Posted by Jim Erhardt on March 24, 2007 at 12:10 PM
As you know, I have the domain name www.canonshooter.com for my personal website. Since I haven't done anything in a very long time with the site - and continue to lack the motivation to do so - I wonder if it should be converted into an online community for the users of Canon cameras.
Canonshooter.com could become a site dedicated to all aspects of Canon camera use, user reviews, etc. It could also be open to all genres of photography for which Canon cameras are used.
So, I'm looking for your feedback on this idea. Would you have any interest in helping to establish such a site? I do not envison any paid membership, but perhaps some reasonable level of paid advertising to help support the site.
I think it's a great idea. I would like to see it kept to the serious amature and professional (fee-based posting) so that the bandwidth isn't chewed up by the same which lens, which body, Canon versus Nikon questions that get asked over and over on the freebie sites. Once you establish credibility, you might get a sales and marketing type from Canon to join in occasionally, much as LBJ has done with sigforum.com and the guys at fenderforum.com have done. It's interesting how their rumors turn out to be true almost 100% of the time.
Jim, it's a great idea whose time has come. And, uh, someone already has done it. Check out http://photography-on-the.net/forum/index.php
However, there's plenty of room on the WWW, and the downfall of that site is you've got lots and lots of newbies,which isn't in and of itself a bad thing, because we were all newbies once, but the value of advice and C&C on that site varies considerably, unlike the consistently good advice one gets here.
Posted by Thomas Biggs on March 24, 2007 at 4:47 PM
Sounds like a plan!
Posted by Jim Erhardt on March 24, 2007 at 6:30 PM
Thanks for the feedback! Keeping it geared towards the more advanced user certainly has its benefits, and as long as the general public can view the forums (like here on NPN) they can learn from reading the discussions.
So you think a membership fee would be the best way to accomplish this?
Something that just occurred to me while reading this thread is that it might be interesting if the membership "fee" was not money but rather contributing some sort of article or review or an entry in a wiki or something.
Posted by Tom Webster on March 24, 2007 at 9:33 PM
If you're ready to put up with a huge modeating headache you could create a forum for Canon photographers. I'm not sure a fee site would go over all that well. The pros and advanced Canon photographers rarely visit the public forums as it is. I think you'll just end up with the same thing as POTN/Canon users...and it ain't pretty!
It's an interesting idea but how feasible is it? If I want to learn about Canon grear, I learn it here. Nikon users get the same benefit from NPN. Why would I pay a fee to join another website when I get what I need right here?
If you want to limit participation to serious Canon users, instead of charging a fee, why not limit it the way CPS does. Participants must own professional grade Canon equipment.
Posted by Walter Rowe on March 25, 2007 at 12:20 PM
Jim. Have you investigated what other online sites exist for Canon shooters? Nikon shooters have several to choose from - Nikonians, NikonCafe, DPReview, Photo.net, etc. I'm not trying to discourage you. I'm just trying to help you make an informed decision. I don't know how successful you will be at attracting people to CanonShooter.com given they have so many places already to congregate. As another person said, there is lots of room on the Internet.
Posted by Jim Erhardt on March 25, 2007 at 12:27 PM
Walter, good point and one I can fully relate too. What are some of the busier Canon sites?
Posted by Tom Webster on March 25, 2007 at 12:54 PM
Tom posted the same forum I did earlier in this thread. I've never seen a busier Canon photog forum than POTN. I was on there a bit earlier in my shooting days, and still drop in from time to time, but there's not really a lot of value there for me anymore and I don't go back much. Even trying to help someone out with an answer to a simple question can earn a bunch of gadfly replies. Mostly these days I just lurk in the bird forum there and answer ID queries.
I agree that making a pay site for Canon users probably isn't the way to go. A person COULD establish two boards here on NPN, one for Canon users and one for Nikon and, I suppose in all fairness, one for "those other brands."
