kshapero
South Florida Man
sorry. I don't agree with this. Ken, IMHO, is like the rest of us, a lover of all things photographic. He expresses it different than you or me, but I enjoy and sometimes learn from his take. I do not defend him but I am glad he is part of the fray.My comment was in jest.Ken makes statements that generate threads, which generate more traffic to his site, which generate more threads. It's part of his scheme. He's very good at what he does.
I'm not sure what you aren't agreeing with. There are threads all over RFF expressing their dismay/anger/issue with something Ken has written. I personally don't have any issue with how he presents his opinions.
This is just part of his big plan -- the result is when someone googles 'nikon d40' his site appears near the top of the results...
This is just part of his big plan -- the result is when someone googles 'nikon d40' his site appears near the top of the results...
kshapero
South Florida Man
I guess he is also a pretty good marketeer.
wgerrard
Veteran
Well, I just Googled "Nikon D40". Rockwell's site was returned fourth. NikonUSA was first, followed by Amazon and dpreview. That's very good placement.
Ranking on Google is driven primarily by the number of other sites that link to you. Rockwell threads here, then, won't impact how Google sees his site unless they include links to it.
sockeyed
Well-known
Ken Rockwell's Brazillian
Ken Rockwell's Brazillian
Ken kind of cracks me up. I'm kind of drawn to his site like I would be watching a car crash between two clown cars.
The quality of his writing is pretty miserable and he certainly enjoys being in-your-face. Not all of his ideas are terrible. Anyway, the formula works for a large proportion of the photographer masses out there.
I worry, however, when he makes statements like this (17th September update):
Statements like that give George W. a run for his money. Let's pray it's intentional.
Ken Rockwell's Brazillian
Ken kind of cracks me up. I'm kind of drawn to his site like I would be watching a car crash between two clown cars.
The quality of his writing is pretty miserable and he certainly enjoys being in-your-face. Not all of his ideas are terrible. Anyway, the formula works for a large proportion of the photographer masses out there.
I worry, however, when he makes statements like this (17th September update):
Statements like that give George W. a run for his money. Let's pray it's intentional.
Chris101
summicronia
I think it was. In America we often refer to our language as American to differentiate it from what they speak in England. And of course the language you speak is Canadian, eh.
Keith
The best camera is one that still works!
It's just occured to me:
The problem with being the 'Leica Man' is unseen and on going ... years from now when homeless destitute financially ruined individuals are gazing at their empty bank accounts while staring at a piece (or numerous pieces) of technology that no longer applies to current media visuals .... they'll remember the 'Leica Man' and how he and some slick advertising agency seduced them into ruining their lives with his filthy habit!
Think of all those damages lawsuits ... no thanks, Ken can keep the job!
edit ... I have to admit I secretly admire Ken ... he is truly the Dorothy Parker of the photography world!
The problem with being the 'Leica Man' is unseen and on going ... years from now when homeless destitute financially ruined individuals are gazing at their empty bank accounts while staring at a piece (or numerous pieces) of technology that no longer applies to current media visuals .... they'll remember the 'Leica Man' and how he and some slick advertising agency seduced them into ruining their lives with his filthy habit!
Think of all those damages lawsuits ... no thanks, Ken can keep the job!
edit ... I have to admit I secretly admire Ken ... he is truly the Dorothy Parker of the photography world!
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Ezzie
E. D. Russell Roberts
How many are there, promoting their sites on the World Wide Web of disinformation, that even get noticed at all? Ken certainly does. Not by being a run of the mill guy, but being different. Like it or lump it. But I find it entertaining, in a tongue in cheek kind of way.
Juan Valdenebro
Truth is beauty
KR's site is his job. So he remains as an orchestra man and does a great job on it: he recommends cheap point and shoot cameras, they're all great! Just different prices. When the one who bought one of those great cameras wants a "pro" like camera, Ken is there selling a D40. And that camera is great! Then he explains that person why a D3 is better, and the visitor buys it, because the camera is great! Suddenly he explains why a $50 used slr makes better originals than a dslr, and people move to film, cause film is great! Then he shows using film with leica only is great! And being digital with leica is great!
