Don't ask what camera to buy.....

[EIngerson]

Better?

Super. lol

 

[kathyt]

Better?

Oh runnah, what am I going to do with you?

 

[runnah]

Better?

Oh runnah, what am I going to do with you?

How about (vague innuendo goes here)?

 

[Gavjenks]

Now, how is it "helping them make it through the daunting and nervewracking decision" when you have 3-6 pages of diverse opinions countering each other on what is "a great camera"? It doesn't. I think I made a valid point in a light hearted manner about the information received from posting a broad question on an internet forum. You took symantics to an unprecedented level when you read what you wanted to read from my post, instead of reading what was said.
​

I read your post. I just don't think it's at all true. Yes, those threads have a lot of bickering in them, but it is a very FOCUSED type of bickering. About things like brands, generally, and NOT about types of cameras.

For instance, if some guy just made a thread saying "Oh hey I know nothing and am giving you no information other than I want to take up photography as a hobby. What should I buy?" Most people are going to say a DSLR of some sort. And those who don't say a DSLR generally seem to expect that others will, and so they tend to give reasons for why something other than that.

There might then be quite a lot of nitpicky debate about nikon vs. canon or this starting lens versus that one, or between really specific camera bodies, but it will all be WITHIN a general consensus of an entry level, probably crop sensor DSLR, in the $5-700 range, with some sort of medium range zoom lens. Which is actually a fairly specific zone of agreement and it gives the poster quite a lot to go on that they might not have known before, even if the specific details are fuzzy.
​

 

[EIngerson]

Now, how is it "helping them make it through the daunting and nervewracking decision" when you have 3-6 pages of diverse opinions countering each other on what is "a great camera"? It doesn't. I think I made a valid point in a light hearted manner about the information received from posting a broad question on an internet forum. You took symantics to an unprecedented level when you read what you wanted to read from my post, instead of reading what was said.
​

I read your post. I just don't think it's at all true. Yes, those threads have a lot of bickering in them, but it is a very FOCUSED type of bickering. About things like brands, generally, and NOT about types of cameras.

For instance, if some guy just made a thread saying "Oh hey I know nothing and am giving you no information other than I want to take up photography as a hobby. What should I buy?" Most people are going to say a DSLR of some sort. And those who don't say a DSLR generally seem to expect that others will, and so they tend to give reasons for why something other than that.

There might then be quite a lot of nitpicky debate about nikon vs. canon or this starting lens versus that one, or between really specific camera bodies, but it will all be WITHIN a general consensus of an entry level, probably crop sensor DSLR, in the $5-700 range, with some sort of medium range zoom lens. Which is actually a fairly specific zone of agreement and it gives the poster quite a lot to go on that they might not have known before, even if the specific details are fuzzy.
​

Maybe thats where we differ, I don't consider telling someone to get "a DSLR" helpful.

 

[runnah]

Maybe thats where we differ, I don't consider telling someone to get "a DSLR" helpful.

It amazes me that people walk around with cash in hand just waiting for someone to tell them how to spend their money. I guess that is why there are pyramid scams and infomercials...

If you were to ask me I know what camera, lens, car, household appliance, lawn mower, pair of pants I'd buy given the money. I do my research before I even step into a store.

 

[manaheim]

It amazes me that people walk around with cash in hand just waiting for someone to tell them how to spend their money. I guess that is why there are pyramid scams and infomercials...

If you were to ask me I know what camera, lens, car, household appliance, lawn mower, pair of pants I'd buy given the money. I do my research before I even step into a store.

And how is posting on a forum of photographers asking their opinion not research? Or do you think so little of your own perspective?

 

[kathyt]

Maybe thats where we differ, I don't consider telling someone to get "a DSLR" helpful.

It amazes me that people walk around with cash in hand just waiting for someone to tell them how to spend their money. I guess that is why there are pyramid scams and infomercials...

If you were to ask me I know what camera, lens, car, household appliance, lawn mower, pair of pants I'd buy given the money. I do my research before I even step into a store.

If we went shopping together you would get no say in the decision making process. Maybe on the jeans. Oh wait, no not on those either. Wrangler butts don't drive me nuts! (is that what they wear in Maine)

 

[EIngerson]

Maybe thats where we differ, I don't consider telling someone to get "a DSLR" helpful.

