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Meta What is on topic for gear recommendations?

I’m fairly active in the moderation queues at Photo-SE; I also have fairly strong opinions on this topic. Where can I buy this particular camera? Is this particular model a good camera? Is this ...

posted 4y ago by scottbb‭ · edited 4y ago by scottbb‭

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#2: Post edited by

scottbb‭ · 2020-05-12T22:01:08Z (almost 4 years ago)

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I’m fairly active in the moderation queues at Photo-SE; I also have fairly strong opinions on this topic.
>1. Where can I buy this particular camera?
>2. Is this particular model a good camera?
>3. Is this camera at this price a good deal?
These should absolutely be off-topic. These questions are too specific to time, location, and/or market conditions. These are solid _chaff_.
~~>4. Is this camera selling company reputable or am I going to end up being scammed?~~
This should be off-topic, IMO. Essentially, the answer is “Your mileage may vary”, too subject to anecdote.
~~>5. Should I buy camera X or camera Y?~~
Off-topic, but workable into a better question. These questions belie at least a minimal amount of research and/or selection criteria. Usually, the asker hasn’t made their criteria explicit, but sometimes the asker responds to comments requesting more information, in order to make the question better.
~~>6. These are the features I am looking for and this is my budget, can you recommend a camera for me?~~
On-topic. Pretty good, although I’m personally inclined to recommend a general class or groups of products rather than a _specific_ product (unless the asker has already pre-decided a specific brand for whatever reason).
~~>7. I am selling this type of camera, how much is it worth and where should I sell it?~~
Off-topic. “Worth” is highly variable. Furthermore, this question usually is from people who are either getting out of photography, or from people who inherited/acquired old equipment looking to unload it. In those cases, this question is the opposite of encouraging the practice and community of photography.
----
>What features should I look for in a camera?
This seems like a perfect FAQ question, or set of FAQs (“... for hiking?”, “... for astrophotography?”, etc.)
----
What are the ideal recommendation questions? I think @mattdm’s [answer to this site’s proposal subject in Meta-CD](https://meta.codidact.com/a/74831/74837) covers it pretty well:
> There is no "best", but "What camera is best?" is the default question. We need a way to guide people into asking "**What camera is best for _me_ for _this particular situation_ given _these constraints_?**"

I’m fairly active in the moderation queues at Photo-SE; I also have fairly strong opinions on this topic.
>1. Where can I buy this particular camera?
>2. Is this particular model a good camera?
>3. Is this camera at this price a good deal?
These should absolutely be off-topic. These questions are too specific to time, location, and/or market conditions. These are solid _chaff_.
>Is this camera selling company reputable or am I going to end up being scammed?
This should be off-topic, IMO. Essentially, the answer is “Your mileage may vary”, too subject to anecdote.
>Should I buy camera X or camera Y?
Off-topic, but workable into a better question. These questions belie at least a minimal amount of research and/or selection criteria. Usually, the asker hasn’t made their criteria explicit, but sometimes the asker responds to comments requesting more information, in order to make the question better.
>These are the features I am looking for and this is my budget, can you recommend a camera for me?
On-topic. Pretty good, although I’m personally inclined to recommend a general class or groups of products rather than a _specific_ product (unless the asker has already pre-decided a specific brand for whatever reason).
>I am selling this type of camera, how much is it worth and where should I sell it?
Off-topic. “Worth” is highly variable. Furthermore, this question usually is from people who are either getting out of photography, or from people who inherited/acquired old equipment looking to unload it. In those cases, this question is the opposite of encouraging the practice and community of photography.
----
>What features should I look for in a camera?
This seems like a perfect FAQ question, or set of FAQs (“... for hiking?”, “... for astrophotography?”, etc.)
----
What are the ideal recommendation questions? I think @mattdm’s [answer to this site’s proposal subject in Meta-CD](https://meta.codidact.com/a/74831/74837) covers it pretty well:
> There is no "best", but "What camera is best?" is the default question. We need a way to guide people into asking "**What camera is best for _me_ for _this particular situation_ given _these constraints_?**"

#1: Initial revision by

scottbb‭ · 2020-05-12T21:59:33Z (almost 4 years ago)

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I’m fairly active in the moderation queues at Photo-SE; I also have fairly strong opinions on this topic.

>1. Where can I buy this particular camera?
>2. Is this particular model a good camera?
>3. Is this camera at this price a good deal?

These should absolutely be off-topic. These questions are too specific to time, location, and/or market conditions. These are solid _chaff_.

>4. Is this camera selling company reputable or am I going to end up being scammed?

This should be off-topic, IMO. Essentially, the answer is “Your mileage may vary”, too subject to anecdote. 

>5. Should I buy camera X or camera Y?

Off-topic, but workable into a better question. These questions belie at least a minimal amount of research and/or selection criteria. Usually, the asker hasn’t made their criteria explicit, but sometimes the asker responds to comments requesting more information, in order to make the question better.

>6. These are the features I am looking for and this is my budget, can you recommend a camera for me?

On-topic. Pretty good, although I’m personally inclined to recommend a  general class or groups of products rather than a _specific_ product (unless the asker has already pre-decided a specific brand for whatever reason).

>7. I am selling this type of camera, how much is it worth and where should I sell it?

Off-topic. “Worth” is highly variable. Furthermore, this question usually is from people who are either getting out of photography, or from people who inherited/acquired old equipment looking to unload it. In those cases, this question is the opposite of encouraging the practice and community of photography.

----

>What features should I look for in a camera?

This seems like a perfect FAQ question, or set of FAQs (“... for hiking?”, “... for astrophotography?”, etc.)

----

What are the ideal recommendation questions? I think @mattdm’s [answer to this site’s proposal subject in Meta-CD](https://meta.codidact.com/a/74831/74837) covers it pretty well:

> There is no "best", but "What camera is best?" is the default question. We need a way to guide people into asking "**What camera is best for _me_ for _this particular situation_ given _these constraints_?**"

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