Nikon Rumors Forum

where there’s smoke there’s forum fire

1. 

   NikoDoby
   

   The Terminator
   Joined: May '09
   Posts: 6,598

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   I think the luminous-landscape is the first website I've seen that has posted a full disclosure online.

   http://luminous-landscape.com/about/disclosure.shtml

   The US Federal Trade Commission will now require blogs to make full disclosure of their relationship with advertisers/manufacturers on their websites and I think it's going to be a very good thing for all of us. Not surprising but the theory that some "review" sites are money making machines in "disguise" seems to be a valid one. The purpose is to make money not really to inform.

   Even when the site says they are "independent" and "free" from biases to review a product it turns out that the manufacturer's pay the plane ticket and accommodations for a "visit" to the factory. How can that not influence your "review" of a product? And they get to keep some things that they "review".

   If Nikon was paying my plane ticket, hotel, and food for a visit to their Sendai plant how could I give a bad review of a product if they say they will fly me out again when the D4 is ready for a sneak peek? Hell even if canon flew me to Japan I'd probably start capitalizing the c in canon again ;^)

   I wonder how dpreview is going to play around this rule. Their servers aren't in the US but they are owned by an American company so not sure if that's enough to force them to comply. Really makes you wonder about some of the reviews doesn't it?

   Posted 3 years ago #
2. 

   bmxdad
   

   preferred member
   Joined: May '09
   Posts: 1,864

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   You know Niko I have always been wondering if who are posting reviews are truly none-biased. Yes they should clearly state anything given to them incl add money if any is earned. I have always enjoyed and used DpReview for comparison and purchase decision, but I have at the same time always wondered, are they really not biased to some brands

   Pete

   Posted 3 years ago #
3. 

   NikoDoby
   

   The Terminator
   Joined: May '09
   Posts: 6,598

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   I think they have to be, unfortunately, because if they don't have the manufacturers support then they have to buy new cameras every single time for every review and that would get expensive real quick even for a place like dpreview. They also wouldn't get "hands-on" previews of cameras that aren't available or announced yet and that's the whole point we go there to read up on new gear. The more people visit the more ad money amazon makes. It's always about the money $$$.

   Posted 3 years ago #
4. 

   bmxdad
   

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   I would say that DpReview is fair and mostly unbiased, although at times you most wonder what is with these Panasonic recommendations

   pete

   Posted 3 years ago #
5. 

   kellenfreeman
   

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   Joined: Sep '09
   Posts: 128

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   I dunno, I think that if a company paid my airfare, lodging and food to review a brand new camera and it sucked, then I would probably still say it sucked. That's kind of what it means to be in that kind of position.

   Posted 3 years ago #
6. 

   NikoDoby
   

   The Terminator
   Joined: May '09
   Posts: 6,598

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   Yeah and I would too but then "Nikon" isn't going to pay your airfare, lodging, or food again. But more importantly they are not going to give you a preview to the next D4 before anyone else. So if your whole review website is based on that then your going to have to wait like everyone else and actually get in line like everyone else to buy a D4. But bmxdad's "review" website had a hands-on preview of the D4 before any other website with hands on image samples. So who do you think is going to get all the web traffic and $$$ from ad clicks? All because you gave a Nikon product an "it sucks" review.

   Posted 3 years ago #
7. 

   kellenfreeman
   

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   Although your reasoning is flawless, don't you think your credibility would be shot once everyone realizes it sucks?

   Posted 3 years ago #
8. 

   NikoDoby
   

   The Terminator
   Joined: May '09
   Posts: 6,598

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   Dpreview gives high marks to cameras that you and I think suck all the time. That's the beauty of a review. It's subjective and not everyone will agree. It's all about how you present the info. Do I take pictures of my dog and a bunch of empty bottles and post photos as proof of a crappy camera or do I put up charts and graphs and line by line my charts show how crappy the camera is?

   Even with dpreview's detailed analysis people still can't agree that yeah the 7D is better than the D300S in high ISO, so yeah the D300S sucks. Even though we all know it doesn't :^)

   Posted 3 years ago #
9. 

   shutterdancer
   

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   Joined: Apr '09
   Posts: 327

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   I know that I spend days,weeks,and sometimes months researching products before I buy...I look at everyone from the top dogs to the small pups,and in the end the bias always makes way for the truth.

   Posted 3 years ago #
10. 

    [NR] admin
    

    [NR] admin
    Joined: Mar '09
    Posts: 547

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    I think the new rules kick in on December 1st - we still have few more days. BTW, I added a disclosure statement on the main blog page:

    Disclosure: NR is sponsored by advertisers like Google, NetShelter, Mpire, Chitika and affiliate partners like Amazon, Adorama, B&H, Ritz, ThinkTank, Calumet, Photojojo, Mediatemple. Nikon is not involved in any way as a sponsor of this site (financially or with products).

    I don't think this rule will impact NikonRumors, but I added it anyway. I have done two reviews so far - one for ThinkTank (yes,I got the bag for free) and one for the Nikon Fabre microscope which I purchased with my own hard earned dollars :) Now the disclosure is full.

    Posted 3 years ago #
11. 

    NikoDoby
    

    The Terminator
    Joined: May '09
    Posts: 6,598

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    It would be nice if you did have a "relationship" with Nikon though don't you think admin? It would make it easier to weed out all the false rumors and only give us the real ones! ;^)

    I doubt any of us would actually tell Nikon no if they offered to send us on an all expense trip to Japan to see the new D4/D400 3 months before their announced. And they state that you can take a pre-production model back with you only if you sign this here paper which says you won't disclose it's existence until after midnight on 10/10/10 AND you can't say anything negative about it! And then they tell you if you do give a negative "review" you will not be invited back to see any future pre-release products such as the new Nikon digital SP rangefinder and the Nikon MX medium format SLR!

    I'd be like DEAL! ;^)

    Posted 3 years ago #
12. 

    bmxdad
    

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    10/10/10 is going to by the day, spread the rumor, I would think 10 new items, so 10/10/10/10

    Pete

    Posted 3 years ago #
13. 

    NikoDoby
    

    The Terminator
    Joined: May '09
    Posts: 6,598

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    Shhh...Pete Nikon's not going to invite you back!!!

    Posted 3 years ago #

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