I am stunned. For years I looked to DPR to read reviews of cameras and lenses in which I was interested, and occasionally participated in the discussion forums. There was a period early-on, back in the early 2000's, when things weren't well-moderated and could be distinctly unpleasant in some of the discussions with arguments breaking out and rude behaviors such as being told to "RTFM!" in answer to questions. That resulted in some members starting their own forums (Nikon Cafe being one of them).
Eventually through the years things evolved and improved as participants eased away from the Wild-West no-holds-barred atmosphere of Usenet, the internet and DPR itself grew larger and more civilized. Also over time there were changes in ownership, etc., new policies and guidelines were set in place, moderators were appointed and the content continued to be increasingly valuable to participants and lurkers alike.
In the many discussion forums on DPR there were threads and posts about all the various camera brands and models, the lenses, camera bags, backpacks, accessories, etc., and one could learn a lot before buying any particular item what everyday users were doing with it and if they felt the gear or product was worth it. DPR is truly a unique resource developed over a number of years which will be missed by many, many professional and amateur photographers around the world.
This is truly disappointing news and a reminder that even something online which one is enjoying and appreciating can be snatched away as the internet has become seen more and more as a moneymaker for larger corporations and organizations while being increasingly expensive for owners/admins of smaller sites to continue to keep running.
There are of course other sources online for finding both print and video reviews of gear, finding user discussions about gear, etc., but the absence of DPR will create a huge void.
