Camera Appreciation Person

[Chris Lange]

8/10 times people ask me about my Hasselblad, they want to know what I'm filming. I have assholes come up and dance in front of it when I'm shooting the 150 or 250 with a bellows shade on, flipping me off through the lens, etc. It takes all I've got to not burst into laughter...until I kindly inform these pricks that the camera is for stills, not motion.

Gotta love New York City.

 

[tessar]

People ask about my Mamiya C330, very noticeable on a tripod. They usually ask if it's some kind of movie or video camera or a Hasselblad. My M-series Leica draws attention only from older people who know about cameras. They ask which model it is. My Ansco 8x10 never fails to attract onlookers. It was beautifully refinished by the previous owner, all polished mahogany and cherry wood and chrome hardware. I let one interested fellow have a look through the groundglass. He said he'd like to have a camera like that just as a display piece. I told him that would be a shame.

 

[fenderslash]

I've had people stop me to talk about my Mamiya C330f and my Hasselblad 500C/M from time to time, but if you REALLY want to chat to a bunch of strangers nothing has come close to my Stereo Realist and Wollensak Stereo 10! Amazing responses!

 

[BradleyK]

The Hasselblads never fail to elicit the interest of folks; many (those unfamiliar with medium format, I assume) seem to think the 500c/m with a 150/180/250 must be some kind of "movie camera" and often want to know "who are you shooting for?" or "what are you filming?" The F2/A/AS with the MD2s also seem to invite conversation from the over 45 crowd, though most seem curious as to what particular film I happen to be shooting. And, of course, when shooting with the M6s or M4P, those with a little bit more photographic knowledge always give a nod of approval, and oftentimes (for whatever reason) ask to "look through the viewfinder."

 

[Peltigera]

I find I get most comments when I am using either my Voigtlander Vito B (probably my favourite camera) or my Zeiss Ikon Icarette (1930 model). Yet to get a comment on my Canon digital camera - not sure why (irony alert!)

 

[benjiboy]

Not about camera appreciation, but I was in Amsterdam at the Flower Market last year shooting the flower stalls early on a sunny Sunday morning, I was shooting into the light to get the contre- jour effect on the displays when I felt a tap on my shoulder, I looked round and it was an elderly Dutch lady who said "you can't take good pictures like that, they will be ruined, you must keep the Sun over your left shoulder"!, I thanked her for putting me straight because I didn't want to be rude, and waited until she was out of sight before I continued shooting .

 

[ME Super]

^^^

+1. This would be "The best advice you didn't follow" right?

 

[Moopheus]

Both my RB67 and Speed Graphic have been confused for movie cameras. It seems an odd thing to say about a Speed; it's totally the wrong shape.

 

[ambaker]

We usually wind up in Orlando, Florida a couple of times a year. Each trip I take a different camera or two, just because I find it boring to take the same camera every time. Last trip I took a Mamiya 645 Super, and my Canon A-1. While at Epcot wound up sitting out a brief rain, with a Canadian couple under a shelter.

He turned out to be a pro on vacation with his family, and commented on how much he missed using film. I opened the backpack and hauled out the A-1. He started talking about a Mamiya he once loved, but sold to go digital. So I hauled out the super. He gave me that look like I was the guy who married his high school sweet heart. He did take a very nice picture of me with my own camera, "for old time's sake."

 

[Newt_on_Swings]

Hmmm... I had my little Canon Demi S out tonight in my pocket when I met up with some friends at a bar after work. It seems that little shiny metal film cameras are a chic magnet. lol too bad it was a bit too dark to shoot anything with its f1.7 lens inside.

 

[clayne]

We usually wind up in Orlando, Florida a couple of times a year. Each trip I take a different camera or two, just because I find it boring to take the same camera every time. Last trip I took a Mamiya 645 Super, and my Canon A-1. While at Epcot wound up sitting out a brief rain, with a Canadian couple under a shelter.

He turned out to be a pro on vacation with his family, and commented on how much he missed using film. I opened the backpack and hauled out the A-1. He started talking about a Mamiya he once loved, but sold to go digital. So I hauled out the super. He gave me that look like I was the guy who married his high school sweet heart. He did take a very nice picture of me with my own camera, "for old time's sake."

What I constantly don't understand about these type of guys is why they don't just buy a damn film camera and some film already. It's not like anyone is telling him "you must use this for all of your commercial work." If he enjoyed film photography, he'd probably still be doing it on the side.

 

[ambaker]

From what he said, he had to sell his film gear to go digital. However, at today's prices, I would think he could afford some film gear.

I bought digital gear in 98, but I did not sell my analog equipment. Over the past couple of years I have been adding to the film herd, and enjoy it much more.

