Registration

Forum Rules

Registration to this forum is free! We do insist that you abide by the rules and policies detailed below. If you agree to the terms, please check the 'I agree' checkbox and press the 'Complete Registration' button below. If you would like to cancel the registration, click here to return to the forums index.

The forum has a long history (in "Internet time") of civil discussions of LF-related topics, even when opinions on a topic differ. Here are a few guidelines that contribute to maintaining the friendly environment:

• Logging In - When logging in from a secure computer, be sure to check the "Remember Me" box, otherwise various permissions issues may occur.
• The main forum is only for questions specific to LF photography (see above).
  General photography questions and questions related to photography with other formats should be asked in The Lounge here, or on other general-photography forums.
• Before you post a basic question to this forum, please make sure you have quickly browsed the LF page, searched the site using the search box on the main page and search the Forum. You will find the answers to many basic questions there.
• Be sure to give a descriptive title to your question. For people searching or browsing the archives, a nonsensical or uninformative subject (like "Oops!", "Read this!", or even "Lenses") just makes it harder for people to find answers to questions.
• Equipment Value Questions: Although value may come up in the discussion of the general features of a piece of equipment, it is impossible to provide an accurate valuation for a specific piece of equipment for sales or insurance purposes without a physical examination and testing. Further, such questions during a new member's probationary period will likely be interpreted as a back-door effort to sell the item, subjecting the poster to unpleasant reactions. Because of that, valuation requests are not allowed, and may be deleted. The best ways to get an approximate value range: (1) examine past sales at auction sites (2) search the web sites of vendors who sell used equipment. There is also a "sticky" thread in each of the major equipment categories about how to value a particular piece of gear.
• Classifieds (for sale, for trade, or wanted ads) should only be posted in the appropriate sub-forum, which is open only to those who have been members for 30 days or more. Classified ads are now divided into three sections: For Sale - For Trade, Wanted to Buy, and For Sale - Member-made LF Gear and Accessories, with the following rules specific to each section. The display of these three sub-forums in the main index are ordered by the original post date, latest first, not the date of the latest post within the threads.
  

  For Sale / For Trade

  • No for-sale postings by retail establishments with more than $1,000,000 in annual revenues.
  • For-sale postings require a stated price. No auctions or bidding processes are allowed. For-Trade posts should be reasonably specific about what the OP is willing to take in trade.
  • FS/FT postings cannot include links to external sales sites (eBay, etc.) or listings on other forums.
  • Listings in the FS/FT sub-forum must include "FS" or "FT" at the beginning of the thread title.
  • All transactions resulting from listings in this forum are entirely at the user's risk. The owner and operators of the forum make no representations regarding any listing, and will not intervene in the event of any dispute. Any dispute between parties must be resolved outside of the forum, except that either party may post in the "Buyer-Seller Advisories" section, subject to the rules and limitations of that section.
  • The item for sale must be in the possession of the seller or its location fully disclosed in the sales listing.
  • We recommend that sellers include the country from which the item will be shipped, and any geographic, currency, or method-of-payment requirements or constraints.
  • Threads in the FS/FT sub-forum will be sorted according to the time-stamp of the first post. Thus, later posts will not bring the thread to the top of the main sub-forum listing.
  • Comments in the form of questions about the item or the terms of sale are allowed, as are posts by the seller changing price or terms of sale. However, posts that amount to idle chit-chat or empty "bumps" (including "PM sent") are prohibited, and may be deleted at the discretion of the moderators. Potential buyers who wish to track a particular item are encouraged to subscribe to the thread, so they are notified of changes in price or terms.
  • Comments in for-sale threads must not challenge the seller's price or provide either negative or positive commentary on the item being sold. If the price is too high, don't buy it.
  • Members who do not want comments to be made or discussions held in their FS/WTB threads may indicate this by stating "No comments, please" or similar; other members are expected to honor these requests.
  • Offers, pricing and other transaction details and/or negotiations should be discussed using PMs or e-mails outside the forum.
  • A member may start no more than three FS/FT threads per day.
  • If an item has not sold in 30 days, the seller may close that thread and post the FS listing again. It is recommended that the seller include the results of any discussion in the original thread to avoid repeating them in the new thread.
  • Sellers are required to close their for-sale threads when the item is no longer available for any reason, preferably with a post stating such.
  • Sellers have the right to do business with whomever they please.
  • Also, see the descriptions and rules for the "WTB" and "FS - Member-made" sub-forums for those types of transactions.
  • Members who violate the rules repeatedly are subject to moderator action, including loss of access to these sections, and/or being banned from the forum altogether.

