Gear lists in Sigs – Yes or No

[neil_r]

I am not sure if this should be here or general chat, bit as I spend most of my time here I will post here (if in the wrong place, sorry mods, please move it for me)

Is putting a list of your equipment in you sig the right thing to do? I notice that many people do and I was thinking of doing the same as I can see some circumstances where that information could be useful. On the other hand it could be seen as simply flaunting your wealth.

I do not really have a view either way, but would be really interested in your views.

[ejwebb]

I don't see it as flaunting wealth. It is useful to see what gear people use to add some perspective to their comments - same as galleries included in the signature. For instance, if you see a comment that such and such consumer zoom lens is great - but the member has no other lenses or only other consumer zooms to compare it to you might take their opinion a little more lightly than you would if they also have several L's to compare it to.

Additionally, it is useful to allow readers to direct questions directly to other members regarding equipment if they know who has what. Plus - it takes some of the guilt out of burning so much cash when you know others burn more!! :lol:

[hodad66]

Seems helpfull to me 8)

[Patrick 10D]

Well, this is a forum where we discuss Canon camera gear. Seems quite appropriate to let everyone else what you use/own, IMHO.

[sGu]

i'd like to see what fellow canon shooter are using, my vote goest to "yes"

[tommykjensen]

Since the signature is limited to 255 characters it would be nice if the profile had one more field with space to more text and that text is displayed under the avatar just like the location information and it could list the equipment instead of in the signature.

[timmyquest]

I voted no, but out of respect to other members i'll keep my reasons to myself ;-)

[tommykjensen]

I voted no, but out of respect to other members i'll keep my reasons to myself ;-)

Funny You should have anything against this - You very publicly announced You got Yourself a 1D :wink:

[Sketcher]

JUST a personal preference. It's not a "Right or Wrong" kinda thing. Though there are benefits to listing gear in your sig.

1). It's a GEAR forum.

2). It's beneficial to Sig it if you don't like typing it all out w/every gear intensive question.

3). It's helpful to other forum members to know your gear list if you're asking a gear related question, neglect that detail in your post and are contrary to item #2.

4). Having it listed eliminates the "What gear are you using or have available?" question; producing more efficient and relevant responses to your posts. Again, not a problem if you don't mind typing it out every time you post a gear relative question. Believe it or not, some people avoid posts that don't contain sufficient detail and wait for others to ask the requisite questions before they take interest in chewing the meat of the issue (vegetarians need not apply).

5). Some of us have so much gear that if we don't put it in our Sig we'll forget what we have! And that's a shame, especially when we've spent so much money and forget why our grocery list reads: a) Kraft. b) Ramen. c)Repeat a & b.

6). Item #5 is meant in jest. (I personally prefer "Cup 'O Noodles")

7). #6 can be applied to any item that is not clear, just think of it as poor humor, humour that really isn't funny in your culture or just one of those things that no one really understands but nods knowingly in passing.

I appreciate seeing gear listed be it in post or in Sig so that I know what a person was using. I do recognize that some may consider it a pretentious thing to do, but IMO the benefit of information far outweighs my personal insecurity and envy of other members' equipment. Besides, who cares if some use it as a measuring of ones... wealth. We all know it's not really about the gear, but the photographer right!? ;)


.

[mson]

Clearly I list my gear to flaunt my wealth. :D

I think it's helpful to see what everyone is using. I especially like it when I see a really sharp photo, it gives me a way of seeing what a lens is capable of.

IMO, if someone can afford 20 L lenses good for them! If they want to put all them in their sig it doesn’t bother me at all.

[CyberDyneSystems]

But.. if it were all gear lists.. then Sketcher wouldn't be quoting me! :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

I have to admit I voted "NO" before I read the whole post. :(

To me the question seemed as if it "should" be included.. like almost manditory.. my mistake..

Anyway.. its should be totally up to the individual. Some peeps do see it as bragging, which is too bad... but there is certainly nothing with doing it.. so my vote should have been YES go for it :)

[johneo]

I can't see how one could consider it "flaunting your wealth" when I think most of us realize we're all broke with this nasty, money grubbing habit, err, I mean hobby :oops:

I think it helps very much when someone asks a question and you can see that the person replying has the item in question and speaks with experience. Those are the people I want to listen to when I make my decision for spending the temporary wealth I get on payday :lol: I guess flaunting my wealth would be when the Limo pulls up to the camera store and I get out and spend my paycheck ... :o (like that might happen!)