Jim, canonshooter.com is WAY better for what POTN does than POTN. No doubt. Are you really attached to the idea of using the canonshooter.com site for something? I'd say if you want to go ahead and use it for a POTN-like site, it would be important to find mods who reflect NPN's balance and low-key, no-nonsense attitude to photography. Not that this is a hard-nosed place. There are plenty of threads about the inspiration and the beauty of it all. Just that in an experienced bunch like this, people tend not to run a fever over the little stuff. On POTN, plenty of people run a fever over any little thing.
Of course, NPN's reputation for professionalism might be a draw for canonshooter.com, too.
Just my random, Sunday afternoon, post-shooting-in-the-fog thoughts.
Posted by Jim Erhardt on March 25, 2007 at 7:41 PM
Steve, thanks for your thoughts. My primary concern is wasting a great domain name on a rather uninteresting personal website that doesn't offer any real value. Nowadays, great domain names like "naturephotograhers" and "canonshooter" are not something to be wasted.
I would create a Canon-dedicated wbesite if I knew we had a group interested in using it and promoting it via word-of-mouth and personal website links. I truly like the idea of gearing it toward the advanced user and keeping the background noise to a minimum, like we do here on NPN. What I'd hate to do is make an investment of time and energy in creating it only to have it not be used (already done that a few times).
I remain open to any and all ideas on the proposed CSC site!
Posted by Joseph Finn on March 28, 2007 at 10:46 PM
Jim, I too was a member of POTN, the reason I no longer visit is the level of conversation dropped drastically to a junior high level, the reason I came here is the level of conversation and talent and honest wisdom one can get. I would be very interested in a Canon specific forum if you could maintain the atmosphere you have created here. I am sure some there are people here who would be willing to add a link and pass on the info, I know I would. Best Wishes on this.......J
Discussion
16 repliesCanonshooter.com could become a site dedicated to all aspects of Canon camera use, user reviews, etc. It could also be open to all genres of photography for which Canon cameras are used.
So, I'm looking for your feedback on this idea. Would you have any interest in helping to establish such a site? I do not envison any paid membership, but perhaps some reasonable level of paid advertising to help support the site.
As always, your thoughts are appreciated!
How much for CSC 1?
However, there's plenty of room on the WWW, and the downfall of that site is you've got lots and lots of newbies,which isn't in and of itself a bad thing, because we were all newbies once, but the value of advice and C&C on that site varies considerably, unlike the consistently good advice one gets here.
So you think a membership fee would be the best way to accomplish this?
If you want to limit participation to serious Canon users, instead of charging a fee, why not limit it the way CPS does. Participants must own professional grade Canon equipment.
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/
"Canonshooter.com" seems much more descriptive than "photography-on-the-net.net". We could model CSC like that board, though...
I agree that making a pay site for Canon users probably isn't the way to go. A person COULD establish two boards here on NPN, one for Canon users and one for Nikon and, I suppose in all fairness, one for "those other brands."
Jim, canonshooter.com is WAY better for what POTN does than POTN. No doubt. Are you really attached to the idea of using the canonshooter.com site for something? I'd say if you want to go ahead and use it for a POTN-like site, it would be important to find mods who reflect NPN's balance and low-key, no-nonsense attitude to photography. Not that this is a hard-nosed place. There are plenty of threads about the inspiration and the beauty of it all. Just that in an experienced bunch like this, people tend not to run a fever over the little stuff. On POTN, plenty of people run a fever over any little thing.
Of course, NPN's reputation for professionalism might be a draw for canonshooter.com, too.
Just my random, Sunday afternoon, post-shooting-in-the-fog thoughts.
I would create a Canon-dedicated wbesite if I knew we had a group interested in using it and promoting it via word-of-mouth and personal website links. I truly like the idea of gearing it toward the advanced user and keeping the background noise to a minimum, like we do here on NPN. What I'd hate to do is make an investment of time and energy in creating it only to have it not be used (already done that a few times).
I remain open to any and all ideas on the proposed CSC site!