OT: Sometimes it just doesn't pay to be the guru...

bmattock said:
"I thought you knew something about cameras."

And with that, he stomped off.

...

Ever have one of those days?
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This brought a smile on my face and a tear in the eye..

People constantly ask me about which camera to buy. But they're not actually interested in the answer. They've already set their mind on a particular make/model. And when I tell them it really doesn't matter as long as they are comfortable with it, they're indeed quite disappointed..
 
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Pherdinand said:
you know what amazed me, Bill?
Here on RFF you're the guy who always tells his oppinion upfront in our face, whatever the subject of discussion might be, which is a good thing (on the long run, at least).
Apparently you are completely different in real life. Or is it really the church that made you so sweet and polite? You could have told him the truth without saying f*** it, i guess.
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I figure ya'll can take it, I guess. Photo enthusiasts, be they rangefinder folks or SLR or medium format, whatever - we tend to be more aware of what's happening in our industry. Or that's my theory anyway.

But you've got a point - I'm a lot 'softer' on people who are not 'into' photography.

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks
 
pvdhaar said:
This brought a smile on my face and a tear in the eye..

People constantly ask me about which camera to buy. But they're not actually interested in the answer. They've already set their mind on a particular make/model. And when I tell them it really doesn't matter as long as they are comfortable with it, they're indeed quite disappointed..
Click to expand...


people just want to hear us confirm their own decision. My cousin is going on a once in a lifetime trip to Vietnam, and asked me about cameras. I said "bring a film camera, someday you'll be glad you did." He replied with some form of "no way, I want to bring a digital P&S because it's easy and I know what I'm getting."

Yes. Yes you do. Tragic, really, because the kid has an awesome eye. He'd be a star here. I sent him the link. . . but I think he thinks I'm just trying to disease his mind. He knows what I'm about.
 
Hi,

Good post. Your posts frequently are, Bill.

I guess I'm lucky because I haven't done too many assignments yet. And the ones I did, people seemed happy with the results without caring about the equipment. Now that I moved from film SLRs to LTM, people with some prior knowledge will rather declare me mad than ask me for advice. One friend who did ask about a decent digital camera, ended up buying a Panasonic that he's really happy with now.

Clueless starters are a much better audience than people who think they know all about it because they already have a camera.


Peter.
 
bmattock said:
<snip>I went home and uploaded my photos to the KofC website, played with a broken camera, had a nap. Later on, I had a beer.

Ever have one of those days?

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks
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Nope. I drink wine. 😉

I vacillate between the diplomatic approach and the direct, if a bit brutal approach. I lean toward the latter for two reasons. First, life is a bit short and I've lived long enough to be a curmudgeon. Second, if I am direct with the idiots who only really want confirmation, not a valuable opinion borne of experience, will be "offended" enough (their problem, not mine) that they won't come back later with their shiny, new sorry excuse for a "camera", expecting me to ooh and ahh over it, heaping praise on their empty heads. :angel:

Now please pass the cabernet.
 
People say they need a computer for their kid to do their homework. No, the kid wants a games machine, music downloads and chat.

Likewise people say they need a 5 Megapixel digital camera, and then print only 1% of their pictures to just 150mm x 100mm. They really would be better off with a disposable camera, but they don't want to hear that.
 
Heh, fun story, Bill. I must say I've never experienced anything like it before. People usually just ask me to look at the cameras they just dragged out of the attic, where they spent the last 30 years or so, and want to know whether they're worth anything. Of course, they never are. Even the fancy-looking ones from the '50s are just point-and-shoots with no RF. I've always told them that to their face, to save us both the trouble and embarassment of trying to sell them. It's somewhat sobering to note how few "real" cameras are still floating around, waiting to be discovered.
 
I always tell folks like that to check Ebay completed auctions. Brings them back to reality fast and I am off the hook.
 
hoot said:
It's somewhat sobering to note how few "real" cameras are still floating around, waiting to be discovered.
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Oh, I know where the 'real' cameras are. And if I wanted to go into the eBoy camera-selling business, I know how I'd do it.

Move to Florida or Sun City, Arizona. Go to estate auctions.

Most of the best cameras are held onto, even into their owner's retirements. They are sold only when the original owners passes on.

Look at the eBoy locations sometime - such a high percentage come from FL and AZ!

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks
 
Rob said:
I always tell folks like that to check Ebay completed auctions. Brings them back to reality fast and I am off the hook.
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I suspect I'm dealing with a group of folks who don't 'net'. I put up a website for our KofC council. Got a lot of compliments on it - oh, everybody loved it! But I monitor the site stats - maybe six or seven hits a month.

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks
 
I sold some non-photo stuff on eBay and a few local people asked me to help sell their stuff too.

So I went round, looked at whay they had, researched it, and told them the price they might get.

They thought I was 'offering' too little and went aound telling others that I wanted to buy their stuff at below market price. As all these people are off the net however many times I explained that I did not want to buy, but I was willing to help sell, they did not/could not understand.
 
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Fedzilla_Bob said:
It's actually not a bad camera, perfect for snapshots of his poms. "They're a Spitz type you know." Trying to make the cute little buggers somehow a little more macho.
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Huh? Poms? What did you say?

Are you talking about someone taking pics of their yarbles?

😉
 
I believe that "pom" is dogspeak for the Pomeranian breed.

Now, "yarbles" is a new one to me...

Ken Ford said:
Huh? Poms? What did you say?

Are you talking about someone taking pics of their yarbles?

😉
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Thanks for a good laugh Bill. I can always count on you. Guess we've all had a similar experience or two. I've had folks try and sell me old Kodak folders and Hawkeye Brownies as "old cameras" so they should be collector's items. I try to be polite, but hate to see their faces when you tell them approx. what their camera is worth. One old guy talked cameras and WWll for over four hours before trying to sell me his Minolta Himatic 7S. Told him I actually wanted his Kodak Recomar 33 and Zeiss Nixe but he insisted they weren't as good cameras as the Minolta. Left him my phone # and felt a little richer for the war stories if nothing else. Old folks fascinate me so I can't get too frustrated, but like yourself it's hard to be diplomatic when they look at you like you're trying to con them somehow.
 
Ken Ford said:
Huh? Poms? What did you say?

Are you talking about someone taking pics of their yarbles?

😉
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I meant pomeranians, but your version is better. O God, I hope he doesn't find this thread, he does check out my gallery now and then.
 
I was photographing for a friend's opening (of a new business) with a bessa R. Someone asked me a very strange question:

"Is that digital or an SLR?"

I said its neither nor and he was a bit upset I think.
 
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