Canon SLR Lens Talk ?

[@Dan.com]

--

My family is really boring. They have a coffee table book called 'Pictures We Took Just to Use Up the Rest of the Film.'
--Penelope Lombard

 

[John Harrison82293]

2. A separate forum for "focus issues."

Nill
~~
http://www.toulme.net

Everyone seems to agree that we need to split this forum, however I
don't like the idea of getting into the game of creating specific
forums for specific camera models, this may seem like a good idea
now but as soon as the next model arrives we'll want yet another
model and it just wouldn't work...

Analyzing the messages here there are a large number of questions
about lenses including 'which lens', 'samples of this lens', 'I
just got x lens', 'some x lens samples', 'my x lens doesn't focus'
etc.

Tell us what you think about a 'Canon SLR Lens Talk' forum or if
you have any better suggestions. (PS. We are already considering
active moderation, FAQ's etc.)

--
Phil Askey
Editor / Owner, dpreview.com

 

[MarkBenavides]

Ok, just kidding!

Seriously, I love the idea of....
-Moderated forum
-ability of edit/delete own posts

-a TIME OUT room for those who'se only contribution is name-calling or any behavior unacceptable in a sandbox. I'm sure if some of our PARENTS saw what was written, ears would be boxed or backsides warmed!

Thanks for your efforts. I've learned (and spent) LOTS because of this forum.

Regards,
Mark

 

[Dominic Groß]

Tell us what you think about a 'Canon SLR Lens Talk' forum or if
you have any better suggestions. (PS. We are already considering
active moderation, FAQ's etc.)

Not directly about "Canon SLR Lens Talk" but what about something like a "Third Party Lens Talk" since they work on all mounts Canon as well as Nikon, Sigma or whatever users can comment on them there. Another way would be one "Lens Talk" for all Lens related topics.

Active moderation would only stirr up more trouble imho. But FAQs for every Forum (that certain regular, skilled posters could write) would be really helpfull. To make it really obvious that there is an FAQ they could show up like sticky topics in other Forums.

Dominic

--
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---------
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please don't run away because of the cheap design of the first page
ICQ UIN: 289647506

 

[Ted B.47613]

for a 12 year old to become great, I don't want to read posts like that and don't want to have to wade through them to find the meaty posts I am interested in.

The current forums are partitioned off by camera make, and some by SLR/non-SLR. This is done for a reason. To limit traffic to a reasonable level. And to help ensure that such traffic is pertinent. There is just too much 'noise' in this forum these days. How many 10D focus threads are there? How many "I just ordered..."? How many "XYZ camera Rocks, Sux, or Rulz" type threads?

I used to look for threads with only 1 post, so I could help someone who was missed. But after having answered the same question more than a couple of times, I don't do it as often. Besides, the 10D posts push such 1 post threads off the chart so fast I never see them. You have to sit here all day, watching the action, to keep from missing the good stuff.

I have a 5 year old son and a 2 year old. Those are the only kids I plan on teaching about digital photography. I am interested in serious discussion about equipment, technique, etc. I am not interested in rumors, 10Ds, cats, dogs, urination contests, insults, hotheads, Macs, or "glamour" shots.

I'd really love a filter that would keep such posts off the screen.

Ted

Why do so many adults forget what it was like to be a child, when
everything was new and exciting and the proper word of
encouragement given at the right time could turn into a life
changing moment?

When the sub-$1000 DSLR comes out soon, every 12 year old on the
block with some paper-route money will be here asking how to turn
on the camera or remove the lens cap. Or how to shoot in black and
white. It will be a sad day when that happens. It would be just
as bad as combining the P&S forum with the SLR forum.

--
John

--

Hide not your talents, they for use were made. What's a sun-dial in the shade? Benjamin Franklin



http://svphoto.us My Website

 

[Alex-A]

I definately feel that a lens forum would work, I already tend to
use the Sigma SLR forum occasionally to discuss Sigma lenses as
they over there use them 24/7 and Rick and the gang don't seem to
mind - Sensible people can discuss 3rd party lenses WITHOUT stupid
infantile camera body wars!.

--
Please ignore the Typos, I'm the world's worst Typist

..Zero..to..Shot..Taken..in..16,000th..of..a..second----> EOS 1D

The No1 Dedicated 1D forum in the UK -------->

http://www.1dforum.co.uk/php/phpBB2/

and I'm also hoping that we don't get--"what lens should I buy for
my new 10D?", but that's sort of 'pie in the sky' thinking (and
also sort of 'elitist' as I went through similar for the D60 when I
moved here from the E10--but did find some 'FAQs' of a sort on here
that made those first lens purchases easier. I knew the range I
particularly wanted to cover, knew my pocketbook though).
Still--perhaps those that are trying to decide on their first
lenses will be encouraged to think about what they need and ask
questions to help them choose wisely.

Diane
--
Diane B
http://www.pbase.com/picnic/galleries
B/W lover, but color is seducing me

 

[wmcdowell]

a canon lens forum makes a lot of sense these days.

thanks for your time.

