Doing a search should be required.

[bonefish]

Hi folks, i'm new to photography and this forum which is a great place to learn....but damn why the hell do people not do a search within the forum before starting a thread asking the same question which was asked and answered a week ago ?. There must be 2 dozen threads asking about the Canon 28-135mm is usm lens alone.
The site is not that hard to navigate around is it ?

Just wanted to add i am amazed at how patient some of the veterans are answering the same questions over and over, truly a nice bunch of people.

[sugarzebra]

I agree, but do you think I should buy a 24-70 f/2.8 or the 24-105 f/4 with IS?:D:D

[Ruffneck]

hahaha..thats a good one! It got a chuckle out of me!

[wazmunstr]

i agree with searching, and everyone does really good to not lose patience and scare ppl away. this is a fourm, we are all here to help one another. :)

[jjonsalt]

....but damn why the hell do people not do a search within the forum before starting a thread asking the same question which was asked and answered a week ago ?

Oh, well, another "why the hell do people not do a search within the forum" thread.

[twotimer]

It is easier to just post a question and besides it gives people a chance to post a reply.

;)

Gerhard

[Citizensmith]

At least nobody has started arguing about croping factors in this one yet.

[FlashZebra]

I am relatively new to this forum and there seems to be only 18 different questions, make that 14, well possibly 23.

So, I have developed a couple of rather extensive answers for a couple of these frequent questions and every time they come up, I just post the same answer.

The same question gets the same answer. If the person asking the question is too lazy to do a search, I am too lazy to provide a new answer. Seems very measured to me.

Should I buy a Sigma 56-87mm F/4.7-9.3 or a cup of clam chowder (Manhattan style), or should I just learn to yodel.

Enjoy! Lon

[cjm]

At least nobody has started arguing about croping factors in this one yet.What is a crop factor? Is it on the sensor or the lens :lol: Muhahahahah

[chancellor]

Is 16-35 sharp wide open? (Lord, the floor is yours :D)

[shniks]

Have you ever done a search? You get so many search results that you dont actually want, its hard to get the answer you are looking for, because you have to sort through quite a lot of unrelated posts. I think thats why people give up with the search tool and just ask their question.

[Dante King]

Hi folks, i'm new to photography and this forum which is a great place to learn....but damn why the hell do people not do a search within the forum before starting a thread asking the same question which was asked and answered a week ago ?. There must be 2 dozen threads asking about the Canon 28-135mm is usm lens alone.
The site is not that hard to navigate around is it ?

Just wanted to add i am amazed at how patient some of the veterans are answering the same questions over and over, truly a nice bunch of people.

well, did you search on your topic???? :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

[Dante King]

(Lord, the floor is yours :D)

why is he drinking again???

[Andy_T]

Have you ever done a search? You get so many search results that you dont actually want, its hard to get the answer you are looking for, because you have to sort through quite a lot of unrelated posts. I think thats why people give up with the search tool and just ask their question.

That is actually a very good point.

Sometimes I see a question and know that it was answered extensively some time ago ... but still have a hard time to find that thread and navigate the person asking the question to it. Maybe it would be a good idea to make some kind of FAQ :lol:

Kidding aside, I find that google is very helpful in searching this thread, especially as not all search terms are indexed (most likely for performance reasons). You just open google, enter your search critieria and add 'site: photography-on-the.net' to your search phrase.

Example:
canon sigma 30 1.4 28 1.8 comparison site: photography-on-the.net

Best regards,
Andy

Best regards,
Andy

[chancellor]

why is he drinking again???

Nope, I am :D :D :D

[tommykjensen]

That is actually a very good point.

Sometimes I see a question and know that it was answered extensively some time ago ... but still have a hard time to find that thread and navigate the person asking the question to it. Maybe it would be a good idea to make some kind of FAQ :lol:

Kidding aside

That is actually our plan. Behind the scenes we will be preparing a FAQ section. There is not a lot yet so it won't be viewable yet.

