I think.....

I agree with you from the bottom of my heart!

Sometimes, I click the link of some poster's signature, most of the time I find a pictures gallery. But sometimes, it's just a blog of pure technical pixel-peeping about some camera with no picture excepted a beautiful photography of a tape mesure which shows of well his hundred dollars camera focuses....Not a single picture... I say, poor guy.

Cheers,

Stéphane
--

L'expérience est une lampe accrochée dans le dos, elle n'éclaire que le chemin parcouru. Lao Tseu

http://yinetyang.deviantart.com/

Sony cybershot P8--> Sony cybershot DSC-H2 --> Olympus E510+ 14-42mm+ OM 50mm 1.8

...this thread seems no different from any other thread where people join in either with a confirmation or a rebuttal. As far as I've seen there are plenty of folks here who not only enjoy talking about their gear but also enjoy taking pictures and discussing them, nothing wrong with doing both or are they mutually exclusive?

There are all kinds of threads in this forum, picture threads, technique threads, gear threads etc. etc. and everyone has a choice of participating in what interests them, there's no pressure. There are many challenge and picture threads posted on a regular basis that many participate in and many who choose not to. Personally, I don't see this forum acting as a showcase of photography, its a place where people come to discuss a wide variety of topics and one always has the choice of excusing themselves from a discussion that doesn't interest them.

Lastly, there's no basis to the argument that people aren't serious enough or interested enough in learning if they don't respond to a thread with pictures or techniques, maybe they just didn't find that information useful enough?? I, for one, have always commented in threads that interest me and stayed away from the ones that don't, it's really very easy

Here are some of my own threads:

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1022&message=32297902
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1022&message=31905397
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1022&message=31779024
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1022&message=31738928
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1022&message=31666850

In my humble opinion not only do these threads share pictures, but also lead to discussions of experiences, benefits and shortcomings of equipment that was used while taking pictures. In my experience most folks here do the same.
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Raj Sarma
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bob naegele
san diego, ca
http://www.rjndesign.com/

It was a good thing, it's just the way it is.

I'd prefer more image threads including discussion on the gear, techniques used and even PP. You can't compare without taking everything into consideration.

Then again, I start the largest Image related thread on the forum every week.

I wish more people participated in the Sunday/ Weeklies. Not just because I host one but because they are creating the best collection of what can be accomplished with the gear we use.

You can find any body/lens/ accessory combo made and often the photographers have put a great deal into their craft. They push the gear and and it responds no matter who posted that it couldn't.

Combined, they are quite the impressive collection and the best answer to anyone that wants to post that Oly sucks.

--
JimB
Bug Whisperer

Member of the Colorado Olympus Group

[email protected]

JiminDenver said:

It was a good thing, it's just the way it is.

I'd prefer more image threads including discussion on the gear, techniques used and even PP. You can't compare without taking everything into consideration.

Click to expand...

I totally agree. My issue with the 'gear threads' is that they dont' consider any of those other factors.

JiminDenver said:

Then again, I start the largest Image related thread on the forum every week.

I wish more people participated in the Sunday/ Weeklies. Not just because I host one but because they are creating the best collection of what can be accomplished with the gear we use.

Click to expand...

My issue with the Sunday/Weeklies is that they are too narrowly focused. You usually don't hit my interest for that week. So I have never posted there.

JiminDenver said:

You can find any body/lens/ accessory combo made and often the photographers have put a great deal into their craft. They push the gear and and it responds no matter who posted that it couldn't.

Click to expand...

And isn't that awesome? I love to see what real users produce when they learn how to push their gear beyond what the reviewers think it's capable of.

JiminDenver said:

Combined, they are quite the impressive collection and the best answer to anyone that wants to post that Oly sucks.

Click to expand...

Can you say that again? Maybe a little louder?
--
Theresa K

E-3, E-300, 8mm fisheye, 14-54, 35-100, 50-200 and 50mm lenses, FL-50, FL-36R, HLD-4
http://theresak.smugmug.com/

--
Bob

"The best defense is a good offense."

I like that...
---
Regards... Ken

but you have been here for a year, I have been here for five. Who do you think has a better handle on the overall trend?
--
Theresa K

E-3, E-300, 8mm fisheye, 14-54, 35-100, 50-200 and 50mm lenses, FL-50, FL-36R, HLD-4
http://theresak.smugmug.com/

Yin Yang said:

I agree with you from the bottom of my heart!

Sometimes, I click the link of some poster's signature, most of the time I find a pictures gallery. But sometimes, it's just a blog of pure technical pixel-peeping about some camera with no picture excepted a beautiful photography of a tape mesure which shows of well his hundred dollars camera focuses....Not a single picture... I say, poor guy.

Click to expand...

Thanks! I would say the same.
--
Theresa K

E-3, E-300, 8mm fisheye, 14-54, 35-100, 50-200 and 50mm lenses, FL-50, FL-36R, HLD-4
http://theresak.smugmug.com/

--
Theresa K

E-3, E-300, 8mm fisheye, 14-54, 35-100, 50-200 and 50mm lenses, FL-50, FL-36R, HLD-4
http://theresak.smugmug.com/

krh_57 said:

"The best defense is a good offense."

I like that...

Click to expand...

