How can we improve this site?

[Amin Sabet]

I think we're off to a great start with over 160 members in just a couple weeks since the forums launched.

I'd like to hear from anyone who has a request for site features/improvements. Want a critique forum? More liberal limits on picture dimensions in albums? Less forums? Chat area? Landing page like RFF? Side columns with forum navigation? Monthly contests?

Anything that you can think of to make these forums a better place to spend time, I'm all ears.

[Brian]

I kind of like it the way it is. Many members have been busy uploading pictures from various lenses.

I prefer the home page being set to show the forums. That way, I open the ones that I know something about. as opposed to seeing the active threads and "just jumping in".

The setting for uploading pictures and attachments is generous. Good enough to retain fine detail for a 900pixel wide image.

I'll be uploading more stuff in the project section. I'm digging out the pictures for the Zeiss and Russian lenses set for the Nikon S-Mount.

[jmkelly]

I hate to ask for another forum category, so please point me in the right direction if there is already a place to post about the Yashica T4 (Zeiss T* Tessar 35mm/f3.5).

I bought mine new, sometime before 1996. Memory fades and I don't keep reciepts like I probably should, but I think this camera was about $100 new. They have been selling at auction for over twice that lately, so I assume there is a bit of a cult following.

I'm not sure there is a lot to talk about - maybe discussion of the relative merits of the variants, and repair issues - but I will bet that some lovely sharp pics will be posted at least.

[raid]

Amin,

You may want to assign a few members the role of "assistants" to help you push ahead this website. Each assistant would be known for strengths in a certain field.

This is just a suggestion that came "out of nowhere".

[Amin Sabet]

I hate to ask for another forum category, so please point me in the right direction if there is already a place to post about the Yashica T4 (Zeiss T* Tessar 35mm/f3.5).

I bought mine new, sometime before 1996. Memory fades and I don't keep reciepts like I probably should, but I think this camera was about $100 new. They have been selling at auction for over twice that lately, so I assume there is a bit of a cult following.

I'm not sure there is a lot to talk about - maybe discussion of the relative merits of the variants, and repair issues - but I will bet that some lovely sharp pics will be posted at least.

You're right. Should I make a new forum for Yashica compacts or change the existing Contax compacts forum to Contax and Yashica compacts?

[Amin Sabet]

Amin,

You may want to assign a few members the role of "assistants" to help you push ahead this website. Each assistant would be known for strengths in a certain field.

This is just a suggestion that came "out of nowhere".

Raid, it would be great if certain members would be willing to help out in such a regard. It might be nice to have others with moderator privileges as well, in case I don't see the spam right away.

[jmkelly]

You're right. Should I make a new forum for Yashica compacts or change the existing Contax compacts forum to Contax and Yashica compacts?
Amin - FWIW my preference is for fewer categories. Others will disagree. "Zeiss-lens compacts" would encompass the Nokia phones too. Can these three distinctive camera lines be discussed together just because they have Zeiss-designed lenses? I don't have the answer. I only have a Yashica :redface:.

[back alley]

i suggest that you 'go slow' and the site evolve.

watch for trends and make adjustments to fit what members 'do' as opposed to what they 'say'.

i agree with with the less is more philosophy.

add mods if/as you need them. at first, one to help out is plenty i would think.

just some thoughts.
joe

[Amin Sabet]

Amin - FWIW my preference is for fewer categories. Others will disagree. "Zeiss-lens compacts" would encompass the Nokia phones too. Can these three distinctive camera lines be discussed together just because they have Zeiss-designed lenses? I don't have the answer. I only have a Yashica :redface:.

I think you're right, and I made that change. My only hesitation was that, while many of the Sony cameras would fit into this category, others (F828, R1, etc) are not compact and thus wouldn't exactly fit the forum. I guess those cameras could still be discussed in that forum or in Open Discussion according to individual preference.

[Amin Sabet]

i suggest that you 'go slow' and the site evolve...

Joe, thanks, I think that is sound advice. I know that some folks have told friends from other boards about these forums, and that has been very helpful.

[jmkelly]

Hi Amin - just posted to Brian's thread on making a Contax CZJ/LTM J-3 hybrid, and when I typed "d e s c r i p t i o n" it came out "de******ion". This is not the first time I have seen this here and it has me wondering why Big Brother auto-censor gets worked up over "scrip t"? What's up? Is it necessary? Can it be changed?

[Amin Sabet]

Hi John,

Since HTML is enabled (makes it easy to post photos from Flickr in the forums with a link back to Flickr), I censored "script" to keep people from running malicious scripts in the forums. I didn't think about the fact that "description" contains "script". Thanks for pointing that out. It should be fixed now. I've implemented an alternative way to block scripts from running on these pages.

Amin

[jmkelly]

Thank you, sir! I thought script-blocking might be the reason. I think the other word I saw censored was "prescription." Not that big a deal, but there is no redeeming irony, as for example when one might refer to a shovel or a card as a spade.

Edit: OOPS! Better enable the filter. :rolleyes:

[Ranger Rick]

Why am I getting "Private Message" spams from Jessie?

[tenderobject]

Why am I getting "Private Message" spams from Jessie?

same here... :eek:

[Amin Sabet]

I will work on implementing measures to prevent PM spam. In the meanwhile, if you get PM spam, please PM me right away so that I can ban the offender.

[Ranger Rick]

Amin,

his "name" was shown as "Jesse"

Thanks,

Rick

[Amin Sabet]

Oops, I may have banned the wrong person then.

Update: I checked the list. There is no 'Jesse', only a 'Jessie' whom I have banned.

[Peter_S]

Hi!

I would like to see a "What's New" feature for the photo albums. I like viewing other member's photos, but having a distinct feature for viewing new photos would be a good addition.

Best,
Peter S

[Contarama]

Hi!

I would like to see a "What's New" feature for the photo albums. I like viewing other member's photos, but having a distinct feature for viewing new photos would be a good addition.

Best,
Peter S


I second that motion!

[Brian]

I will ask Amin about it, not sure how to set that up. I know RFF has this feature, but think it is a separate software package.

[Contarama]

Really all one has to do is go to the albums...you'll see the most current updates I think...but it would be nice to be able to have a "latest album pics" one-click...

Another thing along these lines...well at least imo...is the "new posts" button...it would be nice to be able to see all of latest threads (which you can with the "new posts" button you just sometimes have to click the second 24 hours thing...not sure that changing it would improve the forum though...what we have now is just different than most forums...which might be a good thing I guess...

[Amin Sabet]

I added a new front page with a most recent discussion section, which is duplicated in the right column of the thread view.

Also added a site navigation block on the upper right of the thread view and upper left of the forum view, which includes a "Gallery" link to take you to a page with blocks for most recent images (top block) and random images (bottom block). How does that look?

[Brian]

Amin has added a new link for the gallery:

http://www.ziforums.com/index.php?pageid=gallery

And the new look for the front page.

Open for feedback from our new members!

[Peter_S]

Hi!
Again, it would be really nice to be able in the albums to
- change order of photos, or at least order them alphabetically and not just by date
- replace photos w/o deleting and re-submitting them (and thereby destroying the perhaps intended order of the photos).

Also - not sure how happy I am with the start site. The photo of the Contessa (albeit a beauty indeed) is getting a bit old...

Cheers,
Peter

[maltfoto]

I suggest a separate forum for Zeiss copies such as Russian optics etc...... like the one on RFF forum there are huge followers of these cameras and lens and the RFF. The FSU forum is one of the largest forum on RFF - Maltfoto (kievman)