{{Short description|Website about digital cameras and digital photography}} {{Italic title}} {{Infobox website | name = ''Digital Photography Review'' | logo = File:DPReview (logo).svg | url = {{Official URL}} | type = Online digital camera reviews | language = English | location = Seattle, Washington, USA | founder = Phil Askey<ref name="wired">{{cite news|first=David|last=Becker|access-date=2019-08-19|title=Amazon Buys Camera Authority DPReview|url=https://www.wired.com/2007/05/amazon-buys-cam/|work=Wired|date=14 May 2007|issn=1059-1028 }}</ref> | owner = Gear Patrol<ref name="gearpatrol-resurrection" /><ref name="gearpatrol-pressrelease">{{cite web |url=https://www.gearpatrol.com/about/a44214660/gear-patrol-dpreview-acquisition |title=Gear Patrol Acquires DPReview, a Leading Authority and Community for Digital Photography, from Amazon.com |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=2023-06-20 |website=Gear Patrol |publisher= |access-date=2023-06-22 |quote=}}</ref> | launch_date = {{Start date and age|1998|11}} | current_status = Online }}
'''''Digital Photography Review''''', also known as '''''DPReview''''', is a website about digital cameras and digital photography, established in November 1998.<ref name="guardian-schofield-2009">{{cite news|first1=Jack|last1=Schofield|access-date=2019-08-19|title=A quick zoom into digital photography|url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2009/mar/16/netbytes-dpreview|newspaper=The Guardian|date=16 March 2009|issn=0261-3077|via=www.theguardian.com}}</ref> The website provides comprehensive reviews of digital cameras,<ref name="guardian-schofield-2009" /> lenses and accessories, buying guides,<ref name="guardian-schofield-2009" /> user reviews,<ref name="guardian-schofield-2009" /> and forums for individual cameras, as well as general photography forums. The website also has a database with information about individual digital cameras, lenses, printers and imaging applications. Originally based in London, ''Digital Photography Review'' and most of its team relocated to Seattle, Washington, in 2010.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dpreview.com/news/2010/10/20/sitenews |title=New beginners' guides and Site news: Digital Photography Review |publisher=Digital Photography Review |access-date=2013-03-27}}</ref> It was owned by Amazon from 2007 to 2023.<ref name="guardian-schofield-2009" /><ref>{{cite news|first1=Jack|last1=Schofield|access-date=2019-08-19|title=Wanted: a travellers' compact camera with a long zoom lens|url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/askjack/2011/aug/05/travel-compact-camera-zoom-lens|newspaper=The Guardian|date=5 August 2011|issn=0261-3077|via=www.theguardian.com}}</ref>
== Main features == ''DPReview'' has regularly published thorough,<ref name="guardian-schofield-2009" /><ref name="wired" /><ref name="dummies">{{cite web|access-date=2019-08-19|title=The Digital Photography Review|url=https://www.dummies.com/photography/photo-software/the-digital-photography-review/|website=For Dummies}}</ref> technically orientated camera reviews since the website launched in 1998.<ref name="theregister">{{cite web|first1=John Leyden 15 May 2007|last1=at 13:07|access-date=2019-08-19|title=Amazon.com snaps up Dpreview.com|url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/05/15/amazon_buys_dpreview/|website=www.theregister.co.uk}}</ref><ref name="techcrunch">{{cite web|access-date=2019-08-19|title=Amazon Acquires dpreview.com|url=https://techcrunch.com/2007/05/14/amazon-acquires-dpreviewcom/|website=TechCrunch}}</ref> The content and scope of the reviews have changed over time, but the basic formula (extensive descriptions of controls and menus, consistent, repeatable studio tests, side-by-side pixel-level comparisons) has remained unchanged since the earliest days. In 2004, a shorter "concise" review format was introduced for compact cameras,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dpreview.com/news/2004/08/13/hpr707review |title=Just posted! HP PhotoSmart R707 review: Digital Photography Review |publisher=Digital Photography Review |access-date=2013-03-27}}</ref> and group tests were added in 2008.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dpreview.com/news/2008/11/27/q408compactroundup1 |title=Budget Compact Camera Group Test: Digital Photography Review |publisher=Digital Photography Review |access-date=2013-03-27}}</ref> The website's camera reviews have always offered side-by-side comparison images and test results from competing cameras.<ref name="guardian-schofield-2009" /> In 2010, an interactive comparison widget was introduced that allowed visitors to compare studio results from any camera in the site's database.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dpreview.com/articles/2087305746/studio-comparison-widget|title=Studio comparison widget|publisher=Digital Photography Review}}</ref> Later widgets added the ability to compare other test results (such as noise and dynamic range) between cameras. Extensive real-world sample galleries are available for all reviewed (and some unreviewed) cameras and lenses.
Until February 2010, ''DPReview'' did not score cameras numerically, but used a six-level rating system (from best to worst: Highly Recommended, Recommended, Above Average, Average, Below Average, Poor). The site now scores all cameras and lenses using up to 11 categories (which in turn are based on "nearly 60 aspects of camera performance and specification").<ref>{{cite web|author=Featured articles |url=http://www.dpreview.com/learn/?/Guides/dpreview_scores_and_ratings_01.htm |title=Camera Scores & Ratings Explained: Digital Photography Review |publisher=Digital Photography Review |date=2013-01-28 |access-date=2013-03-27}}</ref> Two new discretionary awards ('Gold' and 'Silver') were introduced at the same time as the scoring system.