Having been around newgroups and various forums for a number of years, there is no more inaccurate or misleading info than when it's given by someone that does not or has not used said item but acts like an expert. To me, reading a review is fine and helpful but not the best way to make me decide if it's what I want or need.

[robekert]

I voted no.........early on, as a member of this board, I adopted my present sig. I like it. That's my story, and I'm stickin to it 8)
Rob

[Canuck]

I can see both sides of this, but the end of the day we are all here because we share a common interest, in photography. I can remember many times when I had the list and when the Sigma 120-300 F2.8EX first came out, I was asked many times by people about it and how I liked it. This by no means should be a war about I have a now $2300 lens (I got it for $400 less a year ago) and you have a Sigma 70-300 F3.5-5.6 that is about $150. Ok, so I can afford the beast and true enough you can't compare them. I would only strongly reccomend the more expensive one, or the Canon 100-400L lens because the difference is that much! At any rate...I cast a yes vote. I think it will be more beneficial to see what everyone has. I may add my arsenal soon.

[neil_r]

This has been really interesting; the vote is really quite close with yes just edging it. I have decided to give the gear list in sig a go. I just hope my wife does not get on the forum :lol:

N

[BearSummer]

Hey folks,

I voted yes, this is the only forum on which I have listed my kit mainly because the forum has so many kit questions. I like to see what other people have and its helpful when asking the "what's such and such like". At the end of the day, we are all poor of pocket but rich in vision and it would be a shame not to be able to vicariously thrill at someones new toy.

Best regards

BearSummer

[Cadwell]

Mmmm.... my answer to this would always have been "No" in the past. Reading some of the comments on this thread has given me food for thought, though.

I will think about it some more. :?

[Morden]

Mmmm.... my answer to this would always have been "No" in the past. Reading some of the comments on this thread has given me food for thought, though.

Ditto - and I ended up deciding to add a "gear list" to my sig. :)

[CyberDyneSystems]

On another forum I used to live at.. where people had pages of gear lists as sigs.. the "gear" in this case was PC components..

I allways felt that.. "Gear lists are kinda lame" ... The quote.. was stolen from a member of this forum, who used that as his sig many many moons ago...

[Ballen Photo]

Mmmm.... my answer to this would always have been "No" in the past. Reading some of the comments on this thread has given me food for thought, though.

I will think about it some more. :?

I'm also sitting on the fence on this topic for now. :?:

When the gear list gets so big that it outweighs the actual subject at hand, what then?

This shot was taken just as I was entering the digital arena a few years ago. Taken with my Olympus E-10. My 10-D and G-5 weren't made yet. :wink:
-Bruce
http://www.fototime.com/D8C22A459C60141/standard.jpg

[CyberDyneSystems]

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

[Morden]

This shot was taken just as I was entering the digital arena a few years ago.

Hey! You stole my backup-bag photo! :x

[c0ntr0lz]

ballen you're a sick man!!! hahahah

i have mine listed cause people sometimesask or wonder what a person is using. Like some of the new posters, they don't have their info listed and we have to ask them what they used. I think it's a good idea to list a few things, the most used maybe, so that we create less replies asking "what do you have under the hood?"

[JLS Photo]

I find them very helpful when view others work--as in, it helps to see what equipment was used to produce a particular image.

[mson]

I just updated mine. I had to take the Elan 7e out :cry:

[Persian-Rice]

I think it's great, it lets people know what you are shooting with, as long as you keep it reasonable.

A couple days ago I saw some newer user on the FM forum have this massive list , pretty much every little thing she had in her collection. I consider that going overboard. Lets say you main 2 cameras, if you have two, and some of your most notable or favourite lenses is pretty cool IMO.

Cheers.

[Stapler123]

I like it to a point

As a example i would look at auto forums. People are usualy known to tell what model of car and what modifications they have. This helps to diagnose problems they may be having, but somtimes it gets out of hand.

People will list all their cars, their folks cars, their friends cars, cars they wish they had, every little thing they have done to their car, down to stickers and shift knobs. Then some even put a "future mods" list.