When I see a question I know has been answered, or more importantly one I know I have posted in or I remember who posted in it I add that to the search. For exampe a question that pops up a lot is which lens to choose between 300 f/4L IS, 400 f5.6L or 100-400 4.5-5.6L IS. I know I have posted in many of those and I even have my own poll on this so I use that when searching for the link.

[Andy_T]

That is actually our plan. Behind the scenes we will be preparing a FAQ section. There is not a lot yet so it won't be viewable yet.

Tommy, you didn't get it, I was kidding :D

There are the good old 'stickies' that have been renamed to 'FAQ'.

My technique is similar to yours ... when I see a thread that is really helpful for newbies because important questions are answered, I 'rate' it. When I search for it again, I go to the relevant forum and have the threads sorted by rating. It's much easier to scroll through the first 3 pages of threads that have a rating than the usual 300 or 5000 that a search will bring up.

BTW, you might move this thread to 'forum talk' or else, becaus it's not exactly pertaining to lenses :wink:

Best regards,
Andy

[Nice Glass]

Is a generitec UV filter good for my 200mm 1.8 lens I just got off of ebay?

[tommykjensen]

Tommy, you didn't get it, I was kidding :D

There are the good old 'stickies' that have been renamed to 'FAQ'.


I know You were but I wanted to add that there is more on the way.

[Andy_T]

Is a generitec UV filter good for my 200mm 1.8 lens I just got off of ebay?

I heaven't heard of the brand 'Generitec', so I advise you to stick to known brands like 'Opteka', 'Digital optics' or 'Quantaray' :lol:

Tommy, it's good to hear that you are always busy behind the curtains working at making the forum even more user friendly. :D

Best regards,
Andy

[Mathiau]

This happens on ALL forums - people want everything handed to them on a platter instead of using search, or they search using one word and dont bother trying diff combinations.


i dont know how many threads i read before posting my first question.

[jjonsalt]

At least nobody has started arguing about croping factors in this one yet.

If you will kindly state your position on this I will be glad to start an argument.

[jjonsalt]

The same question gets the same answer.

Why would it not anyway?

[jjonsalt]

why is he drinking again???

Wine, he has taken up wine.

[jjonsalt]

i dont know how many threads i read before posting my first question.

See how much time you could had saved?

[cjm]

Actually what I hate is when you start a thread like say a "Show your...." or something and you'll get a poster that will post "Its already been done" and then post a link. Then you go to the link and more then half the images are deleted.

Im sure I am not the only one who is driven nuts by the "It was posted 3 years ago and has been done so you cant post this topic at all because it has been done" attitude even though half the posters on the done thread are long gone and now there is more then twice as many people here. Doesnt matter because its been done. Argh :evil:

[Mathiau]

See how much time you could had saved?

But then i also wouldn't learn alot which i learned by reading over other people's threads.

it is amazing things i find out how to do, or learn, things i may not of even known to ask about just by reading over threads before hand i found out how to do.

So, i may have saved my time asking right away and also possibly annoying and wasting other people's time and getting no responses at all, but i also learned alot so for me i am didnt waste any time.



Actually what I hate is when you start a thread like say a "Show your...." or something and you'll get a poster that will post "Its already been done" and then post a link. Then you go to the link and more then half the images are deleted.


I had posted a new thread for that, then was told it was done, so i went and checked it, and it had recent posts. Then the other person did the same i did, so i pointed out the new thread.

Dead pics are dead pics - why start a new thread, just put your new pics in the same thread already going. People dont always remeber what pics they have linked where so when they clean their web space some get deleted - the new thread started will certainly have dead pics eventually, so should we then go and start yet ANOTHER thread about the same topic....


