do YOU guys mind being bothered by others commenting on your cameras?

[goamules]

Most of the comments are short and complimentary when I carry a rangefinder. Several people have told me interesting stories, like the homeless looking man that told me he had a studio in the 70s and shot Leicas. And he knew enough that I believed him. It is distracting, so I'm pretty short but polite unless I really want a conversation. If it's a good looker, I'm bound to talk it up quite a while!

The one rude one was an older guy who walked up to me looking intently at the camera (a 50s Canon IVSB rangefinder), then said, "Oh, I thought that was a Leica. I would have talked to you if it was, but I see it's not...." then he turned on his heels and walked off. I felt like throwing the camera at him.

Large Format is a lot more methodical, and gawkers mess up my process train more so I'm usually a little shorter with them if I'm trying to get a shot and the light is going. But other times I'm happy to discuss the camera and process. It's good PR.

 

[Dylan Hope]

Only time I feel uncomfortable is when it's someone in my course. Possibly because the camera makes no difference when it comes to film, possibly because I still have a hard time verbally justifying the Leica to myself.

 

[jsrockit]

The one rude one was an older guy who walked up to me looking intently at the camera (a 50s Canon IVSB rangefinder), then said, "Oh, I thought that was a Leica. I would have talked to you if it was, but I see it's not...." then he turned on his heels and walked off. I felt like throwing the camera at him.

You should have throw it... what an ass. I had the opposite situation. I was photographing while I hear a guy talking on a cell phone about my camera... a M9 with a CV 50mm 3.5. He's saying... "yeah, he has a Leica with a 30s lens on it." Then asks me about it a little bit before saying "next time get a real camera ... like a Canon." Mind you, this was a 70 year old man acting this immature. Luckily I was in a good mood that day, so I just laughed. Fools.

 

[Jamesruff]

i love my cameras, and i love talking to people about my cameras!

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

Most of the comments are short and complimentary when I carry a rangefinder. Several people have told me interesting stories, like the homeless looking man that told me he had a studio in the 70s and shot Leicas. And he knew enough that I believed him. It is distracting, so I'm pretty short but polite unless I really want a conversation. If it's a good looker, I'm bound to talk it up quite a while!

I completely understand that, not many people do. When you're out looking, and people are chatting away, it can be very distracting. Small talk is OK, but some people just go on and on asking specific questions, and my replies tend to be short, not because I'm upset or short with them, but because I'm at that point multi-tasking. It's like driving and playing Sudoku at the same time (but far less dangerous): your performance on both is going to take a hit.

I've become less intent on shooting when I'm out with people, so this is no longer much of a "problem", but I just know how that can be.

The one rude one was an older guy who walked up to me looking intently at the camera (a 50s Canon IVSB rangefinder), then said, "Oh, I thought that was a Leica. I would have talked to you if it was, but I see it's not...." then he turned on his heels and walked off. I felt like throwing the camera at him.

Sheez, there's not much room for interpretation there. Yes, what an a-h.

Large Format is a lot more methodical, and gawkers mess up my process train more so I'm usually a little shorter with them if I'm trying to get a shot and the light is going. But other times I'm happy to discuss the camera and process. It's good PR.

I remember I was at Bryce Canyon about 11 years ago, and saw a guy with a nice LF set-up. I asked if I could look through the back of the camera, and politely agreed. It was one of those moments when I thought to myself "that's pretty cool, I wonder if I could do this?" He was obviously retired...and me just starting to pay student loans, so years passed before I could get my first LF camera. Which, btw, gets some pretty interesting gawks and comments.