Do SLR's put you "on the radar"?

[benjiboy]

I've been shooting with SLR's for more than forty years, and they haven't "put me on the map" yet.

 

[Hatchetman]

In my experience trying to photograph trains, big SLRs and lenses are almost guaranteed to bring out the LEOs - law enforcement officers...Barney Fife types, only less intelligent. Nobody cares if I have a Rollie or small rangefinder.

 

[Rick A]

I have only notice odd looks when out with my view camera. I pulled my head out from under the focusing cloth only to see traffic backing up while rubberneckers watched to see what I was doing at the local park last summer. I was well off the right of way on a bridge shooting a landscape.

 

[Black Dog]

Same here-I've had a few ITAMs as well

 

[mopar_guy]

If you want to be "on the radar", make a cell phone call, or use the internet, or take money out of you bank account. Big Brother is watching.

 

[Nikon Collector]

large digital slrs have pretty much destroyed the concept of "candid photography" in the news business. Bring out one of those monsters and people automatically perform.

Decades ago the dictum of LIFE photographers was that you had to become invisible -- and with a small Leica or Nikon, both very quiet, you could. It is impossible to do so with a massive lensed DSLR, or even a film SLR, and while they do get a lot of different shots than you can with a small rangefinder, the is an intimacy that is lost. LIFE's brilliant photo story by W. Eugene Smith about a day in the life of a country doctor would have been impossible, or at least a lot harder, to shoot by a photographer loaded down with the usual couple of hulking giant lensed cameras.

Of course, very few photographers today are W. Eugene Smith, too. I keep saying, great photography is 5 percent what yu shoot with, 95 percent you.

http://life.time.com/history/life-classic-eugene-smiths-country-doctor/#1

how much you? The article says that Smith spent several days with the doctor taking pictures with no film in the camera so the doctor could get used to Smith, and he spent several weeks on this one assignment. There is no news publication in the country today that would spend that kind of staff time/money. Maybe a freelancer could do it, I dunno. And then nobody publishes that sort of photo essay any more either, so what does it matter?

A shame, and what are my granddaughters gonna show their grandchildren

 

[Nikon Collector]

ahha) I do get looks, but mainly coz of the unusual skin colour of my cameras!

View attachment 75145

NICE!

 

[Eric Rose]

It's a status thing. People are so conditioned to look for labels so they can "rate" you. Nothing more than that imho.

I was accosted by one gentleman who demanded to know what camera I was using. I had all identifying marking covered by black tape. He was incensed that I wouldn't tell him. The point I was trying to make to him was that it's not the camera that makes the photographer (sorry Leica fanboys). Mind you he was wearing highly labelled expensive clothing so brand was very important to him. So sad.

 

[RalphLambrecht]

It's a status thing. People are so conditioned to look for labels so they can "rate" you. Nothing more than that imho.

I was accosted by one gentleman who demanded to know what camera I was using. I had all identifying marking covered by black tape. He was incensed that I wouldn't tell him. The point I was trying to make to him was that it's not the camera that makes the photographer (sorry Leica fanboys). Mind you he was wearing highly labelled expensive clothing so brand was very important to him. So sad.

sorry, buyI really think that name-brand equipment increases your chances to get a better image. The photograph is still made by the 12 inches behind the camera but famous brands are sought aftr for good reason!

 

[Alan Gales]

No, but my 35mm Stereo Realist sure does.

 

[John_Nikon_F]

In my case, if I'm shooting an F, F2AS, or F3P without a motor drive, no. If I'm shooting one with a drive, or an F4 or F5, yes. Especially the last two. Partly because they kinda look like DSLR's, even though both have rewind cranks and one still has a somewhat analog interface.

-J

 

[pbromaghin]

large digital slrs have pretty much destroyed the concept of "candid photography" in the news business. Bring out one of those monsters and people automatically perform.

Decades ago the dictum of LIFE photographers was that you had to become invisible -- and with a small Leica or Nikon, both very quiet, you could. It is impossible to do so with a massive lensed DSLR, or even a film SLR, and while they do get a lot of different shots than you can with a small rangefinder, the is an intimacy that is lost. LIFE's brilliant photo story by W. Eugene Smith about a day in the life of a country doctor would have been impossible, or at least a lot harder, to shoot by a photographer loaded down with the usual couple of hulking giant lensed cameras.

Of course, very few photographers today are W. Eugene Smith, too. I keep saying, great photography is 5 percent what yu shoot with, 95 percent you.

http://life.time.com/history/life-classic-eugene-smiths-country-doctor/#1

how much you? The article says that Smith spent several days with the doctor taking pictures with no film in the camera so the doctor could get used to Smith, and he spent several weeks on this one assignment. There is no news publication in the country today that would spend that kind of staff time/money. Maybe a freelancer could do it, I dunno. And then nobody publishes that sort of photo essay any more either, so what does it matter?

Well, sort of.

The story I read said he shot for a whole month without film. And that LIFE was not at all pleased that he was taking so long for this story. And it pretty much ended his association with them. But man, it is a wonderful piece of work.

 

[E. von Hoegh]

It's a status thing. People are so conditioned to look for labels so they can "rate" you. Nothing more than that imho.
I was accosted by one gentleman who demanded to know what camera I was using. I had all identifying marking covered by black tape. He was incensed that I wouldn't tell him. The point I was trying to make to him was that it's not the camera that makes the photographer (sorry Leica fanboys). Mind you he was wearing highly labelled expensive clothing so brand was very important to him. So sad.

I believe you're correct.
Last summer some yobbo asked me "what is the zoom ratio of that lens?".
I was carrying a Nikkormat FTN with the 28/3.5 Nikkor-H, all circa 1970.

 

[Sirius Glass]

The OP has obviously never used a Hasselblad or 4"x5" camera.

