When out & about, how do y'all respond to gear small talk?

[jdramirez]

So I have a 5d mkiii and when I pair that with a 70-200 is mkii, it draws quite a bit of attention. But people don't have anything interesting to say... it is always like, " that's some camera." I want to respond that they should look in my pants if they really want to be impressed. but no, I just say thanks.

I love talking about gear and I really love talking about the four year journey it has taken me to get here. but nice camera is on par with, some weather, huh? it is vapid and lacks depth.

so are y'all polite and say thanks, or do y'all have a funny line or just ignore em... just curious.

 

[Mt Spokane Photography]

I seldom get comments like that, I occasionally have someone ask what camera I'm using and I tell them. Some might say "Nice Outfit or Nice camera and I say "Thank You". It happens so seldom that I've never thought much about it.

 

[jdramirez]

I seldom get comments like that, I occasionally have someone ask what camera I'm using and I tell them. Some might say "Nice Outfit or Nice camera and I say "Thank You". It happens so seldom that I've never thought much about it.

I get it about once per outing... so maybe I just attract them there type o' people.

 

[Grumbaki]

Actually when i get that I use it to get a portrait done.

-"Nice camera"
- "Yeah it's great.......wanna see the results? I can take your picture and email it to you later!"

90% yes results. Of course it's not candids but it makes the best of an otherwise useless small talk.

 

[jdramirez]

Actually when i get that I use it to get a portrait done.

-"Nice camera"
- "Yeah it's great.......wanna see the results? I can take your picture and email it to you later!"

90% yes results. Of course it's not candids but it makes the best of an otherwise useless small talk.

are you a pro? that's good direct marketing for you to get clients.

 

[tnargs]

If they are walking past I let it slide. If they stop I say "Yes, I like it. What do you use for photography?" Then I immediately think of a couple of good things to say about their chosen weapon, even if it's a phone.

If a chat gets going, I soon ask how important is a good photograph to them. If the answer is 'not really', there is no point in embarking on a tale of my equivalent of your Four Year Journey. If they are pretty keen, I give them a nutshell encapsulation of what my kind of kit gives me in exchange for so much bulk, weight, and cost, that I cannot get out of their camera, nice as it may be.

 

[tpatana]

Month or so ago, I was at a sports-thingy with plenty of friends. I was walking around with 5D3 (gripped) and 70-200 IS II (with hood), one girl who is especially fun to be around with, came to me "Is that a lens or are you just happy to see me?"

 

[jdramirez]

Month or so ago, I was at a sports-thingy with plenty of friends. I was walking around with 5D3 (gripped) and 70-200 IS II (with hood), one girl who is especially fun to be around with, came to me "Is that a lens or are you just happy to see me?"

shame you didn't have a 100-400 L or a 24-105L, cause you could have extended it.

 

[dr croubie]

I love talking about gear and I really love talking about the four year journey it has taken me to get here. but nice camera is on par with, some weather, huh? it is vapid and lacks depth.

I was shooting on the streets of Melbourne a few months ago, Bessa L, 21mm f/4 Skopar, and 21mm external viewfinder (the Bessa l has no viewfinder built-in).
Some guy comes up and just says, "hey, that's a really nice camera you've got there".
Before I could respond (I wasn't sure if he knew what it was, or if he thought it was a Leica or a Fuji X), even before I'd figured out if that was going to be followed up by a "... give it here!", he'd already walked off...

Walking around elsewhere with my Hasselbladski and other Medium Format gear (P6, K60, M645AF) I've had looks and comments to each other, but noone's ever really said anything to my face (who didn't already know me, that is).
Maybe when I get my Travelwide and start shooting 4x5" street shots I'll get some questions, or then again, maybe not...

 

[distant.star]

.
Interesting topic, and I've had a lot of different experiences over the years.

There have been times when I suspected ill intent. In those cases I say something like, "Oh, it's just a junky thing I got at a yard sale. It hardly even works." In those cases, the strap got tightly wrapped around my fist in case I had to swing it at them.

What I more often get is the vapid, "That's a really nice camera." I've learned to respond with "Oh, are you a photographer?" They never are. Then I might ask them how they know it's a "really nice camera." One responded with, "It's big." Not much to say after that. Other times I go off on a fantasy thing telling them it's the finest camera that has ever been made -- I can take pictures of distant planets, it can even be made to work like a microscope -- sometimes doctors use this kind of camera in surgery so they can show people pictures of their operations, tumors and such.

Oh, I'm fun on the bus!!

On the rare occasion a gear-head has tried to chat me up I just tell them I'm taking pictures and I'm not interested in talking. When I'm taking pictures I'm very focused and I really don't want to talk about what some guy did with his camera club last month. I'm too one-track-minded to be able to be with others when I'm taking pictures -- so I'm not in a club and I don't do "photo walks." Call me anti-social, I guess.

