Growing Popularity of RFF

[CameraQuest]

In January 2007 RFF had just under 9800 registered members. Today we have 13,850, an increase of about 40% in six months. In January during the day, there were usually about 300 people visiting RFF (though of course this varied throughout the day). Lately 400 people on RFF has not been unusual. This morning at 7:19 AM Pacific Time, RFF had 513 people online. Amazingly this growth was accomplished with an advertising budget of zero.

It seems our little rangefinder community is growing, even thriving, in this digital SLR and Point N Shoot world. I would like to extend a big thanks to everyone, and ask you all,

How we can make RFF even better?

Stephen

 

[eric]

How we can make RFF even better?

Stephen

Free Bessas? 🙂

 

[goo0h]

That's cool. Yay for non-conformity!

 

[dazedgonebye]

Word of mouth...does it every time.

 

[Jamie123]

Word of mouth...does it every time.

that or a digital Leica M 🙂

 

[NIKON KIU]

Look at it now:

Currently active photographers: 545 (115 members and 430 guests)

Yesterday we averaged around 450 to 500!!, I saw 576 people on the site two days ago when I had nothing to do at work 🙂

Lots of guests!

Kiu

 

[Ducky]

One negative: I think the prices for rfs on evilbay are rising.
I fact I beleive film camera prices in general are on the rise on the bay. Long live film?

 

[BillBingham2]

While we are still a niche, we are becoming a bigger and bigger niche. I would love to do some research as to why people are coming back to film and rangefinders. Maybe something in SurveyMonkey for my marketing class next fall?

I have to admit I do like the free flow of opinions and ideas that I see here. The format of the forum seems to have expanded nicely (good job Stephen & co.). It lends itself to targeted updates when you compare it to lists.

One of the other things is that you see sponsors posting comments and answers from time to time too (e.g. Tony and Tom A). To me, that is something that sets this place apart for just about anywhere else. The folks supporting us love this stuff almost as much as we do. They are not just pushing stuff because this is another market for their stuff. I saw a thread the other day where someone was getting on Tony for not lowering his price, several folks pointed out that what Tony does standing behind his product is well worth the $10 delta. I think Tony checked into things and ended up lowering his price (not sure how much).

We had some projects for folks in need in different areas and I hope we will have more. It’s a good circle we have here, wish I had an idea to make it better, but I don’t.

B2 (;->

 

[FrankS]

If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

 

[JohnM]

I'm with Frank.

It ain't broke.

 

[Fabian]

Finally bring back random gallery pics. I loved it.

 

[dee]

Maybe there's a backlash against the plastic electronic battery dee-pendant digital age .. has anyone checked the generations that are logging on - are they pre 30s or ancient monuments ?
Me , I stumbled on rangefinders as a dee-ranged finder , but even so , my other cameras are old Minoltas rather than digi watsits .
And the cult or the Cold War still looms for me - my father was Assistant Secretary of State for the Air Ministry , and a red tie for a 5 year old was just not done !?
However I am quite prepared to set aside my prejudices against digital for the sake of an M8 !!! .. though I am told it is broke and ...

 

[mikeh]

We need more chicks......er, I mean women.

 

[mwooten]

I'm with Frank.

It ain't broke.

A second, second.

Don't mess with happy.

 

[cpborello]

I'm relatively new here. My photography interest started with a dSLR, and I stumbled upon rangefinders looking for the latitude of B&W film (as compared to that of a dSLR sensor), because I can't stand spending time in photoshop, and to combat low-light focus hunt of AF cameras. So, I guess I'd fall somewhat into that "backlash" group.

 

[colyn]

We need more chicks......

Arkansas has plenty. You can't drive 10 miles without seeing a chicken farm...😀 😀 😀 😀

 

[oscroft]

That's excellent news 😀

I'm honestly not sure what can make it even better here. I use a number of different forum sites for different things and I've been professionally involved with sites that host forums, and I have to say that compared to many, this one is a beacon of civility. I can certainly understand the ideal of free speech (and strongly support it), but I do think some moderation is occasionally needed, and I generally think that the moderators here have it just about right - gentle moderation with rare intervention.

Someone suggested speeding up the servers a bit - yes, I do sometimes find the site to be a bit slow (but not that often really). Faster servers would hopefully get us the random photos back? I really liked that.

Oh yes, disable the software that automatically censors specific words (and rely on moderators to remove anything that is genuinely offenisve, racist, etc - it will be extremely rare) - it's crazy that the name of a garden implement that isn't quite the same as a shovel (a ***** - just testing) should be prohibited.

But really, I agree with those who say it ain't broke.

 

[pellothed1]

As one of those new members (this being my first post since joining), I found this "place" looking for info on changing the vertical alignment of my R2A. I decided to join and keep coming back because this "place" is much friendlier than other forums and despite all the gear talk, people seem to concentrate more on photography than cameras.

 

[shadowfox]

Free Bessas? 🙂

Don't push it 🙂

How about a Bessa/Leica rental?

or

A discount for supporting members (kinda like corporate discount on cars 🙂

or

A booth in camera shows

or

...

 

[peter_n]

And welcome to the forum pellothed1! 🙂 It's interesting because the Leica & Rangefinders forum over on PN seems to have almost died. Very few new posts over there compared to what it used to be like.