Camera observations while traveling

[MHD]

I have a problem... besides being a d70 a holic I am a dirty pervert...
Of other people's camera gear, while other people say look at that person's hair eyes etc... I check out thier gear..
My observations around the NZ tourist traps

SLR/P&S: Suprising amount of SLR use... I would say 1 in 5 people with cams are shooting SLR about 1 in 15 are shooting using thier mobile phone soley

P&S: almost 80% digital, of those using digital the Cannon powershots have a good market share... very few Nikkons...

SLR: about 80% film 20% digital... I have only seen Drebles and D70's in the DSLR field yet with a ratio of about 1:2 D70:drebel

one interesting note: I have yet to see a drebel without the kit lens attatched while I have seen a few d70's with high quality lenses showing (17-55DX for one...

[birddog114]

one interesting note: I have yet to see a drebel without the kit lens attatched while I have seen a few d70's with high quality lenses showing (17-55DX for one...

Cos, people who own Nikon gears know how to lust and use their gears.
I've seen many drebels but hardly see it with any 70-200 or any top Canon lenses on it, wonder why?

[MattC]

Here in TC I have only seen two other dSLR's, a 300d and a 10d. I know that there is half a dozen or so film SLR's in town, all Canon and owned by two people. I have never seen anything but a Canon P&S (local and tourist), and the tourists carrying an SLR usually have a Canon (either film or digital). As far as I know, I am the only Nikon owner within 500km.

Cheers

Matt

[Greg B]

Matt

You are the shining light of quality in the barren landscape of mediocrity

[MattC]

Maybe. I had a chat with the guy at the local photolab (he owns at least 3 of the Canon film SLR's and asked why he pushes Canon so hard. His answer was that he could buy Canon cameras at the same price as all of the major chains. No other company will do that for him. He sells around 4 digital P&S cameras a week, which is not bad for a non aboriginal population of around 1500 people.

Cheers

Matt

[MHD]

indeed... It seems in this consumer society P&S digitals are almost becomming a disposable item!

Oh and I might add... I am yet to see a set of legs I like better than mine

[skippy]

Wandering around in Dubbo (Western Plains zoo) and Parkes (the Dish) in the last week I've seen mostly P&S, and I'd agree with the ratios MHD posted. Of the SLRs, I only saw a few drebels, and yes, they had the kit lenses on them. Felt a bit conspicuous wandering around with a monopod and a Bigma on the end of my Nikon when everyone else had P&S jobbies, but learnt to ignore it. Except for the kid that made raygun noises when he saw it.... found that a bit hard to ignore....

Anyone else noticed that the drebel owners tend to be snapshot takers? None of them seem to compose their shots, or do anything that takes any time. They walk up, point, shoot, and walk away. Pathetic really. Why didn't they buy something cheaper if they're only going to use it as a P&S?

[Killakoala]

Except for the kid that made raygun noises when he saw it.... found that a bit hard to ignore....

That's hilarious I can just picture that.....

On NYE there was another DLSR user nearby and he was using an EOS1D or something simliar. I did bump into MattK So i guess that makes about 2:1 Nikon to Canon users. I did see two 'Pros' but they were up a crane and i couldn't see what cameras they were using. One looked like a DSLR, brand unknown and the other guy was using a medium format camera.

[Marvin]

MANY times when I was away I got the comments "that's a nice camera - are you taking slides?" or "are you a professional?". Ha ha. I wish! Not one person I spoke to about the camera knew that it was digital and assumed that any SLR would be film. One guy actually kept going on and on with "If only I had a point and shoot like you I could take better photos". I was quite offended!!!

[MHD]

hehehehehe

It is funy at first but get's annoying...

on NYE in Christchurch (photos to follow when I get to a decent internet cafe) I got lots of "oooooh we are famous" and "oooh what newpaper do you work for..." HAH! if only!


Cheers! From Te Anu!

[birddog114]

hehehehehe

It is funy at first but get's annoying...

on NYE in Christchurch (photos to follow when I get to a decent internet cafe) I got lots of "oooooh we are famous" and "oooh what newpaper do you work for..." HAH! if only!


