General question to the membership...

[Nick D]

I'm moderating all the groups  . OBTW, was thinking about A900

I don't see the worry about splintering. Yes it will splinter in a sense that only Oly or Canon or Nikon users will probably meet with their respective groups (well maybe except me and no I am not moderating), but that is not any more splintering then when some of us meet to go shoot seperately from club events.

nick

[Nick D]

Oly in da haus!!!!

Can Nick join all three groups since he has/ used all manufacturer's? 

Why else do you think I haven't stated a manufacturer?

[Frank]

I'm in for Olympus.

[Yammer77]

Smart move Frank.

[RacingHistorian]

Olympus:

1) Scott
2) Anthony
3) Frank
4) Nick (Conditional, may get booted for being a traitor!    )
5) Lee
6) Judy
7) nrompilla3
karlg


Did I miss anyone else?

[Yammer77]

 nrompilla3 and karlg shoots olympus..

[peachhead]

I think both ideas are great---both for the Big Three Cameras and also focus Groups for Lightroom and other editing programs.  Maybe Andy can mention it at the next meeting since we will be doing critiques anyway.

In the Camera Brands we also need an "Other" category for Sony, Minolta, Pentax and probably also a "Film" group for those that only shoot film.

[bellamia]

Nikon for me.

bellamia

[Yammer77]

I think both ideas are great---both for the Big Three Cameras and also focus Groups for Lightroom and other editing programs.  Maybe Andy can mention it at the next meeting since we will be doing critiques anyway.

In the Camera Brands we also need an "Other" category for Sony, Minolta, Pentax and probably also a "Film" group for those that only shoot film.

we do need a group for Geek and Ric

[jefg99]

How many separate groups should we have for those of us who shoot primarily or exclusively with point & shoots? Unless I'm way off base. There's more similarity between different brands of dslrs than there are between p&s cameras and dslrs of the same brand. Being naive in this regard, just how much difference is there between shooting with an entry level Nikon and an entry level Canon, or is more of a competition thing? Having only shot with one, I truly have no idea.

[Yammer77]

Good points Jeff.
I think we could have slr groups and a mixed point and shoot group.
I still use my p&s, my 3 yr old loves camera tosses (seriously).
Most DSLRS can do the same thing, especially in our price ranges , but the menu structures from manufacturer's are different.  Not necessarily from model to model, but from Nikon to Canon, etc.

Groups for one meeting could be:

Canon DSLRs (understanding the menu's settings, etc,)

Nikon DSLRS (understanding the menu's settings, etc,)

Olympus DSLRS (understanding the menu's settings, etc, or just dunk my E-3 in a bucket of water  )

A chair for the pentax guy

All Point and Shoots (techniques)

Then another meeting the groups could be:

Lightroom/Aperture Users

Photoshop/ PS Elements/

ACDSee/ Picasa (freeware) / Gimp (freeware)

just a thought.

I think you can read manuals, books, etc. until you are blue in the face, but physical interaction with electronics makes me happy. Ok does that sound as bad as it reads?

[Andrew Smith]

Anthony, I think that's a very good breakdown of groups.  I know there are people who can read an instruction manual and go from there, but I am more of a "show me what this thingie does" type person.

I will mention this at our next meeting.  In the meantime, count me in for the Nikon/Lightroom/Photoshop groups.

I seriously need to stop posting so much.  I'm exhausted.

[Ken K.]

Jeff makes a good point.  The controls on most Canon P&S are very similar to a Canon DSLR, but I bet they are quite different compared to P&S models of other brands.  

So, if someone is looking to gain a better understanding of just what the other modes on a Canon P&S are all about they should talk to the Canon folks.  But if they are looking to explore how other P&S folks use the camera in the field, for example, then the mixed group might be the place to hang out.  I think it all depends on what questions the P&S folks have any particular month.

Ken

[jefg99]

Thanks Ken, probably the first good point I've made in months. My point about p&s people being interested in less in dlsr stuff is that I suspect the manufacturer groups will talk a lot about lens, filters, attached flash, and many specific manual options not available to p&s shooters. Beginners and less advance amateurs, of which we have a good number, might want to concentrate on more general topics such as basic shooting tips, composition, lighting and shooting in special situations. From what I've observed, MOST p&s cameras have similar shooting modes.

[karlg]

Good points Jeff.
I think we could have slr groups and a mixed point and shoot group.
I still use my p&s, my 3 yr old loves camera tosses (seriously).
Most DSLRS can do the same thing, especially in our price ranges , but the menu structures from manufacturer's are different.  Not necessarily from model to model, but from Nikon to Canon, etc.

Groups for one meeting could be:

Canon DSLRs (understanding the menu's settings, etc,)

Nikon DSLRS (understanding the menu's settings, etc,)

Olympus DSLRS (understanding the menu's settings, etc, or just dunk my E-3 in a bucket of water  )

A chair for the pentax guy

All Point and Shoots (techniques)

Then another meeting the groups could be:

Lightroom/Aperture Users

Photoshop/ PS Elements/

ACDSee/ Picasa (freeware) / Gimp (freeware)

just a thought.

I think you can read manuals, books, etc. until you are blue in the face, but physical interaction with electronics makes me happy. Ok does that sound as bad as it reads?

Anthony,
Your proposal looks like a good breakdown.  Count me in for Olympus, Canon, Aperture, and Photoshop.  I am kind of a mixed up guy.

Karl