Please just ask if you've any questions? Don't forget the full categorised index of all my videos at www.northlight-images.co.uk/keith-cooper-photography-videos-index/ If you'd like to make a small donation towards my testing, I have a Kofi page: "Buy me a coffee" ko-fi.com/keithcooper. Buying stuff? I also have some affiliate links which earn me a small commission if used. US Amazon photo/print gear: amzn.to/3l9vJC6 B&H Photo: www.bhphotovideo.com/?BI=2008&KBID=2711&DFF=d10-v1-t8-x4 Adorama: www.adorama.com/?
Ditto. I think reviews that give good and bad in neutral way are much more trustworthy that review telling "this is the greatest and latest that I can only praise, order from affiliate link below". Yes, there is always a risk that the item loaned by manufacturer is cherry-picked, but there is always some risk, unless you buy and test it yourself. Then and only then you'll know how the exact copy you got performs. A lot in these reviews is not a review, but how different things you may need can or cannot affect how you may feel about some printer. For example, roll paper is so important for some and meaningless for some, same goes for borderless printing and what not.
A lot of it is about trust and respect, you have never tried to sell me a thing, In fact you make it very clear that you are only giving your opinion on the item. Also you add a lot of common sense to things and not get dragged into the world of hearsay and missguided reasoning. You say what it is, you have the technical background to back it up and you care/enjoy what your doing. As previously mentioned, your reviews on earlier videos of the 8550 backed up my commitment to the purchase. And its proved to be a great tool and certainly fits my needs. Job done! 🙂
I've read your reviews for many, many year and seen your UA-cam videos for some time. On subjects that I have some experience in, your reviews align with my experience but your reviews are often more detailed. Your expertice is very valued for me - thank you so much
Keith, your reviews are gold standard. Many if not most of the reviews or commentary on the internet put out by so called experts and influencers I take with a large grain of salt. The objective is to increase their "numbers" and the quality or accuracy of what they produce is secondary.
You definitelly deserve loads of thumbs up. Thank you Keith Cooper. Keep on doing what you do best. and have fun no matter what silly questions might come up.
Unlike most of the UA-cam or media voices, I can tell you have a meaningful background in real science. I trust every word you say and value your insight.
I certainly trust you, so much that I went out and bought an ET8550. Best purchase I ever made for my photography. I just love printing my photos, even the lousy photos. THANKS!!!
Keith, you have, in my opinion and through your candid, in-depth reviews, elevated yourself into one of this countries go to person that so many turn to. I have benefited from your help on a certain printer. I have also based my most recent printer purchase on your super and very in-depth review of a printer. (purchased it last Thursday) Through your help I was very able to know what it would be able to do for me. How it would perform and if there were some issues that might crop up that would affect the print process I am looking to achieve. I am so grateful to you for this, thank you. Many people, and not just in this country, turn to you for help and advice. So please be assured, we hang on your every word as we can trust and rely on what you say. Please keep up the great reviews you undertake, your wider public needs you.
looking at how you speak and what knowledge you have that reaches the listener. Professional and rare approach today which shows that you give us all a free hand to choose. There is no persuasion anywhere and everything you do is based on your own experiences. The listener has a noticeable space for their own thoughts and interpretations. You are very open in what you convey to us and in what way. I think that this is very valuable. I am glad that I can read, listen and watch you.
Trust... Yep.. As I've said before, I enjoy watching your videos, even when they are not directly related to my interest or application, because of your clarity, experience, and the thought that there's always the possibility to learn something new, and, too, your audience can often "add value" with their comments. BTW, in considering how to evaluate a product rating on Amazon, for instance, I always look at the number of reviews, given that a low number of reviews could be swayed by the less-than-transparent policies of suppliers who will (in my own experience!) offer actual money, or free products, to change a review, or even to just remove it! I've had this twice, last year, with sellers wanting 2 star reviews "fixed"... Not happening! But I'm positive that there are enough people willing to take the money and run.
Thanks I've only had one company contact me to complain, and that was with software bundled with another product. They asked me to withdraw that part of the review or give them a right to reply - told them where they could shove it ;-) Still feels good... :--)
Hello Keith. I think you're videos are extremely useful and detailed. I for one am glad Canon talked you into UA-cam videos and continue to do so; as someone who struggles with reading, i find them invaluable. Thanks.
I know there are some other very well known UA-cam reviewers who rate your honest and straight forward but informative reviews and your vast expertise on the subjects you cover Keith. Everything you do is based upon your experience as a pro photographer. Keep up the great work.
Thanks - that's kind of you to mention. I guess I ought to reach out and see if anyone wants to collaborate in some way - there are many aspects of UA-cam I'm not actually that familiar with...
