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Hi Guys
Just read the recent comparison review of the EOS 7D and Pentax K7 in AP this week and I'm a little irritated at the results. I've been reading the magazine for many years and have always liked the impartial way they have reviewed products but the recent reviews of the EOS 7D vs the Pentax K7 and also the EOS 5D vs the Alpha 850 have left me rather irritated.
In both cases the cameras compared have received very close or even identical scores, the Sony and Canon test had both cameras scoring equally!!! Looking at the image quality and noise results for these show both Canon cameras to be streets ahead in noise and at least equal for other parameters such as dynamic range, yet they achieve the same score in the image quality result! Not what I would call impartial. In the case of the EOS 7D test the Canon demonstrated a clear 2 stop advantage with noise control from the sample images and graph printed in the magazine yet the break down in scores shows them as equal!
I'm all for competition in the market place and Pentax, Sony and the other brands are showing some good technology and innovation in the DSLR market place, BUT.... I would say in terms of pure image quality and especially in noise control Canon and Nikon are at least two generations ahead. My EOS 20D of 2005 vintage controls noise as well across its full range as any camera produced currently by Sony, Olympus, Panasonic or Pentax. The EOS 5D that I currently use is bettered only by the Nikon D700 and D3 cameras in terms of noise control nothing produced by Sony, Pentax, Olympus or Panasonic are even close to this kind of performance above ISO 1600 or so.
It is understandable that magazines want to boost the sales of important brands such as Pentax et al but if people are using these articles as guides then this should not be a factor and total impartiality should prevail. Surely the image quality is the most important factor for most when choosing a camera.
Anyone else irritated at these recent reviews in AP in the last few weeks?
The probability is that any of the cameras mentioned will produce excellent work in the field with very little, if any, perceivable difference in the results obtained.
My advice to a potential buyer would to choose the one that suits you best and has the features you want.
jas
How can you judge image quality by looking at images in a magazine, or even here on epz ?
I often look at those comparison type images and really struggle to spot any differences.
As for better noise control at 1600 ASA and above.. How often do you use those high ISO's ?
For me having spent over 25 years with 50 ASA film now having 100 as the lowest ASA is quite a novelty and only ventured to 200 ASA a few times in almost a year 
Quote: As for better noise control at 1600 ASA and above.. How often do you use those high ISO's ?
Exactly 
On ocasions I might go as high as 800 iso, and that`s pretty rare.
Any iso higher will be for effect, grain etc, Something that`s lacking in all dslr`s so for me pretty useless
Quote: How often do you use those high ISO's ?
That will really depend on what you shoot. Surely?
For me, the lighting is considered good if I can drop the camera as low as ISO800.
It may be that AP's scoring system is weighted towards the quality at lower ISOs if their outlook on photography is the same as Jeff and Paul's.
As most reviews are based on the opinion of the person writing, the result will be subject to what they find important. If the reviewer's name is given, I often like to search out examples of their work to see where they're coming from.
Quote: As for better noise control at 1600 ASA and above.. How often do you use those high ISO's ?
For me having spent over 25 years with 50 ASA film now having 100 as the lowest ASA is quite a novelty and only ventured to 200 ASA a few times in almost a year
I shoot a fair bit at night and the odd wedding that is often artifically lit by room light only, no flash as its too intrusive IMHO. Getting results that will comfortably print to A3 at iso 3200 and even 6400 is very useful. Only Canon an Nikon offer this level of noise control. I processed some friends images from a Pentax (k20d if I recall correctly) some shot at iso 1600. This was long before I had got my hands on an EOS 5D mk2 and I was staggered at how much noise there was in comparisson to my humble EOS 20D. It makes you realise whay Canon and Nikon have the lions share of the market, image quality wise there really is no contest.
If you want to be totally impartial, then a review should not draw any conclusions or make any comparisons. It should simply deliver the facts as they are, without judgement.
The reader is then obliged to apply their own weighting to each criteria and make an informed decision on any product as to how it suits their own particular needs.
Of far greater significance than any individual camera or lens you choose is the system they belong to rather than the quality or performance of any single element.
So the bigger question is whether a Canon system (or Nikon, SONY, Olympus, etc) is more suitable for YOU than say, as in this example... Pentax.
Cathal, I agree in principal but then the magazine really should not even compare such products against onle another. This would be no fun and lead to no discussion over actual performace issues! Its good to talk about these things so perhaps totoaly impartiality is not the way forward.
Wrinting a conclusion that supports the evidence presented in the article would be nice though!
I understand your point fully Ghibby, but often such comparisons are meaningless. For example, comparing Nikon, Olympus and Canon lenses is of limited value as the majority of people will be in one or other camp. Yes, it helps if you are deciding which system to invest in, but you are still relying on the reviewer being totally impartial.
On the other hand, a group test of, for example £99 compacts, or tripods, is less contentious, although you are at the mercy of the reviewers impartiality.
You do need to read any review and add your own weighting to each criteria though. High ISO noise could be a deal-breaker for one customer, where as another might fall by the wayside on frame rate, shutter speed and so on.
Only you know what's right for you.
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