What if SmugMug sponsored a camera kit?

Baldy · January 15, 2008

Thinking (dangerously) out loud... :huh

What if we were to put a good camera/lens kit into the hands of the dgrin community? Youz could decide who was deserving of the kit during the week(s) of ____ to shoot something epic/special, and who else after that.

My inclination is to make it a fairly high-end kit because a lot of us have 30D 200mm-type kits, and we dream of trying our hands at shooting something like this:

One idea would be to have people submit proposals for what they'd do while they had the kit. The community decides on the most exciting or deserving ideas, someone we know & trust from the community arranges for the kit to be shipped, whoever gets the kit agrees to post a gallery of shots that can be viewed BIG for all to enjoy.

Personally, I don't see why they'd have to be a SmugMug subscriber as long as they're willing to post the shots taken with the kit to a public SmugMug gallery we'd set up. I don't see why they couldn't own the shots either and they could be watermarked, etc. I think dgrin and SmugMug would just like the right to display them.

Your thoughts.

DavidTO · January 15, 2008

Baldy wrote:

Your thoughts.

I'm thinking I'm pretty proud to be a member of this community.

Awesome, Baldy. I can think of many times in the past when I have wished that we could help out photographers that can't quite get there. Young students, ppl who have suffered loss of their equipment, etc.

JenGrace · January 15, 2008

If you want to go high-end, maybe it would be a good idea to do a poll to find out numbers of Canon vs. Nikon users. That way you can get a camera that would fit for the people who are interested in this.

gluwater · January 15, 2008

Could you also ship Miguel along with the setup

? I think I would learn more from him than fumbling around with a new camera and lens for a week. What were you thinking of including in the kit? 1DMkIII + 600 f/4 IS with tripod and Gimabl head for wildlife? 1DsMkIII + 24mm T/S for landscapes? 1DMkIII + 200mm f/1.8 for sports? You guys sure are generous

.

DJ-S1 · January 15, 2008

This would be great, but personally I can't think of any huge events that I would be shooting that would qualify. Perhaps many - if not most - of Dgrinners are in the same boat. You could give me a 1 body and a 500mm lens, but that wouldn't make lions appear in my neighborhood.

I'm not complaining, I'm explaining the way this idea formed:

Could Smugmug arrange for press creds?

Everyone has a major sports team nearby, or a NASCAR track, or a politacal rally, or a big name concert...you get the idea. It would level the playing field re: something special to shoot.

Just a thought -

SloYerRoll · January 15, 2008

Sounds awesome!
Stop thinking and pull the trigger

gluwater · January 15, 2008

DJ-S1 wrote:

I'm not complaining, I'm explaining the way this idea formed:

Could Smugmug arrange for press creds?

Everyone has a major sports team nearby, or a NASCAR track, or a politacal rally, or a big name concert...you get the idea. It would level the playing field re: something special to shoot.

Just a thought -

I think that woulld be more intimidating than using a new pro body and lens. You don't need to go to a big event to take interesting images. That Leopard could have been shot in a zoo.

anwmn1 · January 15, 2008

Sounds very interesting but there is the issue of different formats and time spent trying to learn a new one. There are many Nikon and Canon shooters and still others that use Sony, Olympus, or other brands.

I really like the idea of trying to get credentials for events or huge discounts on tours.

Something like: Calling all Nevada, Arizona, and So Cal shooters
Opprotunity for 1 (or more) photographers to shoot the SkyWalk at the Grand Canyon at no expense.

This place does not allow cameras on the skywalk at all!! An opp to shoot it would indeed be very rare.

Pit passes to a Race- Credentials for a Baseball or Football game, special discounts with pros that offer tours- etc, etc.

People have the availability to rent higher end equipment (at least Canon and Nikon shooters do :cry ) but passes and credentials are very rare indeed

If the gear idea works than I may just try and get a turn to play with but it wouldn't be as exciting as an event. Just my opinion.

DavidTO · January 15, 2008

My vote is that we skew it towards a needs-based system. I'd love to help out starving students and the like.

