XPost: rec.photo.digital 
 From: black_boxer_briefs@yahoo.com 
  
 Thanks for the feedback, ECM. 
  
 ECM wrote: 
  
 > I think the proposed names of the groups is a problem. Very few tyro's 
 > (yes, like me) are going to know what you're talking about - ie. "ZLR? 
 > what's that? Rangefinder???...". And, let's face it, the more 
 > sophisticated users, with the higher end equipment, want a forum where 
 > they can talk to each other without the background irritation of the 
 > beginners. The beginners and just trying to learn-ers would probably 
 > appreciate a forum to get basic answers and post photos for comment 
 > without the jeers from the old f--ts. 
 > 
 > So, I humbly propose (something like): 
 > rec.photo.digital.professional (combining the SLR and Rangefinder 
 > categories) 
  
 There are consumer, prosumer and professional models of DSLRs. 
 Rangefinders are used by photographers with a wide degree of different 
 backgrounds too. 
  
 > rec.photo.digital.hobby (combining the ZLR and Point+Shoot categories) 
  
 My Nikon D70 is used for hobbyist purposes - not professional. And this 
 is a DSLR. 
  
 > rec.photo.digital.software (to discuss digital post-processing and so 
 > forth) 
  
 Post processing will be discussed in the same group as all of the 
 cameras anyway, so why ban them from the charters? 
  
 > Now, I picked these names "out of a hat" so to speak; really I just 
 > think that no-one will really understand the groups you've suggested, 
 > and the proposed names presuppose a level of knowledge of photography 
 > that few beginners (or even moderately sophisticated dabblers) are 
 > going to have. Perhaps a division along the lines of the professionals 
 > vs. the hobbyists would be more useful. Or perhaps hardware and 
 > software? I don't know. 
 > 
 > Anyways, my two bits.... 
 > ECM 
  
 Thanks, but that would open even more basis for "elitist" accusations 
 than the current proposals. This way, cameras are classified by ability, 
 not class or experience level. There will be beginners, intermediate, 
 and advanced users in all four of the proposed groups, if passed, and 
 they will all learn from each other. 
  
 -- 
  
 Thaddeus Lipshitz 
  
 --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05 
  * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)