Digital Cameras Baffle Britons

*jsherman999* · 08-07-2008, 01:49 PM

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The headline on dpreview cracked me up.

Digital Cameras Baffle Britons

Any Brits care to defend their digital aptitude?

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Talisker · 08-07-2008, 01:56 PM

Looking at some of the questions asked in this forum I think we aren't the only ones

*squarerigger* · 08-07-2008, 02:14 PM

I have no hard data to support what I am about to say but only what I have observed. Most of the folks I come into contact with have very little understanding of the electronic gadgets they own - camera, cell phone, ipod, gps, etc. I find this gets worse the older the folks are. Not a hit on us old timers as I am an old timer. The younger generation seems to be more willing to experiment with the "gadgets" and get more out of them. I also find most folks just don't bother to read the instruction manuals that come with the gadgets. I have to agree most of the manuals a pitiful at best.

Anyway, I don't think it is a british thing anymore than any other nationality. Just my two cents worth - now I will slink off and do what us old guys do - take a nap and worry about reading the instruction manual some time when I have nothing better to do.

Gary

*monochrome* · 08-07-2008, 02:59 PM

Originally Posted by squarerigger

I have no hard data to support what I am about to say but only what I have observed. Most of the folks I come into contact with have very little understanding of the electronic gadgets they own - camera, cell phone, ipod, gps, etc. I find this gets worse the older the folks are. Not a hit on us old timers as I am an old timer. The younger generation seems to be more willing to experiment with the "gadgets" and get more out of them. I also find most folks just don't bother to read the instruction manuals that come with the gadgets. I have to agree most of the manuals a pitiful at best.

Anyway, I don't think it is a british thing anymore than any other nationality. Just my two cents worth - now I will slink off and do what us old guys do - take a nap and worry about reading the instruction manual some time when I have nothing better to do.

Gary

I read Borland's C++ manuals (14" over 7 books) cover-to-cover. People call me a geek, but they also call me for help.

troywhite · 08-07-2008, 06:38 PM

See.... the young way to do things is to not bother with the manual, but dive straight in and try every button and every feature and work it all out yourself.

I know because this is how I was and how I still am. I think it is that trait that distinguishes me from a friend of mine (same age, 39) who is the total opposite. Won't touch anything or try anything outside of a narrow set of known options.

It's almost like the two ways of looking at things are:

1. It's my widget and I'm going to become intimate with it by playing around with every button doodad and setting I can.

As opposed to:

2. It's my widget but I'm not sure what pressing that button will do, so I won't in case I break something.

Yes I smoked a lot of electronic components when I was a young boy :-) But I also learnt a lot and feel comfortable now with anything new.

Moving from the istDS to the K20D was pretty daunting as it had so many more buttons, etc. A couple of weeks later and I'm pretty sure I had pressed every single button and tried every single feature.

My friend (same one mentioned above) has the Samsung K10 equivalent and he still keeps it sitting on "Green" mode. I'm sure he has hardly ever scrolled the wheels on it.

In summary.... it has nothing to do with nationalities but everything to do with personalities.

alohadave · 08-07-2008, 06:56 PM

I'm curious how complicated washing machines are in the UK.

*Damn Brit* · 08-08-2008, 02:15 AM

In an attempt to inject a little seriousness into this thread (which is a bit of a laugh coming from me), it seems to me that photography is quite a niche hobby. For one thing, the expense involved; Camera, lenses etc. Computer, maybe a printer too. For another, the actual amount of time you need to devote to said hobby.
Many other people buy a dslr because they can. You know, they are in the stores, affordable (but at the same time not cheap), advertising, the list is endless. I would imagine an awful lot of the cameras out there only ever have one lens on them, depending on what the user is taking pictures of. The Lester Dine dentist kit is quite a specialised example of that. A lot of snap shooters get something like an 18-250 to cover all their bases.
Anyone seen anywhere any statistics detailing how many serious photographers there are, how much time is spent with photography. Or percentages of dslr's owned by serious and non serious photographers.
It's not really surprising then that a dslr can be confusing to it's owner. It may be being used as a point and shoot by someone who just wants better quality pictures.

As for defending the Brits, what's the point? The whole world has been dumbed down for the majority of the worlds populations. I'm scared of the dishwasher, never ever saw one back in England.

embrauer · 08-08-2008, 08:32 AM

Originally Posted by alohadave

I'm curious how complicated washing machines are in the UK.

More complicated than Canada, in my experience

*rparmar* · 08-08-2008, 09:25 AM

Originally Posted by alohadave

I'm curious how complicated washing machines are in the UK.

Or irons... LOL!

Actually, washing machines over here have lots of strange settings I have never bothered with. Many integrate tumble drying which is when things really get complicated!

*rparmar* · 08-08-2008, 09:26 AM

Quick note: I am not in the UK but all the appliances are the same.

woof · 08-08-2008, 10:37 AM

Originally Posted by squarerigger

Not a hit on us old timers as I am an old timer. The younger generation seems to be more willing to experiment with the "gadgets" and get more out of them.

Speak for yourself. I'm 48. The first computer I got, I pulled apart.

I started building them for a living shortly thereafter, and am now making quite a nice living based on my desire and ability to

1. dissect; 2. understand; 3. assimilate; 4. optimize; and 5. use electronics.

I am a button pusher from way back. So are many, many of my old fogie friends.

Frankly, without trying to be insulting in any way, I find the willingness to experiment is an index of intelligence and education - not age. On the other hand it may indicate too that someone has too much time on their hands. I'll opt for the latter explanation with respect to the younger generations. (Just kidding - one bad stereotype deserves another!)

woof