So, my list of gear is piling up as I progress, and over at photography-on-the.net forums (canon forums) they have a thread dedicated to everyone's gear they have, to limit the size of signatures. Basically you link to your entry on this thread in your sig.

To do this is very simple.

Step One: Reply to this with what you want in your "gear list". It can have anything from your computer specs, to camera bodies, lenses, or even children I suppose. (Basically anything you want to say in your sig but don't want to take up the room.)

Step Two: Right click on the reply number of your reply, and select "copy shortcut".

Step Three: Go to your control panel by clicking on "You!" in the nav bar, and then edit your signature.

Step Four: Type a name for you link. Something like "Heres my Gear". Select that text, and click on the hyperlink button in the message editing window. (looks like a globe with a chain link in front of it). A window will pop up asking for the URL. hilight http:// by clicking and draging over it, and paste the shortcut you copied earlier (can be done by pressing CTRL (CMD) + V or by going to Edit and paste in your browser's menu, or by right clicking and selecting paste.

Step Five: Save your signature.

And now you have a slick looking gear free signature, and your own custom gear list. Which you can edit at any time!

Digital:

• Canon 5D Mark II
  

Film:

• Canon EOS Elan 7 Gripped

Lenses:

• Canon 135mm f/2L USM[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif][/FONT]
• Canon 50mm f/1.4 USM

Support:

• Manfrotto 190XPROB Tripod Legs
  
• Promaster SystemPro Junior Ball Head
  
• Promaster SystemPro Monopod NS

Lighting:

• Canon 580EXII
• Canon CP-E4 Battery Pack (for 580EXII)
• 20 Pack O' Gels
• Eclipse 45" Photogenic Umbrella
  
• (3x) 7' Promaster Light Stands
  
• Promaster Reflector Holder (adapter for light stand)
  
• Cactus v4 Wireless Flash Trigger
• (3x) Cactus v4 Wireless Flash Receivers
  

Computers:

• Adobe CS5 Master Collection
• 15" MacBook Pro 2.66GHz, 4GB DDR3 RAM, 320GB 5400rpm HDD, Snow Leopard 10.6.3
• 32" Samsung 1080p HDTV, 8GB Ram, 2.5GHz Intel Quad Core, 1.3TB HD, nVidia Geforce 8800GT, Antec 900 Case with blue LED Lights, Windows 7
• Intuos 4 Medium Wacom Tablet
  

Scanner:

• Epson Perfection v500 Photo

Funny you bring this up today. I just did this yesterday. My sig line was becoming a section all on its own.

Why would I care to tell everyone what my kit is? And how would that help
anybody else except the marketing department?

For example I've just seen on digital-photography-school that the site polls
their visitors/users about which computer program they use, which computer
they have, which camera brand they have, which lenses they are going to
buy, which ones they owned etc. It's clear that they will use this data commercial (to get adds, sponsors, ...).

I'm not saying this is happening here, but with the dummy 5 step instructions above it reminds me of it.
Arr the grief :-) but maybe someone can enlighten me why participating in these show-us-your-data-polls makes sense.

Originally Posted by Manfr3d Why would I care to tell everyone what my kit is? And how would that help

Some potential clients may view your gear list (or want you to list your gear) to determine if you have the necessary gear to handle a particular job.
A lot of commercial clients now seem to be doing this, especially real estate companies.
Keep in mind that today more than ever photographers are competing for jobs with every tom, dick and harry who happens to buy a dslr. These people walk out of the store with a kit lens and believe they can bid for any job on the planet.

A professional photographer has a website with photos. I never imagined that a clients that pays actually money for a job goes and digs in some forums to see if that photographer has the glass.

Besides people hire photographers because of their artistic and professional abilities (= what kind of pictures are in their portfolio) and not by how much gear they have (= how long their signature line is).

Originally Posted by Manfr3d Besides people hire photographers because of their artistic and professional abilities (= what kind of pictures are in their portfolio) and not by how much gear they have (= how long their signature line is).

