The popular and trusted digital photography review website DPReview is closing. The announcement was made in a post on the website on March 21, 2023.
What was DPReview?
The Digital Photography Review website was founded in December 1998 and so has been around for almost 25 years. DPReview earned a reputation for detailed and in-depth reviews of digital cameras, lens and other photographic equipment. Over the years, it has also built up an extensive library of reviews. As such, it’s often one of the first places that people go for advice when they’re considering a new purchase.
Why is it closing?
In 2007 DPReview was bought by Amazon and became a wholly owned, editorially independent subsidiary of Amazon.com. The post on the DPReview website begins: “After nearly 25 years of operation, DPReview will be closing in the near future. This difficult decision is part of the annual operating plan review that our parent company shared earlier this year.” Therefor, it is clear that the closure is a decision Amazon made to reduce costs.
What next?
Sadly, the team behind DPReview has been laid off by Amazon. However, two of the main contributors to DPReview, Chris Niccolls and Jordan Drake, have found a new home at PetaPixel. Chris Niccolls and Jordan Drake will be presenting reviews on PetaPixel’s new YouTube channel, which starts in May. The DPReview website also states that: “The site will be locked, with no further updates made after April 10, 2023. The site will be available in read-only mode for a limited period afterwards.”
What we think?
It’s sad that Amazon has decided to close the DPReview website. It has provided a reliable source of pre-purchase information for camera users for many years. Even more concerning is the news that the site will only be available for a limited period after it closes on April 10. This means that Amazon will be taking the site down rather than leaving it mothballed. The market for secondhand lenses is huge and DPReview is one of the few reliable sources where you can learn about older lenses. The website’s archive of camera, lens and equipment reviews will be irreplaceable.
