p.10 #1 · What Are Some Reactions You've Gotten When Shooting With A White Lens?
Well, this was interesting reading the 15 pages of this thread
I'd only recently got my 24-70 and the 580EX for my 20D and grip and went out on a river cruise with the guys at work on the basis that I could 'practice'.
We had some drinks earlier at a bar and there were 2 girls doing a promotion and handiong out shooters. One of the guys wanted his photo taken with them, so a colleague asked them and was told "No worries". Here's the moment that the one on my right saw the camera:
Then, there was a group of lovely ladies about to go on a cruise too and they were posing for a group shot with someone with a P&S. I sidled up slightly behind her and took a shot over her shoulder without her knowing I was there until the flash went off. "Where'd you spring from?", she asked, to the amusement of all. Wouldn't have gotten away with this with a P&S:
I also found at an airshow recently, with my 70-200, that people would wait for me to finish taking a shot before walking in front of me. Quite embarressing at times, as I might have been just composing the shot etc, but I appreciate the thought.
p.10 #3 · What Are Some Reactions You've Gotten When Shooting With A White Lens?
nickrh wrote:
If its someone that looks geniuinely curious I usually tell them. Obviously they expect it to be at or over $1000. And at that point everyone is a threat.
If they're being an idiot I'll usually tell them it's more than most used cars.
And if they're being slightly creepy I'll tell them it's none of their business but I keep a total for myself with a list of all the serial numbers just in case someone tries to steal/pawn them.
If they're really creepy I'll walk away but luckily no one has yet.
Nick
Being 6' 3" and 225lbs (I also kind of look like a thug, or so I've been told) helps, so no one really tries anything like that with me.
p.10 #4 · What Are Some Reactions You've Gotten When Shooting With A White Lens?
twistedlim wrote:
"Dont you just hate digital shutter lag?"
I look down at my 1D and say "yea, it sucks does't it?"
I love it! I can see how that sort of delay is hard to deal with (if you are making movies maybe).
I get the P&S compare a bit but just shake my head. I guess I prefer carrying all the stuff around when I should just buy a $200 cigarette sized camera with 20x digital zoom and more Mpix - I see there are a few of us that are missing the point as well
I sometimes get the how much does that cost, which I think is a stupid question - particularly from strangers and figures it needs an equal response. I usually say something like $19.95 and it came with some knives which gets rid of most.
p.10 #5 · What Are Some Reactions You've Gotten When Shooting With A White Lens?
I was in D.C. a few weeks back walking on the Mall with all my gear and a guy starts walking towards me with a serious look (I'm walking on the path trying not to make eye contact) and stops me and asks (thinking he's going to beat me up for my stuff) -
"Are you going to heaven"? I almost started laughing and quickly got over my "I hope me and my gear are safe" paranoia.
Happened two more times on the trip...I guess I look like I need to be "saved".
Maybe it's just me, but there appears to be a little "my gear is better than yours, so leave me alone" going on in this thread. I get the sentiment, but people are just curious and it's not like they're asking you to hold their kid's poopy diaper (I hope not ).
p.10 #6 · What Are Some Reactions You've Gotten When Shooting With A White Lens?
I dont find it annoying really, i just shrug off the questions and try not to seem like an ass about things...they dont know and i dont blame them lol...we all love to take photos and love just being out taking pictures. Many people dont understand that, let alone how the camera works...i feel uncomfortable talking about how much everything costs because i am 18 and when i say that my 20D+70-200 2.8L is about $2500, im not sure how that will come across. I got the 20D for xmas last year...bought all my other gear with my own money and got the 70-200L this xmas to help build my portfolio...some would say im spoiled and whatnot and i dont need other people to tell me that...
I just say too much when they ask, and blush lol. Oh well they cant even begin to understand why its so big, why it has less MP, less zoom, and more money. I guess we get ourselves into this mess when we need faster better lenses!
I think its the backlash against paparazzi!
p.10 #7 · What Are Some Reactions You've Gotten When Shooting With A White Lens?
I think the white lens issue is way overblown. I don't care about any reaction, I just shoot. White, black, who cares. People are just reacting to size.
p.10 #8 · What Are Some Reactions You've Gotten When Shooting With A White Lens?
Well, not quite a white lens, however when shooting at a zoo last summer with the Sigma 80-400 OS with the hood attached, I was zoomed out to full length and a few teenagers walked by and mentioned "holy sh**, it's a f***ing bazooka". btw, my white 400/5.6 will be in my collection in about 2 months.
p.10 #9 · What Are Some Reactions You've Gotten When Shooting With A White Lens?
