Jarred, Barry and rest of the gang, we all here miss you!
- Thread starter Emanuel
- Start date
Run&Gun
Veteran
I do miss the heyday of forums. You used to be able to come to DVX throughout the day and easily spend 30-60-90 minutes just catching up on what had transpired in the few hours to half a day that you were gone. Now it's not uncommon to not see any new posts for sometimes days on even the major subs and some subs, weeks or months. There is another industry forum(probably one of the very first on the net) that I used to be very active on that has subs that haven't had new posts in eight years. The most recent post was two months ago. And most of the time when I do check it, now maybe only once a week or every few weeks, I'm the only member logged in at that particular time, with a handful of guests lurking.
Bassman2003
Veteran
Yes, sad. I guess everybody is bored or too smart to need the interaction anymore. Idea exchange is great but obviously becoming a thing of the past. Forums need activity to stay healthy and many are dying.
NorBro
Major Contributor
Things just change, always.
Not everyone stays or stayed in the business, or continues to spend time online on forums, or some people thrive on forums in their 20s and 30s while others might start in their 50s and 60s...just life.
But one thing I'll say is the non-Reddit forum inactivity happened so fast (and it kind of hit me only in the last few years how much everything has changed/is changing, including people).
I also spend a lot of time on Threads and it's amazing how old af I am and learn something new every day over there (that's also a great place for nostalgia content/accounts, too).
Not everyone stays or stayed in the business, or continues to spend time online on forums, or some people thrive on forums in their 20s and 30s while others might start in their 50s and 60s...just life.
But one thing I'll say is the non-Reddit forum inactivity happened so fast (and it kind of hit me only in the last few years how much everything has changed/is changing, including people).
I also spend a lot of time on Threads and it's amazing how old af I am and learn something new every day over there (that's also a great place for nostalgia content/accounts, too).
paulears
Veteran
What gets me on every forum, is people sign up to solve one problem - get the help they need - then bugger off! I always wonder why they think forums contain people who are just there to solve problems. I've just bought some great gear from a retiring guy I met on one forum, years ago. He said I'd been a constant all these years, so he offered me the stuff, and he was happy somebody he'd never met in person, but had 'forumed' with for 20+ years, would give his loved gear a home - and not slap it straight on ebay!
Bassman2003
Veteran
I prefer the longer form, more thought out response type format of forums compared to the new instant quick hit approach on Reddit and Discord. It just lowers the bar for quality interaction imho. So many things going in different directions that it just turns into entertainment level with jokes etc... Meanwhile anything substantial just slows down the pace which is not desired.
I don't think that necessarily represents old, but rather learning how to be serious about your craft and do serious things - which is difficult.
I don't think that necessarily represents old, but rather learning how to be serious about your craft and do serious things - which is difficult.
NorBro
Major Contributor
When DVXuser and others were kicking and in their prime, the YouTube game wasn't what it is today.
Forums were the better option to discuss and learn but you can now go watch 50 videos about something and likely learn even more than on forums.
Sometimes you want a quick answer, recommendation - but I think YT is still king (and I saw yesterday it actually surpassed Netflix as most watched by youth).
Also keep in mind that new humans are more tech-savvier than ones starting out 20 years ago with this stuff, so there is also less help needed, and less interest in long-form discussion about the "art".
Forums were the better option to discuss and learn but you can now go watch 50 videos about something and likely learn even more than on forums.
Sometimes you want a quick answer, recommendation - but I think YT is still king (and I saw yesterday it actually surpassed Netflix as most watched by youth).
Also keep in mind that new humans are more tech-savvier than ones starting out 20 years ago with this stuff, so there is also less help needed, and less interest in long-form discussion about the "art".
"I think YT is still king." Yes, exactly. The amount of information on Youtube never fails to surprise me. I had a two cylinder Kohler engine that was smoking. I did a Youtube search. I immediately found a video for the exact model engine, that said it is one of two things, showed me how to tell which one it was and then how to take the engine apart step-by-step. It was spot on and saved me hours of work.
