Sony to shut down Backstage 101

[WaltKnapp]

A notice in the Backstage 101 forums, Backstage 101, forums and all will end, last day March 31.

For those that don't know, Backstage 101 is sony's own forums. Supposed to be designed for Sony customers to interact with Sony, give suggestions, pick up news, have photography lessons from sony's captive pros and so on.

Naturally it's been one of the focus points for suggestions to sony and to point out flaws, missing features and so on in Sony's DSLRs, a couple of the forums are even specific to DSLRs. They have gotten praise of the good things, chewed out over the bad things (including a failure to make it two way communication) Most recently their tack has been to send in their captive pros to belittle any complaints. Which did not get a good reception.

The announcement today said they would be setting up a new, improved system outside of Sony to carry on, though it seems more like just to carry on the lessons and such. We will see, but the current avenue that sony claimed to be for communication is closing.

I guess Sony could not stand the heat and got out of the kitchen. Anyone that was using their galleries for photo storage better grab them back out if they need to or they will be gone.

Walt

 

[cgarrard]

Whoops.
--
http://www.AlphaMountWorld.com

 

[KE_DP]

I hope they find a way to at least keep the tutorials/info bit up...I never visited there much - but those parts looked useful.

--

• Karen

http://www.karenengelphotography.com

 

[Glenn]

They hinted about this a couple weeks ago and ow they anounced it. I stopped going there they deleted some of my posts and I wasn't even rude
--
http://www.fotosource.com/downloads/flyer/eye_cancer_en_CA.pdf

 

[WaltKnapp]

I hope they find a way to at least keep the tutorials/info bit up...I never visited there much - but those parts looked useful.

They were asked, all on the Sony server where it's located goes. (Note that the separate Sonystyle blogs will remain) It's possible some may be transferred, but it's to a third party public server and they only seem to have got the idea today when others there asked. So don't know yet if they can do it.

It was all a lot easier when the web was html instead of custom scripts everywhere.

Walt

 

[Alec]

A notice in the Backstage 101 forums, Backstage 101, forums and all will end, last day March 31.

For those that don't know, Backstage 101 is sony's own forums. Supposed to be designed for Sony customers to interact with Sony, give suggestions, pick up news, have photography lessons from sony's captive pros and so on.

Naturally it's been one of the focus points for suggestions to sony and to point out flaws, missing features and so on in Sony's DSLRs, a couple of the forums are even specific to DSLRs. They have gotten praise of the good things, chewed out over the bad things (including a failure to make it two way communication) Most recently their tack has been to send in their captive pros to belittle any complaints. Which did not get a good reception.

The announcement today said they would be setting up a new, improved system outside of Sony to carry on, though it seems more like just to carry on the lessons and such. We will see, but the current avenue that sony claimed to be for communication is closing.

I guess Sony could not stand the heat and got out of the kitchen. Anyone that was using their galleries for photo storage better grab them back out if they need to or they will be gone.

Walt

Sorry to hear it. Pretty bad move on SONY's part. If they had something better set up, they would have don to make it available and ramp it up, and then make any announcement about discontinuing Backstage 101.

By the way, if SONY created a community where tiers of membership were merit-based (say on the strength of one's portfolio, experience with the system and registered equipment (that SONY can validate), it could be a step forward, but I am yet to be convinced that any new forum they have is it.

Alex

 

[WaltKnapp]

A notice in the Backstage 101 forums, Backstage 101, forums and all will end, last day March 31.

For those that don't know, Backstage 101 is sony's own forums. Supposed to be designed for Sony customers to interact with Sony, give suggestions, pick up news, have photography lessons from sony's captive pros and so on.

Naturally it's been one of the focus points for suggestions to sony and to point out flaws, missing features and so on in Sony's DSLRs, a couple of the forums are even specific to DSLRs. They have gotten praise of the good things, chewed out over the bad things (including a failure to make it two way communication) Most recently their tack has been to send in their captive pros to belittle any complaints. Which did not get a good reception.

