Anyone else run into this?

rjbuzzclick · May 2, 2012

On a few occasions now when I've been talking to friends about cameras and hand them my whatever-it-happens-to-be-film-camera-of-the-week, more often than not the first thing they do when they get it into their hands is wind on the shutter, or try to open the back. I've always been able to stop them with a "don't, there's film in it", but it strikes me as an odd thing to do when handed a camera that isn't yours. These are usually folks in their 30's and 40's who have, or have had, experience with film cameras. Has anyone else noticed this? Is this a change in mentality stemming from digital cameras where unwanted accidental pictures can just be erased?

Worker 11811 · May 2, 2012

I always ask the same question when somebody hands me a camera as I ask when somebody hands me a gun.

Is it loaded?

Then, regardless of the answer, you should treat it as if it is loaded until you, yourself, have verified otherwise.

tkamiya · May 2, 2012

I've done it myself. My neighbor gave me an old Kodak folding camera. The first thing I did was to wind it and open the back. Only to find there was a film in it. Granted, it was no loss as it's been stored in HOT Florida attic for decades....

It's just a common reaction to want to twist knobs and push buttons.... People aren't used to film cameras anymore, either - regardless of their age groups. Only thing you can do is either not hand someone a loaded camera or say "don't do anything, film is loaded" before handing it over.

bsdunek · May 3, 2012

Worker 11811 said:
I always ask the same question when somebody hands me a camera as I ask when somebody hands me a gun.

Is it loaded?

Then, regardless of the answer, you should treat it as if it is loaded until you, yourself, have verified otherwise.

Good answer! I would look at it, but never consider actuelly moving anything unless given permission. Of course you can open the chamber of a gun to look and the light won't hurt anything.

fotch · May 3, 2012

I don't usually offer to hand over my camera.

removed account4 · May 3, 2012

i always open cameras whenpeople give them to me, whether they are full of film or not.
i LOVE pointing the opencamera to a light and clicking the shutter to see the blink.
when i go to a photo store that has film and paper, i always open the boxes and sleeves of paper
boxes of film ( and those annoying foil packets ) and sometimes pull some of the 35mm out of the cartridge.
to make sure the film and paper are in there, before i buy it, i don't want to get ripped off.
the guys that sell film and paper on ebay who have it all spread out, i am happy for that
because i always ask them to take a nice photograph of the film and paper before i buy it
sometimes i ask them to scan it to make sure it isn't all used up ... i don't want USED...

E. von Hoegh · May 3, 2012

rjbuzzclick said:
On a few occasions now when I've been talking to friends about cameras and hand them my whatever-it-happens-to-be-film-camera-of-the-week, more often than not the first thing they do when they get it into their hands is wind on the shutter, or try to open the back. I've always been able to stop them with a "don't, there's film in it", but it strikes me as an odd thing to do when handed a camera that isn't yours. These are usually folks in their 30's and 40's who have, or have had, experience with film cameras. Has anyone else noticed this? Is this a change in mentality stemming from digital cameras where unwanted accidental pictures can just be erased?

Yes, I have had that happen a couple times. I don't understand it. Simple civility should dictate that you don't fiddle with something that doesn't belong to you.

Edit - As for guns, there are only a few who know I own them, and if I hand someone a gun it is with the action open - because I just checked that it is not loaded.

Nick Merritt · May 3, 2012

My assumption is that the camera is not loaded -- and that the person handing me the camera would expect me to fiddle with it -- put it up to my eye; play with the focus; wind and fire. (I don't go opening the back, though -- that holds no interest.) If they didn't want me to fiddle with it, they shouldn't be handing it to me in the first place. I realize that's pretty obnoxious of me, and I'm generally more considerate than that, but with cameras my curiosity gets the better of me.

blansky · May 3, 2012

ALL THE TIME.

Sometimes I'm with a group of people and I introduce my wife, they immediately take off her clothes and fondle her and other things and I think to myself, "that is kinda rude".

I guess I'm funny that way.

E. von Hoegh · May 3, 2012

Nick Merritt said:
My assumption is that the camera is not loaded -- and that the person handing me the camera would expect me to fiddle with it -- put it up to my eye; play with the focus; wind and fire. (I don't go opening the back, though -- that holds no interest.) If they didn't want me to fiddle with it, they shouldn't be handing it to me in the first place. I realize that's pretty obnoxious of me, and I'm generally more considerate than that, but with cameras my curiosity gets the better of me.

Did it ever occur to you to ask permission?

Brian C. Miller · May 3, 2012

rjbuzzclick said:
... the first thing they do when they get it into their hands is wind on the shutter, or try to open the back. ...

