I Don't Understand These Photographers

Submitted by Syv Ritch on 17. October 2011 - 6:03

I was up the valley among a whole group of photographers. It was a group of Chinese tourists from China. Most of them had huge monsters, mostly Canons 500L f/4, a couple with 600mm f/4. This guy had a Gitzo tripod with a Wemberly II head that cost more than his Canon 50D. He uses a Canon 500L f/4 with “more in the mini-bus.”

Photographing eaglesPhotographing eagles at the Sandpiper golf course along the Fraser river.They flew in from China to Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. It was a group of about 15 tourists. They came by bus to take photos of the eagles. Since I don't speak any Chinese, and their English was more than limited, I may be wrong. But after that they were going to make a tour of the Canadian Rockies. They were not going to the US, and I think that on the way back they were going to take the Rocky Mountaineer.harrison-20101121-0304.jpg — Copyright © 2009 Syv Ritch: http://http://www.foto-biz.com/usageterms

Photographer with Canon 50D, Gitzo tripod, Wemberly gimball head and Canon 500mm f/4 lens   click on image for gallery

Why use a Canon 50D? None were speaking “speaking” English. Most of them could say a few words, but not enough for a conversation. I spoke with the group translator. Each paid $17,000 Canadian (the Canadian $ is almost at par with the US $) for the 3 weeks trip through Western Canada and the Rockies, with various stops along the way and the Rocky Mountaineer for the way back to Vancouver.

Obviously money is not an object. They must be rich enough not only to buy the equipment, but also to pay for the trip. $17,000 is not just chump change. So why use a Canon 50D when you could use a 7D? I got the guide/translator to ask him about the Canon 7D and he seems to know about it…

I don't understand, I must be missing something.