jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

I'm going to make a radical suggestion. When someone posts a question about what camera or lens to buy, we should not answer his question with more questions. Obviously, we need some information, but the person probably gave us enough to get started.

If someone is about to buy his first DSLR or wants to get a new lens, I doubt that he is buying it just to take pictures of fire ants on a cloudy afternoon from 200 feet away. Nor is he buying it exclusively to take pictures of albino eskimos and polar bears during blizzards.

When I started in photography, I did so because I wanted to take pictures - every kind possible. Let's assume that the people asking questions just want to take pictures of all kinds and try to give them the best advice we can. Hitting the poster with a dozen questions can be intimidating and make him feel stupid. One or two questions about budget or experience are fine, but the poster probably does not have answers for most of the question that are often asked. We don't want to make him feel like he doesn't know how to ask a question..

Just a suggestion.

TedPaul Loc: Madison, MS

Sounds fair. I have seen replies that make the question sound lacking. The person asking does not have the sophistication of some.

cockney greg Loc: London E17

Good point Jerry,all we really need to know is what they already have and how much they want to spend.

sportyman140 Loc: Juliette, GA

Good Morning Jerry,
Well Said, When I first started out on here I know the feeling, !!!
:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

hartmanr1

GOOD ADVICE !

As a teacher I know that a student asking an Expert often gets a reply that is almost one of contempt :

Don't you know that ?

Can't you do that ? It's easy !

A trap to avoid if we want to encourage photography not make it appear an arcane science

GPS Phil Loc: Dayton Ohio

While it might be just a suggestion, it is a good one. Most of us come here for two reasons, either to help or be helped. Some kindness and consideration go a long way.

Phil

Patriot66 Loc: Minnesota

Well said.

BillyDuds Loc: North Carolina

Yup, excellent advice. Let's hope everyone takes it to heart!

Mason Jar Loc: Mason, OH

Being a newbie here, I've watched for a while before asking questions and I must say it is intimidating to be new and ask an expert a question, then get asked a bunch of questions that make us feel like we aren't smart enough to even ask a simple question. It might help to have only one person asking question and not have 6 - 10 people jump in with comments or more questions. Even this observation has attracted a bunch of comments. I have a question regarding flash, but I fear all the extraneous stuff that makes that question get lost in the shuffle. Just my humble opinion, no offense intended.

GoofyNewfie Loc: Kansas City

A good point, jerry. In the begining, you don't know what you don't know.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

I knew. :D

lighthouse Loc: No Fixed Abode

Well, I'll be the odd one out that you can all flame.
Sorry Jerry, not with you on this one at all.

I cannot answer that question properly and neither can anyone else - and I do not know why they try.
No one can know what camera or lens to recommend unless they know if the person will be printing 30"x20" or just loading to facebook or twitter or whatever.
Or whether the person is interested in sports or scenery or portraiture or just baby and puppy pics. etc etc etc
Usually we are not even told if the camera is for a new user or if it will be an upgrade for an existing user.

The original poster might not know the relevant information to give but it could just be that the person that asks those questions back, does know the relevant info to ask.
And they ask those questions back so that they can attempt to save the OP from buying stuff that they don't need, or the wrong type.
They are not being condescending, or a smart arse. They are trying to save the OP a bit of heartache and money and provide a shorter path to where that person wants to get to.

The ones that are being unhelpful are the chorus that have to have an immediate opinion on every question asked on limited knowledge whether it is the right advice or not.
So the OP ends up with a multitude of options and no way of sorting the wheat from the chaff.

herb99m Loc: Georgia, USA

But this is what the answer is, though they might be too discouraged to post again:
"I will be be posting to Facebook and emailing pics to friends. And if I get a really nice shot I want to do big prints for a gift to my parents.
I want to take great shots of my kids at soccer, dance and cheerleading. Also I want to take general photos of friends and family at events, in addition to getting some great portrait shots."

The point being that someone looking to get on the DSLR train usually does not have a specific area they want to focus on. I get asked the question every time I am out shooting or post some photos. Rarely do they have a specific target in mind.

lighthouse Loc: No Fixed Abode

OK, so now I can make a recommendation, because I have info.
But I am not going to assume that this is what every poster who asks the question wants to do.

craggycrossers Loc: Robin Hood Country, UK

Jerry - a good idea, coming from a long-time and wise UHH contributor.

Lighthouse - also a good and valid response, coming from a long-time and wise UHH contributor.

The kinds of questions that request "what **** should I buy?" come thick and fast, and I must admit I "pick and choose" where I want to dive in. But I tend to agree more with Lighthouse, because so often it's just not possible to give reasoned and sound advice based solely on the wording of the question.

What's the answer?

Maybe some sort of "triggered screen" in the website software which, when it sees "which camera/lens/flash/tripod?" etc, throws up a "help" screen advising the MINIMUM info required about the particular topic and the basic reasons why.

I'm trying to watch the Monaco Grand Prix, but there's been a "little accident", which gives me a minute or ten to ponder over this thread.