The announcement today said they would be setting up a new, improved system outside of Sony to carry on, though it seems more like just to carry on the lessons and such. We will see, but the current avenue that sony claimed to be for communication is closing.

I guess Sony could not stand the heat and got out of the kitchen. Anyone that was using their galleries for photo storage better grab them back out if they need to or they will be gone.

Walt

Sorry to hear it. Pretty bad move on SONY's part. If they had something better set up, they would have don to make it available and ramp it up, and then make any announcement about discontinuing Backstage 101.

I forgot one other thing, the new forums, or whatever they are, are according to the announcement only in the early stages of discussion. But they hope to have them set up this year.

Sound familiar? Like the PMA "concept cameras"?

Yes I think sony did this all wrong. They have changed their forums before, but not like this, there were not breaks. The idea of changing does not bother me if it's an improvement.

I hate to see it go too, it's been kind of an oasis where at least people were civil, no name calling or such. You could post a criticism without being piled on by a whole bunch of people who were not at all interested in whatever it was but simply attacking you or criticising criticism itself.

By the way, if SONY created a community where tiers of membership were merit-based (say on the strength of one's portfolio, experience with the system and registered equipment (that SONY can validate), it could be a step forward, but I am yet to be convinced that any new forum they have is it.

Such a system sounds like a bunch of pros trying to set up their own system. I don't see many else fitting into it or even being interested. I've never bothered to maintain a portfolio, which is more business advertisement than photography. And a list of equipment is subject to both a photographer's interests and their pocketbook. Suggestions of special pro only setups were common from pros that posted in Backstage 101, usually folks after special treatment from sony, like first in line for repairs or such.

Note there is Pro Digital Talk right here in DPReview, though you don't have to be approved to join.

Walt

 

[BoDrey]

Not listening to customer feedback, not communicating to customers... reminds me of another huge brand from Japan called Toyota. Maybe it is a cultural thing with the Japanese - not losing face.
--
Bo

 

[Lyle From Canada]

Yes, unlike the those american customer service kings Chrystler and GM.

Not listening to customer feedback, not communicating to customers... reminds me of another huge brand from Japan called Toyota. Maybe it is a cultural thing with the Japanese - not losing face.
--
Bo

--

Sony A300 - Tamron 17-50/2.8 - Tamron 70-200/2.8 - Sony 50/1.8 - Kenko telepro 300 1.4 TC - extension tubes

 

[tom55604]

Its amazing how a simple announcement that Sony is discontinuing (at least temporarily) a service they offered turns into a bash the complainers frenzy. I still have a hard time understanding why people who disagree have to start in with the personal insults:

"With what goes on here, I can only imagine what a zoo that place must have been! The majority of the self-described 'expert' posters here are just a bunch of pooh-flinging monkeys. I don't blame Sony at all for shutting it down. "

(of course the key point is "imagine, not know")

and

"...wanna be camera designers, wanna be pros and guys who spend money chasing better images when in reality they suck at photography. If those forums are anything like these I dont blame them at all. Whiny freaking babies every day. "

Its also amazing that I don't see the "complainers" resorting to such crude comments. Fine, you love your cameras; fine, you don't want Sony to make an advanced APS-C camera (not sure why, but that's ok too); fine, if you don't like what the company does you just change systems. If you are so happy with your cameras, great. I'm happy with mine also, but I'd like to know I can replace it when necessary. But why the hostility?

Tom

 

[antilles72]

Well put Tom. Arguing the decisions or lack thereof of manufactures is one thing, throwing in name calling and personal insults is another.

 

[tom55604]

Not listening to customer feedback, not communicating to customers... reminds me of another huge brand from Japan called Toyota. Maybe it is a cultural thing with the Japanese - not losing face.
--
Bo

Sorry, this is one place I agree with Lyle-- I used to buy GM cars for my family. It took me 5 cars to get fed up with them. All 5 had alternator failures (some more than once), one of which had the brakes replaced 4 times (2 after I lost braking on the interstate due to shoe that wouldn't release fully) and a different car that my son had an accident in when his brakes failed for the same reason. Never a recall (It seems that losing brakes at 65mph isn't a safety issue), although there was a class action suit that GM settled which, after the lawyers got theirs, covered 20% of the brake repairs.