Cher Keith, je regarde vos vidéos pour leur caractère professionnel, informatif et pour le partage de votre grande expérience. Cela m’est instructif et toujours expliqué d’une façon agréable. Je souhaite que votre chaîne youtube grandissent encore et que votre travail soit respecté. Bravo pour votre travail M.Cooper 👍
Hi Keith, I have followed you a long time and have always enjoyed your frank (and I truly believe) your honest opinion on the equipment you review. I watched your piece on Canon 1100 and Epson 8550 before coming on to this video. Yes that was a very balanced opinion. Keep the honesty up. Tnx.
Thanks so much for your review of reviews! I'm feel more comfortable depending on your expert opinion and not worrying so much about those negative reviews on Amazon or B&H.
Thanks! I'm always wary when getting new kit, so thorough testing is in order, but I would not have spent our own money on an 8550 for example, if I was concerned with it.
Keith, as I have said in my emails to you, thanks for all the Educational Material that you produce, whether on UA-cam or your written Northlight Imagies web-site. In my opinion, your UA-cam videos are definitely not just "reviews", but thorough research into the various aspects of the products that might be of interest to us. You share this information, freely for the benefit of those that follow and value your work. You clearly state your observations, as opinions only, based on methodology that is transparent and reproducible by others if they wish. Personally, I learn something every time I watch one of your videos, even if I am not particularly interested in the exact product being tested. I certainly hope that today's video was not prompted by someone questioning your integrity. You state only what you know about through your years of experience and clearly state what is 'outside' your areas of knowledge.
Thanks - much appreciated. Yes, partly driven by a dive into on-line reviews when buying the et-8550. I was going to get one for Karen anyway, but I felt slightly swamped by the sheer amounts of incompetence and duplicity... Won't be heading there again ;-)
Hi Keith, I have just purchased an Epson 8550 on the strength of your videos (doesn't arrive until the 3rd) and now I am reading patchy reviews, some terrible on Amazon which make it sound like a nightmare. Some reports like it not printing properly from the front tray, using ink far quicker than advertised and horrible grinding noises from the rollers etc etc. I still trust your judgement though as it will most certainly be down to operator error or a faulty model.
Yes, I saw some of those, it's partly what motivated me to do this video ;-) Just check the printer thoroughly when you get it - lemons happen. The front tray is IMHO good for plain paper documents - I'd personally never put photo paper in there, unless it was thin, and then I'd not be using a paper like that. ;-) The exception was the little tray which worked surprisingly well for thin small photo paper. As for printing double sided photos - good luck with that on any printer ;-)
I got mine 3 months ago and I love it. I can print all kinds of photos even the bad ones and it doesn’t cost very much. It helps me be a better photographer.
@@KeithCooperI agree. I use plain paper in the lower tray, 4x6 photo paper in the small tray and everything else (8x10 and 5x7) in the rear. Works great.
Great video. Since buying ET8550 I have never looked back. I have learned to make my own ICC profiles and they work. I am retiring in December, so I want to keep up with my photography (as a hobby). My subject interest is old churches, castles and buildings of historical interest. Camera is Fujifilm XT5. Your expertise is shift/tilt lenses . So how can I hook up my XT5 to photos in shift /tilt. I’m thinking of buying an Artisan 50mm X mounted shift tilt lens. Or Finger, Laos’s 15 mm lens with it.?
Thanks Well - a Laowa 12-24mm zoom shift lens turned up today! The first ever shift lens for a crop sensor. I believe it's available for the Fuji? Tested it quickly on my R5 in crop mode - looks very good. More info to follow...
Thanks Keith, Been watching you for sometime now and value your views and opinions. Recently purchased a Pro 300 knowing its limitations and also appreciated your advise on its care. Thank you. Been caught with a cheap Nikon non S lens which did not come up to the hype in several reviews.(Not yours) Cheers from Australia
Thanks - glad to have helped. I'm alway a bit careful with looking at lens reviews in that I know that I only ever get one example to test, so the more 'measurements' I see, I'm wondering about sample variation. I tend to go for the more extreme lenses to test for myself, where I can add in a good part of "why you would use one". A 12-24mm shift lens turned up today... first ever zoom shift lens I've seen. My interest wanes if I'm asked to look at 'another 50mm' ;-)
Hi Keith, love your honesty and integrity online. Watched a number of your VTs for printers and I’m getting a Black Friday deal on a Canon Pixma Pro 200. I weighed up that v the Epson 8550 and your reviews really helped. I don’t want to print lots, just some larger prints for my home and to give away to family so I plumped for the Canon. Thank you. I do have a question though. I have a relatively old crop sensor DSLR 24MP and I’m a little concerned the larger pics will lack a little detail. I do crop in sometimes. There have been a few reviews on this scenario, but as I trust you, I’d really value your opinion.
