Eoin Posted February 19, 2009 Share #21 Posted February 19, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) I read the article, then I had to look him up, never heard of him before today. He describes himself as.... "I'm just one guy with a computer who likes to take pictures. I have the playful, immature and creative, trouble-making mind of a seven-year-old, so read accordingly." Sounds just about right to me. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted February 19, 2009 Posted February 19, 2009 Hi Eoin, Take a look here Dr. Kaufmann, Ken Rockwell is your marketing man.. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
chilihead Posted February 19, 2009 Share #22 Posted February 19, 2009 I'm not embarassed to say that I like Ken Rockwell and enjoy reading is website. I have also donated to his site in the past because regardless of anything else he says it like it is. If I am considering Nikon gear, I always read his views and I have to say I wish I had taken his advice a few times in the past. If this confession reduces my already diminutive standing in the Leica forum even further then so be it. LouisB I totally agree with this statement and add to it - "We love you Ken, keep up the the excellent work you do so well and all the power to you!!! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob Simmons Posted February 19, 2009 Share #23 Posted February 19, 2009 Kens great I like to read him. I always go to his site when I want an honest opinion about a piece of film gear. Then just crosscheck with other reviews via forums and other opinionated bloggers i.e. Thom Hagen, Luminous Landscape. He always has examples to go with his reviews of lenses or cameras with shooting data. I think he is quite helpful. So more power to ya Ken. He is like the Yankees you either love him or hate him no middle ground. But that is usually the case when you are good at what you do. By the way I hate the Yankees, Go Red Sox ; ) Oh and I love my M6 and 35 cron and 90 elmarit. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
NZDavid Posted February 20, 2009 Share #24 Posted February 20, 2009 You gotta ask, what is it that makes Mr Rockwell generate such a strong response? With zillions of blogs and websites all with zillions of words vying for a microsecond of your attention, what makes people want to read it? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andym911 Posted February 20, 2009 Share #25 Posted February 20, 2009 Don't know why he gets so much flak.....a good read, clear opinions IMO. Don't have to agree with him but no need to ridicule him either.. keep it up Ken. Andy Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
andit Posted February 20, 2009 Share #26 Posted February 20, 2009 I actually found nothing wrong with the article written by Ken. Sadly, I must also admit that I had never heard of Ken before this posting, but enjoy his style of writing. The one thing that he does say that is sadly true, the Canon/Nikon/Sony that you buy today for huge amounts of money, are worthless in a few years (like 2 to 4 years). This really pisses me off!!! I was also on that Canon boat - buy this model, it's the greatest best ever - in two years: that was the most horrid camera we ever made - throw away and buy this, greatest best ever... That is where I really enjoy Leica - a Leica keeps it's value. Plus the fact that you can send them decades old lenses and camera's and they will repair and restore to factory level. As I said in another posting, I can not even get parts anymore for a Canon T90, or for a Canon Eos 1N for that matter... Keep up the work Ken, you have found a new fan who will continue reading your work. Andreas Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gwelland Posted February 20, 2009 Share #27 Posted February 20, 2009 Advertisement (gone after registration) In isolation many of KR's comments and articles are reasonable and he offers up some very true and practical advise, particularly to new comers. I would even agree with his sacrificing of some sacred cows of the photography business too (i.e. lens & cameras being 'good enough', jpg being good enough for many shooters, don't buy the latest of everything when it comes out, etc). HOWEVER, the more of KR you read, the more and more he destroys his credibility with ill considered comments and laughable opinions. He'll happily provide 'reviews' of cameras and lenses he hasn't even seen or used - that is part of what makes him a joke at times. As regards the self publicity and blatant donation/affiliate purchasing requests - hey he's just being up front about his web site being a full time job. I personally don't like it but we can also just ignore it. There are plenty of others out there who do the same thing but manage it in a more subtle way (Luminous Landscape, Fred Miranda, Leica Camera Forum! etc). Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steen Posted February 20, 2009 Share #28 Posted February 20, 2009 (...) His opinions are not necessarily wrong, but they are his opinions and not much more. (...) and that goes for me too .-) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandymc Posted February 20, 2009 Share #29 Posted February 20, 2009 Well, I actually have quite a bit of respect for Ken. Yes, some of what he publishes is just technically wrong, and he quite openly says that he deliberately publishes wrong information for fun. But two things: (a) don't underestimate him, he is playing to an audience and ( I think he does well for that audience - ...probably most people that go to his site come away better informed than when they arrived. A while ago, I had an e-mail exchange with Ken over a technical issue that he just got wrong, so I sent him a polite e-mail. To his credit, he responded, and basically said "yes, you're right, but it doesn't matter". And realistically, to an audience whose average level is Nikon D40 or lower down the food chain, he was right. The thing is, it's actually very difficult to communicate to that audience well. Too technically correct, you lose them in the detail. So you have to gloss over the details, and I think he does well at that. And I think he gets the big stuff right. Like "pixels don't count". BTW, also to his credit, he didn't say the same thing as I e-mailed him over again. Sandy Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnastovall Posted February 20, 2009 Share #30 Posted February 20, 2009 KR in the past has had a problem with reviewing equipment he didn't have. But the bottom feeders he writes for will never notice. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
J_Thompson Posted June 26, 2009 Share #31 Posted June 26, 2009 Ken Rockwell's website is even less accurate then Wikipedia's. Some "facts" are in the "ten ring," while others are not even on the target. The difficultly lies in determining which is which. Why would I want to read personal opinion by a complete nobody? If I want opinion on Leica, I'll stick to Erwin Puts. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ujjwaldey8165 Posted June 26, 2009 Share #32 Posted June 26, 2009 I quite liked the article 'why we love films'. I agree with most of his comments; and having tried DSLR for a few years, and gone back to films, I think his point about films are quite valid. Some would like digital, and some would like films. And some, who have tried both, would conclude, digital is crap. Just because its stated upfront, straightforward, and honestly, does not make it wrong. PS: I have not extensively read his website, so I have no idea about his other conclusions; and this is not a post in his defence Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
offshore Posted June 26, 2009 Share #33 Posted June 26, 2009 I'm sure his "Leica Man" marketing ploy went over well at Wetzlar. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
hamey Posted June 27, 2009 Share #34 Posted June 27, 2009 We both have a lot in commen. Keep it up Ken. Ken. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
xjr Posted June 27, 2009 Share #35 Posted June 27, 2009 As usual Rockwell talks a lot......but he is a successful man so who are we mere mortals to argue. That is all ! One thing he is right though : just sold one of my Mp's for the price I paid 2 years ago ! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dwind Posted June 27, 2009 Share #36 Posted June 27, 2009 Why does all this remind me of the record and tube vs cd and solid start audio equipment? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JediSavant Posted June 28, 2009 Share #37 Posted June 28, 2009 I'm sure his "Leica Man" marketing ploy went over well at Wetzlar. That was one of the funniest things I'd ever read about people who own Leica's... I'm actually working on a project based around "Leica Man" a'la Ken Rockwell.... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
offshore Posted June 28, 2009 Share #38 Posted June 28, 2009 Here's a footnote to Rockwell's legacy. WTT: Ken Rockwell-Obsessed Husband Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest suilvenman Posted June 29, 2009 Share #39 Posted June 29, 2009 A fair point he does make is that, in contrast to Leica, the Japanese don't appear to care about supporting their products that were sold more than five minutes ago. Cheers, Ken. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
offshore Posted June 29, 2009 Share #40 Posted June 29, 2009 You don't make a name for yourself in this world by writing or doing boring middle of the road stuff. The more controversial or outlandish you come across the more attention you will get. Knowing what you're talking about doesn't always matter. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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