Every see somebody a little too eager to show off their gear?
I see it all the time but the one that took the cake for me was a last weekend. This guy was sitting at the dinner table big enough to seat four. It was himself, another guy, a girl, and his camera with a ultra big tele lens.
I've been in situations where I had to take my equipment with me somewhere less than convenient but always have a bag for it. Never would I leave my stuff for the world to see like that.
I don't see the problem with that. I don't think he was showing off his gear. He was just being smart and ensuring he would not get it stolen from his locked car. I took my gear into a restaurant this weekend and put it onto the table. Better than putting it onto the floor and have someone kick it.
Not seeing an issue either. Camera in bag (smallish lowepro, not a monster size) or without bag usually goes on the table unless a five star restaurant which I don't hit up anyway lol...
Most times the waiting for food becomes looking through shots with the wife. Makes some good conversation. On table makes it easy access. and to keep it on higher ground. Few weeks ago on hawaii trip showed this to be the better option. Wait staff bringing out some drinks, had a bit of a problem and decided the empty chair next to me needed some drinks. Was a light night so no bag, just the d40 and the 35mm. If on chair...would have found out if it was alcohol proof Hell even if bag was there, would be cleaning and defunking the bag a bit that night. Sure the fellow tour people on the trip to big island the next day would not dig the smell of stale beer and mixed drinks on the plane or tour bus lol...
hidden_Markov wrote:
Not seeing an issue either. Camera in bag (smallish lowepro, not a monster size) or without bag usually goes on the table unless a five star restaurant which I don't hit up anyway lol...
Most times the waiting for food becomes looking through shots with the wife. Makes some good conversation. On table makes it easy access. and to keep it on higher ground. Few weeks ago on hawaii trip showed this to be the better option. Wait staff bringing out some drinks, had a bit of a problem and decided the empty chair next to me needed some drinks. Was a light night so no bag, just the d40 and the 35mm. If on chair...would have found out if it was alcohol proof Hell even if bag was there, would be cleaning and defunking the bag a bit that night. Sure the fellow tour people on the trip to big island the next day would not dig the smell of stale beer and mixed drinks on the plane or tour bus lol......Show more →
Stale beer smell always reminds me of high school.
As for keeping a supertele in a bag - these bags are HUGE, especially the ones for 400/500/600mm, so if you keep a bag like this on the floor at a restaurant, someone is almost guaranteed to trip over it
When I shoot my local hillclimb motorsport event a group of togs always go for a pint a lunch and the table is piled high with gear. I don't really see it as showing off but from time to time we do get some strange looks. If I happen to be in a restaurant with my gear bag I always sit it on a chair so people don't trip over it, so yes, table for 3, me, my gf and my gear bag!
Similar story ... but throw in some ignorance as well. In Oklahoma City, for the 2005 or 06 Auto Show, I was taking photos with my Panasonic FZ10 or some other P&S I owned at that time. I saw a guy shooting with a brand new Rebel (300D or 350D, don't remember). I went over and asked him about the Rebel and how he liked it, etc. I had a D60 at that time (sitting at home), so I was kinda curious. A few mins later, a dude and his friend walked by. The dude had a brand new Sony F-828 (the famously CA-ing camera that got discontinued in a hurry). They saw the guy with the Rebel, and came over and the 828 dude asked the Rebel guy "How many megapixels is that camera?". That was his very first question. I wanted to shake my hand and pat his hand and give him a sympathetic lecture about pixel pitch, CA, etc. Anyway, the Rebel guy said "6 megapixels". Mr. 828 triumphantly smiled at his friend, then turned and told us "This Sony's a 8 megapixel camera.". They wandered off. The Rebel guy and I laughed after they'd left, shook our heads and went out merry ways.
I've taken my bag before with me to a few restaurant don't see a problem with it and enjoyed my meal much better not having to worry about my bag in my locked/alarmed car outside. You never know what might happen while your in there for 1hr or so.
I usually have a camera with me, and when I stop in to eat, drink, etc, I always bring it inside. Long ago, I had my car broken into and my camera and a couple of lenses taken. Lesson learned.
im so glad i found this, i now have proof for my GF that im not 'sad and pathetic' for taking kit (bagged) into bars etc ...i never leave it unattended even tho it is all insured...
steve
p.s do you refer to togs as in Terry's Old Geezers or is there another term for it??
andylaiphoto wrote:
Every see somebody a little too eager to show off their gear?
I see it all the time but the one that took the cake for me was a last weekend. This guy was sitting at the dinner table big enough to seat four. It was himself, another guy, a girl, and his camera with a ultra big tele lens.
I've been in situations where I had to take my equipment with me somewhere less than convenient but always have a bag for it. Never would I leave my stuff for the world to see like that.
dang, for many events, i've 25k+ worth of stuff with me all day...I want it very close, who gives a hoot what anyone thinks? risk damage or theft because what a bunch of strangers think? uhhh...gosh, I dunno...
dang, for many events, i've 25k+ worth of stuff with me all day...I want it very close, who gives a hoot what anyone thinks? risk damage or theft because what a bunch of strangers think? uhhh...gosh, I dunno...
I did want to add tho that many times I just carry stuff not in cases or bags, just loaded up cameras and a vest full of stuff, so that really must on up off the floor...plus don't ever actually look at what is on the floor of a restaurant...at least not until after your meal.
Wierd, I'm trying delete the second post, which was a accident, it is the last post in thread, but cannot as it says it is not the last post...? Oh well, put in a message on the Report Bugs thread.
We did a Fenway park shoot last weekend and afterwords hit a local pub/restaurant. i don't carry a camera bag (thanks comfy cargo shorts with lots of pockets!) so I kept my gear on the table with me. I want it where i can see it at all times.
andylaiphoto wrote:
Every see somebody a little too eager to show off their gear?
I see it all the time but the one that took the cake for me was a last weekend. This guy was sitting at the dinner table big enough to seat four. It was himself, another guy, a girl, and his camera with a ultra big tele lens.
I've been in situations where I had to take my equipment with me somewhere less than convenient but always have a bag for it. Never would I leave my stuff for the world to see like that.
I NEVER leave my gear in my hotel room when I travel and most hotel safes aren't big enough for it. My wife is used to this by now and I don't care what other people in the restaurant think. Get over it.
BTW and to the OP, I do think it is completely possible that someone might want to flaunt gear for some silly personal reason...I'm sure that happens. It just is not only reason, and as many on this thread has said, it is often just a practical thing.
And if there were a better option than bringing gear along to a restaurant in the situation described, most photogs would take it I assume...lugging heavy gear around is not one of the aspects of photography that is very fun.
Hell even if bag was there, would be cleaning and defunking the bag a bit that night. Sure the fellow tour people on the trip to big island the next day would not dig the smell of stale beer and mixed drinks on the plane or tour bus lol...
I wanted to shake my hand and pat his hand and give him a sympathetic lecture about pixel pitch, CA, etc. Anyway, the Rebel guy said "6 megapixels". Mr. 828 triumphantly smiled at his friend, then turned and told us "This Sony's a 8 megapixel camera.". They wandered off. The Rebel guy and I laughed after they'd left, shook our heads and went out merry ways.