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NoFilmSchool Digital Bolex Review


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http://nofilmschool.com/2013/12/digital-bolex-d16-review-part-1-first-impressions-pre-order/

 

Joe Marine's of NoFilmSchool recent 2-part review of the Digital Bolex seems not very skewed in favor of that camera.  In fact, it's a reasoned balanced opinion, I think.

 

Personally, I like the idea that some folks had an idea and made it happen with "Kickstarting" support from the filmmaking community.  I also like that they developed a camera for 16mm lenses.

 

So many American university are full up on 16mm lenses going unused.  This camera is near-perfect for those programs. I'd go so far as to say that the RAW workflow is a nice parallel to traditional film production.  That's good for students.  Learning footage discipline is a worthwhile skill.

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Do people realise that blogs are an opinion and that an opinion is entitled to be in favour of something?

 

It isn't always about being objective.

 

Personal opinions matter a lot.

 

Unless the skewing is for reasons other than just liking something.

 

When people criticise Philip Bloom for example, for being skewed in favour of a camera, it's his opinion and he can be biased if he wants. It's his choice to use what he likes. We all have our personal reasons for using something in the end...

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Do people realise that blogs are an opinion and that an opinion is entitled to be in favour of something?

 

Generally, no.

At least not within the gung-ho camera/gadget geek circles. 

 

 

It isn't always about being objective.

 

Personal opinions matter a lot.

 

It's never about being objective. It's all about personal opinions.

As long as we're dealing with human beings with emotions, every blog post and review is always subjective. Trying to convince otherwise would be either hypocrite or deluding oneself.

 

Everyone and every blogger has a bias, to some direction and to some extent, admitted or not, and it's totally fine. It's just natural. Unless one is a robot. Trying to be as 'objective' as possible will often result to boring, odorless, tasteless, and useless reviews. People do need at least some human reference points. Apart from spec sheets and feature lists, the rest, the actual review, is mostly personal opinions.

 

Like the studies say, all people, which includes most bloggers, too, make their purchase and other decisions based 90% on emotions, anyway. One might as well let go of the cheesy myth of absolute objectivity, and start using one's own brain power when reading the reviews. Or learn to read.

 

 

 

When people criticise Philip Bloom for example, for being skewed in favour of a camera, it's his opinion and he can be biased if he wants. It's his choice to use what he likes. We all have our personal reasons for using something in the end...

 

...And all that really should be screamingly obvious, shouldn't it. I believe it is, for most. 

 

Mr. Bloom even has a disclaimer about it, in the beginning of each of his review videos and in his blog, too. Which apparently slip by unnoticed by the gadget geeks, time and again.  

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It depends. There's objective and then there's objective.

 

Every camera has pros and cons, plusses and minuses. Different people will have different preferences towards certain things.

 

However, omitting facts due to emotional bias is taking it too far. 

 

IE: Camera A has a noisier image than camera B and everyone and their mother sees it. Yet the reviewer tries to claim otherwise. That's not opinion or subjectivity. That's an outright lie.

 

On the other hand, something like valuing XLR inputs over longer battery life is entirely subjective.

 

It's when there are quantifiable measurements and the reviewers try to spin them... that's when I have issues. 

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IE: Camera A has a noisier image than camera B and everyone and their mother sees it. Yet the reviewer tries to claim otherwise. That's not opinion or subjectivity.

 

Good point.  On the other hand, even if it is obvious bias, so what?  No one is entitled to the "truth" on the internet.  Sorry to be cynical, but with most things on the web you have to assume skepticism.  

 

Your course of action is wise.  

 

Take issue with disagreeable words, dismiss the review(er), and then move onto someplace else.

 

Now, about that camera:  I still maintain it's a strong niche product with great value for end users such as university film students.

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Of course reviewers can have an opinion FINE But if its an ulterior motive IE Reward Revenge Snobbery then trust is lost and fine they can go on and on this way but soon not to many will listen. Being Neutral and fair is the aim of most good reviewers even if it comes at a cost to themselves.

 

But when is a lie a lie? When you heap praise on a cameras strengths and downplay the weaknesses?

 

When you downplay the strengths and overdo the weaknesses?

 

Is that a lie? Often it can be hidden as an opinion But when does it become so obvious people question it then doubts set in about the reliability of the reviewer to give you information needed to make a decision.

 

You can put up all the disclaimers you like But the only reason people are tuning in is because they want help in choosing and deciding and for those in that position like Bloom, money can be made from advertising. So why would advertisers bother giving money if it wasn't going to make them money. Because IT DOES. So who is the reviewer going to favour Those paying him or those who don't answer questions or give the time of day?

 

In the case of the Bolex Bloom has invested I don't see any ads for BM cameras on his site but what I do seem to be seeing is a skewed review in favour of the Bolex.

 

Money is being made from those reading the reviews If the review is skewed then the people buying those products suffer.

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Money is being made from those reading the reviews If the review is skewed then the people buying those products suffer.

 

You figured it out.  Buyer beware.  What someone does with their money is their problem and their decision.  How they're influenced is their responsibility no one else's.

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