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Camera Reviews Need to Change by Gerald Undone (my response) (Patreon)

Published:
2024-05-28 22:30:17
Imported:
2026-06
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Content

If you have watched Gerald’s very popular video (above) about his experiences as a product reviewer, I thought you might be interested to hear about my own 'take' on being a ‘YouTuber’, although I would prefer to be seen as either a supportive brand ambassador and/or educator (as I don’t prioritise the income from YouTube/Google).

First off, I don’t go to any product launches, e.g., I haven’t been to any of the major Sony product launches in New York since becoming a Sony Ambassador in 2012.

SPONSORS
I do not have sponsors for my videos as my income is largely derived from Patreon and not YouTube. This allows me to be independent from having to chase views and likes in order to make a living. This is why you won’t see me add ‘click-bait’ titles or ‘click-bait’ thumbnails to my video reviews.

RELEASE DATE
I currently aim to release my product reviews on the day Sony lifts the product embargo (if I have been provided with a pre-release product prior to the announcement), as I am keen to correct misinformation that may appear in some reviews (it sometimes happens) and also to provide the ‘real-world’ hands-on experience (lots of photos) that viewers know to expect from me, and that are often missing from other reviews.

You may have noticed that I did not review the A9lll (outside of my Patreon support channel) as I did not receive a pre-production unit in a timely manner. I therefore had no incentive to release a public review. I focused my attention on creating the eBook and CAMSET instead.

SONY's INPUT
Sony do not brief me on what they would like me to say in my reviews and they do not see the videos before I publish them, i.e., they have no input in the making of the videos or what I choose to say in them. I am under no pressure to like the product.

Most if not all, of my recent Sony lens reviews have been positive reviews because I genuinely like them. The lenses have, without exception, been, lighter and smaller than previous offerings and they have all been exceptionally sharp. As you are probably aware I like to travel light, so these newer lenses will find a home in my own camera bag.

WHAT I CHOOSE TO REVIEW
I can ultimately choose to NOT review products that I do not believe will be of interest to either myself or my Patrons.

I have reviewed some recent Vlogging cameras such as the FX30, ZV-E1 and ZV-E10, but chose not to review cameras such as the FX3 and ZV1. I am in two-minds whether to review future Sony cameras that do not have mechanical shutters and electronic viewfinders as I feel they will be of limited interest to my Patrons (who usually want to capture stills). It is especially important for a camera to have a mechanical shutter for stills capture if the camera does not feature either a stacked sensor or global shutter sensor (making the mechanical shutter somewhat superfluous).

I promote non-Sony products when appropriate. I own several Sigma and Zeiss lenses where an equivalent Sony lens does not exist. I currently own Sigma’s 90mm F2.8 DG DN, 18-50 F2.8 DC DN and 56mm F1.4 DC DN. These featured in my Mighty Mekong travel seminar and I made my review of the Sigma 90mm F2.8 DG DN public on my YouTube channel. I also own the Batis 2.8/18 and 2.8/135 and promote them as viable alternatives to the FE 20mm F1.8 G and FE 135 F1.8 GM (I personally own all four of these lenses). I don't have any interest in APS-C lenses that are heavier than a full-frame equivalent lens, e.g., the 27mm Viltrox F1.2 has a full-frame equivalent focal length and aperture of 40mm F1.8. The only issue I would have with this lens is that it is substantially bigger and heavier than Sony's FE 35mm F1.8.

I agree with many of Gerald’s thoughts, that he shared in his video, and feel grateful that Sony don’t seek to control the content I choose to publish.

Files

Previews only

Camera Reviews Need to Change...