Tom

 

[cgarrard]

Hard to say what it is.

Complaining/whining about complainers/whiners, upset things won't change. Maybe we all have more in common than some are willing to admit?

too much fun for a wednesday night

C
--
http://www.AlphaMountWorld.com

 

[zepzr]

Its amazing how a simple announcement that Sony is discontinuing (at least temporarily) a service they offered turns into a bash the complainers frenzy.

it was not a simple announcement. it was several paragraphs and had the same underline whining tone about sony, doom & gloom, as rest of his posts.

 

[antilles72]

Must be becasue my wife is watching American Idol and the crappy singing is getting to me.

Hard to say what it is.

Complaining/whining about complainers/whiners, upset things won't change. Maybe we all have more in common than some are willing to admit?

too much fun for a wednesday night

C
--
http://www.AlphaMountWorld.com

 

[cgarrard]

LOL, they suck this year don't they? Oops did I say that, that must be a typo.

I was talking about the others by the way, you can't be whining if you are bringing humor in the mix- I say .

Have fun listening to the rest of the show!

Carl
--
http://www.AlphaMountWorld.com

 

[Gil Knutson]

Sorry, this is one place I agree with Lyle-- I used to buy GM cars for my family. It took me 5 cars to get fed up with them. All 5 had alternator failures (some more than once), ...

I learned that lesson back in 1974... I have been a Rice Burner User ever since.



--
Gil
Sardis, BC
Canada

 

[tom55604]

Sorry, this is one place I agree with Lyle-- I used to buy GM cars for my family. It took me 5 cars to get fed up with them. All 5 had alternator failures (some more than once), ...

I learned that lesson back in 1974... I have been a Rice Burner User ever since.



--
Gil
Sardis, BC
Canada

I'm a slow learner.. buy american... you know how it is.

 

[Alec]

By the way, if SONY created a community where tiers of membership were merit-based (say on the strength of one's portfolio, experience with the system and registered equipment (that SONY can validate), it could be a step forward, but I am yet to be convinced that any new forum they have is it.

Such a system sounds like a bunch of pros trying to set up their own system. I don't see many else fitting into it or even being interested. I've never bothered to maintain a portfolio, which is more business advertisement than photography. And a list of equipment is subject to both a photographer's interests and their pocketbook. Suggestions of special pro only setups were common from pros that posted in Backstage 101, usually folks after special treatment from sony, like first in line for repairs or such.

Note there is Pro Digital Talk right here in DPReview, though you don't have to be approved to join.

Right. I've posted there occasionally and I am a pro, but that's not the point. I see what you are saying - pros could be snobbish sometimes.

On the other hand, I've seen many a heated discussion on this and similar forums over issues that have no appreciable bearing on practical image-making, fueled by folks going on and on grandstanding and pontificating. Then there are uninformed opinions stated with great aplomb. I'd just as well not see either of these. I think they could be effectively weeded out by identifying if some "tier2" photo equipment forum participants are in fact capable of taking pictures and care about them enough to assemble a rudimentary portfolio. Because if they do not care about their pictures, who else would - and what's the point discussing photography then? I'm not even sure it's necessary to check that they have any decent photo equipment at all. Maybe some minimal requirements. I've nothing against "tier1" forum for newbies who do not meet these requirements but wouldn't promise I'd frequent it.

-- Alex Karasev
principal photographer
karasevstudio.com

 

[sodablue]

Its also amazing that I don't see the "complainers" resorting to such crude comments.

Well that's certainly not true. Nobody around here seems to be able to disagree without being disagreeable.

I'm actually really surprised the resident trolls/complainers haven't been banned. In most online forums people who cause so many flamewars are generally unwanted as it's disruptive and unhelpful.

either dpreview appreciates the traffic, or they just aren't paying attention.