bojanfurst
Well-known
i occasionally get "Why are you still messing around with film?" question, but as for "the look" - nobody would dare to look at me that way. I am a bearded 6'2'', 200lb man wielding a Pentax 67 
rxmd
May contain traces of nut
It could be worse. They could make him look like a football hooligan, a one percenter, or a militant vegan.
Lauffray
Invisible Cities
Cutly
Established
I've never had that look, it was always and still is the other way around, a bit of surprise but lots of good comments; like digital is more convenient but I miss film also, and things like this. I only run into people that value this and seems to envy me, I would say. Never had anything like what the topic is about! And everyone seems to know somehow that film is great and good looking etc. Everyone but the big guys with huge DSLR. They put too much money in it to value film.
What does a 1%-er look like?
rxmd
May contain traces of nut
Haha, funny rxmd.
MCTuomey
Veteran
+1
I get my share of smiles and dirty looks, wwhich I accept either way with equanimity. Being strange and also large (over 6 ft, 225#), I'm left to myself mostly. Not many seem to want to take the time to confront an old man making pictures with odd cameras.I'm hardly ever in the few shops in town, since they've pretty much abandoned silver film processing and the gear I use. A new printer opened up his shop just north of the city recently, so I expect to use his services.
reagan
hey, they're only Zorkis
hey, I could be a Zorki totin' 1%er vegan hooligan Baptist preacher, right?
Keith
The best camera is one that still works!
reagan
hey, they're only Zorkis
Definitely. What was I thinkin'?
rxmd
May contain traces of nut
[X] Show pics!
hamradio
Well-known
I've never gotten any condescending stares while out and about.
Last weekend I had a gentleman tell me it was 'badass' to use film.
Last weekend I had a gentleman tell me it was 'badass' to use film.
starless
Well-known
On the opposite. Usually people comment something along the lines of "shooting black and white film is the true and only photography" or they remember using film years ago and the great results they were getting. At least that's been my experience recently.
But the Leica yeah, it gets the funny looks sometimes, because it's so small and looks old. However it helps a lot in certain situations (street and documentary) because some people are genuinely intrigued by the camera you are shooting them with, and they don't see it as threatening as a huge DSLR
But the Leica yeah, it gets the funny looks sometimes, because it's so small and looks old. However it helps a lot in certain situations (street and documentary) because some people are genuinely intrigued by the camera you are shooting them with, and they don't see it as threatening as a huge DSLR
reagan
hey, they're only Zorkis
pschauss
Well-known
I find that my cameras are a great conversation starter. A few months ago, while visiting Tourtour, a small village in the south of France, an Austrailian guy was so impressed with my TLR that he wanted to take a picture of me with it, using his digital camera, to send home to a friend.
I Love Film
Well-known
filmfan
Well-known
Ignorance is always difficult to deal with.
gho
Well-known
Interaction in public space with others triggered by photographic equipment can be quite interesting.
Mostly I get positive comments, for example (in the subway): "Nice camera!". Me:"Oh, it's just an old film camera.". "No, no, I have worked in South Africa. A photographer from National Geographic took some portraits with just that camera. They were gorgeous!" (Or something along that line). Of course we know it was not the camera, but well...
However, recently someone was passing by while I was changing film, going "Ts, ts, ts...". I am not sure what he meant, so I simply ignored it. Most reactions to film seem to be out of curiosity. "Why are you using film?" In a calming ;-) voice: "Oh, I also have a digital camera, but I enjoy developing film myself too."
Or me while taking a portrait in the street: "I must be crazy that I am still using film." "No, no, otherwise it would be too easy and everyone could do it." I am not sure about that. ;-)
There are also some other interesting occurences. For example if I am taking a shot of a static scene, sometimes another one with a camera appears right besides me and takes the same picture. A highlight was when I held the camera on my outstretched arm to take a photo of a static scene from a higher perspective. A DSLR just popped up besides my camera with a girl attached to it shooting in continuous mode going: "Ratatatatat, yeah, yeah!" Me:"Good?" "I don't know..."
Using a LF camera on a tripod can also be quite interesting. Ahh, and there are also the collectors.
So overall I would say, have fun, enjoy and have a nice chat!
Mostly I get positive comments, for example (in the subway): "Nice camera!". Me:"Oh, it's just an old film camera.". "No, no, I have worked in South Africa. A photographer from National Geographic took some portraits with just that camera. They were gorgeous!" (Or something along that line). Of course we know it was not the camera, but well...
However, recently someone was passing by while I was changing film, going "Ts, ts, ts...". I am not sure what he meant, so I simply ignored it. Most reactions to film seem to be out of curiosity. "Why are you using film?" In a calming ;-) voice: "Oh, I also have a digital camera, but I enjoy developing film myself too."
Or me while taking a portrait in the street: "I must be crazy that I am still using film." "No, no, otherwise it would be too easy and everyone could do it." I am not sure about that. ;-)
There are also some other interesting occurences. For example if I am taking a shot of a static scene, sometimes another one with a camera appears right besides me and takes the same picture. A highlight was when I held the camera on my outstretched arm to take a photo of a static scene from a higher perspective. A DSLR just popped up besides my camera with a girl attached to it shooting in continuous mode going: "Ratatatatat, yeah, yeah!" Me:"Good?" "I don't know..."
Using a LF camera on a tripod can also be quite interesting.
Ahh, and there are also the collectors.So overall I would say, have fun, enjoy and have a nice chat!
reagan
hey, they're only Zorkis
Absolutely. I didn't mean to leave the impression that eye-rolling looks is all I get. I too have lots of great conversations with young and old folks alike that started up because of a question/comment about my gear. I met this young lady at a Cracker Barrel in Texas. She wants to "get into film" ... on a budget, and had rapid-fire questions. It was fun.
For folks like that, I've always got time.
For the others ....
"Look, you scoffers, marvel and vanish away. Because I am doing a work in your days, a work that you will never believe, even if someone were to explain it to you."