What has happened?

It certainly wasn't my intention and apologise if you thought so Ralph. I was posting my personal opinion of what I see as perhaps the root cause of a lot of the dissention. DrOrloff's expressed opinion is one that I have voiced myself on a few occassions. It was not intended to disregard the valid viewpoints made by others.

Personally I am not very interested in cameras per sae despite owning 1 Nikon, 1 Canon, 2 Fujis, 4 Kodaks, 1 Ensign and 9 Pentaxes. I am far more interested in image making through the medium of photography. If I was keener on gardening than I am I would be subscribing to a gardening website and not 'Spade & Shovel User'.

That said, it is my personal opinion, that this forum is primarily about photography using Pentax cameras. If I want to find out about vintage Kodaks then I can go somewhere approriate to that interest and likewise for my other photographic interests

Accepted

Now that's a forum that sounds vibrant and tempting

Joking aside that was my point from earlier. This is Pentax User not 'Better Photography with Pentx'.
I bought Pentax for a reason and not because I am a 'one make pony'. I am a bit fed up with being looked down on on other forums because its not a CaNikon. Equally I do find the inability to discuss other brands on here a bit stifling.
I would love this site to develop a real emphasis on improving photography but sadly I don't feel that that is where it's going

Ralph, the site goes wherever the posters take it. If anyone wants response that's more critical (and I mean that in the sense of critique) then they can post something and explain what they are looking for. Then others can provide it and show the way.

However, if it's forced it won't stick for long, it has to ideally be a natural process.

As for the rest, all we have to do is remember we're on Pentax User, the title really summing it up.

John, with all due respect that's not really true. Many moons ago I requested a Video topic board and you said no because there wasn't enough interest. Who knows how much interest there would have been had there of been such a board. Several other posters have indicated the same thing and yet we are no closer to achieving it.

There have been numerous requests to increase the 800px limit with dozens of comments about how it limits he viewers ability to adequately examine an image posted by another member. What we get it a simple "host it elsewhere and link to it" answer.

The comments made here about the usability of the gallery.... where will they go? will there be any action?

The request for a mobile app (raised several times)...no progress

The out of date Pentax Plus 'bonus features' I mentioned earlier.

The shop that has higher prices than numerous online suppliers.

Where is the 'Pentax User Magazine'? I see a team of 7 people listed on the 'Home' tab. This has an editor that uses a K20D (not criticising but I would have though he would have something more modern as well)and a 'Features Writer'.. where are the 'features' that need so much editing that they need an editor and an assistant?

Please don't get me wrong, I like this forum and I shall still keep visiting but unless it 'modernises' then those visits will become further apart.

It is extremely unusual for me to agree with smeggy but he wrote this earlier:
and I think he hit the nail on the head. there seems to be a distinct reluctance to change regardless of degree of difficulty.

Well I can answer your questions Ralph.

As regards the video, it was quite possible to post video topics along with stills topics and a couple of people tried for a very short time and it fizzled out with nobody really having anything to say. Where it's obvious there's a new interest, sections have been put in straight away.

The 800px limit is set for the forum, but it doesn't apply in the Gallery where you could happily post up to perhaps 1500px or even 2000px if you felt to inclined. The Gallery was intended for people to post images, the forum is designed for conversations although you can add images into it. A direct upload facility was added into the forum to make it easier.

There's no Mobile App, and I don't know if one is planned. As it's been reported before, it will be on the possible developments list.

PU Plus also gives the 20% servicing discount. I would pay it for that alone, but the unlimited uploads to the Gallery also appeal to me.

PU Magazine is no longer a physical, printed magazine, so maybe some members were never aware that it was. you can download PDFs of the issues and I think you need PU Plus for that. I have any remaining back issues here and I've offered them from time to time, being reluctant to see them head for the skip I asked for them.

The team listed run Magezine Publishing so have responsibilities across PU, EPZ and Photodo and maybe other things as well.

Hope that helps to clear up any misunderstandings, but if it doesn't cover everything just ask.

If a majority of the active members voiced an opinion about (say) off-brand discussions, would the Admin team actually listen, or would the collective just be reminded of the forum name and then ignored? Only JR can answer that, it seems.

Are we so insecure as a group that we must be somehow protected from the outside world? How many of us actually think that.

Just as a church is a collection of people, a forum is the sum of it's members.

I think that's the point I was making dpm, but nobody is being protected as such. The forum and site are what they have been designed to be, somewhere that Pentax Users can gather and get more from their Pentax cameras.

Consider its origins, in Pentax User Club and magazine. There were articles, letters, competitions, reviews and they were all about Pentax. Why would there be an article about, say, Olympus in there? Would that not be odd?

