Psychological Impact of Large Lenses

[Kolia]

Is it just me or when shooting with a big lens in a public setting, people will just stop and not cross your field of vision ? More so than usual anyway.

We went hiking last week-end and I was trying out my new Sigma 105mm. Lots of people on these low impact trails, not once did anybody walk in front of me while I had the camera up !

Double upgrade ! Better IQ and better shooting opportunities !

Still didn't get a shoot worth sharing tho...

 

[Derrel]

Yes, I have had that happen...the mondo lens says, "Serious business".

 

[PixelRabbit]

I run into this every time I have my camera out. I have one lens, 18-200 so it's always "big"
People stop while I'm shooting and the comment many make is "wow, nice camera, you must be good!" Lol if they only knew

 

[imagemaker46]

Some people respect the fact that photos are being taken and are aware of their surroundings, while other people don't care. I get this going both ways all the time. Using my 300 2.8 or 400 2.8 people generally will wait, I let them go by, most will duck under. The ones that I see coming, usually other people with cameras that either don't care that I am shooting are given a suggestion, either it's "you're not planning on standing there are you, or did you want a copy of the back of your head" Other times it's just a simple, "*******" I do thank people for respecting that I am taking pictures. I always wait or walk behind, respect goes both ways and it doesn't matter who the person is holding the camera.

 

[jamesbjenkins]

I know what you mean. It's the camera body as well, I think.

I get a lot more looks when I'm shooting the D3 vs the D7000 my wife uses.

My largest lens is the 70-200, so I don't have that much to worry about. The 300 and 400 2.8 crowd has a corner on that market. Every time I help my buddy shoot football, I get a serious case of lens envy standing next to his 200-400 f/4.

 

[480sparky]

I get out my 'big lens', and people still walk in front of me.


It's usually because I'm so far away they just can't see me.

 

[pixmedic]

I get out my 'big lens', and people still walk in front of me.


It's usually because I'm so far away they just can't see me.

peeking into ladies houses again? across town?

 

[480sparky]

peeking into ladies houses again? across town?

Actually, from my house, there's precious little that's far enough away that I can even focus on.

 

[MLeeK]

I get out my 'big lens', and people still walk in front of me.


It's usually because I'm so far away they just can't see me.

OOOOO! Can I come over and play with your toys???

 

[pixmedic]

I get out my 'big lens', and people still walk in front of me.


It's usually because I'm so far away they just can't see me.

OOOOO! Can I come over and play with your toys???

figures...the guy with the biggest one gets ALL the attention.

 

[MLeeK]

Yep. It just hits the spot better faster and...

 

[imagemaker46]

It's not the biggest toy that does it, it's knowing how to use it...

 

[480sparky]

OOOOO! Can I come over and play with your toys???

In terms of photography, it's not the sharpest pencil in the drawer.

I have no doubt a high-end 500 or 600mm could take sharper images, even when they'd be heavily cropped.

But it was interesting to watch everyone else suddenly get overcome with Lens Envy when I rolled up on this nesting area of 30 bald eagles.

 

[Kolia]

Aha, nice tangent here !

 

[2WheelPhoto]

Big lens still doesn't get quite the respect of a "big watermark" though.....