''DPReview'' introduced lens reviews in 2008.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dpreview.com/news/2008/01/29/dpreviewlensreviews |title=Dpreview launches lens reviews: Digital Photography Review |publisher=Digital Photography Review |access-date=2013-03-27}}</ref>
Although the vast majority of its published reviews are of digital cameras, ''DPReview'' also publishes occasional reviews of printers, software, photography books, accessories and mobile imaging devices.
''DPReview'' has a database of digital cameras, lenses, printers and desktop imaging software packages. Camera product pages contain full specifications, product and sample images, user reviews<ref name="guardian-schofield-2009" /> and links to other internal and external resources. The product database offers browse, search and compare features.<ref>{{cite news|first1=Jack|last1=Schofield|access-date=2019-08-19|title=Is there a camera that can produce high-quality still images from videos?|url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/askjack/2017/aug/03/is-there-a-camera-that-can-produce-high-quality-still-images-from-videos|newspaper=The Guardian|date=3 August 2017|issn=0261-3077|via=www.theguardian.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first1=Jack|last1=Schofield|access-date=2019-08-19|title=What's the best cheap compact camera with image stabilisation?|url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/askjack/2017/oct/19/best-cheap-compact-camera-image-stabiliser-sony-rx100|newspaper=The Guardian|date=19 October 2017|issn=0261-3077|via=www.theguardian.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first1=Jack|last1=Schofield|access-date=2019-08-19|title=Which pocket camera should I buy for holidays?|url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/askjack/2013/nov/14/camera-compact-canon-panasonic-samsung|newspaper=The Guardian|date=14 November 2013|issn=0261-3077|via=www.theguardian.com}}</ref>
''DPReview'' has discussion forums<ref name="theregister" /> and also commenting<ref name="guardian-schofield-2009" /> (on some, but not all content types), user-created articles and product reviews, photographic challenges and free personal galleries. A simple personal messaging system is available to registered users.
''DPReview'' publishes occasional non-review articles, covering imaging science and technology,<ref name="theregister" /><ref name="dummies" /> photographic techniques, interviews with photographers and industry figures, and buying guides.<ref name="guardian-schofield-2009" /> In 2012, ''DPReview'' added a Link Directory that allows registered users to view and subscribe to RSS and Twitter updates from external resources without leaving the site.
== Ownership history == ''Digital Photography Review'' was founded in December 1998 in the United Kingdom by Philip and Joanna Askey.<ref name="guardian-schofield-2009" /><ref name="techcrunch" /> On May 14, 2007, it was acquired by Amazon.<ref name="wired" /><ref name="guardian-schofield-2009" /><ref>{{cite web|first1=Jason|last1=Chen|access-date=2019-08-19|title=DPreview Bought Out by Amazon: How Does This Affect You?|url=https://gizmodo.com/dpreview-bought-out-by-amazon-how-does-this-affect-you-260397|website=Gizmodo|date=15 May 2007 }}</ref> DPReview employs a dedicated editorial team of in-house and freelance writers, and was editorially independent of Amazon.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dpreview.com/about|title=About this site: Digital Photography Review}}</ref>
The original founder, Phil Askey, is no longer involved in the day-to-day running of the site.<ref name="about">{{cite web|url=http://www.dpreview.com/misc/about.asp |title=Digital Photography Review - About Us |publisher=Digital Photography Review|date=2007-10-30 |access-date=2013-03-27}}</ref> The company directly employs 14 full-time workers.<ref name="about" /> Askey was followed as general manager by Simon Joinson, who took on the role in 2010. Joinson joined the company in 2004, having previously founded and edited several UK digital photography magazines, including ''What Digital Camera.''
The current manager is Scott Everett who joined ''DPReview'' in 2011 as a Product Manager.
In 2007, the site had "in excess of 7 million unique viewers monthly."<ref name="techcrunch" />
On March 21, 2023, ''DPReview'' announced that it would cease operations,<ref name="techcrunch-2023">{{cite web|first1=Devin|last1=Coldewey|access-date=2023-03-21|title=Amazon kills DPReview, the best camera review site on the web|url=https://techcrunch.com/2023/03/21/amazon-kills-dpreview-the-best-camera-review-site-on-the-web/|date=21 March 2023|website=TechCrunch}}</ref><ref name="Schneider">{{cite web |last1=Schneider |first1=Jaron |title=DPReview is Shutting Down |url=https://petapixel.com/2023/03/21/dpreview-is-shutting-down/ |access-date=21 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230321165433/https://petapixel.com/2023/03/21/dpreview-is-shutting-down/ |archive-date=21 March 2023 |date=21 March 2023 |url-status=live}}</ref> but that its website would remain available as an archive.<ref name="petapixel-gray">{{cite web|first1=Jeremy|last1=Gray|access-date=2023-04-10|title=DPReview Will Remain Available as an Archive After It Closes|url=https://petapixel.com/2023/04/07/dpreview-will-remain-available-as-an-archive-after-it-closes/|date=7 April 2023|website=PetaPixel}}</ref> On June 20, 2023, ''DPReview'' was acquired by Gear Patrol and resumed operations.<ref name="gearpatrol-pressrelease" /><ref name="gearpatrol-resurrection">{{Cite web |title=DPReview.com looks forward to a new chapter with Gear Patrol |url=https://www.dpreview.com/site-news/8298318614/dpreview-com-looks-forward-to-a-new-chapter-with-gear-patrol |access-date=2023-06-20 |website=DPReview}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{Official website}}
Category:American photography websites Category:Internet forums Category:Internet properties established in 1998