The "Too Many Clubs" club

d.bradley · 11-12-2008, 01:11 PM

I know..I'm a grumpy old man. But isn't the fact that we own a pentax camera and post on this site "club" enough for everyone? Do we need bloated threads that further divide our already segregated populous?

Gooshin · 11-12-2008, 01:16 PM

blame pentax's multi lens support

k100d · 11-12-2008, 01:33 PM

why not? if you're looking for lenses of that type, what better place to start than to look at those samples

séamuis · 11-12-2008, 01:35 PM

Originally posted by k100d

why not? if you're looking for lenses of that type, what better place to start than to look at those samples

I agree, I think they are a good thing. there is no 'disrespect' of other lenses, so I see no harm.

stevebrot · 11-12-2008, 01:44 PM

The clubs are not exclusive and are intended as a place where enthusiasts/owners for a particular type of lens can comment and provide image examples. Seems pretty harmless to me and very useful to anyone doing research prior to purchase. It is all done in good humor and for fun. You might notice that almost all the "clubs" involve lenses that are not particularly expensive and/or are cult classics.

The only negative that I have been able to detect is a tendency for "club" lenses to take a steep increase in auction prices after a flurry of posts. A prime example would be the various Sears lenses.

Steve

(Founder of the "Off-brand Club" and proud supporter of the "Dirt Cheap Club"...)

Damn Brit · 11-12-2008, 01:58 PM

If it wasn't for these bloated threads Grumpy

I and many others I'm sure might never have stumbled on their favourite lenses.

d.bradley · 11-12-2008, 02:20 PM

I'd rather see a dyxum style section devoted to lens samples than the club topics as they exist now...something that is more organized, and easier to find images by those gems. IMHO the clubs are an artifact of some missing forum infrastructure.

RoxnDox · 11-12-2008, 02:52 PM

Originally posted by d.bradley

I'd rather see a dyxum style section devoted to lens samples than the club topics as they exist now...something that is more organized, and easier to find images by those gems. IMHO the clubs are an artifact of some missing forum infrastructure.

So, this grump thread should really be a "site suggestion" thread in that forum, is what I hear ya saying.

Jim (me, I kinda like the clubs - and it's really easy to skip over stuff I don't find appealing)

cardinal43 · 11-12-2008, 04:23 PM

Originally posted by d.bradley

I'd rather see a dyxum style section devoted to lens samples than the club topics as they exist now...something that is more organized, and easier to find images by those gems. IMHO the clubs are an artifact of some missing forum infrastructure.

Maybe it's just me, but isn't that the way it is now? If I want to check on a Tak, I go to the Tak thread. Same with the Tamron.

jsherman999 · 11-12-2008, 04:26 PM

.

The clubs allow interaction within the forum community that wouldn't exist quite to the same degree without them, I think. Its just really fun to see what others are doing with their lenses, and to post what you shot today. "post your photos" is a good place for that also, but I like having the option to do it in a lens-specific thread - the gear, especially inexpensive, under-appreciated gear, is a fun part of the hobby.

.

Blue · 11-12-2008, 10:58 PM

Its a great way to look at photos from certain combination of lenses and cameras.

Mike Cash · 11-13-2008, 03:24 AM

I like them and feel more comfortable and less obtrusive posting Takumar images to the Takumar Club thread than I do posting them in the regular photo posting subforum. Very few of my photos are worth starting a whole new thread in that section, but I know they'll find an interested and receptive audience among current Takumar users and those contemplating acquiring them. They serve a purpose of providing illustrative examples of the lenses' capabilities and not just a "hey, look what I took".

lithos · 11-13-2008, 08:34 AM

How can you say we have too many thread?!

We haven't even got a thread dedicated to lenses made by Grong-Grong Bottlemaking and Optics Limited!

