A point to ponder and some history

Ive been coming here for 15 years. I started out in the Minolta forum, then went to the Konica Minolta forum.\ and the to the Sony Alpha forum.

This forum was a hot bed of activity with , at times a record 100 new threads in 24 hours. We even maxed out the post count in a single thread , which was/ is 150 post before the thread is locked.

I always felt it important to respond to peoples threads and post in an effort to keep the forum alive. even with so much activity in the past.

It saddens me to see a once thriving community go almost lights out. I think Ive always felt that way about any forum I participate in. I'm always interested in the people behind the cameras,  where they live and what is their world like. I find lots of topics within the photographic frame work to share photos and offer content about the shot, how it was captures etc.

My point is, it seems Ive been alone, for the most part in trying to keep these older forums alive. I know Minolta and Konica are no more but many of us have a lot of this gear, or have had history with the Minolta and Konica brand.

Like this Post, I'm just adding some content to this particular forum in the hope some might jump on board.

Not looking for arguments or a reality check. Most would blow by this post because it is too long. Ive always been an internet motor mouth.

Bill

EvilOne wrote:

Ive been coming here for 15 years. I started out in the Minolta forum, then went to the Konica Minolta forum.\ and the to the Sony Alpha forum.

This forum was a hot bed of activity with , at times a record 100 new threads in 24 hours. We even maxed out the post count in a single thread , which was/ is 150 post before the thread is locked.

I always felt it important to respond to peoples threads and post in an effort to keep the forum alive. even with so much activity in the past.

It saddens me to see a once thriving community go almost lights out. I think Ive always felt that way about any forum I participate in. I'm always interested in the people behind the cameras, where they live and what is their world like. I find lots of topics within the photographic frame work to share photos and offer content about the shot, how it was captures etc.

My point is, it seems Ive been alone, for the most part in trying to keep these older forums alive. I know Minolta and Konica are no more but many of us have a lot of this gear, or have had history with the Minolta and Konica brand.

Like this Post, I'm just adding some content to this particular forum in the hope some might jump on board.

Not looking for arguments or a reality check. Most would blow by this post because it is too long. Ive always been an internet motor mouth.

Bill

No arguments from me.  I look in to the KM forum from time to time and get notifications when new content appears.

it is a shame to see a forum die but it’s a reflection of the changing world. Twenty years ago I was a very active member of a hand tools woodworking forum. It closed for good about 15 years ago. I still exchange comment and discussion with a number of people from that forum on some of the fora that have grown to fill the space. The world turns and things evolve. I take comfort in the fact that like minded, or at least people with similar interests, will find places to communicate. Like you I’m mainly to be found in the Sony forums nowadays.

I have a family of Minolta, Konica Minolta and Sony cameras. The Minoltas get a few shutter actuations every now and then to keep then moving and the KM 7D actually shoots a few frames when I get the urge but my main camera is now an 7Riii.

Paul Barnard wrote:

EvilOne wrote:

Ive been coming here for 15 years. I started out in the Minolta forum, then went to the Konica Minolta forum.\ and the to the Sony Alpha forum.

This forum was a hot bed of activity with , at times a record 100 new threads in 24 hours. We even maxed out the post count in a single thread , which was/ is 150 post before the thread is locked.

I always felt it important to respond to peoples threads and post in an effort to keep the forum alive. even with so much activity in the past.

It saddens me to see a once thriving community go almost lights out. I think Ive always felt that way about any forum I participate in. I'm always interested in the people behind the cameras, where they live and what is their world like. I find lots of topics within the photographic frame work to share photos and offer content about the shot, how it was captures etc.

My point is, it seems Ive been alone, for the most part in trying to keep these older forums alive. I know Minolta and Konica are no more but many of us have a lot of this gear, or have had history with the Minolta and Konica brand.

Like this Post, I'm just adding some content to this particular forum in the hope some might jump on board.

Not looking for arguments or a reality check. Most would blow by this post because it is too long. Ive always been an internet motor mouth.

Bill

No arguments from me. I look in to the KM forum from time to time and get notifications when new content appears.

it is a shame to see a forum die but it’s a reflection of the changing world. Twenty years ago I was a very active member of a hand tools woodworking forum. It closed for good about 15 years ago. I still exchange comment and discussion with a number of people from that forum on some of the fora that have grown to fill the space. The world turns and things evolve. I take comfort in the fact that like minded, or at least people with similar interests, will find places to communicate. Like you I’m mainly to be found in the Sony forums nowadays.