Sharing my thoughts on the role YouTubers play in the marketing of a camera release. 🛒 Gear I Use to Make Videos: https://bit.ly/3RlRmgx 🔌 Undone Cables: https://www.geraldundone.com/merchandise 🟣 Gerald Undone Merch: https://bit.ly/2ViBkcV ============================= Table of Contents: ============================= 0:00 - The Why 0:55 - My Post 2:15 - Why Now? 2:51 - Reviewer Life Cycle 4:17 - Press Trips 7:30 - Embargoes 8:16 - Being First 11:21 - Negative Reviews 12:20 - Lumix 15:01 - Canon 15:34 - Fujifilm 16:57 - Nikon 17:46 - Sony 18:55 - Advice to Brands 19:43 - Lumix Frustration 24:10 - Advice to Creators 25:20 - Final Thoughts ============================= Gear Used to Make This Video: ============================= Camera: https://geni.us/lfNKufl Lens: https://geni.us/wVTM Microphone: https://geni.us/I40Dn Recorder: https://geni.us/ZLyb Key Light: https://geni.us/rGFf00 Complete Gear List: https://kit.co/GeraldUndone/youtube-video-gear ============================= Best Deals for Camera Gear ============================= Gear Focus Marketplace: https://geni.us/gearfocusGU Amazon Top Deals: https://amzn.to/3d9tdT4 B&H Deal Zone: https://bhpho.to/2SCDrnj ============================= Music: ============================= I use Artlist for my background music needs. Use this link to get two extra months when signing up: http://bit.ly/2TV5sYT ============================= Follow Me: ============================= Twitter: https://twitter.com/GeraldUndone Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/geraldundone Discord: https://discord.gg/xT2HNKw ============================= Patreon & PayPal: ============================= If you wish to support the channel monetarily, you can use my Patreon page here: https://www.patreon.com/GeraldUndone Or directly via PayPal here: https://www.paypal.me/geraldundone This is appreciated, but unnecessary, and no content will ever be behind a paywall. ============================= Affiliate Links: ============================= Some of the links in my video descriptions are affiliate links, which means at no extra cost to you, I will make a small commission if you click them and make a qualifying purchase. If you have a different purchase in mind, you can also use these storewide links below. 🛒 Amazon: http://geni.us/1m1G32 🛒 B&H Photo: https://bhpho.to/2MYRKBE ============================= Recommended Channel Tools: ============================= 🚩 If you're a fellow YouTuber, I highly recommend you try TubeBuddy. It's helped my channel immensely: https://www.tubebuddy.com/pricing?a=Undone =============================

Comments

Marcus Rahmel

I am so thankfull for your content and how you provide it! I am happy to spend money for valuable information and I never have the impression of bias. I am looking forward for more of your content (and not just Sony) and the future Sony lineup! PS: I really did have the impression that the S9-Crazyness on Youtube was way too much!

Hakon Oddsson

I did watch Gerald’s declaration. I like his channel for video info but he seems somwhat mingled with products but that is ok for me. But just like you Mark, Philip Bloom, Gerald and others you ask Sony to make the product better and that is important. I learned allot from your videos (on YouTube) and I am thinking to become a Patreon member for a try. I am a filmmaker but shoot sports photos of soccer for hobby and would love to see a video about focus tracking with many players running in all directions at the same time :-)

Mark Galer
>>139294222

I can certainly support your interest in stills capture of sports, as this is one of my strong points. I can direct you to a number of resources on the support channel + my camera setup files and eBooks are a good starting point.

Cheryl

This was so interesting. You are my Sony guru. I enjoy Gerald Undone too, but I am not in his ballpark. Philip Bloom inspires and teaches me as well, but I find your technical support for Sony necessary and supportive. The A1 Ebook is terrific.

Mark Galer
>>139318608

Thanks Cheryl. I routinely watch Gerald's videos, but by the time I get to see them I have already posted my own video. He is quite thorough in his testing, even though he doesn't shoot much on location and many of hist tests are driven by his specialist area of video capture rather than Raw stills. I think I primarily watch them to make sure I didn't miss something important in my video (Sony don't give me a manual when testing a new product).

Steve McLean

I too watch to many YouTube clips and done so for years, all they do is convince me to stick with your settings and philosophies Mark Galer.

T W

Hi Mark, agree in all your points and appreciate your work for the patreons. But imo the FX30 isn't a vlogging camera – so a review or ebook (after the upcoming update) would be very welcome . Kind regards, Thomas

Mark Galer
>>139500712

Hi Thomas Probably unfair to lump a cinema line FX30 in with the likes of the ZV-E1. I feel the term vlogging has, however been subverted and is often only associated with low budget influencer videos on social media. I enjoyed reviewing the FX30 camera (using it to create a video diary/log of a 2-week road trip in the USA). Unfortunately I ran out of time on my return from the US to create an eBook for the FX30. I returned to Australia just in time to take delivery of a pre-production A7RV before embarking on three more international trips and working with three more new Alpha cameras. Unfortunately I have now decided to focus my attentions, moving forward, to just the Alpha camera with viewfinders and mechanical shutters (unless they were to feature either a stacked sensor or global shutter sensor). Unfortunately my time is finite, and I am reluctant to short-change my shooting projects to review products I have a passing interest in. Mark

