Ikarus From United Kingdom, joined Jan 2001, 3524 posts, RR: 2 Posted (10 years 6 months 2 weeks 3 days 3 hours ago) and read 2138 times:
Hey
Today I happened to stumble across our departmental photographer, who was happily flashing and shooting pics of .... erm.... nothing ..... in his little room. Curious about the excitement, I asked what was going on.
He was happy as a kid, playing around with his (well, the department's) newest toy. He claims it's the best camera in the world (it's a Canon DSLR the body of which cost 2600 pounds, he mentioned, so maybe that helps you identify what camera he was holding in his hand?), and at the mere suggestion that me, an undergraduate, might like to have a look at it (i.e. possibly approach or even touch it) he told me in very straight words "in my dreams only".... He said no one else (no professor, no PhD student, not even his wife) would ever be allowed to use it... For some reason he did not even want me to know where it is stored at night and where the keys to its location are kept
So, apart from having shared a room with a DSLR camera (the highlight of my day if it weren't for the eventual success in accessing the germanwings web page later today), I was wondering, how much do you guys (i.e. relatively serious aviation photographers) love your cameras?
I mean, I like my camera (my parents gave it to me when they bought a new one), but I can't claim to be the most careful or loving owners it could have. And I don't spend too much time with it, either Besides, at the first whiff of wealth I would probably go out and buy a completely new (D)SLR camera with new lenses, as mine are getting a bit old...
Oh yes. And what was the worst abuse you ever subjected your cameras to? (In my case, that would be trying to zoom by turning the focus while the camera was in autofocus mode, which resulted in a loud scratching noise and a broken manual focus (so I can only autofocus now) as well as a necessary repair to lens and camera - hey, that was before I owned it, when I was only 15 or 16!)
2912n From United States of America, joined Oct 2001, 2013 posts, RR: 9 Reply 1, posted (10 years 6 months 2 weeks 3 days 3 hours ago) and read 2100 times:
I LOVE my D60. I can understand why they guy won't let you touch his....(read into that at your own risk....)
I really like my Canon Rebel. But my first true love was my AE-1. I bought it in 1978 after completing basic training in the Army. I drug that thing all over on field problems and even making a couple of parachute jumps with it in hand. (photos didn't show much...just my foot and lots of sky...) I would be scared to do with my D60 what I did with that AE-1. It took it over 22 years of abuse to finally just quit working. I keep it above my desk tho in an honored little spot.
Joe pries From United States of America, joined May 2000, 1957 posts, RR: 55 Reply 5, posted (10 years 6 months 2 weeks 3 days 2 hours ago) and read 2077 times:
ill admit im an absolute fanatic about my cameras and slide collection- i mean, i love my wife and baby like crazy but the cameras and slides im crazy about too (a different love than my dear family). I also keep my equipment in the best shape i can, like my current 70-200 lens im gonna sell, i was just looking at it saying how proud i am of myself, its 2 years old, and next to my new lens you cant tell the difference in wear, the old is like the new.
Ckw From UK - England, joined Aug 2010, 545 posts, RR: 17 Reply 6, posted (10 years 6 months 2 weeks 3 days 2 hours ago) and read 2077 times:
I guess I value my D60, but I don't have a real attachment to it - ie. I'd happily swap it for something else if I thought it would do a better job. My true photographic love is my old Canon F1 (22 years old and still working as good as new) - we've had some experiences together. Sadly, doesn't get much use anymore, but I could never part with it.
I don't think modern cameras have the character to inspire true affection - they're just tools (albeit expensive ones!)
PPGMD From United States of America, joined Sep 2001, 2453 posts, RR: 0 Reply 8, posted (10 years 6 months 2 weeks 3 days 1 hour ago) and read 2061 times:
During a shoot, I will subject my camera to whatever it takes short of blatently destroying it. Worst it has been though, pouring rain, but the light was just right, all I had was a large zip lock bag around the camera, and a cut out for the lens, wiping it every could of seconds to keep it dry. Mind you it was a camera that is in not way a pro-level weather sealed camera.
After the shoot, baby it, clean it galore, make sure everything is in mint condition.
2912n From United States of America, joined Oct 2001, 2013 posts, RR: 9 Reply 9, posted (10 years 6 months 2 weeks 2 days 22 hours ago) and read 2045 times:
Joe....Are you in sales somewhere? I would buy that lens if it didn't mean giving up my real true love....(in other words, she would KILL ME!) :O
Joe pries From United States of America, joined May 2000, 1957 posts, RR: 55 Reply 10, posted (10 years 6 months 2 weeks 2 days 22 hours ago) and read 2049 times:
Tony she's on ebay now, the reserve is $900 which is want i want for her. If you are interested, i'll stop the auction and its yours.
KAL_LM From United States of America, joined Jun 2001, 497 posts, RR: 0 Reply 11, posted (10 years 6 months 2 weeks 2 days 21 hours ago) and read 2043 times:
It's more a love hate relationship...
Love the camera (a Ricoh I got as a gift) but rarely use it anymore...
worst abuse was back in high school I had the back open futzing around with it and started to drop it. Lucky me, I caught it before it feel completely, but unluckily for me I put my finger through the shutter mechanism. Now I can't get rid of it...too much money invested in it to part with until it dies.
reagrds,
Tom
is that a light at the end of the tunnel or just a train?
Ikarus From United Kingdom, joined Jan 2001, 3524 posts, RR: 2 Reply 12, posted (10 years 6 months 2 weeks 2 days 17 hours ago) and read 2029 times:
Joe: Is that the Lens you threatened to use to spank other photographers with? Now that's some double abuse... lens and photographers...
Must be quite a robust lens though, to withstand these kind of fatigue-inducing impact loads with no problems
So, given that this is just our hobby, it seems the airliners.net photographers have retained some sanity on the issue of how much they love and treasure their equipment.... Well, perhaps professional photographers (for whom it is hobby, passion and livelihood) are a bit more nuts than us...
But on the abuse front, I would never jump out of a plane with a camera in hand.... so I guess there's always someone more reckless than myself around. My camera should be grateful and autofocus properly for being such a nice owner!
Alaskaairlines From United States of America, joined Jan 2002, 2054 posts, RR: 17 Reply 13, posted (10 years 6 months 2 weeks 2 days 17 hours ago) and read 2022 times:
I like it a lot, but not in love with it. Its just a camera, there's other thing's in life I can love, but I do enjoy it a lot, I mean a lot!!!!
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From United Kingdom, joined Jan 2001, 3524 posts, 
Besides, at the first whiff of wealth I would probably go out and buy a completely new (D)SLR camera with new lenses, as mine are getting a bit old...
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