Since I have found the Canon EOS FAQ forum, I've noticed that it is quite (wonderfully) active.

However, I do not see a similar Nikon forum (I like both brands, as well as others).

I've also noticed that the Camera Equipment forum also seems to be not nearly as well visited.

Does anybody know why this is? Perhaps all those people tend to hang out at photo.net forums. That would be a shame, as there seems to be a lot of grumbling over there about the fact that the software system automatically deletes most threads.

-- Hung James Wasson (HJWasson@aol.com), September 03, 2001

Answers

Why?

Because nobody has created one. You can create one yourself. It takes about 5 minutes.

-- Erick Lamontagne (ericklam@globetrotter.net), September 03, 2001.

There are a few on Yahoo-groups, former E-groups. One centered on Manual focus Nikon and two others centered on Autofocus Nikon. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NikonMF http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NikonAF

The abovementioned lists have same owners who do not recommend OT- treads but this one does. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nmlist previously known as The "big" Nikon list.

The are several others on yahoogroups, try NikonRepair, NikonFA or NikonF90.

Best wishes

Peter, Copenhagen

-- Peter Nyholm Christensen (peternyholm@yahoo.dk), September 03, 2001.

Perhaps because many Nikon users realize that their questions can be answered in the photo.net modereated and unmoderated forums, which is what those forums were intended for.

Besides, the more experienced photographers may have multiple systems. Large format (4 x 5), medium format, and maybe Nikon. What if the experienced pros didn't want to limit themselves to the Nikon only format, and chose not to use it except maybe once every month or two? You'd be missing out on the most experienced "visionaries." And some pretty darn good photographers might just skip it as well.

-- DJ Soroka (DJSoroka@hotmail.com), September 03, 2001.

here's a good Nikon site:

http://nikonians.com/

-- Rodger B. (rb643@yahoo.com), September 03, 2001.

Erick, yes I could create one. Since I divorced Nikon (on good terms) & married Canon, I don’t feel that I would necessarily be the best choice to start the ball off (although I could go back to Nikon, as a mistress on the side). ;-)

My curiosity was sparked by the fact that there currently isn’t a Nikon forum here, but there is an active Canon forum. That’s all.

Peter, thank you for telling me about e-Groups/Yahoo Groups! I was not previously aware of those forums. Now I have a new community to infest, er, join. :-) …I did a quick look, and it appears to be nearly all membership only forums, not the open forums we have here that I enjoy so well.

”owners who do not recommend OT- treads but this one does” -- peter, forgive my net ignorance, but was does OT stand for here? I’ve seen it before & been confused.

“Perhaps because many Nikon users realize that their questions can be answered in the photo.net modereated and unmoderated forums, which is what those forums were intended for”

DJ, quite to the contrary! There has been a very heated discussion thread running in photo.net for over a week now about this very subject! The moderators are very adamant that equipment discussions do not belong there (unless it has something to do with photographic technique AND hasn’t been previously discussed & saved in the moderated forum)! That is why those discussions get shunted to the 24 hour unmoderated forum, where they die a quick death rather than persisting as they would here. If they lasted longer, then more people would be able to find them and learn without having to post new questions. I found LUSENET when I did an specific equipment search on Google.

Roger, thank you for your post & the web link to Nikonians

In fact, thank you everyone, for your replies!

-- Hung James Wasson (HJWasson@aol.com), September 03, 2001.

*I've also noticed that the Camera Equipment forum also seems to be not nearly as well visited. Does anybody know why this is?*

Because camera equipment is the least important factor in photography. More experienced photographers not only tend to try different formats and brands, they also care more about the images they create. Talking about the latest greatest camera, lens, film, etc., is interesting and fun to the newbie and novice photographer... I suppose. But it's ultimately boring to discuss equipment (i.e. nice equipment, now show me your photographs!) and futile (i.e. you're destined to take mediocre photographs the rest of your life if all you worry about is equipment). I can take better pictures with an old point and shoot than beginners and most intermediate skilled people with expensive equipment.

You'll notice here on Lusenet that the 3 B&W Photo forums, Philosophy of Photography forum, and Large Format photography forum are the most active (which happens to be the forums I visit frequently)of all the photo related forum. And for good reason, they tend to focus on image making (with the exception of LF, but the people who use this format have images that speak for themselves) as opposed to a pissing contest about who has the most expensive toys.

Cheerio

-- floren (flcpge@yahoo.com), September 04, 2001.

Floren,

"Because camera equipment is the least important factor in photography."

I can't fault you there, but I also can't help but notice that I don't see too many professionals using Kodak fixed focus point & shoots.

"More experienced photographers not only tend to try different formats and brands, they also care more about the images they create."

What, they do this in a vacuum, without talking to anyone else about all that equipment they are trying? Trying different formats AND different brands has got to be costly. I doubt that too many pros simply throw their money around without do at least a little research into their next purchase. They care more about the images they create? How do you measure this? A student struggling to master the art they long appreciated can’t care as much about their images as an experienced photographer?

"Talking about the latest greatest camera, lens, film, etc., is interesting and fun to the newbie and novice photographer... I suppose."

Yes, to many of us "newbies" and "novices" it is fun -- perhaps the only fun we have, as we are mediocre and have no talent. Clearly, we spend ALL of our time online chatting with each other about what cool stuff we've got. Sorry, just don't have time to actually put film through the camera.

"But it's ultimately boring to discuss equipment (i.e. nice equipment, now show me your photographs!) and futile (i.e. you're destined to take mediocre photographs the rest of your life if all you worry about is equipment).

