Others using your RF camera to take image

[Robert Lai]

I had this situation at my nephew's baptism. I pre-focused, set aperture, set the shutter speed as high as I could for the light, and hoped for the best. The person taking the pictures had experience with film cameras in the past, because winding film was no problem for her. The pictures actually came out, much to my surprise.

I think the novelty of my Bessa R was what motivated the curiosity of the person. Everyone else uses digital P&S or their cell phone these days.

 

[jsrockit]

Teach them how to focus using a rangefinder...

 

[Brian Atherton]

Pre-focus and set the exposure. Then tell the person to frame within the silver border (film, Leica M6 TTL). Usually they ask me show them the result, to see if it’s okay, which confuses them mightily. 😀

First up, though, I make sure they’re more decrepit than me and can’t run off… oh, and I make sure the strap is around their neck.

Mostly people are just being nice and just want to help. I offer to do it myself, especially with visitors in London.

Never had a problem. Yet. 🙂

 

[axiom]

I do as Range does.

The biggest challenge is when I am using a (say) 21mm without another finder. I would tell the person exactly how and where to point the camera, and ignore the view finder framing. However, no one ever listens to me. I even had a photographer friend did that to me - I explained him that the lens was a 21mm and just point when I said to point, but he still didn't listen and pointed the way he felt comfortable accordingly to the view finder framing. Of course the picture was off!

Annoying!!

I would pre-focus it first , then tell the person to stand pretty much in the spot
I was in and take the picture, it comes out good.

Range

 

[Richard G]

Good point about the strap around the neck: first thing I do with them too.

 

[rodt16s]

When I have handed over a camera to someone, the subject is nearly always smack in the middle of the frame.
Though they usually take sharper images than I do with the same camera/lens , which can be annoying.

 

[Balto]

I have instructed most of my friends on use of a leica M particularly for this reason, comes in handy. I have had situations with strangers where I would need to explain to them so of I cant set if to f8 it's probavly not worth the hassel.

 

[Lauffray]

I usually sacrifice a frame and indulge the person if they're interested in the camera. Sometimes I preset f/11 and just hand it to them, if not I ask them if they're ok with a manual.

 

[Bob Michaels]

This has only happened to me 3 times as I am normally alone.

Annia Alonso, a good friend who knows nothing about photography but is a well know Cuban artist attended my exhibit in Havana and asked for my camera so she could have a photo of me. She arranged and composed this shot, then handed me the camera with the request to "adjust it".

Bill Bachman, who made a very good living as a travel photographer was with me in Trinidad Cuba and told me that I needed a photo of myself. He asked for my camera (a ZI rangefinder) directed someone else to hand me their M6 and shot this. I assumed he was knowledgeable about rangefinders as I knew he had shot a Hasselblad for many decades.

Same trip to Cuba, I set my camera on the ground to go play with the these students in Las Terrazas. I noticed Bill picking up my camera and found this when I developed the film.

 

[swoop]

I would pre-focus it first , then tell the person to stand pretty much in the spot
I was in and take the picture, it comes out good.

Range

That's what I do, it doesn't come up often but the last time I had it happen was last Easter when i went to the zoo with my son. they had an easter bunny there (guy in a suit) and a staff member was taking photos of families using the families cameras. I stood where he was, focused, set the aperture to 5.6 and handed him my Leica M9 and told him to look through the little window. Afterward he said it was a cool camera. Only the first of those shots turned out in focus. I think he tried to "zoom" it.

 

[CliveC]

Most of the people I've handed my automatic cameras to seem to have problems with the half-press focus thing. Manual focus may actually be easier to understand and more foolproof.

 

[dct]

Good snaps, Bob.
It was a funny reading, this thread. It is like a mirror for me and now I see why there are no images from myself taken with one of my RF cameras: My experience was occasional people didn't understand the focusing thing neither the manual aperture/time settings.
My reaction was always keeping my RF camera away from such noddies. But, reading here, I might be too elitis on this matter and have to refine myself.
Valentino

 

[David Hughes]

Hi,

It does show the advantages of a P&S as a travel camera, doesn't it?

Regards, David

 

[SamShio]

I got my girlfriend to take a snap of myself after I set the settings but I told her see needed to focus it which was really different from what she has ever used. Got my roll back and I was not in focus but all in good fun.

 

[Takkun]

Had it happen plenty of times..the photos are never useable, but at least its fun. I'd rather just hand them my mobile phone.
As for strangers--don't think I could trust a stranger not to drop the damned thing. A few times I've struck up conversations with fellow rangefinder enthusiasts, pull out my M5, and they've grabbed it right out of my hands out of excitement. They're probably trust worthy, but doesn't fail to make my heart stop momentarily.

 

[rjbuzzclick]

I had it happen to me last summer, but I just said "no thank you". I had my Koni-Omega with me and didn't feel like explaining it. I kind of wish I would have though, if only to see their reaction to the weight. I did offer (and take) a photo of their family.

 

[AlwaysOnAuto]

I'm hesitant to allow others to hold my camera because I've been the one who has dropped a camera while taking a photo for someone.
It was a group event and since I was always the one taking pictures of everything I was asked to take the group shot. Well everyone wanted a picture taken with their camera. I was standing on a picnic table with all the cameras either on it or the bench which was attached to it. As I reached down to get this one camera as I came back up from bending over the strap caught on the corner of the bench ripping the camera from my hands. Talk about feeling embarrassed, horrified and fearful all at the same moment. I think the camera survived, but am not sure. The owner said he could see it was an accident and for me to not worry about it. To this day I'm still hesitant to use someone elses camera or to let someone use mine. At the least they must put the strap around their neck. If they refuse to do that, they don't get to use it.