 

[E. von Hoegh]

The OP has obviously never used a Hasselblad or 4"x5" camera.

Indubitably.
I recommended he try a mahogany 8x10.

 

[ToddB]

Great thread.. When I go out with my trl, I most certainly get a lot of positive response. Most question is can you get film. Absolutely! I reply. I can't get at Walgreens, but order on line at B and H photo, In bricks. A lot of people do the cartoon double take.. They'll walk by me and take a double take and sometime come up ask questions. A lot of times they'll make comments like " What a beautiful camera"! I was talking to one guy and he told me that he has a RB67 that he doesn't use anymore because it cost to to much per photo. 12 cents a shot. I said.. When I'm confined to 12 shots per roll, I'm really careful on what I expose my film too. Thus better pictures in general. I really think there's a place in photography for both film and digital. I got to say tho.. Film cameras are more beautiful in appearance.

 

[mhcfires]

I generally don't get much response when using my Leica, I do get some when using the Rollei, but what really gets people's attention is when I am out with one of my Graflex SLR's (I have a 2x3. 3x4 and 4x5) or my Speeds. Those DO get attention. I haven't been out much with my 5x7, I'm just starting to get used to using it. The best part of the 4x5 Graflex is the 12 shot bag-mag. It is really cool.

I do have a Nikon D700, but I leave that for shooting small critters, children and birding.



m

 

[gone]

My experience is that big, long lenses get attention, not necessarily modest sized SLR's like an N90 (great camera) w/ a short lens. An N90 will surely be seen as a DSLR anyway. I get some looks when I shoot w/ folders and TLR's, but it's the good sort of attention. People know they're film cameras, or at least some type of antiques, and have no fear that their photo will suddenly appear on an online photo site somewhere. A lot of this depends on the venue, which is why I like shooting beach side and at markets, as people are used to seeing photographers there (as long as you're not shooting photos of their small child w/ that big lens Fixcinator has shown here). Living in a tourist orientated town helps too. I've learned to shoot quickly, put the camera back down after the shot, smile, and move on. Works fine for me.

 

[Nikon Collector]

In my case, if I'm shooting an F, F2AS, or F3P without a motor drive, no. If I'm shooting one with a drive, or an F4 or F5, yes. Especially the last two. Partly because they kinda look like DSLR's, even though both have rewind cranks and one still has a somewhat analog interface.

-J

It's funny you mentioned that, I live in a tourist town on the beach so cameras are a dime a dozen. I have never been nopticed till this summer. I decided to give my F3HP/MD4 a workout. Was unnoticed till the click-whirrclick-whirr started. Then I had an audience and questions like, " Is that a new type of camera?", " How many megapixels does it have?"

 

[Fast14riot]

I don't really get bothered when I have a camera, I walk to work and carry a camera every day, usually one of my slrs. When I get asked is when I go shoot a jam session or band and all the smokers are outside. Even worse when they're drunk. Its things like, dude you're such a hipster, or wow, I haven't seen a film camera in 20 years!

Though when I'm walking through the park to work and stop at the base of a tree and am staring up it for 10 minutes I get some odd looks! One time an elderly walked up behind me unnoticed and started staring up the tree too. Startled me when she suddenly asked what I was looking for, lol! I told her the Allen's Hummingbird I could hear, she prompty turned up hr haring aid and litened closely, but never heard it.


-Xander

 

[BradleyK]

I believe you're correct.
Last summer some yobbo asked me "what is the zoom ratio of that lens?".
I was carrying a Nikkormat FTN with the 28/3.5 Nikkor-H, all circa 1970.

I have had similar comments when shooting with short telephotos (105mm, 135mm, 180mm): "What's the range of that zoom lens?" "How fast is that zoom?" "Is that an autofocus zoom?" (LOL) The "confusion," I believe, relates, at least in part, to the massive autofocus lenses that seem to hang off every second DSLR one sees.

Insofar as "being on the radar," No one seems to pay any attention if I happen to be shooting with the Leicas; likewise with a motorless Nikon (with sub-85mm lenses). However, if the camera I am shooting with is motorized (especially the F2/MD2) and I happen to have a longer lens on front, I am aware that folks do take notice.

 

[Roger Cole]

They don't seem to much notice my 35mm SLRs, except for an occasional comment about "cool, a film camera" or "wow, a film camera." They notice the M645 even less. I think they assume it's digital, or maybe a movie camera. The 4x5 Linhof gets either questions or polite avoidance of the crazy man with the cloth over his head.

The Yashicamat gets smiles and compliments frequently. People just love TLRs (and I love using it too.)

 

[Pioneer]

The Yashicamat gets smiles and compliments frequently. People just love TLRs (and I love using it too.)

+1 on TLRs. Everyone seems to love them, especially kids.

Big lenses also draw lots of attention, but the camera then becomes secondary.

 

[E. von Hoegh]

I have had similar comments when shooting with short telephotos (105mm, 135mm, 180mm): "What's the range of that zoom lens?" "How fast is that zoom?" "Is that an autofocus zoom?" (LOL) The "confusion," I believe, relates, at least in part, to the massive autofocus lenses that seem to hang off every second DSLR one sees.

Insofar as "being on the radar," No one seems to pay any attention if I happen to be shooting with the Leicas; likewise with a motorless Nikon (with sub-85mm lenses). However, if the camera I am shooting with is motorized (especially the F2/MD2) and I happen to have a longer lens on front, I am aware that folks do take notice.

"Zoom Ratio" seems to be big in the advertisements. But a 28?? It's no bigger than a standard 50...

 

[Rick Olson]

Yes ... been there, but with a larger than 35mm camera. Try using an 8 x 20 at a railroad museum and enjoy the spectacle.