That's like, your opinion man...

[Chriscrawfordphoto]

Dear Chris,

I can understand asking someone why they use the equipment they do.

Telling them what to use, unless they've asked for advice, is another matter.

A bit like a reply I once gave to a computer nerd who was telling me that I needed a much more powerful computer. I asked why. He replied that all the latest games required that sort of power. "Ah," I said, "That's the difference. You play games on yours. All I do with mine is earn a living."

Cheers,

R.

Roger,

I have a 7 yr old Powermac G4. Bought it new. My computer geek friends keep telling me to ditch the dinosaur and get a modern computer (preferably windows, cause macs are overpriced). Well I don't play games either and Photoshop runs just fine on my old one. Macs are too expensive, which is largely why I don't have a new one, but they also remain usable for a lot longer than a Windows PC. I got my money's worth.

 

[Michael Markey]

I have the same problem at my local camera club.You are a real outcast and backward thinking if you use film. Even more of an oddity if you use one of those expensive Leica cameras. The whole club is DSLR and nothing else matters . This view seems to be orthodoxy throughout UK camera clubs.

 

[peripatetic]

Hmm, I program in C# but use a Zeiss Ikon for a lot of my shooting.

My colleagues who program in Cobol all use digital cameras (mostly iPhones).

I think it's too soon to draw any conclusions from that.

 

[oldoc]

I just know I was never happy with the results of my photography until I got my first RF.
Now I feel I am improving.
Result are better than opinions.

 

[cmogi10]

That, in a nutshell, is the real argument for Macs if you ask me.

I have an original 2001 Quicksilver G4, bought new - used it for something like 5-6 years before I finally upgraded. And it wasn't because the old one wasn't able to function anymore or was too slow. I still have it, and it still runs great. They're arguably more expensive than PCs, but given the useful lifespan...

I'm on my 5 year old Mac laptop, the thing's paid it's dues.

 

[MatthewThompson]

That, in a nutshell, is the real argument for Macs if you ask me.

I have an original 2001 Quicksilver G4, bought new - used it for something like 5-6 years before I finally upgraded. And it wasn't because the old one wasn't able to function anymore or was too slow. I still have it, and it still runs great. They're arguably more expensive than PCs, but given the useful lifespan...

Not to mention the upgradability of the PPC Powermacs. 2x 2.0Ghz G5 here;
happy and lots of headroom for upgrades.

 

[Fujitsu]

I'm getting tired. I do not feel like I am an "in your face" film rangefinder advocate but I seem to be defending my gear choices to my photog friends more and more often. The reasons for why I use a rf are not crazy or even weird, I just like the damn things! In my collection I also have DSLR's so it's not a film vs digital thing, it's a me thing. Does anyone else find themselves in a defensive position because of the gear they use? I even started hiding my non-rf gear for a while when around the guys but I realized I'm to old for that and I'm going to let my freak flag fly! 😎

I´m getting more and more admired for using film. Every ape shoots digital today and people know it...

 

[peter_n]

No one I know is even remotely interested in my gear, they like to see pictures but the camera seems to be irrelevant to them. To be honest I think that's the way it should be. 🙂

 

[swoop]

A lot of the time people assume my camera is 20 years old and film. This happens mostly when I'm doing feature or portrait assignments. People sometimes ask "How old is that thing?" or "Are you using film?" Either that, or I'm an amateur because it's small. That happens mostly when I'm covering spot news. Cops/firefighters/EMS think I'm a bystander just wandering along getting snapshots.

Sometimes I think about getting a D3 just for the "image."

 

[totifoto]

I get alot of hassle because I´m I Leica M film camera user.

First people dont understand why I spent 1200$ on a 21 year old camera and I always say : "well, it will outlast you´re 7000 dslr."

Why film is a common question. Few answers for that one. "I just like it better, gives me the result I ´m looking for, It´s more fun" and my favorite answer is " anyone can shoot a digital camera, you gotta know what you are doing when shooting film."

 

[crawdiddy]

The guys and girls here are my only lifeline to the RF world. Most of my friends find RFs quirky, and I'm the only one they see walking around with one.

I feel lonely at times. There's nobody on the streets here who's shooting anything like the cameras listed in my signature.

Btw, I recommend the Medalist I. You get the fine-focus knob on the lower right (as you face it) instead of a sync port, which I am not likely to use anyway. Also, the anodized lens barrel is cool.

 

[wgerrard]

I've never been hassled or chastised or ridiculed in the flesh for using a rangefinder. I assume most people just think I'm using some old plastic camera found in the attic. I have noticed that while most people can grasp the appeal of carrying around a smaller camera, they don't at all understand why someone would want to use film and do everything manually. If I start to explain the differences between an RF and a SLR, their eyes glaze over and they begin to lose consciousness.

If you are given a hard time about your camera choices, I recommend launching a diversionary tactic: Tell the naysayers that their shoes are ugly and should not be worn in public.

 

[smiling gecko]

please....

please....

breathe, relax and enjoy.

happy trails,
kenneth

 

[Trius]

The only people who give a damn about the other guy's gear in a pejorative way are those who are either insecure or at the very least unhappy about something.

You do good work, just let them be the way they are. It's their stuff.

 

[rbsinto]

I'm always being asked why I use film instead of digital cameras by my photobuds.
However, because none of them ever used rangefinders, they don't distinguish between them and the SLRs.
They are simply mystified that I choose to use old equipment (Nikon S3 and SP rangefinders, and Nikon F, F2, FA and FM SLRs) rather than the Whiz-bang, space-aged wonders that they're all using.
And for reasons I can't understand, it really seems to bother many of them that I haven't jumped on the Digital Bandwagon, and they're constantly preaching the Gospel According to Pixel in an effort to convert me.

 

[BillP]

I never cease to be amazed by what people find to worry about...

Regards,

Bill

 

[kermaier]

Good advice folks! I think from now on, when someone gives me flack I'll just take a toke, drink a caucasian, and say f**k it.

Thanks for your responses! This is why I hang out here on rff.

Just tell them "I'm sorry, I wasn't listening."

ari

 

[kermaier]

When I bought a Rolleiflex 3.5E Planar a couple of years ago, my wife (who has no interest in photography) gave me a look like I'd lost my sanity. I said, "well, it's neither the cheapest nor the most expensive way to get into medium format..." and she finished the sentence "but it is the dorkiest-looking way."

Then, last year, when I sheepishly showed her the Epson R-D1 I'd just purchased, before she even knew it was digital she said "at least this one's really cool-looking."

Doesn't go to show much of anything - I'm just sayin'... 🙂

Ari

 

[pachuco]

Wow, these are great responses! Some folks have no trouble at all while others are in the same boat as I am. Either way, great advice and a great read to start off the morning!

 

[Chris101]

When I bought a Rolleiflex 3.5E Planar a couple of years ago, my wife (who has no interest in photography) gave me a look like I'd lost my sanity. I said, "well, it's neither the cheapest nor the most expensive way to get into medium format..." and she finished the sentence "but it is the dorkiest-looking way."

Then, last year, when I sheepishly showed her the Epson R-D1 I'd just purchased, before she even knew it was digital she said "at least this one's really cool-looking."

Doesn't go to show much of anything - I'm just sayin'... 🙂

Ari

The dorkosity of a TLR is it's main charm. It's good for getting folks to look directly at it, and momentarily wonder what that thing is with it's eyes turned sideways. That's why TLRs are good for street shooters.