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Need a camera for work but getting one paid for is hell...

S

swbsam

Platinum Member
I'll jump to cliffs:
  • -I had an idea to shoot daily videos for our org's site.
    - The execs loved the idea and approved the task
    -Programming/design expense were approved and just wrapped this week
    - I requested a flip camera and that was approved
    -Since the programming wasn't done at that point, my boss borrowed that flip camera to lend to another VP who was going to use it on a trip
    -That vp never returned the camera, and I requested the camera from that VP and mentioned that the camera wasn't returned to my boss
    -My boss basically implied "don't expect to ever see that camera back again" and asked me to borrow a camera from a different department
    -Problem is, people here are territorial as is, borrowing a camera every day (or even every week) isn't going to happen

Now, what should I do? They've already spent the money on the programming but for some reason won't spend $100 on a stupid flip camera, or demand that I get the previously approved camera back..

Should I buy a camera myself, since I want to see this feature succeed, or just do nothing?
 
Ask each dept. to borrow camera, when they say no go back to your boss. I wouldn't buy the camera yourself unless you can expense it.
 
I'd just eat the cost myself to get another camera, and charge them a nominal "daily camera renting fee". Tell your boss that if they don't want to pay the cost, they need to buy a camera dedicated to the project.
 
Never buy/bring your own tech stuff to work. We have a guy who brought in his personal mac. You will look like a tool. To the IS department at least.
 
Originally posted by: Gunbuster
Never buy/bring your own tech stuff to work. We have a guy who brought in his personal mac. You will look like a tool. To the IS department at least.
Click to expand...

I *KNOW* exactly what you mean. I have a nice Dslr at home and refuse to bring it in during photo ops because I'd be too afraid of someone walking away with it. Buying a camera, even a $100 one, rubs me the very wrong way.

But I don't know what to do. I've emailed / talk to my boss about a replacement camera at least a dozen times...

 
Originally posted by: Gunbuster
Never buy/bring your own tech stuff to work. We have a guy who brought in his personal mac. You will look like a tool. To the IS department at least.
Click to expand...

Not always, but I'm sure that depends on your occupation. A couple of us have brought our own cameras in..but that's because the ones we have suck. 😛
 
Originally posted by: swbsam
Originally posted by: Gunbuster
Never buy/bring your own tech stuff to work. We have a guy who brought in his personal mac. You will look like a tool. To the IS department at least.
Click to expand...

I *KNOW* exactly what you mean. I have a nice Dslr at home and refuse to bring it in during photo ops because I'd be too afraid of someone walking away with it. Buying a camera, even a $100 one, rubs me the very wrong way.

But I don't know what to do. I've emailed / talk to my boss about a replacement camera at least a dozen times...
Click to expand...

Buy and bill, otherwise tell him the project needs to be scrapped because the company is unwilling to pay for a replacement.

 
Originally posted by: Crono
Originally posted by: swbsam
Originally posted by: Gunbuster
Never buy/bring your own tech stuff to work. We have a guy who brought in his personal mac. You will look like a tool. To the IS department at least.
Click to expand...

I *KNOW* exactly what you mean. I have a nice Dslr at home and refuse to bring it in during photo ops because I'd be too afraid of someone walking away with it. Buying a camera, even a $100 one, rubs me the very wrong way.

But I don't know what to do. I've emailed / talk to my boss about a replacement camera at least a dozen times...
Click to expand...

Buy and bill, otherwise tell him the project needs to be scrapped because the company is unwilling to pay for a replacement.
Click to expand...

I wish I could be hard nosed about it but, honestly, job security here feel shaky at best and her suggestion to "borrow" from another department makes sense to her (and I'm sure other executives). But, in the real world, it simply won't work out. Maybe for a week or so, but definitely not long term.
 
Originally posted by: DaveSimmons
Inform your HR department that the person has stolen a camera from your department.
Click to expand...

It wasn't stolen and it's not my duty (or place) to request it back. My boss is the one who technically purchased it and lent it, and if she doesn't want to ask for it back....

I did ask myself and that request was ignored, I'm really not going to take on VPs over a flip camera..
 
Originally posted by: swbsam
Originally posted by: DaveSimmons
Inform your HR department that the person has stolen a camera from your department.
Click to expand...

It wasn't stolen and it's not my duty (or place) to request it back. My boss is the one who technically purchased it and lent it, and if she doesn't want to ask for it back....

I did ask myself and that request was ignored, I'm really not going to take on VPs over a flip camera..
Click to expand...

Borrowing and not returning = stealing. It's just not breaking and entering.

It sounds like you need to be looking for another job if you can't do any of:
- get the department's property returned
- report the theft
- get a new one funded
- report to the execs that approved the project that the VP is permanently "borrowing" your equipment
 
Email the 'execs' and tell them the project is on hold since the equipment was loaned out to a VP by your boss. You will continue when it has been returned to you.
 