On another site I use, we have a film swap going, and I just picked up some Rollei 400 IR to swap with a friend in California. Tough to do with digital. ;-)

 

[michaelbsc]

From what he said, he had to sell his film gear to go digital. However, at today's prices, I would think he could afford some film gear...

You would think so wouldn't you. The prices of film equipment are in the dirt these days. Hell, a kid working at McD's can afford Canon FD gear.

 

[amsp]

What I constantly don't understand about these type of guys is why they don't just buy a damn film camera and some film already. It's not like anyone is telling him "you must use this for all of your commercial work." If he enjoyed film photography, he'd probably still be doing it on the side.

I did this exact thing. For the last 6 years I've been working with digital only. Then about 2 months ago I felt I missed shooting film, but contrary to the guy you met I promptly picked up a beautiful Hasselblad 501cm and have been having a blast since. I actually plan on shooting some work on film too, especially editorial stuff.

 

[removed account4]

it isn't often that i don't find someone who appreciates
a camera .. they tend to say that i must know what i am doing
since i am using film...

 

[Two23]

Mostly what I get when shooting my 1937 Voigtlander Bessa 6x9 is either, "Where's the LCD?", or "Can you still get film for that?" I usually reply I don't have any film but I like to use it anyway. Once that sinks in they get some funny looks on their face.


Kent in SD

 

[clayne]

I did this exact thing. For the last 6 years I've been working with digital only. Then about 2 months ago I felt I missed shooting film, but contrary to the guy you met I promptly picked up a beautiful Hasselblad 501cm and have been having a blast since. I actually plan on shooting some work on film too, especially editorial stuff.

That's good news. What's funny is that if I think more pros did this they'd realize all the soul of the process they're missing out on. I find most people who "come back" to film realize that while digital is faster, film is notably more redeeming and fun to use. Better relationship with the materials and process, just overall more fulfilling experience when things work out.

 

[Dan Fromm]

Years ago while I was shooting big game in the Columbus, OH, Zoo with a Nikon hung on a Questar 700, a couple walked by. The man remarked, sotto voce, to the woman "That's a Questar." Italics his.

Also years ago, while I was setting up to shoot my Beaulieu 5008 at the top of Volcan Arenal, a gigantic tour bus -- Panama - Mexico -- full of German tourists pulled up and they spilled out of it. One of them had a 6008 and we had a nice chat about the joys of Super 8 and the highs and lows of using Beaulieus. But it gets stranger. Roughly two years later I encountered a herd of German tourists in Asuncion, Paraguay, and the man I'd met on Arenal was in it. He was carrying a big Nizo, I was carrying a little Canon.

 

[ambaker]

My "favorite" compliment is, "Those are great pictures. You must have a really nice camera."

 

[michaelbsc]

My "favorite" compliment is, "Those are great pictures. You must have a really nice camera."

Yeah, I love that one. There's a picture of downtown in the place I grew up that I took and my brother ask all about the "fantastic lens" I used.

It wasn't any of the wonderful Zeiss glass. It was a cheesy plastic housing no name C/Y mount on an FX3.

But it couldn't possibly be that I saw the scene, and then stood on a fire hydrant to get the vantage point to shoot the scene. It had to be the camera.

MB

 

[Thomas Bertilsson]

My "favorite" compliment is, "Those are great pictures. You must have a really nice camera."

I usually reply that my camera is great, because it does exactly what I command it to do.

 

[TheFlyingCamera]

I was out over the weekend with a new (to me) camera club. We went to the National Arboretum to shoot some photos. I brought along the Seneca "black beauty" 6.5 x 8.5. I was the only person in the club who did NOT have digital; in spite of it all, the whole plater got respect from everyone. Nobody asked "why haven't you switched". I also had a young dad out with his family stop to admire the camera and tell me he still has a Deardorff 8x10 at home but he put that aside with the arrival of the family. I told him I do platinum printing and he was doubly impressed. I also had a young mother out with her 3 year old ask to take a picture of her daughter standing next to the camera. To paraphrase a (really stupid) sports slogan, "Respect the View Camera". It's good to be da 'tographer!

 

[DesertNate]

Not only do I have a camera that takes great pictures, I have a typewriter that comes up with fantastical and interesting stories. Got them both at the same estate sale. They had a brush that paints Rembrandts, but I am not into painting.

 

[Thomas Bertilsson]

Not only do I have a camera that takes great pictures, I have a typewriter that comes up with fantastical and interesting stories. Got them both at the same estate sale. They had a brush that paints Rembrandts, but I am not into painting.

I have this guitar where it just magically makes me a great guitarist. I also have this really great set of chef's knives that immediately turned me into a great cook. Has nothing to do with skill.

 

[Steve Smith]

I have this guitar where it just magically makes me a great guitarist.

Me too!

<-----

Steve.