I have a family of Minolta, Konica Minolta and Sony cameras. The Minoltas get a few shutter actuations every now and then to keep then moving and the KM 7D actually shoots a few frames when I get the urge but my main camera is now an 7Riii.

Thank you,

I too use my KM 7D on occasion and find its output to still be breathtaking. I understand evolution, but for me,, I would do anything to go back for a day to the 50's and be at a picnic with family  where everyone brought their personal food specialty.  Laugh, and play and not worry about tomorrow or having to be somewhere. think about social distancing or masks. Having politicians  hide their lies where as today they boldly lie to our face without the shame that lying should brings. Its really hard to find true Happy in todays world. Not the real happy we had in the 50's. everything today seems fake by comparison. Alternate truths? What is that?  This post is not about politics.. Its just a reflection on where we are today as oppose to the Good Old Days.

Ive learned in my senior years that the secret of life is " to be Happy "... problem is, its getting harder and harder to find "happy" in a world full of lies and death. Covid-19 over 500,000 deaths in less than a year.

Photography use to be a means to get to Happy. This forum is just reminiscent of those Happy Days.

Again just some comment

Bill

Hike Pics wrote:

It is a little sad to see nearly empty forums, when you think about how they were once very active. So many users have changed gear, lost interest or said their smart phone is good enough. They say history repeats itself so maybe in the near future there will be new younger users who suddenly take a big interest in our old classic cameras.

I am mostly active at the Kodak Talk forum. Not many there either. But it is still fun to post a few photos now and then. I am a "certified" Kodak EasyShare collector with about 100 models and many accessories. I enjoy shooting and reading about them in the old posts. I now have 5 KM/M cameras and enjoy shooting and reading about them as well. I am fairly new here (2 years) but we need to hang around and keep it alive. Besides, someone's got to help the users with questions.......just like the ones I have sometimes!

Nothing wrong with collecting.. its part of the photography hobby for some. The killer for forums like this is social media. I am Not on Facebook or twitter.. Ive already seen the damage Twitter has done to the country. Not just twitter but all forums of social media. I dont want people to know where I am and what IM doing in real time. I dont mind sharing some things with a few people in a forum like atmosphere.

I dont want 200 face book followers or 2,000 or two million.. Other seems to brag about all their followers. When I put my pants on in the morning I dont want 200 people getting in them with me.

This is a gear driven forum for sure but its also a platform for people with a singular focus, that being Photography. WE still have gear and we can still talk about it.  I'm not looking to take this forum back to the fifties.. I miss those day I just dont want to turn my back on it completely

Thanks for you comments

Bill

No one on this forum seems to have an extra dollar to throw into the guitar case. Yes I know its passive aggressive.

Bill

Thanks Michael,

This forum is a platform Ive used for 15 years.. I dont do much video. Ill continue to try to keep the lights on here with  the tools in my tool box, until DPreview decides to throw me and them in the Dumpster.

Bill

I dont even know what a Tic Toc coach is. LOL

Bill

EvilOne wrote:

I dont even know what a Tic Toc coach is. LOL

Bill

I guess it is something like this

Joseph, I too am scheduled for Cataract surgery in 3 weeks.. I just got my first Covid shot. I'm still hoping to return to my photography.  My health is poor but won't give up hope. I'm 8 years past my exploration date

Thanks for posting a comment here

Bill

EvilOne wrote:

Paul Barnard wrote:

EvilOne wrote:

Ive been coming here for 15 years. I started out in the Minolta forum, then went to the Konica Minolta forum.\ and the to the Sony Alpha forum.

This forum was a hot bed of activity with , at times a record 100 new threads in 24 hours. We even maxed out the post count in a single thread , which was/ is 150 post before the thread is locked.

I always felt it important to respond to peoples threads and post in an effort to keep the forum alive. even with so much activity in the past.

It saddens me to see a once thriving community go almost lights out. I think Ive always felt that way about any forum I participate in. I'm always interested in the people behind the cameras, where they live and what is their world like. I find lots of topics within the photographic frame work to share photos and offer content about the shot, how it was captures etc.

My point is, it seems Ive been alone, for the most part in trying to keep these older forums alive. I know Minolta and Konica are no more but many of us have a lot of this gear, or have had history with the Minolta and Konica brand.

Like this Post, I'm just adding some content to this particular forum in the hope some might jump on board.

