People's response to your camera.

[whlogan]

One time, a few years back in Yosemite at Wawona Tunnel whlie walking towards the overlook I was passed by a nice looking Japaness gentleman walking the other direction. As he he he passed by, I heard him mutter, "Hassleblad, very nice." and kept on walking. No eye contact. No other comments. I was amazed. And gratified.
Logan

 

[Worker 11811]

...I heard him mutter, "Hassleblad, very nice." and kept on walking. No eye contact. No other comments. I was amazed. And gratified.
Logan

That's the kind of recognition that, I think, is most important.

A general understanding that "Hasseleblad" = "very nice" but the person is polite enough to recognize that fact without unduly troubling the possessor of said Hasselblad.

In other words, I think it is important that people recognize well made, precision instruments and the people who take such pride in their work to use them but who are polite enough to understand that other people deserve to proceed in their lives without being unduly hassled by people they don't know.

There are some places I like to go that are frequented by many photographers like parks, etc. If I was walking along and noticed somebody with a vintage Halleslblad I might say, "Nice camera!" and give them a thumbs-up as I passed by but I would simply leave it at that unless I thought the person was open to conversation.

The average stereotypical Japanese man is so polite, almost to a fault, that making such a comment which another might hear him say would be quite a compliment to be spoken in the company of a stranger.

If I was in your place it would have been a very good day, indeed!

 

[tac]

My guess as to what is going on here is that a person photographing me with an "old" tlr is obviously a "hobbyist" and I'm honored that he or she would feel that I was photogenic enough to waste film on, whereas a guy/woman with a sleek, modern looking camera is likely an FBI agent, whom I do not want photographing me, even though I haven't done anything! I swear! No, really!

 

[Brian Legge]

The reaction to TLRs has been extremely beneficial. People either ignore them entirely or are interested. I've taken shots I wouldn't have even attempted with a SLR for fear of peoples reactions. For example, a young girl was watching a parade with her parents. I hung out for 3 minutes or so taking shot from about 4 feet behind them, obviously photographing her. The parents talked with each other about the camera, old film, etc and smiled when I glanced at them.

The reaction to folding cameras has been more interesting. People really notice the Mockba-5 - some are fine with it, some seem a little intimidated to have it pointed at them. I have yet to have a negative reaction to the smaller Zenobia. In fact, I haven't had a reaction at all. No comments, no unease, its been a little odd.

The Leica IIIc... similar to the Zenobia with a big exception. Photographers and others come up to me all the time to talk about the camera, talk about the gear they have at home, waiting for use when they retire, etc. It actually has been detrimental to shooting - too many conversations at times.

The compact rangefinders - Canonets, etc - get frankly odd reactions. I've been approached twice by Frenchmen asking about buying the camera. I was once shooting at a market when a girl quickly took of her shirt to try one on. I didn't take any shots but a photographer with an SLR took a few quick shots and moved on. The girl muttered under her breath about photographers and pointed out the photographer to her friends. He happened to be right behind me. She quick smiled at me and said 'Oh, no, you, you're shooting film. Its fine'.

 

[Worker 11811]

...She quick smiled at me and said 'Oh, no, you, you're shooting film. Its fine'.

Intersting!

So, then, to paraphrase...

Digital = Internet.

AND

Internet = Porn.

THEREFORE she didn't like her picture being on the internet, used for porn and she would, understandably, be upset.

BUT

Film = Art.

THEREFORE she didn't mind her picture being taken even though every other part of the circumstance was exactly the same.

The ARTIST somehow makes her feel worthy of being photographed whereas the DIGITAL camera makes her feel like a commodity. Her reaction varies accordingly.

 

[Sirius Glass]

The reaction to TLRs has been extremely beneficial. People either ignore them entirely or are interested. I've taken shots I wouldn't have even attempted with a SLR for fear of peoples reactions.

