What is with all these beginners with $1000+ cameras?

[Mystwalker]

How many people who own a Porsche actually use it to its abilities?

A well driven 'inferior' car may be just as quick if not quicker.

In US, I doubt many can regularly driven it to it's limit.

Some people may not be able to handle the Porsche at it's high limits.

BUT it's fun to know that you can, and if you can afford it, who am I to tell you how to spend your money.

Same with $1000 or higher for camera in hands of new photographer who may never take it off auto mode.

 

[Socrates]

I'd like to know why all these beginners have super expensive DSLRs.

I've always wondered, what exactly warrants going out and spending 1000 or more dollars on a new camera when you're a beginner?

Not criticizing, just curious... (and a bit jealous )

EDIT- By "1000 dollar camera", I mean just the body, not including lenses and other accessories.

The way that this is going, you may well set a record for the longest thread on the forum!

 

[kundalini]

The way that this is going, you may well set a record for the longest thread on the forum!

I beg to differ. Quite possibly this one.

 

[CanAm]

I beg to differ. Quite possibly this one.

Psh, that's off topic, it doesn't count.

My argument of golf versus photography is that golf consists more of physical discipline (yes, it is very much in your mind however though), and photography is more of artistic finesse. I think it's like comparing apples to oranges- Both are fruits, but they have their irreconcilable differences (apple took the kids and orange got the house, by the way).


I am glad I have brought a controversial, heated, though enlightening discussion to your forums.

 

[kundalini]

Psh, that's off topic, it doesn't count.

So if I were to suggest that you were off topic, would it be rude for me to brush aside your last comment.

That which you were "Psh"ing to was not directed to you.

The remainder is not worthy of discussion at this time.

 

[Battou]

Ok I'll jump into the photo/golf thing.


Some one please explain to me this, why is it that when I use my new clubs I can't hit a drive straight to save my life, how ever when I break out the the old screwfaced woods (yes, wood) my drives fly farther and straighter.

Here is my explanation, My metal headed, graphite shafted Dunlops have more surface aria on the club face than I will ever need....well With such a large sweet spot how can I miss right. Sloppy thought process, swing and sloppy results. Those steel shafted wooden heads (I have swung a few hickory shafts as well but) have such a small sweet spot all I can think is "don't hit a screw". I think of where I make contact, swing plane and get better results. Simply put, it has all of what I need and none of what I don't.

The last time I swung a big Bertha the ball ended up three fairways over, no joke.

On top of that Why do you need to be able to drive three hundred yards, all you are gonna do is put your self between clubs and over complicate your second shot.


The same applies to my photos, Why is it that I get sharper focus with MF than I get with AF?

I use a thirty year old camera, If I decided to get up off my butt and put my mind to it I could out do half of the seasoned amateurs here and almost all of the newbies. Why....Simplisity and the fact I can afford to change my glass when I want to. Why don't I, It's a hobby, the city I live in has nothing of interest and I am too lazy to get up off my but and go somewhere that does just to occupy my free time.



So again, why pay for options you don't need if you can't afford them. All you are doing is over complicating things.


and if you can afford it with out mommy and daddy's money who gives a rats ***.

 

[CanAm]

So if I were to suggest that you were off topic, would it be rude for me to brush aside your last comment.

That which you were "Psh"ing to was not directed to you.

The remainder is not worthy of discussion at this time.

Take it easy, I was referring to the thread you linked, not what you said. That is what I was "psh"ing.

 

[GeorgeUK]

In US, I doubt many can regularly driven it to it's limit.

Some people may not be able to handle the Porsche at it's high limits.

BUT it's fun to know that you can, and if you can afford it, who am I to tell you how to spend your money.

Same with $1000 or higher for camera in hands of new photographer who may never take it off auto mode.

Absolutely. It's their money, their problem. I'm not going to worry about it. People will always go for the mosy highly specced/fastest/best/feature packed time. Whether they will use the item to its potential is another matter.

Life is too short for envy and jealousy (even on a small subtle scale).

If I can use the tools I have available to me, to the best of my ability I'm happy. :thumbup:

 

[JerryPH]

Hmm...I have a Nikon D40 with a SB400 flash and a Nikon 55-200mm VR lens. That is my ENTIRE set up...I am a beginner...where on earth are you coming up with $1000 (body alone!) camera???

If you did not spend $1000+ on your setup as a newbie photographer, then obviously you were not the kind of user being discussed by the OP in this thread.

Though I, however, was the kind of person that the OP asked about. I did not consider it a very serious question at all, becuase the answer to me was "who cares if someone else has more expensive equipment than I? I care about my needs, not someone else's. I bought what I wanted, with what I could afford and what I thought would best serve my needs now and in the future".

Do all people think like that? I don't think so, but if thats ok with them, then its ok.

Anyone that thinks that it is wrong or improper, well deal with it becusae it happens all the time.