I agree that it should be this way, but I see and hear a lot of just this kind of thing. Somebodies brother in law or friend has this idea of what professional gear is supposed to be, or what brand it is supposed to be.
Any good photographer knows that it is the person behind the equipment that makes the image good, the equipment just makes the job easier.
I have actually read ads that specify a specific camera system. I get a good laugh about it and move on, but this is happening more frequently.

If it isn't happening in your area, be thankful. Having to explain to someone that one specific system isn't the only company that makes pro equipment is a waste of time.
Just the other night I had a person tell me the pros only use medium format. It took all I had not to laugh in this persons face.

umm... this isn't a poll... i don't know where you got that at all... I don't care what gear you have. This is mearly a convenience to everyone. Signatures get jammed up with stuff (gear) that shouldn't be there. This is a way to make your signature smaller so its easier and less annoying to read threads. And people that do want to see what gear you have... or what you have for sale... or anything random you want in your sig but don't want to take up the space... they can view your post on here.

The "5 step dummy" process... Is for those that are not very good with computers... I know there has to be a few on here. I figured I could save time by explaining the whole process for those that are still stuck back in Large Format Camera times (not saying that those are bad cameras cause they're amazing and I'm not saying old people do not know how to use computers cause alot of you do! just a figure of speach)

If anything this thread gets good use for myself. I wanted to do this to free up space in my signature, and so I started a thread so that EVERYONE could do this too if they wanted to. Sorry I was trying to think of others.

If this was a poll it would say... POLL: Noob here looking to see what AMAZING cameraz yous guyz owns lolz rofl...

so, drop the whole... "I dont get why marketers are trying to figure me out" thing, cause this isn't that kind of thing.

how about just take a picture of our gear?
here is a good expample:

http://techblog.dallasnews.com/olympics-photo-gear.jpg


problem is mine looks like this:
http://www.shinyshiny.tv/lego-digita...mb-348x314.jpg

Originally Posted by AaronNelson how about just take a picture of our gear? here is a good expample: http://techblog.dallasnews.com/olympics-photo-gear.jpg problem is mine looks like this: http://www.shinyshiny.tv/lego-digita...mb-348x314.jpg

HAHAHA thats great. ummm well you can do that if you want... it doesn't HAVE to be a text list. Be creative, come up with funky ways to strut your stuff...

I don't think this is a bad idea. It's up to the individual to add the link in their signature or not.

I read (and occasionally post) at both the Digital Grin and POTN forums, I know that others here do so as well .... don't deny it ... I see you there too!

I find it interesting to look at other's photo galleries, I have actually learned a good bit by studying how other folks compose their images, exif data, etc..

It's fun to look at the gear kits that some folks have .... I have actually seen replies tp topics where a person is debating the merits of a camera or lens, when I check their gear they don't even have the item being discussed!

I realize that having an impressive gear list does not make a person an accomplished photographer .... having an operating room in your home, doesn't make you a surgeon either! (I know .... maybe a bit over the top, but you understand my point)

Just my 2 cents worth.

I think this is a good idea to clean up our signature clutter. I like to look at people's gear lists so I can see if we use the same lens and how they utilize that lens differently or if they use a lens I am considering buying and how they use it, etc.

Bodies: 2 x Canon EOS 5D Mark II + 2 x BG-E6 Grip

Flash: 2 x 580 EX II (with Universal Cloud Lightspheres) & 1 ST-E2 Wireless Transmitter

Lenses: Sigma 15 f/2.8 Fish Eye || 16-35 f/2.8L || 24 f/3.5L TS-E Mk II || 35 f/1.4L || 85 f/1.2L Mk II || 100 f/2.8L IS Macro USM || 135 f/2.0L USM || 70-200 f/2.8L IS USM Mk II

Case: Think Tank Airport Security v2 & think Tank Airport International v2

Originally Posted by Manfr3d Why would I care to tell everyone what my kit is? And how would that help anybody else except the marketing department? For example I've just seen on digital-photography-school that the site polls their visitors/users about which computer program they use, which computer they have, which camera brand they have, which lenses they are going to buy, which ones they owned etc. It's clear that they will use this data commercial (to get adds, sponsors, ...). I'm not saying this is happening here, but with the dummy 5 step instructions above it reminds me of it. Arr the grief :-) but maybe someone can enlighten me why participating in these show-us-your-data-polls makes sense.

some people like to
you don't
big deal
they do
move on.

