Magazine Reviews

I would like to take issue with Rob (Prize Letter June 2011) about the reviews covered in What Digital Camera. He complains about reviews of "point and shoot cameras", which "most of us wouldn't even consider buying" (how patronising is that?) and on the other hand, requests reviews on equipment (NOT cameras) that most of us could not afford, e.g. Sony 70-200mm f2.8 (£1849), Canon 70-200mm f4 (£1450) and Canon 24-105mm f4Lm (£1049) - all prices printed in the back of the same magazine. What world is this man living in?

Most people who buy what he describes as "point and shoot cameras" do so because either they do not want a DSLR system, or are satisfied with the results they obtain from their choice of camera. To describe all non-DSLRs as point and shoot cameras shows a lack of understanding of what is possible with these cameras. I have three Canon non-DSLRs, an SX120is which has a full complement of exposure modes (as well as all the scene modes which I do not use), a G7, which again has a full complement of exposure modes, and a recently purchased A1200, bought for the inclusion of an optical viewfinder.

These cameras can take brilliant pictures, which are easily enlarged to A3 size. Whilst not suggesting that they would compare to a top-of-the-range DSLR with top-of-the-range lenses, are at least adequate for A3 pictures viewed from normal viewing distance.

There is so much camera snobbery about these days, even more so than when film was king. What Digital Camera has, so far, not gone down this road, and it will be a sad day for ALL photographers when all that will be reviewed with be top-of-the-range gear.

What Digital Camera is just that - a magazine reviewing CAMERAS for ALL, and long may it continue.

Hi Roy. I have also found that much snobbery exists with certain types of 'photographers', who display an amazing capacity for arrogance with it. I will not even join the local camera clubs for that reason, where business men look down on anybody who can't afford cameras that start at £5000. A man I met recently had left a club after his amazing shot of a racing motor cycle was harshly criticized by, as he described, 90 year old judges who had a penchant for landscapes and all else was rubbished. I haven't seen the June issue of WDC yet, but as the letter you mention is the 'star' letter, then I anticipate more reaction and justly so. All the best, Mike.

Hi . I won't join a camera club ether simply for the same reasons a Mike(only club i will entertain is a club biscuit). I didn't find the letter arrogant or even snobbish but did find it demeaning towards compact users . What grieved me was the assumption that dslr users would not consider buying compact cameras. I have 3 dslr cameras and a few compacts /point and shoot( i am in different to whatever name is used just terminology to me ) and am always looking for out for more . As Nigel stated their is room for all reviews in the mag... graham

I too found the content of the June issue prize letter rather demeaning and snobbish, the same attitude I see so often when out shooting, where some people (usually Nikon owners) spend more time sneering at the cameras of others rather than using their own - or perhaps they have to look at others because they cannot use their own camera? However, there were other features when this snobbishness was evident, such as the profile on Alex Saberi - who asserts that only DSLR's are "proper" cameras - I lost interest in, and ceased reading, that feature at that point.

As I had commented in a submitted letter responding to the May issue; it’s good to still have a mag that continues to go against what has become the norm, and which recognizes that there are other cameras than DSLRs, and that not all photographers are DSLR-obsessed, and nor do all photographers subscribe to the mantra (largely driven by manufacturers and retailers, but supported by most mags) that we must "aspire" to own a DSLR.

Over the years I have had 35mm, APS, and digital SLRs, but I am no longer interested in carrying round a bagful of kit. I have a Lumix G1 for when I go out with the intention of taking a range of photos; I have a Lumix FZ28 for when I go out and might want to take a range of photos; but mainly I carry my Lumix TZ10 for when I go out and want a camera if/when a photographic opportunity arises; and there's the Lumix FS7 that's always in the car. The feature on Charlie Waite in the May issue has perhaps edged me closer to completing the Lumix set and buying an LX5!

Eh wait, I got a prize letter? I have been yet to find out about this :O
http://www.whatdigitalcamera.com/for...ead.php?t=2257
Thats the thread I started, if you read it, I stated lenses which I would like to have seen reviewed as I was looking at both of them to help decide whether to stay sony, or switch to canon, raising the thought of a dedicated 'review request section of the forum,' I had no intentions of raising photography snobbery...