Sure, if there is some 3 year old thread about something - start a new one, but when someone can simply click to go to Page 2 of the subsection to see the same post they posted, someone else posted less then say a few weeks ago..... ? it comes down to lazyness of people not wanting to do the ground work behind things, to take the time to click on one more link and search through a couple, at least try 1 or 2 threads to see if they covered what you are asking, instead of just instantly posting a new thread with out looking - that is just pure lazyness, something that todays "society" has alot of.

[cjm]

I understand that Mathiau if its a couple weeks or even 6 months or less old but when its over a year old or something and it has been inactive for a long time enough is enough and its time for new.

After all in Lenses fourm, there is thread after thread after thread about the Nifty 50 or 28-135 IS. In EOS fourm there is thread after thread after thread about 30D, Rebel XT, etc. All asking the same thing. It would be unacceptible for someone to say "Its been done!" there, so why is it acceptible to say to someone that just joined "Its been done"?

I had that happen to me when I first joined and I have seen it happen to many others. Always I take the time to respond to their question as I will if I read a 28-135 IS lens question. It only takes 1 min to do so.

[Holly]

This may be surprising, but this newbie does use the search feature. I've also learned how to filter through all the posts and i'm started to know how some people will post and to skip over those....:) It just takes some getting used to. I don't think making fun of people or just plain being mean is helpful and I have seen alot of that as well.

[tommykjensen]

I understand Your frustration over dead links in the "Show your xxx" threads. Dead links is always annoying and is in fact the main reason why I won't allow editing and repost of my photos. Because I hate to come back to a thread where a photo has been posted and someone have improved it but the photo is gone.

I would much rather see 20 dead links in one "Show us Your xxx" thread than see a new "Show us Your bag" thread every week/month.

As to saying "Its been done" I say in that short form it is not ok. But if You refer to the relevant thread I think it is pefectly ok to say this has been done or this has been asked. The question is how You say it and if You provide a link.

Reg. the same questions being asked about specfic lenses and cameras I have many times referred to other threads on the subject "which to choose 300 mm f/4 or 400 f/5.6". Just saying "Its been done do a search" is definately not cool in my opinon. But saying "This has been asked many times, have a look here xxx maybe You can find Your answer here" is perfectly fine in my opinion.

[tommykjensen]

This may be surprising, but this newbie does use the search feature. I've also learned how to filter through all the posts and i'm started to know how some people will post and to skip over those....:) It just takes some getting used to. I don't think making fun of people or just plain being mean is helpful and I have seen alot of that as well.

I agree after a while You get a feel for how different members respond.

As for being mean or rude. If You see that then let the mod team know by clicking on the little red triangle to the left of the post. That we will have a look at the post and if required take action.

[superdiver]

Havent I seen this same thread somewhere else?

[whiskaz]

Well, I almost posted a new thread regarding the subject of "searching" ... but this one was on the first page so... here goes. I'm an avid believer in using the "search" function but it's nice to see a fairly laid back approach to the many, many, many, many reposts that happen on POTN. Why? Because the search feature on POTN is awful! No offense to POTN cuz I'm pretty sure it's a package deal (as with most forums) so blame it on vBulletin but... c'mon, why won't it treat "My Search" as a whole instead of searching for "my" AND "search"?

Now, the ones that seem to get posted over and over again - lens recommendations - are pretty easy to search on (and give decent results) - e.g. "10-22"

Just a minor complaint to an otherwise great forum. I think we all love photography and our gear enough that we're more than happy to post our thoughts on the 50mm or 70-200 over and over and over and over and over... :)

[zacker]

and everyone, The word is LENS not LENSE! lol..
just thought id add that to the convo!
-zacker-

[jfrancho]

At least nobody has started arguing about croping factors in this one yet.That argument is overrated - let's get into the zoom vs. primes debate.

[Jaymz]

That argument is overrated - let's get into the zoom vs. primes debate.

Even better topic, filter vs. no filter.

