the object of camera envy - DPChallenge Forums

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

06/04/2005 10:44:43 AM · #1

there was a traveling church that visted my neighborhood and gathered my two girls and the neighbors two kids and took them all to the park across the street. they taught them a religious song in sign language. I waited a bit then grabbed my trusty camera and tried to sneak over there to get some candid shots of the kids. as soon as my set foot out of my house my 9yo yells"theres my mom and shes comming to take pictures!" well so much for candid hopes. they immedately went to posing and after the leaders explained to me that they were from north carolina and in the area for some missionary work. the one woman in the pink checkered shirt just kept saying "nice camera, thats a really nice camera u have there, wow what a camera" she went on like this for more than 30 minutes. it was down right embarrassing! i have never been the object of camera envy so this was a very uncomfortable first for me.i get camera/lens envy all the time but i never let on to the owner that im oogling his package(LOL). i was wondering if anyone else was the object of camera envy, if so feel free to post your experience here with mine
traveling church missionarys

doctornick

Apple iPhone 13 Pro

06/04/2005 10:51:45 AM · #2

All the time...especially when I'm using this setup..

Digital Concepts Ultra-Slim

06/04/2005 10:56:08 AM · #3

Originally posted by doctornick:

All the time...especially when I'm using this setup..

ummm doctornick...u care if i oogle your package for a bit? ;o)

mystical2007

06/04/2005 11:10:25 AM · #4

I myself have never been the object of camera envy, but your story gave me a good laugh. thanx for sharing.

Sigma 18-50mm f/2.8 EX DC for Canon

06/04/2005 12:39:15 PM · #5

i know theres some real funny stories out there...please share...pleaseeeeeeee

moswyn

Canon EOS-7D

06/04/2005 12:50:31 PM · #6

I took my dad on a trip to the zoo a few months back and encouraged him to use my backup camera, while I took my usual one. I thought we'd have a lot of fun hanging out and that he would enjoy using the technology. Plus, he gets a kick from the attention that comes with having something that other people admire, since he's never had many material things. So there we were, he with the 10D, me with the 20D, and both with 70-200 2.8 lenses. We'd both be shooting something and a crowd of P&S'ers would gather aroud us, trying to figure out what was going on.

Bear_Music

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

Sony 24-70mm F4 Vario-Tessar T* FE OSS

06/04/2005 01:13:04 PM · #7

Hell, you ain't LIVED until you're doing a landscape shoot somewhere popular with a Sinar-P 8x10 view camera and all its assorted paraphenalia. It's sort of like being a minor deity...

Robt.

Jewellian

Pentax *ist DL

Sigma 28-80mm f/3.5-5.6 Aspherical HF for Pentax

06/04/2005 01:19:30 PM · #8

I bet that would be quite a sight Bear. Do they still make view cameras? or do you have to find old ones?

coolhar

Canon PowerShot Pro 90 IS

06/04/2005 01:21:34 PM · #9

When shooting HS sports I was always on the envying end. But since I got my 20D and a white lens I've moved up a few notchs in the pecking order. I try hard to remember what it was like and treat the ones that are looking at my rig better than some of the big boys treated me. Lots of unspoken communication in those situations. A smile and a friendly "Hi" can go a long way.

Artyste

Sony Ericsson W810i

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Pentax

06/04/2005 01:29:07 PM · #10

I was shooting Breeanna's gymnastics competition in early May, and easily had the biggest camera there (the *ist Ds with a 70-300mm lens on it, on a tripod that I was doubling as a monopod), and was constantly being bombarded with questions and "wow, great camera" comments. I was also mistaken by the competition coordinator as being from the newspaper.. but didn't feel right playing *that* one up, as the real newspaper guy showed up about a half-hour later with bigma that could put a prime stud horse to shame.

Bear_Music

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

Sony 24-70mm F4 Vario-Tessar T* FE OSS

06/04/2005 01:36:21 PM · #11

Originally posted by Jewellian:

I bet that would be quite a sight Bear. Do they still make view cameras? or do you have to find old ones?

They most certainly do still make them. Large Format are the standard by which image quality continues to be judged, and Sinars are the Rolls Royces of the large Format cameras.

Read more about Sinar here

Robt.

Message edited by author 2005-06-04 13:37:22.

Jewellian

Pentax *ist DL

Sigma 28-80mm f/3.5-5.6 Aspherical HF for Pentax

06/04/2005 01:37:46 PM · #12

ooooohhhhh pardon the drool, thanks for the link Robt.

ergo

06/04/2005 01:42:37 PM · #13

Originally posted by bear_music:

Originally posted by Jewellian:
I bet that would be quite a sight Bear. Do they still make view cameras? or do you have to find old ones?

They most certainly do still make them. Large Format are the standard by which image quality continues to be judged, and Sinars are the Rolls Royces of the large Format cameras.

Robt.

Sinar = Ray (of light) in Malay. An apt name...

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

06/05/2005 10:19:47 AM · #14

Originally posted by bear_music:

Hell, you ain't LIVED until you're doing a landscape shoot somewhere popular with a Sinar-P 8x10 view camera and all its assorted paraphenalia. It's sort of like being a minor deity...

Robt.

so what does a camera like this run?

P.S. anyone else that has a story about being the object of camera envy please feel free to post here.

wewillexplore

Canon EOS-1D Mark II

06/05/2005 10:23:44 AM · #15

Reverse camera envy - at my first wedding shoot, I had my DRebel, 18-55mm kit lens, 75-300 tamron and 50mm 1.8 The bride's uncle is a photographer like DPC'ers. He brought his 1D, 70-200 2.8 IS L ... I think that's all he brought. Talk about camera/lens envy. "Just let me borrow that, so I can be the pro today."

