O/T Back to the Days of grainy polaroid photos of Phonos?

[Valecnik]

I can't help but noticing that more people are parking their pretty decent digital cameras and posting here and elsewhere poor quality blurry telephone camera pics in poor light when they offer something for sale. If the objective is really to sell the item, high resolution pictures from an at least average camera in good light would do a great service to the potential buyer and the seller as well. There. I've done it. My first rant of 2014.

[Le0]

people use ther cell phone because it is linked to internet so it is quicker than uploading pictures in the computer and then posting the pictures.

[VintageTechnologies]

Valecnik,I totally agree. My theory is they are trying to hide the defects.

[alang]

Valecnik,I totally agree. My theory is they are trying to hide the defects.

Correct. That's why I insist that pictures of myself are only to be taken with cell phone cameras. No need to show the details.

But in general I agree with Leo. I don't believe that most people try to deceive, they are just lazy. Even though I don't understand why anyone would think that bad pictures would help sell an expensive item.

Andreas

[Valecnik]

Valecnik,I totally agree. My theory is they are trying to hide the defects.

Correct. That's why I insist that pictures of myself are only to be taken with cell phone cameras. No need to show the details.

But in general I agree with Leo. I don't believe that most people try to deceive, they are just lazy. Even though I don't understand why anyone would think that bad pictures would help sell an expensive item.

Andreas

I also generally agree with Leo. I think in most cases they are just lazy, although I have been involved in some transaction where only after repeated requests for good pictures, the seller suddenly "notices" some previously unnoticed major defects after wasting a lot of my time.

I whole heartedly agree with Andreas that pictures of me are best taken with cellphones, at a distance, in dim light.

[epigramophone]

Modern digital cameras are so easy to use that there is no excuse for poor pictures. You can view the picture as soon as you have taken it, and if it is not good enough you can try again. Once uploaded into the computer, all sorts of adjustments and improvements can be made.

I find the best results are obtained outside in good light, but not direct sunlight, against a plain background such as a white sheet.

If the machine is too heavy to manhandle out of doors, I still try to photograph against a plain background, and if possible without using flash.

Mobile phones rank high on my list of things which should never have been invented, but after a car crash some years ago I gave in to family pressure and got one. It is so old that it does not take pictures .

[Joe_DS]

...and many of those photos accompany an add like this (faux) one:

[Valecnik]

...and many of those photos accompany an add like this (faux) one:

VictorlaAd.jpg

"Victorla made by Edisen in excelent condition" This can't be real

[marcapra]

I want that Edisen Victorla, but I can't tell if it's $15.00 or $15,000? I've never heard of an Edisen Victorla, so it must be rare. Love the pics. Looks like a cubist painting by Picasso. Not everyone who sells an old phonograph has any idea of what it is or what it's worth. This ad proves it.

[Joe_DS]

I want that Edisen Victorla, but I can't tell if it's $15.00 or $15,000? I've never heard of an Edisen Victorla, so it must be rare. Love the pics. Looks like a cubist painting by Picasso. Not everyone who sells an old phonograph has any idea of what it is or what it's worth. This ad proves it.

Oops, I made it look too real....

No, it's completely faux, as I noted above, or imitation as in "faux marble."

Actually, while pure fiction, the add I put together is very close to some I've seen. I've spotted many overpriced "victorlas" for sale on Craigslist over the years, as well as some "Edisen" phonographs (and "phonografs.") And, there have been plenty of photographs like the one I made.

Whenever I do a comprehensive search on Craigslist and other "for sale" sites, I not only use every phonographic term I can think of -- gramophone, phonograph, "talking machine," "record player," turntable, etc. -- but every possible misspelling of those words.

JDS