I was asked by a group of 14-15 year olds if what I was shooting with my 300/2.8L IS would come in the paper the next day. I wasn't prepared for anyone to ask me, so I just said that, "No, I'm just shooting for fun."
I should have messed with their heads. I've prepared some crazy shit to say the next time someone asks me.
Oh, and I was walking around the Royal Castle in Stockholm last summer. 300/2.8L IS on monopod. Cobblestone ground. I have to concentrate hard to not fumble with the 300/2.8L IS while stumbling around. Somehow managed to slip inside a roped off area by walking along a wall. One of the guards stared at me, so I took a shot. He kept staring at me, and I noticed then that I was in a place you're not supposed to be in. If a person with an assault rifle give you the angry eye, you comply. Made sure that the lens was locked tightly to the monopod and hopped over the blocking to the other side. Looking very cool (and rather stereotypical) while doing it, I might add, in my khaki shorts and black t-shirt.
p.10 #10 · What Are Some Reactions You've Gotten When Shooting With A White Lens?
Awesome stories by all. Soon I will welcome the 70-200 f4 to my family and hopefully be able to share some stories of my own.
Some of my friends also expected my 17-40 to be able to zoom all the way to the moon, judging by its size. Most of them thought I was nuts for carrying such a big camera around (well except one mate who has the 300D+kit, he was rather envious ) until I showed them the shots afterwards.
p.10 #12 · What Are Some Reactions You've Gotten When Shooting With A White Lens?
Perhaps I'm a bit extreme, but I use electrical tape to neatly cover any manufacturer name, model, focal length, or aperture. I feel that it reduces gawking, questions, and makes me less of a target for potential thieves. Without the "CANON" clearly visible, most non-photographers interpret a 1D and 70-200 2.8 as some sort of generic garbage, and don't bother asking questions. They often lose all interest after finding out that it's five years old and is four megapixels.
When I'm asked a question, I'll try to respond without being rude, but in a way that won't prompt more questions. If someone makes an inappropriate comment or asks a question that I don't care for, I'll simply ignore them.
Question: "Can I hold it?"
My response: "No, sorry."
Question: "How much did it cost?"
My response: "I'm not going to answer that."
p.10 #13 · What Are Some Reactions You've Gotten When Shooting With A White Lens?
usually when i shoot in the city, i review the shots when i'm riding the train on my p2000. people always ask me if it's a camera for some reason. umm...nein.
mall security has escorted me out with my 10D+grip and 24-70 that was just hanging on my shoulder since i didn't want to leave it in the car.
In the city, some people ask me if I want to take their picture all the time also. I'm not trying to bother anyone for pictures, and sometimes they look forlorn.
I was shooting with a wide-angle at a firehouse once after going to a small camera show at the hall there and the garage door happened to be open and there was a kid on a little toy firetruck inside. I had been shooting in his general direction, but I was at least 50 feet away. The mom came into the garage and saw me outside through the door and ran up angrily and demanded to know why I was taking a picture of her son. I said I wasn't, and I couldn't even get much of him in the shot from how far away I was even if I wanted to. She scoffed in disbelief, yelling that with a big lens like that I've probably got his headshot already. I calmly explained that I have no interest whatsoever in her child, and I showed her a few other photos I had taken of things around the firehouse, making sure to mention that there wasn't a person in any of them. She then asked me if I worked for a newspaper.
Sometimes when I ask a friend to take a picture of something with my camera they ask where's the button to zoom it and I have to explain that with primes you can't. Usually the response is, "Why not? A big camera like this can't zoom?" On subsequent occasions they will automatically assume I'm using primes.
My girlfriend at least understands. I suspect she either checks for the zoom ring or reads the number(s) on the side.
I agree with the people who say that petal hoods get attention. It's very true. External flashes and/or some sort of rotation bracketry are far worse, though. It's why I usually only deal with crowds for street fairs and New York City's smaller parades (such as Mermaid Parade) where you can walk against the current of the parade line and shoot.
p.10 #17 · What Are Some Reactions You've Gotten When Shooting With A White Lens?
I carry my 20D almost always with the grip, 24-70, the 580 EX with a Lightsphere on it. I'll start taking pictures of the faces of people. Some are pretty funny.
p.10 #20 · What Are Some Reactions You've Gotten When Shooting With A White Lens?
being 14. i go to the skatepark with a rented 70-200 and i get asked all the time what magazine i'm there for. oh, and i've heard the line, i bet that cost a good chunk of cash, alot.... lol.
I love it! I can see how that sort of delay is hard to deal with (if you are making movies maybe).
).
I've prepared some crazy shit to say the next time someone asks me. 
) until I showed them the shots afterwards.