gb hill
Veteran
Funny I ran by an old post from Rover. Haven't seen much of him lately & saw that his last post was toward the end of May. Hope all is well with him.
Tim Read
Established
These comments from the Head Barman sum up my experience in the last two years: the use of my Nikon, Canon, M and Olympus lenses on newer digital systems. This marries the old and the new and suits my shooting needs these days more closely than being tied to 24 or 36 rolls of film beautiful though that might be.
One for instance: the grand children come around and the light is perfect for some semi formal portraits - knock off three or four shots of each of the two kids, process them on the computer and give their parents prints as they go home.
Another for instance: I do a lot of shooting for my surf club and a dance charity for kids with disabilities where the shooting ratios are necessarily very high.
But I think I have taken a lot of my learning from rangefinders and manual film cameras with me.
And thanks Head Barman for keeping the site going. It is a great source of shared knowledge and enjoyment.
Tim Read
One for instance: the grand children come around and the light is perfect for some semi formal portraits - knock off three or four shots of each of the two kids, process them on the computer and give their parents prints as they go home.
Another for instance: I do a lot of shooting for my surf club and a dance charity for kids with disabilities where the shooting ratios are necessarily very high.
But I think I have taken a lot of my learning from rangefinders and manual film cameras with me.
And thanks Head Barman for keeping the site going. It is a great source of shared knowledge and enjoyment.
Tim Read
Carriage
Established
I thought I'd give a bit of background and chime in as to why I recently registered.
I got into photography by buying a pentax spotmatic around the start of the year and quickly progressed to doing my own darkroom work. I joined APUG as I occasionally had some questions and joined in a recent print exchange but there's a bit of a focus on larger formats (not a bad thing, just not my thing). Most likely through reading online about film I came across street photography and started giving that a go. Through further reading I learned about the existence of rangefinders.
I kept toying with the idea about buying a rangefinder but generally put it off as it would take time away from using my spotmatic and I couldn't find anything that was manual and cheap enough. Recently I started looking more closely at the less popular FSU cameras and caved, ordered an apparently working Fed 5B for 50AUD which is still on its way. Whether I've taken up camera repair or have gotten into rangefinders remains to be seen.
While loosely aware of RFF, researching FSU cameras brought me here and I had a closer look to the forum. What made me join forum is less the talk about rangefinder hardware (though that's still useful and cool) but the fact that there appears to be some focus on street photography as well as film. Also, it's more of a community with photos attached rather than the other way around.
I got into photography by buying a pentax spotmatic around the start of the year and quickly progressed to doing my own darkroom work. I joined APUG as I occasionally had some questions and joined in a recent print exchange but there's a bit of a focus on larger formats (not a bad thing, just not my thing). Most likely through reading online about film I came across street photography and started giving that a go. Through further reading I learned about the existence of rangefinders.
I kept toying with the idea about buying a rangefinder but generally put it off as it would take time away from using my spotmatic and I couldn't find anything that was manual and cheap enough. Recently I started looking more closely at the less popular FSU cameras and caved, ordered an apparently working Fed 5B for 50AUD which is still on its way. Whether I've taken up camera repair or have gotten into rangefinders remains to be seen.
While loosely aware of RFF, researching FSU cameras brought me here and I had a closer look to the forum. What made me join forum is less the talk about rangefinder hardware (though that's still useful and cool) but the fact that there appears to be some focus on street photography as well as film. Also, it's more of a community with photos attached rather than the other way around.
Huss
Veteran
KRaZiGLiTcH
Established
I enjoy this site alot. I do use my Kiev 4a RF, broken for now but will be repaired hopefully in the next year. i love to read everyone's stories and see everyone's photos and their cameras too. this community is very friendly too. So i hope more people will join and get a RF.
uhoh7
Veteran
I came to the site when looking for the best small lenses to use on my Sony Nex. Back in the day I shot SLR and did not even know what a RF was LOL
RFF is simply an indispensable resource on many levels. I have learned more here than all my other forums put together and multiplied by 100
RFF is simply an indispensable resource on many levels. I have learned more here than all my other forums put together and multiplied by 100
OurManInTangier
An Undesirable
The point made about new members coming to research something in particular seems to not only hold a large grain of truth, certainly from anecdotal evidence which includes my own, but could perhaps be the greatest draw RFF has for new members. When words such as arcane are used to describe the knowledge base perhaps we shouldn't expect the virtual 'footfall' of Flickr etc, rather acknowledge the fact that RFF draws many more people who are at least a little way down the track, photographically, and looking for something that may help a particular interest or need.