--
'the most important thing one is working on is not necessarily the
most important thing that one thinks one is working on.'
sort of budda

way

 

[LightArray]

I accidently posted this as a new link. I wanted to add it to this thread so I posted again to be in the discussion. Sorry for the dual post. This would be a time where having the ability to delete a post makes sense as suggested earlier :> )

I think it is time to make a directory tree instead of listing all of the forums in one long list. So at first glance the collapsed list will just display the different camera types, printers, etc. This will make it easier to break out groups in the future and possibly add lower layers if it ever makes sense without creating a list that is becoming too long to view.

So you can have for example

Canon ------ lens
SLR
non-SLR
photos
Nikon ------ lens
SLR
non-SLR
Photos
Olympus -- Lens
SLR
non-SLR
Photos
Printers
Samples and Galleries
Retouching

Obviously the collapsed list will just look like the following;

Canon...
Nikon...
Olympus...
Printers
Samples and Galleries
Retouching

Everyone seems to agree that we need to split this forum, however I
don't like the idea of getting into the game of creating specific
forums for specific camera models, this may seem like a good idea
now but as soon as the next model arrives we'll want yet another
model and it just wouldn't work...

Analyzing the messages here there are a large number of questions
about lenses including 'which lens', 'samples of this lens', 'I
just got x lens', 'some x lens samples', 'my x lens doesn't focus'
etc.

Tell us what you think about a 'Canon SLR Lens Talk' forum or if
you have any better suggestions. (PS. We are already considering
active moderation, FAQ's etc.)

--
Phil Askey
Editor / Owner, dpreview.com

--
Larry Young
http://www.pbase.com/lyoung

 

[Ted B.47613]

To have a selection of categories that would have to be checked to show what a post is about?

Camera Model (D30,D60,1D,10D,all)

Type of post (question, observation, test result, photo, problem, lens, flash, tripod, filters, etc.)

You must choose one selection from both lists to get a message to post.

Then allow filtering on at least the model. And filter out all subordinate posts as well.

Any time users wanted a flood of posts, they could turn off filtering. This would be as usefull as searching, if not more so.

Ted

Everyone seems to agree that we need to split this forum, however I
don't like the idea of getting into the game of creating specific
forums for specific camera models, this may seem like a good idea
now but as soon as the next model arrives we'll want yet another
model and it just wouldn't work...

Analyzing the messages here there are a large number of questions
about lenses including 'which lens', 'samples of this lens', 'I
just got x lens', 'some x lens samples', 'my x lens doesn't focus'
etc.

Tell us what you think about a 'Canon SLR Lens Talk' forum or if
you have any better suggestions. (PS. We are already considering
active moderation, FAQ's etc.)

--
Phil Askey
Editor / Owner, dpreview.com

--

Hide not your talents, they for use were made. What's a sun-dial in the shade? Benjamin Franklin



http://svphoto.us My Website

 

[Pekka Saarinen]

--
Phil Askey
Editor / Owner, dpreview.com

--
Pekka
http://photography-on-the.net

 

[Lee Rothman]

everything just get's way too homogenized otherwise. NOW all ya have to do is make a separate 1 Series forum from the "consumer/Prosumer" model s and you've got it licked. Others have done it and it makes for a heck of a lot better organization in the question and answer department.........

 

[billtoo]

existed. This must be easier said than done or you would have done it a long time ago I suspec. A forum for dealer feedback would also benefit your entire site (type of equipment or brand would be irelevant). Of course you'd have dealers hiring shills...

I'm against separating lenses into a separate forum at this time. I'd prefer to wait and see how the current "off-topic" crack down affects the volume first. It has slowed considerably already which I'm sure you have noticed.

billtoo

Everyone seems to agree that we need to split this forum, however I
don't like the idea of getting into the game of creating specific
forums for specific camera models, this may seem like a good idea
now but as soon as the next model arrives we'll want yet another
model and it just wouldn't work...

Analyzing the messages here there are a large number of questions
about lenses including 'which lens', 'samples of this lens', 'I
just got x lens', 'some x lens samples', 'my x lens doesn't focus'
etc.

Tell us what you think about a 'Canon SLR Lens Talk' forum or if
you have any better suggestions. (PS. We are already considering
active moderation, FAQ's etc.)

--
Phil Askey
Editor / Owner, dpreview.com

--
billtoo
http://www.pbase.com/billtoo

 

[Stan Disbrow]

Hi,

I understand that the forums take a lot of resource and bring little in the way of direct income for your site. The best we can say is that they keep folks returning to the site on a daily basis, where they might well see something else. Said something else that does bring in direct income to the site.

Given that, the 'thank you' takes on even more meaning.

One area of Canon SLR interest for me would be discussions about lenses. Being new to the Canon line-up, lens discussions become quite important. I'd like to skip the buy-everything-try-it-all-and-dump-the-dogs method I used for the Nikon system lenses 20+ years ago.

It was difficult to skim the pages in Canon SLR Talk for lens threads, given the number of pages that are generated each day.

