Shifter: Let's Talk Camera Reviews

There is a lot of good in the world. And there is a lot of good online. And then there is a lot of stuff that makes me question the survival of our species. People camping in tarps in -40 temperatures. People building bug-out shelters in blizzards while eating moss and hunting with sharpened chopsticks. And let us now forget the sellers of "Zen" who always seem to be wearing thongs while wading in mountain rivers? Please explain. Camera reviews, most of them, also fall into the bewildering category. Harmless, for sure, but not quite usable or relevant for someone like me. Randon street images or pictures from the park do nothing for someone like me who needs to know if a camera ACTUALLY works in a real-life, real-world, assignment-type situation. Thankfully, from time to time, the camera companies halt their shameless pandering to those squeaky wheels and end up loaning a camera to someone who actually knows how to use it. In turn, this person does a review that actually means something. Enter Flemming.

[juanQuedo]

One of the things I like of Flemming's video was the fact that he had a plan. He knew the songs, the lighting setups, and had an idea of what he wanted to capture. The Menu discussion on the internet is quite funny though, you don't see professional photographers faffing around with menus on assignments, they have the camera set up for their needs, and don't touch it. The other thing that kills me is the videos and comments about AF; let's be real if you miss focus with any of today's cameras, it is your fault. Doesn't matter if this or that is 3 milliseconds faster..Although I am guilty of watching from time to time reviews, but it is more like tech porn for me.

[Being_Joe]

I have actually thought of starting a channel where all I do is openly shill products and do whatever I can just go make money, again all transparent, just to see if it would work. Something I love about your videos is you are not trying to sell me anything and other channels are just trying to get me to click them affiliate links.

[GreenMorningDragonProductions]

I became aware of and started following Flemming based on a comment he left on one of your clips, about 18 months ago. I found it baffling that such a knowledgeable, engaging, and enthusiastic pro was so "off-grid" in terms of views and followers. No single YouTuber has taught me more or enthused me more, in regard to the benefits of a good wide angle lens.

[JeffreyHauser]

Agree 100% Daniel on your comments regarding the constant need for speed, the latest & greatest next piece of gear. I go back to the film generation& I still have my Canon F1 & it works great. Try that with a digital camera. I have always patiently waited for several generations of updated camera releases before making a purchasing decision. This simply works for me & my style of photography. Best wishes.😊

[LiamFyfe]

This is great to hear! I went mirrorless recently, after shooting my trusty d750 making my living for a good few years… so i just bought a z6ii and a z7ii as i had a good knowledge of the nikon ergonomics and i really love the cameras, i often have people asking me how do i shoot with them as the af is rubbish, but they dont get that it really isnt! Its alot better than any dslr for me and has improved my photography! I dont need all the new trick gimmicks just reliable, familiar and to be in the right place at the right time! Its crazy how much negative influence all this online stuff has on peoples work. Great vid!

[robmcd]

I put my Fuji 56 1.2 up for sale.. the first messages from a prospective buyer was “does it come with the original box.” Like are you kidding me? That’s the most important aspect of lens purchasing?

[SivertAlmvik]

I like it when lens reviewers photograph white brick walls. Ah, yes, that is exactly what I do and I can relate! This lens fits into my "white brick walls project" I have kept going for 15 years, and plan to publish a 300 page photobook on in about 5 years times.

[ChrisWhittenMusic]

Ha, I posted about this on a Leica forum and either got ignored or a push back. I have a friend who reviews audiophile hi-fi. He borrows or buys the gear and uses it extensively for several months. Then he comes to some conclusions. And it's not this is bad versus this is good, he says it's just his opinion, his preferences.
At the Leica M11 launch, all the usual suspects appeared in my Youtube feed with video reviews. They had had the camera for 24 hours. None of these people make a living as photographers.

[leoeyegenartig]

Most of the photo enthusiasts are not interested in photography at all. It’s all about the newest gear.

[randallstewart]

Fully agree. I find that as to equipment which I have owned and used for decades, 95% of YT reviews of such items is just a parroting prior YT videos by someone else. They always have errors or omissions which would be relevant to the accuracy of the review, meaning to the operation of the camera. The level of errors in videos presented as tutorials is just depressing. The mitigating factor, which I've never seen discussed on YT, is that the vast majority of current photographers are shooting images of digital or film being scanned to digital, then posted on YT or in other social media. The limited quality in such technology is such that very few people could sort images shot on a Leica from those shot on a Holga.

[MTimWeaver]

"Beware the man buying Red Bull and lighter fluid."

I may have to steal that (with attribution). It paints a very nice visual. :)

[gottanikoncamera]

First off, I wanted to tell you how much I enjoy your channel and your content (back when you were guesting w/ Silber).
Going back even further, the original Nikon F was in the market 11 or 12 years, and I believe the F2 was in-market 10 or so also, so long product cycles in the day. After three or four years Fujifilm released an update for my X-E2 that was so massive, they had to issue a completely new manual with the update. That was kind of mind blowing.

[maran]

Nailed it! Real deal people are disappearing in the sea of consumerism

[ThisIsWideAngle]

Found Flemmings videos a year ago and i was flabbergasted he only had a couple of viewers then. As someone who shoots concerts on a much smaller scale but also with love for the music: He is one of the few photographers who know what he is talking about. A master of his craft.
Binged right through his videos until he stopped uploading.
Great to see he is posting videos again!

[jamesm]

All I want is the perfect camera show.

[tedbyrom]

Enjoyable video as always. As to the Nikon F3 that you mentioned, it was actually in production for 21 years, the longest of any model SLR ever. It continued to be manufactured throughout the F4 production and even for a time after the F5 was released. I still use mine regularly. That's hard to imagine nowadays when complete lines of digital cameras do not last half that long. The user manual for the F3 is 46 pages and most of it is intuitive. I recently bought a digital camera (Fuji X-Pro3) and the manual is 340 pages and it took me over a week just to figure out how to set it up like I want to use it.

[JeffCreates]

So, you're saying i should just wait for the Zuperflex 5004?

[tonyknightengale]

You my friend, have found a new subscriber! Love the candid honesty. Thank you.

[takaya]

I watch lots of camera reviews just for fun, laughing at the way reviewers try to reinvent themselves to empathise some utterly pointless features. Some of them even struggle to justify the cons as consciously choices made by camera manufacturers thus transforming them as pros... Sorry for my bad English and kudos for your channel, I"ve just started to follow it.

[kaushaltiwari]

Hello Dan. Thanks for your videos. I watched the video about One lens - One camera approach. I sold a couple of my lenses and I must say I couldn't have been happier. I just have a 45mm equivalent now on an APS-C camera. I am enjoying the freedom. Thanks again.