Thanks - see some of my examples of resampling [articles and videos] I've printed images from my Canon 1Ds [11MP] at A2 and well above... 24MP - luxury ;-) I'll be testing a new lens [APS-C] on an R5, which gives an 18MP APS-C crop ...no worries.
There are some reviews that I feel they are clearly dependable, some that clearly are not and a very relevant gray area that would deserve some further investigation should I have the interest, time and energy to do it. In your case I have to admit that from the very first minute I felt them dependable, relevant and a joy to watch or read; I keep waiting for your next pill of valuable knowledge; thanks for that.
Thanks a lot for sharing this. I fully agree on looking at how a reviewer earns the money. Best would be always an independent magazine that earns the money with subscriptions. If the reviewer‘s earnings come from advertisements of the vendors of the tested products, then I‘m always sceptical regarding his/her independence.
There is a learned skill in sifting through the BS on forums (I've reached the point where the sifting has resulted in rarely using a forum....but at one time they were useful) and reviews on line. I recently bought a 3D printer; been looking for a while but after attending a session on them at a convention I bought the brand (and not quite the model he brought to demo) the fellow was using. 90% of my decision on what to buy was based on him, his experience and his advise. Did a bit of ground truthing with UA-cam but I had a high confidence factor that the model I was getting was going to be a good printer. Step is proving much harder - 3D cad software choices. LOL The problem with having some skills in finding good information is in the actual finding. It's like a needle in a haystack; there is so much "bad" information out there that when you find a good source you want to subscribe even if it's not field or product your currently interested in! People like that need to be supported and encouraged!
In my opinion you unfortunately need (at least) a basic knowledge about the subject/product category to find reviewers you can trust. Then watch a few from a channel and you'll build up trust - or not - for the reviewer. And before purchasing - ideally check a couple of reviews from your "trusted-list". Any review is at least somewhat influenced by the reviewer's background, interests, usage etc. makes watching more than one useful for getting a more complete picture of a product. And of course - this channel is on top of my trusted-list for printers and printing.
Hi Keith, as you explain; you are one of the sources i use to evaluate. Your weight might be higher in my evaluation then others; i check multiple sources every time. Even people i do not like to hear speak ... that does not make their view less valuable. Thanks for all the videos!
I have been watching your reviews from the beginning and trust your views. I was watching some reviews for the Hasselblad X2D 100C recently and was amazed that Hasselblad had been giving them away to these ‘influencers’ - how can that provide an honest opinion?
Thanks I know of someone who turned them down for just this reason. We've a very strict policy of not giving suppliers any say or control over reviews. Would I actually accept one? I have to say quite possibly, if it came with the right lens, because I've tested the camera in the past and rather liked it for some uses - more likely I'd give it to Karen to use [she 'borrowed' the X1DII I had here for testing] Would I take it, if it came with any 'strings attached' - no, not a chance. Would I be surprised if they actually wanted to offer me one - very ;-)
Yes - my own videos sometimes suffer from length, but others like that, so they stay ;-) Would I watch one of my own videos? - not if I've a written version to go to. The written versions can be updated / expanded / corrected, whilst videos are stuck at the time of publishing.
I was thinking, too, about the value to Canon, Epson, et al, in having your feedback, directly, if you find an issue, or simply something in the user interface, or manual, when you give them a "heads up" to something, before the review, rather than saying "this was crap" in a review on a pre-release product! It's absolutely invaluable to them to have a user with solid experience, doing real-world testing, to get the opportunity to make improvements, fix problems, before shipping hundreds or thousands of products that would end up harming their reputation... that is, if they care?
Thanks - I do indeed do quite a bit of development testing - but usually under NDA. My previous career in usability research gives me a useful knack of being able to 'break' things ;-)
Hi Keith; as per "usability testing"; I was an application engineer for several electronic test& measurement companies, and had about 35 years of experience with oscilloscopes; at my last job, I worked with a top tier company, but new to oscilloscopes... They were not so happy with the amount of negative feedback, and suggested improvements, and it was frustrating to see pushback on real usability issues... Within about 5 years after I left, about 75% of my suggestions have been incorporated. Usability: to set a fine scale adjustment, you had to take your hand off the adjustment knob, go about 30 cm to the opposite side of the touchscreen, tap a 1 cm button, then go back 30 cm to the knob... A warning indicator that was a box on the upper right corner, which turned red...7% of men with red) green colour deficiency? I asked for it to blink, but the marketing guys didn't like it, them not being in a "critical application" mode .. sigh .. delete after reading ;-(
If anyone is qualified to review cameras, lenses and printers, it's you. Just look at your extensive history of gear reviews and in-depth analysis on how to use much of that gear. Your website is a treasure trove of information and good advice. In a similar vein, I make and sell tripods, geared heads and ball heads, and sometimes I'll peruse the online reviews at one of our retailers, just to make sure we're on the right track. I'm happy to say that we get extremely few bad reviews, and out of those poor reviews, most of them are user error. Many simply don't take the time to read the instruction manual. So, in some cases, the reviewer isn't qualified to review what they're reviewing!
