why is DPreview not reviewing flagship Canon/Nikons

[artyboy]

i know this question may be just brushed aside but i've been waiting (and waiting) for DPreview to review the 1D/Ds/D3 but all i see are DSLRs released after the 3 flaghips - Sony A700, Oly E3, D60 and dozens of compacts. what gives?

[Balliolman]

I have read on their site the reviewers have to wait to get the cameras loaned to them.

[TheHoff]

I find it a bit odd that people wait for these "official reviews" from sites that still haven't gotten a hold of the pro models yet? Weird. It seems manufacturers don't quite consider their reviews as essential as magazines if they aren't willing to get them loaners on release.

[FlyingPhotog]

Just curious:

What's DPReview gonna tell you that isn't available in 101 other places (POTN included?)

[artyboy]

not available on loan? i've seen other reviews which have footnotes thanking such-and-such a dealer/retailer for loaning the cameras to them for reviewing. and i have no doubt that DPreview hold more clout than some of the other websites. and we're not talking abt a camera that was released 3 months ago.

[Doug Pardee]

Hmm, you'd probably do better by sending a feedback note to DPReview and ask them. Still, here's my observation: DPReview is primarily dedicated to the snapshooter and the amateur. They've got their hands full reviewing the horde of digicams, consumer DSLRs, and prosumer DSLRs.

There aren't that many pros visiting the site, and a pro is going to want a much more thorough review (for example, DPReview doesn't test autofocus capabilities and thus would have completely missed the 1DmkIII fiasco). It's probably reasonable to allocate their limited resources to reviewing cameras that might be of interest to a larger percentage of their readers, and let Galbraith and the like handle the pro equipment.

[cdifoto]

Amazon.com bought dpreview a little while back. That might have something to do with it in some fenangled corporate BS kind of way. Not sure.

[Tom W]

I think that DPReview prefers to cater more to the semi-pro and consumer crowds. The pro cameras are decidedly more expensive than the vast majority of photographers are willing to pay.

[Riff Raff]

I always assumed it was because those flagship cameras are outside the range of a majority of DPreview's readership. i.e. It's not really their market. Reviews of cameras like the 5D and D300 seem to be as far as they need to go.

[nicksan]

Because it's DPReview...

[René Damkot]

ISTR I've read once that they consider the lower end more important because there are a *lot* more of those sold. Simply a much larger target audience... Makes sense to me.

[artyboy]

true. but they have reviewed the previous 1D/Ds/DX2 series in the past. and wouldnt it be a waste to have all the test equipment that they have and not review flagship DSLRs? anyways, its a free online DC review website so i can't complain either. actually im not, just that i always enjoy reading their very comprehensive reviews and was keen on their assessment of these cameras now that Nikon has finally caught up.

[eddarr]

The amount of readers is much lower for a 1DIII etc. Soccer moms have 1000's of cameras to chose from and they need the reviews to make a decision. Pro's only have a few choses and are generally knowledgeable regarding the cameras anyway.

[artyboy]

yup, guess they have to cater to the majority. they are one of the few sites which are very detailed in their reviews.

[FlyingPhotog]

Also, I think, the minutae which the "hardware illuminate" find important is gonna make most amateurs eyes glaze over pretty quickly.

[Glenn NK]

If my memory serves me right, Phil Askey (sp?) got in a little hot water with Canon a while back for releasing some info prematurely with the result that he is no longer a "preferred customer" when it comes to reviews of their gear.

[artyboy]

that should explain things abit, but they still did review the 40D so it can't be a blanket 'ban'. i was thinking more of it being the 1D series having still unresolved AI Servo focus problems and the D3 having probs in freezing weather. but then again, other websites have long since reviewed these 3 bodies irregardless.

[CyberDyneSystems]

If my memory serves me right, Phil Askey (sp?) got in a little hot water with Canon a while back for releasing some info prematurely with the result that he is no longer a "preferred customer" when it comes to reviews of their gear.

Which would have no effect on his ability to get a good 1D Mark III review out long after it was released..

I see the trend as well, perhaps he's just tired.

Time was that often within days, weeks or at most months of a release we'd have a good review.
Waiting those few short weeks for a DPReivew just became habit..

Now it often seems to take a year or more. This change has caused me to wonder, so I'm not surprised to see this question asked.

[Glenn NK]

Which would have no effect on his ability to get a good 1D Mark III review out long after it was released..

I see the trend as well, perhaps he's just tired.

Time was that often within days, weeks or at most months of a release we'd have a good review.
Waiting those few short weeks for a DPReivew just became habit..

Now it often seems to take a year or more. This change has caused me to wonder, so I'm not surprised to see this question asked.

True enough, but at one time (as I understand it), Phil would get the camera very early. Then his review would not only be in-depth, it would be "the first one".

If he has to wait for one, then the other reviews have already hit the stands, and have more impact by being out there first.

It seems to me that he was a bit over-extended until he sold the site. I don't know how much he is involved in the day-to-day affairs, but I read a post by him saying that others would take over more of the responsibilities (reviews).

I did a search for the post but couldn't find it (should have book-marked it I guess). I can't recall when I read it, but it was at least several months after I bought my 30D - October 2006 - so was sometime in 2007.