I was at a gas station this summer past. In rolls a Ford GT ($150,000 car) with a father and son in it. They could not find out how to get the gas cap open... and the father's words were "well since it is now your car for your 16th birthday... YOU learn how, and we'll deal with teaching you how to shift gears later".

The kid owned a $150,000 car, did not know how to get it into first gear, much less gas it up. I was not jealous, but chuckled and acknowledged that this was one lucky kid. Paid for my gas, and moved on.

I think that for many, that would be the best advice concerning this thread... just smile, and move on.

Its a great day out there today... time to get out and take a few pics!

 

[Alex_B]

How many people who own a Porsche actually use it to its abilities?

A well driven 'inferior' car may be just as quick if not quicker.

I had my motorway driving lessons on a Porsche And yes, I was allowed to drive it to it's speed limit .. OK, rather straight and empty motorway

 

[Mav]

I was once on a business trip to Flensburg by way of Hamburg, and was shocked to see a row of Porsches sitting in the Avis rental car lot at the airport. It was difficult, but I did manage to get into my 110ps Seat Toledo rather than going back to the counter for an upgrade. I just tried to drive the Seat like I would a Porsche.

 

[skyvue2]

Wow...sure didn't expect people to get so defensive over simply stating that someone getting right into photography and purchasing a $1000 body only camera was an asinine thing to do.
Sure, you are all absolutely right, there ARE $10,000 camera bodys out there...but if you have JUST started this hobby, why on God's Earth would ANYONE want to spend that kind of money on something or a hobby that may never take off? As stated earlier in the thread by other members of TPF, of course the camera is responsible for the turn out of the image...but ultimately it is the user that truly captures that moment in time with skill, experience, passion and feeling.
And a final note since we are discussing $10,000 cameras, not $1,000 cameras anymore...just "because I can" purchase a $10,000 camera because you are financially loaded, does not make you any better than someone with a lesser camera. I have absolutely nothing against anyone purchasing a $10,000 camera that has taken incredible images, knows composition of light, has the experience of balancing shutter speed, aperture and overall image composition. A true artist of the image and a real pro. One who reaches such high pinnacles of their hobby or profession, truly deserves such fine equipment AND knows full well how to master such a fine work of mechanical art...but...seriously...a 'noob' purchasing such equipment just seems ridiculous and a waste of money when they really do have absolutely no clue what they are doing.
But then again, that is our world today. I personally was looking at the D80 when I was in the market for buying a camera, but I figured I would begin with the D40 and learn what I was doing first BEFORE spending more for added features and more buttons to push and so forth. The D40 is a great camera, I thoroughly enjoy mine and my imaging and composition gets better and better...in time I will possibly move up to the D80, but that depends on a few different factors when the time comes.

 

[ANDS!]

but if you have JUST started this hobby, why on God's Earth would ANYONE want to spend that kind of money on something or a hobby that may never take off?

Because its THEIR money. You people assume these folks with these cameras have been hoodwinked or hornswoggled into buying them from some unscrupulous salesman, when in fact they may have simply asked, whats the top of the line, ok - THATS what I want.

Sory, but this is a silly topic. All these cameras have the most basic operation - point at your subject, and hit the button. If the manufacturers wanted to limit their consumption to the Photographic Elite (nose high in the air), they'd remove every "convenience" on the camera, not include a manual and damn sure make you buy your own lens.

just "because I can" purchase a $10,000 camera because you are financially loaded, does not make you any better than someone with a lesser camera.

Again projecting motivation on another person based on your own bias.

 

[JIP]

of balancing shutter speed, aperture and overall image composition. A true artist of the image and a real pro. One who reaches such high pinnacles of their hobby or profession, truly deserves such fine equipment AND knows full well how to master such a fine work of mechanical art...but...seriously...a 'noob' purchasing such equipment just seems ridiculous and a comes.

So where is the application to see who deserves expensive gear. Also who is responsibe for rviewing those applications to see who is qualified to buy expensive gear.

 

[eminart]

I used to be a competitive archer. I occaisionally worked in some friends' shops and often recommended gear to beginners who came up to me at various places. I never recommended something that they'd grow out of in a year. That's discouraging to beginners. Why would they want to start out it something that limits them? I recommended the best equipment that they could afford.

Now, I'M the beginner in this hobby. I've spent less than $1000 on my initial gear, but I can understand why those that can afford it would spend more. I'm an all or nothing kind of guy. I don't see any reason I should start with a camera that I know isn't up to the level that I'm wanting to get to.

I'm not saying there's anything wrong with starting small if that's what you want, but I don't see any reason a "newbie" should buy the cheaper gear if he can afford the nicer models. And I completely understand that some of the less expensive digitals will make photos every bit as good as the professional ones, but you don't see a lot of pro's shooting D40's.