I believe RFF has actually blossomed, certainly in terms of a spread of the knowledge base, since we opened forum sections for M4/3, mirrorless and all the others. As someone who has started using Fuji cameras in the last three years I've found the shared knowledge of people like Willie_901 to be invaluable - I like taking pictures but hate reading manuals and I'm simply not technically minded, people like Willie help to distill their knowledge and experience into bite size chunks so plebs like me can further their own knowledge and understanding. We've historically been very successful with this in the more traditional photographic areas and now we have, perhaps by a more organic process, the same thing happening with the newer technologies.
I'm often surprised by the number of new members who seem to arrive here, retaining those members once they have their initial questions answered may be the trickier part. Something that our 'community,' cited by many as the reason they stay, may need to be the focus of retaining and improving membership numbers and membership interaction.
Retaining older members, maybe we just need to accept that every so often we need a break. When I first signed up in 2006 I remember starting a thread, full of excitement about my chosen topic, only to have the first person to respond shoot me down in internet flames because the topic had been discussed before, many many times before. After nearly ten years here I've had to try to avoid doing the same at times, so, when I realize I'm becoming a grumpy old bar-steward I disappear for while so as not to infect others with my manchild moodiness. I suspect that others do the same.
I believe RFF has actually blossomed, certainly in terms of a spread of the knowledge base, since we opened forum sections for M4/3, mirrorless and all the others. As someone who has started using Fuji cameras in the last three years I've found the shared knowledge of people like Willie_901 to be invaluable - I like taking pictures but hate reading manuals and I'm simply not technically minded, people like Willie help to distill their knowledge and experience into bite size chunks so plebs like me can further their own knowledge and understanding. We've historically been very successful with this in the more traditional photographic areas and now we have, perhaps by a more organic process, the same thing happening with the newer technologies.
I'm often surprised by the number of new members who seem to arrive here, retaining those members once they have their initial questions answered may be the trickier part. Something that our 'community,' cited by many as the reason they stay, may need to be the focus of retaining and improving membership numbers and membership interaction.
Retaining older members, maybe we just need to accept that every so often we need a break. When I first signed up in 2006 I remember starting a thread, full of excitement about my chosen topic, only to have the first person to respond shoot me down in internet flames because the topic had been discussed before, many many times before. After nearly ten years here I've had to try to avoid doing the same at times, so, when I realize I'm becoming a grumpy old bar-steward I disappear for while so as not to infect others with my manchild moodiness. I suspect that others do the same.
RichC
Well-known
I guess I'd call myself a long-established member, and I certainly visit and post here less frequently.
But this is not so much a reflection on RFF but that things change - including me: I joined RFF when I used rangefinders, which I no longer do (SLR only now), and my interest in photography is no longer that of most RFF members (contemporary art photography is what I'm into these days - more Gursky and Jeff Wall than Cartier-Bresson and Winogrand). RFF has inevitably evolved too - leaving aside major changes like new owners and directions, people's interests, like mine, alter, so they leave RFF or visit less often, and time takes its toll too (I miss Sparrow, who died earlier this year and with whom I developed a friendship outside of RFF), all of which is reflected in RFF posts.
Forums and their popularity ebb and flow like everything else. Some forums die, but RFF is still in robust health even if it's moved a long way from how it was when I joined: not worse now, but different… which inevitably suits some people better than others.
But this is not so much a reflection on RFF but that things change - including me: I joined RFF when I used rangefinders, which I no longer do (SLR only now), and my interest in photography is no longer that of most RFF members (contemporary art photography is what I'm into these days - more Gursky and Jeff Wall than Cartier-Bresson and Winogrand). RFF has inevitably evolved too - leaving aside major changes like new owners and directions, people's interests, like mine, alter, so they leave RFF or visit less often, and time takes its toll too (I miss Sparrow, who died earlier this year and with whom I developed a friendship outside of RFF), all of which is reflected in RFF posts.
Forums and their popularity ebb and flow like everything else. Some forums die, but RFF is still in robust health even if it's moved a long way from how it was when I joined: not worse now, but different… which inevitably suits some people better than others.
JP Owens
Well-known
It was cool in the day when everyone was having fun with old FSU rangefinders, other cheap RF's from the 70's and 80's, along with old Leicas. The "Bessa Buzz" really stirred things up because it was affordable.
Gradually, though, members started upgrading to later model Leicas, more expensive lenses, and then to really expensive digital Leicas. And that really narrowed the potential members.
The mirrorless cameras have made shooting expensive Leica glass somewhat less expensive, but a lot of these cameras don't really do justice to wide Leica lenses.
In some sense, though, the forum has become more gentrified over the years, and that has had an impact on membership. The price of entry is much higher than when most folks were playing with $50 FSU's.
Gradually, though, members started upgrading to later model Leicas, more expensive lenses, and then to really expensive digital Leicas. And that really narrowed the potential members.
The mirrorless cameras have made shooting expensive Leica glass somewhat less expensive, but a lot of these cameras don't really do justice to wide Leica lenses.