  Wanted to Buy

  • WTB ads are limited to photographic equipment (all formats), photography books, and prints desired to be purchased by registered users.
  • The thread title must be prefaced with "WTB," followed by a brief description of the specific item you are looking to buy.
  • Please research the item in advance, so the body of the post can be as specific as possible.
  • Links to external sale sites are allowed in this section, either as an example of the item the poster wishes to buy, or in a reply as a pointer to where the item is available. Please do not post links to similar or suggested alternative items, however.
  • Members who do not want comments to be made or discussions of alternatives may indicate this by stating "No comments, please" or similar; other members are expected to honor these requests. In such cases, all responses must be made by PM or e-mail.
  • Offers, pricing and other transaction details and/or negotiations should be discussed using PM or outside the forum.
  • Buyers have the right to do business with whomever they please.
  • Comments in the form of questions about the item being sought, seeking clarification, or suggesting alternatives (if the OP has indicated they are open to alternatives) are allowed. However, posts that amount to idle chit-chat or empty "bumps" (including "PM sent") are prohibited, and may be deleted at the discretion of the moderators.
  • A member may start no more than three WTB threads per day.
  • All transactions resulting from listings in this forum are entirely at the user's risk. The owner and operators of the forum make no representations regarding any listing, and will not intervene in the event of any dispute. Any dispute between parties must be resolved outside of the forum, except that either party may post in the "Buyer-Seller Advisories" section, subject to the rules and limitations of that section.
  • Members who violate the rules repeatedly are subject to moderator action, including loss of access to these sections, and/or being banned from the forum altogether.
  • Members are required to close their WTB threads when the item is no longer desired for any reason, preferably with a post stating such.

  For Sale - Member-made LF Gear and Accessories

  • For-sale ads here are limited to new LF gear, accessories and LF darkroom gear actually made personally by the member placing them up for sale. This includes such things as LF cameras (nominally 4x5 and larger), backs, lens boards, focusing screens, developing tubes, etc.
  • There is a limit of one post per type of item being made and sold by the individual member. The seller/maker can update the thread with any changes in description, price, or terms of sale, however.
  • Posts regarding services offered by members are not allowed in this section (see the Resources sub-forum and its applicable rules).
  • All postings require a price. No auctions or bidding processes are allowed.
  • Threads in this sub-forum will be sorted according to the time-stamp of the first post. Thus, later posts will not bring the thread to the top of the list in the main sub-forum display.
  • Questions are allowed, but posts must not challenge the seller's price or provide either negative or positive commentary on the item being sold. If the price is too high, don't buy it.
  • postings here cannot link to external sales sites or listings in other forums.
  • All transactions resulting from listings in this forum are entirely at the user's risk. The owner and operators of the forum make no representations regarding any listing, and will not intervene in the event of any dispute. Any dispute between parties must be resolved outside of the forum, except that either party may post in the "Buyer-Seller Advisories" section, subject to the rules and limitations of that section.
  • We recommend that sellers include the country from which the item will be shipped, and any geographic, currency, or method-of-payment requirements or constraints.
  • Offers, pricing and other transaction details and/or negotiations should be discussed using PMs or e-mails outside the forum.
  • Sellers are required to close their threads when the item is no longer available for any reason, preferably with a post stating such.
  • Sellers have the right to do business with whomever they please.
  • Members who violate the rules repeatedly are subject to moderator action, including loss of access to these sections, and/or being banned from the forum altogether.

