Low-Tech Forum?

[The Kapenta Kid]

I wonder if you might consider a low-tech forum, i.e. for aquatic pictures taken on typical simple point-and-shoot type digi-cameras with no manual shutter/aperture/focus settings and no off-camera flash.

Benny has shown us what can be done with such simple hardware in his Ixus review. Not all members have or even aspire to DSLRs or even high-end non-SLR digi-cameras and we could learn a lot from a forum showing what can be done with limited technical means. This would be for aqua photography only, since this is where the limitations of point-and-shoot are most severe. It would be nice to see expert photographers contributing too, showing how technique and skill can compensate for low-tech kit—rather like those hunters who use muzzle loaders and bows and arrows rather than deer rifles with scopes.

[benny]

Whilst this is certainly an interesting idea to consider, I'm sure there are other considerations that we have to bear in mind.

1. Folks with compact digital cameras can already get help in the galleries as well as photography 101.

2. A lot of folks using compact digital cameras would benefit more from a basic understanding of photography than trying to emulate "settings".

3. A lot of folks don't own more than 1 digital camera. And if they do, chances are that they use almost one exclusively for aquatic photography. Therefore it's quite unlikely to see "expert" photographers contributing as access is limited for the time being.

The reason for the Canon IXUS 40 field test was mainly due to the concern/misconception that compact digital cameras can't take decent aquatic pictures, and "you need a digital SLR" trend recently. We felt that this exercise would reassure compact digital camera users that APF is the place to learn more about the limitations of their cameras and get better pictures instead of a place to justify their yearning to upgrade photography hardware.

My thoughts are not representative of APF, but I'm sure you'll hear from Ed and Jay on this. However, I can be sure that all of us appreciate such constructive sugestions for future improvement.

Cheers,

[The Kapenta Kid]

Thanks, I take your points
TKK

[JerseyJay]

The Kapenta Kid,

Thank you for suggestions. New Ideas are what APF is looking for and we take all of them into consideration.

Benny is correct.

1. APF is trying to stay as compact as possible. There is no need to create multiple sections for high-tech or low-tech digitial/SLR cameras. Remember, this is not another General Photography Forum and we are trying not to become one.

2. Photography 101 doesn't discriminate, so if you have 100$ or 10000$, you will receive the same quality feedback.

Happy posting !

[The Kapenta Kid]

Thanks. I agree, Keep the focus tight and compact. If I go to a cichlid site it is a waste of time them having a forum on catfish or plants, I go to planet catfish or plant geeks or similar for info on these topics. General sites are often fun, but for the best hard info stick to the specialist boards. But this won't stop me throwing in loopy suggestions from time to time.