With that capability, the long form discussion to get opinions from various people goes away.
With that capability, the long form discussion to get opinions from various people goes away.
Bassman2003
Veteran
Good points about YouTube. It is a resource.
roxics
Veteran
Back in 2002-2005 or so I used to run a small filmmaking forum myself.
https://web.archive.org/web/20021009213952/http://ve.roxics.com/board/index.php
Can't believe it was 21 years go I started that. Wow time flies.
Anyway. I don't partake in the forum life as much as I used to either, because we're sort of forced to go where the conversation is happening. But like many of you I still prefer the format. I also liked how less decentralized it was. There were more independent forums or you could start your own. Like I did.
I was watching a video yesterday, it was an interview with the former economic minister for Greece and he was putting forward the idea that capitalism is moving toward techno-feudalism. Where an increasingly smaller percentage of people are going to own the platforms that we all use to work, communicate, buy things, and even get around. The Amazons and Ubers and facebooks of the world. That we're all going to end up not owning anything, but just paying rent to these new feudal lords. When you look at software as a service like Adobe that increasingly becomes more and more apparent.
When I ran my Filmmakers Forum/Vision Engine site I bought the vbulletin software to run it. Same software DVXuser runs on. But increasingly these days to get any attendees, you have to start new communities on platforms like facebook or reddit where you never really get the same level of control and customization. In so many ways it's a step backward. Even if there are some other benefits to it.
https://web.archive.org/web/20021009213952/http://ve.roxics.com/board/index.php
Can't believe it was 21 years go I started that. Wow time flies.
Anyway. I don't partake in the forum life as much as I used to either, because we're sort of forced to go where the conversation is happening. But like many of you I still prefer the format. I also liked how less decentralized it was. There were more independent forums or you could start your own. Like I did.
I was watching a video yesterday, it was an interview with the former economic minister for Greece and he was putting forward the idea that capitalism is moving toward techno-feudalism. Where an increasingly smaller percentage of people are going to own the platforms that we all use to work, communicate, buy things, and even get around. The Amazons and Ubers and facebooks of the world. That we're all going to end up not owning anything, but just paying rent to these new feudal lords. When you look at software as a service like Adobe that increasingly becomes more and more apparent.
When I ran my Filmmakers Forum/Vision Engine site I bought the vbulletin software to run it. Same software DVXuser runs on. But increasingly these days to get any attendees, you have to start new communities on platforms like facebook or reddit where you never really get the same level of control and customization. In so many ways it's a step backward. Even if there are some other benefits to it.
NorBro
Major Contributor
I think many of us like forums because we're nostalgic about them (love those GeoCities throwback sites, lol), but the way people communicate varies.
Elaborate, focused discussions on forums might be (and are) great for those used to it and who enjoy it, but the other ways work as well (short, scattered, to-the-point).
At the end of the day, it's an exchange of information, data - and it's going to happen one way or another and you use whatever is available, efficient, whatever survives.
Elaborate, focused discussions on forums might be (and are) great for those used to it and who enjoy it, but the other ways work as well (short, scattered, to-the-point).
At the end of the day, it's an exchange of information, data - and it's going to happen one way or another and you use whatever is available, efficient, whatever survives.
morgan_moore
Major Contributor
Facebook 'groups' get filtered by the algorithm posts appear dissapear whtever. You get 10% into a chat and the replies to replies gets so mungled you miss the thing you needed to know.
The forum keeps some form of order that makes my mind happy.
But its a small group and when I struggle with something - how to engage MF on a canon R6 for example.. there are not enough people here to know.
Most things I dont know about an R6 - even canon (UK) dont know!
Youtube is 80% blolox
My recent experiecnceds with the a7s make it 'useless' - even if it does 9k15bit raw .. its no good if I cant turn off af and its focussing on the bush.
