Best of... TOSS IT!!!
Apr 6, 2021 07:25:27 #
[quote=dumbo]
Ah ha - so you are a professional reviewer/researcher. Here is part of a review of a camera lens by imaging-reource.com, reviewing a Panny lens (G X Vario 14-42, f3.5/5.6, PZ).
"There is one anomaly worth noting that didn't show up in our lab testing, but showed up in our review of the Panasonic GX1 camera, with the 14-42mm ƒ/3.5-5.6 X lens attached. We noted that there is some strange blurring that occurred at the 1/160s and 1/200s shutter speed settings, regardless of whether image stabilization was or was not employed. We did not see this blurriness when the camera was locked down on a stable tripod, it's only when the camera body can vibrate in response to the shutter motion that the lens picks it up and makes the blur worse. So - if you're shooting hand-held, you may want to avoid the 1/160 or 1/200 shutter speed settings, if you can."
For this Camera Fault they marked the lens down to 3/5 stars, but on their own admission the fault was with a camera, not the lens under review, which is designed to fit all M4/3 cameras. So what does that say for the "pro reviewer"? Other reviewers awarded either 4 or 4.5 stars.
Rongnongno wrote:
I have been reading quite a lot br br Evidently R... (show quote)
Ah ha - so you are a professional reviewer/researcher. Here is part of a review of a camera lens by imaging-reource.com, reviewing a Panny lens (G X Vario 14-42, f3.5/5.6, PZ).
"There is one anomaly worth noting that didn't show up in our lab testing, but showed up in our review of the Panasonic GX1 camera, with the 14-42mm ƒ/3.5-5.6 X lens attached. We noted that there is some strange blurring that occurred at the 1/160s and 1/200s shutter speed settings, regardless of whether image stabilization was or was not employed. We did not see this blurriness when the camera was locked down on a stable tripod, it's only when the camera body can vibrate in response to the shutter motion that the lens picks it up and makes the blur worse. So - if you're shooting hand-held, you may want to avoid the 1/160 or 1/200 shutter speed settings, if you can."
For this Camera Fault they marked the lens down to 3/5 stars, but on their own admission the fault was with a camera, not the lens under review, which is designed to fit all M4/3 cameras. So what does that say for the "pro reviewer"? Other reviewers awarded either 4 or 4.5 stars.
Apr 6, 2021 07:26:27 #
Apr 6, 2021 07:29:37 #
Paid to research information?
or paid to analyze a product?
or paid to analyze a product?
Apr 6, 2021 08:49:16 #
Gatorcoach wrote:
Didn't Mary Wells also say, "Nothing you can say can tear me away from my guy?" That's her "best of.."
HA!! That was indeed, her "best of"...
Apr 6, 2021 09:05:20 #
Apr 6, 2021 09:12:15 #
Rongnongno wrote:
I have been reading quite a bit lately doing resea... (show quote)
I don't toss reviews - whether they are funded/sponsored by the products they deem to be "the best" or they are done by truly independent reviewers. All too often reviewers are handed the result and paid to justify it by extolling the focus product's features and benefits while being hyper-critical of the competition. Either way, there is often something of value to be gleaned from them. Using your restaurant analogy - reading between the lines of a review can be very revealing, and no, I would not put much faith into a vegan's take on a steak house, any more than I would if a carnivore were to review Vedic restaurant. However, being an omnivore and loving food and food prep - you can always count on me to give you the straight story on either, and everything in between.
Apr 6, 2021 09:13:59 #
[quote=dumbo]
Even Consumer Reports has their own biases - ie the things that they believe are valuable vs what the specific/individual consumer may value. Their reviews of automobiles are particularly poor in many respects compared to some of the better and more insightful automobile publications. Consumer Reports once rated Jaguar as one of the most reliable automobiles (knowledgeable foreign car owners just laughed) because it supposedly had the fewest reported problems per car sold. What they omitted of course was the severity of the issue and that the average price to repair each of those problems was 3x the cost of a “less reliable” brand. I might look at their data to quickly compare the base price and option cost for a number of vehicles, but I would NEVER chose one based on their recommendation.
Rongnongno wrote:
I have been reading quite a lot br br Evidently R... (show quote)
Even Consumer Reports has their own biases - ie the things that they believe are valuable vs what the specific/individual consumer may value. Their reviews of automobiles are particularly poor in many respects compared to some of the better and more insightful automobile publications. Consumer Reports once rated Jaguar as one of the most reliable automobiles (knowledgeable foreign car owners just laughed) because it supposedly had the fewest reported problems per car sold. What they omitted of course was the severity of the issue and that the average price to repair each of those problems was 3x the cost of a “less reliable” brand. I might look at their data to quickly compare the base price and option cost for a number of vehicles, but I would NEVER chose one based on their recommendation.
Apr 6, 2021 11:05:43 #
mikegreenwald
Loc: Illinois
While I largely agree with this post, reviews are helpful when considering new gear in a couple of ways. First, they point out weaknesses that you can then access for yourself. For example, if several different reviewers say "XXX camera worked great for 200 shots, but then the YYY component broke down," that's something I probably wouldn't learn from trying the gear for a few minutes or even an hour or two. Second, if trying a brand or a store that I've not used before, I probably can't learn first hand what level of service nor level at which they stand behind their equipment.
Reviews have limits, but they also have useful purposes!
Reviews have limits, but they also have useful purposes!
Apr 6, 2021 13:04:17 #
kenArchi
Loc: Seal Beach, CA
4 star or silver award review, comparing 4/3 to APS. REALLY?
If it's a 4/3 camera review compare to another 4/3 camera!
If it's a 4/3 camera review compare to another 4/3 camera!
Apr 6, 2021 13:30:58 #
SteveFranz
Loc: Durham, NC
When I'm looking a online reviews I like to also check the unfavorable reviews. Most of them are sour grapes - didn't read the instructions, ordered the wrong item ect. What I key into is any common factors in the unfavorables. Such as On/Off Switch breaking, flimsy case, short battery life, ect.
Apr 6, 2021 13:52:38 #
Urnst
Loc: Brownsville, Texas
gvarner wrote:
The "best" is whatever makes you happy. My wife is the best. 😊
Bet you got a new lens out of that sweet comment!
Apr 6, 2021 14:24:09 #
kenArchi wrote:
4 star or silver award review, comparing 4/3 to APS. REALLY?
If it's a 4/3 camera review compare to another 4/3 camera!
If it's a 4/3 camera review compare to another 4/3 camera!
Not much help for those wishing to decide between the two?
Apr 6, 2021 14:25:36 #
Delderby wrote:
Not much help for those wishing to decide between the two?
Apr 6, 2021 14:33:48 #
Apr 6, 2021 14:44:25 #
Longshadow wrote:
I've always purported that best is relative!
Your best and my best may not be equally the best.
Relative to the person who thinks it's the best.
I've always purported that best is relative!
Your best and my best may not be equally the best.
Relative to the person who thinks it's the best.
Its probably best not to suggest your best is the best there is available
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