From: alan.browne@FreeLunchVideotron.ca 
  
 Christian McArdle wrote: 
  
 >>>I thought it was to increase the signal to noise ratio by splitting in 
 >>>"idiot" and "expert" sections, so the experts didn't have to wade through 
 >>>thousands of noddy questions by newbies. It depends whether you consider 
 >>>newbie questions to be "noise". 
 >> 
 >>That's not at all the intent.  The DSLR users include a wide 
 >>range from newbie-amateur to expert professional (as it always 
 >>has been in rpe35mm).  It is about the type of equipment used ... 
 >>and DSLR touches on a wide range of lenses, flashes and other 
 >>equipment. 
 > 
 > 
 > I would not define anyone who has sufficient interest to purchase a digital 
 > SLR, lenses and flashes to be a newbie. A newbie to digital SLRs, maybe, 
 but 
 > not a newbie to photography in general. The very fact that they have 
 > bothered to acquire (or consider) an SLR is an indication of their serious 
 > intent, which sets them apart from the majority of the digital point and 
 > shoot masses. 
  
 Answering your last phrase first ... false.  A lot of people's 
 first camera is SLR ... or DSLR... and at that point their 
 knowldege of photography and cameras may be very low indeed. 
  
 This is no different than the like situation in rpe35mm where 
 relative newcomers  to SLR photography have joined in for 
 whatever reason pleases them.  Be it prior to purchase, after 
 purchase looking for clarification, advice on new lenses, etc. 
 It doesn't matter that DSLR is more specialized, there are people 
 who get SLR's who know nothing about photography or cameras, but 
 for whatever reason, that's what they've purchased.  The range of 
 discussion in the proposed dslr group is not limited to those who 
 are more expert than others ... as has been the tradition at 
 rpe35mm and a rpd, newcomers are welcome and there are good 
 number of people with good advice.  And that's a major 
 contribution these groups make. 
  
 -- 
 -- rec.photo.equipment.35mm user resource: 
 -- http://www.aliasimages.com/rpe35mmur.htm 
 -- e-meil: there's no such thing as a FreeLunch.-- 
  
 --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05 
  * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)