Camera(s):
Nikon D200 with MB-D200 Battery Grip
Nikon D50
Nikon Coolpix L11

Lenses:
Nikon 70-200 f/2.8 VR
Nikon 60mm f/2.8 micro
Nikon 50 f/1.8
Nikon 35 f/2
Tamron 17-50 f/2.8
Tokina 12-24 f/4

Tripod:
Manfrotto legs
Manfrotto head

Monopod:
Manfrotto 681B

Bags:Cases
Swiss backpack bag for carry around
Pelican 1510 w/ lid organizer
Pelican light stand/tripod bag
Pelican SD memory card wallet
Pelican CF memory card wallet
Pelican 1050
Pelican 1060
Pelican 1150
Pelican 1200
Pelican 1300

Flash | Strobist gear
Nikon SB-800 x 2
Impact umbrellas 35" x 2
Fong dome clear
Fong dome frosted
Impact light stands x 2
Nikon SC-29 flash cord
Nikon wired D200 remote
Rosco flash gels
Cybersync transmitter
Cybersync crsb+ receiver x 5
(3) AlienBees B800 Flash Unit, Black w/ 150 watt modeling lamp, bag, 7” parabolic, electrical cord, and bulb protection cover
(1) 22” Beauty Dish / Matte Pan Reflector.
(1) Boom Arm Attachment 11lbs.
(1) 10” x 36” Foldable Stripbox / Softbox w/ Speedring.
(1) 35” Octagon Softbox 15” deep w/speedring.
(1) 30” x 60” Giant Softbox 27.5” deep w/speedring.
(2) Backlight Stand 40” – 3 sections with a 19” max footprint.
(1) Lightstand 10ft. – 4 sections with 39” max footprint.
(2) Lightstand 13ft. – Heavy Duty 4 section with 43” max footprint.
(1) Set of 3 Casters (wheels) for light stand.
(4) Honeycomb Grid – Set of (4) 10, 20, 30, 40.
(1) White Shovel Background Reflector.
(1) 5-in-1 Circular Reflector w/ mounting kit.
(2) LiteMod Mainframes.
(2) Barndoors.
(26) Gels w/ 4 Gel Holders
(1) Umbrella – Translucent White Shoot-thru 48”.
(1) Umbrella – Silver/White reversible 32”.
(1) Remote Trigger / Transmitter – 2.4GHz Battery Powered.
(1) Remote Receiver – 2.4GHz Battery Powered, up to 400 feet.
(1) Lightstand Carry Bag.
(1) Westcott Muslin - Storm Cloud Grey Background 10ft x 24ft.
(3) Seamless Paper Rolls 9ft x 12yds (Olive Green, Slate Grey, Blue, Black Roll and White Roll

Filters:
Hoya / Nikon / Tiffen / Cokin P filter system

Hoya 77mm ND 10x
Hoya 52mm warm
Hoya 52mm CPL
Hoya 52mm UV
Tiffen 55mm UV
Promaster 67mm MC ND.8x
Tiffen 72mm ND.6
Nikon A2 77mm
Hoya HMC UV 77mm
Hoya Super Pro1 77 CPL
Tiffen 77mm Grad ND0.6
Hoya HMC 77mm ND8
Cokin CP
Cokin ND
Cokin Sunset filter
B&W 110 3.0 ND filter

Computer | Editing
Custom built 3.5 ghz w/ 1TB HD and top end video card
CS3
CS4
Lightroom 2.0

Memory
Sandisk Extreme III 8gb CF - x4
Sandisk Extreme III 4gb CF - x2
Sandisk Extreme II 2gb SD - x4

sweet... finally some people that get the point of this thread! Success! And thats quite a gear list Eric

Originally Posted by The Mack some people like to you don't big deal they do move on.

Please keep it civil folks.

I thought I did?

Any further off-topic posts will be deleted.