When I received the Mamiya C330, I went to the Kodak Threater and Hollywood and Highland in Hollywood to test it photographing buildings and the Hollywood sign. On the way back to the car I was carrying by the handle mounted on the left side, I was walking with the camera down by my side. As I passed a hotel, the doorman said, "Now that is a CAMERA! The Crocodile Dundee of Cameras!"

 

[jp498]

My yashica-C TLR is a real conversation starter too. Usually starts with "what kind of camera is that", or "do they still make film for that?" I've got a concise answer that it's an antique FILM camera from the 50's, and that the film type is still used by serious photographers. I then mention a interest/respect for traditional photography styles and casually (never brag about it) mention that it's as good as or sometimes better than digital for certain things.

I think the digital==Internet film==art thing is definitely part of the social understanding of being photographed.

I think there is also a general sense of tradition==good, new==questionable wariness concept overarching the previous idea. (and it's not always true, but the exceptions seem to prove the rule)

I think there is also an instinct of trust that if you are successfully using such a camera, you must know what you are doing and either have worthy skills or money to play.

However, an old 35mm SLR does not convey a skillful photographer no matter how well it is used. It was the thing to have 20-30 years ago before P&S got good and before dying to digital. Sort of like now everyone who wants nice pix has a canon digital rebel or a nikon d3000/d5000/d70, whatever. Those cameras take great photos too, but most people will assume you have one because ashton kucher marketed it to your wife so you can make nice family and social pix. You can really blend in with the crowd sometimes making great photos but they won't show up on apug.

A big pro 35mm camera they'll think you are a pro and wonder where the pictures will show up. (newspaper, internet, paparazzi) Not a bad thing sometimes, but not the gentle presence you want other times. Most people don't see a difference between a Nikon F5 and a D1/2/3 camera or between a Eos 1 film camera and a Eos 1 digital series camera, unless they are serious camera people.

Go big like 4x5 and you'll get lots of people to talk to, but it won't be convenient for casual people photos and you'll be incoveniencing uninterested strangers. But you could get people who like to talk about it to do anything reasonable.

As for metering, I tend to sneak that in before hand and make a mental note of the sky in case brightness changes as I shoot. Done early enough, nobody will know you metered and you won't be holding anyone up while you check the light, and you'll have less things to do when fractions of a second count.

 

[flatulent1]

Interesting comments on TLRs. I've had curious glances, but no comments, when I've been using my folders. What about a typical MF camera with WLF? I keep toying with the idea of getting a Yashicamat, then I have the urge to get a Bronica SQ and WLF... Not as 'quaint' as a TLR, but certainly not as threatening as an F5 with 80-200 mounted.

 

[AshenLight]

LF gets the most comments, MF second and most people don't seem to notice 35mm at all unless they see you using the frame advance lever and then its almost always only other photographers that make a comment.

Ash

 

[Sirius Glass]

Last spring I was in Moab UT for the Jeep Safari shooting Hasselblads and a man came over to tell me that I should be shooting digital. Then he said that his son had a digital that could beat the pants off my Hasselblad, I responded, "You must be so proud of him."

After a few minutes he realized that I had put him down. At that point the professional digital photographer who was shooting photographs to sell [and to whom I given a ride back to town the day before, and as a favor was taking photos of me with my Hasselblads] came up to him and told him that it probably would would not be in the man's lifetime that a small digital camera could come close to the Hasselblads. The man was very quiet the rest of the day.

 

[lxdude]

Well, it is hard to make much of a sound with one's foot deeply embedded in one's mouth.

 

[Andrew Horodysky]

This is a great thread.

I get smirks, mostly, from acquaintances when I photograph with my Canon F-1N. They're using either compact digital cameras (without viewfinder -- extending their arms to see through their LCD screens -- looks funny), or the over-sized DSLRs with huge lenses. I'm a novelty; they'll comment that they didn't know anyone still used film ("How quaint", or "Get with the times"...). Funny, how some of them often complain about out-of-focus/blurry images, "noise", color correction problems (lack of technical practice).

