If you are a member of the NPS, how important is it to you, if not would you like to be? Also it appears that membership criteria differ from country to country, your experiences?
NPS membership. Are you, would you?
(33 posts) (19 voices)-
Posted 2 years ago #
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I would like to . . . but being I am not a pro, it is not open to me, although I have the D700 with 14-24, 24-70, 70-200, 24 1.4G, 50 1.4G, 85 1.4G, 60 G Micro, SB-400, 2 x SB-900's, and a 35 1.4G on preorder. I think my gear qualifies, but it is just a hobby for me :(
FYI: I shoot pro work, but on charity, I don't take money for anything . . .
Posted 2 years ago # -
I think it'd be neat but I wouldn't be able to afford it or utilize it at all.
I don't shoot professionally, I don't know another NPS member who would sponsor me and I don't own two Professional Bodies or three professional lenses.
Posted 2 years ago # -
I'd like to be at a point where it made sense to join the NPS, but for now, no. I simply don't rely enough on the income from my photography for it to make sense right now.
Posted 2 years ago # -
If there's no fee to join, why not? For those interested, here's the membership requirements posted on the NPS site:
1. NPS Sponsor (existing member to verify that you are a full-time photographer)
2. Current Tear Sheets (published within the last 12 months)
3. Ownership of a minimum of 2 Nikon Professional Bodies and 3 Nikkor or DX Nikkor lenses.I could probably find a sponsor since I know a lot of pro photographers. However, I only have one tear sheet, and it's over a year old. I would also need to buy two "pro" bodies.
Posted 2 years ago # -
What for? I am not a professional using my gear for a living. I can wait a bit longer for service.
Posted 2 years ago # -
and if you don't have tear sheets?
Posted 2 years ago # -
Hi,
I was a member for several years, perhaps over 15 or more (currently I'm not). If I recall, they have waxed and waned on fee/free, although the fees were quite small. When I was a member, and there was a fee, we used to get a magazine, so that was something, too.
The idea is that if you use the services much it would really make a difference.
Over the years I've had several things repaired, both in warranty and out-of-warranty, and with NPS and without NPS and I'm not sure I could tell a difference.
I've worked for the largest business on the planet, and we were close to a Nikon repair facility. One would 'think' that we could get faster service, but I really didn't get the sense that it mattered much. OTOH I sent a broken hot shoe on a flash from Missouri to Atlanta and got it back in record time, I had NPS and I was working with the same organization - the US Army, so who knows. But I also use Nikon repairs without NPS and their service is spotty as far as turn around time in both California and Atlanta. I've walked into their facilities and waited in their Norcross (Atlanta), or the the days before FedEX/UPS dropped off and picked up mission essential equipment for repair (our Base was about 100 miles).
Is it worth it? It's free. Try it and see.
My best,
Mike
Posted 2 years ago # -
Unless you are a "real" pro who feeds his family from photography income then no NPS isn't for you. You'll see no benefit from it. If you shoot at major events where NPS has representatives, then yes NPS "passes" can be very useful.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Not really a point for me to join, but I guess it'd be nice.
By the way, what's a tear sheet?
Posted 2 years ago # -
Proof of publication.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Tear sheets are like a portfolio but instead of showcasing the photos YOU think are your best, it has samples of publications that have used your photos. So things like magazine covers and articles, billboards, or other marketing material. Unfortunately screen captures of the Nikon Rumors Photo-A-Day thread don't count ;^)
Posted 2 years ago # -
NikoDoby said:
Tear sheets are like a portfolio but instead of showcasing the photos YOU think are your best, it has samples of publications that have used your photos. So things like magazine covers and articles, billboards, or other marketing material. Unfortunately screen captures of the Nikon Rumors Photo-A-Day thread don't count ;^)Of course they do, Dad. They're the best! ;-0
Posted 2 years ago # -
Does an NPS member in one country, have any entitlement to the benefits in another?
Posted 2 years ago # -
I would if I could. I have 2 professional Nikon bodies including a D3s, 5 pro lenses, and a ton of other photo stuff and computers, etc. It would be nice to be able have the recognition from Nikon that I own so much of their stuff and use it all the time... but I make my money from other sources even though some of my photos have been published.
If any NPS member would like to recommend me, I would be delighted!
Posted 2 years ago # -
Edited:
Nevermind... I retracted my comment. No point in upsetting people's egos.
