so I used a P/s camera for the first time in a couple years.... Wow.....

While I was up visiting my hometown of Beulah, MI, I decided to go to the sleeping bear dunes to get some shots, and I ran into some tourists from texas (they couldnt believe how big lake michigan was), and they wanted me to grab a picture of their family standing at the edge of the dune (a 500ft drop to lake michigan) They came up to me, and asked if I could get their picture, since I 'looked like I knew how to use a camera' due to my three SLR's dangling off of me...


Being so used to SLR's, and not having used a P/S in a couple years, I was totally lost. It was some cheap sony cybershot camera.

I kept looking through the crappy viewfinder (they dont design these things for viewfinder use apparently.) and I forgot completely about looking at the LCD.


Anyways, I found it extremely awkward to use, and prolly looked stupid trying to take a shot. Another thing that tossed me off was the lack of a zoom ring, I forgot they had push button zooms on them...

I know exactley what you mean, it seems like they take away a part of you! no zoom ring, no focus ring, no focus points....and then we look like idiots that cant use a cheap point and shoot but have $$$$ dangling from our necks...
K

Haha... Funny story, and so true!

Kind of like driving a sports car with an automatic transmission.

I did technical work for a large theme park over the summer and some guests asked me to take their picture with some of the themed park performers. Being a technician, one would assume I could take a picture of some guests. I felt like a idiot fumbling with the camera, I wanted to scream, "I know how to work a camera, I DO!"

Yep! A couple weekends ago, I was taking some graduation photos for a friend recieving his Doctorate and 2 other families handed me their P&S's and asked me to snap a couple photos. One lady handed it to me and asked me if I knew how to use a digital camera. I proceeded to let her explain it to me It was completely awkward though. I kept trying to find the center AF-Point until I realized it wasn't going to happen!

-daniel

I used a P/S once.... it was an over-rated experience

now, what's your definition of "used"?

Of course it must be duly noted with gratitude etc etc that without the P & S segment with its huge volume (and money) ... well DSLRs would cost more.

I was passed one of those tiny Nikon 4600 thingies to take a family photo in Stockholm. I can't believe how light they are, it's like there's nothing in them. I put my hand out to accept it and almost threw it into the air as I was expecting to support lots more weight!

Over this summer, I've rediscovered the joy of P&S photography. I guess I am devolving, Instead of spending more money on my "L" habit, I got a G6 and more recently a Pro 1. I love these little cameras. Now I can hop on the motorcycle and cruise, and always have a camera at the ready to catch whatever shot presents itself. I'll admit the G6 or Pro 1 are not typical P&S cameras, but it's a blast to catch great shots with a little camera that fits in a belt pack or jacket pocket.

Hell, just gimme a camera, any freakin' camera...

I once had a lady hand her P&S to me asking for her picture to be taken. While handing the camera to me she declared, "don't ask me how to work it, I just got it and I haven't read the manual". Believe it or not this happened at Lake Louise in Banff - you'd think she would have at least cracked the manual before heading to one of the most photographed places on the planet. Anyway, luck was on my side when I noticed her camera was a Canon P&S. My wife has a G3 so I was familiar with the interface. After figuring out the camera had no memory card in it (I found it loose in her camera case), I was able to show her how to use the thing. Evidently, none of the people she'd previously handed the camera to could figure out the problem. She thought I was a genius and I thought she was...

LOL

this reminds me of a story that happened to me last week...

The store I work at was receiving an award so the store manager asked me to bring my camera that day. Anyway, they round up all the employees for the picture and I take a couple of shots with my 20D with no problems and the woman presenting the award asks me to take a picture with HER camera as well....an OH-SO-CRAPPY digital P/S....I figure I should be able to handle this P.O.S. camera....anyway, I'm staring at this thing looking like a total idiot in front of all the employees of my store trying to find the viewfinder...

well...after a few seconds (that felt like HOURS) I figure the thing doesn't even HAVE one and I get ready for the shot...I Push the shutter and CLICK, the flash goes OFF and nothing........ so I figure the picture was taken, as SOON as I lower it, the stupid piece of CRAP goes CLICK!!!....GRRRRRRR

I had forgotten how SSSSLLLLLOOOOOOWWWWW some of those things are....so I took a nice blurred picture of the floor...:o

WHAT AN AMATEUR!!!

everyone got a good laugh....

gimme my 20D back!!!!

cheers

Sharp shooter

Hillarious stories guys.
So true

Beside my standard equipment, I have two P&S, a brand new S2IS and an older Ixus 500 (that is basically reserved to UW photo at the moment, being the only one that has its UW case). Sure enough, P&S are quite different, but sometimes they really do get handy. No way, if I travel, its the DSLR that comes along, but for everyday walkaround, especially wen working they are at least something.