Canon 7D Mark II - DXO, Tony Northrup, and You

ahsanford

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Aug 16, 2012
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Our favorite long video gear talker ::) has chimed in on the DXO ratings for the 7D II.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FTuBr0W0Zhw

Where's my popcorn, dammit...

- A
 
Choice quotes:

"37% is a whole lot more! We'll get more into that later."

"It's maybe 1/3 of a stop better, which is maybe 26% better."

"We're going to get real nerdy here, so brace yourself geeks."

"Bigger buckets gather more rain."

"It's like saying you like Key Lime pie."

Arbitrarily changes sign conventions in comparisons. Awesome.

- A
 
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I appreciate that he did all this sussing out of what the comparisons really signify as a means of clarifying an inaccurate assumption he'd made in a video he made a night or two before.

In that previous video, he was looking at comparisons up on the monitor, and incorrectly assumed he had been successful in turning off all noise reduction in the 7d2 + DPP combo he'd used to get the images onto his computer.

I like that he explicitly pointed that out and went the extra mile to explain the actual difference (which was less than he'd assumed earlier). I took it to be a stand-up way of doing it.

The main points (1- the DXO data is good; 2- that their "overall" rating interpretation, however is not a good overall measure; and, finally, that the 7D2 is improved where it really counts) appear to be good ones, well justified. I haven't seen anyone else make these or opposing points as well.
 
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The main points (1- the DXO data is good; 2- that their "overall" rating interpretation, however is not a good overall measure; and, finally, that the 7D2 is improved where it really counts) appear to be good ones, well justified. I haven't seen anyone else make these or opposing points as well.

That'd be a first for Tony- I'm still remembering his AF comparison between the 5D III and D810 using Tamron's 24-70/2.8 VC. And I actually don't mind his presentation so much as that he seems to be reaching well beyond his own knowledge in his videos.

(he also didn't seem to understand why people thought that the D8x0-series had Sony sensors in them while commenting on the same video...)
 
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Hanibal49 said:
I think that he makes excellent videos and I do not understand that bashing here

In the first Northrup video I watched (which immediately became the last and only one I'll watch), he and his co-host basically concluded that the Canon 5D Mark III was probably ok for non-pros posting their pictures to Facebook. Really, really excellent. ::)
 
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I see a lot of folks sharing this information - and unless you are a professional and really know how to evaluate it, we have to be careful what we hear and watch, and then apply.

Don't get me wrong, it's great to share our experiences. But the real test of all this "camera stuff' is to go out and shoot images, with your own settings and technique (use these threads, posts and comments to assist) and then look at a print image.

That's the only way anyone can tell if a camera suits that person. We all have different experience and different goals, and different technique. THE PRINT !! That's how you judge a camera ...

Lots of folks talk about variation in electronics at a level that really is s minute, it can't possibly matter and ignores the fact that all the components work together and produce that image. One part of it taken alone means very little in the final product. Capturing that data, and transferring it to a useful configuration -- the camera and operator do that -- then the PP takes over and tweaks that data to create the final image. Desn't matter how it does that, as long as it does it ...

I'm betting once a set of prints lays out on the table - same settings, same image, different cameras - you won't be able to tell which camera shot it ... Canon, Nikon, Sony ...

It's nice to understand the process, but the most effective part of any image is the one who pushes that shutter.
(Despite that fact we recently had a monkey push that shutter on one of the most controversial images lately :) )
 
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neuroanatomist said:
Hanibal49 said:
I think that he makes excellent videos and I do not understand that bashing here

In the first Northrup video I watched (which immediately became the last and only one I'll watch), he and his co-host basically concluded that the Canon 5D Mark III was probably ok for non-pros posting their pictures to Facebook. Really, really excellent. ::)

It seems like he thinks someone needs to be the Carl Sagan (or perhaps Neil DeGrasse-Tyson) and fill the void between the data and the masses' interpretation of it. I admit, the less-well-read people out there could certainly use the help.

But this man seems under-read technically to pull that off. I'm sure he can work a camera, but his explanations are really off-target at times.

I nominate Neuro, Jrista and anyone else over 3000 posts to fill the void. The world needs you.

- A
 
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neuroanatomist said:
Hanibal49 said:
I think that he makes excellent videos and I do not understand that bashing here

In the first Northrup video I watched (which immediately became the last and only one I'll watch), he and his co-host basically concluded that the Canon 5D Mark III was probably ok for non-pros posting their pictures to Facebook. Really, really excellent. ::)


He really said that? Yikes...that's nuts. I have my issues with the 5D III, and there are things about it that BUG THE CRAP out of me...but I have no doubt it's a professional grade DSLR.
 
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I am not a huge Northrop fan and I find their videos often quite lengthy, but in this one I really appreciate T. N.'s very good explanation of the DxO ranking system from a user's viewpoint. It is quite absurd for DSLRs made for action shooting such as the 7D2. The bad thing about DxO is that they might prevent customers from getting just the right camera for their purposes with their verdicts. Fortunately in this case, potential users of DSLRs such as a 7D2 are typically quite well informed...
 
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jrista said:
He really said that? Yikes...that's nuts.

Not really, no. The context makes it pretty clear they are saying there is no reason to switch from Canon to Nikon unless you need the absolute best IQ. The wording was clumsy but you'd have to really have an axe to grind to think they were dogging on the 5DIII.

[sub]Will the CR admins delete this comment too? Lets find out![/sub]
 
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Steve said:
jrista said:
He really said that? Yikes...that's nuts.

Not really, no. The context makes it pretty clear they are saying there is no reason to switch from Canon to Nikon unless you need the absolute best IQ. The wording was clumsy but you'd have to really have an axe to grind to think they were dogging on the 5DIII.

[sub]Will the CR admins delete this comment too? Lets find out![/sub]

They also deleted my comment praising your fairness and eloquence.
 
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LSV said:
Steve said:
jrista said:
He really said that? Yikes...that's nuts.

Not really, no. The context makes it pretty clear they are saying there is no reason to switch from Canon to Nikon unless you need the absolute best IQ. The wording was clumsy but you'd have to really have an axe to grind to think they were dogging on the 5DIII.

Will the CR admins delete this comment too? Lets find out!

They also deleted my comment praising your fairness and eloquence.


I think it was the, um, rumphurt stuff. :P
 
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jrista said:
LSV said:
Steve said:
jrista said:
He really said that? Yikes...that's nuts.

Not really, no. The context makes it pretty clear they are saying there is no reason to switch from Canon to Nikon unless you need the absolute best IQ. The wording was clumsy but you'd have to really have an axe to grind to think they were dogging on the 5DIII.

Will the CR admins delete this comment too? Lets find out!

They also deleted my comment praising your fairness and eloquence.


I think it was the, um, rumphurt stuff. :P

Sure, I understand that, but I've heard more colorful language from old church ladies. :D
 
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