 

[Rienzphotoz]

Thanks, is all that I say

 

[RGF]

with my 500 I often get how far can you see with that. I answer that the lens is similar to a 10 power binocular.

Or how much does that cost. I refer them to B&H website if they want to look at prices. I seldom tell the replacement value of equipment - not sure if it small talk or someone deciding if it is worth the risk of stealing my camera.

 

[nsurg]

Free reign on a conversation doesn't happen often in life, but when (illegal) promotional caller/credit card scammers call me, it's fun to try to draw them into bizarre conversation... brief example being "you know, it's not the best time to talk... I've just dismembered a hooker, and I'm trying to figure out recipes..."

This might not be fully no-consequences conversation, but I'd still suggest:
1) fake a seizure. You don't have to respond to anything anymore (remember to bite your tongue and wet yourself; don't verbalize during the seizure, and act very sleepy afterwards, this will make it all seem very real)
2)Yes, offer to take a picture, as above, but aim it directly at their chest from point blank and fire high speed burst. Then ask if you can have a hair sample, or sock or something personal from them.

In reality I usually just say thanks... or if it's somebody I sorta know and I'm with the big lenses I'll just mention that I have a lot that I need to compensate for, that will quickly defuse the situation. Or just say that I really enjoy taking pictures of my kids. Frustratingly, these responses are not as funny as the other 2 options.

 

[Forceflow]

Really depends though I do try to make at least some small talk. Being a photographer out in the public becomes more and more difficult so I always try to be as open and friendly as I can. Sometimes conversation does become quite interesting after a while even if it did just start with 'Wow, I wish I had a camera like this'

There are times however when I've been running around all day in the heat with my 20+kg of equipment where I am just no longer up for small talk. People do tend to notice that before they even start talking to me however

 

[alexanderferdinand]

If I am in the street or the wild, most people look around, what's there I find interesting and they don't see.
If there is a comment, I always stay polite.

The Mae West quote was quite funny!

 

[paul13walnut5]

In Glasgow it's usually things like 'what are you doing big man?' (Em, taking a picture?) 'Gonna take a photo of me?' (Naw) 'Is this gonna be in a newspaper' (aye, It's for an article on nosey b@st@rds)

If, in certain parts of Glasgow, people ask you 'was that expensive?' or 'Are you fae the social' then you are probably about to be parted from your kit, which may be then pawned if you are lucky, or wrapped around your head if you are not. Retreat to car.

I don't really do small talk, i'll suss within 2s whether somebody is into it, and may be rewarding to talk to, or whether they are just dull gearheads (present company excluded of course)

TBH i'm more interested in what kind of photography somebody does, who their influences are, if they talk a good game I may exchange flickr names. Unfortunately, despite being blessed with a massively diverse range of scenery, and despite great gear being relatively attainable many serious hobbyists in Scotland spend their time trying to recreate last years Joe Cornish or Colin Prior calender (both excellent FYI) I don't think there are any more interesting images to be taken of Eilean Donan, Black Rock, or the old man of storr, it's like bingo or trainspotting.

 

[greger]

When someone says "Nice Camera! or Nice Lens!" I just say "Thank You." I'm not sure if the last guy who said Nice Camera wanted to talk about photography or cameras. I may try to get a conversation going next time, or not. I get into myself and picture taking when I'm out taking pics. I have to remind myself to look around for Bears etc. and be aware of my surroundings. So far people have been nice. I appreciated talking to the guy who had a 7D when my 40D was acting up and I was thinking of getting a 7D. His answers to my questions helped me to decide to buy. Most people like to be friendly and talk to strangers when they are out enjoying their surroundings. If someone starts to say expensive gear it's time to take out my tripod and keep it between them and my stuff!

 

[tpatana]

The Mae West quote was quite funny!

She's a special lady. And me being a gentleman, naturally I asked if she wanted to stroke my lens.

 

[bornshooter]

I have had a couple of girls say to me its massive,made me smile lol

 

[Hillsilly]

Different cameras definitely attract different levels of interest. Nobody bats an eyelid at my Canon cameras. But I can't get too far with my new toy (Fuji X-E1) without someone asking about it. For a camera that sells in very low volume, there is a reasonable awareness about it and I get a few questions about how it handles and autofocus. I'll also get people come close to take a look and not say anything, but a "G'day, how ya goin'" gets them talking. I probably encourage them a bit.

My old Yashica GSN also drew a lot of attention. So maybe it is the whole shiny, silver camera thing.

Most people I come across in this way aren't "gear heads" as such, but just have a genuine interest in photography. I also suspect that many of them are probably better photographers than me and like talking to people with a shared interest.