One of the great things about our community is that we grow great photographers. The shootouts (thanks SmugMug!

) are a great example of that. I'd like to make sure that those who have vision but have not yet acquired the means to achieve it get priority. In fact, I'd be really disappointed if it just meant that those who could afford it get a free rental. That just doesn't make sense to me.

Remember when Purified was turning out all those challenge-winning shots on a point and shoot? I would have loved to have been able to offer her this. She was a high school student at the time, but man, she's got vision. Now she's in college, and could still use a leg up, I'm sure. And not just the youth, I'm sure there are others that could use some help. But a general loaner for anyone who asks for it? Nah....

anwmn1 · January 15, 2008

gluwater wrote:

I think that woulld be more intimidating than using a new pro body and lens. You don't need to go to a big event to take interesting images. That Leopard could have been shot in a zoo.

Intimidating sure- but what is a better opprotunity both personal and professional?

wholenewlight · January 15, 2008

Great idea

My proposal:
"The beauty of Arches NP in October '08"
:ivar

anwmn1 · January 15, 2008

DavidTO wrote:

My vote is that we skew it towards a needs-based system. I'd love to help out starving students and the like.

One of the great things about our community is that we grow great photographers. The shootouts (thanks SmugMug! ) are a great example of that. I'd like to make sure that those who have vision but have not yet acquired the means to achieve it get priority. In fact, I'd be really disappointed if it just meant that those who could afford it get a free rental. That just doesn't make sense to me.

Remember when Purified was turning out all those challenge-winning shots on a point and shoot? I would have loved to have been able to offer her this. She was a high school student at the time, but man, she's got vision. Now she's in college, and could still use a leg up, I'm sure. And not just the youth, I'm sure there are others that could use some help. But a general loaner for anyone who asks for it? Nah....

100% I am good with that for either gear or access.

Granted there are people that could take some amazing shots but giving an opprotunity to someone that would normally not get it, is what this should be about.

I know how difficult it is for me to fork out any money for new gear or even how hard it was to commit to the shootout. So I would prefer this go to people that this would be a big deal and really could benefit.

Baldy · January 15, 2008

I think press passes to the shows would be interesting -- I know I'd appreciate it -- but SmugMug doesn't have much pull with the events, unfortunately. And I'm not sure we want the responsibility for the behavior of the photographer at the event or what they do with the photos after...

Baldy · January 15, 2008

DavidTO wrote:

My vote is that we skew it towards a needs-based system. I'd love to help out starving students and the like.

Indeed.

TylerW · January 15, 2008

Can we get one of these?

Baldy · January 15, 2008

TylerW wrote:

Can we get one of these?

Hahaha, funny thing is, the one on sale at B&H is what inspired this idea. We thought maybe we could buy it, rent it out through Borrow Lenses to recoup our investment, and loan it to someone who'd put it to good use.

But Andy quickly pointed out that it isn't very practical for anything and hence the reason they don't make them anymore.

RogersDA · January 15, 2008

I think this idea is great (not that my opinion counts for much).

But, the kit is only as good as what comes with it. It's fine to toss a 1Ds
MIII along with a 600mm L series. But, in the hands of someone else that shoots smaller the kit is not of much use. So a TS lens (or series of TS lenses), for example, would be a wonderful kit to test for someone who has never used them. Also, a lot of shooters probably don't have some of the right gear to make the best use of the kit; e.g. a very nice ball head, tripod, clamps/brackets, flash. Those items might also be needed.

SloYerRoll · January 15, 2008

Maybe a pre-requisite would be each contestant provide a list of what they would like in their respective gooody package and SM sets a behind the scenes limit on what $$ they would spend. The winner would then be able to showcase they work they did w/ they gear the SM helped them get.

The caviat of this model would be that someone might mis-understand their wish list to be a guarantee of recieving all the items they listed. That could easily be resolved in the T&C though.

DavidTO · January 15, 2008

SYR,

I think the idea is that there will be one package that makes the rounds.