Kurt Vromant

I follow the website lessons by Mike Brown and the videos by Simon d'Entremont in combination with the wonderful book by Michael Frye and the German-language book by Marcus Wäger to learn the basics of photography. I am a happy member of the Patreon page of Mark Galer where I find everything about how to use my Sony camera and more in-depth studies on some photography topics. I also recovered some of Mark's old books and learned a lot from them. When buying a new camera or lens, I always make sure to read at least the opinion of Mark, Dustin Abbot and Gerald Undone first. With all the names mentioned above, I have the idea that they are honest and reliable and that they spend more time in what they make than others because they want us to learn something that is genuine and substantiated. I am convinced that there are other good teachers to be found on the Internet and that if you find one you should write down the name somewhere so that you do not forget him. An old teacher of mine said to his students when we were visiting the library: It's full of books and other writing. Most of it is irrelevant to you or faintly cool. The art is in all that mass to find what genuinely interests you and what really has something to tell. This wisdom about books applies to everything that the Internet and social media offer. We should be grateful that there are people like Mark, Mike, Michael, Simon, Marcus, Gerald, Justin,....

Gilbert Davis

I couldn't finish watching that video by Gerald Undone it just seemed like so much pompous posturing to my eyes and ears. We the viewers are intelligent enough to understand the efforts of the camera manufacturers to advertise their new cameras and when the flurry of videos about the newest camera comes out they flood my YouTube feed and I happily watch them to get many views about this new camera or that new lens. In fact, when I was immersing myself in the YouTube camera culture I was learning from everyone and I distinctly remember when the Sony A7III came out and the Sony event where many YouTube creators were taken. I took in the excitement from them and the critical words as well. Watching the FroNoKnows video I knew this camera was one I wanted - in a year or two when I could afford it. Kept watching videos, listened to all of them talking about all the cameras and I knew when they were reviewing a camera or lens based on a trip. I did get the A7III camera based on the videos from that Sony Trip everyone took. I did buy Mark Galer's book on the A7III and I've been over the moon with my progress learning the camera and with taking pictures. Watching excited videos from creators on exciting trips paid for by the camera companies is entertaining. Watching them long enough I know what their views are, what they like, how to judge their views on the camera being reviewed, highlighted and introduced. Not a problem.

Mark Galer
>>139673623

Thanks for your input Gilbert. I felt obliged to respond as I don't attend these press events and don't have sponsors for my videos.

Christopher Nguyen

Mark Galer's cameset and no bs and no rant is why I chose to pay this membership. Mark's camset kept me in the Sony line and not leaving Sony because his experience presents itself in the camset, and I can see that, the more time I use my Sony a7RV I see the value of the camset. Mark you are a professional. Others are entertaining, but not so helpful sometimes. On similar topic I choose to cancel others I found lost it's charm: the April 1 videos of breaking news on Sony alpha 1 mark ii -- I cancelled his subscription after that btw. I guess FroKnows. I'll probably subscribe his channel again in the future, but I am still a bit sore from that don't find him entertaining anymore. Gerald's comments are insightful, but his rant is becoming unbearable, so much like others that rant on their channels.

Mark Galer
>>139726203

Thanks for the positive feedback Chris. I think the only time I came close to a rant in a video was when I reviewed the A1 (frustrated by the inaccuracies I found in another review).

Günter

If you want to improve your photography and increase the joy of taking and editing photos, usually gear talk in the form of camera/lens/brand A is better than B or you have to buy this new gear absolute contra productive. What is important is a good knowledge about the gear you have and use, and tutorials about taking photos on a special subject. Years ago, I decided to go for Sony APS/C because of weight and size. So if let's say someone argues Fuji has better cameras, Canon better colors, Nikon better ..., this is absolute irrelevant because I like most people stick to a brand for a really long time before I switch if at all. When I stumbled upon a review of Mark, I found the best explanations about how to use Sony gear and many picture examples. Thanks for that. And I am totally able to decide which YouTuber to follow because of their interesting content and advice, but when advertisement is too strong I don't watch them any longer.

Mark Galer
>>140096325

Thanks for your input Gunter I like the old saying that we date our cameras but are married to our lenses. We just have to trust the manufacturer we have chosen, is advancing the cameras and lenses to meet our best interests in the long term, because switching systems is a very costly proposition. I also believe that most of the photographers would be just as well served using an APS-C camera, such as the A6700, rather than a full-frame camera. Full-frame cameras have a theoretical advantage, but this advantage is seldom visible.