Have you ever noticed that the majority of women use point and shoot cameras while men use SLR cameras?

While on a walking tour geting my exercise and taking in the sites, I  saw a Korean couple who are a very good example of this observation.  The couple asked me to take a picture of them using the woman’s Canon point and shoot camera.
 

Later on, we crossed paths again.  I observed the man taking a photo of the woman using an SLR.  Sorry didn’t get close enough to see the brand or model since I didn’t want to intrude.

Have you ever wondered why men tend to own SLRs and women own Point and Shoot cameras?

 My theory is there is a law of diminishing maximum luggage weight.  You might ask what this is and why you have never heard of this theory. 

Let me explain. Most women like to shop.  When travelling, they buy souvenirs or gifts for loved ones back at home.

Airlines have a maximum allowable luggage weight per passenger. Some planes have already reduced the allowable weight, so for shopaholics this translates to a less weight and therefore a lightweight camer. A normal SLR with the bells and whistles will weigh around 1-3 kilos in luggage weight and more if you add a tripod.

Which is more important . . . a SLR camera OR additional weight for shopping treasures, clothes, shoes and toiletries? 

When faced with this option, my theory is that most women choose to nix the heavier SLR camera.  Women are practical and social creatures.  They choose cameras they can use and easily share photo opportunies with friends.  Women love to share where they went and what they did while men take more pictures of other people and the views.

Another good guess that since a lot of guys like to tinker around with mechanical stuff, a SLR will be another garget. Imagine all those additional knobs dials and whatnot in just one little container, aside from the lens flash and accessories. Its not that I discriminate against the girls using SLRs, far from it since I’m used to cameras with a lot more knobs and dials.

We also have to take into consideration the time limitations. Like in a tour, how many hours you can stay in just one area or even minutes before you board the tour bus again to go to another site. A point and shoot is very good for this purpose. Walking around with a DSLR, I have to take into consideration which are the best angles before taking a shot.  

So the next time you go on a tour, look around at the other tourists to see if my observations hold true.