would you let a stranger take a pic off you?

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romeo21

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So me and the misses and child was on a day out and im shooting some nice pic off them with my 7D, she then turns to me and says honey can you get someone to take a pic off us with you camera in which i said no!

was i right to say no? has anyone ever given there camera to a stranger for a family shot?
 
Ive never given my camera to a stranger, but have on numerous occassions been asked to take pictures of strangers with their cameras, mainly P&S types, but on one occassion in Florida was given a Canon 40D by a stranger because she thought I knew what I was doing as I had the same combo around my neck.
 
Just choose a big, fat stranger, then if they decide to run off with your kit you should be able to catch them up again. :eek:
 
I wouldn't ask no but when we were away a few weeks ago I was taking some of my missus and son when an elderly woman asked me if I wanted one of all of us. I politely declined but it got me thinking would she even be able to focus properly on a DSLR and take a decent photo etc.
 
Probably not, because neither of us particularly like being photographed. OTOH, we were in Northern Ireland over the weekend, and several couples asked me to take a shot of them with their camera at the Giants Causeway.
 
I wouldnt hand my DSLR over to anyone i didnt know to be honest, but then again id just frame a nice shot and put it on self timer and get into the picture ;)

Ive handed over a point-and-shoot in the past though, its alot less to loose should they scarper or drop it lol!
 
i wouldn't, but that is because i can't afford to replace my camera. my boss however was brilliant one day when i took my camera to work. i had to jump on the till so i put my camera in a safe place turned round she had given it to some random person to take pictures of us...the way this woman was holding the camera made my heart skip a few beats.
 
My D3? :shake: not even the fat guy!
 
I have a G7 p&s specifically for this purpose.
 
Pezza4u said:
I wouldn't ask no but when we were away a few weeks ago I was taking some of my missus and son when an elderly woman asked me if I wanted one of all of us. I politely declined but it got me thinking would she even be able to focus properly on a DSLR and take a decent photo etc.
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Why wouldn't she??? Cos she's OLD???....... a WOMAN????..... or is your camera particularly tricky to use???

:shrug:
 
The typo in the title made me think this thread was going to be something quite different.
 
I wish someone hadn't decided I looked trustworthy enough to take their pic with a ruddy big gripped Canon when I first had my entry level DSLR.
That view through a big bright viewfinder resulted in a significantly lighter wallet soon after and then the kit lenses were not good enough and then ...
 
chip said:
Why wouldn't she??? Cos she's OLD???....... a WOMAN????..... or is your camera particularly tricky to use???

:shrug:
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Perhaps Pezza4U uses back button focus.
Anyone that picks up my camera and tries to take a pic with it thinks it's broken and it usually takes about 5 minutes of explaining how to make it AF before they actually get it.
 
I'd hand over my point and shoot camera no worries but only to someone who looked trustworthy who was also with their family etc, but my slr, no way! I only just got it and I won't even let my wife use it! It's mine! mine!
 
This guy..



left me with his 5Dii, 300 f4 L and gimbal tripod for an hour or so to take photos of him and the other windsurfers. I'd spoken to him for 30 seconds before he asked me to "take a few shots". Top bloke, Dave White - apparently someone known in the windsurfing community.
 
Probably not, just encase they dropped it.

I've left my friends at times but even that worries me, I ensure the neck strap is on tight!
 
fixedimage said:
Perhaps Pezza4U uses back button focus.
Anyone that picks up my camera and tries to take a pic with it thinks it's broken and it usually takes about 5 minutes of explaining how to make it AF before they actually get it.
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Spot on :thumbs:

I've explained it to relatives before when they've tried taking a photo with my camera and failed or it was out of focus. The problem is alot of people would treat them like point and shoots.

This thread also reminds me of when I was asked to take a group photo at a car meeting. To get the height I was told to stand on an industrial wheelie bin that wasn't very stable while holding this guys £1000 camera. The look on his face was priceless but I was also cacking it in case I fell!! :lol:
 
No after a couple times I've tried, camera came back to me with fingerprints on lens and also I didn't like the pictures at all, composition was just not right.
 
fixedimage said:
Perhaps Pezza4U uses back button focus.
Anyone that picks up my camera and tries to take a pic with it thinks it's broken and it usually takes about 5 minutes of explaining how to make it AF before they actually get it.
Click to expand...

