Russian Camera Yahoo groups?

[nwcanonman]

I looked into joining the two largest Yahoo FSU groups and found the largest (500+ members) to be ALL SPAM and the 2nd largest (160 members) to have 1/3 SPAM. What's up with that? Do any of you belong? Why?
Don't they have Moderators on those list? :bang:

[Krasnaya_Zvezda]

When I succumbed to the FSU RF madness, I joined every group and forum that seemed appropriate. RFF is the only one that I still participate in. Occasionally I will read the beststuff FSU forum, but I don't post there. All others pale in comparison to this one.

[nwcanonman]

Oh, I already know we have the GREATEST FSU forum here. I was looking to "broaden" my horizons now that I've got the Zorki 6 coming (already have 4K).
But I wouldn't join those SPAM only groups if they paid me.

[Warren T.]

Hi, I'm new here. I am on the Beststuff Russian cameras forum. Not much traffic on there, but nice folks. There's a lot of knowledge on there.

I just discovered RFF, and decided to join. I was impressed by the quality of the pictures in the gallery.

Warren

[reellis67]

You guessed it! The moderators have long since gone and the spammers have taken over. There is now only one group, and they are dedicated to Zenit. They do discuss RF models, but not a lot.

- Randy

[back alley]

I was impressed by the quality of the pictures in the gallery.

so i see you've been to my gallery, why, thank you so much!! lol

welcome to both of you!
of late we seem to have a bit of a growing concern when it comes to russian gear.
i just picked up a zorki 4k and a kiev 4 am this past week. so far i quite like them both. except for no lug straps on the zorki.
anyway, stick around as long as you like.

joe

[Warren T.]

I was impressed by the quality of the pictures in the gallery.

so i see you've been to my gallery, why, thank you so much!! lol

welcome to both of you!
of late we seem to have a bit of a growing concern when it comes to russian gear.
i just picked up a zorki 4k and a kiev 4 am this past week. so far i quite like them both. except for no lug straps on the zorki.
anyway, stick around as long as you like.

joe

Thanks for the welcome!

FSU cameras jogged me back into the world of rf cameras. So much so, that I just bought a Bessa R w/35mm Skopar Classic (I'm expecting delivery Monday!). As for FSU cameras, I have a Fed 2B, Fed 2C, and Zorki-4 (w/lugs).

I also use an Argus C4, Yashica Lynx 5000e, GSN, and some others.

Now, if I can just figure out how to add all my rf cameras to my signature line...

Warren

[back alley]

i'm guessing that you will like the bessa & 35/2.5. i have that set up along with the tiny yet sharp 75/2.5.

to work on your signature, go to the top of the page, click on user cp, go to edit signature and it's all there for ya.

joe

[Roman]

AFAIK the Beststuff forum wa founded because of all the spam on the Yahoo group - the Beststuff forum was a very active group until a few months ago, don't know why activity has dwindled so much there...

Roman

[nwcanonman]

Being the owner of 3 Yahoo elists, I find it no problem to monitor new member-wanna-bees. And have NEVER had one spammer because of it. I don't know why anyone would start a list, then abandon it to spammers. Just lazy.

[garryl]

AFAIK the Beststuff forum wa founded because of all the spam on the Yahoo group - the Beststuff forum was a very active group until a few months ago, don't know why activity has dwindled so much there...

Roman

Yes, Beststuff forum is the old Yahoo group formed after the spam got to heavy. :mad:

http://www.beststuff.com/forum/index.php?f=25

A lot of the DIY guys hang out there and give tips and instructions for different Russian cameras. :) Funny I've noticed an upsurge in my e-mail box this month. :confused:

I like both forums as I get a lot of info. from both about my Kiev 4a.

[doubs43]

I looked into joining the two largest Yahoo FSU groups and found the largest (500+ members) to be ALL SPAM and the 2nd largest (160 members) to have 1/3 SPAM. What's up with that? Do any of you belong? Why?
Don't they have Moderators on those list? :bang:

The best FSU dedicated place is the Best Stuff Forum Russian Camera site. It's run/moderated by Bob Shell who is also a writer. I go there often. If you want to know how to repair or adjust your FSU gear, that's the place to ask. They're also a great bunch of guys and rarely get into any serious "debates". Bob doesn't allow things to get out of hand.

Walker

[nwcanonman]

OK. I tried to register with the BestStuff forum, then log-in with the same information. Zilch - keeps telling me to "Log-In".
'Does Mr. Shell have to approve the log-in first? And if so, why doesn't it SAY that somewhere (Like a typical waiting time)? Most forums will send an automated email to you stating "Thenk you. Welcome; Your information will be moderated and will take 24 - 48 hours to be approved" etc.
:bang:

[taffer]

Good luck with the subscription to Beststuff H* :) That's indeed a great site, and there's plenty of very useful technical information there about repairs, services and 'mad' Huw-Finney type jobs.

[doubs43]

H*, it almost sounds like you have a computer issue. Perhaps you have a cookie-blocker or anti-virus program keeping you off of the site. I have that problem sometimes with various sites. I use ZoneAlarm and Norton Anti-Virus. The ZoneAlarm will block a site until I tell it that I really do want to go there so let the cookies through.

Walker

[Doug]

Good point, Walker! Two years ago I couldn't use my new email account to subscribe to CVUG or RFLIST until Stephen Gandy moved them to his own server. My ISP simply blocked any mail from the previous list servers...

[MikeLeFevre]

The best FSU dedicated place is the Best Stuff Forum Russian Camera site. It's run/moderated by Bob Shell who is also a writer. I go there often. If you want to know how to repair or adjust your FSU gear, that's the place to ask. They're also a great bunch of guys and rarely get into any serious "debates". Bob doesn't allow things to get out of hand.

Walker

Hello Walker, I agree it is the best FSU dedicated place, and on how to repair/adjust your gear with a good group of people. The downside though is the style of moderation- Bob comes across as one of those heavy-handed moderators who shuts down threads if he (personal decision) doesn't like them i.e. there's not the professional distance there in his decisions sometimes.
Regards
M.

[nwcanonman]

Well, I've got the Cookies setting the same as always, but recently switched to Mozilla's Firefox as my main browser. Maybe that site doesn't like the Firefox?
The ONLY reason I switched is the RFF. With Firefox the text size is almost infinately adjustable, while IE only had reg, large, largest.

[nwcanonman]

Hey, I just went to the BestStuff forum and it let me right in! Must have been a waiting period thing?
I'll see ya'll there AND here - cool.

[nwcanonman]

Jog!
Just don't put your name on the Yahoo FSU lists. I took mine off within 5 minutes and am still getting SPAM emails to my email box. Argh.

[kai]

AFAIK, the old Yahoo groups are totally defunct; no one posts there at all now. Best Stuff is great, all nice people there (like here!). The activity there goes in cycles; typically this time of year its a little less active, don't know why - possibly the holiday season has something to do with it. Semi-monthly photo competitions adds a little bit of fun, too.

[kiev4a]

The Beststuff forum traffic tends to ebb and flow. There are a few veterans who have been there forever and know more than most people ever need to know about FSU cameras Then there are people who wander in for a few months, then lose interest or decide they have all the infor they need and they are gradually replaced by a new group. The people are always decent and helpful. I leaned how to replace shutter curtains on Zorki and FED 1s there.