I like the fist part I can't stand the seccond.

[tofuboy]

I don't see anything bad about having your equipment listed in your sig. I don't have mine.. but I think I'll add it, along with my photo gallery link.. which I'ved worked a lot on these last few days x_x;;

[openspace]

I don't care about the gear. I care about what your doing with your gear.

[SENster7]

I have my gear listed to remind myself why I am broke everyday...

[ohenry]

I don't think it's either right or wrong, but a personal choice. I don't list mine, but not for any particular reason.

[Pekka]

If someone wants to put gear list on sig then go ahead. Sketcher summarized it well.

You might also make a page on your home site and list all the gear there and post the link in sig.

[Belmondo]

I voted 'NO' very early in the poll, but chose not to comment until now. I really wanted to weigh my words carefully before just spouting off.

Let the rant begin:

I think equipment lists are pretty lame. Having said that, I feel obliged to confess that I, too, once had an equipment list on my sig; it said "10D, 28-135IS, & 75-300IS." Then, I got the 17-40L, and then the 400 f/5.6L, and on, and on, and on.

So now, a year later, my list looks very, very different, is embarrassingly long, and besides the fact that it would have been a nightmare to keep current, would not be of any value to a person reading it. It would tell them nothing about me, my interests, or level of profficiency.

It is a very long list now, and that fact alone might suggest to some that I'm a 'big-deal' photographer with a whole bunch of professional caliber equipment. Nothing could be farther from the truth; I'm still very early in the learning process, and my gear drastically belies my abilities. Unfairly, there is implied credibility that goes along with owning all this gear, and it leads people to believe that someone with so much equipment must really know what he's doing.

Then, too, is the reverse situation. There are people whose equipment list might read simply, "S-320, G2," or Rebel w/kit lens." To anyone who knows no more about these individuals than that, there might be a tendency to dismiss them as little more than hacks, or at best, rank amateurs.

Yet there are people in the latter group who are turning out amazing work from their ‘feature-challenged’ equipment, while there are people like me taking very expensive and unremarkable snapshots. I’m reminded of Laziferous and the amazing things he could do with a G-series P&S.

I think it is important to mention equipment when it is relevant to the issue being discussed. Beyond that, it serves no purpose and may actually conspire to create misconceptions among the people reading the forum who are not familiar with the various participants. They have no way of differentiating between the members who truly are very capable photographers and others of us who merely have a lot to say. :oops: :oops: Equipment lists might give a clue to the qualifications of members, but they could also give a very distorted impression of expertise..

If there was any value in bragging rights, be assured that I’d have a list up for sure, and to some, it would be very impressive. Instead, I aspire to make my mark here in other ways---concentrating on the community of the forum, for example.

And that, dear friends, is how I feel on the subject.

End of rant. (If you actually read this far, thanks.)

[Mills]

I voted yes. It adds perspective in many instances.

[clorich]

I’m reminded of Laziferous and the amazing things he could do with a G-series P&S.

I agree with a lot of what you say here. But I'd like to note that seeing what Chris could do with a G2 is probably the only thing keeping me from spending all my money on a DSLR yet - and from just looking at his pictures I would have automatically assumed he had some high-end gear. I would personally like to see the equipment lists when it provides benefit, and just don't attach it when it is superfluous.

[Belmondo]

And I believe that's why the current policy is the best one. People who find value in doing it will do so. Others won't. Also, remember there's no harm in asking what someone is using, especially if you think it's a relevant question. Most people are happy to answer.

[Seamless]

Will any who have the following items please also post their street addresses and work schedules (car make, model, color and license plate number helpful)? I'm considering upgrading my current kit.

EOS 1D MARK II (or its impending replacement) & EOS 20D
17-40L
100-400 f4.5-5.6L IS
Speedlight 580EX
Gitzo Carbon Fiber Tri Pod

I think my camera pack should be adequate for the moment, no need, thanks.

Jay Giusti
Chicago IL (with access to MapQuest)

[BearSummer]

Sorry Seamless,

only have the 100-400 and its a long trip to the uk, hope you find one closer to home.

BearSummer

[CoolToolGuy]

1600 Pennsylvania Ave.
Washington DC

Pick any car in the driveway, and tell them Mr. Kerry sent you.

