DPReview

DPReview
Name	DPReview
Type	Online photography review site
Founded	1998
Founders	Phil Askey
Headquarters	London
Language	English
Parent	Amazon (2017–2023), Gear Patrol (2023–present)

DPReview is a long-running online publication specializing in camera and photographic equipment reviews, news, and technical analysis. It has been cited by journalists, manufacturers, and photographers for detailed comparisons and performance measurements. The site combined lab testing, sample galleries, and active user forums to influence purchasing decisions across the photography market.

History

DPReview was founded in 1998 by Phil Askey and grew alongside major developments in imaging technology such as the rise of digital single-lens reflex cameras, mirrorless systems, and smartphone imaging. Throughout the 2000s the site covered releases from manufacturers like Canon Inc., Nikon Corporation, Sony Group Corporation, Fujifilm Holdings Corporation, Panasonic Corporation, Olympus Corporation, Leica Camera AG, Ricoh Company, Ltd., Samsung Electronics, and Pentax Corporation. In the 2010s DPReview operated during industry milestones including announcements at Photokina, CES, NAB Show, CP+, and product launches like the Canon EOS 5D Mark II, Nikon D850, Sony Alpha 7 III, Fujifilm X-T3, Panasonic Lumix GH5, Leica M10, and Hasselblad X1D. The site was acquired by Amazon.com, Inc. in 2007 and later managed editorially while integrating with commercial platforms tied to retailers and manufacturers. In 2019 and the early 2020s DPReview navigated shifts in ownership and newsroom staffing amid digital media consolidation and the evolving landscape of online photography coverage. In 2023 DPReview changed hands again as part of broader strategic moves within the digital publishing and gear retail sectors.

Website and Content

The website publishes detailed camera reviews, lens evaluations, flash and accessory write-ups, and industry news covering companies and events such as Sigma Corporation, Tamron Co., Ltd., Tokina Co., Ltd., Adobe Inc., Phase One A/S, DxO Labs, Apple Inc., Google LLC, Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., and announcements tied to expos like IFA (consumer electronics trade show). Its content mix includes sample image galleries, image quality comparisons, studio tests, and buyer’s guides referencing models from Canon EOS R5, Nikon Z7 II, Sony Alpha 1, Fujifilm X100V, Panasonic Lumix S1R, and compact systems such as Ricoh GR III. Editorial coverage also reported hardware partnerships, firmware updates linked to companies like Blackmagic Design Pty Ltd., and collaborations with photography educators and institutions such as Magnum Photos, National Geographic Society, World Press Photo, Royal Photographic Society, and university photography departments.

Product Reviews and Testing Methodology

DPReview developed quantitative testing protocols for measuring dynamic range, noise, resolution, autofocus performance, and rolling shutter effects. Test procedures compared cameras and lenses in controlled settings against reference equipment from makers including Imatest LLC, X-Rite, Inc., Sekonic Corporation, Broncolor, and Profoto AB. Reviews often included lab charts, standardized ISO noise series, and real-world shooting scenarios referencing photographers and photojournalists affiliated with Reuters, Associated Press, Agence France-Presse, and publications such as Time (magazine), The New York Times, The Guardian, and National Geographic (magazine). DPReview’s methodology was frequently discussed in the context of industry standards established by groups like the International Organization for Standardization and academic imaging research at institutions such as Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Stanford University, University of Oxford, University of California, Berkeley, and Tokyo Institute of Technology.

Community and Forums

DPReview hosted active forums that became hubs for photographers, reviewers, and engineers trading tips about gear from Canon Inc., Nikon Corporation, Sony Group Corporation, Fujifilm Holdings Corporation, Panasonic Corporation, Olympus Corporation, and boutique makers like Leica Camera AG and Hasselblad AB. Forum threads covered topics ranging from camera hacks and firmware tweaks to meetups at events like Photokina, PhotoPlus Expo, and local camera club gatherings associated with institutions such as the Royal Photographic Society and American Photographic Artists. The community produced user galleries, hands-on reports from photo assignments for outlets like BBC News, CNN, Bloomberg L.P., and collaborative projects with non-profit organizations including World Vision and Doctors Without Borders.

Ownership and Business Model

Over time DPReview’s ownership shifted through media and retail ecosystems involving entities like Amazon.com, Inc. and later acquisitions tied to publishers and gear platforms. Revenue streams combined advertising, affiliate links with retailers such as B&H Photo Video, Adorama, Best Buy, and sponsored content alongside traditional editorial features. The site’s commercial relationships intersected with manufacturer press relations for Canon Inc., Nikon Corporation, Sony Group Corporation, Fujifilm Holdings Corporation, Panasonic Corporation, and accessory companies like Rode Microphones, Manfrotto, Gitzo, SanDisk Corporation, and Western Digital Corporation.

Influence and Reception

DPReview’s reviews influenced buying decisions across enthusiast and professional communities, cited by mainstream outlets including The Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, Forbes, Wired (magazine), and specialist publications like Lightroom Magazine and Rangefinder (magazine). Industry stakeholders—manufacturers such as Canon Inc., Nikon Corporation, Sony Group Corporation, and retailers including B&H Photo Video—monitored DPReview coverage for market feedback. Academic researchers in image science referenced DPReview’s datasets and comparisons in studies at institutions like University of Cambridge, Imperial College London, and ETH Zurich. The site’s critique of product launches and firmware performance also shaped conversations at events such as CES, Photokina, and CP+.

Technical Features and Tools

DPReview provided interactive comparison tools for sensor size and resolution, depth-of-field calculators, lens database search referencing optics from Zeiss, Sigma Corporation, Tamron Co., Ltd., Tokina Co., Ltd., and conversion calculators for focal length equivalence used by photographers working with systems like Micro Four Thirds, APS-C, and Full-frame. The site incorporated image galleries, EXIF readers leveraging standards from Exchangeable Image File Format, and rating systems that paralleled benchmarks used by labs such as Imatest LLC and software from Adobe Systems Incorporated and DxO Labs. Technical write-ups referenced milestones in computational imaging pioneered by companies like Google LLC, Apple Inc., Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd., and research published through conferences such as CVPR, ICCV, and SIGGRAPH.

Category:Photography websites