Also the canon 70-200 f/4 sells for under £500 and is very widely used, and the 24-105 sells for under £650 and comes as a kit lens with many cameras, so its hardly an irrational suggestion in my opinion.

And also lets look at the obvious here, theres not been one lens review since october 6th, thats nigh on 9 months without a lens review, seriously?
Yes point and shoot cameras are needed for any camera magazine, but to totally block out lens reviews?

To quote what I put:
"I know some things requested will be nigh on impossible to get to review, such as hasselblads, phase ones, gigantically expensive lenses and the like, but just everyday equipment used by your average photographer would be awesome!"

My apologies for the whole snobbery thoughts by the way :)

if you knew me youd know Im about the least snobby person known to man ;)

hi all
after reading the comments in this post
mike you have made me smile sat here reading your words "where business men look down on anybody who can't afford cameras that start at £5000"
and that's so true.
I work at a football club on match days not taken photos i wise
but i had taken my camera to take a few photos later that day of the ground with no one in to test my 70 - 300mm lens any way
one of the top photographers saw me with my camera and asked what model it was i told him Canon 500D
and like you put here's a guy with a high spec model over mine and turns and said that's not a proper camera which i laffed off.
Some months later one of my close friends sons was a mascot for the team and this guy took there photos when the mother had the photos back taken by this guy not one was in focus of her son about nine photo's so the next time i saw him i said you now my little 500D did you now it looks like it can focus a lot better then your high spec one and for half the price as well seeing the photo's you have taken with your high spec one or do you need some one to show you how to work it right the guy took it bad and as not spoken to me since that day
thought id share that with you all

regards

russ :)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Blitz Photography & Prod

hi all
after reading the comments in this post
mike you have made me smile sat here reading your words "where business men look down on anybody who can't afford cameras that start at £5000"
and that's so true.
I work at a football club on match days not taken photos i wise
but i had taken my camera to take a few photos later that day of the ground with no one in to test my 70 - 300mm lens any way
one of the top photographers saw me with my camera and asked what model it was i told him Canon 500D
and like you put here's a guy with a high spec model over mine and turns and said that's not a proper camera which i laffed off.
Some months later one of my close friends sons was a mascot for the team and this guy took there photos when the mother had the photos back taken by this guy not one was in focus of her son about nine photo's so the next time i saw him i said you now my little 500D did you now it looks like it can focus a lot better then your high spec one and for half the price as well seeing the photo's you have taken with your high spec one or do you need some one to show you how to work it right the guy took it bad and as not spoken to me since that day
thought id share that with you all

regards

russ :)

---

Have to agree, having used a phase one at my work experience (medium format madness) side by side with my sony a200, using the exact same lighting setup, the results were scarily similar, bar the slight extra detail in the phase one (10mp vs 40mp) everything else was bang on the same, and Id go as far as to say that even blown up to A2 it would still be hard to tell the difference :eek:

after reading the above messagers all these people with £5000 cameras think they are exspensive neckleses and not only that most of them dont no how to use them.but ask your self this do they ever look so they are having fun taking pictures i think not but people with point and shoot or 500d cameras or nikon always look so they are enjoying what they are doing but its not just cameras anyone with loads of money turn there nose up at you let them get on with it we all having fun.

Well said Russ. Must tell you about a friend's wedding a few years ago, this took place in a very expensive stately home in the middle of nowehere. The official photographer was there with his brace of ------ cameras and smarminess just oozed out of him. One of those with a loud mouth which he used extensively. I took along my camera of the time, a Pentax MZ5N, and enjoyed taking off the cuff shots for my album. I used FUJIFILM IS0 100 by the way. Anyway, this guy smirked at my gear and walked away tutting. When my friend got his pics I was shocked at the poor quality, and he gladly accepted mine. Funny thing is, to this day he won't reveal how much he paid, wonder why?. Recent ad--wedding photos, only £3500.!!!!!!!!!!!!!