Hi bobofish,
>>I think just about everybody would agree that the right thing to do with a >>camera is to take pictures with it.
Absolutely.
>I think just about everybody would also say that there isn't anything wrong with >looking at a camera, and admiring it, without taking pictures.
Nothing wrong.
>Most of us on this forum live in free countries (hopefully someday all of us) and as >such, as long as you aren't hurting anybody, then what's the big deal?
It was said already: The big deal is that some collectors call themselves photographers tho they aren't, neither by their intentions nor by their results.
>A lot of times the people who insist that collectors are jerks are people who >can't, for one reason or another, get the things they want, and they blame the >collectors.
Nobody here " insisted in collectors beeing jerks" . That is a insinuation which poisons our discussion ! 🙁
A second insinutaion is that ALL those who find collecting cameras not exciting are just envy, beeing simply too poor to collect. Did you really meant it ?
>So to look at a camera is to see and understand its purpose;
Not necessarily ???
>whether you are taking pictures or simply fondling your Leica MP, you're acting >photographically, in response to a photographic object.
Ha, I was curious where good old Plato would lead us to !! 😀 😀 Look and touch is "Acting photographically " ???????? A bit too daring, your conclusion, wouldn't you agree? ! 😉
>So perhaps there are logical legitimizations of both collecting and shooting, and >perhaps both pasttimes are indeed largely the same thing.
Sorry but somehow you missed all decisive points in this discussion.? 😕
It was said a minute ago that nobody needs any kind legitimtaion for what he is doing with his cameras ??
> (I know what people would say if somebody simply "collected" women, although >fondling would be much more congratulated.
There are many who even "collect women" , but no matter if cars, fishing equipment or anything else comparisons IMO are not helpful but help to let the discussion drift away.
Maybe it would be helpful to state that collectors and gear heads must not the same kind of person, that the passion for well manufactured technical stuff is not silly per se and that it is not helpful to compare a Ferrari and a good camera when we want to find out why some are interested in watching and touching only but want to be accepted as photogs anyway.
Why do these folks insist on beeing photogs, why do the feel the urge to defend themselves ?
Only because others claim dealing with gear solely has nothing to do with photography and that they cannot understand why that should be exciting ?
Why can't these folks simply answer for what they do and are ?
Plato ( I read his stuff in school, in the original language btw, believe I KNOW him) now rotates with 19.000RPMs in grave because you abused him to make plausible
that fondling cameras is "Acting Photgraphically" !! 😀 😀 😀
I hope btw nobody will feed this troll trying to set fire on this theread with his carnival objection "better-gear-better-pics" :bang:
Bertram
Saying all this still in good humor !
GNOTHI SAUTHON ! From the classical Greek philosophy
it , says "Recognize who you are !"