Thanks. Tripods are one of those areas where I have some experience of use, but not of comparative testing, so I always stick to features and how I'd use them in my work. People ask me how something like the Rogeti geared head I'm using compares with the 'model something by X' and I'm very clear to say that I'm doing a review of the functionality [for me] and not a buying guide!
The way I do reviews is to say: “Will it do the job?” Maybe for most people it might not do the job, but it does for me. More often I go after the price and claim that it is formulated for investment returns in hours, rather than over a year’s time or the profit margin is way too high for the value. It could be a good product, but not worth the price. As an example if the Canon 1100 printer you are standing in front, is it worth 50,000 dollars or pounds? Not even close, some companies will do such a thing. Then I will explain why it is over priced and not worth buying, even if it is a good product. Not all thieves wear masks and carry a weapons. Then I will come back after a good length of time and review how it is performing after being used. Is it holding up? Am I still satisfied with it? As for others doing reviews. If I don’t think I can trust their review, I won’t watch. Obviously, I trust Keith’s opinion. As for other viewers they must come to their own conclusions. Those who watch my channel seem to trust my opinion. That is a trust I will not surrender. Good topic. Also, a good video.
I tend not to go for reviews of camera gear, except perhaps for entertainment. Greg Carrick is entertaining, but I'm unlikely to buy another Fujifilm camera. If I were reviewing stuff, I'd be happy to go back to the supplier, whether I bought the goods or it's a "gift to me." I don't want to portray stuff in an unwarranted good light, If I'm convinced I have made a mistake, I would correct it. If the supplier has an unconvincing explanation about a feature, likely I would append that explanation but explain why I disagree. This autistic likes to be correct. If I'm wrong, convince me so. I have a Lumix G9. Reviews might tell me about new features of the G9 II, my experience with my G9 gives me a good idea of the quality I should expect. Really, I don't need to do much more than read the manual, unless reviewers reveal some compelling new feature. If a UA-camr has what seems to me an overblown video title or description, mostly I ask UA-cam to recommend the channel no more.
The most pathetic example of paid influencers enthusiastically promoting a piece of garbage was the Pentax 17 reviews tsunami when this shoebox with a lens hit the market.
Please just ask if you've any questions? Don't forget the full categorised index of all my videos at www.northlight-images.co.uk/keith-cooper-photography-videos-index/ If you'd like to make a small donation towards my testing, I have a Kofi page: "Buy me a coffee" ko-fi.com/keithcooper.
Buying stuff? I also have some affiliate links which earn me a small commission if used.
US Amazon photo/print gear: amzn.to/3l9vJC6
B&H Photo: www.bhphotovideo.com/?BI=2008&KBID=2711&DFF=d10-v1-t8-x4
Adorama: www.adorama.com/?
If there is one source I have trust in it is you for sure!
Thanks - that does make a difference. Like many I sometimes distrust my own expertise ;-)
Ditto. I think reviews that give good and bad in neutral way are much more trustworthy that review telling "this is the greatest and latest that I can only praise, order from affiliate link below". Yes, there is always a risk that the item loaned by manufacturer is cherry-picked, but there is always some risk, unless you buy and test it yourself. Then and only then you'll know how the exact copy you got performs.
A lot in these reviews is not a review, but how different things you may need can or cannot affect how you may feel about some printer. For example, roll paper is so important for some and meaningless for some, same goes for borderless printing and what not.
A lot of it is about trust and respect, you have never tried to sell me a thing, In fact you make it very clear that you are only giving your opinion on the item. Also you add a lot of common sense to things and not get dragged into the world of hearsay and missguided reasoning. You say what it is, you have the technical background to back it up and you care/enjoy what your doing. As previously mentioned, your reviews on earlier videos of the 8550 backed up my commitment to the purchase. And its proved to be a great tool and certainly fits my needs. Job done! 🙂
Thanks for that!
I've read your reviews for many, many year and seen your UA-cam videos for some time.