Originally posted by: DaveSimmons
Originally posted by: swbsam
Originally posted by: DaveSimmons
Inform your HR department that the person has stolen a camera from your department.
Click to expand...

It wasn't stolen and it's not my duty (or place) to request it back. My boss is the one who technically purchased it and lent it, and if she doesn't want to ask for it back....

I did ask myself and that request was ignored, I'm really not going to take on VPs over a flip camera..
Click to expand...

Borrowing and not returning = stealing. It's just not breaking and entering.

It sounds like you need to be looking for another job if you can't do any of:
- get the department's property returned
- report the theft
- get a new one funded
- report to the execs that approved the project that the VP is permanently "borrowing" your equipment
Click to expand...

Agreed. OP, you ask for advice, but none of it is the right advice for you. You're basically saying that you can't ask anyone for the original camera back and you can't get them to buy you another camera, so your only options are to continue borrowing cameras from other departments or buy one yourself and boo hoo hoo doesn't that suck.

Maybe you need to find someone who you can talk to frankly about this. There is no need to be rude or confrontational. Just present the facts that this is a $X project that is being held up by the lack of a puny $100 video camera. If you can't find anyone who you can say this to without getting in trouble, then there is something wrong with this company.
 
I don't think the OP really wants advice, just a shoulder (or two) to cry on (metaphorically speaking, because it would be weird to get that worked up over a $100 camera).
 
Get the heads of the other departments to say in writing that they will not allow long term borrowing of their utilities and get another one purchased.

Your boss is a fucking cheapass if they won't buy another 100 dollar fucking flip cam.
 
Originally posted by: magomago
Get the heads of the other departments to say in writing that they will not allow long term borrowing of their utilities and get another one purchased.

Your boss is a fucking cheapass if they won't buy another 100 dollar fucking flip cam.
Click to expand...

You know, I think that's what I'll do. I'll borrow other departments gear until it becomes an issue for someone else, at which point it'll be a "well, what else was I supposed to do?"
 
I wouldn't borrow the gear without permission. You will get in trouble where the bosses won't. If they won't lend you or get you the proper equipment, then tell them you can't do the job.
 
Originally posted by: JLee
Originally posted by: Gunbuster
Never buy/bring your own tech stuff to work. We have a guy who brought in his personal mac. You will look like a tool. To the IS department at least.
Click to expand...

Not always, but I'm sure that depends on your occupation. A couple of us have brought our own cameras in..but that's because the ones we have suck. 😛
Click to expand...

Depends on your company. I brought my Fenix flashlight in and people bought some crap off Amazon. Some guy noticed how my flashlight outshined others as an inspection tool and they ordered 10 of them.

The other day one of our engineers was taking pics on his iPhone. I said why the hell use that, it's all blurry and low res. So I brought out the company's Nikon D40. He wasn't good with photography so I took the shots.

Not that great because of the lighting. Can't use flash either due to reflective surfaces.

I said F-That so I went to my car, and grabbed my Canon T1i with my fast F/1.8 lens. Our pictures looked beautiful, and at least people knew what we were trying to describe instead of a blur due to our bad equipment.

I hate stuff that never gets returned. Hold onto your stuff ALL THE TIME.
 
I know how this is, and I have actually ended up just bringing personal stuff when it's easier and cheap. for example pens, paper etc. It's a HUGE deal to get them to order stuff. Why even order, just send someone to the store so we actually get it THAT day, not 6 months from now. It's retarded how corporations work sometimes when it comes to purchases.
 
D40? What was wrong with it? Did it have a slower kit lens? Shoot in manual and up the iso. What I've noticed if that people will take blurry POS photos that have more noise than DSLRs at iso1600 and call that 'decent'.
Unless it was pitch black I'd be suprised how a 1.8 lens could matter that much over a 3.5-4.5 kit lens.

Push comes to shove overexpose in post processing and bring up the shadows. It'll still look better than what they expect 😉 Of course a faster lens will negate that need haha.

 
Originally posted by: LTC8K6
I wouldn't borrow the gear without permission. You will get in trouble where the bosses won't. If they won't lend you or get you the proper equipment, then tell them you can't do the job.
Click to expand...

I meant that I'd ask permission from each department and, eventually, I'm guessing the heads of those departments wil report back to my boss.. Or I'll just always have a camera and they'll be out of a camera. Either way it works out for me.

It's kinda a selfish way to deal with things since I'm positive one party will be screwed, but if the complaints come from people other than myself then maybe it'll spur a larger discussion.
 
Originally posted by: Gunbuster
You will look like a tool. To the IS department at least.
Click to expand...

Thanks that is my main concern in getting through the day.

I want to look like a rockstar to those lowly Toner Jockeys.

 
Just borrow for awhile and prove that what you're setting out to do has a value add to the company, then re-request a dedicated camera.
 
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