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DPChallenge Forums >> General Discussion >> Ken Rockwell - Genius or Fool?
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01/18/2006 12:31:25 AM · #1
I've gotten the impression from some people on here they believe Ken Rockwell (//kenrockwell.com) is a joke. His site and information seems credible enough though.

What do you think and why?
01/18/2006 12:39:33 AM · #2
I have read a lot of his articles and cant help but think that he is a little wee-wee up there. Mostly because as a reader one cant help but think he's been backed by Nikon or is biased in that direction. He repeats himself a little too much for my liking and one tends to think of him as a gloat. Other than that his information seems more or less on the mark if you dont let yourself get Nikon-ised. No offence to him but I personally like a unbiased viewpoint when someone writes reviews.

My 2 Cents!
01/18/2006 01:03:48 AM · #3
Ken Rockwell is someone who can communicate well. That is all I'll give him. I've never had much time for self proclaimed experts. Anyone who participated in the Bokeh challenge will tell you one of two things: That Ken Rockwell is an infallible god, or that his explanations are often very misleading.
01/18/2006 01:17:57 AM · #4
Ken Rockwell is a freaking moron.

As a Nikon lover I still think he is a pimple on the butt of good review sites the world over.

Paul at DP Review likes Nikon too but he is a fair reviewer. Ken just gives out really bad advice. He is the kind of guy that if he kicks his car in the morning and it starts, then that must be the way all cars work and he starts a web site about it.

Can you tell what I think from this :-)

Message edited by author 2006-01-18 10:09:38.
01/18/2006 01:24:15 AM · #5
I like the way that he is not afraid to speak his mind. He is not backed by anyone so he can say pretty much what he wants. If he likes something, he raves about it and if he doesn't like it he'll tell you so without the cotton padding.
I have to admit, I would never visit his site if I were not a Nikon user!
01/18/2006 05:17:05 AM · #6
My only real issue with Ken is that he fairly obviously decides on his opinion before he starts working on an article and then bends reality to support it.

I mean I'm sure all writers do that to an extent - it's hard to be totally impartial - but the trouble is that he seems to simultaneously try to claim impartiality while being so overtly biased that it's almost comical.

Which wouldn't be a problem if it wasn't for the fact that some people seem to accept anything he says as Absolute Truth because Ken said it.
01/18/2006 06:09:03 AM · #7
Ken ROCKS Well ....
01/18/2006 06:52:09 AM · #8
"I pity the fool...."
01/18/2006 08:06:46 AM · #9
I like Ken Rockwell...I think people bash him, mainly Canon folks, because they're jealous. Heck, the people that dislike him probably visit his site more than the people that do like him -- he's got a following, no matter which way you look at it.

I think he's always honest, although highly opinionated -- his attitude is sort of like mine...and as such, him and his articles are a love it or hate it type thing...and most people just can't handle brutal honesty.

-----

Anyway, in short, I like the guy and think he's a very talented photographer.
01/18/2006 09:58:32 AM · #10
I wouldn't call him either. He seems to have an agenda to push with his articles. They certainly aren't balanced. He's not the only one though. Searching the internet you will certainly find others whose articles slant in a direction 180 degrees from Ken's.
01/18/2006 10:03:58 AM · #11
wouldn't get above a 4 from me on his wildlife shots. Way to grainy to me.

Message edited by author 2006-01-18 10:18:01.
01/18/2006 10:15:45 AM · #12
Originally posted by vtruan:

would get above a 4 from me on his wildlife shots. Way to grainy to me.


If you were to base your purchase of a camera off of his photography you would conclude that all Nikons come with some weird colored gels that make it impossible to take a clear photo.

And people that have a photo of themselves holding their 600mm lens as their front page seem like those porno sites that have this guy holding his 14" wanker. Even his name sounds like it :-D

How this clown got where he is at when there are literally hundreds of harder working, more precise reviewers is the answer to why WWE wrestling made it...shear force of stupid factor and hype.

There is some brutal honesty for you. :-P

Message edited by author 2006-01-18 10:16:49.
01/18/2006 10:20:59 AM · #13
Originally posted by vtruan:

wouldn't get above a 4 from me on his wildlife shots. Way to grainy to me.


Keep in mind that the majority of his gallery was taken 5-7 years ago, digital technology has changed quite a bit in that time.
01/18/2006 10:26:54 AM · #14
Originally posted by Megatherian:

Originally posted by vtruan:

wouldn't get above a 4 from me on his wildlife shots. Way to grainy to me.


Keep in mind that the majority of his gallery was taken 5-7 years ago, digital technology has changed quite a bit in that time.


