Rongnongno Loc: FL

The guy behind the camera is always the major problem.

joer Loc: Colorado/Illinois

Not understanding and blaming the equipment.

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

My store is closed Mondays, but I am here today to take care of some of the shipping for orders that came in over the weekend. I had a customer stop and knock on the door because my vehicle is sitting out front.
It seems they stopped at a Best Buy store in Minneapolis as they were headed out of town for a trip to Yellowstone Park, their first trip there ever and doing the trip for their 40th wedding anniversary. The clerk at Best Buy talked them into a Canon T5 2 lens kit for only $499 plus tax (same price anywhere). What he did NOT tell them was that they needed a memory card to store the images they took.
Long story short, they spent 4 days in Yellowstone, took HUNDREDS of pictures, and were on their way home but could not figure out how to view their images in the camera. They asked for recommendations a few places and my store kept coming up so they drove here to see if I could explain how to view their images........NO MEMORY CARD IN THE CAMERA!
Most consumer level cameras, and some semi-pro level models, will allow you to take and view an image without a card in the camera (Demo mode), but once the image disappears from the review on the LCD it is GONE FOREVER! They were under the mistaken belief that the camera had internal memory, same as their older pocket Nikon Coolpix had. When I informed them that they had NO internal memory, you could almost see their hearts stop! All those wonderful images are never to be.
ALWAYS READ your manual and understand your camera before using it. And no matter what memory card you buy, BUY ONE if you don't already have some!

dandi Loc: near Seattle, WA

What a story! I feel sorry for these people.

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

First mis-step, buying the camera on their way out of town.
Second, not reading the manual.

Somewhere in there was a usual substandard salesguy at Best Buy. Not only did he not know, but he didn't even try to get them to purchase add ons for their camera. At least a memory card. Just think of the commission he missed out on by not selling the extras. Probably didn't know it had any.
--Bob

jcboy3

The lesson here is to ALWAYS check out your gear before you travel. This serves the purpose of ensuring that it is working (and you have all the necessary parts) and that you know how to use it.

RichardSM Loc: Back in Texas

Like I said the cameras are not the problem it's the moron behind it read your booklet, operating instructions. I know I'm being harsh but come on the good Lord gave each of us a head use the brains in it.

davidrb Loc: Half way there on the 45th Parallel

Most problems with DSLRs are caused by brain farts of nuclear proportions. Everyone is allowed and does use their fair share. Don't dwell on the past farts, build up the GAS for an even larger one in the future. Be sure to learn something from each experience. Farts are not mechanically problems in the digital world.

N4646W

:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

Ron

John N Loc: HP14 3QF Stokenchurch, UK

Just the complexity. Simple meter, manual 'f' stop on the lens and shutter selection + an Auto option will suffice.

I like what I can do with the DSLR but rarely remember how I've done it so I wind up looking in the manual again and again. I do not follow the logic employed in the layout and often struggle from screen to the next.

Anything that comes with a manual that is bigger than the device whose use it is trying to explain sets me off on the wrong foot every time. Perhaps it's just me, but I'm sure I'm not alone.

Mark7829 Loc: Calfornia

It really is not the camera, its mechanical or electronic features and functions. You really only need to master ISO, aperture and shutter speed. Most don't have that down. Most don't even know what those buttons or selections do let alone where they are on their own cameras. But the most important thing is composition and light. Most here don't know its value or how to chase it. It is perhaps easier to talk about sensors and lenses than that, because finding great light and composition is by far the hardest thing. It is illusive, mystic and the yet most important part of every capture.

banjonut Loc: Southern Michigan

Right you are.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

The only failure I know of occurred when my son dropped his D3100 with 18-105 lens. Only the lens mount broke, and I was able to replace it with a ring I got on ebay.

boberic Loc: Quiet Corner, Connecticut. Ex long Islander

First-anything will sooner or later fail. Second- the most common problem with cameras is the operator.

boberic Loc: Quiet Corner, Connecticut. Ex long Islander

First-anything will sooner or later fail. Second- the most common problem with cameras is the operator.