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

[Ballen Photo]

1600 Pennsylvania Ave.
Washington DC

Pick any car in the driveway, and tell them Mr. Kerry sent you.

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

ROFLMAO!!! :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

Wait! This could be a photo Op in it's self! :shock: Seamless, Please advise us of when you want to make your, um, pick up, and We'll make sure the coast is clear. :wink:
-Bruce

[timmyquest]

I voted no, but out of respect to other members i'll keep my reasons to myself ;-)

Funny You should have anything against this - You very publicly announced You got Yourself a 1D :wink:

When someone buys a new peice of equipment then celebrate, brag, show it off...but when that fades just go take pictures.

I view it the same way as i view people who want to buy black cameras because silver ones look lame.

Just, go take pictures...who cares what you have.

[Conk]

I do think in some instances it is handy to see what some people are shooting with but beyond the type of camera I have no use for. I can always ask the photographer what camera, settings and lens was used. I don't list my stuff. The photos speak for themselves and if people want to know what I used, they'll ask. So put it this way, people hardly ever ask so how important is it that I volunteer that info?

[mdude85]

One problem I foresee about putting one's gear list in the sig is that since people are such brand name whores, they might look at someone's sig to determine how much credibility that person has ... if a person critiquing you has a bunch of L glass, should we pay more attention to that critique than someone who has no L glass in his gear list??? I know it's human nature but I don't think we should. The amount of gear, or the amount of money you spend on gear should not determine how good you are at photography.

But this is not really the reason I don't put my gear on here... I just haven't gotten around to it / don't really have the need to. I've got a decent body and a few lenses and I am okay with that because I am not a big spender.

But then again I put my gear on my sig on another photography forum. So yeah.


A good thing about seeing someone's gear is that you can PM them if you are planning on buying a lens that they own, to get first hand comments on it. I just did this a few days ago regarding a tokina superwide zoom. I got a good, honest description from another user that I could not glean from MTF charts. But then again you could just avoid that route and ask your question as its unique thread.

[ron chappel]

When the gear list gets so big that it outweighs the actual subject at hand, what then?



Wow! :shock:
Ok Ballen-i want to see you carry every peice of that equiptment on your next shoot! LOL :lol: :lol:


More seriously-i don't think having gear lists showing is a bad thing.Mildly wanky at worst,quite usefull at times i must say.Most of the time i just view it as a fun thing though,neither hear nor there

[BearSummer]

Snip

The amount of gear, or the amount of money you spend on gear should not determine how good you are at photography.

Snip


Thats the bottom line. Gear does not make you a good photograper, it may make certain photographs easier to take but it sure doesn't see them for you.

Judging a photographer by his or her kit is just plain short sighted. There are guys at the camera club that I am a member of and they turn out amazing images with kit that cost less than one good lens. Photography is a mixture of art and science, you can buy the science, you have to learn the art.

Best Regards
BearSummer

[cmM]

As someone mentioned above, it's not a right or wrong kind of thing. I had it at some point but I took it off, simply for the beauty of it :P

It can be helpful at times though, no doubt about it !

[ilya]

I voted no, although I have my 10D in the sig, its only because I'm too lazy to change it. Though in another forum, I list the highlights of my equipment. That actually helped -- when I asked for opinion on lighting gear, one of the responses alluded to the equipment I have "you have some good gear, why would you want to ruin it by getting cheapo lights". :lol: :lol:

[roanjohn]

I voted yes cuz I'm doing it..........

:-)

Ro1

[Jon]

I don't think it's really necessary here, unlike the computer sites I frequent, as in general the questions and answers here seem to provide the gear list where relevant (which lens should I get to go with my EOS XYZD mk xv?, how good is the 7-976 mm f/0.8 L zoom?) or are equipment-independent (aerial photography, IR, DoF). However, it might be good if people included the type of computer, OS version, and photo/image processing software they used. Answering questions about connecting your camera to the computer, for instance, will be different for PC and Mac users, to say nothing of Win 98, W2K, or WXP. And an explanation of how to do something in Paint Shop Pro won't be all that helpful to the inexperienced PhotoShop CS user.

[Cadwell]

Mildly wanky

mmm.... that's not encouraging ;)