This site existed alongside the printed magazine for several years and was an extension that added the forum and the ability to share images. It was only every intended for Pentax, but of course sooner or later some left for other marques but wanted to continue to be a part of things here. That's fine, but once someone jumps ship then they either move on or they become marque-neutral. It would be odd to have a Pentax site advocating buying Nikon camera, wouldn't it?

Also bear in mind that there are many people who like it just the way it is and although they might not always want to put themselves in the firing lone in threads like this, they need to have their wishes considered also.

John. I have shown interest in a separate video board and so have several others. So to say "Where it's obvious there's a new interest, sections have been put in straight away." is just not the case.

Even if it has only one or two posts in it, so what, it's not as if it takes up valuable resources.

There has already been several posts in this thread about the relative merits of the gallery vs the My photos board. Your defence of the gallery doesn't answer many of it's critics.

The mention of PU magazine was done to indicate just how out of date parts of this website are. Not to actually view it.

The 20% saving is great if you have problems with you equipment however, on a more day to day, mundane basis it's not that much of an incentive (and this is from someone who has just had his camera repaired and has a lens at JP as I type).

The fact that you, as a moderator, don't know if/when there will be an app is another indicator of the level of 'investment' being put into this site. Who does know, how can we, the humble members (who steer the direction of this forum, if I read your words correctly)find out?

This site needs investing in and bringing up to date. I feel that you are in the uncomfortable position of defending the indefensible, even if you don't realise it

I have aired my views and appreciate the opportunity to do so but I shall 'stand down now' otherwise my boss might notice and I may have to sell all my lovely pentax kit to make up for lost earnings

That sections have been put in straight away is most certainly the case. Added sections were quickly put in when the K-01 came along and mirrorless posts started to inundate everywhere. These posts were then moved into the new section, which now caters for the Q as well.

When Ricoh happened it was realised that GR owners deserved to be included, so they were in a very short time. Not for commercial reasons or pressures from Ricoh, as I'm sure some will think, but because I suggested it in anticipation.

Ages ago, I suggested we change "Pentax Lenses" into "Lenses for Pentax Cameras" so that we were obviously covering other makes.

As for the overall plan, there is constant upgrading and the occasional major upgrade. I thought the direct image uploading into the forums was a brilliant idea and added it to the ADAPS forum as well. Much easier. Other things are considered and put in or not put in as the case may be. Everything mentioned so far has been put into the mix at various times.

Once again you have given the response expected but just, one final question before I get the sack:

Bearing in mind that it is May 2014, when was the change made to allow direct image uploading made?

I've given you the simple truth, so I'm glad that was expected.

I'm not sure what relevance the time of that particular change was and to be honest I've now no idea whatsoever. I simply offer it as an example of the constant small but significant tweaks that happen all the time.

Actually, a correction, it seems we all know the answer very exactly: https://www.pentaxuser.com/forum/topic/how-to-post-images-new--36443

Thanks John.

August 2012, 21 months ago.

I would not exactly call that constant or regular. Even Pentax have updated their cameras in that timeframe

That was the relevance of the question

Since something I posted to the gallery and nowhere else has appeared elsewhere on the web and credited to "others", I don't post there any more - the 800px is about right for people to see an image and comment; for those that claim not to be able to "see it" - if you can't see at that res, how do you cope with a viewfinder or LCD?

In respect of the forum, as you say John, it's primarily Pentax (clue in the name, etc..) but I think the blanket ban on mentioning other brands is a bit draconian. Granted, we don't want this to become a free-for-all, but at the same time it seems unhealthy to pretend other makes don't exist.

Thanks RayB, there's more than one point of view to consider and the 800px limit is perfectly good to view and assess an image.

Sometimes it's a bit odd that people talk of blanket bans, where in fact it's a matter of common sense and context. Just recently, for example, there was a thread on using Pentax Limited lenses on Sony cameras. Was that Pentax relevant? Yes.

If somebody posted a whole series of images with their new Nikon, would that be appropriate? No, I don't think so.

If somebody posted a detailed thread explaining how their life had been changed by moving to an Olympus mirrorless camera, would that be reasonable? No.

There's also a Pentax only rule re images, but if you're selling up and take the picture of your Pentax on your camera phone then that's fine. It's all a matter of context and common sense.

If in doubt, ask. When I was on Olympus User, I asked if it was OK to post some For Sale items, as there was no section for it. Then it was fine. On AP they removed my website link under the rule of "competitive site" but I just shrugged my shoulders, after all I have to be impressed if my website is seen as competition to AP! I think they might have got the wrong end of the stick there, but never mind.