Archiver
Veteran
I've come to really enjoy The Hybrid Shooter, who also has a watch channel. He is thorough and informative, and his voice is pleasant while not having the overblown cheerleading enthusiasm of someone like Peter McKinnon.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gbg2SiRvZd0
And someone who is funny is Camera Conspiracies. He consistently produces hilarious camera videos without having access to gear.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AoZxZizR2JI
For factual reviews and user experiences, I like Chris Nichols, formerly of The Camera Store and now with DPReview.
+1 for Analog Insights
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ugZMUD3aGvc
and +1 for Bigheadtaco
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kzPcp5CSyMg
And Ikanagas is the best and most knowledgeable reviewer out there. Everyone else should take a leaf out of his book.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gbg2SiRvZd0
And someone who is funny is Camera Conspiracies. He consistently produces hilarious camera videos without having access to gear.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AoZxZizR2JI
For factual reviews and user experiences, I like Chris Nichols, formerly of The Camera Store and now with DPReview.
+1 for Analog Insights
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ugZMUD3aGvc
and +1 for Bigheadtaco
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kzPcp5CSyMg
And Ikanagas is the best and most knowledgeable reviewer out there. Everyone else should take a leaf out of his book.
Archiver
Veteran
YouTube reviewers I avoid:
Matt Granger / That Nikon Guy. When he was the Nikon Guy, I watched a few of his videos. The intro consisted of a long walk up to a table, where he sat down and started talking. Why the hell would he think a 10 second walk up to the camera was useful? The rest of the editing was awful, and his voice has a dreadful whiny nasal pitch. Then there was a studio flash tutorial which consisted of him moving flashes around and shooting really bad pictures until he seemed to luck into something that worked. Boring as hell. The video that lead me to block his channel from my recommendations was for the Nikon D800 or something. It was titled "Nikon D800 Review" but consisted of him reading through the newly announced specs. Misleading and boring, why would I want to listen to someone read through specs when I'm expecting a review??
Matti Haapoja aka TravelFeels. His content seemed okay for a while, but I noticed small flaws or inaccuracies in his information. One day, he talked about the GH5 and listed a bunch of flaws which weren't flaws at all. Things like, 'the sensor is smaller than aps-c so it's hard to get wide angle lenses for it'. I mean *** dude, m43 has a slew of native wide angle lenses, not to mention the possibility of using a Speedbooster and gaining access to dozens more. Over time, his video titles were so clickbaity that I unsubbed and blocked his channel from recommendations, too.
Leica Review aka Yilmaz Oz or something. There was an early Summilux review which was riddled with inaccuracies. A lot of people corrected him in the comments, which he subsequently turned off. I think that 'review' has been taken down since then. There's a dreadful Noctilux video in which he says, 'I like the Noctilux because it is fast and produces unique images' but he doesn't show any images. At all. It's just a video of him talking to the camera. And then there's the video about Leica R lenses for video, where he talks about their qualities... and doesn't show any footage from them. He has a whole set in front of him and doesn't show any sample footage! He compares them with the Leica Summicron PL mount cinema primes, which cost $200k for a set of six, but he doesn't mention any of this. So yeah, I avoid this guy like the plague.
Matt Granger / That Nikon Guy. When he was the Nikon Guy, I watched a few of his videos. The intro consisted of a long walk up to a table, where he sat down and started talking. Why the hell would he think a 10 second walk up to the camera was useful? The rest of the editing was awful, and his voice has a dreadful whiny nasal pitch. Then there was a studio flash tutorial which consisted of him moving flashes around and shooting really bad pictures until he seemed to luck into something that worked. Boring as hell. The video that lead me to block his channel from my recommendations was for the Nikon D800 or something. It was titled "Nikon D800 Review" but consisted of him reading through the newly announced specs. Misleading and boring, why would I want to listen to someone read through specs when I'm expecting a review??
Matti Haapoja aka TravelFeels. His content seemed okay for a while, but I noticed small flaws or inaccuracies in his information. One day, he talked about the GH5 and listed a bunch of flaws which weren't flaws at all. Things like, 'the sensor is smaller than aps-c so it's hard to get wide angle lenses for it'. I mean *** dude, m43 has a slew of native wide angle lenses, not to mention the possibility of using a Speedbooster and gaining access to dozens more. Over time, his video titles were so clickbaity that I unsubbed and blocked his channel from recommendations, too.
Leica Review aka Yilmaz Oz or something. There was an early Summilux review which was riddled with inaccuracies. A lot of people corrected him in the comments, which he subsequently turned off. I think that 'review' has been taken down since then. There's a dreadful Noctilux video in which he says, 'I like the Noctilux because it is fast and produces unique images' but he doesn't show any images. At all. It's just a video of him talking to the camera. And then there's the video about Leica R lenses for video, where he talks about their qualities... and doesn't show any footage from them. He has a whole set in front of him and doesn't show any sample footage! He compares them with the Leica Summicron PL mount cinema primes, which cost $200k for a set of six, but he doesn't mention any of this. So yeah, I avoid this guy like the plague.
