Something I Noticed About Those Who Review Cameras

Ketchikan, Alaska, 2008 (click to enlarge)
Nikon D300, Nikon 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 lens @ 22mm; 1/500th sec. @ f/11; ISO 800

When a new model digital camera is introduced and is first tested, many, MANY reviewers and testers just gush with their words in how great everything is about this new whiz bang model. They talk about how fast the focus is, how the focus tracks everything from a speeding bullet to a golf ball, the terrific dynamic range and other camera attributes. That is normal behavior considering the camera is new and usually the reviewer is a user of that particular camera brand.  I've done it to a small degree.

However, did you ever notice that when the succeeding model is introduced a couple of years later that many of these same people now talk about the new model with the same enthusiasm and often the same words they referenced the older model?  All probably true.  But here is the difference.  The old camera now becomes just ho-hum and not wonderful anymore.  That ultra-fast focus, in hindsight, is just okay now, but the new model is faster than a rocket ship!  The old great dynamic range about which they raved is all of a sudden no longer adequate but the newly introduced model is the best thing since sliced bread when it comes to dynamic range.  The old features were fine but now it seems they think it really lacked this and that, which the new camera model now has. The old camera, about which they bragged as better than your camera, is now just old news. Old is passé but the new is great.  The cycle seems to repeat model after model. 

Funny how one's perspectives change.  Maybe, as an audience, we shouldn't believe all of the hype.

Several years ago I noticed that the camera reviews done by a nationally known photography magazine did just this.  When they tested the newest camera it was at the top of the charts and got a glowing review.  Two years later, the camera seemed to be pretty much of a dog, almost not worthy of purchasing, as if everyone who read the magazine now wanted, needed or could afford the latest high-end camera body.  The scale for acceptable kept changing so there really was no way to compare an older camera to a newer camera.  The camera that was a 9 on a scale from 1-10 is now a 4 on the same exact scale.  Hmmm.  Interesting.

I just find it interested how their perspectives and their verbiage change over time.  What was once the best camera available and none of us would ever need anything better, now is just "yesterday's news" but this new camera is unbelievable in its capabilities.  Do you think maybe they are trying to win converts or drive sales?  Maybe?  Do you think the advertisers liked these descriptions of their new cameras?

Have any of you noticed this phenomenon?  Next time you listen to some You Tube videos on camera and/or lens test or read reviews, carefully look for which words the reviewer uses, then go back and watch the same reviewer talk about the now older model and listen to what words he or she used then.

Just a casual observation...  Interesting to me.

Thanks for looking. Enjoy! 

Dennis A. Mook 

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