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How to Read Reviews
What should you do when you read conflicting opinions
Consumers will often purchase identical products but for different reasons, so before reading
a review it is good to know what it is about that particular product that interests you.
Is it the product's size, the resolution, speed, length of zoom, or maybe even compatibility
with other equipment (does it use the same batteries, cables or charger as another camera you already own)? Knowing what
it is that matters to YOU will help you focus on those portions of the review that relate to
that subject.
Cameratown provides easy access to over a thousand reviews written by photographers and
other experts in the field. Often times a product will have been reviewed by as many as
twelve different websites, each offering their own perspective. Reviewers analyze features
and then report their findings in their review. However, many tests are subjective, thus are
open for differences in opinion.
For example: When testing a digital camera, the noise levels at a particular ISO might be
considered "acceptable" to one reviewer and "unacceptable" to another. Their conclusions
will often be derived from experiences and comparisons to other models they have used, as
well as the conditions in which they have tested the camera under.
With cameras, many review sites will provide sample photographs that can be viewed and/or
downloaded. These photographs are there to help demonstrate the camera's image quality when used
under different lighting conditions, as well as to let you see the images that helped the reviewer
come to their conclusion. When reading conflicting opinions, use these sample images to draw your
own conclusion. Did one reviewer find that images were softer than they had hoped, while another found
the image sharpness to be very high? Take a look at the provided images, download them to your PC,
maybe even print them at the sizes you plan to use them at in order to draw your own conclusion.
Different review styles
Not all products are reviewed the same way. Some sites strictly use in-house testing,
where they can control lighting to keep conditions identical from model
to model, other sites take a product out in the real world (field testing)
to put it through its paces, and some do both. If you plan on using the
product in a controlled environment, such as in a studio, then the controlled
(in-house) tests will most likely be of interest to you, whereas a consumer
looking for a camera to take pictures of family vacations and other events
will most likely benefit more from real world "out-in-the-field" testing.
Don't consider a preview a review. It's not.
When a new model is launched, many sites publish a preview of the product that often looks like a review.
While these articles are informative - giving you a listing of specifications in an easier-to-read
"article-style" format, they are not opinions based on tests or usage. Previews are generally based on
specifications and other claims provided by the manufacturer and some writers will impart their own
opinion as to the benefits of a feature or spec. Cameratown.com lists previews in the same area as
reviews, but we alert you to previews by starting the summary paragraph with the words "Hands-on Preview"
or "First-Look Preview."
Who has time to read 10 reviews?
We know that time is precious and using a search engine to find camera reviews
or digital photography information brings up a smorgasbord of content
- retail links, news links, press releases, reviews, previews, spec pages
all listed together - making it more difficult to find the type of information
you're most interested in. At Cameratown.com, we separate this information
into easy to read content areas, which provides fast access to reviews,
articles, tutorials, news, firmware updates, product manuals, and even
deals on gear - all from an easy-to-navigate front page. Our site also
provides a rating system to let you know which reviews were most informative,
based on reader votes. So when you find a product that has been reviewed
by 8 or 9 different websites, the rating given by other readers will help
you know where to start.
Reviews are also helpful after you've made your purchase
Many people don't think of this, but reviews are as helpful after you've made your purchase decision
as they are before. Unlike user manuals, reviews often have helpful tips and workarounds for problems
that were discovered during testing.
Tips for reading reviews
- Know what features are important to you
- If provided, use test images to help you draw your own conclusions
- Understand the style of review (controlled or in-the-field)
- A preview is not a review
- Which review should you read first? Use the reader ratings on our site.
- A review is a good source of information before and AFTER you made your purchase
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