On subjects that I have some experience in, your reviews align with my experience but your reviews are often more detailed.
Your expertice is very valued for me - thank you so much
Thanks for that!
I trust you Keith, your YT-contribution has been crucial to me since I bought my first A2 printer. Learn so much from you, a huge thanks 💯👍🙏
Thanks - glad to have helped
Keith, your reviews are gold standard. Many if not most of the reviews or commentary on the internet put out by so called experts and influencers I take with a large grain of salt. The objective is to increase their "numbers" and the quality or accuracy of what they produce is secondary.
Thanks for that!
Speaking of reviews, Mr. Cooper's book on tilt/shift lenses is great. I can highly recommend it.
Much appreciated!
Took out my first ever zoom shift lens today - very interesting... video to follow.
You definitelly deserve loads of thumbs up. Thank you Keith Cooper. Keep on doing what you do best. and have fun no matter what silly questions might come up.
Thank you ;-)
Unlike most of the UA-cam or media voices, I can tell you have a meaningful background in real science. I trust every word you say and value your insight.
Thanks - Sometimes it does mean that I won't give the simple answers people are looking for, but so be it ;-)
I trust your input based on my own experience and the approach you take to testing. Very thorough!! Thanks for all you do.
Thank you - I appreciate that
I totally trust you and your reviews are both very useful and you are very kind to answer so many comments and questions.
Thanks for that!
Your trusty worthy reviews have been so much help over the years, thank you for keeping it real world, love your channel Keith.
Much appreciated - thanks
I certainly trust you, so much that I went out and bought an ET8550. Best purchase I ever made for my photography. I just love printing my photos, even the lousy photos. THANKS!!!
Thanks you - glad to have been of help
Keith, you have, in my opinion and through your candid, in-depth reviews, elevated yourself into one of this countries go to person that so many turn to. I have benefited from your help on a certain printer. I have also based my most recent printer purchase on your super and very in-depth review of a printer. (purchased it last Thursday) Through your help I was very able to know what it would be able to do for me. How it would perform and if there were some issues that might crop up that would affect the print process I am looking to achieve. I am so grateful to you for this, thank you. Many people, and not just in this country, turn to you for help and advice. So please be assured, we hang on your every word as we can trust and rely on what you say. Please keep up the great reviews you undertake, your wider public needs you.
Thanks for that - very kind of you to say
Always enjoy and learn from your reviews. Thank you!
Thanks!
Hello Keith, thank's a lot for your intellectual honesty.
Regards
Daniel
Thanks - glad the info is appreciated!
looking at how you speak and what knowledge you have that reaches the listener. Professional and rare approach today which shows that you give us all a free hand to choose. There is no persuasion anywhere and everything you do is based on your own experiences. The listener has a noticeable space for their own thoughts and interpretations. You are very open in what you convey to us and in what way. I think that this is very valuable. I am glad that I can read, listen and watch you.
Thanks for that!
Trust... Yep.. As I've said before, I enjoy watching your videos, even when they are not directly related to my interest or application, because of your clarity, experience, and the thought that there's always the possibility to learn something new, and, too, your audience can often "add value" with their comments.
BTW, in considering how to evaluate a product rating on Amazon, for instance, I always look at the number of reviews, given that a low number of reviews could be swayed by the less-than-transparent policies of suppliers who will (in my own experience!) offer actual money, or free products, to change a review, or even to just remove it! I've had this twice, last year, with sellers wanting 2 star reviews "fixed"... Not happening! But I'm positive that there are enough people willing to take the money and run.
Thanks
I've only had one company contact me to complain, and that was with software bundled with another product. They asked me to withdraw that part of the review or give them a right to reply - told them where they could shove it ;-) Still feels good... :--)
Hello Keith. I think you're videos are extremely useful and detailed. I for one am glad Canon talked you into UA-cam videos and continue to do so; as someone who struggles with reading, i find them invaluable. Thanks.
Thanks - glad they've been of help
I know there are some other very well known UA-cam reviewers who rate your honest and straight forward but informative reviews and your vast expertise on the subjects you cover Keith. Everything you do is based upon your experience as a pro photographer. Keep up the great work.
Thanks - that's kind of you to mention.
I guess I ought to reach out and see if anyone wants to collaborate in some way - there are many aspects of UA-cam I'm not actually that familiar with...
Cher Keith, je regarde vos vidéos pour leur caractère professionnel, informatif et pour le partage de votre grande expérience.
Cela m’est instructif et toujours expliqué d’une façon agréable.
Je souhaite que votre chaîne youtube grandissent encore et que votre travail soit respecté.
