A Fond Farewell to DPReview.com

After nearly 25 years of operation, DPReview.com announced this week that it will be shutting down April 10.

The announcement came as a shock to the scores of photography and camera enthusiasts and professionals who have depended on the site for nearly a quarter century for its in-depth reviews and its vibrant community. In the last several years the site also launched a phenomenal YouTube channel hosted by Chris Niccols and Jordan Drake.

The decision to shut down the site was made by Amazon, which owns DPReview, as part of a larger round of layoffs.

DPReview.com was founded in 1998 by Steve Dewhurst and Dave Etchells and quickly became known as the preeminent source of information on new cameras and camera gear. The site is a major loss for the photography community as it was a place where photographers of all levels, from beginners to professionals, were able to connect and share stories and thoughts on gear.

I started reading DPReview.com nearly 20 years ago as a budding photography enthusiast and leaned on the site for each camera purchase as I advanced through the hobby and eventually began to do the work professionally. And I've spent more hours than I can count watching Chris and Jordan on YouTube.

Though the news is still hard to believe, Chris and Jordan announced this week that their YouTube reviews will live on as they have agreed to join the team at PetaPixel and will become the new hosts of that site's YouTube channel.

From everyone here at OWC, thank you, DPReview, for building one of the most diverse, vibrant, and knowledgeable communities the web has ever known. And to everyone on staff at DPReview, thank you for your hard work. We know you'll land on your feet.