What camera do you bring when you're out with friends?

It's either the X100 or nothing for me when I go out drinking. When I'm out with my GF, I bring whatever I feel like using.
 
Actually the Polaroid (or Fuji Instax) suggestion is not a bad idea at all.
After a day hanging out with friends, if you end up with a handful of prints ready to be made a collage, that would be a fun reminder of a fun day.

And by the way, thanks for #18, Frank :)
 
In your place, I'd carry the R3A. It's up to you to keep it out of harm's way. The Spotmatic could be good too. Just bring either of those with just one lens. Whichever is lighter.
 
I carry whatever is handy, has film in it at the right speed for the event and has a lens that fits the need for the moment.

However most of my friends don't like being photographed and will go out of their way to block the shot. Then, what gets me is, I send them the photos I took and they love them but they never say thanks or tell me how much they love any of the shots.

I am glad I do this for me and not them because with that kind of feedback, I'd never carry a camera anywhere with friends otherwise.
 
Then, what gets me is, I send them the photos I took and they love them but they never say thanks or tell me how much they love any of the shots.

I am glad I do this for me and not them because with that kind of feedback, I'd never carry a camera anywhere with friends otherwise.

Yeesh, sounds like it's time to get some new friends! :p j/k
 
I almost never take a camera out with friends if I am just going out for drinking and socialising.

If it's a day trip or an event or something, I would take whatever felt appropriate. Usually that would mean a digital compact, or film compact if I needed something very small and weather resistant. Hexar AF if I was going to use flash, as the Hexar and dedicated flash works so well for me. Rolleiflex if I was going specifically to take pictures, rather than just taking pictures as an adjunct to something else I was doing.
 
RFs are not allergic to beer! They may even function better (some are German, after all); you might, too.

ISO 400 B&W pushed to 1000 or 1250 + a F/1.4 lens & the Bessa.
 
Yeesh, sounds like it's time to get some new friends! :p j/k

Honestly if I knew how to make new friends, I would love some new ones. I want friends who like to hang out more then once a week and who contact me to go to dinner or hang out, thank me for my photos, and appreciate me more.

Id really love to make some photographer friends so we had some more in common. I keep hoping someone I see out on the go, while I'm toting a camera, will strike up a conversation and we will become besties.
 
Honestly if I knew how to make new friends, I would love some new ones.

On a serious note, I know how hard it can be to make new friends. A couple of years ago, my wife and I had a bad falling out with our best friends. We basically cut off all contact with that group of friends in order to save our sanity.

In the process, we've met some new friends and reconnected with some old ones. I will say that my dance card (which used to be pretty busy) is not full every night, nor every weekend, even. It's not easy.

But the quality of the friends that we have now is much better than it used to be. Perhaps it's time to taper off your contact with your old group of friends. Before we cut off contact with our old friends, it was hard to make new ones; events with our old group always took precedence over hanging out with new people.

Is there a flickr group of photographers near where you live? I know there's one in my city. They have regular meetups/photo walks. Just a thought for finding people with similar interests.
 
I'm with Frank. In this situation, for instance, film is at a disadvantage due to the low light situations I may encounter. It doesn't mean that I won't use it (thinking about pushing some Tri-X in HC-110). If I use pushed film, I think I might bring the R3A with a Canon 50mm f1.8. I like the aperture-priority for quick shooting.

Push it!


Untitled by Michael_Sergio_Barnes, on Flickr


Untitled by Michael_Sergio_Barnes, on Flickr

This is tri-x pushed 2 stops in D76 on my Hexar AF and Leica M3 (w/ 35mm Summaron). I personally don't worry about metering but just handhold it at the slowest shutter speeds that I'm confident with (1/8-1/15 with 35mm) and just hope for the best.

I personally don't like small/light cameras because they are less handheldable (epic/xa) but they are usually considerably cheaper and somewhat disposable. I have the same issue in deciding which cameras to bring too. I used my Hexar for this but I decided to sell it because I don't like using AF cameras (no issues, just less fun) and I usually wouldn't bring my Leica to this. At the moment I use my Retina IIIc but have thought about selling that and getting a CL. I prefer the look of pushed film over high iso digital or flash but to every man (or woman) his own.
 
If I'm just going to hang out with freinds--dinner & drinks--then I leave the camera at home and use my phone. Mine is ok as a point and shoot and the quality is good enough for me.
What you describe it a bit different, though. For a days outing, I would take my Bessa and either leave it in the trunk--if there's a car-- or just leave it in my coat once we start bar hopping.
Rob
 
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