Not looking for arguments or a reality check. Most would blow by this post because it is too long. Ive always been an internet motor mouth.

Bill

No arguments from me. I look in to the KM forum from time to time and get notifications when new content appears.

it is a shame to see a forum die but it’s a reflection of the changing world. Twenty years ago I was a very active member of a hand tools woodworking forum. It closed for good about 15 years ago. I still exchange comment and discussion with a number of people from that forum on some of the fora that have grown to fill the space. The world turns and things evolve. I take comfort in the fact that like minded, or at least people with similar interests, will find places to communicate. Like you I’m mainly to be found in the Sony forums nowadays.

I have a family of Minolta, Konica Minolta and Sony cameras. The Minoltas get a few shutter actuations every now and then to keep then moving and the KM 7D actually shoots a few frames when I get the urge but my main camera is now an 7Riii.

Thank you,

I too use my KM 7D on occasion and find its output to still be breathtaking. I understand evolution, but for me,, I would do anything to go back for a day to the 50's and be at a picnic with family where everyone brought their personal food specialty. Laugh, and play and not worry about tomorrow or having to be somewhere. think about social distancing or masks. Having politicians hide their lies where as today they boldly lie to our face without the shame that lying should brings. Its really hard to find true Happy in todays world. Not the real happy we had in the 50's. everything today seems fake by comparison. Alternate truths? What is that? This post is not about politics.. Its just a reflection on where we are today as oppose to the Good Old Days.

Ive learned in my senior years that the secret of life is " to be Happy "... problem is, its getting harder and harder to find "happy" in a world full of lies and death. Covid-19 over 500,000 deaths in less than a year.

Photography use to be a means to get to Happy. This forum is just reminiscent of those Happy Days.

Hey Bill! They were happy days indeed! What's it been, 10 yrs since we spoke? I pretty much avoid the forums anymore. They've gotten so toxic! We had a great, friendly supportive group here back in the day.

I know you had some health issues even back then so it's  made my day knowing you're still kicking and keeping this forum alive. I've moved on to Sony, but I've gotta admit, I just sold a "beercan" on Craigs list just Friday. I've retired and moved up to near Sacramento and living within 10 miles of a wildlife refuge, so I keep my old bones sort of loose, walking the trails there 3 to 4 times a week. Both my kids and their families live within 5 miles. The world right now is a sh!t show, so I've decided to turn off the news and keep my kids, grand kids and cameras close and enjoy the time I have left. It's not our responsibility any more.

BTW, do you ever hear from Darwin?

Again just some comment

Bill

*" JIM "*

So happy to see you.  Time sure does go by quickly. The good news is we have a wealth of good memories.. FYI, I still watch ( On occasion ) " Forbidden Planet ". I have it right here. And of course I always think of you when I view it.

I am a tough old Bird, I am still very sick but surviving...I haven't been in the woods in a very long time. I miss those days very much. Getting old sucks, but I do have the memories. Thousands of them. I come here on occasion to try to contribute some content, and the hope to see a few old friends.. No, I have not see Darwin in many years.. Again the name conjures up many fond memories.

So good to see you, here.

Bill

You hang in there Bill. You may be sick, but your positive attitude hasn't changed, and that's a good thing. I just clicked on the Minolta forum as a lark and when I saw you posting, I just had to give you a shout out for old times.

Take care.

Jim,

Thanks for making my day

Bill

I think if Darwin is alive, he might stop by since photography was such a large part of his life. This forum represents the path of conversation for many years of my photography. I'm a Minolta guy and even a Sony guy since Sony took some of the DNA from Minolta when it got into the DSLR business. Photography will change and evolve for sure but for me, this is where I put a large part of my photographic capital. Ill try to keep this place alive as long as I can. Only for the sake of the many who have made this forum what it was even if they have moved on. It feels to come home, even if its just for a short visit.

Bill

Thanks for your comments and your experiences. I'm sure others have followed your path. Trying to establish a need for a forum where former Minolta shooters can come might be a good thing to champion. Not sure if DP review has any rules against this.. I was a former Moderator here and cant remember anything that would relate to this issue.

Former Minolta shooters should be able to come and chat up their experiences , especially for people seeking advice or experience.

Bill

I've got my radar out on a few film models. Thought about going after a dimage A2 more times than I could count, but realistically im pretty spoiled by my last two digital cameras. I do have a 45mm f/2 Minolta that I use at times on my Fuji X-h1. Nice portraits despite the odd focal on crop.