**Lowell Goudge** · 11-13-2008, 09:15 AM

Originally posted by d.bradley

I'd rather see a dyxum style section devoted to lens samples than the club topics as they exist now...something that is more organized, and easier to find images by those gems. IMHO the clubs are an artifact of some missing forum infrastructure.

one of the problems I have noticed and also complained about occasionally on the forum, is that although we have all sorts of clubs, and I admit the sin of joining one of them (the takumar club), I am hard pressed to see that many reviews of the lenses by people in the "clubs" posted in the lens review database.

It would be useful, not only seeing the photos people have taken while professing thier love for a specific lens, but to have real solid feedback on the performance of the lens, how it meters on their camera, any funny things notices, the "feel and feedback on the focusing collar, zoom creep, specific softness at big apatures, etc.

I agree it is difficult to wade through all the posts in the various clubs with the hopful idea that you will strike gold and see a comment about the lens you are interested in

Nesster · 11-13-2008, 09:16 AM

Originally posted by d.bradley

I know..I'm a grumpy old man. But isn't the fact that we own a pentax camera and post on this site "club" enough for everyone? Do we need bloated threads that further divide our already segregated populous?

It's true they get rather long, these club threads, and I can see that for an 'outsider' they lose their appeal, having to slog through pages and pages... and that forum search isn't all it could be either.

But for the enthusiasts in any club it's a neat way to stay in touch, see what everyone's doing with their lenses... I'm with everyone above's reasons for posting in the clubs.

I started a couple of the club threads, for the very purpose of having a little nook for particular enthusiasms. I don't think the clubs stop the questions / samples of specific lenses in other threads... and the forum search I find is cumbersome to find a particular item, often.

Did I mention I don't like the forum search?

Actually, I'd thought of starting a "not in any club" club

11-12-2008, 01:11 PM	#1
d.bradley Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Ontario Photos: Gallery Posts: 631	The "Too Many Clubs" club I know..I'm a grumpy old man. But isn't the fact that we own a pentax camera and post on this site "club" enough for everyone? Do we need bloated threads that further divide our already segregated populous?

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11-12-2008, 01:16 PM	#2
Gooshin Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Toronto, the one in Canada. Posts: 5,610	blame pentax's multi lens support

11-12-2008, 01:33 PM	#3
k100d Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Toronto Posts: 3,911	why not? if you're looking for lenses of that type, what better place to start than to look at those samples

11-12-2008, 01:35 PM	#4
séamuis Banned Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Savannah, U.S./Baguio City, P.H. Posts: 5,979	Originally posted by k100d why not? if you're looking for lenses of that type, what better place to start than to look at those samples I agree, I think they are a good thing. there is no 'disrespect' of other lenses, so I see no harm.

11-12-2008, 01:44 PM	#5
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	The clubs are not exclusive and are intended as a place where enthusiasts/owners for a particular type of lens can comment and provide image examples. Seems pretty harmless to me and very useful to anyone doing research prior to purchase. It is all done in good humor and for fun. You might notice that almost all the "clubs" involve lenses that are not particularly expensive and/or are cult classics. The only negative that I have been able to detect is a tendency for "club" lenses to take a steep increase in auction prices after a flurry of posts. A prime example would be the various Sears lenses. Steve (Founder of the "Off-brand Club" and proud supporter of the "Dirt Cheap Club"...)

11-12-2008, 01:58 PM	#6
Damn Brit Guest	If it wasn't for these bloated threads Grumpy I and many others I'm sure might never have stumbled on their favourite lenses.

11-12-2008, 02:20 PM	#7
d.bradley Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Ontario Photos: Gallery Posts: 631 Original Poster	I'd rather see a dyxum style section devoted to lens samples than the club topics as they exist now...something that is more organized, and easier to find images by those gems. IMHO the clubs are an artifact of some missing forum infrastructure.

