Response to the Future of NikonGear.net/.com/.org

[Krishna Kodukula]

Dear NikonGear friends,

Renewed my membership just now. It's been crazy few years, so hobbies took a back seat. In the process, I missed a lot of communications and among them was the Birna's 'Response to the Future of NikonGear.net/.com/.org'.

K.

[Thomas G]

Renewed a few days ago.

Nothing is free on the internet - if you don't pay, you are the commodity, or more precisely, your personal data and behaviour are monetised.
Appreciate a lot that NG is free of that!

[Ian Watson]

So did I.

The subscription is nothing compared with the inspiration and knowledge found here. The fact that it relies solely on its members is a big part of what makes it special.

[JCDowdy]

104

[Birna Rørslett]

Indeed. Heartfelt thanks go to all of our supporters.   [I' m a supporter myself]

[Eddie Draaisma]

Renewed too, would hate to see Nikongear go.

[The_Traveler]

I think I'm not a supporter (having been away and essentially out of it) but I will figure it out and re-join this PM.

I miss these familiar faces.


(Thanks to Birna for suggesting that I would not be unwelcome.)


Lew

[Frank Fremerey]

I read above thast we are at current status: 106/150 supporters ... much better, but not yet good enough

[Birna Rørslett]

The figure rises slowly. Currently at 107 supporters.

[Snoogly]

Pardon me if this has already been addressed somewhere, but has the move to a new server (host?) had any impact on the cost of running the site?

The large gap between the number of supporters and 150 always makes me worry …

[Birna Rørslett]

The move was necessary simply because our old hosting service became too expensive. Towards the end of the lease I sometimes had to use funds out of my own pockets. With the move, we were able to cut down  on costs, so running NG should be feasible at least 1 year more. However, balancing on a tight line is never pleasant and comfortable.

Thanks for asking, by the way.

[KarlMera]

With DPreview gone, and Luminous Landscape (IMO) moribund, we are fast losing some important photography forum sites. I don't want to see that happen, especially with NikonGear.

Hello, the question is why are they dying? And where are the young members and newcomers? What has changed?

[Michael Erlewine]

I agree. The iPhone and Android phones are satisfying the need for photos for the masses. Only the odd bird like myself wants to have ultra-expensive cameras and lenses. And my experience with photo forums is that most pro photographers are unhappy and having not the time of their lives.

And then there is the deluge of new lenses, if not cameras, each inching up the price. Personally, I used to be on top of about all macro or closeup lenses that would fit the Nikons, but there are too many AND I have enough good lenses already.

We are witnessing the end of an era, and the new era has not yet dawned.

[Ian Watson]

Hello, the question is why are they dying? And where are the young members and newcomers? What has changed?

It may be that younger people do not favour these traditional internet fora. Is it just fashion? Or, as Michael suggested, are we witnessing the end of an era?

[KarlMera]

It may be that younger people do not favour these traditional internet fora. Is it just fashion? Or, as Michael suggested, are we witnessing the end of an era?

That would mean that the ngf is dying with its old members?