Is it just me?

[adina]

Or does anyone else feel like a complete moron when someone hands them thier p&s camera? I guess this only applies if you don't use one, but man, do I feel like a dork.

I shoot with the 20d for the most part, although I've been using my film rebel 2k on occasion lately. All of my family, on both sides, with the exception of my mom who has Liz's digi-rebel, shoots p&s, mostly digital, but there's the occasional film one.

Hey Adina, can you take a picture for us? Okay sure. Here use my camera. Okay....ummm...how do I do this? Ha ha, don't people pay you to do this? Well, yes, but not with this tiny little toy camera.

Once I know what button to push, I do okay with the digital ones, because you can see on the lcd where everyone's head is. But I totally mangle the film ones. I shoot tight, and with that whole viewfinder thing, I always end up cutting off half of someones head. And not even like I intentionally do, but like right thru the eyes or something.

[drg]

I have slowly been solving this problem by giving people cameras that actually are usable over the years and/or 'gladly' helping them pick out a new camera. That way I also get to play with a lot of cameras and don't have them sit around gathering dust after a few hundred images.

I don't know how any Olympus Stylus Epics I purchased (both new and used) and 'distributed'.

The past year I've helped people buy not only most of the consumer grade DSLR's but have gotten to play with them too! (I've also bought and resold some as well).

The P/S or digicam digital cameras are enough different that sometimes you hope that you can find the right sequence to get a usable pic before the kids take off in nine directions simultaneously.

The head cut off or something else terrible (I get my fingers in front of the flash regularly on some cameras) seems always to revolve around the fact the shutter button/release isn't very good. Or some brands no two 'break' the same way. Then the camera jerks and well . . . Uncle Bob was wearing a nice looking sweater, too bad we can't see anything but that and eggnog down the front of pants.

You are not alone.

Happy Holiday picture taking!

[swmdrayfan]

Yep, it's just you ;)

If someone wants to risk having me use their camera, what the hey. I'll tell them I'm not familiar with the particular brand or model, ask them to show me where the shutter button is, then take a couple or three shots to try and be sure I got the picture they wanted. I figure that's all I can do.

[Liz]

I know exactly what you mean!

One time I was in NYC and I saw this nice older couple together taking pictures of each other - so I even offered to take their picture (I didn't ask them if they wanted me to shoot them).

When they gave me their camera, first I looked through the VF only to find out my eye was too big for it. Then I couldn't find the shutter button.......and so on so after fumbling around as they stood their "posing" I finally asked. They just laughed, looking at that big thing hanging around my neck, probably wondering what it was at this point.

I was surprised myself that I forgot how to use a P&S.

Liz

Or does anyone else feel like a complete moron when someone hands them thier p&s camera? I guess this only applies if you don't use one, but man, do I feel like a dork.

I shoot with the 20d for the most part, although I've been using my film rebel 2k on occasion lately. All of my family, on both sides, with the exception of my mom who has Liz's digi-rebel, shoots p&s, mostly digital, but there's the occasional film one.

Hey Adina, can you take a picture for us? Okay sure. Here use my camera. Okay....ummm...how do I do this? Ha ha, don't people pay you to do this? Well, yes, but not with this tiny little toy camera.

Once I know what button to push, I do okay with the digital ones, because you can see on the lcd where everyone's head is. But I totally mangle the film ones. I shoot tight, and with that whole viewfinder thing, I always end up cutting off half of someones head. And not even like I intentionally do, but like right thru the eyes or something.

[JSPhoto]

I have a quick and easy way of dealing with those who want me to take photos with their camera.... I tell them it costs twice what buying my photo costs Never had a single person take me up on that one! But they normally are glad to spend the $$ for my photo.
Keeps me from looking dumb when I can't figure out their lil P&S when I'm carrying my big ole 1D around

JS

[Lionheart]

I usually apologize and explain that I'm used to shooting "old fashioned" type cameras and not these "high tech compacts". ;)

[dmm96452]

I do ok finding the buttons, but always try to put the LCD up to my eye.

[payn817]

LOL!! dmm, I did that the other day at a parade, with my own digital compact and am used to using a slr, so when switching between i kept putting the lcd to my eye...

Nice, humorous topic!!