It’s been over a decade of writing camera related content, and before that it was writing game console and game reviews for a long time as a staff writer for a World Wide gaming magazine (now defunct, like many gaming magazines). Today we look at the way way that I write accurate and critical reviews and tutorials that are photography related.
It’s always important to get things right when writing and maintaining a website that has international reach and is quoted and shared by other websites and enthusiasts wanting to learn photogaphy.
For many people in this situation of writing articles, they like to quote figures and statistics, which while all well and good, rarely make much sense in real world usage, or often are insignificant, even misleading in most day-to-day circumstances. Even more worrying is that they talk about cameras, lenses, accessories and even techniques that they don’t actually use themselves in everyday situations. Their “knowledge” is based on YouTube videos, other articles and spec-sheets
The One Camera One Lens way is a much more hands on, practical approach. I’ll never talk about or review cameras, lenses, software or any type of accessories unless I’ve had extensive use from it. I’ll not compare unless I’ve used each item in some form or another, I don’t think just reading and writing specifications makes any sense to comparisons if you’ve not had the hands on experience to actually see these specs in action.
This means that with cameras and lenses, they will be thrust into my working life and I’ll use them extensively, including editing hundreds (or often thousands) of raw files to actually see the final result in the complete ecosystem. This will mean trying to create results good enough for clients, in all and any condition. Hands on means pushing everything to the max, no matter what I’m reviewing.
Of course just like everyone I have access to video and written reviews and articles, plus all the usual easy to gather information. But on top of that I have a huge umbrella of person-to-person activities including various group meets, workshops and 1-2-1’s plus I interact with camera club members and of course other working photographers from around the area and much more.
I like to review honestly, there IS a reason why almost every paid photographer in every genre uses full frame cameras and lenses, there is a reason why older photographers generally use smaller and lighter cameras such as micro four thirds and advanced bridge cameras. These are not always exclusive, and many photograhers will shake things up and use other cameras for other jobs, but things are generalised for very good reason, no matter how much people try to tell you otherwise. There is a camera, a lens, a system, a flash or whatever it is, for everyone, and everyone is different.
That’s why I like to challenge others who like to push agendas (usually ensure traffic), and selectively only choose products that suit them, based on specifications on paper that they have read. Often, while things may look clearcut, in real usage, it is not. For example, people forget that the difference between 24.5mp and 45.7mp is not as big as it sounds, it’s literally only 2256×1504 pixels larger, and that’s only relative if the lens has rendered those extra pixels effectively. Yes, it’s definitely more megapixels, and it can be useful, but the extra pixel-density can affect the quality and there is not as much real-estate as the numbers sound!
The biggest truth though that many reviewers seem to actively avoid is that for most photographers, most of the time (even the paid ones!) their work is only ever seen on screens, usually small screens too! At most that is a 4k screen (3840x2160p) and usually only a 1080p screen (1920x1080p) and if they share their work, hardly anyone will ever zoom in to 400%! I take this into consideration in every review, because it plays a huge factor in photography.
The One Camera One Lens way is the simple, honest truth. We all know that different things matter to different people, and there are a million different people in-between those! It’s never as simple as it seems, but it can be narrowed down to make sense for most people. Most importantly, I see so many people throughout the year, I understand what people of all ages and backgrounds are using. Not just the latest fad that is hitting YouTube (and believe me, you see fads all the time).
The success of the website is built on real, honest hard work, in real situations, for real photographers. If that means testing the latest software over my regular software for a month, then that is what it takes. Commitment.
Of course, most importantly there is room for plenty of shared images to back up everything talked about, amd just beautiful images to share as we all love photography. Does this mean I’m always correct in my findings? Heck no, but it’s more reliable than from those who have never actually done the things they talk about.