Gear snobbery

photon said:
A while ago on breakfast telly Chris Simpson (I think) was interviewed and at the end was asked if he worried about getting his gear nicked. No he wasn't, cos he uses a Linhof, and nobody would want that ;-)

We're all buyers of optical bling. New buyers are often told they need certain brands because of their greater suitability for shooting sports or our feathered friends but (despite the technical achievement) you have to ask what the point is of yet another shot of a car or bike taking a bend. Suggestion: watch the film Dark Blue World for ideas about men interacting with machines and the environment.

And to the new buyers: find your niche. You may have to try out all sorts of gear to get there, but may finish up really needing only a couple of lenses. Don't think you need super long lenses to act the part; on the other hand, don't deny yourself the experience if it's within your grasp. Your unique contribution to photography is most likely to be the shots of your family, friends, pets, locality, travels and activities, for which you won't need a huge amount of bling.
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Excellent post :thumbs:
 
photon said:
A while ago on breakfast telly Chris Simpson (I think) was interviewed and at the end was asked if he worried about getting his gear nicked. No he wasn't, cos he uses a Linhof, and nobody would want that ;-)

We're all buyers of optical bling. New buyers are often told they need certain brands because of their greater suitability for shooting sports or our feathered friends but (despite the technical achievement) you have to ask what the point is of yet another shot of a car or bike taking a bend. Suggestion: watch the film Dark Blue World for ideas about men interacting with machines and the environment.

And to the new buyers: find your niche. You may have to try out all sorts of gear to get there, but may finish up really needing only a couple of lenses. Don't think you need super long lenses to act the part; on the other hand, don't deny yourself the experience if it's within your grasp. Your unique contribution to photography is most likely to be the shots of your family, friends, pets, locality, travels and activities, for which you won't need a huge amount of bling.
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Anyone who is buying a camera or lens as bling needs to take a long hard look at their own feeling of self-worth ;)
 
Gear snobbery?

Maybe.

I have just bought a 40D and will soon be putting my 400D twin lens kit on ebay, I will also soon be buying a 100-400mm lens, but it is not entirely to do with snobbery or envy of other 'togs equipment.

My preferred area of photography is aviation, and whether it is here, or on aviation specific forums, I have seen some truly stunning pics, which are pin sharp, and I want to get as close to those standards as I can.

But in the meantime, I'm a below average photographer with camera equipment that I have worked hard for, and cherish, because for a long time, I have something that holds my interest, and is something I want to learn.

And become the best I can be.

[/creep]Thank you all for your inspiration and advice[/creep]
 
Probably a reverse snob really,I have never had top of the range kit but have always been happy with what I have,what hacks me off are those strutting around with the latest expensive Canoniksonolymp 235 XZD with a 10 to 1000n f1.4 zoom and they obviously have no idea of the capabilities of the equipment or how to frame a shot.
 
Nope,

Not I.

Never looked down on anyone with cheap cameras. Other brands etc.

I'm actually quite envious of a friend of mine who's doing a fine art degree and does most of his photography with cheap 60's & 70's polaroid and film cameras. He makes some amazing images.

I think Gary hit the nail on the head a bit earlier on, when he said about his D3. Ultimately, a better camera will not make you a better photographer, it will however, make it easier to translate your artistic vision into something tangible. It's the same with a lot of tools.

Better knives don't make you a top chef, they just mean you can chop quicker and with more precision/less effort.

Better brushes wont make you a better painter, they just affect the way the oil goes on the canvas.
 
I'm not sure theres any snobbery about it - most of the people on here will go out and buy the best they can afford in the hope that their own images will be of a high quality. I'm not so sure many go into a shop and say "Right, whats the biggest, whitest, most expensive lens you have - I need to show off how much money I've got".

Thats not to say we don't all spend a lot, we do, but its not the idea to turn up with the most expensive gear and wait for masses of super-impressed bods to fall over in admiration. Just look at the amount of threads on here asking for lens advice, they all ask whats the image quality like, will it AF fast enough, is it fast etc.

Unless I'm being a bit naive?
 
reddeathdrinker said:
I have a D300 and a big pro-lens, and I love turning up and standing next to people with entry level DSLRs and lenses. Makes them feel a bit of a prat, apparently ;)
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I don't think it was you! He was armed with a massive Canon, let me take a few photos with it to see what a pro dslr felt like. Think his name was Jochen...

After playing with whatever Canon that was it just made me want to get a pro dslr even more!
 
It is not the size of the hammer that counts, it is how you hit it

*or somehting along those lines :lol:
:D
 
EdinburghGary said:
Since getting it, I absolutely cannot stand using my D200, it seems to take a very harsh contrasty image in comparison, very strong whites, dark reds and blacks, and just feels wrong now.
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I like my D200, I'm sure I can give yours a good home too :P
 
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