It amazes me that people walk around with cash in hand just waiting for someone to tell them how to spend their money. I guess that is why there are pyramid scams and infomercials...

If you were to ask me I know what camera, lens, car, household appliance, lawn mower, pair of pants I'd buy given the money. I do my research before I even step into a store.

If we went shopping together you would get no say in the decision making process. Maybe on the jeans. Oh wait, no not on those either. Wrangler butts don't drive me nuts! (is that what they wear in Maine)

Carhartts.

 

[squirrels]

Get to Know Your Carhartt Boyfriend

 

[Derrel]

http://www.thephotoforum.com/forum/search.php?searchid=2442515

371 results on TPF...

 

[Gavjenks]

Now, how is it "helping them make it through the daunting and nervewracking decision" when you have 3-6 pages of diverse opinions countering each other on what is "a great camera"? It doesn't. I think I made a valid point in a light hearted manner about the information received from posting a broad question on an internet forum. You took symantics to an unprecedented level when you read what you wanted to read from my post, instead of reading what was said.
​

I read your post. I just don't think it's at all true. Yes, those threads have a lot of bickering in them, but it is a very FOCUSED type of bickering. About things like brands, generally, and NOT about types of cameras.

For instance, if some guy just made a thread saying "Oh hey I know nothing and am giving you no information other than I want to take up photography as a hobby. What should I buy?" Most people are going to say a DSLR of some sort. And those who don't say a DSLR generally seem to expect that others will, and so they tend to give reasons for why something other than that.

There might then be quite a lot of nitpicky debate about nikon vs. canon or this starting lens versus that one, or between really specific camera bodies, but it will all be WITHIN a general consensus of an entry level, probably crop sensor DSLR, in the $5-700 range, with some sort of medium range zoom lens. Which is actually a fairly specific zone of agreement and it gives the poster quite a lot to go on that they might not have known before, even if the specific details are fuzzy.
​

Maybe thats where we differ, I don't consider telling someone to get "a DSLR" helpful.

That's WORST case scenario, where the guy tells us / knows absolutely no useful information at all. In which case, simply knowing to get a DSLR probably is indeed somewhat helpful. Because if he is that clueless about what things matter, it will point him in a ballpark direction he may not have previously had. Also, the bickering that follows, if he reads it, will help him learn what sorts of other variables people think are important, so that he can start researching them.

More often, the poster DOES give us some useful information, like what kinds of things he wants to shoot and how much he wants to get into the hobby, etc., in which case there will inevitably be more of a consensus than in the worst case scenario, and he will get more of a unified opinion on something more specific than just "get a DSLR." For instance, if he says he just wants to do bird watching, people are all going to agree about things like: certain length lenses, fast motor drives in the body, good data buffering in the body and card, etc. The bickering will be even smaller scale than if no information was given. Still also useful to the OP.

And how is posting on a forum of photographers asking their opinion not research? Or do you think so little of your own perspective?

+1

 

[ratssass]

....i like turtles

 

[HughGuessWho100 15]

....i like turtles

I like bacon.

 

[EIngerson]

That's WORST case scenario, where the guy tells us / knows absolutely no useful information at all. In which case, simply knowing to get a DSLR probably is indeed somewhat helpful. Because if he is that clueless about what things matter, it will point him in a ballpark direction he may not have previously had. Also, the bickering that follows, if he reads it, will help him learn what sorts of other variables people think are important, so that he can start researching them.

More often, the poster DOES give us some useful information, like what kinds of things he wants to shoot and how much he wants to get into the hobby, etc., in which case there will inevitably be more of a consensus than in the worst case scenario, and he will get more of a unified opinion on something more specific than just "get a DSLR." For instance, if he says he just wants to do bird watching, people are all going to agree about things like: certain length lenses, fast motor drives in the body, good data buffering in the body and card, etc. The bickering will be even smaller scale than if no information was given. Still also useful to the OP.

+1

You don't still think you can convince me I'm wrong do you? I never said the person posting a question about cameras was wrong. I know the motives of beginners and the information they are looking for. I said the myriad of conflicting answers does nothing but give someone a bunch of useless wormholes to go down and overload them with information they can't process because they don't know "camera talk"

Notice that I don't drill down the subject with useless examples. That's because I know it's pointless. It happens. Some people agree with me and some don't. I'm okay with that because it just backs up my point that much further.

To be quite honest with you, turtles are a much better subject.