Bad Rangefinder Videos by RF Wanabees

[Mr. Fizzlesticks]

I think it is psychological. Internet "experts" that aren't really experts are more like the people who know nothing and want to learn. They are easier to relate to. A true professional is so far beyond a beginner there is a problem communicating ideas. Ask me why I use a rangefinder and I will have to think about it because I made the decision so long ago I don't remember off the top of my head "why." That is irrelevant to me.

 

[mike rosenlof]

Sturgeon's Law: "Ninety percent of everything is crud."

 

[ForestCap]

Could someone, please, explain?

Urbandictionary was no help 🙁

I guess it's like "Phishing" as the hacking term? You throw a bait in OP to lure out people's opinions in this case.

In Chinese networks we call such posts "queueing" (you make people stand in different, usually two, "queues", representing different attitudes to a subject.)

 

[farlymac]

What about the frustration of people claiming Fuji Xpro is a Rangefinder...

Compound that with "why would you pay 6k$ when you can get a Fuji instead..."

I'm not sure why it's difficult, if it doesn't have a Rangefinder, it's not a Rangefinder...

It is not even a faithful way to describe a cameras exterior, it's lazy! Even PopPhoto lays this garbage on their reviews.

Well, you don't have to worry about Popular Photography anymore, they just went belly up.

PF

 

[gdi]

It's the phenomenon, that Dunning and Kruger got the Nobel prize for.
It happens all over the place 🙂
Regards,
Frank

Actually they won the "Ig Nobel Prize" for that - big difference!

 

[CameraQuest]

Never seen this. Examples?

I am talking about the phenomena, not the reviewer.

It bothers me that outright false rangefinder info in so many videos is given out to the unsuspecting as fact because the posters themselves don't know rangefinders - but think they do.


Yes, well done video reviews generally need to be scripted,
but scripts do no good if the reviewer does not know the subject.

Stephen

 

[mpaniagua]

Well this happens in every activity area, not just rangefinders/photography related issues. Internet if full of erroneous/false info, so you would be a fool to trust what you find on in the internet on blind faith. So I dont really see the major damage. On the other hand, I truly believe that people does this on good faith, and, at least on my experience, they are open to corrections, so it make it great, because they can learn something and other people can learn it as well.


Regards.

Marcelo

 

[oftheherd]

Well, you don't have to worry about Popular Photography anymore, they just went belly up.

PF

Wow!!!! Hard to believe. But I suppose inevitable since so much can be found on the internet. It's probably a wonder it managed to last so long after Modern Photography ceased some years ago. Modern and Popular were favorites of mine for many years. I learned a lot from reading them. I stayed with Popular's forum for some time, but they became too digital-centric after a while and I lost interest. I suppose the next thing you will tell me is that Kodachrome will go away too ...

Sad.

 

[Ko.Fe.]

...
But I think Stephen is simply voicing frustration at the amount of mis-information on the web, about a subject he obviously both knows a lot about, and cares a lot about. I am so surprised to see everyone jump in to defend the defenseless.

I have yet to see of those who have done so have their own videos. 😛 😀

Well, I have yet to see video where reviewer makes statements what he is RF expert. But, I prefer reading and looking at pictures, not video. I read and understand much more faster than few minutes video.

If light is too dim to focus, I don't use RF, SLR. I use DSLR with AF assisted by TTL flash. It works in total darkness as well. 😀

As for framing it is personal, I can't frame it without frame. I have to have it into my right eye, while left one is to see where I'm walking. With SLR I simply have no left eye option and it doesn't feel secure while walking or even stopping for quick second.

 

[jarski]

I don't know how much worth people get out of watching a video review anyway.

That's the single biggest phenomenon right now IMO. Many photogs turn to youtubers because the views (and with views, advertising money) they get from this channel.

DPR seems moving to this direction too, least trying. people rather watch review videos than websites with spec sheets and boring test photos.

 

[Richard G]

Try this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VH1a4dwSu0Y

My God. Going down that escalator and then the stairs I was descending with him to one of the lower circles of Hell. "The Summilux range" - that's a new concept. I had to stop at half way through, just after the long black interval which I had hoped was the final immolation, but wasn't. His team is good, his courage is great but I just don't care and climbed back up out.

 

[Richard G]

It's terrible that when you want to find how to do something online there's never a simple instruction or diagram but only a YouTube video. The same dreadful camera work and the excessively long introduction that forces you back to the search page for more futile exploration.

 

[Chriscrawfordphoto]

I guess it's like "Phishing" as the hacking term? You throw a bait in OP to lure out people's opinions in this case.

In Chinese networks we call such posts "queueing" (you make people stand in different, usually two, "queues", representing different attitudes to a subject.)

I think the "fisherman" comment was alluding to Trolling. Trolling, in fishing, is a technique where you keep the boat moving, usually with an electric motor (commonly called a "Trolling Motor), while you drag baited hooks behind the boat.

 

[fitou143@gmail.com]

Good video about cameras are not so easy to make. Not only for RF cameras. I'm giving them all one big credit to have courage to talk about it. Even Winogrand was unable to give clear explanation then he was asked why RF.

Best explanation why RF was giving by Meyerowitz so far (to me). It is so natural. It is why I'm RF and not SLR person.
https://youtu.be/Xumo7_JUeMo
And it is genius not just on RF, but what is best in photography (to me).
So after I watched this video, those guys who could barely hold it and unable to take interesting picture with it, are ... nice guys who are at least trying it. They are also doing some write ups about Leica. Like this one. 🙂

Interesting video thanks for sharing, food for thought.

 

[dmr]

Is anyone else appalled by rangefinder videos by wannabee rangefinder experts who don't really know rangefinders?

Not really appalled, more like amused at times. Lots of opinion presented as fact along with blatant misinformation.

For some reason, some look upon videos as more authentic and authoritative than, say, a blog write-up.

 

[PhotoGog]

Steve Huff and will puff and will blow your SLR down.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[aizan]

people want to cash in on making youtube videos because people will watch them even if the content is questionable. it's still fun to watch a noob make a fool of himself and call them out in the comments. so there are two sides to the phenomenon. you've got content makers with a financial incentive to overlook their own dilettantism, and a website with features that allow audiences to get some sort of entertainment out of it (which emboldens dilettantes to become content makers in the first place).

i don't think i've seen anyone trying to be misleading, so that's something. they've just been a little uninformed. at least we're not dealing with a fake news and information literacy crisis.

making a watchable video is very difficult, so it's pretty common to see style take precedence over substance. i've watched plenty of videos of a brit with a fuji x100t just because he has a nice time on the weekend. i just finished grad school, so those were few and far between.

 

[css9450]

This phenomenon is not unusual. Educate yourself on a subject - any subject - and you will find almost all that's "out there" in the media is pretty much bare bones at best, or outright wrong at worst.

 

[Lucadomi]

Sometimes I look for a video review of a camera just to see the camera or hear the sounds of the camera.
I am rarely interested in the talk

 

[Brooklynguy]

Shout the loudest on the internet to get attention and rewards. It's about volume/quantity, not quality. Sad.