Non-Pentax cameras in Pentax Film SLR forum

*ChrisPlatt* · 08-22-2009, 06:51 PM

In Pentax Film SLR Discussion, threads regarding non-Pentax brand SLRs are inevitably moved by the mods to Off Topic, General Talk. Why?

Threads regarding non-Pentax brand lenses do not suffer the same fate. These are allowed to remain in Pentax SLR Lens Discussion.

As most Pentax users know, many manufacturers made cameras using the Pentax M42 and K-mounts. A high degree of compatibility
and interchangeability allows users to mix and match gear made by Pentax and other makers to suit their needs and budgets.

IMO you would be doing a greater service to the PentaxForums community by allowing these threads to remain in Pentax Film SLR Discussion.

Chris

**Adam** · 08-22-2009, 07:43 PM

I don't see anything wrong with that. However, I've been considering a dedicated off-brand forum category- maybe we need one!

**Damn Brit** · 08-22-2009, 10:17 PM

Chris, do you imagine this being solely M42 and K mount SLRs or would you rather it be open to any SLR camera? I only ask so we know whether a line needs to be drawn or if it can be a free for all for all SLRs.
There are also rangefinder cameras to consider, I know these are popular with many members but most (if not all) do not have the Pentax equivalent mounts.

MRRiley · 08-23-2009, 06:06 AM

FWIW I think Pentax cameras using non-Pentax lenses are ok in the "Pentax Film or DSLR" forums and non-Pentax cameras using Pentax lenses are ok in the "Pentax SLR Lens" forum. Canon, Nikon, Olympus, using their native or off-brand lenses should be moved off to "General Talk" or to an off-brand forum. Same goes for MF, rangefinders or P&S camera/lens combos. Otherwise the site will eventually turn into CameraForums.com.

just my 2 cents worth...

Mike

*ChrisPlatt* · 08-23-2009, 07:19 AM

All Pentax mount film SLRs should be allowed in Pentax Film SLR Discussion.
I'd love to be able to discuss other film SLR brands not using Pentax mount
as well as rangefinder/scale focus cameras, but in their own separate forum(s).
They should NOT be relegated to Off-Topic, General Talk. Can the group
Pentax Cameras be renamed simply Cameras and these forums added?

Chris

**wlank** · 08-23-2009, 10:08 AM

Originally Posted by ChrisPlatt

In Pentax Film SLR Discussion, threads regarding non-Pentax brand SLRs are inevitably moved by the mods to Off Topic, General Talk. Why?

Chris

Posting as a Moderator, they are moved because that is the way Adam has wanted it. Of course he can change it any time and in any way he wants to.

Originally Posted by ChrisPlatt

Threads regarding non-Pentax brand lenses do not suffer the same fate. These are allowed to remain in .

Chris

I don't believe I've ever seen this issue raised before. If the lens in question is an M42 or K mount I'm going to leave it in Pentax SLR Lens Discussion until Adam tells me different.

Originally Posted by ChrisPlatt

As most Pentax users know, many manufacturers made cameras using the Pentax M42 and K-mounts. A high degree of compatibility
and interchangeability allows users to mix and match gear made by Pentax and other makers to suit their needs and budgets.

IMO you would be doing a greater service to the PentaxForums community by allowing these threads to remain in Pentax Film SLR Discussion.

Chris

Posting as a member, I disagree with you Chris. I found this site by doing a search for Pentax. I have no interest in Zenit, Yashica or any other M42 or K mount cameras. Perhaps I am the only member who feels this way, but perhaps not. There is another forum which seems to have a fair bit of Pentax info, but mixed in is a lot of stuff I'm not interested in. It is just not for me. Let's keep the Pentax Film SLR Discussion as it is.

*indytax* · 08-23-2009, 01:47 PM

Originally Posted by wlank

Posting as a member, I disagree with you Chris. I found this site by doing a search for Pentax. I have no interest in Zenit, Yashica or any other M42 or K mount cameras. Perhaps I am the only member who feels this way, but perhaps not. There is another forum which seems to have a fair bit of Pentax info, but mixed in is a lot of stuff I'm not interested in. It is just not for me. Let's keep the Pentax Film SLR Discussion as it is.

I disagree with wlank on this point. It seems to me that our common bond here isn't the Pentax brand, it's the Pentax legacy, which by definition includes equipment manufactured by other companies that share the Pentax mounts and/or that can be used on cameras with those mounts. Pentax is known for both the M42 (also popularly known as Pentax screw) and K mounts, so I think it's best for all if the forum embraces--in the most user-friendly manner--all things related to those mounts.

As for the concern that PF will be inundated with posts technically unrelated to the Pentax brand, I submit that such posts are already pretty common and there's little risk of PF becoming the defacto Zenit Forums. And it's easy enough to ignore the stuff you're not personally interested in while preserving the ability for the rest of the members to easily discuss/find info on these unquestionably Pentax-related issues.

**Adam** · 08-23-2009, 01:50 PM

Originally Posted by ChrisPlatt

All Pentax mount film SLRs should be allowed in Pentax Film SLR Discussion.
I'd love to be able to discuss other film SLR brands not using Pentax mount
as well as rangefinder/scale focus cameras, but in their own separate forum(s).
They should NOT be relegated to Off-Topic, General Talk. Can the group
Pentax Cameras be renamed simply Cameras and these forums added?

Chris

No, we can't rename the forum, for SEO reasons.

Currently discussion of off-brand cameras should go in 'Everything Else'. At a later time, as I said earlier, I may be able to add a dedicated forum for off-brand cameras, but my concern there is that it simply won't be used very much. This was the case with the "professional photo/business" category that people begged for and then barely used.

*ChrisPlatt* · 08-25-2009, 09:43 AM

FWIW I participate in another popular forum once dedicated exclusively to rangefinder cameras.
After much debate and handwringing an SLR forum was added, and it has proven quite popular.

Chris

*k100d* · 08-25-2009, 09:51 AM

an off-brand section would help to filter out the Everything Else and General Talk sections to more of their original intent