Nosaj Loc: Sarasota, Florida

Here is JD Power's First place winner in their DSLR buyers choice (satisfaction) award for 2012:
http://www.jdpower.com/consumer-ratings/electronics/ratings/909201313/2012-Digital+Single-Lens+Reflex+Camera+Online+Buyer+Report/index.htm

To many on this web site, the result will be very surprising because 90% are Nikon/Canon buyers, followed by a few Sony and Olympus buyers. Also, check out the review of the K30 in the June issue of Shutterbug (should give those thinking about the Nikon 3200, Canon 4Ti, etc. something to read).

tramsey Loc: Texas

I wonder why Sony is at the bottom when Panasonic has worse ratings?

BHC Loc: Strawberry Valley, JF, USA

Why is Nikon below Canon? Who cares? I'm just devastated by the ratings Panasonic received. I won't say it's the greatest, but I think some of those ratings have been poorly researched.

I just found out something. Click on the blue column titles to sort by column; that moves sony up.

It has been my experience with automobiles that J. D. Powers is not always the most trustworthy source of consumer advice. I wonder how they do their ratings.

rebel hiker Loc: Sanford, FLorida & Banner Elk, North Carolina

!!!! The list is alphabetical.

flathead27ford Loc: Colorado, North of Greeley

I, too, was really surprised at how low Panasonic scored. Cheers.

BHC Loc: Strawberry Valley, JF, USA

In what alphabet does "P" precede "C"?

JonD Loc: Frisco, TX

I was surprised by this and thus went to the website and read how the ratings were done. Via survey of those who had purchased "a dslr" via an e-commerce site...

Are you kidding? Comparing the limited Pentax line of DSLR's with those of Nikon and Canon is going to produce nonsense even though the numerical rating difference between these three lines alone is so small as to be meaningless.

All this having been said, JD Power continues to rake in the dough associated with these phony ratings.

Just for the record, I think Pentax cameras are great--my first SLR was a Spotmatic. Also, for the record, I recommend other sources--many routinely mentioned on UHH--to evaluate photo equipment.

Nosaj Loc: Sarasota, Florida

JD Powers does not "rate" cameras; they do not examine and test them (like Consumer Reports, and professional photography reviewer web sites). They're the messenger; they report findings. In this case, the online buyers (consumers) of DSLRs did the ratings, i.e., a customer satisfaction survey. If people have a probelm with this JD Powers report, their beef is with the online buyers of DSLRs who participated in the survey; not with the reporting agency.

mremery Loc: From Maine, living in Virginia

Pentax was the winner, it was listed first. After that, everything is alphabetized.

Nosaj Loc: Sarasota, Florida

I think the winner is the group of online Pentax buyers who reported high satisfaction to the JD Powers survey. There are some who look at the results and conclude that JD Powers did the rating when, in fact, they are only reporting the ratings provided by the buyers of DSLR brands listed on the results.

Dun1 Loc: Atlanta, GA

Jay dog you are so correct, their information is based on consumer satisfaction surveys. So the rule is you only can get out of a survey what you put in.
I use reviews and surveys as a ruler to make purchases of my hard earned camera budget money and try to make the best decisions based on my actual experience with a camera.
I find that you can read and read reviews, one of the largest camera review sites dpreview is owned my Amazon, not that might skew the ratings in favor purchasing on Amazons website.
So ask yourself how many times have you made a purchase from Amazon and many websites and then asked to review the item, of course early own in the the ownership, and usually accompanied by an offer of a card of discount on a future purchase.
I usually find that my purchases a governed by my gut feeling, and usually when I say to myself, "Well, you have never had that brand, or that model received low reviews, and purchase the item after long term use I might say to myself, "Duh, you went against your gut feeling when you right clicked and bought in a fit of peak, you should have trusted your gut feeling, along with your budget and needs

Nosaj Loc: Sarasota, Florida

Thanks for your comments. I agree with the "gut issue" point. This web site is loaded with many Canon and Nikon owners who probably bought their DSLRs out of name brand recognition. If they want to question ratings, they should ask why did Popular Photography give their best camera of the year award to Sony for two consecutive years? Also, I've seen long, technical ratings where the Pentax K5 came out slightly ahead of the Canon 60D, 7D and Nikon 7000. I've seen other ratings that gave a "best" performer to the new Olympus OM-D. The point is that the DSLR world is populated with a number of high quality products and brands, and people should not be taking these ratings so personally.