Image by Mark Matthews @markmimage
Seems that a new guerrilla campaign by Olympus in Australia is talking shit about the “rubbish” photos from your camera phone.
“If you’re camera also sends text messages, that will explain why your photos are rubbish.”
Plaques in select Aussie cities bearing the above slogan have been pasted to the street and other urban environs, with the url GetARealCamera.com linking to Olympus. Personally, the message bugs me, but it’s pretty damn clever — made me look twice and type in the url. …
[thx @MarkMImage for the tip & sending in that image!]
For the general public, whom this ad is directed, its assertion is spot on. And it should be a very effective ad. It is irrelevant whether or not some “good” photographer can squeeze an interesting photo out of most any type of camera in various situations. The vast majority of the public doesn’t have a clue about the limitations of their phone’s camera and how best to use it – their casual snapshots look may OK on the tiny phone screen but at any other resolution the images are more often than not blurry if not improperly exposed for anything but close-ups (with flash assist) and shots taken in bright sunlight.
Cameras on phones will get better and that will likely satisfy an increasing number of users (e.g. with better sensors, gyro-stabilization). However, for the moment lots of consumers expect far more than what the phone cameras can provide. Until then, the new generation of smaller mirror-less cameras have the potential of filling that gap for better photos.
the only messages that photo of any type, and even video, can send is the message the artist wants to portray to his audience. maybe what olympus is saying is that the quality ain’t that good compared to conventional camera, where u may have VR/IS and higher megapixel. however, phone camera are catching up in terms of megapixel. but at the end, its still the person behind the camera that needs to compose the picture.
if your camera is branded Olympus, that will explain why your photos are rubbish
I’m not sure what all the Olypus hate is for. I agree, its negative campaigning but my wife has an olympus point and shoot and it takes some incredible shots. Better than my canon and way nicer than my iPhone could ever take. I’ve also dealt with their mirrorless PEN-3 cameras. they are quality cameras and this comes from a Nikon user.
This is classic Aussie humor. Love it! Open your minds people! The purpose of this message is to disturb people and question the status quo. How many of you went to their website?
Marketing 1. Unsuspecting public 0.
I might add that Olympus just got a free ride on Chase’s blog. How many people just saw this ad???
Game Set and Match
Good work Olympus. I like to see an underdog fight back!