Bravo pour votre travail M.Cooper 👍
Thanks - that's much appreciated
Hi Keith, I have followed you a long time and have always enjoyed your frank (and I truly believe) your honest opinion on the equipment you review. I watched your piece on Canon 1100 and Epson 8550 before coming on to this video. Yes that was a very balanced opinion. Keep the honesty up. Tnx.
Thanks - I appreciate that
Your videos are wonderful, thank you sir! 🙏🏻
Thank you
Thanks so much for your review of reviews! I'm feel more comfortable depending on your expert opinion and not worrying so much about those negative reviews on Amazon or B&H.
Thanks!
I'm always wary when getting new kit, so thorough testing is in order, but I would not have spent our own money on an 8550 for example, if I was concerned with it.
Keith, as I have said in my emails to you, thanks for all the Educational Material that you produce, whether on UA-cam or your written Northlight Imagies web-site. In my opinion, your UA-cam videos are definitely not just "reviews", but thorough research into the various aspects of the products that might be of interest to us. You share this information, freely for the benefit of those that follow and value your work. You clearly state your observations, as opinions only, based on methodology that is transparent and reproducible by others if they wish.
Personally, I learn something every time I watch one of your videos, even if I am not particularly interested in the exact product being tested. I certainly hope that today's video was not prompted by someone questioning your integrity. You state only what you know about through your years of experience and clearly state what is 'outside' your areas of knowledge.
Thanks - much appreciated.
Yes, partly driven by a dive into on-line reviews when buying the et-8550. I was going to get one for Karen anyway, but I felt slightly swamped by the sheer amounts of incompetence and duplicity...
Won't be heading there again ;-)
Hi Keith, I have just purchased an Epson 8550 on the strength of your videos (doesn't arrive until the 3rd) and now I am reading patchy reviews, some terrible on Amazon which make it sound like a nightmare. Some reports like it not printing properly from the front tray, using ink far quicker than advertised and horrible grinding noises from the rollers etc etc. I still trust your judgement though as it will most certainly be down to operator error or a faulty model.
Yes, I saw some of those, it's partly what motivated me to do this video ;-)
Just check the printer thoroughly when you get it - lemons happen.
The front tray is IMHO good for plain paper documents - I'd personally never put photo paper in there, unless it was thin, and then I'd not be using a paper like that. ;-) The exception was the little tray which worked surprisingly well for thin small photo paper.
As for printing double sided photos - good luck with that on any printer ;-)
@@KeithCooper I will follow your unboxing to the letter Keith. Thanks.
I got mine 3 months ago and I love it. I can print all kinds of photos even the bad ones and it doesn’t cost very much. It helps me be a better photographer.
@@KeithCooperI agree. I use plain paper in the lower tray, 4x6 photo paper in the small tray and everything else (8x10 and 5x7) in the rear. Works great.
Great video. Since buying ET8550 I have never looked back. I have learned to make my own ICC profiles and they work. I am retiring in December, so I want to keep up with my photography (as a hobby). My subject interest is old churches, castles and buildings of historical interest. Camera is Fujifilm XT5. Your expertise is shift/tilt lenses . So how can I hook up my XT5 to photos in shift /tilt. I’m thinking of buying an Artisan 50mm X mounted shift tilt lens. Or Finger, Laos’s 15 mm lens with it.?
Thanks
Well - a Laowa 12-24mm zoom shift lens turned up today!
The first ever shift lens for a crop sensor. I believe it's available for the Fuji?
Tested it quickly on my R5 in crop mode - looks very good.
More info to follow...
@@KeithCooperThanks for your kind reply
Thanks Keith, Been watching you for sometime now and value your views and opinions. Recently purchased a Pro 300 knowing its limitations and also appreciated your advise on its care. Thank you. Been caught with a cheap Nikon non S lens which did not come up to the hype in several reviews.(Not yours) Cheers from Australia
Thanks - glad to have helped.
I'm alway a bit careful with looking at lens reviews in that I know that I only ever get one example to test, so the more 'measurements' I see, I'm wondering about sample variation.
I tend to go for the more extreme lenses to test for myself, where I can add in a good part of "why you would use one". A 12-24mm shift lens turned up today... first ever zoom shift lens I've seen. My interest wanes if I'm asked to look at 'another 50mm' ;-)
Hi Keith, love your honesty and integrity online.
Watched a number of your VTs for printers and I’m getting a Black Friday deal on a Canon Pixma Pro 200.
I weighed up that v the Epson 8550 and your reviews really helped. I don’t want to print lots, just some larger prints for my home and to give away to family so I plumped for the Canon. Thank you.