Yes. Now I guess digital cameras don't come with blue filters.
01/18/2006 10:27:17 AM · #15
He does make fun of Canon and other cameras after every paragraph. "You can't do this with a 1Ds MKII... you can't do that with bla bla..."

Ok so you like Nikon. We get it.
01/18/2006 10:28:19 AM · #16
Originally posted by dpaull:

I like Ken Rockwell...I think people bash him, mainly Canon folks, because they're jealous.

Yeah, that's right, I only criticise him because I'm jealous (of, err, something. of him owning Nikon gear? hmm)

Of course, the fact that I had the same opinion of him when I had "Nikon D70" written under my name just shows that emotionally, I was fated to be a Canon owner.

It's all so clear now. My 20D is controlling my thoughts again...
01/18/2006 10:29:20 AM · #17
Originally posted by ignite:

He does make fun of Canon and other cameras after every paragraph. "You can't do this with a 1Ds MKII... you can't do that with bla bla..."

Ok so you like Nikon. We get it.


You'd like Nikon too if they gave you all that free equipment.
01/18/2006 10:36:02 AM · #18
Originally posted by Megatherian:

Originally posted by vtruan:

wouldn't get above a 4 from me on his wildlife shots. Way to grainy to me.


Keep in mind that the majority of his gallery was taken 5-7 years ago, digital technology has changed quite a bit in that time.


But colored gels and oversaturated photoshopping has not! Oiy Vey!.....

Sorry...but I am really perplexed about a guy that has reviews of cameras he often times has not even had in his hands outside a camera show!

Plus, the Nikon iTTL flash system is one of the finest flash systems in the world (one of the main reasons people buy into Nikon) and he has absolutely no understanding of it. Leading buyers of cameras to totally misunderstand the virtues of the system and how to buy flashes.

Just read his take on flashes Here

My god man...read a book..watch the Nikon video..go to someone ELSES seminar.

Sigh.....the list goes on. I am sure all industries have their "WTF? how did they get there?" websites.

Message edited by author 2006-01-18 10:47:20.
01/18/2006 10:52:05 AM · #19
The intersting part about Rockwell is that he does get a lot of attention, probably in part BECAUSE of his idiosyncrasies. My personal view is that he's a moderately talented photog with a limited understanding of the technical side and a clear bias, but he knows how to generate publicity for himself. The Geraldo Rivera of photography :-P
01/18/2006 10:53:18 AM · #20
Originally posted by ganders:

It's all so clear now. My 20D is controlling my thoughts again...


What kind of batteries are you using?

My D70 tried to control my mind just over a month ago but the batteries lost their charge and I managed to regain my center...

I like Ken Rockwell...but then again, I'm not that smart. He seems reasonable enough to me.
01/18/2006 10:55:23 AM · #21
To answer the original question: Fool.

At least as far as I can tell.
01/18/2006 11:03:05 AM · #22
If you're a Nikonian Bjorn Rorslett or Thon Hogan seem to be the most respected guys that I have found.

Read Bjorn's D200 review...wow on the detail.

Message edited by author 2006-01-18 11:03:48.
01/18/2006 11:03:57 AM · #23
Originally posted by pawdrix:


I like Ken Rockwell...but then again, I'm not that smart. He seems reasonable enough to me.


pawdrix...hehe. It's so funny. I am pro Nikon..you think I would be all about Ken because he is such a poster child for Nikon.

But when I was deciding what system to buy into 5 months ago and people were saying "Check Ken Rockwell out" I found him to actually be a NEGATIVE influence on buying Nikon.

The whole "Don't buy a D2x, you can get more with a D70, don't buy Nikon iTTl..buy Normans for god sake" Normans are so behind the time for studio flash you would be better off with Alien Bees.

I mean...What is this guy smoking?

The real deal for nikon owners is Thom Hogan's Website Here

Thank god for Thom. Is he bought by Nikon..yes. Is he smart as a freaking tack? Absolutely.

Message edited by author 2006-01-18 11:07:29.
01/18/2006 11:07:59 AM · #24
Originally posted by Megatherian:

Originally posted by vtruan:

wouldn't get above a 4 from me on his wildlife shots. Way to grainy to me.


Keep in mind that the majority of his gallery was taken 5-7 years ago, digital technology has changed quite a bit in that time.


Just to clarify, I was referring to the comment made about the graininess of the photos. Use of color filters and over saturation is a whole other topic.
01/18/2006 11:19:19 AM · #25
Ken is very Opinionated. And with that I leave you with a quote:

"It is better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to open one's mouth and remove all doubt."
-Abraham Lincoln

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