I too have suffered this problem, can be a lengthy process.

If I wanted a photo I would hand the camera over but would obviously pick the right person. Not stereotyping but would probably look for someone who looks respectable and approachable and would be willing to take the shot for me.
 
MartynK said:
Probably not, because neither of us particularly like being photographed. OTOH, we were in Northern Ireland over the weekend, and several couples asked me to take a shot of them with their camera at the Giants Causeway.
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That must have been the "MacDonald clan" they're quite famous as their on that ad on the TV :lol::coat::exit:
 
Reminds me of a few years back when I was stood at the end of Pier 39 in San Francisco taking shots of Alcatraz with my D70 and long lens. I was approached by an elderly lady and her rather athletic looking "son".

Her: Do you want my Son to take your photo
Me: No thanks
Her: Go on, give him your camera and he will take your photo
Me: No thanks
Her: It's really no trouble, he is good photographer, give him your camera and see
Me (walking rapidly away): No!
 
romeo21 said:
So me and the misses and child was on a day out and im shooting some nice pic off them with my 7D, she then turns to me and says honey can you get someone to take a pic off us with you camera in which i said no!

was i right to say no? has anyone ever given there camera to a stranger for a family shot?
Click to expand...

I would only hand my camera over to friend and family, on only occasionally

DorsetDude said:
Just choose a big, fat stranger, then if they decide to run off with your kit you should be able to catch them up again. :eek:
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That explains a lot, thinking on my last trip to London or any tourist type location

Matt
MWHCVT
 
I have done in the past, although I looked vary strange in the two pics that were taken as I was poised to be doing some sprinting. Luckily it was fine though.

It's not pleasant to be worried, but also a shame you can't really trust strangers these days.
 
I have done numerous times with a P&S, I don't think I'd do the same with my DSLR, and if I did it would only be given to a trustworthy looking person, preferably who has a family with him, less risk of him trying to leg it.
 
Yep I have, a few times. Only a 450D and kit lens/Tamron 17-50, but I don't have the money to be buying back kit again. I only ask people if they also have a dSLR (even though the one time I did, the photos were quite poor compositionally, or one's with kids or something so they can't just leg it.

fixedimage said:
Perhaps Pezza4U uses back button focus.
Anyone that picks up my camera and tries to take a pic with it thinks it's broken and it usually takes about 5 minutes of explaining how to make it AF before they actually get it.
Click to expand...

Also this ^
 
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not a chance... not worth the risk.. i've dropped my camera once myself so i wouldn't want it in anyone else's mitts!

i don't know about anyone else... but when i get asked to take a shot with someone else's P&S... don't you hate it when they say 'thanks' and then grab the camera off you before you get to see if it was exposed / straight / not cut any heads off etc.... SO ANNOYING.... don't they understand we NEED to see the result!! :bonk:
 
Pick the chinese/japanese tourist with two D700's round their neck (as I saw many a time in Edinburgh castle this weekend).

Handed the camera to a 'local' - a ****ed off look and my head chopped off the photo.
Handed it to a chinese tourist - lovely photo, checked it was100% OK, was surprised he wasn't going to deploy some strobes and umbrellas...
 
WP-UK said:
I too have suffered this problem, can be a lengthy process.

If I wanted a photo I would hand the camera over but would obviously pick the right person. Not stereotyping but would probably look for someone who looks respectable and approachable and would be willing to take the shot for me.
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Be interested to know how you know it would be the 'right person', and there are also some 'respectable' looking and 'approachable thieves. :thinking:
 
WillyB said:
Be interested to know how you know it would be the 'right person', and there are also some 'respectable' looking and 'approachable thieves. :thinking:
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Very true. That's where luck and judgement come into it. I would generally be more concerned about someone dropping it than running off.
 
Reminds me of a German tourist when I was in London a few years ago. Asked me to take a photo with his camera on tower bridge and handed it to me from the opposite side of a small barrier. I pretended to start to run off with it and then stopped and snapped a great shot of his expression when he realised I was joking. Genuine happiness and a great image as far as I could tell on the LCD. Wish I could have a copy for myself.
 
tried numerous times with my 20D on my last holiday (always stuck it in auto mode first), 95% of people didn't understand because there is no live view option, I don't think a single person instinctively looked through the viewfinder, all asking 'how do you get it to show you what your looking at?'
 
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