DPReview Shutdown Thread

[sybersitizen]

TechCrunch was on it immediately with a good article:

https://techcrunch.com/2023/03/21/amazon-kills-dpreview-the-best-camera-review-site-on-the-web/

"irreplaceable"

 

[Landscrape]

What a bummer. It's the only forum I really truly like. The people, the knowledge, the mods, the many replies on my questions. It mattered if you posted something here on DPreview; you knew it was read by people. And it was read well! I mean in detail. I hope we will unite in where we go next because we need numbers to make another forum worthwhile visiting.

Thank you all!

 

[yardcoyote]

This is heartbreaking, I really feel like I have a weird kind of home here.

I would be very interested in joining another forum that covers general photographic topics. Where are people going?

 

[geopapa]

Is it the entire site that is going away, or just the forums?

There's a video by Chris and Jordan too. So it's the whole site . But I reckon they could keep the forums or "open source" them. All this legacy going to dust will be a pity. Sorry for my bad English

 

[Richard Thornton]

Many photography sites have shut down. They greatly outnumber the new startups (if there are any). First the internet closed most of the local camera clubs, now the internet-based sites are also disappearing. Then, of course, there's the phone cameras making everyone a photographer.

End of an era.

Ansel, HCB, et al, rest in peace!

 

[JulietteM]

:-( So shocked and saddened. This site is such a HUGE resource! Nothing can take its place but here are some of the sites I will start to depend on more:

1. Mirrorless Comparison
2. CameraLabs
3. Imaging ResourceImaging Resource
4. Photography Life
5. Digital Trends
6. Switchback Travel

and of course, B&H for product reviews from users, reddit, street photography forums, so many wildlife photography forums, etc.

 

[jayk0607]

I'm very shocked.. It's a sad day for me.

Big thank you to all the moderators Chris and Jordan, and all the contributing members!! This has been the best photography site!

 

[joslocum]

Amazon kills DPReview, the best camera review site on the web

Amazon kills DPReview, the best camera review site on the web | TechCrunch

After 25 years of extremely detailed reviews of digital cameras, the irreplaceable DPReview is being shut down by Amazon as layoffs continue.

techcrunch.com

 

[Aaron801]

... Who am I going to make the case that m43 isn't all that bad now?

I get it, the site has to make money so if the ads aren't driving business and if folks in focus groups aren't saying that they bought camera gear on Amazon because of what they read at DPR enough of the time, then this thing can't really be justified. Sad though...

 

[PeterPentax]

A real shame. I wish all the staff and contributors, as well as forum members, good luck for the future.

 

[Lensmate]

On one hand, I'll miss the gear-centric forum.

On the other hand, I won't miss the FF bias.

This is what happens when you belong to Bezos.

Anybody know Elon Musk's number...?

-M

 

[KENTGA]

First I wish the forums would remain active.

Secondly I hope some readers can offer some alternatives. My guess is I look at dpreview 1 to 2 hours a day. Great site

Kent

 

[madecov]

My most viewed website. Oh well. A.azon not making enough off of it so, bye bye

 

[mfinley]

It doesn't take much to run a forum website, banner ads pay for the expenses. The trouble is getting the traffic, these forums have the traffic.

Seems like a great opportunity for somebody to buy out the forums and run it as a small business, should be easy to make a nice profit every month, passive income, forums run themselves through volunteer moderators. It's not going to have to make millions to keep something like Amazon happy, but $25-100K a year is a nice little money maker.

 

[Annabel]

I wonder if there's a way to bulk-archive the forums? So much knowledge there that does not exist anywhere else.

 

[Craig Gillette]

I guess I wonder a couple of things. There is a massive amount of useful information carried in the uncountable threads. I hope somehow it is captured. I really have no idea where it might go if the servers here are shut down. I know if I do a Google search, I can retrieve all kinds of answers to my questions. I don't know how or where it lives aside, if any place, from Dpreview.

It's a growing history of digital photography, tracking the introduction of new technologies, the art and craft of a whole new form.

I used to hang out at Photo.net and Imaging Resource. I don't recall why I moved on. Perhaps simply I had multiple interests and could only participate at a couple of spots and habit brought me here? Fred Miranda is a fine place but comparatively small and much less gear oriented. I wonder if the volume here wouldn't crush smaller forums with a shift of participation.

I'm afraid the technical/review and reporting side is competing with YouTubers, etc. While I enjoy some of that, I really like text discussions of "How to's" too. And to be honest, opening boxes isn't very educational.

On the other hand, we get mutual technical support that shames some ofthe corporate product support structures. That's truly something that will be missed!

I'm just over 20years here and not as intense as many, I guess maybe I'll just have to go out and take pictures.

 

[LeicaEye]

While this is unexpected and sad news, life moves on. What recommendations would folks like to share for existing online photography forums where collegial discussions and photo sharing are welcome? Alternatively, what options are available for creating a new platform for those purposes?

We could open a XXX email account, we could log in exchange thoughts, images etc.. Obviously it would be very basic, but, overtime I'm sure certain subjects, cameras and other photographic interests could be put in sub folders. Dropbox might be a consideration.. I myself will not partake in FB/Twitter or the like.. Very few of us don't actually know each other, but, I have enjoyed, learnt and come to realize & appreciate how many different types of photography & photographers are active. Regards, Take Care L

 

[TBLF]

I confess, it's all my fault!

I just knew if I let all the info on DPR talk me into switching from my beloved Pentax K-1 into buying a Sony A7RV mirrorless, the world would end shortly thereafter, and now it has. Ugh!

OK OK, all joking aside, I've also been with DPR since the days of Phil and yeah, the Pentax guys can hang out at PentaxForums no problem, but that is a pretty narrow focus and won't help the other 97% of people on here.

(If the Sony guys know a good alternative place to hang, let me know, either here or PM me.)

Man, this is going to suck. I really enjoyed the "other" content on this site, like the wildlife group where brand didn't matter, film Fridays, new gear and photo show announcements, reviews of course, etc. It was a unique one-stop-shop for photography related information.

A truly sad day.

Hey what will happen to Chris & Jordan??!! Back to the Camera Store probably isn't an option? Wonder if they might do a start-up of their own? No Chris, you will NOT start a fly fishing show!!!! Just...no...

 

[Bob Janes]

Hey what will happen to Chris & Jordan??!! Back to the Camera Store probably isn't an option? Wonder if they might do a start-up of their own? No Chris, you will NOT start a fly fishing show!!!! Just...no...

It is always the children who suffer...

 

[Iain G Foulds]

… Dpreview: This is an opportunity to simplify, remodel and monetize the Dpreview forums. The forums are an invaluable source of inspiration, experience, and advertising.

… More advertising would be understandable. A modest, yearly subscription rate would be fair, and corporate rates as well.