M

art-inept

Olympus C-5060WZ

Canon EF 35mm f/2.0

06/05/2005 10:47:43 AM · #16

ya this is why this summer i'm just going to buy a rebel xt, a 70-200 IS and that'll be all.

muckpond

Nikon D200

Sigma 15mm f/2.8 EX Diagonal Fisheye for Nikon

06/05/2005 10:55:33 AM · #17

a few months ago i had to shoot some landscape-style images on film for a client and i rented the FujiFilm 6x17 pano camera.

the people that were working in the control room i was shooting kept turning around to look at the cam and completely ruining the shots. lol

it was on a tripod that was about 7 feet in the air, so i had to get a chair to stand on. it was quite a sight. so much for blending into the background.

lots of people asked about it, though. they were quite impressed with the fact that it only took 4 shots per roll...

fsteddy

06/05/2005 11:04:54 AM · #18

My wife and I were at the zoo acouple weeks ago and I had my Rebel with my 100-400mm and I kept seeing the same guy all day everytime we stopped to look and shot a pic. Finally he walked up to me and asked to look at my camera and lens. Made me feel real proud.

moodville

Nikon D100

06/05/2005 11:21:51 AM · #19

I have often gotten camera envy. I go to a lot of local events and there is a newspaper guy who usually covers them that has two D2X - one with a 12-24 and the other with a 70-200. I drool every time I see him. I wanna be just like him when I grow up!

I was covering an event yesterday and I did get asked if I was with the newspaper but I think he was just looking for some free publicity. I had to sadly say no but added I was covering the event for the organizers so that cheered him up.

Another time I was at the zoo and had recently added the grip to my cam and overhead someone say behind me 'now that is a camera' and it did make my head swell a little.

KiwiChris

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM

06/05/2005 11:59:14 AM · #20

'Urro

I've had camera envy problems twice recently when lugging the 20D + grip + 70-200 F/2.8. And a big-ol-bag of other gear, just in case the camera wasn't enough!

At an event I was covering for a local paper I was waiting for a speech to finish when an old-ish man walked up to be and asked if I worked for the one of the large papers here. I said that i was taking some shots for one of the smaller local papers, and I was freelance, not working for the paper. He commented on how large the camera was for a small paper, and how it must be expensive to use film for a small paper. I didn't tell him it was a digital, the size seemed to be enough....

He then proceeded to follow me around for about 20 minutes, all the time asking questions, and saying how amazing cameras where these days. I had to ask him to stop following me after I went to get some close up shots of a VIP signing a document though... I walked out in front, between the public and 'officials' to get the shot I wanted. He followed me, and crouched down beside me as I did!

I didn't mind that so much, but when he asked out loud why I was using a flash in broad daylight I decided it was going too far!!!

The second case of 'camera envy' was a keen teeanger at a rugby game two weeks ago. I was wandering up and down the sideline, between the 'spectator line' and the field, taking photos. A young chap with a Powershot A75 asked me how I got to be in front of the rope fence to take photos. I explained that I was taking photos for a paper, and if he was polite and careful not to get in the way no one would mind him doing the same. (This was a club game, not a major event).

He took my advice, and spent a bit of time on the sidelines. At half time I saw him chimping at his camera, and asked him how it was going. He thanked me for telling him he could get closer, and made a comment about how it was neat he could see his images right away, but I'd have to wait for the film to be developed.

So I showed him some of my images on the LCD, and let him take some shots with the 20D. He was in no doubt at all that I was walking on water, and that the camera was simply the most amazing thing since sliced bread. Turns out he is a keen beginner, and hadn't even heard of a dSLR before. If it weren't for the game restarting I think he would have asked me more questions that I've had hot meals right there and then.

After the game he came up to me with his parents as I was packing up and writing some notes. Right away the parents began thanking me for helping their son, and oowing and ahhing at my gear.. It was getting just a little embarassing at that stage!

Camera envy has two sides to it though...

I've found a couple of times when I've turned up to local events where another paper has their photog. working with 'lesser' equipment that they will not talk to me, or at least give me dirty looks until I've come over to talk to them.

One chap in particular shooting with what looks like a Minolta Z1, who I see almost every weekend, even avoids eye contact. I tried a few times to strike up a converstation, but he's really not interested in talking to me for some reason. He does however talk to spectators about his camera, as I've seen someone ask him if it's digital, and he was quite happy to chat for 5 minutes.

I've figured out which paper he's from now as well, it's the direct competition for the one I shoot for, which might be the problem.. It's a bit petty though, as both are small papers, and we're not exactly in the big time taking club rugby photos.

In fact at the bigger events I've worked I find that all of the pros are quite happy to chat to each other, but maybe that's because we're all shooting with the same type of gear?

Another aspect is the confidence you can gain by lugging a large lump of camera. Personally I'd feel awkward roaming the sidelines of a sports event between the action and spectators with a small P&S camera, regardless of how well it took photos.

When I've got an SLR with a big bit of glass I'll go anywhere! :-) Even when I was shooting film with my old OM4 it was the same. I'd always have the power winder on the camera and use a chunky 35-70 F/2.8 zoom, with a dirty great big hood.

Maybe there's an opening for someone to do a thesis on the psychology of photography equipment envy. :-).

Cheers, Me.

NathanWert

Canon EOS-90D

Sigma 18-250 f/3.5 - 6.3 DC OS HSM

06/05/2005 02:48:08 PM · #21

I have camera envy just READING this thread.