This is a reason I don't trust equipment "reviews" from "professionals"....
Venting.........
Like most of you, I'll Google a product prior to making a purchase. I hope to find an honest review that will tell me about the real pros and cons. Based on those pros/cons, and other product comparisons, I'd like to make an informed decision.
It seems that the more I research, the more I find the industry shills that are just out to play their part in the quid-pro-quo game of marketing.
Here's a conclusion one "expert" closed his magazine article with. (I removed the names to protect the innocent.)
"Product A's and Product B's pro lens are each about $xxx (street), and Product C is $450 with rebate. Nikon and Canon, meanwhile, get between $500 and $650 street for their comparable glass. The new Product A forces the question: Are the others worth it? Tough call!"
As a consumer, what do you come away with from this conclusion? Answer: No one is a loser. No one is a better choice. It's a crap-shoot. What determines "worth it"?
In writing this way, the writer's blog or magazine can still pander to all the manufacturer's. Products A, B, C, Nikon, and Canon are all the best! He didn't have the integrity to truly recommend anything. He still leaves it up to you while completiing his 1000 word worthless article.
This is why I use Flicker or Fred Miranda, and other user-driven reviews, for actual real world evaluations. These people are like you and me. Some are more experienced than others but the overall reviews are coming from users, not paid reviewers.
When you are about to spend your hard-earned money, and you seek advice to make the best choice, find a source that has no investment in the decision other than their personal experiences.
Venting.........
Like most of you, I'll Google a product prior to making a purchase. I hope to find an honest review that will tell me about the real pros and cons. Based on those pros/cons, and other product comparisons, I'd like to make an informed decision.
It seems that the more I research, the more I find the industry shills that are just out to play their part in the quid-pro-quo game of marketing.
Here's a conclusion one "expert" closed his magazine article with. (I removed the names to protect the innocent.)
"Product A's and Product B's pro lens are each about $xxx (street), and Product C is $450 with rebate. Nikon and Canon, meanwhile, get between $500 and $650 street for their comparable glass. The new Product A forces the question: Are the others worth it? Tough call!"
As a consumer, what do you come away with from this conclusion? Answer: No one is a loser. No one is a better choice. It's a crap-shoot. What determines "worth it"?
In writing this way, the writer's blog or magazine can still pander to all the manufacturer's. Products A, B, C, Nikon, and Canon are all the best! He didn't have the integrity to truly recommend anything. He still leaves it up to you while completiing his 1000 word worthless article.
This is why I use Flicker or Fred Miranda, and other user-driven reviews, for actual real world evaluations. These people are like you and me. Some are more experienced than others but the overall reviews are coming from users, not paid reviewers.
When you are about to spend your hard-earned money, and you seek advice to make the best choice, find a source that has no investment in the decision other than their personal experiences.