Cheers! From Te Anu!

MHD,
Great to hear from you, I think you better shift to NZ and start your Biz in photofraphy and there're many followers

[Greg B]

When I was between marriages (early/mid eighties), I was photographing a friend's band at a pub, got asked the question, lied, said I was with Rolling Stone. Was accepted without question. I am not proud of it, but I figure I am not the first guy to make up a story to try and impress a girl. I did have a camera! (OM1 + OM10 + couple lenses and flash)

Strangely enough, the truth (Manager in the legal dept of a Bank) seemed to work even better. Go figure.

[christiand]

During Floriade I had the D70 on a tripod next to me. I was standing on the edge of the footpath. The D70 was right next to me out of harms way. Not in front of me. Not looking through the viewfinder either. Enough space for everyone to walk past.
People were uneasy walking in front of the camera. They stopped and were asking for my permission to walk past.

Regards
CD

[birddog114]

During Floriade I had the D70 on a tripod next to me. I was standing on the edge of the footpath. The D70 was right next to me out of harms way. Not in front of me. Not looking through the viewfinder either. Enough space for everyone to walk past.
People were uneasy walking in front of the camera. They stopped and were asking for my permission to walk past.

Regards
CD

Please say yes, and have a tin box beside the camera

[christiand]

What a good idea Birddog114.

We shall collect donations (fees ...) and give them to the TSUNAMI releif.
Not a bad idea at all.

Regards
CD

[birddog114]

What a good idea Birddog114.

We shall collect donations (fees ...) and give them to the TSUNAMI releif.
Not a bad idea at all.

Regards
CD

I'll be with you and we are joint venture.

[gstark]

Asa general rule, I'm at a disadvantage in this sort of game when I travel, because I rarely do the usual tourist stuff. I prefer to pretend I'm a local, and I frequently get asked for directions.

In the US this doesn't present too much of an issue, but in France and Italy, that's another story.

Yesterday though I went to the Historic Old Town in San Diego. This is where it all started here, and I did happen to observe just one other person with a DSLR.

This obviously was a lady of impeccable taste, I could tell this from two reasons: 1 she had a D70. 2 She paid no attention to me, walking right past me, with her friends. In point of fact, they sounded like they may have been German tourists.

[Killakoala]

When i was on a photog walkabout at the Sydney Observatory, i happened to notice a wedding at the church below so i did what any of us would do, i took a few shots of it A nice young lady who was nearby asked me if i was shooting for the wedding. I humbly said no, just taking advantage to hone my skills She was impressed by my 'equipment'.

[ozimax]

Whilst in NZ last September, drove through Lake Tekapo, saw wedding in process, so I walked up and started shooting, just acted like a pro. (Actually I talked to the pro and explained that I was just practicising, he was quite nice about it all).

The only problem was, I was using my F707, a nice P&S camera but not quite in same league as D70, but it was a fun few hours. Even the bride and groom co-operated and gave me some nice shots!

Max

[Glen]

A nice young lady who was nearby .... She was impressed by my 'equipment'.

[Greg B]

Yeah sure Killa. You'd want to turn the VR off.

[W00DY]

Yeah sure Killa. You'd want to turn the VR off.

Actually the nice young lady probably turned his VR on!!!!

[MHD]

Update:
The further off the track I got the more the shift to Nikon...

I did a pretty grueling climb to a hut on a range that looks over Mt Cook (weather was not the best so not many shots of the mount) and all the DSLR's I saw (3 in total) were d70's...

Also, some crazy Japanese guy lugged a medium format 1/2 way up...

Also just spotted a D2H being used today...


I have shot about 2G in total... a few shots I am very happy with (NYE shots were quite good... cant wait to get to a "real" computer and post proccess)

Your printer might have some business soon Birddog

[glamy]

When at the Sydney Motorshow with the D70 and the Sigma 12-24, 3 people asked me about the good looking equipment and I also noticed two other D70, none with the kit lens. Also saw a few people trying their cameraphones(?).
Gerard