PDN tech support

[RobertP]

Ok let me get this straight. If I order the PDN program and then have some questions about it, I have to pay an additional 25.00 for every 15 min of tech support over the phone?.....No PDN forum?...No FAQ? For some reason that just doesn't sit very well with me.

 

[tom_micklin]

There is a PDM Forum. It's a Yahoo Group.
Contact Mark. He'll give you the details.
ender100@aol.com

 

[tom_micklin]

There is a PDM Forum. It's a Yahoo Group.
Contact Mark. He'll give you the details.
ender100@aol.com

Sorry, I meant PDN.
I think PDM is a support group for Pretty Damn Miserable people.

 

[donbga]

Ok let me get this straight. If I order the PDN program and then have some questions about it, I have to pay an additional 25.00 for every 15 min of tech support over the phone?.....No PDN forum?...No FAQ? For some reason that just doesn't sit very well with me.

That's the price for commercial printing ateleirs, as Tom said there is a private Yahoo group that registered users can join and get support from Mark and/or other users.

Don Bryant

 

[RobertP]

I'm in no way trying to start a flame. I'm very new to digital negatives and I'm still in the photoshop learning curve. If I can't seem to grasp onto this I can always buy a bigger camera and chalk it all up to experience.With any other software I've purchased ( and that's not been many) it has come with some type of tech support even if it was limited. Now you can call them ateliers, gurus, consultants what ever you like but to charge me for a question about your software that I just put my hard earned money down on to purchase from you makes me feel like you've sold me a pair of shoes and now you're charging me for the laces. I don't know, maybe I'm just to old school and this is proper etiquette now-a-days. If so I apologize for bringing it up. But I can't help honestly saying that it hints of greed and it makes the program somewhat less appealing to the newcomer. Even if upon the purchase of the program at least one 15 min unit of consultation were included it would be so much more appealing. IMHO

 

[RobertP]

A link to the yahoo group on PDN's website might be helpful.

 

[Jim Moore]

A link to the yahoo group on PDN's website might be helpful.

PDNPrint

http://groups.yahoo.com/search?query=pdn

 

[menglert]

Initially I was apprehensive about buying into the PDN system. The cost was a major factor for me, and it seemed steep compared to other books I had purchased for photography techniques. After trying numerous other methods for making digital negatives from free resources online, I found I was not completely happy with the results, and purchased PDN.

Within the first few days of receiving PDN I had finished reading the ebook, and started exploring the other files included. At this point, I realized the time and effort put into developing this system would probably never be recouped with the price charged. Really, after working through a couple curves and learning the system I believe PDN is probably undervalued, and could sell for more. Mark produced a product for a niche market of photographers at a more than reasonable price in my opinion.

While you might object to the price for phone support, if you are semi proficient with posting questions online, then there is nearly unlimited free support from Mark and many other experienced PDN users. Actually, I believe the support you could get off of a forum is potentially better, as you can get different view points, and also refer to charts and photo examples.

Regards,
Martin

 

[BillSchwab]

Ok let me get this straight. If I order the PDN program ...

Robert,

I started using the system 5 days ago and have not felt the need to ask anyone anything. The instructions are well thought out and all is explained in such a way that you really do not need prior experience with digital negs. To be honest, it may be even better that you don't as it will seem almost too easy to someone who has labored over curves. I am very pleased and feel it was a 75.00 well spent. Be aware that a reflection densitometer will be a big help although there is provision to use your scanner in the calibration process. I did not use that feature and cannot speak for that tool.

Bill

 

[tchamber]

The price seemed steep to me but after using it, the time and materials saved made it worthwhile. And, to be fair, a good deal of work seems to have gone into the pdf file and the excel spreadsheet.

As far as technical support, Mark monitors the Yahoo board. I did have a need for it (couldn't get a satisfactory negative) and there was some back and forth until I got it right.

The technical support is free, it just comes in the form of a Yahoo group. Since the author seems to be on the road most of the time, this is probably the best solution.

 

[sanfrancisconudes]

I think it's mostly just a bit of unfortunate website design. If you go to purchase you see this bit about telephone support but nothing about there being other forms of support. I had the same reaction the first time I saw it as well.

You would think the group would be listed under "links" or "contact" but I didn't see it.