11-12-2008, 02:52 PM	#8
RoxnDox Pentaxian Join Date: May 2007 Location: Gig Harbor, Washington, USA, Terra Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,494	Originally posted by d.bradley I'd rather see a dyxum style section devoted to lens samples than the club topics as they exist now...something that is more organized, and easier to find images by those gems. IMHO the clubs are an artifact of some missing forum infrastructure. So, this grump thread should really be a "site suggestion" thread in that forum, is what I hear ya saying. Jim (me, I kinda like the clubs - and it's really easy to skip over stuff I don't find appealing)

11-12-2008, 04:23 PM	#9
cardinal43 Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Virginia Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,412	Originally posted by d.bradley I'd rather see a dyxum style section devoted to lens samples than the club topics as they exist now...something that is more organized, and easier to find images by those gems. IMHO the clubs are an artifact of some missing forum infrastructure. Maybe it's just me, but isn't that the way it is now? If I want to check on a Tak, I go to the Tak thread. Same with the Tamron.

11-12-2008, 04:26 PM	#10
jsherman999 Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Photos: Gallery Posts: 8,237	. The clubs allow interaction within the forum community that wouldn't exist quite to the same degree without them, I think. Its just really fun to see what others are doing with their lenses, and to post what you shot today. "post your photos" is a good place for that also, but I like having the option to do it in a lens-specific thread - the gear, especially inexpensive, under-appreciated gear, is a fun part of the hobby. .

11-12-2008, 10:58 PM	#11
Blue Moderator Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Florida Hill Country Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 17,377	Its a great way to look at photos from certain combination of lenses and cameras.

11-13-2008, 03:24 AM	#12
Mike Cash Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Japan Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,950	I like them and feel more comfortable and less obtrusive posting Takumar images to the Takumar Club thread than I do posting them in the regular photo posting subforum. Very few of my photos are worth starting a whole new thread in that section, but I know they'll find an interested and receptive audience among current Takumar users and those contemplating acquiring them. They serve a purpose of providing illustrative examples of the lenses' capabilities and not just a "hey, look what I took".

11-13-2008, 08:34 AM	#13
lithos Inactive Account Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Brisbane, QLD, AUS Posts: 3,261	How can you say we have too many thread?! We haven't even got a thread dedicated to lenses made by Grong-Grong Bottlemaking and Optics Limited!

11-13-2008, 09:15 AM	#14
Lowell Goudge Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Toronto Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 17,890	Originally posted by d.bradley I'd rather see a dyxum style section devoted to lens samples than the club topics as they exist now...something that is more organized, and easier to find images by those gems. IMHO the clubs are an artifact of some missing forum infrastructure. one of the problems I have noticed and also complained about occasionally on the forum, is that although we have all sorts of clubs, and I admit the sin of joining one of them (the takumar club), I am hard pressed to see that many reviews of the lenses by people in the "clubs" posted in the lens review database. It would be useful, not only seeing the photos people have taken while professing thier love for a specific lens, but to have real solid feedback on the performance of the lens, how it meters on their camera, any funny things notices, the "feel and feedback on the focusing collar, zoom creep, specific softness at big apatures, etc. I agree it is difficult to wade through all the posts in the various clubs with the hopful idea that you will strike gold and see a comment about the lens you are interested in

11-13-2008, 09:16 AM	#15
Nesster Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: NJ USA Photos: Gallery Posts: 13,072	Originally posted by d.bradley I know..I'm a grumpy old man. But isn't the fact that we own a pentax camera and post on this site "club" enough for everyone? Do we need bloated threads that further divide our already segregated populous? It's true they get rather long, these club threads, and I can see that for an 'outsider' they lose their appeal, having to slog through pages and pages... and that forum search isn't all it could be either. But for the enthusiasts in any club it's a neat way to stay in touch, see what everyone's doing with their lenses... I'm with everyone above's reasons for posting in the clubs. I started a couple of the club threads, for the very purpose of having a little nook for particular enthusiasms. I don't think the clubs stop the questions / samples of specific lenses in other threads... and the forum search I find is cumbersome to find a particular item, often. Did I mention I don't like the forum search? Actually, I'd thought of starting a "not in any club" club