So that is so contrary to Phylis and Gerrard on YT saying it a good camera. Nice images maybe - functional tool for work? never.
We see here a nice little Sony crowd here with Doug Chris and other wonks.. but less in the Canon coralle.
The forum keeps some form of order that makes my mind happy.
But its a small group and when I struggle with something - how to engage MF on a canon R6 for example.. there are not enough people here to know.
Most things I dont know about an R6 - even canon (UK) dont know!
Youtube is 80% blolox
My recent experiecnceds with the a7s make it 'useless' - even if it does 9k15bit raw .. its no good if I cant turn off af and its focussing on the bush.
So that is so contrary to Phylis and Gerrard on YT saying it a good camera. Nice images maybe - functional tool for work? never.
We see here a nice little Sony crowd here with Doug Chris and other wonks.. but less in the Canon coralle.
Run&Gun
Veteran
I think Canon is kind of a “dead end” brand, as far as video. I mean the 5D/II and C300 were arguably revolutionary and helped to change the video and production world, but… Canon is mid tier and that’s it. There is no path to the high-end if you stay within their equipment line(video/cine cameras). Whereas Sony goes from consumer grade to the very tip-top of broadcast TV and narrative/movie production. So people that shot Canon and that have continued to climb the ladder and advance their craft and want better equipment have probably moved onto other brands. And I say that as someone who owns about $90K worth of Canon cine glass and probably a few $10K’s in stills cameras and lenses.
NorBro
Major Contributor
Canon and Sony aren't much different besides for the Venice which had Sony's studios and their relationships support.
They stay close to the hip with everything they do as far as cameras. FX9 has its C300 Mark III and C500 Mark II competition but most sales come in that $4K-$6K range like for the R5, a7SIII, C70, R5C, FX6, etc.
Venice is for the 1% and almost for no one using their personal/own business money.
Both recycle systems and step into other ventures, but their camera IQ is very comparable at the end of the day for most people using these brands.
They stay close to the hip with everything they do as far as cameras. FX9 has its C300 Mark III and C500 Mark II competition but most sales come in that $4K-$6K range like for the R5, a7SIII, C70, R5C, FX6, etc.
Venice is for the 1% and almost for no one using their personal/own business money.
Both recycle systems and step into other ventures, but their camera IQ is very comparable at the end of the day for most people using these brands.
morgan_moore
Major Contributor
I come to a forum to work out how to assign a button to engage crop mode (for example).
in thats sense canon and sony are not similar.
in thats sense canon and sony are not similar.
NorBro
Major Contributor
If this was available it would be in only one place; the 'customize buttons' section that's been the same in the menu for like 40 Canon cameras where they let you program stuff (although it's only most recently, last few years, that Canon let you customize more features, while Sony always had way more options).
Naturally, they won't be the same with every single detail.
Naturally, they won't be the same with every single detail.
morgan_moore
Major Contributor
Sure - i used nikon for 20 years then an fs7 - i know nothing about canon.
im just saying fora is where you can learn this stuff - but only when there are more than 10 active members
im just saying fora is where you can learn this stuff - but only when there are more than 10 active members
Well today, it's 11 active members, thank you. When I want to learn how to replace the electric baking element in my Maytag oven, I look to YouTube, and somebody has posted it. Of course, the Maytag is exactly the same oven as the Whirlpool, GE, Hotpoint, Sears, JennAir, KitchenAid and the part is in stock at True Value. Or, I can replace the oven with a new Samsung or LG, computer controlled, wifi and iPhone app or Google Play, pay a disposal fee to find someone has dumped it along the roadway next to the piles of Whirlpool, GE, Hotpoint, JennAir, KitchenAid, Sears and that there are no parts for the LG and Samsung and never will be, and why would I care about wifi on my oven when I can get all the extra wifi I need right there on my LG dishwasher? If only it could text me warnings that stovetop surfaces get hot when enabled, could prevent burned fingers. Welcome to the machine. (I repaired the Maytag.)