camera quality

Seems like at every wedding lately someone, meaning a guest comes, up to me and asks me how many pixels is

that camera? Often for the heck of it I tell them I have no idea what a pixel is. Other times they ask me if thats a 5D

mark2, and I tell them no, this is a $7000 1Ds mk3. Well today some rich guest shows me his nikon D3X and

decides to say his camera is a lot better than mine and why don't I shoot with better cameras. I was stuck for an

answer, so I said maybe I'll go buy one this week, just to get him off my case.

 

Here's the deal, I don't want to make anyone angry so lets keep camera quality out of this. No comparing cameras,

thats not the subject.

 

I feel like I need a shrink! To gain advice on how to deal with some of these people. Oh, I forgot to say that the guy

with the 5D mark 2 said his camera is better because his camera can do video! In a way, he is right, his camera is

also 22 megapixels, I think thats the same as the mark3.

 

So here's the question - how do you deal with these folks? Some of the new pros don't have top of the line cameras

as well as very experienced pros.Frankly I feel the 1Ds mK3 is overkill. My first digital camera was a Fuji S2, 6

megapixels, and I enlarged up to 24x30, without any pixel issues. So when a guest shows up with a better camera

than yours and starts talking to you and asks you why you don't use better cameras what are your responses?

 

I need some good answers here to get the guests off my back! It has to be a short answer because reception rooms

always have loud music and I wasn't given a voice that projects. Anyway lets have fun with this topic, no harsh words

about camera quality, because I really believe any $300 camera can probably work for a wedding, given the fact that

a lot of phototgraphers give the clients a CD only.

<p>"This camera works well for me." End of discussion.</p>

I like that Mike!

<p>Well, ok, this came from a little girl.... But the same situation still happens when we shoot VIDEO! "Does your camera take pictures?" "No, sweetie, only movies." "Well my daddy's video camera takes pictures." (She's 6ish & this is said in the "my daddy is better than your daddy tone) "And I'm sure he's very happy with it. You have fun now!"</p>

<p>We've been lucky enough we haven't come across too many measure-baters actually at the weddings. My initial response to "why don't you buy newer/better (that's the assumption, anyway) equipment?" would be - "Because when people can afford me, I have more work." <br>

The other response that springs to mind - and this applies to megapixel measurers as well as "higher class" bodies... "I spend my money on extremely high-end lenses, because without the excellent glass, the camera body means nothing." Ok, I think this one ought to be the first response - mostly because very few of the guys spending $$ on their camera just because they can do NOT go beyond the kit lenses.</p>

<p>And I'm sure we've all been over the video camera v. SLR that can do video enough..... THAT guy actually gets my goat faster than the "I've got more megapixels, so obviously I have a better camera" kind of guy. </p>

<p>Can I toss in another "AAAAAARRRRRGGGGG" inducer? It's the guests w/ the point & shoot who come up and say "You're not using a flash, I am and my pictures are all black. How can yours be turning out?"<br>

Makes me wish I had the time to sit down & educate them, but that's my personality.....<br>

(the short answer is: Because I have complete control over my camera, and I can tell it to do things that your camera is not capable of doing.)</p>

<p>How about I had one of those and it broke twice the first month. I sold it for one of these (fill in the blank.)</p>

<p>I have one of (name his) and this is a loaner while it is being repaired. </p>

<p>I am saving my money and should be able to get one next month. In case you meet with him again, use 1 or 2.</p>

<p> </p>

<p>i have found that most guest with fancy cameras don't even know how to operate them and usually only have the pop up flash. and sometimes they are taking a photography class and are trying to get some practice in. i usually ask a technical questions to see what level they are on if they are trying to look professional. for example, "what f-stop, aperture, and iso are you shooting at?" i actually chat with some of them throughout the day if they show interest in talking and are not too bothersome. i also sometimes ask to see some of their pictures, then i show them some of mine. it's then pretty obvoius that it's not the camera, but the knowledge and skill of the person behind the camera that matters. however, i did have a wedding last year where this one guy really looked "professional". he was up all over the place with a flash bracket, battery pack, two lenses, and everything. i told him i didn't care what he did as long as he stayed out of my way and out of my shots. i asked him one question and about flash exposure compensation and knew he was a joke from that point on. i saw his website and the pictures were horrible. i'm not a great wedding photographer yet, but in my mind i'm always the best one there. i feel if there was someone there better than me there then the bride and groom would have hired them instead! </p>

<p> </p>

<p>I usually screw with them. "Wow, that IS a nice camera! You should get into wedding photography!" :-D</p>

<p>Logic and reason is pointless with the mine-is-bigger-than-yours crowd.</p>

<p>You'll always meet someone at a wedding who tries to out-gun you.</p>

<p>I shot with a Mamiya RB-67 back in the 80's and some dude showed up with a Hasselblad to a wedding I was doing. I'm dead serious. I felt like mounting an 8x10 view camera to a stroboframe just to thwart any future incidents.</p>

<p>But, in all honesty? Don't waste your time justifying your equipment choices. If they're so great with their D3x, why didn't they get hired to shoot the wedding?</p>

<p>i have also used this line to shut folks up who think they have a fancy camera - "they all do the same thing, some just do it easier than others"</p>

Love these answers...I can't wait to use them!

