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Post by Kellen on Dec 23, 2022 19:18:19 GMT
We've all heard the term "snake oil." It originated from China where oil from water snakes was a cure-all for joint pain. Later, Richard Stoughton obtained an English patent in 1712 for his "great cordial elixir" of snake oil. Today it largely refers to people who sell products that deceptively promise blue skies, but which in reality produce little if any value, if not actually cause adverse effects. So here's a question: what do you consider to be an item of true snake oil when it comes to camera-related equipment? Surely the photography field has not been exempt from this marketing phenomenon.
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Post by peterob on Dec 23, 2022 19:28:50 GMT
I’d heard the expression but I had no idea that it was in common, modern use. Fake remedy is how I’d interpret it. Can’t think of a serious photographic application.
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Post by John Farrell on Dec 23, 2022 19:41:27 GMT
I saw a camera reference in a repair forum this morning - the admin commented that lighter fluid was the new snake oil. That is - using it to flush parts in situ, rather than dismantling and cleaning.
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Post by zou on Dec 23, 2022 20:28:13 GMT
'protection filter'
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Post by geoffr on Dec 23, 2022 20:43:09 GMT
I am sure there are many examples, I just can’t think of any at the moment.
How about APS, it was supposed to solve all the problems we didn’t know we had.
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Post by peterba on Dec 23, 2022 21:15:25 GMT
Today it largely refers to people who sell products that deceptively promise blue skies, but which in reality produce little if any value, if not actually cause adverse effects. Not sure about its use in photography, but the wording of your description above is just BEGGING to be likened to something beginning with the letter 'B'  (which we in the UK are not, however, permitted to mention  ). |
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Snake Oil
Dec 23, 2022 21:18:17 GMT
via mobile
Post by zou on Dec 23, 2022 21:18:17 GMT
Today it largely refers to people who sell products that deceptively promise blue skies, but which in reality produce little if any value, if not actually cause adverse effects. Not sure about its use in photography, but the wording of your description above is just BEGGING to be likened to something beginning with the letter 'B' (which we in the UK are not, however, permitted to mention ).We can't say Biden? |
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Snake Oil
Dec 23, 2022 21:19:30 GMT
via mobile
Post by zou on Dec 23, 2022 21:19:30 GMT
I am sure there are many examples, I just can’t think of any at the moment. How about APS, it was supposed to solve all the problems we didn’t know we had. I don't think that's fair, because at the sector it was mostly applicable to it was a good product. Quality was good enough, foolproof to load and unload, and the format choice was a nice touch. |
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Post by John Farrell on Dec 23, 2022 21:38:09 GMT
I am sure there are many examples, I just can’t think of any at the moment. How about APS, it was supposed to solve all the problems we didn’t know we had. I don't think that's fair, because at the sector it was mostly applicable to it was a good product. Quality was good enough, foolproof to load and unload, and the format choice was a nice touch. It wasn't around long enough for film scanners to have appropriate masks, and getting the negatives out to scan them was a fiddle. |
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Post by geoffr on Dec 23, 2022 22:04:52 GMT
I am sure there are many examples, I just can’t think of any at the moment. How about APS, it was supposed to solve all the problems we didn’t know we had. I don't think that's fair, because at the sector it was mostly applicable to it was a good product. Quality was good enough, foolproof to load and unload, and the format choice was a nice touch. Possibly but it didn’t sell. Some of the ideas were good but they weren’t enough. |
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Post by peterba on Dec 24, 2022 23:24:49 GMT
Not sure about its use in photography, but the wording of your description above is just BEGGING to be likened to something beginning with the letter 'B' (which we in the UK are not, however, permitted to mention ).We can't say Biden?
I was really thinking of the snake oil salesman who sold 52% of us the unmentionable thing that begins with 'B'.
N.B. Perhaps I'm being a little slow here, but I've just noticed that Mr Snake Oil's initials are oddly coincidental with something else. How strange! Or, then again..... maybe not.  |
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Post by Ivor E Tower on Dec 27, 2022 20:34:01 GMT
I am sure there are many examples, I just can’t think of any at the moment. How about APS, it was supposed to solve all the problems we didn’t know we had. One of the "Problems" that APS solved was being able to choose one of three different formats for your photo. It took a while for digital cameras to come along and make a choice of formats on just about every camera |
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Post by geoffr on Dec 28, 2022 20:01:18 GMT
I am sure there are many examples, I just can’t think of any at the moment. How about APS, it was supposed to solve all the problems we didn’t know we had. One of the "Problems" that APS solved was being able to choose one of three different formats for your photo. It took a while for digital cameras to come along and make a choice of formats on just about every camera Quite so, how often do you use one of the alternative formats? I know I stick with 3 x 2 and don’t use the DX crop either (Nikon full frame cameras). If I want a cropped format I’ll do it later. |
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Post by mark101 on Dec 28, 2022 22:52:16 GMT
There have been some Kickstarter 35 mm cameras that never saw the light of day.
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Post by geoffr on Dec 29, 2022 8:28:57 GMT
There have been some Kickstarter 35 mm cameras that never saw the light of day. Not forgetting the digital insert that was going to allow all our 35mm cameras to be digital or film. |
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(which we in the UK are not, however, permitted to mention 
).
