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DPReview readers are not typical DSLR users

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jeff9329

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A few weeks ago I attended a local event that is a bonanza of stunning photo opportunities for the amatuer, wanna-be and pro photographers.

I saw probably 100+ people with Canon DSLRs from 300s to the 30D (I couldn't really identify non Canon DSLRs, but there were plenty). There were moms, dads, older gentlemen and more serious looking folks shooting with their DSLRs. I was amazed at the wide range of users.

Where I could get close enough, I could see they were pretty much (99%) all shooting with the kit lens and in the green/auto position.

THAT is the Canon target market for the DSLR.

That was the first time I have ever observed so many Canon DSLR users up close. Just thought I would report on the real world for us in here.
 
It would be funny if one of the new photogrphers won a conrtest with the green square over someone that thought they knew it all :)
 
Obviously there is no way to draw a scientific conclusion from his observation, but anectodally, I agree with the OP. As I begin to have more conversations with other photographers, I find a surprising number that use their DSLR as an expensive point and shoot. My guess (and only a guess) is that the members of this and other forums represent significantly less than half of the DSLR users out there. It seems to me that many people simply won't invest the time and energy required to really learn how to use the features of their camera. Just my 2 cents, of course.

Chris
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Check out my photography blog at: http://chris-photo-journey.blogspot.com
I am always open to constructive criticism. Thanks.
Chris
 
I think this will always be the case. There have always been people who used 35mm SLRs because they believed it gave a better image quality or was nicer to hold or whatever, but they never really used any of the advanced features or learned the details of how exposures or DOF worked.
 
Let me slip on my asbestos suit before I post....

If one of the "green button" photographers were to win, it would be luck. Consistently (i.e. ruling out luck) good photography (or anything) takes practice and hard work. I would expect a brand new photographer to use the non-manual buttons for a while and then after 2000 pictures or so might start getting curious about the other buttons. They start experimenting, practice more and enjoying having more control over how their pictures turn out, framing gets better, etc. Once you go tv/av/M you don't go back.

There is nothing wrong with people using the green button, the more the merrier, they help drive down prices and a small percentage of them will get very, very interested and involved in photography. Those people will then join this forum and help me learn and get better.

The summary is that I hate it when "it is better to be lucky than good" comes true therefore I would hope that if a "green button" user wins, they put a bunch of thought and hard work into the picture. This is all from a recently graduated newbie into rank beginner photographer

Slipping back into a slightly cooler suit now....

Hank
 
I agree, and I think they should take the time to learn how to use the camera properly as they'll definetely get better results that way....
chrisof4 said:
It seems to me that many people simply won't
invest the time and energy required to really learn how to use the
features of their camera. Just my 2 cents, of course.
Click to expand...
--

 
...who make my hobby just about affordable. That's what the green square is for.

A big thank you to all of them.

Steve
 
Olie Dellar said:
I agree, and I think they should take the time to learn how to use
the camera properly as they'll definetely get better results that
way....
Click to expand...
I doubt most people would have the time nor energy to learn how to use a DSLR properly. In a world of iPods, gadget convergence, and automated everything, a DSLR is a very complicated piece of equipment. Whenever I hand off my equipment to a family member just so I can be in a photo, you can see the sweat starting to form on their foreheads as they're forced to look through the tiny view finder, move the lens by hand, and press one of the many buttons.

Of course, it would make more sense for these people to buy themselves a simple p&s, but the materialism kicks in convincing them to buy only the best of the best. It's that same drive that convinces people to buy houses 5 times bigger than they need or expensive sports cars even if they only drive the speed limit.
 
I was at a school reunion last weekend and saw the same dynamic. 90% of the DSLR users were green-box/kit lens users.

Now, in fairness, that's much better than a P&S. And for others who feel like they should get a DSLR because they have the money for it and it says "real" photographer to them, they get to feel more important than someone else who "only" has a bridge camera but takes far superior pictures from both an artistic and technical point of view.

I did laugh at one person who proudly showed her Canon 28-200 lens as the perfect solution for range without regard for the very low lens quality most of us know about. For a shot of her and her family she asked me to take with her camera, I was going to offer to use my 17-55 IS, but figured that was overdoing it. I did, however, move from green box to aperture priority and added a modest fill flash.

Canon's smart to appeal to those who want either the status or a bigger sensor but can't use a camera any better than the average P&Ser. The scale helps keep costs down for the rest of us, and as long as we can take the quality of pictures we want, there's no problem.

Thanks for the anecdote, which spurred my recollection of a similar dynamic in my recent experience.
 
Nice comment Littlefield!

Recently had similar experiences of other DSLR owners -

A while back, I was on a great weekend Travel Photography course. Everyone else had DSLRs (all Canon, as it happened). I had a Sony H1 superzoom . I found I knew more about how to operate my inferior camera than a significant number of the DSLR owners knew how to work theirs which were on auto all the time. Not all of them, of course. But a surprising number.

Now I've just met a couple of interesting examples on our holiday abroad. One had left his expensive DSLR in England because he didn't want to lose or damage it so far from home. So had no camera. Didn't seem to be too bothered.

And another nice bloke who left his DSLR ashore when we went out on a gullet, sailing into picturesque bays. He didn't want to put it at risk, clambering in and out of boats and stuff. i was glad I had my (by now) DSLR with me!

So it's a strange mentality, I've realised

a) some people who probably love looking at good photos, have an interested eye, just want to have a camera. And they can afford to buy a good one. So they do. And it takes some really nice photos sometimes. So they like it. But some are puzzled enough about why some photos turn out and some don't that they can choose to go on a weekend course (not cheap! I only went cos it was a prize I'd won for a photo I did with the H1. It was a good course, though, and I did learn quite a bit. Including learning that getting a better camera would improve my pictures. Hence the 400D)

b) some people with good cameras think of them as possessions, not as tools. They're too careful with them. OK, I'd be gutted if something happened to my camera, but I know they're pretty robust compared to - say - hi fi gear

So yes, I agree! This forum doesn't represent Canon owners in general. We're a wierd subcult of "photograpers" of various sorts within the general Canon ownership!

Phill
http://www.flickr.com/photos/philllister/
 
I think that some of them users that use the green mode are like me.

They maybe starting to get into photography.

I am much better now but never the less still learning. 5-10 years ago these individuals would have had a regular Rebel and not a digital Rebel. Digital photography is much more popular now and regular cameras are on there way out.

The real issue is this is a forum which is intended for chat and help. Some people are to arrogant and proud to help people like myself while I was learning and needing help.

I would like to thank all those who had helped me to learn and get better rather than pass me by. This is would make the forum much better and help people get away from the so called green mode!
 
I see this all the time where there are moms, dads and other people who buy exspensive equipment but only use the green box. It's quite funny to me but as I say "Whatever Floats there boat". I have know problem with people using them like that, but it seems a waste for people to put there hard earned money into something and not see it's potential. Also another reason why I think people buy these cameras is to make them look more pro, as image is everything to some people.

Raynes
--
What came first, the chicken or the egg?
 
Maybe they should put the green square on the lenses then sales might go up and might be less exspensive for us! Then run an add campain that say "If the square does it, why don't you"

Raynes
--
What came first, the chicken or the egg?
 
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