<p>People who think that the latest-greatest camera will make them a better photographer are like the people who think the latest-greatest golf clubs will make them a better golfer. </p>

<p>From the hubby Matt (not to be confused w/ Kuhel, or one of the others around here):</p>

<p>Most guys I know that shoot with that are compensating for other "short comings"</p>

OK, OK, how often do you fellow photographers get approached? For me, it's been every friggin wedding now for about 3 months, totalling around 13 or 14 weddings. Is it that bad everywhere or do I look like a nice guy to bug? hehe

<p>I am not a pro but I can see the frustration cos I have seen people like these as well, not just for bragging cameras. From what I have learnt, it would be a mistake trying to explain cos they will neither listen nor understand. I am not talkative so I usually smile and get on with my own business and they would never bug me again. But in a professional situation, I might just tell them "well it is just a tool to get the job done." They either get it or they don't.</p>

<p><em>"You'll always meet someone at a wedding who tries to out-gun you....."</em><br>

Funny, after shooting more than 500 weddings, I can't remember more than a couple of times that some guest has tried to get competitive with me.</p>

<p>Like Denzel, most guests that have asked me about pixels and camera quality seem to be looking for information or just want to share their interest in photography. I enjoy chatting with them. Years ago, similar situations would occur when a guest asked why you had 35mm instead of MF gear? Answer,"because with today's film the quality is excellent and the camera is lighter and more user-friendly." The key is to be comfortable and confident in your tools and to generalize the same confidence/comfort when chatting with your client's guests while you're on the job.</p>

 

<p>Michael Brown beat me to the reply I'd have given: "Nice camera. You should turn pro."</p>

<p>My alternative wouldn't endear me to many folks: "Do I have 'gimme sh!t' tattooed to my forehead?"</p>

<p>I'm seeing far more duffers with high end cameras than ever before, everywhere. But the blow hards have always been around. When I was a kid in the '60s accompanying my stepdad on shoots in NYC (he made industrial movies, PSA's, training films, etc.), occasionally some blow hard would approach the cinematographer or still photographer to shoot the bull and try to show off how smart he was or why the pros should use better equipment, blah-blah-blah.</p>

<p>It's not new, just more common now that so many duffers own high end dSLRs. Just come up with a couple of stock retorts you can fire back to amuse the sincere enthusiasts and bemuse the show offs.</p>

<p>If all it took was good equipment *I'd* be doing it, instead of just shooting the occasional wedding or event as gifts or at cost for family and friends.</p>

<p>not every question demands a response...how about <strong>no</strong> answer with just a grin or nod</p>

<p>To the (stoopid) D3X guy: "funny, a mate of mine has a Ferrari but he doesn't have quite the skill of Mr Schumacher yet"......</p>

<p>Funny coz I had the similar experience, not from a guest but from the 3rd shooter (the groom decided to get an extra camera, don't ask me why, I just made sure everyone knew their roles) she had two Canon 5DMKII's, one had the 70-200mm F/2.8 L IS and the other I think was a 35mm F/1.4 L.</p>

<p>She kept exalting their ISO capabilities and that she didn't need a flash anymore (we were shooting at the reception, the place was lit but no enough to get quality images), when she saw my gear she had that amazed look "Why is this joker the primary, when he has this so and so gear?"</p>

<p>I knew it was going that route the moment she started exalting 5DMKII ISO's capabilities hehehe. I just smiled and moved on, no point in explaining my gear preference, I had a wedding to shoot lol</p>

<p>OT but I am still amazed that a lot of photographers have this aversion towards flash, it's as if it is a bad thing =)</p>

<p>As for the D3X guy anecdote:</p>

<p>He reminds me of my wife's girlfriend, she doesn't know how to drive but she bought a brand new Lexus RX3 because it looked cool when she saw it on a commercial and that she will learn to drive eventually.</p>

<p>I always just think this (not that I necessarily say it) You can buy a $10,000 Fender with Pearl inlays but that doesn't make you Eric Clapton.<br>

You can buy a D3X....but that doesn't make you a photographer. It makes you a guy with an expensive camera. All it shows anyone is that you can spend $$.<br>

I basically just let the Uncle Joe go on and on about their toy and excuse myself because I'm "working"....pretty much letting them know that regardless of their "pixels" and nice fancy cameras, I'm still making $$ with mine.</p>

<p>If it's really that bad, Why not put a black piece of tape over the model and when they ask tell them it's not the camera that makes great pictures, but the photographer and the years of experience you offer.<br>

Or you could put the tape on and reply with, it's so new it's still under testing and you are not allowed to disclose any information at all about anything, and walk away. ;)<br>

Happy Shooting!<br>

-Heather</p>

<blockquote>

<p>OT but I am still amazed that a lot of photographers have this aversion towards flash, it's as if it is a bad thing =)</p>

</blockquote>

<p>I agree! I recently upgraded to the Nik D700 and, with my 50mm f/1.4G, the thing is like a light funnel. But only in very specific situations do I not use flash to some extent. Even if it's just a wink to open up shadows on a face or bounced as an accent light.</p>

<p>I love my twin SB-800's! :-)</p>

So many GREAT answers here!!! I'm now ready for the next clown!

<p>How about "No speeek Inglis"? </p>

<p>I would respond at the same level the guest chose to use. If he or she is 'nice', then I am 'nice'. If nasty, I just excuse myself. "Nice camera, gotta go." If you respond with nasty, you may get into trouble. I've had one experience where a guest complained about me to the couple--totally misinterpreted my comment. People are weird that way.</p>