Just this past weekend, my wife and I were visiting our older daughter at Scout camp. At one point, a boy next to me observed that I had an "old-fashioned" camera (F-1 with 35/f2 lens).

"Is that the kind that uses film?"
"Yes."
"Cool."
"Would you like to hold it?"
"OK... Hey it's heavy... Wow, it looks cool through there."

Possible convert?

I recently acquired an 4x5 F/Arca-Swiss (rented a 210 lens, as I can't afford one, yet). Setting it up in a local park attracted some attention. One person, nearby, came up to me and asked what I was doing. When I explained, she was taken aback that this beautiful instrument was a camera. When I showed her the film holder(s), she couldn't conceive of the size the final image would make, one at a time. I explained that there were various sizes even much larger. I let her look through the ground glass, and it was obvious she was pleasantly surprised of discovering something new (to her).

 

[MaximusM3]

Certainly my Rolleiflex is a conversion starter and gets noticed, in a good way. Usually people come up and ask questions or make positive comments and don't mind being photographed..

Coincidentally, I have just taken my 1954 TLR for a spin this past weekend and a nice old lady was intrigued by it. While she was talking to me, I was just snapping and she was amused by it.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/leicaman/4803763360/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/leicaman/4803763062/

With my Leica, I just go stealth and unless I bump into an old timer who knows his cameras (like Roger here..http://www.flickr.com/photos/leicaman/4717668191/in/set-72157623318963523/ (or another Leica fan).

Needless to say, the few days in the past when I took out a DSLR for street shooting, I mostly got dirty looks or risked a beating

 

[TheFlyingCamera]

I don't use the Rollei that much anymore (still mostly shooting LF/ULF) but when I did I didn't get that much of a reaction from it. If you want to talk about camera reactions, try dragging out something bigger than 5x7. I have to beat them off with a stick when shooting most kinds of LF, and now when I shoot with the 14x17, I have to budget about 45 minutes per exposure (10 minutes or less to set up, compose and shoot, 30+ minutes for conversation and explanation of the camera to random strangers). I even get some of that when out with the 5x7 or whole plate cameras. I got a great comment from some passers-by who wanted to know what I was doing at Antietam - I let them take a look under the darkcloth, which triggered "It's like Hi-Def TV!".

 

[nyschulte]

Just had my 5th roll of film through the RZ67 ProII yesterday.

Until last week i was using digital only. I only do people photography in my small home studio.

with the RZ people are more patient, more relaxed (curious?). They keep a pose for longer time than with digital.

 

[tac]

When I received the Mamiya C330, I went to the Kodak Threater and Hollywood and Highland in Hollywood to test it photographing buildings and the Hollywood sign. On the way back to the car I was carrying by the handle mounted on the left side, I was walking with the camera down by my side. As I passed a hotel, the doorman said, "Now that is a CAMERA! The Crocodile Dundee of Cameras!"

This is hilarious! Now THAT'S a camera, Mate! Hilarious!

 

[lxdude]

"Ach! Die gibt's noch?!"
Last week. An elderly gentleman.

Which means?

 

[Q.G.]

"Ah! They still exist?!"

 

[lxdude]

Thanks!

 

[Simplicius]

Don't own a LF camera (yet) but similar experiences with TLR's Autocord in my case... lots of attention , less with MF folders

 

[Bateleur]

Some years ago I was using my Mamiya 645 with a prism finder, while holding the camera at eye level waiting for the decisive moment, I overheard the question "What camera is that?" To which the reply was "A video camera."

 

[photoncatcher]

The last time I was out with my RB, I had 4, or 5 people asking me "what video are you shooting?". They all seemed disapointed when they learned it was a still film camera.

 

[Eric Rose]

I constantly get women rubbing up against me when I use my Rollei TLR. They coo and moan and mutter what a stud I am.

 

[Rick A]

I constantly get women rubbing up against me when I use my Rollei TLR. They coo and moan and mutter what a stud I am.

And then you woke up.

 

[TheFlyingCamera]

And realized it was the dog on your leg.