I do have a question though.
I have a relatively old crop sensor DSLR 24MP and I’m a little concerned the larger pics will lack a little detail. I do crop in sometimes. There have been a few reviews on this scenario, but as I trust you, I’d really value your opinion.
Thanks - see some of my examples of resampling [articles and videos]
I've printed images from my Canon 1Ds [11MP] at A2 and well above...
24MP - luxury ;-)
I'll be testing a new lens [APS-C] on an R5, which gives an 18MP APS-C crop ...no worries.
So now it's crucial to make a distinction between users making a review and influencers. Most of reviews intent to influence you to buy.
Good point
Nicely put!
There are some reviews that I feel they are clearly dependable, some that clearly are not and a very relevant gray area that would deserve some further investigation should I have the interest, time and energy to do it. In your case I have to admit that from the very first minute I felt them dependable, relevant and a joy to watch or read; I keep waiting for your next pill of valuable knowledge; thanks for that.
Thanks - very kind of you
Thanks a lot for sharing this.
I fully agree on looking at how a reviewer earns the money.
Best would be always an independent magazine that earns the money with subscriptions. If the reviewer‘s earnings come from advertisements of the vendors of the tested products, then I‘m always sceptical regarding his/her independence.
Yes - the world of such reviews in camera related stuff is long gone - if it ever truly existed ;-)
Someone is usually earning something somewhere...
Good advice as always
Thanks!
There is a learned skill in sifting through the BS on forums (I've reached the point where the sifting has resulted in rarely using a forum....but at one time they were useful) and reviews on line. I recently bought a 3D printer; been looking for a while but after attending a session on them at a convention I bought the brand (and not quite the model he brought to demo) the fellow was using. 90% of my decision on what to buy was based on him, his experience and his advise. Did a bit of ground truthing with UA-cam but I had a high confidence factor that the model I was getting was going to be a good printer. Step is proving much harder - 3D cad software choices. LOL
The problem with having some skills in finding good information is in the actual finding. It's like a needle in a haystack; there is so much "bad" information out there that when you find a good source you want to subscribe even if it's not field or product your currently interested in! People like that need to be supported and encouraged!
Yes - I do come across stuff so bad it's 'not even wrong'...
In my opinion you unfortunately need (at least) a basic knowledge about the subject/product category to find reviewers you can trust. Then watch a few from a channel and you'll build up trust - or not - for the reviewer. And before purchasing - ideally check a couple of reviews from your "trusted-list". Any review is at least somewhat influenced by the reviewer's background, interests, usage etc. makes watching more than one useful for getting a more complete picture of a product.
And of course - this channel is on top of my trusted-list for printers and printing.
Thanks - agree there.
Of course we trust you Keith, u the best, I just bought a Pixma 200 thanks to your videos
Thanks - appreciate the feedback
Hi Keith, as you explain; you are one of the sources i use to evaluate. Your weight might be higher in my evaluation then others; i check multiple sources every time. Even people i do not like to hear speak ... that does not make their view less valuable. Thanks for all the videos!
Thanks - glad to be of help!
It’s all about integrity and you have that in spades.
Thanks - it did take quite a bit of arm twisting by Canon to get me to start the videos, and as you can guess I'm still not always 100% convinced ;-)
I have been watching your reviews from the beginning and trust your views. I was watching some reviews for the Hasselblad X2D 100C recently and was amazed that Hasselblad had been giving them away to these ‘influencers’ - how can that provide an honest opinion?
Thanks
I know of someone who turned them down for just this reason.
We've a very strict policy of not giving suppliers any say or control over reviews.
Would I actually accept one?
I have to say quite possibly, if it came with the right lens, because I've tested the camera in the past and rather liked it for some uses - more likely I'd give it to Karen to use [she 'borrowed' the X1DII I had here for testing]
Would I take it, if it came with any 'strings attached' - no, not a chance.
Would I be surprised if they actually wanted to offer me one - very ;-)
Perhaps the hardest part, is it an INfo commercial? I take it all with a grain of salt.
Yes, picking out what's relevant can be an issue - I still prefer written reviews myself, but they are less common these days
@@KeithCooper 20 mins of talking for 1 minute of actual information.
Yes - my own videos sometimes suffer from length, but others like that, so they stay ;-)
Would I watch one of my own videos? - not if I've a written version to go to. The written versions can be updated / expanded / corrected, whilst videos are stuck at the time of publishing.
I was thinking, too, about the value to Canon, Epson, et al, in having your feedback, directly, if you find an issue, or simply something in the user interface, or manual, when you give them a "heads up" to something, before the review, rather than saying "this was crap" in a review on a pre-release product! It's absolutely invaluable to them to have a user with solid experience, doing real-world testing, to get the opportunity to make improvements, fix problems, before shipping hundreds or thousands of products that would end up harming their reputation... that is, if they care?