• Profile "signature" content - While it is OK to include a simple link to your personal (preferably LF-related) Web site in your profile "signature", please do not include descriptive text that might be interpreted as an advertisement of whatever services or products you might provide.
• People who register for the purpose of publicizing links to non-LF sites will be banned and the posts deleted.
• Links to published articles - Direct links (i.e. not through index pages that contain promotional text or blatant advertising) to on-topic published articles are OK to post, as long as those pages are freely available to all (i.e. no paid subscription required), and do not require further contact with the poster to gain access.
• When posting links to material on other web sites, please provide a link to the material, not the home page of the site. Repetitive postings of links to other discussion boards are not appropriate.
• Do not post test messages. If you want to participate, just go ahead and post a question. You can use the "Preview Post" button to see what the post will look like.
• Maintaining Forum Decorum. To have a healthy and informative forum, it's essential that participants maintain a respectful and professional decorum. Name calling, personal attacks, character assassination, coarse or inappropriate language, or enticing/baiting others to violate forum guidelines will not be tolerated here. Generally speaking, in responding to a posting, try to respond only to the content of the thread and not to the individual.

  Our moderators are volunteers and are not able to constantly monitor threads throughout the day. If you find a post offensive, please notify the moderator group by clicking the icon at the lower left of the offending post. This is the only accepted way to report posts.

• Conferences, Workshops, Books and Gallery Openings - Announcements of conferences, LF-related trade shows, workshops, book releases and gallery openings may be posted to the Announcements sub-forum (one per event only, please).
• New products - Announcements of new products and services of specific interest to large format photographers may be posted to the New products sub-forum with advanced moderator approval.
• Other Commercial Posts - Except as noted above, other "promotional" posts promoting your own business enterprise, or one to which you are financially connected (e.g. owner, employee, contractor), are not allowed.
• Kickstarter Projects - Kickstarter projects that relate to photography may be announced once, and once only, in the Kickstarter Announcements section. All subsequent discussion of that Kickstarter campaign must be confined to that thread. Projects of no interest to photographers (in the judgement of the moderators) will be removed.
• Your Responsibilities - By accessing this site, you agree:
  • to keep your posts on-topic and civil, and
  • not to abuse other site users - including posting offensive comments (like personal attacks or insulting language), sending them threats, unsolicited bulk email or commercial solicitations, or baiting/enticing them to violate forum guidelines.
• Reports about buyers and sellers - Any reports about the outcomes of transactions with providers of products and services to large-format photographers must be made in the "Buyer/Seller Advisories" sub-forum. The purpose of this sub-forum is to provide a service to large-format photographers who need to know whom to trust in a small market. All posts in other forums complaining about specific transactions will be moved to this forum, and repeated mispostings by a person may result in moderator action. Threads in the Buyer/Seller Advisories forum must be:
  • Factual
  • Unemotional
  • Related only to what actually happened. Comments about the character or honesty of the person described will be deleted without notice, and repeated negative personal comments will result in moderator actions. Remember, personal attacks and abuse to other site users is not allowed on this forum. Demands for action are also not appropriate anywhere on the Large Format Photography Forum, and will be removed. The LFPF does not provide any mechanism for seeking resolution of an unsatisfactory transaction--resolution must be pursued outside the forum. This sub-forum is for simple reports of outcomes of transactions here and elsewhere. If the transaction occurred elsewhere, then it must involve transactions of products or services relevant to the large-format community.
• Posts that fall outside the guidelines are subject to deletion. Participants who repeatedly violate the guidelines can have their right to participate suspended or permanently revoked at the sole discretion of the moderators. The decisions of the moderators are always final, even if they are wrong.