how do i write a review

i would like to write a review of a light stand that i just bought from calumet but i dont know how.

i want to be able to contribute to this board by writing reviews of the things that i buy so that others in the future can read it and maybe choose to buy or not buy.

i know that in the "SELL" section there is a sticky that tells you what to include in a "sell" thread, is there something similar that is out there that i can use as a guide to write a product or item review?

thanks for reading and any advice you can offer

The key is to be thorough, specific, and include pictures. Quantitative measurements are usually better than opinions. Take measurements.

Good - "It reaches 13 feet, 2 inches tall, which is 4 inches taller than stand X (see side-by-side image)."
Bad - "It reaches a little bit higher than stand X."

If you describe certain parts, take macro-type shots of those parts and post them with your review.

Describe the product as thoroughly as possible, keeping in mind that others may want to use it in different ways. Leave your opinions to the end of the review.

thanks curtis, ill try my hand at it

This is the right thread to write a review. If you want to see examples of other reviews, scroll through this thread or hit the search function and look for reviews. Compare the writing style and what other reviewers deemed important for deciding why this was the best purchase for their individual needs.

I'd start by using better grammar and punctuation.

But the real question is, do we really need a review of a light stand?

Be thorough, include every detail, lots of pictures generally cant hurt, try to think about any possible question one might ask regarding the product and answer it, list other alternative products and why you chose the one you did, show the product actually in use, and anything else you can think of!

MSIGuy wrote in post #12661178
do we really need a review of a light stand?

Actually, yes.

If we were buying all our gear at brick-n-mortar stores with display inventory that we could actually examine and play with, then reviews on light stands wouldn't be necessary. They are what they are.

But nowadays, since so much of our buying is done online with little more than the seller's pictures and descriptions to go on, user reviews are indeed useful.

The only gear I ever returned to the seller was a pair of light stands that turned out to be more flimsy and cheaply made than I expected for the price.

MSIGuy wrote in post #12661178
I'd start by using better grammar and punctuation.

But the real question is, do we really need a review of a light stand?

what type of review would you rather see?

MSIGuy wrote in post #12661178
I'd start by using better grammar and punctuation.

But the real question is, do we really need a review of a light stand?

Actually I really wish some people would review light stands, there are quite many high end stands that are reviewed but very little from the entry level. I'm currently looking at reasonably priced boom stand (which seems to be hard to find in Europe). But there are no reviews for the ones available online.

I think we need a review of EVERYTHING!

ben_r_ wrote in post #12662134
I think we need a review of EVERYTHING!

Accommodating these suggestions, here is my latest review.

The upside - all ben_r's words are spelled correctly.

The downside - the post is only 7.3% as long as Curtis N's last post (characters with spaces, 39 for Ben, verses 531 for Curtis N).

I rate ben_r's post at only 7.3% + 12.0% for correct spelling. For a total score of 19.3%.

ben_r's post is very marginal.

Enjoy! Lon

Nice to know I'm still the standard for comparison.

Curtis N wrote in post #12662993
Nice to know I'm still the standard for comparison.

Another review.

Curtis N's post is far too verbose. It takes Curtis N over 500 charters to accomplish what ben_r can do in only 39.

No extra points for all those extra words being spelled correctly.

A very marginal post.

Enjoy! Lon

Nice reviews, Lon. I've been searching the net for reviews of the aforementioned posts for a while, so thank you for that.

However, I find you are too hung up on technicalities (spelling) and don't focus on content at all.
I would also like to see more pictures in your reviews.

In all seriousness, Curtis' 531 characters sum it nicely. Have a look at other popular thorough reviews and see how they're structured.

I found a review of some lightstands.
https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthre​ad.php?t=402167