Are comparison tests unbiased?? I have been visiting the Snapsort web site comparing various cameras and am surprised to see the Nikon D750 rated HIGHER than the D810 and the Canon 5...

Bob55 Loc: Valhalla NY

I have been visiting the Snapsort web site comparing various cameras and am surprised to see the Nikon D750 rated HIGHER than the D810 and the Canon 5 Mark 3 and the D1 which are much more expensive. Now I am more confused than before. Are these web sites unbiased? How much influence should these evaluations have over my purchase, should I decide to buy a new camera? Thanks in advance to all replies from my fellow hogs.

Cdouthitt Loc: Traverse City, MI

Bob55 wrote:

I have been visiting the Snapsort web site comparing various cameras and am surprised to see the Nikon D750 rated HIGHER than the D810 and the Canon 5 Mark 3 and the D1 which are much more expensive. Now I am more confused than before. Are these web sites unbiased? How much influence should these evaluations have over my purchase, should I decide to buy a new camera? Thanks in advance to all replies from my fellow hogs.

For snapsort the only thing I look at is the bottom numbers (and perhaps the size and weight of the camera). For example see the image below. The popularity factors don't mean squat to me.

G Brown Loc: Sunny Bognor Regis West Sussex UK

everything in life is biased - somewhere along the line.

every camera works - some work better in some conditions than others

some people like / hate particular aspects of photography 'as it stands today' because of the limits in technology.

not every gizmo is needed nor appreciated.

canvas a hundred people who own cameras - how many know how to use them and how many use every attribute of their chosen camera. count on the fingers of one hand......probably

At the end of the day it will be your eyes that judge your own results and then decide what is good or could be better.

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

Bob55 wrote:

I have been visiting the Snapsort web site comparing various cameras and am surprised to see the Nikon D750 rated HIGHER than the D810 and the Canon 5 Mark 3 and the D1 which are much more expensive. Now I am more confused than before. Are these web sites unbiased? How much influence should these evaluations have over my purchase, should I decide to buy a new camera? Thanks in advance to all replies from my fellow hogs.

Snapsort.com is a good comparison site, so long as you don't put much stock in their final "Rating" but just use it to compare features side by side.
The big problem with their comparison rating is the way in which they achieve it, one category is "popularity" and that is a totally undefined parameter (they claim it is based on worldwide sales figures).
Just remember that Snapsort is an "unscientific" comparison site and you will do well when using it.

mtparker Loc: Cape Charles & Springfield, Virginia

I expect a review of a DSLR to be a combination of bench results and field relevance (hands on use). It doesn't have to be 400 pages like a few of Thom Hogan's but, it shouldn't be a quickie non-techie site either. Snapsort is not nearly informative enough for me. Nifty features do not necessarily produce better performance.

Using the sample comparison of the Nikon D750 and D800, check out DPReview, Photozone, DxOMark, Thom Hogan, and any other review sites you'd care to trust. They all have their own methods and styles but the cream tends to rise to the top.

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

Bob55 wrote:

I have been visiting the Snapsort web site comparing various cameras and am surprised to see the Nikon D750 rated HIGHER than the D810 and the Canon 5 Mark 3 and the D1 which are much more expensive. Now I am more confused than before. Are these web sites unbiased? How much influence should these evaluations have over my purchase, should I decide to buy a new camera? Thanks in advance to all replies from my fellow hogs.

Bob, a lot of this is going to come down to just how experienced you are. Some of those sites are great for beginners that are completely lost when they start.
Figure out what you will shoot and what you think is important to you then go from there.
Snapsort even gives points for popularity!! :lol:
DXO is great for by-the-numbers, if those are the numbers that are important to you.
Personally I look at comprehensive testing. DPreview, DigitalCameraWorld, even Ken Rockwell. For Canon I rely on The Digital Picture.
Just Googling you will find lots of them. It's pretty easy to tell which ones are legit. Lately I always try to find something on Lens Rentals as well. They deal with every lens and camera out there and the cream always rises to the top!
Don't just look at the cameras, they all need lenses and customer service as well. Good luck ;-)
SS

Bob55 Loc: Valhalla NY

Thanks to all of you for the quick responses. That helps me put these reviews in perspective. I read this site daily and admire the broad knowledge and advice given by most of you. Three cheers for the UHH!

joer Loc: Colorado/Illinois

Bob55 wrote:

I have been visiting the Snapsort web site comparing various cameras and am surprised to see the Nikon D750 rated HIGHER than the D810 and the Canon 5 Mark 3 and the D1 which are much more expensive. Now I am more confused than before. Are these web sites unbiased? How much influence should these evaluations have over my purchase, should I decide to buy a new camera? Thanks in advance to all replies from my fellow hogs.

Biased??? :lol:

Keep in mind that the main purpose for just about all sites is to advertise for their sponsors.

Bob55 Loc: Valhalla NY

joer wrote:

Biased??? :lol:

Keep in mind that the main purpose for just about all sites is to advertise for their sponsors.

Good thought, thank you.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Bob55 wrote:

I have been visiting the Snapsort web site comparing various cameras and am surprised to see the Nikon D750 rated HIGHER than the D810 and the Canon 5 Mark 3 and the D1 which are much more expensive. Now I am more confused than before. Are these web sites unbiased? How much influence should these evaluations have over my purchase, should I decide to buy a new camera? Thanks in advance to all replies from my fellow hogs.

I use snapsort and also the comparison feature of dpreview, but only for features. I never bother with the score that snapsort gives. What's it based on? A different scoring system could result in a different score.

Seeing two cameras compared side-by-side can point up differences that are important to one potential buyer but not to another.

As for other reviews, if a reviewer says he like the feel of one camera more another, that's irrelevant to me. I like factual comparisons.

Matt Granger used to be called "That Nikon Guy," but he dropped that title. He does lots of good reviews on youTube.

http://www.youtube.com/user/thatnikonguy

Bob55 Loc: Valhalla NY

jerryc41 wrote:

I use snapsort and also the comparison feature of ... (show quote)

Thanks Jerry, I will visit some other sites and take my time before giving in to my GAS. Also, I will take a trip to Manhattan and get a feel for the cameras.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Bob55 wrote:

Thanks Jerry, I will visit some other sites and take my time before giving in to my GAS. Also, I will take a trip to Manhattan and get a feel for the cameras.

Enjoy the experience.