Sometimes, because of his personal use of gear he can be a bit, as someone pointed before, too enthusiastic... He rates as 10 an 8 and as 6 an 8 sometimes, but in general he's a good source of information for lots of people: different people. Also looks like he's free from being any brand puppet.
Apart, in my opinion he's got a clear understanding of photography, at least as gear and technique, if not (so visibly) as art or expression. I enjoyed his Leica Man joke. He's not talking about Leica owners, or the kind of people that become members of RFF, but about other people that exist too... Some time ago he included on his page a visit to a big store (I think B&H) and in several minutes of video, there's nothing... At all... There's a reason for him (and the store) to act that way, checking just point and shoots and saying nothing: money from the mass. For sure RFF members are not in the top of his buyers list. I visited his page for some years and although I have the sensation of having learned sometimes, I never bought from him. By the way, I discovered the 15mm CV with filter thread on his page less than a year ago. I wouldn't be shooting now with Voigtländer and Leica too if not for him.
I thank Ken Rockwell.
Regards,
Juan.
Sometimes, because of his personal use of gear he can be a bit, as someone pointed before, too enthusiastic... He rates as 10 an 8 and as 6 an 8 sometimes, but in general he's a good source of information for lots of people: different people. Also looks like he's free from being any brand puppet.
Apart, in my opinion he's got a clear understanding of photography, at least as gear and technique, if not (so visibly) as art or expression. I enjoyed his Leica Man joke. He's not talking about Leica owners, or the kind of people that become members of RFF, but about other people that exist too... Some time ago he included on his page a visit to a big store (I think B&H) and in several minutes of video, there's nothing... At all... There's a reason for him (and the store) to act that way, checking just point and shoots and saying nothing: money from the mass. For sure RFF members are not in the top of his buyers list. I visited his page for some years and although I have the sensation of having learned sometimes, I never bought from him. By the way, I discovered the 15mm CV with filter thread on his page less than a year ago. I wouldn't be shooting now with Voigtländer and Leica too if not for him.
I thank Ken Rockwell.
Regards,
Juan.
kermaier
Well-known
Sorry, but I thought that article was kind of funny! There's no denying that there are plenty of Leica fondlers out there (none in here, of course) and, while quite over-the-top, KR's taking a poke at them doesn't strike me as anything to get too exercised about....
::Ari
David Hughes
David Hughes
Ken doesn't promote his site but we do every time we click on a link to it. THEY watch the clicks and the sites move up and down the ladder accordingly. So even clicking "un-subscribe" at the bottom of an email does you-know-who some good, which is probably why they never go away...
BTW, here's a link to his site:- http://kenrockwell.com
As for calling the M8 half frame, whatever gave him that idea? He'll be calling the M9 full frame next. Of course, it could be a reasonable use of poetic licence and it certainly adds a bit of spice to things. And I don't, for one moment, believe that the typical RFF user is into boring and bland sites.
Just my 2d worth. Regards, David
BTW, here's a link to his site:- http://kenrockwell.com
As for calling the M8 half frame, whatever gave him that idea? He'll be calling the M9 full frame next. Of course, it could be a reasonable use of poetic licence and it certainly adds a bit of spice to things. And I don't, for one moment, believe that the typical RFF user is into boring and bland sites.
Just my 2d worth. Regards, David
anorphirith
Established
the article obviously describe himself and he refers to it in several occasion to explain his state of mind. he reminds me of hitler's aryan race
amateriat
We're all light!
Jakeman
Aging novice
I like his site a lot. I wish there were more sites like his that give opinion. He does do a lot of updates. One gets tired of reading his site, DPreview, Puts, etc etc. He is a bit nitty about functionality. -Hates the D-Lux 4. But so what? It's fun to read someone's thinking about it.
He also is quick to let you know about new products so you can get your order in quickly.
Clearly there is room for another persona like him, who can write decently about photography.
This is a fun thread!
J
He also is quick to let you know about new products so you can get your order in quickly.
Clearly there is room for another persona like him, who can write decently about photography.
This is a fun thread!
J
wgerrard
Veteran
I agree, J. Personality is sine qua non in a blog. Rockwell isn't trying to publish an objective analytical site devoid of opinion. Just the opposite. If you read Rockwell, or any similar blog, long enough, you know if the writer's tastes coincide with yours. if not, just move on.
