Question/proposal about Sigma and forum structure

I know of some fellow Sigma users, who are not satisified with current location of Sigma forum - I mean this "Other manufacturers" -> "Sigma Camera talk" thing. Hard to find on category page, not a first-class citizen and other complaints.

What do you think, is there any sense to attempt to create entire category for Sigma? I would propose such structure:

Sigma camera and lenses
- Sigma/Foveon cameras and technology talk
- Sigma FP/L-mount cameras talk
- Sigma lenses talk

But this creates few problems, (a) FP/L-mount will somewhat overlap with L-mount category and (b) will be there any need (and future traffic) for Sigma lenses forum?
Your feedback and ideas are welcome!
Please respond even when you consider current situation good enough - I will try to create poll too, it takes some time to get that right.
/edit/ I can't add poll with more than two choices - you have to just respond in writing :)

You mean current logic then - one Sigma forum (among other camera forums) under Other manufacturers?

OK, understood, noted :)
Unfortunately this isn't exactly possible with current 2-level structure, thereby I'm asking and discussing about different possibilities.

I think the most controversial (confusing) part is not categories-forums relationship as data structure, but its layout (on categories page). There is ongoing topic about categories page, where some posters say 'it is worst possible mess' and others say that 'they won't visit dprevived anymore, if this page changes' :)

What about Sigma getting own category or not - that is even not that important, locating Sigma (or many other) forums quickly seems more direct concern. Promoting Sigma to category would help only Sigma people, bigger problems will remain. Why I'm asking about this (and about some other things on other threads) - I'm trying to understand, how this site can be made more attractive to wider audience.

ArvoJ and I have been discussing this. It's not an easy "fix" for everyone.

The site landing page is under review and we (the developers) are looking at different options.

In the short term I have already proposed that Sigma could have it's own second level category with "Sigma Cameras" and "Sigma Lenses" as the actual forums. I was waiting to see whether that would garner further support - it appears it does. So, I may well implement that tomorrow.

But it doesn't get over the fact that the landing page is complex and doesn't suit everyone. If you look at the landing page of DPReview, you wouldn't even know there were forums there (apart from one little menu item) and yet that is the main area where people communicate. But no-one complains about that because their bookmarks take them to their own forums that they like to interact with.

Ours is different. We recognise and highlight the fact that there are LOADS of forums around, which (we hope) encourages people to interact across forums and open their horizons. This is (in my opinion) a good thing, but we need to get it looking better.

It will change - we just don't quite know how just yet.

Alan

I've updated the Sigma forums - hopefully, the users willbe a little happier.

Alan

Ricoh already has some threads and posts. I would need to ask them if they minded moving under Pentax.

Alan

Ah, I didn't know that. [Or I may have done but forgotten].

Let me think about it - and see if anyone from the Ricoh forum objects

Alan