Wanted: Macfilos camera and lens reviewers

Macfilos continues to grow, and the flow of gear through our hands grows with it. Lenses, cameras, and accessories arrive faster than our staff can properly test them. We need at least one extra pair of hands — and eyes — to help carry the load. If you are a good photographer who enjoys putting new equipment through it paces and writing about what you find, we would love to hear from you.

Volunteers, not staff

This is not a job offer. Macfilos is run by a loose band of volunteers scattered across the UK, the USA and Europe, and none of us makes a penny out of it. Even with generous donations from readers, the site still runs at an annual loss, so there is no budget for paying contributors. We also carry no advertising, a deliberate choice, since we feel it gets in the way of readers actually enjoying the site.

What we lack in cash, we make up for in enthusiasm. Producing polished, interesting articles is the whole point, and for all members of the team, Macfilos is a hobby rather than employment. We have no fixed view on the age of contributors, though our authors do tend to be older, often retired, and blessed with time to write for the love of it. Several of us came to this after full careers elsewhere, which perhaps explains why nobody is rushing and why the standard of writing still matters so much to the team. That said, younger contributors would be very welcome and could help provide a different view of photography.

Who we need

So who are we after? First and foremost, someone who can write reasonably well, though we are used to editing and shaping articles if the substance is there. Good background knowledge of photography matters too, alongside an enthusiasm for trying new products. We are not looking for technical reviewers in the laboratory sense. What counts is real-world impressions from someone who uses the gear. They count for far more than test-chart numbers. Above all, you should have a good level of practical photography skills. You must be able to prove your statements with telling images, so they should be both technically and aesthetically convincing.

It’s important, too, that all images are supplied with full EXIF data so we can be sure of authorship, date of capture and exposure details — which are useful in the caption of a demonstration camera-test image. We ask all contributors to sign a short statement that they own the copyright of the submitted images and grant Macfilos free use.

Most of our reviews follow a similar pattern, and we work closely with contributors to get the best out of every piece. It gets easier with practice. Reviewing a camera or lens isn’t quite paint-by-numbers, but that’s not a bad way to think about it starting out, and the structure is there to lean on rather than a straitjacket to follow. Once a contributor has written two or three pieces, the process usually starts to feel like second nature, and the editing conversation between writer and editor becomes much shorter.

Where in the world

Geography plays a part in our thinking too. We already have three team members in the USA — Keith James, Jon Cheffings and Ed Lara — and two of us here in the UK, including Richard Watts, who looks after web management, and is a keen Leica enthusiast. Jörg-Peter Rau joins us from Germany, where he works full-time as a journalist on a major newspaper.

What we would really value now are regular contributors from the Asia-Pacific region. It would round out our geographic spread and bring a different perspective on how these cameras and lenses are bought, used and thought about outside Europe and North America. A local voice in that part of the world is something Macfilos has been missing for a while.

Closer to home, someone based in or around London would be just as welcome. If you live nearby, we could meet occasionally over a coffee or lunch to test equipment side by side and talk through ideas in person, which is always easier than doing it all by messaging. But don’t be put off if you aren’t in these locations: the quality and substance of your contribution is far more important than where you live.

Language choice

It is no problem at all if your main language is not English. We would much prefer you to write in the language you feel most comfortable with, where you can express yourself creatively and fluently. We can handle the translation and turn the result into Macfilos house style. The results will be something you can be proud of.

Testing the gear

One practical requirement: to work on test lenses, you need to own an L-Mount camera, a Fujifilm camera (we are particularly keen to extend our Fuji coverage) or an M camera. Rangefinder enthusiasts are especially welcome, and there is a vast range of M lenses out there to test. And we are also interested in articles featuring popular compact fixed-lens cameras such as the Leica Q, the Ricoh GR and the Fujifilm X100.

Then there is the question of finding equipment to test. To begin with, we expect a new contributor to write about the kit they already own, which is a sensible place to start. Writing about a familiar camera or lens is also the fastest way to find your feet, since you already know its quirks and don’t have to learn the controls at the same time as forming an opinion. This also gives us a chance to get to know one another, and for you to decide if you enjoy working with our team.

Once you have built a reputation as a reviewer, it becomes possible to negotiate directly with local dealers and manufacturers to borrow equipment. We do this routinely, usually keeping a product for a week or two before it goes back. Our team has long experience of turning a test around in short order, so a tight loan period is rarely a problem.

We are excited to share with new contributors what we have learned about approaching dealers and press offices along the way. Naturally, we can’t take responsibility for any items borrowed, and we always recommend taking out insurance, as we do personally, to cover any loss or damage. Macfilos as a site cannot be responsible for any loss or damage.

Not just gear

None of this is exclusive to gear, though — it’s simply where we need the most help at the moment. If you have ideas for general photography articles, travelogues, or other engaging material, we want to hear about those too.

Get in touch

Macfilos began as a hobby and remains one today, run by people who would rather write about cameras for love than for a living. That is why we need new contributors as the site grows: more gear to cover, more readers to serve, and only so many hours in a volunteer’s week. If any of this sounds like you — wherever in the world you happen to be — we would love to hear from you.

Write to me with a few words about where you are based, your experience, your interests, and the language you are most comfortable writing in. He will get in touch to discuss opportunities: mike@macfilos.com

Further reading

Make a donation to help with our running costs

Did you know that Macfilos is run by six photography enthusiasts based in the UK, USA and Europe? We cover all the substantial costs of running the site, and we do not carry advertising because it spoils readers’ enjoyment. Any amount, however small, will be appreciated, and we will write to acknowledge your generosity.