Photoclubalpha

No-one answering the many threads on dPreview has come up with the correct answer!

dPreview has to continue doing these ratings, as the small symbol for the website is authorised for use in advertising by the camera maker with the rating mentioned.

So, if a camera has a dPreview 'Recommended' or 'Highly Recommended', the maker can request (possibly with no financial transaction) to be permitted to use the logo splash in their promo material and ads.

This in turn gets dPreview publicity.

So dropping or changing the system is not on the cards. Similar ratings are used throughout the photo media and matter to both the publisher and the manufacturer. Complicating or over-qualifying the rating does no good. It must be simple, and of course, 'Highly Recommended' (just) is still 'HR' for citation purposes.

David

you used to see that logo a lotmore than you do now. I remember sony Print ads with the logo in the corner but only on P&S cameras.

I honestly had never noticed these [in ads] until you mentioned this - certainly one of the less garish 'tested' badges, but as Javelin said, they [all reviewers] don't seem to dominate ads as much now...

IDM

I'd say whatever they call their ratings, highly recommended, more highly recommended, a bit recommended etc, what is missing is consistency. If they want to rate cameras, they have to establish a set of criteria (much more than what they show in the conclusion) and give points from 1-10, then the final score determines a rating. Right now it's just their guts feeling what determines the rating.

You kind of get the feeling that it's now more of a forum site, than a respected review site. Even the reviewers admit that the final conclusion is a result of their "feelings". And which will feel more natural to you, a camera you've acclimatised yourself to over many thousands of shots, or one you've been given a week to review?