DanskDynamit
Well-known
I've learned a lot, and I mean a lot with TheSnapChick
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ut0R1ZlPmQk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ut0R1ZlPmQk
willie_901
Veteran
Garbage in = garbage out.
Peer review and editorial supervision exist for a reason.
What's defeating is depending on amateurs whose only priority is working YouTube's compensation system to make money.
Emile de Leon
Well-known
jarski
Veteran
Yes. Some of his philosophy vids are golden. I think one of great things about YouTube and similar platforms is that shy and introverted people also can have their voice heard. Before one had to be specific type of person to be selected in front of cameras (and largely still is so, but not entirely).
Exactly...
taemo
eat sleep shoot
another YT that I enjoy watching is imagenic by Yuko
https://www.youtube.com/user/nikond750userch
love her work and don't mind hearing her opinion regarding the gear that she uses, especially since she shoots Fuji and Nikon.
i primarily watch YT for entertainment and to get inspired and to me, Sean Tucker, Art of Photography, imagenica by Yuko and Paul C Smith and others does that.
https://www.youtube.com/user/nikond750userch
love her work and don't mind hearing her opinion regarding the gear that she uses, especially since she shoots Fuji and Nikon.
i primarily watch YT for entertainment and to get inspired and to me, Sean Tucker, Art of Photography, imagenica by Yuko and Paul C Smith and others does that.
gdi
Veteran
What's not to like - photo gear tips coming at you straight from the lips of number 1 Apple tech support guy in the world, and the man who has finally uncovered the eternal and illusive secrets of magnetism!!
An amazing talent, indeed.
Richard G
Veteran
About optics, you learnt a lot? I see.
al1966
Feed Your Head
Apart from some aforementioned ones such as Kai and the Art of Photography when he was talking about photographers I like https://www.youtube.com/user/spogley/videos David Thorpes m43 reviews if nothing else but for his calm voice. Actually I watch for entertainment value preferring to look up good reviews with image samples of mostly urban environments. Most of them seem to me to be people who have built up a large following through talking about gear and mostly I will look for old documentaries that are on there relating to artists etc.
Hogarth Ferguson
Well-known
I find Nicos Photo Show to be one of the best there is. He is genuine and really does care about informing people about photography, it is film based, though.
I'd also add that he can take critiques and wants to improve, which is something I rarely see from someone online. I find that as people gain popularity, it becomes an echo chamber of how great they are.
I like Kai and Lok, quite a lot. They both present information in a fun way, and they know what they are talking about.
I'd also add that he can take critiques and wants to improve, which is something I rarely see from someone online. I find that as people gain popularity, it becomes an echo chamber of how great they are.
I like Kai and Lok, quite a lot. They both present information in a fun way, and they know what they are talking about.
DanskDynamit
Well-known
well.....
jarski
Veteran
Ben Horne. He reviews large format photo gear (that am not using, but find still interesting). Most of his vids are about the trips he does to national parks in West USA.
Richard G
Veteran
well.....
I then watched some snooker on TV, explaining the rules to my wife. Most amazing cat and mouse frame, for the European Championship....
Meanwhile the Snapchick seems to offer a combination of sensible advice, and that certain something extra, which might serve to increase her subscriber base?
VitoCipriani
Established
I saw Sean at the Hull International Photography Festival a couple of days ago. I really like his Youtube channel and was pleased to find that he's a lovely, genuine chap in person.
Bill wrs1145
A native Texan
My guy is Matt Osbourne for advice on RF's/ lenses
WoodallP
Pragmatist Barnack lover
Good to see this thread revived as the field has now no doubt changed. Some presenters can be good technically but don’t hook you, others can be simple but you warm to them. Whilst I wouldn’t call them all reviewers I regularly watch
- Martin Henson for a good down to earth Yorkshire viewpoint.
- Grainydays for the dry humour, deep understanding and Baxter the dog.
-The Naked Photographer for being technically excellent and (mostly) keeping his clothes on.
-Els Vanopstal for wonderful production quality and being so nice in spite of blaming everything that goes wrong on her boyfriend. She deserves more viewers (hint).
None of these are trying to sell you something. Grainydays often has a sponsor but it is rarely photographic. Of course there are also wonderful repair videos to be had.
Kai is still great but I rarely have interest in what he is actually showing.
- Martin Henson for a good down to earth Yorkshire viewpoint.
- Grainydays for the dry humour, deep understanding and Baxter the dog.
-The Naked Photographer for being technically excellent and (mostly) keeping his clothes on.
-Els Vanopstal for wonderful production quality and being so nice in spite of blaming everything that goes wrong on her boyfriend. She deserves more viewers (hint).
None of these are trying to sell you something. Grainydays often has a sponsor but it is rarely photographic. Of course there are also wonderful repair videos to be had.
Kai is still great but I rarely have interest in what he is actually showing.
Out to Lunch
Ventor
Yep, it's very entertaining.
agentlossing
Well-known
Since no one has mentioned Samuel Lin Taro yet, I'll put him up for a recommendation. Mostly not a reviewer, but his insights into the Ricoh GR, Pentax Monochrome, Nikon Zf and others are pretty good; Samuel Streetlife is the channel. Very nice seeming guy, too.