Browncoat
Senior Member
Our new members quickly discover that the forum here is packed full of useful information, tips, and above all...a great group of folks who are willing to help you resolve problems and give advice. Generally speaking, you can expect a response to your questions within a couple of hours! That said, this is the internet, and forums have a long history of "newbies" who land at a new place and ask incomplete questions that make it difficult for more experienced members to answer. Help us (the staff and members of Nikonites) help you, by asking the right questions and avoiding common newbie pitfalls.
Example 1: The Non-researcher
Internet forums are vast pools of knowledge. It's not uncommon for new members to quickly register on a new forum and just dive right in without checking around first. Please take note of this site's search feature, which is located in the upper right-hand corner of each page. In addition, remember that Google is also your friend.
While we're certainly here to help, we don't want to accumulate a lot of forum clutter by filling pages with questions that are easily answered just by doing a little legwork. Before posting a question, do a quick search to see if you can't find some insights yourself first. Then try to see if the same question hasn't been addressed before.
Example 2: The Internet Newbie
2010 survey estimates show that nearly 80% of the world's population has access to the internet. Some of us have been around for a long time, and we forget that not everyone has online experience. This site is still new and growing. There are also technical issues that will pop up from time to time that cause hiccups in the system. But by and large, everything here is working as intended.
If you're confused about how things work around here:
Example 3: "What is the best ___________ ?"
This is not a very good question, and you won't get very good answers. There is no "best" camera, lens, or flash. Your needs and budget are going to be different from mine, and different from 10 other people. When a question like this is asked, there are usually many different responses and you'll end up even more confused than before. To get better answers, always post more information such as:
Doesn't really say much, does it?
"What is the best camera? I don't have any experience with a DSLR camera, but I want to spend around $1000 of my tax refund to get a nice camera so I can take better photos of my son's football games."
There is so much more to work with here, and you'll find that your choices have narrowed considerably. We can suggest a good fit for you based on your budget and the types of lenses you'll need for those night games.
Example 1: The Non-researcher
Internet forums are vast pools of knowledge. It's not uncommon for new members to quickly register on a new forum and just dive right in without checking around first. Please take note of this site's search feature, which is located in the upper right-hand corner of each page. In addition, remember that Google is also your friend.
While we're certainly here to help, we don't want to accumulate a lot of forum clutter by filling pages with questions that are easily answered just by doing a little legwork. Before posting a question, do a quick search to see if you can't find some insights yourself first. Then try to see if the same question hasn't been addressed before.
Example 2: The Internet Newbie
2010 survey estimates show that nearly 80% of the world's population has access to the internet. Some of us have been around for a long time, and we forget that not everyone has online experience. This site is still new and growing. There are also technical issues that will pop up from time to time that cause hiccups in the system. But by and large, everything here is working as intended.
If you're confused about how things work around here:
- Check out the FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions).
- Contact site leaders.
- Post tech-related issues in the Feedback and Suggestions forum.
Example 3: "What is the best ___________ ?"
This is not a very good question, and you won't get very good answers. There is no "best" camera, lens, or flash. Your needs and budget are going to be different from mine, and different from 10 other people. When a question like this is asked, there are usually many different responses and you'll end up even more confused than before. To get better answers, always post more information such as:
- Your budget. How much are you willing to spend? Can you really afford "the best", or do you want to get the most value for your money?
- Intended use. What will you be using the product for?
- Your experience. Have you used any product like this before? What is your basis of comparison?
Doesn't really say much, does it?
"What is the best camera? I don't have any experience with a DSLR camera, but I want to spend around $1000 of my tax refund to get a nice camera so I can take better photos of my son's football games."
There is so much more to work with here, and you'll find that your choices have narrowed considerably. We can suggest a good fit for you based on your budget and the types of lenses you'll need for those night games.