Can anyone explain what on Earth DXOMark is on about?

[Don Haines]

As far as I know, DxO tests just one copy of a lens. Given Sigma's reputed less-than-stellar QC (not than Canon/Nikon are perfect, far from it). So, perhaps not errors on DxO's part, but rather copy variability as seen in Roger Cicala's testing of his rental stock.

This is my problem with DxO... to only test one sample is to get a meaningless number...... did they test the best one ever produced or the worst? What is the range? What is typical? It's a lot like looking at the road, the first car that drives by is red, and saying that all cars are red......

Roger Cicala tests dozens of copies of a lens... he can tell you what the best and worst are and where you should reasonably expect a "normal" copy to lie.

 

[Aglet]

So, while more is awesome, can't we be happy with what we've already got?

as long as options exist,
never, ever, settle.
Strive for better.
/philosophy