Camera Reviews Need to Change...

Sharing my thoughts on the role YouTubers play in the marketing of a camera release.

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Table of Contents:
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0:00 - The Why
0:55 - My Post
2:15 - Why Now?
2:51 - Reviewer Life Cycle
4:17 - Press Trips
7:30 - Embargoes
8:16 - Being First
11:21 - Negative Reviews
12:20 - Lumix
15:01 - Canon
15:34 - Fujifilm
16:57 - Nikon
17:46 - Sony
18:55 - Advice to Brands
19:43 - Lumix Frustration
24:10 - Advice to Creators
25:20 - Final Thoughts

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[geraldundone]

In case there was any confusion, I am in no way trying to vilify the creators who went to Japan. Many of them are my friends, try really hard, and make interesting & compelling content. My issue is with the system, not individual creators. Please don't go ripping on them in their comments. I didn't make this video to tear down other YouTubers or divide us. Thanks. 🤓🙏

[curtisjudd]

Could not agree more on your points here. And I enjoy the passion/tirade. If it helps, this also applies to audio brands. ZOOM no longer sends me products (for loan or for free) to make reviews because they lent me the Podtrak P4 for review and I said in my review that it had a noisy headphone amp. They told me to take the review down. So instead, I bought the recorder and left the video up. They haven't talked to me since (that was in 2020).

But what I really wanted to say is that your new lighting design is 🔥 which makes your skin tones so much better (and more like you actually look in real life).

[chrisbrockhurst]

He’s not lying, he finds a good couch and sets up camp at the Sony events, witnessed it numerous times 😂 He’s as good at sitting as he is at camera reviews.

[artphototech]

I think that's why I watch super small channels that buy the shit with their own money.

[DarrenMostyn]

HUGE RESPECT! I would not compromise the trust of my audience ever for any brand review on my channel - no price! Respect. Darren

[alphapyro]

As a full time video producer, I tend to gravitate to the videos on YouTube where the person reviewing the product has worked with it for a while in multiple scenarios and can touch on the positives and the negatives equally. Those videos are much more helpful to pick the right camera(or other gear) to rent, which I then use in multiple real world scenarios before making a purchase. Purchasing a new product that I will use for multiple years before upgrading again takes research, thought, and testing so I do not waste money on something that does not perform in the way I need. Thank you for the content that you produce.

[chouandsherrie]

I was scratching my head with so many reviewers being overly subtle about S9 omissions like no hot shoe, shutter or and the f8 lens. This explains a lot

[hellounclesim]

I feel like a lot of the distrust of gear reviews started around the time of the DJI Mic 2 release when almost every creator was telling us it how crispy clear it sounded, even when our ears were telling us otherwise. And then they had to make videos about "Oh, we forgot to turn off the low cut. Now it sounds great right? Almost as good as Rode? Maybe?" but our ears were telling us - no, it still sounds the same.

[LukeNeumann]

Back when we shot the launch video for one of these companies they asked that my wife not be included in the videos because "certain countries will get upset".

I included her anyways (last minute addition...oops) and they left us off of the NAB rollout despite everyone in the department saying it was the best launch video they had seen for their cameras.

So...you're not wrong. It exists.

[nextsibling]

I will have huge respect for the first YouTube 'reviewer' who uses a camera for a year and produces some meaningful and worthwhile work with it and then publishes their review.

[OfTwoLands]

I think the main issue on YT are people reviewing gear that they actually don't need or use and basically change brands and products every week just for clicks and views. Anyone reviewing products (especially cameras) should have a real use for it and know how to film first.
Personally for example I only review stuff I either need for a specific project or that would complement my kit in a genuine way for my documentary work.
I say no to 95% of requests I get and I always make sure to say what I like but also what I don't like and what doesn't work, regardless of the company or product.

[DaveMcKeegan]

Back when I was reviewing camera gear, I never managed to get in with any of the main brands, but many of the lower end brands that I did deal with seemed to be more than happy to receive criticism, as long as it was fair and constructive, they kept coming back.

Kind of seems like big Youtube channels are obviously going to prioritise the big brand stuff because that's what pulls in the views, but the big brands are happy to play the market and drive the hype, where as the smaller brands have a genuine interest in addressing feedback - It would definitely be a wake up call to some of the big brands if youtubers stopped putting videos out straight away and instead did a more in-depth test - brands would have to start to listening to feedback or be left with no marketing power

[LeeZavitz]

When Fuji switched things up on us and started sending review units after embargo I kind of thought it was a weird move. I think this only applied to us in Canada. But, honestly didn’t really impact views being a few weeks late. And since we got it later we can actually open and view the raw files which I think is important to include in a review. I also I agree with you on Sony. Probably the best camera brand I’ve dealt with. You don’t have to worry about saying anything negative and they are always there to listen and improve which is a huge reason to like them not only as a company but also the products they make. I might make my own video off this topic because there’s a few things I’d like to add .

[chrisharris_arizona]

The irony is that Panasonic should pay Gerald for this video as I now know more about the S9 than I care to from all the videos responding to this video.

[poldivina]

Gerald just said: “MotherF*** the Big Three, it’s just Big Me. “ 😂😂😂

[restlake]

the irony of the Panasonic thing is you historically featured so much content from them and absolutely sold me on the S5 😂

[MarkBennettCameraCrisis]

The key for me is to have views so low that the companies never notice me. Flawless plan. 😂 Seriously, this video is really helpful.

[TheHybridShooter]

A sellout hobby YouTuber who was in Osaka here:
I was at both 2022 Tokyo Lumix event and 2024 Osaka event. Back when the S5 II was released, I was the only one to say that the A7 IV IBIS with active mode is actually better in some situations (that is no longer the case). There was a ton of videos showing how good is the S5 II IBIS at 24+ mm, but no videos revealing that there is warping at ultra-wide angles. I was accused of being Sony fanboy, paid by Sony etc. There was a lot of drama on rumor sites. Then I made a separate video showing side-by-side samples in many scenarios that couldn't be disputed.
Panasonic has called me to ask whether I have updated FW in the camera, I said that I have. Then they said that my testing is representative and everything is OK.
I got invited to London event for S5 II X and Osaka event for the S9. Nobody from Panasonic has never said anything bad about any of my criticism, including my video about leaving Panasonic's M43 system and S5 review where I said pretty bad things about the AF. I have never felt pressured by Panasonic, Fujifilm or Sony. Nikon would prefer I just read their press release, I am probably banned from reviewing Canon cameras.
Also worth mentioning is that the is a ton of pressure from the toxic part of photography community to criticize everything. I don't care about that either, if I think that a widely criticized camera, such as the S9 or even X100VI is actually good, I will just say it...
I guess that "being at an event shaming" makes being there as risky as not being there from the YT success perspective :)

[thenextlayer]

Wow. I'm in the 3D printing space, and this spoke to my SOUL man. The "certain companies are punitive" - big time. Respecting brands who don't try to get me to filter... totally. Everything you said was spot on.

[alistairlambert]

You've echoed how I feel about these recent reviews for the S9. Well done for taking a stand on this.