Get it right
 
Don't just say it, prove it
Nicky Loh
Photographer Nicky Loh is a tough customer. He wants reviews and recommendations to be backed up with proof.

Since picking up photography when he was 18 years old, Nicky Loh has not stopped shooting. At 23, he joined international news organisation Reuters (say "roy-ters") as a photo-editor and photojournalist. Nicky now runs his own business specialising in portraits and documentary photography.

Q: You recently bought a new camera. How did you go about choosing one?
A: I had been testing this particular camera model - Canon lent me a set to try out. Alas, I finally had to return it. But, I was impressed enough to buy the same model.

You can read reviews online, but the most important thing about cameras is trying them out to see what clicks for you or what irritates you. Also, I usually talk to other photographers before coming to a final decision.

A camera is a big investment, so I talk to a lot of people who have used it before.

Q: Your fellow photographers must have told you different things. How did you make your final choice?
A: I have specific needs and I chose my camera based on that. Some photographers felt my new "single-lens reflex" (SLR) camera may not be as good as a "medium-format" camera, which are like the Porsches of cameras because they can generally shoot at very high quality.

However, SLRs can shoot faster and I can change lens more easily with them. They are also lighter and more inconspicuous.

These are great for shooting many of the news assignments I get. For instance, when I shot British Duchess Kate Middleton waving to the crowd in Singapore, her wave was over in a second! Fortunately, this camera model of mine could take up to 14 shots in a second and I got the picture.

My camera is also very sensitive in low lighting and dark conditions. This is great because I shoot quite a lot of sports pictures in stadiums at night.

Q: There are many reviews of cameras online, as well as in magazines and newspapers. How do you know which reviews to believe?
A: I don't usually trust reviews unless they are written by a popular photographer. And, he has to give specific examples of why he thinks it is good.

For instance, some of the reviews I read said my camera was very good in low-light situations. But, I was only convinced by those that accompanied this claim with pictures shot in these conditions. Reviewers can say many things, but they need to prove it. Most importantly, I try the camera out myself first to decide.

Q: Many cameras are advertised by famous photographers and celebrities. Do these influence your choices?
A: If a famous photographer endorses a specific camera, it makes me pay attention to it, but I won't necessarily go buy the camera because of it.

I know that, for these famous people, it might be a form of marketing - they might be endorsing the camera for money.

LEARNING FROM NICKY LOH
When shopping for a camera or any electronics product, there are so many choices that we could end up picking the wrong one. For Nicky Loh, cameras are not just toys or a hobby. They are the tools for his job. So, when choosing cameras, he needs to get it right. He uses his information literacy skills to help him. Although you are not a professional shooter like Mr Loh, you can follow his methods for making smart decisions:
  • If a review says something is great, look for evidence that it is really that good.


  • Don't decide based on just one person’s opinion. Ask around, especially before buying something costly.
Mr Loh also knows that different people have different needs. Other people may like something because it fits their needs, but that does not mean it is the right product for him. So:

  • Even if many people say the same thing, don't just follow the crowd. Decide what you really need and choose what suits you.