You just handed a gadget to gadget-intensive people. What do you do with a gadget? Fiddle with it! Put something into someone's hands and of course they will start messing with it. I don't mind with my view camera, because the film is in the holders.

rjbuzzclick · May 3, 2012

Brian C. Miller said:
You just handed a gadget to gadget-intensive people. What do you do with a gadget? Fiddle with it! Put something into someone's hands and of course they will start messing with it.

Good point, I hadn't thought of it this way. Personally, I'll give the rewind knob a twirl to see if there's film in a camera before opening it.

blansky said:
Sometimes I'm with a group of people and I introduce my wife, they immediately take off her clothes and fondle her and other things and I think to myself, "that is kinda rude".

Very funny! Maybe more than just a camera was "loaded" in this situation?

E. von Hoegh · May 3, 2012

rjbuzzclick said:
Good point, I hadn't thought of it this way. Personally, I'll give the rewind knob a twirl to see if there's film in a camera before opening it.

Maybe just ask?

rjbuzzclick · May 3, 2012

E. von Hoegh said:
Maybe just ask?

Of course. I should have stated that I was referring to situations where I come across a camera that hasn't been handed to me by someone, such as at a flea market, garage sale, thrift store, etc.

E. von Hoegh · May 3, 2012

rjbuzzclick said:
Of course. I should have stated that I was referring to situations where I come across a camera that hasn't been handed to me by someone, such as at a flea market, garage sale, thrift store, etc.

In which case it's fair game.

lxdude · May 3, 2012

blansky said:
ALL THE TIME.

Sometimes I'm with a group of people and I introduce my wife, they immediately take off her clothes and fondle her and other things and I think to myself, "that is kinda rude".

I guess I'm funny that way.

If she lets them do all that, there's for sure something funny about you!

Steve Smith · May 3, 2012

jnanian said:
when i go to a photo store that has film and paper, i always open the boxes and sleeves of paper
boxes of film ( and those annoying foil packets ) and sometimes pull some of the 35mm out of the cartridge.
to make sure the film and paper are in there, before i buy it, i don't want to get ripped off.

I try out every match in a box in the shop before I buy them!

Steve.

removed account4 · May 3, 2012

Steve Smith said:
I try out every match in a box in the shop before I buy them!

Steve.

exactly,
the last thing you want is a DUD.

lxdude · May 3, 2012

Steve Smith said:
I try out every match in a box in the shop before I buy them!

Steve.

Not necessary. All you have to do is test one and look for all the others that are a match.

Alexis M · May 4, 2012

I noticed the same with one person, but i pronounced a loud "hey" and quickly and efficiently woke that person up from their object fondling trance state reminiscent of the infant years, with the mouth open and big wide eyes and stuff...

Nobody ever handed me a film camera before though...maybe back in 2000 but i dont remember.

rpsawin · May 4, 2012

blansky said:
ALL THE TIME.

Sometimes I'm with a group of people and I introduce my wife, they immediately take off her clothes and fondle her and other things and I think to myself, "that is kinda rude".

I guess I'm funny that way.

Are either one of you loaded?

Probably doesn't matter....

Bob

batwister · May 5, 2012

rjbuzzclick said:
On a few occasions now when I've been talking to friends about cameras and hand them my whatever-it-happens-to-be-film-camera-of-the-week, more often than not the first thing they do when they get it into their hands is wind on the shutter, or try to open the back.

Stop hanging around with monkeys.

Actually, did people see those self-portraits a monkey took after getting hold of the guy's DSLR? It makes me wonder, if it had been a film camera...

Know your demographic.

Newt_on_Swings · May 5, 2012

That monkey was chimping the screen the whole time! Lol

I usually tell em its loaded before I let them see it.

I have opened the backs of 3 cameras with film in them from people on Craigslist. I don't know why but they just leave rolls in them. Which impulsively makes me slam the back shut. And then rewind, but all three times the sellers didnt care for their images. Funny though of those 3 I bought them all.

tron_ · May 7, 2012

Nobody I know has ever done that. When I hand them a film camera they act like I just handed them a nuclear weapon that might go off at any second haha.

I prefer this to them trying to monkey the back open.

tron_ · May 16, 2012

I came back to correct my statement....

I was in the library doing some hw with some kids in my class and they noticed my Mamiya RZ67. We talked about it for a bit and the kid asked if he could see the WLF. I said sure. The conversation went as follows:

Him: "This is cool, so wheres the button you press to....uh....take a picture"
Me: "Oh its actually on the front by your right index finger but dont.........."

*Click*

Me: ".....press it...."

Anyone else run into this?

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