Eff Ess in Ess Eff

Yesterday, someone pointed out the widely disparate views 2 on-line critics expressed on the same camera. Since I don't buy much expensive gear, I don't watch much on-line criticism and haven't formed ideas about possible bias by evaluators.
I'm considering a major purchase soon...a full-censor mirrorless camera and lens...and would value UHH members' more sophisticated opinions as to which reviewers they consider reliable and (at least relatively) unbiased. So I'm asking you to give me your opinions on who you trust/distrust and why. I realize that responses may be all over the board, so I'll try to look for consensus in the answers.
I'm not asking for opinions on cameras now, as I need to do some more homework first.
Thanks in advance for your advice.
Frank

deer2ker Loc: Nashville, TN

No expert - that out of the way, since you want FF (and Fuji -my pick -doesn't have one LOL) I would suggest a Sony. I researched mirrorless cameras to death (until my husband had enough and said "choose one now!") I was very impressed with their cameras. Now if you have a lot of Canon lenses, you should definitely weigh out the pros and cons with their mirrorless. Not too impressed with the Nikon (and I love my D5500) but they may get all the bugs out of the way soon. You've got some great choices but if I had to pick and had a lot of money, I would go with the Sony!

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

MOST online reviewers are brand fanboys, and many reviewers have not even had their hands on the actual product they are reviewing but merely forming their own opinions based on manufacturers specs.
Make sure whatever review you read is done by someone who has hands on and is actually comparing different brands live and side by side.
I seldom pay any attention to online reviews and much more prefer to get my hands on and see for myself.

IDguy Loc: Idaho

You’ll do better to first decide your critera: what matters most. And then pay attention to whatever any critic has to say on that.

IMHO the critic reviewers are far worse than any of the camera reviewers. Most add nothing to our knowledge but have developed hate relationahips towards certain reviewers; e.g. Rockwell and Northrup, both of whom I appreciate but neither of whose views I accept completely.

I also find online reviews and comparisons from dpReview, DXOMark, and Snapsort usefull. dpReview has some camera collection booklets you might start with.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

I agree with MT. Do you have a knowledgeable, local camera store where you can get your hands on the major FF brands and talk to knowledgable professionals? That would be my suggestion.

DWU2 Loc: Phoenix Arizona area

Does a "full-censor" mirrorless camera only take blacked-out pictures?

JD750 Loc: SoCal

A full censor camera? I guess you won't be posting in the boudoir category. ;)

When I research a product I like to read different reviews and watch different videos. One of the sites I consider more reputable, is PhotographyLife.

boberic Loc: Quiet Corner, Connecticut. Ex long Islander

I wouldn't buy an expensive item like a camera without handling it first.

deer2ker Loc: Nashville, TN

I totally agree! I held and shot (at my local camera store) every camera they had (just about lol) - sooo important!

unlucky2 Loc: Hemet Ca.

There is a fellow here reviewing his new EOS R. Seems to be a fair review in that it does not appear to be a paid review. He has not yet delved into my area of greatest interest, that of its low light ability and its supposed ability to auto focus past f8 (as in a 5.6 lens with a 2x TC), but maybe in time he will. A very different perspective than the paid reviews I have followed. Like you I have a bit of difficulty separating the wheat from the chaff in most reviews and it is nice to read about real owners/users experience. Maybe searches here on the equipment you are most interested in will return the same results.

joer Loc: Colorado/Illinois

I'm not an expert on cameras but I tend to watch almost all the available reviews even though I'll not buy.

In my opinion where most reviews fail is that the reviewer evaluates the camera based on their experience, needs or preferences and over look the intended target for the product. Few are the reviewers that understand what segment of the market is targeted.

If you can get past the exaggerated performance claims that so often make it difficult to determine where the camera fits you can put it in prospective and decide intelligently.

BebuLamar

Depend on what you are looking for.
1. If you look for image quality, focusing performance and frame rate I would look for those reviewer who has a highly scientific lab for testing like DxO, DPReview etc...
2. Feature wise I would go for the manufacturer specs and owner's manual. Yes read the owner's manual before you even go check the camera in person.
3. Handling I would go the the store and check it out.
4. Reliability is the most difficult one because you can only have those information after the camera is available for some years which you may not want it any more.
5. Most importantly trust yourself.

larryepage Loc: North Texas area

I have found over the years that buying based on reviews done by others can be dangerous business (for me). As an experienced amateur, it matters very little to me what a professional reviewer thinks about a piece of camera equipment. I have my own distinct style and process around photography. It is different from that of most other folks, at least in the details, and because it works for me, i have little to no interest in changing what I do, even though there have been a few exceptions over the past months and years.

As an example, a year and a half ago, there was a huge flurry over the impending, then later the recent introduction of the D850, in which I had some interest. I do not recall one review that was useful, because they all just gushed over the "fact" that the D850 was the best DSLR (maybe the best camera) ever introduced in the history of the world. I waited until last August, when I was able to calmly hold and inspect one that was in stock at my local camera store. Turns out it is a nice camera. Has some nice features and additions beyond the D810. But nothing really revolutionary. And it also has some real design misses and mistakes, at least for me. But I decided to buy one, and I'm glad I have it. If I had blindly done so in the midst of all the hype, I'd have been really disappointed. As it is, I'm glad to have it, even though it is back at Nikon right now for repair of the failure of one of those new features.

I do read reviews. But I go straight to the unfavorable ones. After trying to decide which of those address valid problems, I assemble a list and try to determine whether they represent real problems or just purchaser inexperience or reviewer bias. If the problems flagged are real, I then work to decide whether they are important to me. I never allow them to overwrite my own judgement.

Good luck as you proceed with your research and purchase decision.

BebuLamar

If I were to make my purchase based on reviews I wouldn't buy my Nikon Df. It has the highest number of negative reviews among all cameras. What I got out of these reviewers is first the image quality is good, it performs well in low light, color rendition is good. If found this to be true. The AF is so so and I found it's good enough for me. The frame rate is also so so but can sustain rather long burst and it's just what I need. The battery life is decent which I found is adequate for me. The feature set has the most negative review but I decide on this based on the user's manual, my preference and trying out the camera at local store. After more than 4 years the camera has problem with the metering circuit and has to be sent to Nikon for service. It's unexpected but none of the reviewers could have predicted that.

mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey

Getting a consensus of views is always better than juat following the advice of one or two "experts".