I assume that if I ever get to your exalted level of professionalism, I will be so jaded about camera equipment that the topic will bring tears of boredom to my eyes. If all I and my fellow newbies & novices worried about was equipment, then I'm sure you'd be right about our sad & pitiable destinies.

"I can take better pictures with an old point and shoot than beginners and most intermediate skilled people with expensive equipment."

I'm very happy for you. Tell me, do you tend to do all of your shooting with your old point & shoot, or do you also take pictures with something approaching expensive equipment status? If you do use more than that old P&S, are the pictures you obtain equal in all aspects (i.e. indistinguishable)? What make & model is that point & shoot? :-)

"You'll notice here on Lusenet that the 3 B&W Photo forums, Philosophy of Photography forum, and Large Format photography forum are the most active (which happens to be the forums I visit frequently)of all the photo related forum. And for good reason, they tend to focus on image making"

I've visited the Philosophy of Photography forum on several occasions, and very much enjoyed myself. It seems an equally useless forum as this one -- as far as making images goes. However, I did enjoy the long running discussions on the ethics of street photography, whether mothers photographing their children were committing child pornography, etc. I'm a little bit confused as how they actually help you make better images. Perhaps you could explain? Is black & white photography the only true professional's choice? I seem to recall it being taught to novices & newbies of all ages, and I think I can dimly recall at least a few color images that might have been made by professionals.

"(with the exception of LF, but the people who use this format have images that speak for themselves) as opposed to a pissing contest about who has the most expensive toys."

I can't wait to get a large format camera, so that I can to talk about my big equipment without being labeled a newbie or novice. I wasn't aware that was the criteria by which one graduated out of such lowly status. And I must say, the idea of being such a person who "has images that speak for themselves" is quite thrilling. I wasn't aware that large negative size was the deciding factor for good photographs. I was under the mistaken impression that factors such as composition, technique, use of lighting, etc. had some small role to play. Or is it that no one is allowed to purchase a large format camera until they submit a portfolio that satisfies the stringent requirements of a board of panelists (a photographic license, so to speak)? And the Large Format forum must have some kind of newbie & novice block to keep out the riff-raff? Or maybe no newbie or novice would claim to have a large format camera, and wouldn't dare to stick their heads into such a forum to try to glean the secrets of the sages?

Thank you for taking the time to grace us with your august presence. I'm surprised that you stumbled across this thread, since it so clearly does not meet your criteria of what constitutes a useful forum. Any time you wish to return, and teach us the errors of our ways, please do so. We await enlightenment.

-- Hung James Wasson (HJWasson@aol.com), September 04, 2001.

Hmmm, sarcasm is the recourse of a feeble mind. If my answer offended you (and I didn't intend it to be such), that's too bad. As for a point and shoot, I've used all formats. Medium and large format is cheap because I buy used equipment. Understand? Both systems with 3 lenses cost less than $2000, which I've collected over 10 years. But go ahead, buy more toys. I guarantee you WILL BE JADED with your photographs.

And I can take better photographs. Tell you what, POST your photos with your favorite toys, and I'll post mine with my point and shoot. Let's compare who has the greater skill. Up for the challenge?

I've had photo teachers and professionals critique these P&S photos. As a whole, they liked them. And I know what I'm capable of doing as a photographer, thus I'm secure in my ability and skill as a photographer.

But feel free vent your feelings. You're left with empty and invective insults, nothing more. Except your *photographs*.

-- floren (flcpge@yahoo.com), September 05, 2001.

Hung, get a life.

-- Willie Ju (wju@mediaone.net), September 05, 2001.

Floren,

I do apologize that I let my feelings get out of hand. However, we have exchanged posts in a number of threads, and I always feel that you come off as effete, snobbish and insulting. You always insult anyone who uses expensive 35mm equipment as being less than professional, incapable & foolish. You insist that you are a better photographer than anyone else in the posting, but I seriously doubt that you’ve seen many of the other’s pictures. How can you make such a value judgment based on no evidence? Simply because they are posting in a forum on equipment discussions? It seems to me that you troll through these discussions, just so you can tell everyone what idiots they are. I don’t recall, in all of our exchanges, you responding to the points I ask for clarification. You simply go on stating how right you are, and belittling people who have a different opinion from you. So who’s being insulting? Nice opening shot by the way – cut to the quick.

You are very confident of your photographic skills. That’s wonderful. Truly. I am willing to take your word that you are an excellent photographer with a wealth of knowledge. I’ve no doubt that your skills far surpass mine. That’s not what’s at issue. You should be using that breadth of knowledge to help others in these forums attain your level. Perhaps that’s what you are trying to do, but I don’t feel that it comes across that way. Perhaps I’m in the minority.

I do not wish to make an enemy of a fellow forum citizen. I give you my word that I will try not to fly off the handle upon reading your posts. I would ask you, when responding to a thread (especially my threads), to try to stay close to the subject. I understand your viewpoint on toys. You have made it abundantly clear. Please feel free to continue responding to my posts. On most days, I usually get a chuckle at seeing our differing viewpoints. Again, I am sorry for letting myself get so irritated, and will try to maintain better decorum in the future.

-- Hung James Wasson (HJWasson@aol.com), September 05, 2001.

Willie,

I do have a life, thank you. I’ve a lovely wife and two cute/challenging/adorable/maddening/wonderful boys. I live in a city that isn’t entirely paved over, in a part of the country that I feel suits my personality very well. Within a few hours drive towards the different compass points, I have oceans, deserts, mountains and rainforests to explore and experience. I enjoy my daytime job, and my many hobbies, of which photography is a favorite. Thank you for your concern, though! :-)

-- Hung James Wasson (HJWasson@aol.com), September 05, 2001.