year. People would ask me how much it was, ask me if it took movies, and if it was 8mp's.

They'd tell me that sony makes an 8mp camera that takes movies and that it is a better camera then my canon SLR. After my initial "No it's not" i eventually said "ok, whatever" and the arguments stopped.

I mean heck, if they dont want to learn then why waste your time trying to teach?

Why let this stuff get to you, just chill and move on.

PS. Welcome back TQ I am sure I saw a post from you saying that you were bugging out from the forum?

N

LOL I believe I might have said something like, "Yeah, thats why I am working for this newspaper so I can save enough money to buy one of those neat cameras like you have."

No being kind of a techno geek, I usually reply in respose to my 8MP P&S beats your 6.3MP DSLR

"really, what size are the pixels, I thought they were only 2.8 micrometers which tends to make it too noisy for my tastes, I personally prefer the 7.8 micrometers of my 10D, less noise, better color, but you are right 8MP is more then I have so I suppose the resolution might be better under optimum conditions. I also agree that yours can take movies and mine can't, but I gave up that opiton in order to have a wider selction of lenses so I can get a two hundred times zoom instead of only ten times at best"

All that usually said in about one breath. That usually finishes them off pretty good, while having the sometimes amazing effect of educating them about other things to look for then just MP and price.

If I get done and theny look confused and lost, then they can be saved as I explain everything over again more slowly. If they look confused and arrogant then I ignore them as they can't be taught at that point.

Just my way of having fun. Unlike them, I know I don't own the most expensive or best camera, but I do get to play with them sometimes
8) 8) 8)

HA!

Really guys, I handled it cooly and had a discussion about lenses. And I did not try to tell him that Canon lenses were the best. I simply let him talk whilst injerjecting the occasional "oh yeah?" I met a Niko shooter a month ago, and I was really friendly. I even took his business card hoping to meet a fellow photographer. So I can be civil with people that ue other brands.

However, I was working and he was being really annoying. It wasn't so much that he was using a different brand of camera, he was just being a condescending, I-am-better-than-though jerk. So I decided to vent here where I know I would get a sympathetic ear.

Ingore the jerks anyone who has to brag about being better & has not showed their portfolio is insecure. Here locally there is alot of people with more money than knowledge and feel the only way to be accepted is bragging about what they have in the bag but really don't even know how to use what they have. Keep shooting and networking with others and don't let the jerks get you down.

Vfilby-

He is right you know, his camera IS better than yours.

:-p

...............joking.​..............

Ro1

I'm a bit of a techie too and I enjoy messing with people like that if they think they know better and insist their opinion. I'm bad, I know.

this is why we have cell phones that have internet now...hop online...look at the specs, then go argue back

Hi Vfilby,

You have two options, the guy is obviously an idiot so just ignore him and get on with what you are doing or cut him dead with a standard reply like "Oh, sorry you seem to have me confused with someone who gives a **** what you think" and then continue on with what you are doing. The first is probably best, the second for when they are really a pain in the arse.

I had a similar issue with judges at the camera club that I am a member of. Some were fairly good but most were average to bad. The would describe infrared pictures as processed black and white and other bizarre comments. I got sick and tired of them loving the formulaic photography and being totally confused by anything that wasn't shot on velvia. So I went off and produced a panel for the Royal Photographic Society. They looked at it, liked it and gave me my LRPS. Whats the difference between the judges at the RPS and those on the club circuit.

I respect their opinions.

If you dont respect the persons opinion then dont get stressed by them talking out of their arses. It's not the equipment that's important it's the artist using it. (This phrase is quoted by lots of people, and many view it as the same as hearing "size doesn't matter" from your girlfriend, I can honestly say its not the equipment it's the photographer thats important. My current top 3 photos that I have taken are from my D60 not my 1Ds's)

Best regards

BearSumer

It'd be better than "photographic idiot without money" -- that's me.

"Ahh.... there are two of them. Ali, Ali's sister, Ali, Ali's sister...." Sharing is caring, and since you have a surplus.... Just kidding.

Thank for your support guys. I haven't talked to the editor directly yet, but my girlfriend, who is a writer there, told me he said the photos were fantastic. So Fujifilm that my misguided friend.

In a funnier quirk of events, it seems that Fujifilm is exacting some sort of vandetta. Yesterday evening after the day incident, a friend calls me asking for advice on which camera to buy. Her father has a s7000 and she likes the powershot pro 1 better. He likes his camera, but it is only for 'snapshots'. So I looked up the specs on dpreview and was really disappointed with the fujifilm. Today I am going to cross my fingers and hope that nbody says the 'F' word.

Cheers,