are you an equipment snob ?

removed account4

Subscriber
Joined
Jun 21, 2003
Messages
29,832
Format
Hybrid
i don't have any preference for the cameras i use.
i have too many of them so just grab what it handy
or that will be easiest to work with with the medium i am working with
so, a 35mm or half frame or 110 might work, or if i am using paper negatives
something bigger, but im not too particular ... that larger one might be a junky pre war box camera
or a 8x10 camera ..

i guess i am a little bit of an equipment snob, i don't really like too much auto
cause i don't bother with any of that stuff, id like to over ride all of it ...

so .. are YOU an equipment snob ?
why, why not ?
 

E. von Hoegh

Member
Joined
Sep 14, 2011
Messages
6,197
Location
Adirondacks
Format
Multi Format

Yes, yes I am. I had T-shirts made up, one for when I'm using my Linhof says "My other camera is a Deardorff" and another, for when I'm using the Deardorff says "My other camera is a Linhof".

I wish I'd thought of this back when I owned two Leica M3s and a IIIG - I'd have had a shirt made that said "My other cameras are Leicas, too".
 

cliveh

Subscriber
Joined
Oct 9, 2010
Messages
7,552
Format
35mm RF
Oh yes. If I take out the M2 I'm in working mode and no excuse is permitted and the M2 is part of me. If I take out one of my other 10 cameras, they are toys and I am playing.
 

ntenny

Subscriber
Joined
Mar 5, 2008
Messages
2,485
Location
Portland, OR, USA
Format
Multi Format
I *like* equipment, but I don't feel like a snob about it. I just think the mechanical-age gestalt of mid-20th-century cameras, and the extensive manual involvement in using (especially) prewar large format, are enjoyable. But if anything I may be kind of a reverse snob, in that I'm more likely to admire the photographer who can get a good result from a Rube Goldberg[1] setup of scrap wood and chewing gum than the one who spent US$2,284,572,275,073.36 on the newest shiniest fanciest everything.

It's a personality trait, I think; I'm the same way about cars, guitars, horses, garden tools, camping equipment...anything that functions as a tool, I admire good workmanship, I work best with tools I feel a personal "bond" with, but I'm kind of contemptuous when I see someone have the attitude "this tool isn't good enough for me". Man, if you could *really* ride, you'd be able to win that equitation class on a moose. Or whatever.

-NT

[1] That's American for "Heath Robinson", I believe.
 

E. von Hoegh

Member
Joined
Sep 14, 2011
Messages
6,197
Location
Adirondacks
Format
Multi Format
Ntenny,

Here - (1)

(1) There's a toolbar immediately above the message box when you click 'go advanced' for reply. It has sub-and superscript options.
 

BrianShaw

Member
Joined
Nov 30, 2005
Messages
16,560
Location
La-la-land
Format
Multi Format
No, not a gear snob. I have some nice gear in several formats but don't flaunt it and don't care what others think about it (or me). All I want is to be using gear that will get me the images. I often choose which gear would be best given the time, place, and subject... but that's all about choosing the right tool rather than snobbery.
 

NB23

Member
Joined
Jul 26, 2009
Messages
4,307
Format
35mm
Oh boy!

Look at my prized possessions...
 

Attachments

  • image.jpg
    300.4 KB · Views: 335

John Koehrer

Subscriber
Joined
Apr 3, 2004
Messages
8,277
Location
Aurora, Il
Format
Multi Format
I wear through the chrome on my cameras just stroking them and calling them by name.
See Monty Python's "Bruce"
 

NB23

Member
Joined
Jul 26, 2009
Messages
4,307
Format
35mm
I'll take care of that
 

Peltigera

Member
Joined
Mar 11, 2012
Messages
902
Location
Lincoln, UK
Format
Multi Format
I have 46 cameras at the last count. A few of those were professional equipment in their day, a few were very cheap when new. I buy them because they are interesting in some way. All of them get used at some point (not the Meisupii as it uses Bolta format film) - obviously not very often.