Thanks - I do indeed do quite a bit of development testing - but usually under NDA. My previous career in usability research gives me a useful knack of being able to 'break' things ;-)
Hi Keith; as per "usability testing";
I was an application engineer for several electronic test& measurement companies, and had about 35 years of experience with oscilloscopes; at my last job, I worked with a top tier company, but new to oscilloscopes... They were not so happy with the amount of negative feedback, and suggested improvements, and it was frustrating to see pushback on real usability issues... Within about 5 years after I left, about 75% of my suggestions have been incorporated. Usability: to set a fine scale adjustment, you had to take your hand off the adjustment knob, go about 30 cm to the opposite side of the touchscreen, tap a 1 cm button, then go back 30 cm to the knob... A warning indicator that was a box on the upper right corner, which turned red...7% of men with red) green colour deficiency? I asked for it to blink, but the marketing guys didn't like it, them not being in a "critical application" mode .. sigh .. delete after reading ;-(
Oh, and, the test manager commented, more than once, that I found more difficult issues than his test team!
If anyone is qualified to review cameras, lenses and printers, it's you. Just look at your extensive history of gear reviews and in-depth analysis on how to use much of that gear. Your website is a treasure trove of information and good advice.
In a similar vein, I make and sell tripods, geared heads and ball heads, and sometimes I'll peruse the online reviews at one of our retailers, just to make sure we're on the right track. I'm happy to say that we get extremely few bad reviews, and out of those poor reviews, most of them are user error. Many simply don't take the time to read the instruction manual.
So, in some cases, the reviewer isn't qualified to review what they're reviewing!
Thanks.
Tripods are one of those areas where I have some experience of use, but not of comparative testing, so I always stick to features and how I'd use them in my work. People ask me how something like the Rogeti geared head I'm using compares with the 'model something by X' and I'm very clear to say that I'm doing a review of the functionality [for me] and not a buying guide!
The way I do reviews is to say: “Will it do the job?” Maybe for most people it might not do the job, but it does for me. More often I go after the price and claim that it is formulated for investment returns in hours, rather than over a year’s time or the profit margin is way too high for the value. It could be a good product, but not worth the price. As an example if the Canon 1100 printer you are standing in front, is it worth 50,000 dollars or pounds? Not even close, some companies will do such a thing. Then I will explain why it is over priced and not worth buying, even if it is a good product. Not all thieves wear masks and carry a weapons.
Then I will come back after a good length of time and review how it is performing after being used. Is it holding up? Am I still satisfied with it? As for others doing reviews. If I don’t think I can trust their review, I won’t watch. Obviously, I trust Keith’s opinion. As for other viewers they must come to their own conclusions. Those who watch my channel seem to trust my opinion. That is a trust I will not surrender. Good topic. Also, a good video.
Thanks - appreciate that.
I'm very pleased to be able to come back to the et-8550 printer, to give a bit of a longer term look at how it works.
First - In Canada. 🇨🇦
Prize is in the post...
“Reviewing their competency”💀💀💀
Indeed ;-)
I tend not to go for reviews of camera gear, except perhaps for entertainment. Greg Carrick is entertaining, but I'm unlikely to buy another Fujifilm camera.
If I were reviewing stuff, I'd be happy to go back to the supplier, whether I bought the goods or it's a "gift to me." I don't want to portray stuff in an unwarranted good light, If I'm convinced I have made a mistake, I would correct it. If the supplier has an unconvincing explanation about a feature, likely I would append that explanation but explain why I disagree.
This autistic likes to be correct. If I'm wrong, convince me so.
I have a Lumix G9. Reviews might tell me about new features of the G9 II, my experience with my G9 gives me a good idea of the quality I should expect. Really, I don't need to do much more than read the manual, unless reviewers reveal some compelling new feature.
If a UA-camr has what seems to me an overblown video title or description, mostly I ask UA-cam to recommend the channel no more.
Yes - I try to cover as wide a potential audience as possible, but at some point you have to assume you've said enough for enough of them...
The most pathetic example of paid influencers enthusiastically promoting a piece of garbage was the Pentax 17 reviews tsunami when this shoebox with a lens hit the market.
Yes - so obvious, you wonder just how dumb their target audience is assumed to be, by their marketing people...
mm I am not to sure you look like a dodgy geezer to me Keith :)
Yes, we sell the spare printers down the pub... ;-)
The majority are shills for products
Yes - all too common...