Thanks again!

Stan
--

Once you start down the DSLR path, forever will it dominate your destiny! Consume your bank account, it will! Like it did mine!

More info and list of gear is in my Posters' Profile.

 

[Stan Disbrow]

Hi again,

This could apply to the Nikon SLR Talk as well as the Canon. They both suffer from a similar issue. It becomes difficult for someone that is only interested in the Pro bodies to find threads on just those bodies.

For example, I'm interested in just the 1D and 1Ds in the Canon lineup, and the D1/H/X in the Nikon one. I can't help folks much with the D30/60/10D or D100, since I don't have one and probably never will - nor any of their follow-ons.

You could split up the discussions about the Professional series bodies (1D, 1Ds) and the Prosumer series ones (D30/D60/10D). This way, the discussions are not linked to any specific model, but the posting traffic becomes reasonable again - such that one would have to look at only a few pages for an entire days' worth of posts.

This would be similar to the way it was three years ago. You had no specific brand SLR forums. Just one catch-all forum for each brand name. The DSLRs were all discussed in the Pro Digital Talk forum - Kodaks, Nikons and Canons. Well, it was until there were enough DSLR models and sales for each brand to warrant DSLR forums of their own.

It's food for thought, anyway.

Stan
--

Once you start down the DSLR path, forever will it dominate your destiny! Consume your bank account, it will! Like it did mine!

More info and list of gear is in my Posters' Profile.

 

[Michael Long]

It was difficult to skim the pages in Canon SLR Talk for lens
threads, given the number of pages that are generated each day.

It would have been MUCH better to force categorization of topics and allow you to filter the forun by them. E.G.:

General
Bodies
Lenses
Flash
Accessories
Technique
Samples
Chat

That would have allowed SD to have easily found his lens threads, and someone else to find all of the "flash" threads, me to look for technique threads, and so on.

Now we have two highly artificial "categories". Lenses, and EVERYTHING else..... serving only ONE group of people.

 

[flanker]

I don't think this will solve the problem. People will continue to stick to the most active forum no matter how many related forums you create. It's just a natural thing. Unfortunately this forum is falling victim of its own popularity and has all symptoms of overcrowding (threads move fast, lots of off-topic, useless announcements from over-exicited new gear owners, trolls, pros bored with newbees, etc). This is just a very large and diverse group of people trying to communicate all at the same time.

I like Michael's idea of introducing filters. If people can categorize their posts, then other people will be able to see only what they need (or everything if they got time) without checking into multiple forums which wastes a lot of time.

flanker

 

[stephen s brown]

Phil,
I still like your suggestion in April as follows:

Hi guys,

I'm thinking about introducing a new forum called 'Beginners Digital SLR Talk'. The idea behind this forum is to 'gather' all Digital SLR newbies in one place so that they can discuss and learn about the basics that many of you longer term users may well have discussed years ago.

The EOS-10D has introduced far more new users than any other Digital SLR and it's clear that the weight of newbie discussion is causing issues on this forum.

If you think this is a good idea or you have any other suggestions (legal only please) then please follow up to this thread.
--
Phil Askey
Editor / Owner, dpreview.com

Thanks Steve
I had to move up when I couldn't get flash bulbs for the Brownie anymore.
http://www.pbase.com/stevebrown

 

[Bakman_29]

Phil,

This seems like a great idea. Do you also consider a beginner DSLR forum ? This would make a great filter for all specific questions : beginner, lenses and camera's.

BaKMaN

Everyone seems to agree that we need to split this forum, however I
don't like the idea of getting into the game of creating specific
forums for specific camera models, this may seem like a good idea
now but as soon as the next model arrives we'll want yet another
model and it just wouldn't work...

Analyzing the messages here there are a large number of questions
about lenses including 'which lens', 'samples of this lens', 'I
just got x lens', 'some x lens samples', 'my x lens doesn't focus'
etc.

Tell us what you think about a 'Canon SLR Lens Talk' forum or if
you have any better suggestions. (PS. We are already considering
active moderation, FAQ's etc.)

--
Phil Askey
Editor / Owner, dpreview.com

--



http://www.digitallyactive.com

 

[Bruce Gordon]

A search engine cannot replace a human editor that consolidates, edits and produces a polished document. -Bruce

 

[Dorjano Baruca]

...and the response was not so good. Funny how people change their minds in a few month.
Phil you have my vote!

Everyone seems to agree that we need to split this forum, however I
don't like the idea of getting into the game of creating specific
forums for specific camera models, this may seem like a good idea
now but as soon as the next model arrives we'll want yet another
model and it just wouldn't work...

Analyzing the messages here there are a large number of questions
about lenses including 'which lens', 'samples of this lens', 'I
just got x lens', 'some x lens samples', 'my x lens doesn't focus'
etc.

Tell us what you think about a 'Canon SLR Lens Talk' forum or if
you have any better suggestions. (PS. We are already considering
active moderation, FAQ's etc.)

--
Phil Askey
Editor / Owner, dpreview.com