Photofocus

Rant Alert!

For the love of all things photographic people – stop – it’s for your own good. Stop believing what you read in the online camera forums about gear – particularly about newly announced gear or gear that is not shipping.

I received no less then two dozen emails after I mentioned that Nikon had launched the D7000 informing me that it was a “lousy camera” because it only bracketed one stop. The people emailing me and tweeting me were irate. They had read about it on a camera forum. And therefore it must be true!

Not that it’s a huge deal in any event but people were going crazy over a allegedly missing feature attached to a camera they have never seen, touched or used.

The truth is (according to the guy who should know, @MichaelRubin, Sr. Product Lifecycle Product Manager for DSLR Products at Nikon Inc. U.S.) the D7000 does both exposure and flash bracketing in two or three stops in 1/3, 1/2, 1 & 2 Stops (not 1) stop increments. SO SETTLE DOWN.

This is but ONE example of the crazy stuff that happens EVERY SINGLE TIME there is a new camera released.

When I respond to a news release from one of the camera companies, I most often remember to write something like – “Looks good on paper, we’ll have to wait and see when we get one in the studio.” That’s it. There’s no real reason to speculate beyond that until the camera – any new camera – is available.

What’s really funny is the bravado and autoritative approach the wizards in the online camera forums take to dispensing their opinions on these new cameras – that – remember – they – have – not – seen – or touched – or shot with – ever!

Perhaps some common sense could creep into the hearts and minds of you who are so inclined to be taken in by this nonsense to simply stop. Refuse to give in to it. Wait until you see reviews by – now this is going to be radical so get ready – reviews written by people WHO HAVE ACTUALLY SEEN, TOUCHED and SHOT WITH the camera! Wow what a novel idea.

Obviously I am writing this post a bit tongue in cheek but seriously folks, I can just about predict the first three emails I will receive about ANY new camera from ANY manufacturer. They are – in no particular order:

1. I was reading about the new ______________ camera on __________________ online forum, and word has it that there are significant back focusing issues with this camera. Can you advise?

2. I was reading about the new ______________ camera on __________________ online forum, and word has it that the first people to get one of these camera bodies got a bad copy. Can you advise?

3. I was reading about the new ______________ camera on __________________ online forum, and word has it that the camera is missing this critical feature ______________. How could they miss that?

Sigh…

So really. Stop. Don’t make your camera buying decisions based on the stuff you read in the online camera forums. Half of it is simply made up malarky and the other half is often dead wrong. Wait for the reviews. Rent the camera from a place like Borrowlenses.com. Go try one out at a camera store. THEN make up your mind.

Whew – rant over.

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This post sponsored by X-Rite Color and the ColorChecker Passport