Camera/Gear review sub forum?

Ricky91t

I think it would be a good idea to make a sub forum where reviews of gear can be posted and requested i know alot of people's gear varies on here and id like to know for example the good and the bad sides of nikon camera and canon lenses im waiting to get.I know there are websites for this but i think it would have more of a first hand feel if it came from someone we knew off boards

Just an idea

AnimalRights

I concur!

Fajitas!

I don't think it'd work. It's been brought up a few times already, but I'll go back over some reasons I don't want it...

The only php review system I like is Fred Miranda's one, and I don't think there's any problem with a thread in the main forum really...

I also think it would be way ott to try remake FM's review system, when it's only a link away

Another problem is it'll lead to is 3000 new threads asking which camera to buy. The regulars will want them out of the main forum so they won't have to consider people with a 200 euro budget, and they'll fill up the review forum, with noone answering them, leading to people calling the photography forum regulars stuck up, etc etc. End results, flaming, arguing, hassle, or at the very least, people looking for answers with not a single reply. At least in the main forum, there's a better chance of someone stumbling across the post. And then someone will complain that there's too many "what camera should I buy" threads. Not that we've not heard that before

Anyways, if you do want gear reviews, do a google on it, throw up a thread asking about the lens or camera, and check out www.fredmiranda.com's reviews and pop over to http://www.the-digital-picture.com/Reviews/ if it's Canon you're looking for.

Fajitas!

Oh, however, if you are interested, the best place to suggest is in this forum here

I'm not completly dismissing the idea, but I've thought about it before, and don't think it would work out as well as the many other resources out there.

Borderfox

Maybe stick in a link to somewhere like here http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=141406 scroll down and just pick a lens (Canon only)

Calina

Against. I have no real objection to the "does anyone have..." threads but genuine reviews I tend to go for fredmiranda as well. Also, we probably don't need to fill the screen up with subfora.

On a related subject - photograph challenge - is this dead? Cos if so.. maybe kill the subforum?

Ricky91t

No i wont bother posting it....Just a suggestion..

rgiller

I think this is quite a good idea: when people come here looking for advice on which camera to buy or what to upgrade to, they are just looking for an endorsement from someone who has used the model or brand they have in mind, and who would recommend it. A camera review forum would deflect these questions away from the main photography board and, in my opinion, it would stop (or at least reduce) the kind of 400D v D40 messages that turn up regularly.

A good example to base it on would be the game review forum, which I'm sure some of you are familiar with. People post up their opinions of games which they have bought, but no questions are asked as to "is this game any good" or "is this game better than that one", etc. If you want to contribute to this forum, the door is open, but if you don't want to be involved, simply don't go there and you won't be bothered.

If I want to write a personal review on a D60 or whatever, I can put it there, perhaps with some links to a few photos taken with that camera. Then others with a D60 can add to it and, ultimately, a forum full of useful camera reviews will result. This is just my opinion, but I think it would out great

nilhg

I think that most people who contribute here regularly, accecpt that at the budget/enthusiast end of the market there is very very little between the various models, each has their strenghts and weaknesses, and most of the time the choice will come down to whether the buyer has existing lenses or budget or simply their preference in handling the various models.

On the higher end folks are hardly going to invest based solely on a review in here.

I suppose what I'm trying to say is that a sub forum would be in danger of "fans with typewriters" syndrome.

rgiller

Well sure we know that most of the amateur slrs available are functionally the same, but that's only because (in my case at least) I've read it so many times in posts by exasperated regulars who probably feel like they're banging their heads off a wall. It's precisely this kind of knowledge that is overtly missing round here and a review sub forum could sort that out.

So what if people are fans of the brand they went with? Since there is little difference between entry level models, what harm to write a review about how you think your 400D is great. New buyers are looking for that kind of endorsement and yes I think that it could play some small part in influencing their decision. There is a better sense of community here than on any of the million review sites out there, and so we might trust a boardsie's opinion a bit more. I know I would.

My point is that a review forum might help some of the newcomers to decide what they want to use to get started in photography. It would be a good place for us enthusiastic snappers to share how great we think our camera is, or what it's missing that might be useful. I can't see it doing any harm and, if anything, it will get more people interested in photography and contributing to this forum