Join Now
Join ePHOTOzine, the friendliest photography community.
Upload photos, chat with photographers, win prizes and much more for free!
I'm entertaining getting rid of a camera and replacing it with another one. Sounds simple 
To this end I wanted to read the EPZ review of the 1DS MK3 and the Nikon D3. After reading through this Im not sure it really helps me in making a judgement.
To me having two high end cameras back to back it would be an ideal opportunity to put them through their paces in a more in depth day to day way.
I dont know who wrote the review but despite picking out faults with the canon images I couldnt even find which lens was used on either unit as a guide to this!
Surely it would have been helpful to see these units with a couple of different lenses? On top of that a wide range of tests in the real world would help too.
Ive not read many other reviews on here however if this is the treatment that high end stuff gets I imagine that the lower priced cameras don't fare any better.
Anyone else any comments on EPZ camera reviews?
Discuss ...
Entertaining a change of camera ... maybe even change of system so EPZ was my first port of call. Didn't find it as useful as I expected ...
I've read a couple on compact cameras and have actually been pointed in the right direction, so couldn't fault it there. But I guess that is a different kettle of fish compared to what you're gunning for!
Have you ever looked at reviews for any other item and found a internet review did what you are expecting Dan? I mean cars or hifi etc. If so, let us know what it was so we can see what extra they do and apply. We feel our equipment reviews are at a sensible mid point between been too shallow and so anoraky that you don't bother reading them. We do it from a user point of view rather than a scientific lab test too as 99% of people are shooting those situations.
Quote: To me having two high end cameras back to back it would be an ideal opportunity to put them through their paces in a more in depth day to day way.
I dont know who wrote the review
Well, I did the Nikon D3 review, as it states in the opening paragraph, and the lens used was the 14-24mm f/2.8, as it states in the last sentence of the article!
The Canon 1DS MkIII camera was done by Matt, so any comparison would have been worthless considering the 250 mile seperation! (Canon don't like me getting hold of their gear for some reason!!)
many moons ago we asked what ePz readers wanted from reviews and the overwhelming reply was that it shouldn't be too geeky/technical, so that is how I try to approach the subject.
Ian
(Must type quicker.... 
)
Quote: Have you ever looked at reviews for any other item and found a internet review did what you are expecting
dpreview does for me, generally their reviews are very good and it is where I go to look and compare cameras. Easier to navigate the reviews too, and a good mixture of generic imagery and some more "real world" example images. They are perhaps a bit too in-depth, but they are a good benchmark to look at.
I sometimes wonder if reviews are done the right way around, I usually jump to the conclusion and/or the samples to get a good feel of the review and then use that as a guide for jumping into more the more detailed parts, but that's just me
Quote: Easier to navigate the reviews
That's my main objection to the review pages on here, too - they're not easy to navigate. You have to browse, browse, browse... But I seem to remember that changing this is already on the To Do List.
Quote: I sometimes wonder if reviews are done the right way around, I usually jump to the conclusion and/or the samples to get a good feel of the review and then use that as a guide for jumping into more the more detailed parts.
That's exactly what I do. Maybe they should start with the conclusion/verdict, and give (anchor) links to the details mentioned, or to the different parts of the detailed review.
I'm always thinking of ways to improve the reviews section. Getting the tests shots looking more realistic (Does someone buying a low end compact need to know the noise performance at every setting?) is one way of changing if that's something people aren't satisfied with.
Mark, that's not a bad idea to put a quick conclusion at the top... Would that be of benefit to more people?
To agree with Pete for a change, I have not seen the review I wanted. DPREVIEW go into great detail on image output, but detail on how it handles, and how things like focusing work, not so good. And to be honest the DPREVIEW tests can lead you into a micro pixel by pixel review. After a while I have come to the conclusion I am amazed at how little difference there often is in the images between cameras
But is it any different from other areas. I have read car reviews and wondered if they even drove the same car.
for me it would be interesting to hear how people found the camera for certain tasks. Lets take a sports photographer, how did they find the camera worked, but again do you need some standard lenses, e.g tests on 70 to 200 f2.8?? If find you need to test the SLR system, a camera body on its own is no use, you need to test it in context with its lenses.
A Wildlife tog on a 400mm prime?
A landscaper on a super wide angle??
But the problem is you need to have a camera and lens(es) to compare, and how do you factor in price. Lets take the D300, A700 and 40D for example. Could you tes tthem on sports with their own brand 70-200 f2.8 lens. what are the prices? how does the ensamble compare.
For landscapes stick on equivalents of the 17-40, for PJ.....
It becomes a nightmare.
Entire electric off here so on PDA reading this so will browse properly later .. but ... the review i refer to is the direct D3 v 1DS MK3 review .. not the individual ones.
I do prefer real world reviews as well as the tech element but i felt that for the cameras in question id like to see them used in a wider variety of ways and see more samples from them. On top of that maybe with a wider range of lenses to get a better feel for their potential overall.
I also want to see process raw files, from professional software, processed to a high standard to get an idea of these units real world. Maybe one to two full size files for download might help.
It wasnt a real dig at anyone just feedback from an end user interested in buying a new unit.
Dan
Quote:
I also want to see process raw files, from professional software, processed to a high standard to get an idea of these units real world. Maybe one to two full size files for download might help.
Yes, sound good to me. I would add please PRINT out an image or two and not just pixel peep; I use DPREVIEW for cam reviews too, by and large very good, but they get bogged down in image quality issues on screen rather than in print, in my experience some cams are more than acceptable when their files are printed yet get slated for their IQ. Also as Mark says a conclusion up front would be useful and time saving!
Quote: in my experience some cams are more than acceptable when their files are printed yet get slated for their IQ.
Quite right. Most 6mp dSLR's are more than capable of producing a decent A4 print, which is all most folks will do with them. The pixel peeping comes in way after that size, and I, for one, do print to A3+.
Ian
Add a Comment
ePHOTOzine, the web's friendliest photography community.
Upload photos, chat with photographers, win prizes and much more.
Login or Join Now
New to ePHOTOzine? Join ePHOTOzine for free!
Join Our Free Newsletter
Awards
Current Competitions
foliopic 'Movement' Competition
1st May 2012 - 31st May 2012
This month's competition theme is 'Movement' which can be interpreted in a number of ways. You could photograph an animal running, a person walking or a car speeding...Featured e2 Photo
Featured Directory Listing
May's Photo Month
Check out ePHOTOzine's inspirational photo month calendar! Each day click on a window to unveil new photography tips, treats and techniques.
Interact
Photography Gallery Photography Forums Recent Forum Activity Members' Meetings Members' BlogsSearch ePHOTOzine
Having trouble or would like to make a suggestion? Create a report
Calibrate your monitor so you can see 16 different shades.
ePHOTOzine © 2001 - 2012 Magezine Publishing | Contact Us | Site Map | Top