SloYerRoll · January 15, 2008

Well it's all good to me. There are allot of great photogs out there that could greatly benefit from something like this

bkatz · January 15, 2008

I love the idea. I would suggest 2 kits 1 Nikon and 1 Canon (no complaints from the peanut gallery

).

Love the idea of the needy getting the kit and sending it on.

I think it would also be good to offer to send some of these to one of the class outings - like from Thom Hogan and others..Just MHO.

I love how you guys come up with this stuff - great idea

Dee · January 15, 2008

Ah Gee, I don't think I'd ever get my hands on high end equipment for a week. Since I'm semi-retired I'd certainly have the time.

But to define deserving or worthy? That's a tough call.

A week would barely be long enough to get used to the camera. It usually takes me at least 2 days to find out what all the controls mean and where they are. And then there's the test shots, getting them on the computer, figuring out what went wrong and how to fix it.

Then living on the coast, there's the weather issue...

Thinking out loud, what happens if I fall in love with a camera I can't afford? I'd then be heartbroken! :cry :cry :cry

But heh, I'm willing to give it a try, and I live nearby, so no shipping charges

Dee

jdryan3 · January 15, 2008

Baldy wrote:

Thinking (dangerously) out loud...

My inclination is to make it a fairly high-end kit because a lot of us have 30D 200mm-type kits. Your thoughts.

Wishing out loud for that 1DsMkIII and the 400 f/2.8 :whew

DavidTO wrote:

My vote is that we skew it towards a needs-based system. I'd love to help out starving students and the like.

Hey, I'm learning! :photo
And I base my request on my need :heh to try out the kit I mentioned

DavidTO wrote:

In fact, I'd be really disappointed if it just meant that those who could afford it get a free rental. That just doesn't make sense to me. But a general loaner for anyone who asks for it? Nah....

:bluduh But the more I think about it, you're probably right :cry

schmoo · January 16, 2008

I think Smugmug has come up with yet another fantastic idea.

What I love about this is that it's essentially a creative scholarship. I think the need-based approach is a great one, but I would also like to see it put into the hands of other people who may be more in the middle. Call it serendipity, if you will. Dgrin and Smugmug are a tapestry of so many different individuals from all over the globe, I don't think that limiting who/why one gets to use the sponsored kit should reflect just a partial subset of our community. We are everyone and anyone!

Awais Yaqub · January 16, 2008

This is very cool Idea !!

jziegler · January 16, 2008

I think that it is a great idea. But I will say that possibly having two (or more) kits might not be a bad idea. I know that I'm not alone in wishing that I had money to spend on something like the mentioned 30D 200mm kit. And there are many cases where a kit like that would be plenty, and higher end might not be so necessary. Not that the super high end stuff wouldn't be a lot of fun to use, but I'd probably find it intimidating.

Mitchell · January 16, 2008

Interesting idea, but I think you are putting way too much weight on how much the gear will influence the product.

Most of us already own gear way beyond our means. The gear is not what is holding my photography back. My technique, eye for composition, and post production are really what I need to improve on.

It would be nice to put some gear in some needy people's hands, but they wouldn't need a D3 with a 600mm lens. Any camera would do.

And don't even think about the issue of computer access for PP.

Mitchell · January 16, 2008

Now if you could get me a week of watching guys like Shay work, I'd really appreciate it!

SloYerRoll · January 16, 2008

Mitchell made some great points.

I shoot w/ a D50 and even though I have total gear lust. When I really sit back and look at my photography. The weakest link is me.

Doing something like a fully paid trip to one of these wonderful workshops...
I'd take that any day over a D3x and and a nice piece of glass.

Sorry for the semi hijack.. Just thinking out loud...

John Mueller · January 16, 2008

Being an organizer of a photography mentor forum/club,I think this is a wonderful idea!

Awais Yaqub · January 16, 2008

Or may be choose a guy and ask what he need in a certain limit

What if SmugMug sponsored a camera kit?

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