Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2000/08/21

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Subject: Re: Vs: R lens tests (was: Re: [Leica] Re: Why M is so popular?)
From: Nathan Wajsman <wajsman@webshuttle.ch>
Date: Mon, 21 Aug 2000 21:51:00 +0200
References: <012a01c00b94$e7e0ab20$ad04a5c3@default>

Hi Raimo,

I am a deeply cynical person when it comes to business. After several years of reading magazines like Popular Photography and before that Modern Photography, I am fully convinced that the editorial policies of these magazines
are driven by the advertising. This suspicion is strengthened by the fact that the subscription is dirt cheap (I used to pay $9.95 a year for Pop Photo in the early 90s). Clearly, subscriptions do not pay the freight there,
ads do. I do not recall ever reading a review of any major brand which was negative. Now, it could be that everything produced by Nikon, Pentax, Minolta and Canon is just wonderful, but I tend to believe that the magazines
know which side of the bread is buttered...Incidentally, this phenomenon is not unique to photo mags. I felt the same way when I was subscribing to motorcycling magazines like Bike or Ride.

In contrast to that, magazines that I trust, like Photo Technique or Motorcycle Consumer News, derive most of their revenue from subscriptions and are thus less dependent and hence less influenced by advertising. The most
credible ones, such as Motorcycle Consumer News or Consumer Reports, carry no ads at all.

In my view, the maxim to "just follow the money" hold very true in this case.

Nathan

Raimo Korhonen wrote:

> Hi Nathan!
> Donīt make too hasty conclusions - or do you really think Leica tests the best because they advertise much? (and PopPhoto has first class equipment) As for Arthurīs reading abilities - well, letīs see him quote some tests.
> All the best!
> Raimo

- --
Nathan Wajsman
Herrliberg (ZH), Switzerland

e-mail: wajsman@webshuttle.ch

General photo site: http://belgiangator.tripod.com/
Belgium photo site: http://members.xoom.com/wajsman/
Motorcycle site: http://www.geocities.com/MotorCity/Downs/1704/

Replies: Reply from Jesse Hellman <palio@miata.net> (Re: Vs: R lens tests (was: Re: [Leica] Re: Why M is so popular?))
In reply to: Message from "Raimo Korhonen" <raimo.korhonen@pp2.inet.fi> (Vs: R lens tests (was: Re: [Leica] Re: Why M is so popular?))