Canon published this humorous advertisement for the 40D in Digital Photographer magazine back in 2008.

(via Photojojo)

Customer: I want to test this camera with my memory card so I can check the pictures at home on my computer.
Salesperson: That’s very smart of you – of course I’ll let you do that.
Customer: Can I try it with a background flash?
Salesperson: Normally I’d say no, but I’m not busy… so… sure, why not?
Customer: Can we shoot it on a white wall with even lighting?
Salesperson: Whatever you’d like.

*Customer shoots a few frames of the Salesperson*

Customer: Can you shoot some of me?
Salesperson: You’re just using this for a passport photo, aren’t you.
Customer: How’d you know?
Salesperson: I shoot over 20 passport photos a day and you thought I wouldn’t catch on?
Customer: No.

Thanks for the submission, Dennis!

Customer: Why are my 8×10 prints being cut off?
Salesperson: Well, your camera shoots in 2:3 aspect ratio which is a different proportion of rectangle. The 8×10 print is 4:5.
Customer: I want my prints in full size.
Salesperson: You have three options. A) We stretch the image. B) We crop the image, or C) we can put white strips on the sides but that won’t be very pleasing.
Customer: Can’t I just put what I have on my camera on the paper?
Salesperson: You know how when you watch a HD video and they put black bars around the screen? It’s that exact same concept.
Customer: You’re not doing your job properly, can I speak with your manager?
Salesperson: No problem! :)

Thanks for the submission, Dennis!

When PetaPixel reader David Anderson opened up the April 2011 edition of Shutterbug magazine, he was shocked to find a terrorist in one of the advertisements. Someone should alert the TSA to this, since they published a poster warning us of this type of terrorist back in 2010.

Quick, does anyone recognize the back of this guy’s head? Oh wait, this guy might.

Image credit: Photograph by David Anderson and used with permission

An old lady brings her newly purchased Canon T2i and kit lens back to a camera store in Toronto claiming they were defective.

Clerk: So whats wrong with your camera?
Lady: It only takes blurry shots, it’s broken.
Clerk: Were you shooting indoors?
Lady: Yes.
Clerk: What mode were you shooting in?
Lady: I don’t know.
Clerk: So auto… Was the flash going off?
Lady: No, I hate the flash.
Clerk: Were you using a tripod?
Lady: Now you’re asking the really hard questions!
Clerk: … Lady I could sell you any lens behind me and none of them would help you take a better picture until you learn how to use your camera.
Lady: …
Clerk: We can point you towards some places that can give you excellent short classes, or sell you a book.
Lady: I don’t need lessons, my camera is broken.

Thanks basic_hydronium!

“Hipster traps” have been springing up across New York City, and one of the baits used is a Holga 120N camera. The traps are the latest project by artists Jeff Greenspan and Hunter Fine.

Urban Traps is a project where we lay traps for certain subcultures. Our goal is protect neighborhoods from infestation and collect different species for further study. [#]

Other items used for bait are sunglasses, a yellow bicycle chain, a can of PBR and a pack of American Spirits.
Read the rest of this entry »

Customer: I’m wondering how much a certain lens costs.
Clerk: OK, which one?
Customer: I can’t remember, but I know it’s around $2,000.
Clerk: …

Thanks Looking Glass Photo for this submission!

You know all those not-so-awesome portraits found all over social networking services like Facebook and Myspace? If you’ve felt like there’s something strangely uniform about them, perhaps the reason is because they were all taken by Sheffield Quigley, the world’s first and only professional Myspace photographer.

(via DigitalRev)

This humorous video found on the NHL website demonstrates the improper way of using your Leica M6 if you ever have the opportunity to photograph the Stanley Cup.

Customer: Hi, I am looking for a Canon lens.
Shopkeeper: Certainly, which one specifically or what’s the purpose?
Customer: I am looking for a lens that can shoot pictures with sharp foreground objects and sharp background objects.
Shopkeeper: Right, you mean a lens that is good for close-ups and landscape?
Customer: Well, not exactly, I want a lens to shoot pictures that everything is in not blurry, especially not those blurry backgrounds with people.
Shopkeeper: Hmm?
Customer: Should I buy the 70-200 2.8 IS II? What do you think I should buy?
Shopkeeper: I think you should buy a photography book first.

The shopkeeper proceeded to show the customer a photography book, but he decided to leave.

Thanks akechi!