In some sense, though, the forum has become more gentrified over the years, and that has had an impact on membership. The price of entry is much higher than when most folks were playing with $50 FSU's.
yanchep_mike
Always Trying
I for my part look at RFF every day of the week if possible, if i see/find something interesting i will click and that's it. In a digital world everything is changing and i find trends are changing, but we all enjoy taking pictures and as long as that shines through in the forums we will attract new members and all is good.
Keith
The best camera is one that still works!
I really like this place but like anyone who has been here for as long as I have you eventually start to feel a little stale and old. You contribute less and you visit less often and that's inevitable.
As someone pointed out above, you could arrive here all dewy eyed with your fresh face and fifty dollar Fed2 and feel welcome in earlier times and that's not really the case these days.
As someone pointed out above, you could arrive here all dewy eyed with your fresh face and fifty dollar Fed2 and feel welcome in earlier times and that's not really the case these days.
HuubL
hunter-gatherer
Welcome as a new member here. And with one of these classic RFs around your neck, you'll always look so cool!
oftheherd
Veteran
I would like to know your views. I saw you have been a member since 2006 and have 316 posts. It seems you don't post a lot, whether or not you visit more often without posting.
I like your enthusiasm! Welcome to RFF. Good insights from you I think. Keep up the good work you are doing helping people learn to enjoy film photography. I think people like you will do much for photo enthusiasts, digital or film. Please feel free to share any photos you may wish, and please feel free to contribute your darkroom knowledge. Many here still like film and some have darkrooms still. I haven't used mine for a while, and never considered myself a good darkroom printer. I can learn and wish.
Again, welcome.
A big second to that. Thanks Stephen! No question we wouldn't be here without Jorge starting this forum, and you taking it over. Good team!
Keith, you are like me, you were born stale and old.
l still marvel at your recovery of some 70+ year old undeveloped film. What keeps you coming back? People like you here at RFF keep me coming back.I agree RFF has changed over the years. I am still here just like many others, so apparently many of us aren't too unhappy. I sometimes think with nostalgia of the early days when FSU cameras were all the talk. But all things change. I like the addition of SLRs, but I'm not interested in digital yet. Who cares? Anyone remember the discussion as to whether or not SLR photos should be allowed in the gallery? If RFF serves a larger audience, that surely is good.
Keith
The best camera is one that still works!
Youalwayzlooksocool
Newbie
Thanks for the welcome everyone!
I'm currently incredibly busy with end of the year exams and coursework, but when I get a chance, I'll make a thread about the state of photography for younger people.
All DR wisdom and film/dev combinations for certain results will of course be gratefully received until then
I'm currently incredibly busy with end of the year exams and coursework, but when I get a chance, I'll make a thread about the state of photography for younger people.
All DR wisdom and film/dev combinations for certain results will of course be gratefully received until then
Out to Lunch
Ventor
In addition to all that has been said, I look forward to visiting this site on a very regular basis. There is a lot of expertise and members are willing to share their knowledge and experience. The Head Bartender is also quick to respond when needed. The site is well moderated and, more often than not excesses are nipped in the bud. In short, I am happy with things as they are.
Kent
Finally at home...
I became a member here when I started to shoot with RF cams, such as Olympus RC35, FED-3, Yashica Electro 35 etc., coming from SLRs.
And in the same way the intensity I shot with RF cams varied, my presence here had ups and downs. But I never quit, neither RF cams nor the RFF.
Meanwhile, I have moved to Leica (with the M8 and M6) over Sony and Fuji and I really enjoy it here (again).
I think that the quality of the entries and the discussions here is pretty high compared to most other forums I know and attend.
Thanks for that, gentlemen (and ladies)!
And in the same way the intensity I shot with RF cams varied, my presence here had ups and downs. But I never quit, neither RF cams nor the RFF.
Meanwhile, I have moved to Leica (with the M8 and M6) over Sony and Fuji and I really enjoy it here (again).
I think that the quality of the entries and the discussions here is pretty high compared to most other forums I know and attend.
Thanks for that, gentlemen (and ladies)!
robert blu
quiet photographer
RFF is a great place to visit, a great community to stay in, a special school where to learn a lot about Photography, which on purpose I wrote with a capital P.
I come here everyday (if I have a net connection) and enjoy the threads, the photos, the comments...it's a place to live the Photographic Passion, yes it's all about passion!
robert
I come here everyday (if I have a net connection) and enjoy the threads, the photos, the comments...it's a place to live the Photographic Passion, yes it's all about passion!
robert
__jc
Well-known
A warm welcome to you too, Carriage. Sounds like yours has been a reasonably typical journey to the wonderful world of rangefinders that many of us have travelled.
Will be really interested to hear how the $50 FED checks out. No reason it shouldn't be a wonderful beginning to your rangefinder experience!
And keep that fire burning for film! Yeah!
bmattock
Veteran
I thought I might stop by again.