[Citizensmith]

I was wondering, do filters have a more significant affect on zooms or primes? Does the smaller image circle of a EF-s lens mean a filter will have less effect? Should I buy a filter now or wait till september to see if any new ones come out? Which is better, the 22-55 f/4-5.6 or the 70-200 f/2.8 IS L? Will it be the same answer if I put a filter on them?

[jjonsalt]

Even better topic, filter vs. no filter.

But, only if we can have "Hood or no hood"?

[jfrancho]

100% cotton or poly blend?

[Andy_T]

I was wondering, do filters have a more significant affect on zooms or primes? Does the smaller image circle of a EF-s lens mean a filter will have less effect? Should I buy a filter now or wait till september to see if any new ones come out? Which is better, the 22-55 f/4-5.6 or the 70-200 f/2.8 IS L? Will it be the same answer if I put a filter on them?

:lol: :lol: :lol:

All valid questions!

Best regards,
Andy

[In2Photos]

Paper or plastic? Import or domestic? To be or not to be? Chicken or the egg?

[JohnnyG]

and everyone, The word is LENS not LENSE! lol..
just thought id add that to the convo!
-zacker-
They're actually both acceptable according to Webster's and other on-line dictionaries!!!

It's just a matter of preference!!!:D:D:D

[tim]

Chicken or the egg?

Egg. See here (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/nottinghamshire/5019682.stm).

[Photodawg1]

Excellent point. I have probably one of the guiltiest people asking relentless questions that were already answered. Now, I do a search about 85-90% of the time before I start with why, why why. What would be cool if there a was a magic way for the thread to take keywords and point to the answers, but I would miss all the interaction.

[jfrancho]

In Firefox, highlight the word, right-click, and choose "Search the web for [highlighted word]". If you have specified Google as your default search engine, you should get a pile of results.

[nation]

In Firefox, highlight the word, right-click, and choose "Search the web for [highlighted word]". If you have specified Google as your default search engine, you should get a pile of results.

Cool learn something new everyday. :D

[whiskaz]

But you've proven my point! The search facility @ POTN sucks if you want to search for more than one word. Yea, google is your friend, but google doesn't always pick up particular threads on forums. Also, since I'm already a member of this forum, searching through the bazillion threads full of info should provide me with whatever I might be looking for. Still just a minor complaint/whine ;)

[In2Photos]

But you've proven my point! The search facility @ POTN sucks if you want to search for more than one word. Yea, google is your friend, but google doesn't always pick up particular threads on forums. Also, since I'm already a member of this forum, searching through the bazillion threads full of info should provide me with whatever I might be looking for. Still just a minor complaint/whine ;)

That is funny, I don't have much trouble using the search function for more than one word. Just did it yesterday in fact with great results.

[CyberDyneSystems]

Have you ever done a search? You get so many search results that you dont actually want, its hard to get the answer you are looking for, because you have to sort through quite a lot of unrelated posts. I think thats why people give up with the search tool and just ask their question.

This is true,. but if you use the advanced search features.. you can easily get the results you are looking for. The first thing is to select "search titles only" as opposed to posts..

You can select specific fora to search rather than the whole place etc..

[CyberDyneSystems]

But you've proven my point! The search facility @ POTN sucks if you want to search for more than one word. Yea, google is your friend, but google doesn't always pick up particular threads on forums. Also, since I'm already a member of this forum, searching through the bazillion threads full of info should provide me with whatever I might be looking for. Still just a minor complaint/whine ;)

Won't using Boolean fix these issues?

[whiskaz]

Won't using Boolean fix these issues?

I stand corrected :o

Boolean should be the default for a quick search :) I'm just used to the top search engines and simply typing in "photoshop books" for example. Thanks for the help!

[nation]

Nah Boolean still doesn't work so great. The best way for me to search the forum now is google. In the advanced search section type in http://photography-on-the.net/forum in the domain section (6th item down) and away you go customising your search for exact phrases, boolean searches etc. Works a charm :)