So, no - not an equipment snob; more an equipment fan.
 

Eric Rose

Member
Joined
Nov 21, 2002
Messages
6,843
Location
T3A5V4
Format
Multi Format
I'm a reverse snob. I like to use the crappiest cameras and make better photographs than the guys who are stroking their princess Leica's. Do I have a Leica? Yes I do, but it's a photographers camera, not a gear lusters camera. A lot of Leicaphiles would have me stoned. I have no problem with people buying whatever they want, just a bit of Robin Hood in me. Stick it to the 1 percenters.
 

RalphLambrecht

Subscriber
Joined
Sep 19, 2003
Messages
14,658
Location
K,Germany
Format
Medium Format


iam, but I don't feel guilty about it. it is normal for people who like a craft toenjoy the tools of the trade too.
 

DannL.

Member
Joined
Oct 13, 2013
Messages
617
Format
Large Format
I own just the cameras listed in my signature block. I have one 35mm rangefinder on the way, and that camera I don't need having ordered it out of desperation. I know I'm a snob. I just don't know how to act like one . . . yet.
 

Vonder

Member
Joined
Jun 16, 2007
Messages
1,237
Location
Foo
Format
35mm
A snob looks down his nose at what other folks own/use/covet and by definition, APUGers do that. Film versus digital. It's ingrained - no pun intended.
 

Lowly

Member
Joined
Feb 10, 2012
Messages
45
Location
Australia
Format
Multi Format
My cameras have to be german like my leicas, linhofs and rolleiflexes. Except for those ones that are sort of german like my Contaxes and Zeiss ZMs. But then there are those that have that air of german quality like my Sinar and Hasselblads. And then there are those cameras that just work and are built like german tanks, like my Nikons and Fuji texas leicas. My favourite at the moment is of course my Instax.
 

Dan Fromm

Member
Joined
Mar 23, 2005
Messages
6,830
Format
Multi Format
John, of course I'm a snob. A consummate snob. Or, if you prefer French, je suis tres snob.

But not about possessions. I rate people on the way they rate others. Rate others on what they have or don't have, m'friend, and you sink to the bottom. Rate yourself on what you have, same result.
 

ntenny

Subscriber
Joined
Mar 5, 2008
Messages
2,485
Location
Portland, OR, USA
Format
Multi Format
Wolfeye said:
A snob looks down his nose at what other folks own/use/covet and by definition, APUGers do that.
Click to expand...

Nonsense. There are plenty of people here who shoot both film and digital, and some of those who shoot only film don't seem to look down their noses at the pixel folks.

-NT
 

thegman

Member
Joined
Feb 8, 2010
Messages
621
Format
Medium Format
Yes, and no. On one hand I like what I like, and often those can be pretty inexpensive cameras, like old folders, or maybe a Nikon F. On the other, I have spent fairly large amounts of money (by my standards) to get precisely what I was after.

So, on one hand no, I don't covet fancy Leicas (I had an MP once, it was an unremarkable experience), but on the other, I don't rule out spending a lot to get what I want.

I only shoot film, and I sure as hell look down on the digital shooters. (semi-joke).
 

jstraw

Member
Joined
Aug 27, 2006
Messages
2,699
Location
Topeka, Kans
Format
Multi Format
Yes. I will only use *modified* Holgas. I need a shirt to wear when I'm using my view camera that says "My other camera is a piece of crap."

Oh...and my Bronica is kind of a beater. It works a treat though.
 

jovo

Membership Council
Subscriber
Joined
Feb 8, 2004
Messages
4,120
Location
Jacksonville
Format
Multi Format
NB23 said:
Oh boy!

Look at my prized possessions...
Click to expand...
Are there cameras in this picture? Odd, I'm not seeing them.

I do look down my nose quite a bit, but that's where the viewfinder is!
 
Last edited by a moderator:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Menu
Log in
Register
Cookies are required to use this site. You must accept them to continue using the site. Learn more…