Posted 2 years ago # -
I would be willing to pay to be evaluated and recommended.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Make NPS membership open to everybody. Charge for the membership everybody who wants to have it. Problem solved. Those who want expedited service/repair/shipping etc simply pay for it. It would rather quickly tame all hot heads wanting to get into the program. Professional photographers who NEED rather than WANT the club membership would pay up since they make their living from shooting photos, and they would simply see it as a cost of business. Rest of the people wouldn't bother.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Seems OK in principle poster, but I would think that Nikon WANT the service to be free, as a way of contacting their most "influencial" customers? The ones who they feel are going to draw attention to their brand and have people say "he/she shoots with a Nikon!" so it must be good.
NikoDoby said:
Unless you are a "real" pro who feeds his family from photography income then no NPS isn't for you. You'll see no benefit from it. If you shoot at major events where NPS has representatives, then yes NPS "passes" can be very useful.You'd be correct if the only thing it offered was expidited access to the service department, but what about the free training days, and opportunities to try out the latest equipment before it goes on general release. Maybe this is not the case in all countries?
Posted 2 years ago # -
SkintBrit said:
You'd be correct if the only thing it offered was expidited access to the service department, but what about the free training days, and opportunities to try out the latest equipment before it goes on general release. Maybe this is not the case in all countries?I'd like to join for the other benefits as well. I registered online for an NPS seminar at UCLA's cinema studies theater a few months ago. It was great! They had cookies, snacks, sodas, gave away free 'NPS' camera straps and handed out glossy D3s brochures.
I got to meet and talk informally with several Nikon reps about "inside" Nikon stuff, and the future of V-DSLRs in general. Plus, I met a lot of interesting photographers from various areas of the field. I also had a great discussion with the owner of Red Rock Micro, who was also in attendance.
Nikon did an excellent job of assembling the event. They served snacks prior to the event, and didn't open the theater until after about an hour after the event's scheduled "start time." This provided an excellent opportunity to meet and talk with other the photographers in attendance. I think NPS is an excellent professional association worthy of any serious photographer's interest.
Posted 2 years ago # -
I completely agree studio460, but I think Nikon is right to keep a membership category going just for pro's. Poster has a good point though, that all the NPS benefits you mention, could be offered to members of a paid for 'club', maybe an enhanced level of NPU membership? Would enough people be interested in joining such a club?
Posted 2 years ago # -
Leica offers a world where exclusivity is maintained by price.
Nikon and Canon offer worlds where exclusivity is maintained by achievement.Are some of you really calling for such a fundamental shift in the core values of the brand? For this is what I believe the consequences of such a request (NPS for everyone who will cough up the money) are.
More importantly, and why you will never see NPS go subscription:
NPS is a loss-leader. It creates brand, rewards loyalty, but does not generate revenue.
If Nikon were to open, and therefore swell, the ranks they would need to dedicate much more of their resources to this non-core business. Airlines have played with this model in the past, and as any of you who have been frequent-fliers for more than 15-20 years know, perks have gone WAY down as once exclusive programs were scaled for the masses.Posted 2 years ago # -
Hi,
NPS _was_ a fee-based service. The fee wasn't much, and there was a magazine attached, but it was something. It was so long ago it might have been hides.
As for whether it is worthwhile to join, that's another matter. Nikon repair services, like any corporate, faceless service, really depends upon the day/person(s)/problem/circumstances, and a the list goes on. I've had terrific service with and without my NPS membership, and I'm had less than stellar service with and without it, too.
My early posting was to the point that I couldn't tell any difference in the quality of my service with/without NPS membership - which I might add is a good thing. If the repair shop is full of NPS gear, none of the regular gear may never get fixed. It should be first in first out.
I've never covered an event where NPS was on site to support Nikon photographers, such as an Olympics, so that might matter to a sports photographer who regularly covers such an event. News events really don't often happen in convenient clusters.
Broadcasting would seem to make it so, but that just for economy's sake. ;-0
My best to all,
Mike
Posted 2 years ago # -
At this moment the only advantage I see for NPS members is being able to purchase a product before a major event almost right after it was announced where most people won't get it in time (example: 2012 Olympics for the D4 or maybe D800 or D400).
Other than that I don't see a need to be part of the 'club', but honestly I would want to get there by way of the achievement and not what gear I have to own. At this point if I was really good then my photographs would make an art exhibt and I wouldn't worry about it.
Posted 1 year ago # -
not bad for every 4 years, right? I've needed things repaired rapidly, but I live next to Melville (Norwalk, CT), so I usually get my repairs back under 2 weeks....now, if it was inpportune timing, and I need equpment, I just rent it...in that case, NPS would be nice.
I'm a wedding photog, and semi-pro, so no tear sheets for me, just happy couples...oh well!
Posted 1 year ago #
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