With print publications fading out, blogs have quickly become a new medium for experts in their fields to give advice to consumers rather than having a column in a newspaper or a magazine. The internet has prompted a growth in gadget-specific blogs, such as photography blogs.The writers for these types of blogs must be especially informed on their chosen subject in order to gain recognition and have a solid and devoted blog reader subscription base.
This excerpt from photographer Ken Rockwell’s blog is a perfect example of a post that is informative and helpful to those searching for a new camera.
For the best possible camera for just about anything, fun or serious, I use my Nikon D40. As of Holiday 2009, Adorama has a special kit with the D40, 18-55mm lens, case and memory card for only $439.95, the deal of the year.
I prefer my D40 to more expensive cameras from Nikon. It's a better camera!
Sure, I own more expensive cameras, but whenever I grab a camera for my own personal vacations or family photos, it's almost always my remarkable and super lightweight Nikon D40. There isn't anything reasonable I can't do with Nikon's least expensive D40. There is very little reason to pay more for a Nikon D5000 or D90. Save your money for more important things, like another lens or flash, or just pocket the difference and enjoy a nice vacation.
For $499 or less, complete with an exceptionally good 18-55mm lens, The D40 is a no-brainer. (I paid $600 for my D40 in 2006 and still love it.)
My D40 is the camera I grab first when my wife says "grab a camera, Ryan is doing something cute!" (http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/recommended-cameras.htm)
From having a legitimate photography website, Rockwell has built a reputable blog. He writes mostly from personal experience as he tests new equipment out, which is a photographer’s form of research. The writer must have a vast knowledge, general or specific depending on the case, of camera equipment to make comparisons to other equipment, comparisons are key. The writer must also give positive and negative aspects of each item for the prospective buyer.
The tone and language is also similar to that of a salesman in store: informal but still professional, it is like the blogger is speaking directly to his customer. Including a personal anecdote and experience with the camera itself is only beneficial. He is very personal about his experience to relate to the reader, using pronouns like “my” and “I” (see parts in bold). The writer can also include some technical information. This serves to enhance the descriptions on different levels. For the amateur photographer reading the blog, they can choose to look past this information but for the serious artists this information is available to them.
*RECAP*
Target audience:
Camera enthusiasts, serious or amateur photographers, and anyone looking to buy a new camera, but who is still weighing his or her options. They can look to blogs for helpful suggestions from either serious hobbyists or experts in the field.
Topic:
Specifics on a wide variety of cameras, descriptions on how to take the photos, suggestions on other equipment to complement the camera, and the author’s personal experience using the camera.
Tone:
Instructional and engaging, the blogger needs to assure the reader that he or she is making the right choice is selecting the particular camera being blogged about, while also being honest about the camera’s strengths and imperfections.
Length:
Usually the camera reviews can be lengthy as they go in depth to cover all aspects of the camera for the potential buyer.
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