Reviews Section

[SpringfieldPhoto]

It's such a shame that so few people write reviews of the equipment that they use. Personal views are so very useful and often give an insight into a product that professional reviewers may miss. Professional reviewers are, presumably, more knowledgeable than us mere mortals and as such may fail to spot things like poor menus with insufficient help, use of unexplained acronyms etc. I have written several reviews on cameras an lenses and have had some interesting feedback.
I hope other members will spend a few minutes giving their views of the equipment that they use.

[Trev B]

Personally I don't take much notice or put any faith in reviews, all too often they are written by the manufacturer or company themselves. I once booked an hotel on the strength of the review, to say the place was rubbish is putting it mildly. After eighteen moths of letter writing etc. etc. I got my money back and found out the hotel had written the review themselves.

[lunarbo]

Springfield- I read your review of the R6 on here with much interest and I agree that on this forum we have the chance to help each other with our unique POV and the knowledge that we are not being paid to influence
But of course reading reviews in magazines /You Tube have to be taken with a pinch of salt .... doesn't stop me doing it though!

[SpringfieldPhoto]

I bought the R6 as a result of a verbal review of the camera by a good friend. I do feel that unbiased personal opinions expressed on a site like this, are of great value.

[ColytonJohn]

Outside this forum I fear reviews are of little indication good or bad as I've seen so many good items being awarded a single star due to poor service from a courier or supplier and many five-star awards given with the comment "only just bought so not used it yet".

Both these examples are useless for any prospective customer but there are other situations where those seeking foreknowledge are given a disservice such as when a supplier or manufacturer intervenes. As when I gave a considered and constructive review of something I'd bought and used but, as it wasn't a 100% glowing five-stars, it never appeared having been suppressed, no doubt, by the supplier who didn't want to lose prospective sales. How often does this occur?

And magazine and online reviews? By all means use them as a source of technical specifications but if they're comparing one to another you need to consider just how independent they are or are they pushing one manufacturer over all others.

However, on a forum such as this, I feel that reviews are most likely be honest and trustworthy as they will be directed at those who will benefit and from those with no axe to grind nor anything to gain from overinflating their opinion - and their shame would be exposed for all to see were they to do so

Cheers,
John

[SpringfieldPhoto]

Thanks John for reinforcing my point. I have written several reviews on the forum as I do believe in passing on my honest opinion of items. I give my unbiased view of the item. Too often reviews elsewhere show biased views or are totally useless. I don't award stars I state my personal experience with the product. I am certainly not biased toward Canon as I have often criticised them. Further I do use both Canon and other manufactures lenses and accessories. I shall continue to review items that I buy and I hope others will do the same.