Rubbish...

So despite all my rantings on how film is the only way (yawn, yadder, blah, blah, oh shut up!) I had decided that a carry everywhere Digital camera may not be such a bad idea. For those of you that have taken a large format camera on holiday or to a party, you will know the relief of having something a bit snappy is light relief sometimes...

After much research I came to the conclusion that something like a Lumix GF1 (you know the one with this two thirds thing making it quite small and compact) would be ideal as it appeared to be not too expensive and seemed to have all the features I was after. And so I made my way up Tottenham Court road seeing where had the best price for my holiday/dog picture taking camera. Simply put, I was astonished at the price differences in some of the shops and quickly came to realise it always pays to shop around. I had just about found the right price, but on the way back to Warren Street Tube I decided to pop into that camera shop only yards from the tube, you know the one with all the fifty quid cameras in the window that always has a sale on, along with some Swiss Army Knives and a torch submerged in a water tank..

I walked in the shop and gave a polite "hello" to the man behind the counter and then made inquiry which went something like this;

Potential customer (PC)
"Do you have the new Lumix GF1 camera in stock?"

Shop Manager (twit)
"Oh no, we dont stock that camera as its rubbish and we only stock the best cameras"
PC
"What do you mean, its rubbish, could you be a little more specific."
Twit
"The quality from it is terrible and we pride ourselves in quality."
PC
"Thats not a very good sales pitch is it. Have you tried one of these cameras for yourself ?"
Twit
"No, but I have read all the reviews and there pretty poor."
PC
"Strange, all the reviews I have read are quite good which is why I am interested in one."
Twit
"Well there still rubbish and we dont stock them."
PC
"So why do you stock the Olympus Pen, its very similar in technology."
Twit
"Oh thats simply not the same, thats a pro camera for professionals."
PC
"The camera Kevin Spacey advertises (olympus pen) is not a so called pro camera, in fact you dont have any pro cameras in here. Wheres the Canon DS or the Nikon DX3 etc."
Twit
"We dont stock thoses there too expensive..."

So on and so on. The guy was a complete moron and simply didn't have a clue. In the end I told him he should try using a camera instead of playing with them in his crappy shop and assuming what is good and bad. All I wanted to do at this point was extend my wind proof umbrella in to his fudgey face. But instead I opted for a bit of name calling and left.

I get so angry with people like this who are obviously so unhappy with their situation in life that they feel the need to try and pass on their contempt to others. I think this is especially true in photography be it someone working in a camera shop, a lab (which of course I know all about), assisting etc. Anyone thinking this way needs to take note and be thankful you have a job, there's certainly no shame in it. As for fat boy, well thats not the first time I have had a run in with him, the last time it was over a lens cap...!

So then, what if the twit was right and the camera is a load of rubbish. Well all will be revealed in a couple of weeks..

Over and out..