As frequently happens, I was chatting online with Phil Askey (dpreview.com) and Jeff Keller (dcresource.com) the other day, and we found ourselves remarking on the confusion that seems to reign over what constitutes a "Preview" vs a "Review", "First Look", etc. With the three of us using different terminology for varying levels of coverage of the products we review, we were concerned that the distinction between simple reporting on basic camera functions and features based on manufacturer's specs vs deeper reporting based on our own experience and testing might not always be clear.

For all of us, it's important to us that readers understand the underpinnings of our writing, and never confuse a recitation of manufacturer-published specs with data collected through our own tests or opinions formed by direct experience with the products in question.

With that in mind, we here at IR, together with Phil at dpreview.com and Jeff at dcresource.com have agreed to use the following designations for different levels of review treatment on our respective sites:

Preview

• Product photography supplied by manufacturer
• May include some photos taken in-house
• Covered with as much detail as is available at launch
• All work carried out by our staff
• Includes
  • Photographs and description of camera
  • Detailed specifications

Hands-on Preview

• Based on a pre-production or production quality camera
• Camera must have been used at our office
• Product photography taken in our studio
• Some supplementary photos may be provided by manufacturer
• All work carried out by our staff
• Includes
  • Photographs and description of camera
  • Detailed specifications
  • May include a description of function and operation
  • May include screen / menu captures
  • May include preliminary timings and performance measures
  • May include a user report

Review

• Requires a production quality camera
• Camera 'used in real life' before testing commences
• Product photography taken in our studio
• Some supplementary photos may be provided by manufacturer
• All work carried out by our staff
• Includes
  • Photographs and description of camera
  • Detailed specifications
  • Description of function and operation (may include screen captures)
  • Timings and performance measures
  • Image quality measures
  • Competitive camera comparisons
  • Conclusion based on test results and experience with the camera
  • Samples gallery containing unmodified original images from the camera