what would you like to see? [Archive]

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matty

02-02-2005, 18:06

on the forums, what else can we have here

digitalfailure

02-02-2005, 20:40

I'd like to see a weekly theme for members to show photo's

so there :P

silkstone

02-02-2005, 22:09

Mmmm... not sure about that. It works for a while, but then goes off the boil and you run out of decent themes. I think we've experienced that problem elsewhere. :wink:

Maybe you've thought about this already, but an equipment review forum would be handy. I don't mean a dpreview or Steve's Digicams thing with all the lab tests, but more an in-depth 'subjective' review of cameras and lenses by people who have had a bit of experience, if you see what I mean. IMO nothing draws (new) people to forums more than honest and objective reviews of equipment they're thinking of buying.

matty

02-02-2005, 22:15

silkstone

02-02-2005, 22:58

Thanks m..... er, Mr EosD sir. I'll do that when I work out what I can say something helpful about. :)

To elaborate...

The well-known review sites are just fine and I'm sure we all look at them with breath suitably bated for their opinions on the latest gizmos. However, there are some potential shortcomings.

1. Rather like car reviewers, they don't usually live with the kit for a long time. So they're not in a position to comment on long-term reliability, or what happens if you need to send it for repair, or all the other factors that are important to lesser mortals.

2. Those sites that give equipment a rating (Average, Recommended, Highly Recommended, Really Froopy, etc) hardly ever say that anything is below average, which is a statistical impossibility.

3. They get pre-production and loan equipment from the manufacturers, but this perhaps wouldn't continue to happen if they said too many derogatory things.

4. They are, in the main, commercial sites with sponsors. Sponsors like good news.

At the other end of the scale, there are forums where people submit reviews of the "Hey, I got this new Nican XS5300GM today and it's the best thing I've ever bought" variety. So I was thinking that impartial reviews from reasonably experienced pro and amateur photographers could occupy the centre ground quite usefully. :wink:

Marcel

02-02-2005, 23:20

Silkypoos I like your idea, and would very much like to see an impartial review forum, with reviews submitted by real people. Not someone who has had a bit of kit as a kickback from a manufacturer, or someone who has just bought a 20D for 50p and starts commenting on its value for money :p

I think there are many ways this could be implemented, one of which guidelines could be laid out (I dont like the word 'rules'). For example a minimum length of review. Minimum length of time with kit etc.

However, these are just my opinions on what I would like to see, if anyone disagrees with me, then feel free :)

Digital SPG

03-02-2005, 07:43

I'd like to see a weekly theme for members to show photo's

so there :P

Themes are good. A week is too short. Fortnightly or monthly would give scope for better photos. A good example would be the poor weather we have had for the last week, not been a good time for photography.

The Edge

03-02-2005, 08:38

I'd second the theme, and also a fortnightly one.

A week is fine in the summer and with a large community, but with only 40 of us at the moment i think with a week we'd end up with about 5 photos due to time constraints etc.

needs to be done :)

The Edge

03-02-2005, 08:45

Reviews.

I think camera reviews are well covered over the internet, and we can glean whether or not a camera is suitable for us from all but the most biased reviews.

Lenses on the othe hand are not covered well. Personally i would think very hard about buying a lens that has not been recommended to me by at least one good photographer. In my case Steve has been the driving force behind my purchases due to the results he's got from his kit.

Also lens reviews i've read seem to speak in a weird language. Chromatic abberation, aspherical etc etc. I want to know in plain English that what i'm buying works.

So summing up, camera reviews i could live without but i'd like to see people review their lenses and accesories like flashguns etc.

GSVJase

03-02-2005, 09:22

I'd agree that no nonsense reviews would be a welcome change. Plain english talk with results in comparison to normal gear or standard lenses.

Theme picture weeks / months etc as we know dont last very long before they get dull. How about starting a thread taking a picture of a more precise subject? Trees or cars rather than a broader subject of landscapes or animals but make them common place objects that are found about the house / within a short distance of most households? Doesnt have to have a time limit and can be contained within one thread with the top post edited to contain a gallery of pictures and the comments underneath. Might be a good way of helping others with technique for a specific subject that they can then retake and make improvements.

Competitions will always bring in entries if theres something to be won. The likes of the Amatuer Photographer magazine with an 8 month running time with a monthly theme. Points awarded for the top 10 pictures and a league table set up to see how people are doing with a prize for the overall winnner. I know this is something that needs more members and also either a sponsor or someone to donate a prize but might be something worth considering for the future and also somethign that might well bring in more members ;)

Just my 2p and feel free to slap me with one of Bods self portraits if you think its a naff idea :D

Digital SPG

03-02-2005, 11:46

Also a good rule would be to publish the exif data with any shots. It always helpfull to see what camera setting, lens ect were used to take a particular shot.

matty

03-02-2005, 17:10

reviews is good, i have a review im doing of my Maplin Softlight studio, if anyone wants to do a review, if it can be done in html or rich text format i can then use it for a proper review section as well as a forum section, so mail any to me!

Steve

03-02-2005, 17:26

There is a lot of work currently going on behind the scenes, much of it to do with your suggestions, and ideas that we have already had. We are working on a couple of big things which we should be in a position to tell you all about sometime this comming weekend. I agree with a great deal of what has already been suggested and the team intend to implement as much as possible in the coming months, however it all takes time and we don't want to half heartedly attempt things, we would much rather take our time and get it right the first attempt than do a sloppy job and get a poor reputation.

The site currently has only 40 members but so far we have not promoted it at all, the members that are here have found us by word of mouth and by some of our members kindly mentioning us to their friends. The new front end is almost ready and as soon as it is, we intend to make our presence known. At that point with any luck we should see our membership grow and the forums become busier. The admin team has done a lot of work recently, you wouldn't believe how many hours they have been putting in and that is partly why we have not been so active on the forums.

We have some big plans for the whole site and would like everyone to be a part of them. All input however small is gratefully received, and whenever possible will be implemented even if it takes us a while.

GSVJase

03-02-2005, 18:26

Well stop all this long winded posting and get on with it :P :D

Steve

04-02-2005, 14:18

Well stop all this long winded posting and get on with it :P :D

Bossy boots :lol:

We all need few minutes break from the work to spam..sorry reply in the forums :o

Catdaddy

04-02-2005, 19:43

Also a good rule would be to publish the exif data with any shots. It always helpfull to see what camera setting, lens ect were used to take a particular shot.

Exif data is good for digital users, but not so good for film users... But yes, publishing exposure data is always helpful for those wanting to pick up tips.

Catdaddy

04-02-2005, 19:55

Reviews would be a great idea - but only from a subjective perspective. As already stated, there are always politics involved when reading reviews in mags or on sponsored sites. On the other hand, some of the free review sites do point out some of the drawbacks. Obviously, these reviews are better, but what I would really like to see is users' opinions on a piece of kit, addressing some of these negative points as well as any other minor irritations.

For example, I have read that the Nikon D70 suffers from moire in exposures of fine patterns (fabrics, etc). How is this likely to become a problem in the real world? (If you know what I mean...)

Steve

07-02-2005, 20:00

This (http://www.thephotographyforums.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=1075#1075) may be of some interest to you guys [smilie=t: