AMAZON DELETED DPREVIEW. Seriously.
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- Опубліковано 21 сер 2024
- I'm heartbroken and pissed. After 25 years, Amazon has given the entire photography community the middle finger and decided to completely delete DPReview because it wasn't profitable enough. The forums, the challenges, the studio scene, the reviews, the news. All of it. Gone forever.
My heart goes out to the DPReview team. You will move on to bigger and better things, that I'm sure of, but you will be missed. You had integrity and bravery in an industry that really, really needs it.
One bit of good news: our friends Chris & Jordan are moving on to PetaPixel's new UA-cam channel (starting in May). Subscribe to them here: / petapixel
In the comments, please give DPReview a bit of a eulogy. It meant a lot to me for almost my entire adult life. It helped me learn, connect with others in the community, and choose gear. You will be missed, DPReview.
DPReview is such an amazing resource.
It's like as if they got rid of Wikipedia of Digital Photography.
Exactly! Its a real, substantial, lost.
I'm usually not affected by Internet happenings, but I learned of this atrocity this morning through their UA-cam channel and I felt the sadness in my heart. This is a huge loss. Where are we gonna compare lenses and sensors? I like buying old cameras and lenses. I love their review format!
Not really. Wikipedia used to be good, but no longer is. DPReview was good and still is good.
Actually, is worst. Wikipedia, unlike DP review, is full of lies and half truths. Actually, the loss of Wikipedia would be a net good. This is way worse since in DP review there's nothing but useful, real stuff.
Well they sold out to Amazon and that is that.
Just canceled an Amazon order for a panning leveling head, which I was able to order from B&H for the same price. One more reason to be more selective in who we support.
I’ve had B&H shop staff steer me away from purchases and trust them quite a lot because of that. I import my gear to where I’m living now from either them or Adorama. I found direct sources for coffee gear. Books, some other sources for paper, but Amazon is still good for ebooks, but will see what else is out there.
I canceled my Prime membership. I'd love to see how many others have done this in the last couple of days.
@@Jazzinthecountry Oh no...All 100 of you will REALLY cause a dent in Amazon caring.
Let Amazon know.
Agree 100% . I’m not buying anything from Amazon again .
DPREVIEW meant a lot to me! Every single digital camera that I bought or that I was considering buying was researched on DPREVIEW. Big thanks to all the staff that produced such an incredible content. Whoever made the decision is inflicting incredible wound on the entire photography community.
Yes totally agree 💯 with you...I was in the same way using the resources of this website to research my camera gears. Will be sad to see it disappear 😢
On DP Review, in economic terms: Sounds like a corporation destroying your utility to increase their profits. At minimum it isn't as profitable to have good equipment reviews. You lose money if spending goes to a product that you make less margin on.
Even if this only works in the long run, it will make it harder to find rock solid equipment at a good price.
Also they lose money if you find an older product that is better then a newer product. Especially if the older product has been discontinued.
There are probably all sorts of game theory going into it for all corporations.
Could anyone with any resources just copy all those reviews at least? The whole forum is huge but those test images are what brings the most value to a review platform.
😂😂😂
@@yuxuanhuang3523 don't worry, they are probably on internet time machine or something. And Amazon is rich and powerful enough to make them disappear. Did you ever notice how some of these internet archive sites tend to delete certain things like government sanctioned child abuse or things around Epstein? They also tend to delete somethings around powerful corporations that fit into their strategic plan.
I feel the same way. I don't know why Amazon didn't try to sell it instead of just shutting the doors. There is so much history and neat features to the site. Just sad!
I don't think the people who made the decision to kill DPreview realise, or even knew how HUGE it is to the photography community. Says a lot about Amazon.
I imagine DPReview drives a lot of traffic to Amazon if even just indirectly. Dumb decision. Seems to be a lot of that going around amongst large corporations and governments at the moment. Everyone send Amazon a message threatening to stop buying camera equipment on Amazon if they don’t keep DPReview alive.
Bro Amazon laid off 9,000 people yesterday including high paid foks in Cloud computing. Banks are failing around the world.
You think they gave an F about a photo site that wasn't profitable for them to keep around?
Complain to the original DPR owner for selling to Amazon.
@@phillipbanes5484 they'll soon understand what DP Review means to people when those people stop buying stuff from Amazon.
Rule #1 of business, don't piss all over your customer base.
@@phillipbanes5484 and deleting one of, if not the biggest photography site on the Web is a mighty sound business decision.
@Phillip Banes so maybe they should stop selling camera's ..
I don't consider DP review as just another website, it's an encyclopedia for digital photography.
As you said, I have stumbled across detailed reviews of rare and unpopular gear in there.
It will be a loss not only for photographers and enthusiasts but also for modern historians I guess.
yup well said. needs to be some political action to recognise the historic value of dpreview website.
Although you won't find a detailed review of the Pentax K3 III there. Perhaps that was the beginning of the end...
On DP Review, in economic terms: Sounds like a corporation destroying your utility to increase their profits. At minimum it isn't as profitable to have good equipment reviews. You lose money if spending goes to a product that you make less margin on.
Even if this only works in the long run, it will make it harder to find rock solid equipment at a good price.
Also they lose money if you find an older product that is better then a newer product. Especially if the older product has been discontinued.
There are probably all sorts of game theory going into it for all corporations.
What could possibly be the reason? There has to be an ulterior motive, because there are lots of people that could easy purchase the website and keep it open.
Agree.... but also
Meh.... so be it
We will have something better
Unfortunately for me, this is breaking news. I'm shocked, and honestly devastated. Although I didn't participate in the forums, I am deeply saddened by the loss of this amazing source for photographers on the internet. Simply put, for me, there is no website on the planet where every camera and lens is covered in so much detail and both their written and video reviews. DP is the go-to source for thousands of shutterbugs. I'm appalled that Amazon is just going to erase them as if they didn't exist. All that information, all that knowledge gone. Why on Earth couldn't they just sell the website? In this entire world of millions no one's interested? Shame on you, Amazon. 😢
Man I used their studio comparison tool so many times in the years, I can't think that all this data will be lost :(
Same here. I always used their studio comparison tool before buying a new camera.
Hi Tony. Thanks for the shout-out, it means a lot. I arrived part way through the DPReview story, but I did what I could to add to a site that had helped me choose my first digital camera and helped me understand digital photography.
Thank you Richard! I hope you and the staff can somehow keep a backup of the data, especially the forums and reviews, no matter how large the TB needed in HDD space. It'll be well worth it down the road.
Thank you for all your work on the site! It will be sorely missed.
Your work was brilliant Richard and I will miss your wisdom, but other aspects of the site had really dropped off
Hello, thank you for the great work that made DPreview what it is. Can you keep the contents of the forums and/or review alive and online through a crowdfunded backup or patreon? Pleaseee! It seems insane that so much wisdom should come to waste...
Richard, Is there any way that Amazon would consider giving the current site away and giving up the domain name for some nominal amount? If it is no use to them and someone else could turn it around then would they just let it go? Probably not but if you don't ask then you don't get!
Wow! I'm really surprised to see this happening.
I'm also extra upset because I used to work at DPReview right after they were bought by Amazon. I was a reviewer and also the studio manager. I actually designed the new version of the test scene and spent hundreds of hours in the studio shooting with all the cameras as well as reshooting the older cameras that I could get my hands on for continuity. It really makes me sad that it's not going to be a useful resource anymore.
OMG, it's hard to imagine the angst you and your current/ex-colleagues must be feeling. Sincere thanks to you all for your hard work and contributions. They were priceless and incredibly appreciated by people like me! DPR's disappearance will be a colossal loss for us all.
@@mmartel I haven’t been there for years but I’m surprised how much it irks me. I really liked working there. Everyone was super passionate about photography and really believed in the quality of work they were doing.
That was Phil Askey's decision to cash out selling to Amazon.
That will be a terrible loss. How Amazon could act without considering that us, the vast phographer community, should be the primary stakeholder to consider before taking such a decision! Shame on Amazon!
@@simons2155 Was it? I didn't know that...
This is definitely one of your best videos, maybe we should let our heart and soul speak out more often? Anyway congrats and thanks, I appreciate it 👍
DP Review is a unique achievement in the digital photography world and we grew up with them. Deleting this piece of our history and passion is beyond me. And sad. And bad!
From a super casual photographer, I even used and benefited from DPReview - it was a treasure trove of highly useful information. So this is very sad news. GL to all the fantastic people that made it what it was.
Wow, this closure is going to erase so much technical photography knowledge from the internet. I have had so many of my questions answered about camera and Lightroom features/issues by reading through DPReview discussions. Often times I have learned techniques and approaches I never would've known to search for just by reading discussions by DPReview users. There were some incredibly knowledgeable and generous members of their community.
Yeah, same thing here. All the gear reviews. So many specific questions were answered. Things you can not find anywhere or hardly. They should download everything to wikipedia or something. Damnit!!
Such a tragedy. I hope DPReview is archived in wayback machine. This was such a great resource. I think this will put us 25 years back in the world of photography.
i hope so too, but i'm afraid they won't archive everything. a website i worked for in the early 2000s is only partially archived there. like for example there was a 3-page article and only the first 2 were archived.
From my understanding it they are in process of archiving it. But DPreview so extensive not sure they will get it all in time
This is a HUGE loss for the photography community, which grew up with the site and it seems so cold and heartless. I hope someone out there saves it from deletion! I was just there and many links are no longer working including the forums. Hard to believe this is really happening.
What a shocking announcement. DPReview has been my go to like many others for a while now when I needed objective and unbiased review of a camera. Many thanks to the DPReview crew for all their hard work over the years. I really appreciate their consistent approach in how they tested cameras to do their best to make apples to apples comparisons between competing products. I know that hasn't always made them popular. There are many sources now days to get information from, which I'm sure has played a factor in this outcome, but DPReview has been the one constant. Sad to see that their site won't even be available as a reference.
Sadly this action will hurt the most for people who are learning photography the first time. The vast amount questions, answers, diy, techniques, challenges, image galleries, comparisons, articles, news and announcements are all an invaluable treasure trove of information with live members and active feedback.
This feels like we just lost an entire civilization.
I’m sure people will move on to newer replacements like AI for knowledge. Not saying the site is worthless btw
Beginner photographers probably don't even know it exists. People learn through youtube nowadays.
I'm honestly not even sure what I will do without DPreview. It was always the very first site I would check when looking for anything regarding cameras and lenses. Regardless of how it ended, I'm just glad I got to be along for the ride.
I feel the same exactly.
The site isn't going away until April 10th just use it one last time.
heck it's the site I check first thing every day! Has been a big part of my routine for so long and I have gained so much knowledge. It's a huge loss.
The massive database of reviews and specs in dpreview is especially invaluable to anyone in the used camera or lens market. I use Feature Search or side-by-side comparisons all the time. So perhaps KEH and MPB and B&H might combine resources just to keep the site running as an archive for another 5+ years, to support their used equipment business?
I started learning photography on that site and met so many friends there from all over the world. I am still on touch with so many of them. The forums are great and I don't know why it needed to close.
Horrendous loss to our community! 😢 Also will NOT buy camera gear from Amazon but WILL diligently look for the dpReview staff to surface elsewhere…
Why limit avoiding Amazon to just photography gear?
I don't usually comment but I feel I must express just how stunned and shocked I am by this announcement. I've been an amateur photographer for 45 years and switched to digital in 2004. Ever since that transition DPReview has been my main point of contact to the industry and community at large. Like you said, I don't even know what digital photography looks like without DPReview.
I usually dont comment on comments but I'm just stunned that you commented on this. I know youve watched many videos and commented on them and now you are claiming that you dont comment on many videos so I just thought I would comment on your comment.
@@aaronkirkland212 😂
Yes, if I wanted to know anything about anything photographic it was DP Review I would go to. The timelines for lenses and cameras were how I would make all camera decisions.
I always referred Imaging Resource.
Just heart breaking. It has been my number one go to site for equipment comparison and selection for 20 years.
Wow! I can’t fathom this news. Like many others have expressed here, I used DPReview for every digital camera purchase I have made and always valued their objectivity & thoroughness in their reviews. The ability to compare one camera to another has been of enormous value to me.
The loss of DPReview is a huge one. They've definitely been an asset to me over the years
Tony, I’m just at a loss for words and I really appreciate you doing this. For all DPReview staff who will see this, you will and I repeat will be sorely missed. I think I speak for all by saying, you were a staple in all Digital camera reviews and a reference to us all and we will miss you all!!!
I published another video on the same topic... Very hard to believe indeed. I hope videos such as mine and this one will circulate and create some noise to Amazon's ears... Who knows if they might consider a less radical approach?
DP Review was the source for digital photography. I do not understand how Amazon can just trash it all. It has been my source for new lenses and cameras for as long as I can remember. It will be missed mightily. I am glad that Chris & Jordan are going over to PetaPixel! I hope everyone else lands on their feet.
Every time a new camera or lens would be announced I always turned to DPReviews for all the info, usage and details about it. SOOOO sad to see a fantastic company being ripped apart like this.
I am happy to hear you will no longer be buying camera gear from Amazon 💯 I hope you make it a point to bring this up in future videos! This is just one more example of Amazon’s negative effects on society and communities in general. Thank you for voting with your dollars and speaking up!!!
There is a reason Amazon is nicknamed the Death Star by Jim Cramer. They move into business segments and completely destroy them in one fell swoop.
I’ve never bought camera gear from Amazon, only from B&H photo. They are the best.
Agreed
Hell will freeze over before I ever buy one more piece of kit from Amazon ! Heartless, money grubbing corporate A## H*$&^ !
With all the fake data cards on Amazon and the jungle that the Marketplace has turned into, this is an easy decision. I haven't bought camera gear on Amazon for years.
I am a professional photographer and I can I feel EXACTLY the same as you. Going forward, I will not buy anything from Amazon in as much as is possible. Tony, keep up the good work. Could you make a studio like DPreview's for comparing RAWs from different cameras? Thanks and don't even think about retiring or the photography community will be in a very bad place!
yes good points.. especially copying some of dpreview functions to other services, e.g. Tony & Chelsea.
I'm with you. It will be sorely missed. Amazon is shooting itself in the foot a lot lately.
We're all very proud of you and Chelsea.
Tony, you speak for the majority of the photographers that have learned their photography skills through your channel as well as trough Jordan and Chris comical but yet detailed explanantion of techniques and gear...we all will continue to follow the boys in their new channel...
I’m with you 100%. Deleting dpreview is like an assault on a whole community of enthusiasts and professionals. It feels punitive and malevolent, and as you said, typical of American business culture. Amazon is just erasing a bit of our history and our current culture. It’s despicable.
😂😂😂
@Bernhard Schwarz I haven’t read a thing about any efforts to preserve the vast trove of information that dpreview has created over the years. Sure, there are other forums, but the information on gear is a valuable reference for a lot of us. Did Amazon think of selling dpreview? Did they think of making it a subscription service? Did they attempt to change their advertising format? I don’t know. There hasn’t been any acknowledgement that I know of about the impact of deleting (as I’ve heard it described from more than one source) the entire website. Clearly you have not applied your vast brain power to a different approach Amazon may have taken. But, what is important other than Amazon’s and investors’ bottom line? Certainly not human beings, right?
@@scottfineshriber5051 he's worshipping the almighty shareholder. Friedman doctrine all the way.
If it wasn't for Amazon it would have probably gone years ago. It is somewhat ironic that professionals, who are I assume doing it for profit, expect their business to be supported by institutions working on non profit principles. This sort of reaction to is going to make companies very reluctant to engage with this hobby and prop up the few remaining enthusiast sites. The photographic community is in a state of denial over how much it has shrunk and how little feedback Amazon will get from this action in its user base. The compact enthusiast was pushed out on to the sidelines a long time ago with the high end users little concerned at all. All the retro reviews we are seeing nowadays shows just how lost the camera business is with the new stuff costing a fortune.
I had to double-check that it wasn't April 1st already. This is such disheartening news. Amazon may think it doesn't make money but I have a hard time believing there haven't been a LOT of sales from them because of DP Reviews content.
I'm sure they didn't look at the extra sales that DP review readers brought to Amazon. I'm sure that's hard to quantify, but there has to be a lot of people getting into the new gear reviews, discussions on DPreview, and then buying from Amazon....
I think Amazon would rather we go straight to the Amazon web store and browse, read reviews and shop all within that curated marketplace instead of reading reviews on DP Reviews.
I published another video on the same topic... Very hard to believe indeed. I hope videos such as mine and this one will circulate and create some noise to Amazon's ears... Who knows if they might consider a less radical approach?
It was in the pages of DPReview and in the videos of Chris and Jordan that my love of photography was reborn... and brought immeasurable joy to my life.
If I understand correctly, not only is support being cut and no new content will be created, but all previous work and the history of accumulated knowledge will be made inaccessible as well?
If that’s the case then that seems insane to me.
If they are cutting funding and no longer putting resources behind it but not deleting the library of experience, then that is unfortunate. (Very)
Hopefully it’s the second because the first, (I would call it “scorched earth”) is a kind of level of extreme reserved for personal vendetta …
-
DPReview was the silent helper that was always there and has been so useful to me for the past 15 years or so, it’s almost a testament to it’s vitality that I kind of never took strong notice. They say great design goes unnoticed - because if you notice it it’s usually when something is going wrong, and it was in this way DPReview existed for me. Always there and yet never begging attention somehow. It will be missed deeply, and this news has shed light on its quiet dutifulness that it has given us for so long.
This is insanity. Can't believe it. One of the best internet camera resources. Helped me get started in 2008 and I've been reading regularly ever since. Such a terrible decision. Hope the best for the staff and community at large.
I started at the same time too
Tony you nailed it! This is exactly how I feel. I’ve been a member of DPREVIEW since 2012. Since then I have read countless gear reviews and articles, but have spent most of my time on the forums. I’ve asked so many questions and have helped others as well. The people on there have gotten me through the D600 oil debacle, firmware updates, new camera availability and so much more. So sad to see it go! I hope everyone there lands on their feet.
OMG the D600 Oil Debacle - its scars me to this day! I think this is actually how I found DPReview now that I think of it!
Damn, this is so sad, I used to go to DPreview to double check and triple check everything before buying because I knew the content was of the highest quality and something to be trusted, I even used to click around to see what was new even if I couldn't afford it, or what was coming just to now about the new trends. Comments on web pages, forums, posts on blogs or even reviews on youtube cannot compete nor match the quality of the content of DPreview, which was always accurate, truthful, clear of any bs. I'm gonna miss it so much, thank you for all those years, I always relied on you, hope something bigger and better is coming, but even if it not, I will alway be grateful for everything you gave me and teach me about the craft.
You, the DPReview crew, and others helped to reawaken my long standing passion for photography. Life, and art, always find a way through. Aside: One day, a day after picking up 40k worth of great gear from the Camera Store in Calgary, I bumped into them. Said hi, gave them a ribbing, and thanked them profusely for helping me spend my $$ on such great equipment. Peace, Brother.
I'm shocked. I learnt so much from the in-depth product reviews - I always check DP Review before buying anything as I'm no expert. Loved how you could compare camera specs and work out lens combinations. I am really sad about this and don't understand how - all this information will be just gone.
Really sad to see a great channel disappearing... Great guys, a really informative channel and great community.... Pleased to see Chris and Jordan have a new home
PetaPixel dit it, and new youtube channel
I published another video on the same topic... Very hard to believe indeed. I hope videos such as mine and this one will circulate and create some noise to Amazon's ears... Who knows if they might consider a less radical approach?
Simply gobsmacked by this…. Started in film photography in 1970… sold equipment, freelanced, met tons of pros, sold to many - shared knowledge and wisdom - freely. And when digital came on the scene it wasn’t until I found Dpreview that I thought this is THE source of wisdom to rely on. There isn’t a piece of gear I own that wasn’t first researched there, thanks so much to Dpreview’s phenomenal staff and contributors, then purchased from a local (Canadian) retailer (independent, if possible). Amazon has quickly become an entity no better than Walmart - predatory, scorched earth practices that shows disdain for the industries and their vendors, brands and consumers alike - not to mention their own employees.
I think we will find an alternative, but it’s the why behind this move and whatever that might be it’s a decision that will surely bite them in the, shout out to Blue Origin, area of Uranus - er I mean - their-anus?
INSANE! DPReview was always the very, very best consumer product review site I've ever seen for any type of product. In a class by itself. Nothing comes close. It is mind-boggling that Amazon would just throw it away. The staff and contributors for DPReview created something incredible. Every time I used the site, I marveled at the amazing range of resources brought to bear, the innovative tools available for enabling comparisons of "apples to apples" so to speak, making different products understandable and then comparable in every conceivable way. Amazing, amazing, amazing. ONE OF A KIND. Damn you Amazon! Damn you!
DPReview and DPReview TV will be missed. They were both valuable resources for photographers over the years. Glad Chris and Jordan have found new homes and I'll be following them there. And I wish everyone at DPReview well and hope they also find positions where they can use their talents.
Thanks for doing this Tony, such an insightful and moving summary. But hang on, can't we mobilise to request at least that the legacy of DPReview work is maintained accessible on line 'somewhere'? Sorry if I sound a bit naive; is there someone out there who can help point the way, which we can all get behind? Thanks again, and definitely thanks to the whole DPReview crew - they are all super stars!
All the data is Amazon's IP and I fear they will say that it's "just good business" to remove and keep it.
Someone with the knowhow could trawl and backup the site but there is no guarantee they wouldn't take legal action if you tried to host it elsewhere.
The community could do something like they did with the Pirate Bay years ago by backing up the site data and sharing it via torrent to keep it alive and set up a forum elsewhere for the community but I doubt that would do anything to stop it from just fading away eventually.
This sucks. I hate these huge companies, they buy and retire SO many things.
“Good” news is that you can download your data - see the email you received (if you are a member). Hopefully some organization that is photo centric can take it on.
I also have enjoyed their reviews and information. They have helped me several times decide which camera or lens to purchase. Really sucks that Amazon is getting rid of them after all these years. I also won't be making any future photography purchases from them again. Switching back to ebay!
Bravo for your comments. I started stopping by DPreview in 2002 after buying the Canon G2 as my first digital camera. I still have it and that 4.2 pixel count displays well at HD levels. Thanks again as always. Glad you're still around.
DPReview has been my Go-To reference over several years! I will surely miss it!
Thanks to the entire crew of DPReview and Wish you guys luck and success on the road ahead!
This is crazy to hear… DPReview was literally one of the first resources I used to help educate myself in photography. I still till this day used them to keep up with what’s new and lens comparisons. Wow…
As an amateur photographer I counted on their honest reviews and they were very much appreciated so sad to lose them.
Just heard about this. I wish someone like B&H could just outright buy DPreview (no idea if Amazon would even sell it). As an archive, it’s so important
I had no idea DPReview was owned by Amazon! Wow
Has been for years, since 2007.
Neither did I
Me either.
Me either
Nor me,
I am very shock to learn that DPREVIEW is shutting down, DPREVIEW is the first place that I always visit to learn the camera products, I sincerely hope DPREVIEW will be hosted somewhere else and let the legacy to live on forever.
Tony thanks for posting this information. When I started my photography journey, just a few years ago, I quickly found some "go to" online resources which included you and Chelsea and others including DP review. Collectively these sites made the challenges of picking cameras, lenses and all the gear that I needed to get going much less confusing. Even if the DP review org is going away, I'm fairly sure there is continued value in leaving the content online. Sorry to hear this news.
I bonded with photographer friends while looking and comparing and discussing which cameras and systems to get into, it was an exciting time for us entering into the industry; DPReview was our library, our trusted resource and a community that helped me several times.
It should not be taken down but rather renamed as a historical record and protected as such. It is a cultural artifact regardless if it was implemented as a commercial tool or not.
DPReview was such a wonderful resource, the first place I check for camera and lens reviews because they were so thorough in their testing. I'm happy Chris and Jordan will find a new home on PetaPixel's channel, but what the hell can or will replace the wealth of information the DPReview website has provided for so many years?
A huge loss. Grateful to the staff and founders for their courage, rigor and insights -- you help to advance my photography from a hobby into a career.
That’s very sad to hear, Dp has been such a source for review, articles, messages for a long time. We should start sending Amazon letters letting them know what it means to us. I’m starting today.
Gutted, huge loss. Used it for years a very cool and multi-faceted site that serves as a community base and encyclopedia - it will be missed by many. Tony you have asked what else is out there, people will have to visit multiple sites now. Hat's off to all the staff at DP Review for the amazing work you have done and the very best wishes for the future.
There is going to be a big hole that will never be filled.🙁
DPReview is THE camera gear resource. I've seen websites come and go, but this may be the first time I'm legitimately heartbroken about the passing of one. I'm with you and commit to not buying any more camera gear through Amazon-clearly they don't realize what a boon DPReview has been to creatives and how many DPReview geek-out sessions have culminated in Amazon purchases. B&H's prices are often better anyway, and I'm more than willing to wait an extra day or two for shipping to send a collective message.
If u want to send a message at least stop buying everything lol
The camera comparison tool is superb. What they said in reviews was highly reliable. I have lost count of the number of times the only source of ideas on certain very specific topics was to be found on the forum. I am stunned.
@Phillip Banes Actually, it is very useful. To me, Steve, and probably many, many others.
@Phillip Banes Both are needed! When it comes to comparing different resolution sensor and FF, APSC, M4/3 formats, as I have done when switching formats or simply buying a new camera the tool is utterly invaluable and unrivalled.
@Phillip Banes That is why they developed the tool !
Thanks for the more candid camera video chat. I appreciate that a lot more over the newscaster "breaking!!!" often used in the news videos.
This is terrible! I just recently started getting into cameras, more specifically video cameras and lighting. DPReview almost always comes at the top when searching about technical questions regarding camera equipment. This has to be archived somewhere, especially the forum. Hope someone take their time to do it properly so that all can be kept for the future generation!
DP review has been an incredible resource of information for me over the years and can't imagine how anything would replace it. The many experiences and discusions from many photographers on thousands of threads alone will be gratly missed. Sad to see it go.
I think the staff at DPReview should set up a new entity together. They are after the beating heart of it. It’s why I always believe in holding on to your business independently and not being bought out by a corporate monster that can switch you off like a light as has happened here.
You are right, but, if you are independent then you need to make a profit (or at least break even) and it seems that dpreview were not which is why they turned to Amazon. If you want to be independent then you can't employ people or spend money that you don't have the revenue to cover.
@@PJ-om2wq Other than slamming the site with Amazon Prime adverts, it doesn't appear that AMZN did much to try to get the site profitable. But, here we need to define 'profit'. Amazon is a huge company with deep pockets and a lot of reach (to put it mildly). I find it hard to believe that DPReview, with its massive readership, wasn't making money or at minimum, breaking even - and that with minimum input from AMZN. So, 'profit', in this case, was more likely, "They're not making us insane profits right now, and we can use the economic downturn as an excuse to pad our shareholders' already deep pockets further."
Until we see actual numbers, we cannot assume that the site wasn't worthwhile (or couldn't be improved). Given Big Tech's reliance on obscene numbers to presume profitability, it's far more likely they just couldn't be bothered to do anything about it.
Also, I realize that you were also referring to AMZN's 2007 acquisition of the site: something which wouldn't make sense for Amazon to do, if the site wasn't worth owning. It would be different if DPReview was a tech company not making a profit, but with something worth investing further into as part of a larger product. DPReview was never a tech developer: they're an editorial site. Unless AMZN had another motive, like selling photography books - which is a niche market, so not likely - they were financially worth acquiring in 2007.
This is such a sad thing. I have not used DPreview as much as I would have liked, but the information I found there was invaluable. I don't understand why Amazon can't just hand the baton over to someone else rather than just shutting it down entirely. It would have been nice Amazon would had given those running DPreview the option to own it, rather than shutting it down completely, and taking away everything from the public entirely. Thank you to everyone at DPreview, I'm terribly sorry you are losing your jobs, your work, and a very important piece of the digital photography community. I wish you the best, and hope that, in the long run, this will open doors to bigger and better things for you, despite how things feel or look now
Buy DPReview from Amazon, Tony. In 2024 or 2025, re-hire Chris and Jordan. You will reach superhero status (if you haven't done so already). Seriously, you are our only hope. Much love brother.
DPReview has been such a valuable resource, especially the forums. I have a number of older cameras and getting advice and information on 20 year old cameras was not impossible with the large database that is the forums. I rely heavily on them for lens reviews as well. Will miss them greatly.
Heartfelt thanks to each presenter on DP Review, for what you've meant to those of us over the years who have enjoyed your content. DP Review will be sadly missed. I really hope each of you keep on going.
An update for everyone who's, rightfully, confused and concerned about losing the content compiled on DPReview over the years: everything will be archived and remain available for reference. DPReview confirmed this in an updated post regarding the closure published to the site on April 7th, 2023. Long live DPR!
Like you said, no more buying cameras or any other photography equipment from Amazon
It's actually kinda strange. I just now started taking photography equipment seriously and DPreview was always one of the first Google results and had the best information available that wasn't youtube. It's such a shame!
Thank you, Tony. A sincere and heartfelt expression of thanks about people who are clearly your friends and a community that is very important to you. 😢
DPReview has been THE BEST resource for me in my early (2004) and latest camera, lens and technology reviews. Most detailed, unbiased, lens and camera resolution tests! The greatest resource to the digital photography community.
Even going back decades later… I still find the camera reviews amazingly Insightful and Detailed as to WHY that camera, lens, etc was a Breakthrough at the moment - why I bought it - and just the encyclopedia of how digital photography and videography has evolved in the last 25 years!
Same here Tony. From the year 2000. From my Canon G1, Nikon D70, D300, Fuji XT-1, etc. DPR was old faithful. More like ol' extraordinaire! Consistency and professionalism. That cannot be replaced. Ending DPReview will be a sad day, my friend. I feel every photigraphers loss. TY to the DPReview staff for setting the bar so very high. You will be missed.
Nice going, Amazon.
Thanks DP review for the years you poured into Photography. You'll be sorely and dearly missed!🙏
Well said Tony. I followed DP Review for at least 10 years. Very sad loss. I appreciated all the different forums, not just Your brand camera and full or crop or whatever. Travel, lens talk take your pick. Learned so much there on the forums and reviews. Thanks to the staff for all the great work ! The Evil Empire strikes again !
I have learned so much from DPReview. It has been such a great resource for so long!
This is sad news. I often looked at forum, I enjoyed contests, and their reviews helped me decide on certain cameras and accessories. This is huge loss. I hope Amazon reconsiders it at least keep it up for historical archive
I agree with Tony. The entire photographic community should just use Amazon to find stuff then buy somewhere else. Also let them know on SM every time you do it. We need a simple hashtag and short phrase we can all use to do that so Amazon gets the message.
Amazon has been V terribad for finding stuff for an age.. You find stuff on sites like DPreview and then search for the cheapest option, which is all too often on Amazon.
With how terrible they treat their employees, "partners" and eventually will treat their customers(they'll get there when shareholder profits are the last and only thing that matters to the company and they think they can get away with it)
Ending a website is the least of the reasons to avoid them.
DPReview will end.. But the info will live on in the Internet Archive. (or maybe someone will rip the site and re-host it, here's hopeing)
And the space that DPReview filled isn't a void anymore.. There are lots of communities, reviewers, resources etc.. Here for example
Is it sad / end of an era? Yes..
Do I wish someone could buy the company and IP and let it chug along, or monetize it in an ethical and sustainable manner (ala LTT)? Of course.
Is it going to be a crippling blow to the industry / space / community?
I don't think so, because either those involved with DPReview will build something new or someone else will see the space available for some new / expanded content and fill it.
The worst thing is going to be the inevitable fracturing..
How many have contacts or familiar folk they would discuss things with that DPReview is their only method of contact.
Thats happened me a few times now and is probably the single worst part of it (for me at least, and everything above is opinion only)
One other thing to remember is that Amazon have owned and been hands off with DPReview for V nearly 16 years..
How many other communities turned to crap after being sold? There are several very well known ones in the pc tech space I can think of.
How many survived without either succumbing to crappy ads or manufacturer pressures without the resources a parent company brings?
Amazon have actually been the good guy in this for a V long time.. Shitty move if they go ahead and don't sell it.. But it's by far not the shittiest move they have made.
If no one ever bought anything related to photography from Amazon ever again it would make zero effect on their corporate gain. There is nothing anyone can do to make a difference. They are too big and powerful. As individuals, we can boycott as I will but don’t be fooled into thinking anything will change.
Might want to rephrase your message
I never bought anything in Amazon.
On DP Review, in economic terms: Sounds like a corporation destroying your utility to increase their profits. At minimum it isn't as profitable to have good equipment reviews. You lose money if spending goes to a product that you make less margin on.
Even if this only works in the long run, it will make it harder to find rock solid equipment at a good price.
Also they lose money if you find an older product that is better then a newer product. Especially if the older product has been discontinued.
There are probably all sorts of game theory going into it for all corporations.
Thank you Tony for this video. I am glad to see that someone with so many followers like you is speaking up and giving credits to where they are due.
I am one of those that has learned a lot from DPReview over the years, and am stunned that Amazon just pulled the plug. At the same time they firing 15,000 employees over the world so I am not that surprised at their economic view on everything!
I think 90% of the choices of lenses my wife has is due to DPReview's reviews, not to mention cameras, and the same goes for me, more or less. Imagining Resource and Optical Limits has played a role, too, as has you, Tony, but a lesser one.
But it is like a tornado has passed through my house, as I feel lost and without a home (I've written around 2,000 pieces of texts and commentaries over the years in DPReview Forums).
Its like when your dog dies, it takes months, or even years before you find a new friend like DPReview!
Oh no! like so many I have been following and using DP review for over 20 years, a constant resource and quick reference guide that will be sorely missed.
DP reviews has been huge for me, especially when it comes to researching older digital cameras, especially with this awesome new digicam wave hitting. It was really fun to compare old cameras on the site. Also, Chris and Jordan have been awesome to keep up with on YT. Glad we will be able to see them on a new channel.
That's crazy! DPreview should at least be passed along to someone who can keep it going and all the great info it contains, available indefinitely.
They should atleast keep the domain and contents under it available. Just cannot throw away hundreds of years of collective knowledge between all the DPReview staff.
Irresponsible corporate greed. I'm transitioning my online buying away from Amazon, paying the extra shipping or whatever it takes to support the smaller shops and companies. A decision like this could only be made by a bunch of clueless suits. So sad.
Chris and Jordan are the best camera reviewers on UA-cam, period!
DPreview will be sorely missed. Can't imagine that this is all over. Important channel and format. I hope to see the guys again.
Shocked! I have taken important decisions based on the wealth of experience shared in dpreview discussion forums and in-depth reviews. Any camera, any lens/ equipment that I wanted to find out about, this was the first and authentic go-to destination for me. They can't do this! Tony..your heartfelt concern echoes far and wide!
This is really sad. I learned so much from DP Review over the years. They were a great service that helped grow my love for photography. Hopefully the community can rally and build something to take up the place of it. It will be very hard if not impossible to imitate.
DP Review has been the number one source for me for years for what camera to buy, the most educational place on the web. I can't believe this happening. Amazon wake up.
Sad to hear! Been watching DPReview videos and reading articles since 2015 when I started out with photography and yes somehow it became a part of my process. The void will be felt on a significant scale and I will surely miss the reviews by Chris and Jordan! ♥️
I just watched their goodbye video, it was sad, I have been watching them for years. Nice mix of fact and humor. The site was my go to for gear reviews, and those hard to find details. An era has come to an end.
I'm furious about the proposal. Literally every search I do online, about anything nuanced, anything that has required detail or thought to arrive at the answer, any feedback on any non direct comparison, all ends up going through the wealth of knowledge that's been poured from DPReview.
I've been using it for 15 years, right back since I bought my first digital point and shoot, and the official reviews, have only gained in accuracy and detail, despite already being great from the beginning.
It grew organically, and was a welcome place to dive into. Always.
I think Tony made a good point. If Amazon will do this to our photography community, then we can vote with our money and never buy photography gear from Amazon again.
That's a sacrifice I'm willing to make.
I learned a lot on DPReview, for which I will always be grateful, on the other hand I stopped contributing what little I could as it never felt like a community and the famous in depth reviews became more opinion pieces. I use it as an example of social media dynamics: the forums became the complaints department for many brands. Oh the joys of the dynamic range wars... Not.
Hey Tony,
Thanks for making this heartfelt video. Thousands of us feel exactly the same way. DPR forums is literally a part of my daily life - every single day. Amazon have no idea about the community they have just decided to destroy - just like that - with a coldness that leaves shivers.
I shall indeed do my little bit to shop anywhere else but Amazon from now on. They deserve as much disrespect as I can muster.
Member of DPR since 2003 - Crazy times.
To provide some context, over the past five years, we have witnessed a significant shift in the photography landscape. From DSLRs to mirrorless cameras and now smartphones, photography has become increasingly accessible to the masses. Consequently, the closure of companies like DPR might come as a surprise to some, but many individuals who primarily use their phones for photography continue to enjoy the experience. Ultimately, the essence of photography lies in capturing moments and having fun.
Transition periods can be challenging, but we hope that in the next five years, camera manufacturers will evolve into software-focused companies that push the boundaries of sensor technology. This could potentially herald a new era in photography. The cameras of tomorrow should place less emphasis on technical aspects and more on the sheer joy of capturing images. Photographers should be able to focus on aspects like content and composition without being bogged down by concerns about settings such as sensitivity or color balance. In this way, the technology will serve to enhance the art of photography rather than overshadow it.
I sold cameras for years, and it was common practice to walk customers over to the computer and 'find out together' what the differences sometimes were. An amazing resource that's always been there for me, from studying photography, to selling cameras, and now working as a technical photographer for the last 9 and a bit years. It's always been there as a trusted resource when I wanted to check out a potential new purchase.
I really hope someone buys it, or at least archives the site somehow. I'm hopefully something out there will fill the gap.