Only wish I could take credit for the idea!
--
Theresa K

E-3, E-300, 8mm fisheye, 14-54, 35-100, 50-200 and 50mm lenses, FL-50, FL-36R, HLD-4
http://theresak.smugmug.com/

Theresa K said:

but you have been here for a year, I have been here for five. Who do you think has a better handle on the overall trend?

Click to expand...

No disrespect taken...but I don't see the point. Are you saying this forum isn't what it used to be 5 years ago?? 5 years ago there weren't as many cameras or lenses or options to discuss and talk about. Digital photography has come a long way in 5 years, it's only understandable that the variety of topics discussed will only be more diverse.

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Raj Sarma
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rssarma
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I've been around this Forum for, now, seven years and what I've seen in the past couple of years has been a dramatic increase in the troll volume and in threads in which the usual suspects jump in, the Olympus fans too readily jump in to defend against the trolls. I used to be guilty of this but have recently stopped.

To answer the question, yes, the Forum has changed. A lot of very talented folks no longer post here apparently due to the 150 reply threads that get no one anywhere and clog the Forum. That is a shame.
I think that, overall, you and Theresa are in agreement.

Bill Turner

rssarma said:

Theresa K said:

but you have been here for a year, I have been here for five. Who do you think has a better handle on the overall trend?

Click to expand...

No disrespect taken...but I don't see the point. Are you saying this forum isn't what it used to be 5 years ago?? 5 years ago there weren't as many cameras or lenses or options to discuss and talk about. Digital photography has come a long way in 5 years, it's only understandable that the variety of topics discussed will only be more diverse.

Click to expand...

Yeah. Five years ago the focus was on photography, the art, not the equipment. How to make the most out of the equipment rather than focusing on it's faults.

Now I see a boatload of arguing. Totally different climate.
--
Theresa K

E-3, E-300, 8mm fisheye, 14-54, 35-100, 50-200 and 50mm lenses, FL-50, FL-36R, HLD-4
http://theresak.smugmug.com/

For example, see the recent post "Why do newspaper photographers use FF cameras?" I even had to say something...it's kind of humorous...but so many people spend so much time with this. Drop in with a comment like this, and watch the thread balloon towards 150 replies. Do they have time to take photos?

Digirame said:

For example, see the recent post "Why do newspaper photographers use FF cameras?" I even had to say something...it's kind of humorous...but so many people spend so much time with this. Drop in with a comment like this, and watch the thread balloon towards 150 replies. Do they have time to take photos?

Click to expand...

i had some input on that thread because i have a friend who is a newspaper journalist so i figured i might have something relevant to say, and yes i have time to take photos, and unfortunately i also have time to do the laundry which I'm about to hang out to dry
--
http://illy.smugmug.com

Theresa K said:

people on this forum spend WAY too much time talking about equipment and WAY too little time enjoying what they have!

Click to expand...

Excuse me, but I don't need anyone to tell me where and when I have to talk about equipment and where and when I'll enjoy what I have, especially, as others already told you, as this is a gear forum by design and definition, so it is perfectly alright for people to talk about gear as much as they like. If you don't, then skip those threads and read those with pics (which I'm not saying anything against either), but don't offend those who do. Regarding "enjoying what they have", I actually have a life outside the 'net, and that's where I primarily enjoy what I have in terms of photography, thank you very much, and I don't think anyone is obliged to publicly present his works here.

Cheers,
Robert

No disrespect may be intended, but as a relative newling, posts like this do make me feel bad. It may be imagined but it always feels like people are pointing a finger and saying "things were better before you came along."

Ah well, I'm sorry, but this is one kid who isn't going to get off your lawn. I take my pictures, I ask my questions and I post my observations, whether they be technical or artistic. I'm here to learn, discuss and share. I'll take the meta threads like this one as they come and file them under administrative overhead
--
Mithandir,
Eternal Amateur
http://www.wizardtrails.com/

Theresa K said:

rssarma said:

Theresa K said:

but you have been here for a year, I have been here for five. Who do you think has a better handle on the overall trend?

Click to expand...

No disrespect taken...but I don't see the point. Are you saying this forum isn't what it used to be 5 years ago?? 5 years ago there weren't as many cameras or lenses or options to discuss and talk about. Digital photography has come a long way in 5 years, it's only understandable that the variety of topics discussed will only be more diverse.

Click to expand...

Yeah. Five years ago the focus was on photography, the art, not the equipment. How to make the most out of the equipment rather than focusing on it's faults.

Now I see a boatload of arguing. Totally different climate.

Click to expand...

That does happen, also in my experience some people take things a little too personally or seriously, however that is something that has more to do with attitude in general.

I can see how things must have been different a few years back where more threads were about techniques, photography etc., however with all this new gear, I think this was an imminent change. On the bright side, there are still plenty of threads where images and techniques do get shared, probably just not as much as before.

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Raj Sarma
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Bootstrap said:

To answer the question, yes, the Forum has changed. A lot of very talented folks no longer post here apparently due to the 150 reply threads that get no one anywhere and clog the Forum. That is a shame.
I think that, overall, you and Theresa are in agreement.

Click to expand...

Except with this statement:

Bootstrap said:

Theresa K wrote:

people on this forum spend WAY too much time talking about equipment and WAY too little time enjoying what they have!

Click to expand...

Speaking about gear doesn't automatically imply you don't enjoy what you have or enjoy photography. That's just a blanket statement.

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Raj Sarma
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