Looking for camera to lure girlfriend into photography

JacaRanda · Mar 3, 2014

runnah said:
Gavjenks said:

Okay, you want to be pragmatic. Let's be creepy and pragmatic! What would the dollar value equivalent to me be if this project is successful? * More fun together when we are out doing almost anything, by sharing another dimension of activity that applies any time. Especially since we already enjoy hiking and road trips and things that go well with photography. * More time together if anytime I would have gone off on a photography excursion by myself previously, she wants to come along too. * More shared excitement and things to talk about. * Better relationship outlook when you share more things in general Including selfish benefits too: * Better photographic opportunities for me. If we are both slowing down to compose photos of things we pass, then I'm less pressured to be quick about it. * Gaining car transportation to sites for photography. Which she might do for me already but I don't want her standing around bored. If I could just pay for all that to be true 100% for sure right now? Maybe worth $3000 to me. Thus, for $185, it's a pragmatic investment if there's even a 5% chance of it working, which I believe there absolutely is (much more than that)

Click to expand...

All I can say that trying to force your passion in a hobby onto your mate is a recipe for turmoil. It would be one thing if she was coming to you wanting to expand her interest and it's another thing to presume her interest level.

I am just trying to save you headache and $300.

Don't dismiss what the man is saying here. (Seriously) There can be a thin line.

And thanks for taking our ribbings

EIngerson · Mar 3, 2014

"How about asking me if I want a stupid camera." ~Disgruntled girlfriend that really wanted flowers and some quality time.

Derrel · Mar 3, 2014

Have you considered maybe taking an old camera, and smearing it with say, peanut butter as a way to lure her into...oh, wait...that's for raccoons...

Gavjenks · Mar 3, 2014

Yeah yeah. I suppose I will wait until it's warmer out and we go on more walks, and see if she keeps up with the desire to shoot pretty things. If still attempting to capture all kinds of random flowers and vistas and things every 20 feet with a cell phone a couple months from now, then that's significant interest (and likely equipment limited interest)

if it were me, in all honesty. I would worry more about if she could cook a good dinner or please in other ways than if she like photography. :mrgreen:

She cooks like 3 different delicious things a day on weekends

"How about asking me if I want a stupid camera." ~Disgruntled girlfriend that really wanted flowers and some quality time.

I didn't say it was a surprise.
Also, the main goal of shared hobbies IS it being easier to spend more quality time...

JacaRanda · Mar 3, 2014

Gavjenks said:
Also, the main goal of shared hobbies IS it being easier to spend more quality time...

Okay I am with you on this part. There is a Canadian lady around here somewhere named Wifey and for what it's worth, I think she enjoys the hobby with me. Actually, she is a lover of wildlife (that's why she married me) and animals (again why she married me).

For goodness sake, if you get her the camera just let her go at her own pace. DO NOT BORE HER TO TEARS WITH TECHNICAL SHIZNICK AND NUMBERS AND PERCENTAGES AND GRAPHS AND SHTUFF. Unlike most people on TPF, I know you would not do that. Just saying! :neutral::er:

table1349 · Mar 3, 2014

This ought to work. Diamond-encrusted Canon IXUS cameras up for sale : Shiny Shiny

If this doesn't work for you, you might want to consider the priesthood. :lmao:

Gavjenks · Mar 3, 2014

That is very good advice Jaca and a legitimate concern.

However, she has a built in protection against me being annoying with math and technobabble in general, insofar as she's basically numbers-specifically-dyslexic (I guess that would be "dysnumeric"?), so I have to completely avoid math when talking about anything at all in any topic, lest she blink emptily at me and get a headache.

Considering that I am me, it is probably one of the reasons our relationship works so smoothly in the first place :mrgreen:

Also means there's no way she'd ever be able to use a view camera or anything without an electronic meter that does the math for you on the fly, but I really doubt that would ever become relevant anyway.

runnah · Mar 3, 2014

Analogy time!

This relationship question is like someone coming on here asking what is the best Instagram filter to use for a wedding you are shooting tomorrow with a cell phone.

runnah · Mar 3, 2014

Gavjenks said:
Also means there's no way she'd ever be able to use a view camera or anything without an electronic meter that does the math for you on the fly, but I really doubt that would ever become relevant anyway.

I have been taking photos for many years and I have yet to use math, except for figuring out how to finance new equipment.

robbins.photo · Mar 3, 2014

JacaRanda said:
Don't dismiss what the man is saying here. (Seriously) There can be a thin line.

And thanks for taking our ribbings

Great... brought home all this BBQ sauce only to discover Gav has taken all my ribbings. Marvelous. Well, looks like mac and cheese night. Again. Sheesh.

Gavjenks · Mar 3, 2014

I have been taking photos for many years and I have yet to use math, except for figuring out how to finance new equipment.

Sorry this was confusing, you're right. To clarify: I don't really mean "math" per se (actually she is fine at that, technically), so much as holding numbers in memory without flipping them / jumbling them. Moving multiple settings from an external light meter to a LF lens, for example, is not math, but would be problematic, even if it told you exactly what you needed to that lens.

She could do it if she had to, but would have to triple check that 1/250th of a second didn't end up as f/5 and 1/20th of a second for example. And she would not find it fun and would get a headache after a few meterings.

This relationship question is like someone coming on here asking what is the best Instagram filter to use for a wedding you are shooting tomorrow with a cell phone.

What relationship question?