Which magazine ratings of DSLRs and CSCs

[AlanF]

The UK Consumer Association magazine “Which” has just rated DSLRs and compact systems cameras for the April edition. The scoring is independent of price and is 45% for IQ, 30% for ease of use, 10% for viewfinder, 10% for video and 5% for flash.

For DSLRs: #1 is the Nikon DF (but no video); 2, Canon 5DIII; and 3 Canon 700D. The Nikon 7200 is in 5th place, 810 in 6th and Canon 6D in 7th. The 70D and 7DII are not even mentioned. For the CSCs, the Canon EOS M10 is a best buy in 5th place, pipping the Olympus OM-D E-M1. (Panasonics GH4 and GX8 are 1 and 2). The overall best buy is the 700D.

Some eyebrows must surely be raised. We are not exactly Nikon and Olympus fanboys here, but give some credit where credit is due.

 

[aj1575]

These magazines are living from advertisement (not from the people buying them). They actually sell the reader to the company who buy advertising-space in these magazines. So the big companies with big advertisement budget like good publicity. So ask yourself what they are going to write.

Just read a german car magazine; cars from other countries are always worse, then the germans. The same probably goes for france, where Opel will never beat a Renault. Its the companies who pay for the advertisement, who give the direction of these comparisons.

 

[ajfotofilmagem]

The UK Consumer Association magazine “Which” has just rated DSLRs and compact systems cameras for the April edition. The scoring is independent of price and is 45% for IQ, 30% for ease of use, 10% for viewfinder, 10% for video and 5% for flash.

For DSLRs: #1 is the Nikon DF

Nikon DF?
;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

 

[rfdesigner]

These magazines are living from advertisement (not from the people buying them). They actually sell the reader to the company who buy advertising-space in these magazines. So the big companies with big advertisement budget like good publicity. So ask yourself what they are going to write.

Just read a german car magazine; cars from other countries are always worse, then the germans. The same probably goes for france, where Opel will never beat a Renault. Its the companies who pay for the advertisement, who give the direction of these comparisons.

For pretty much every other mag on the planet I'd agree.. but Which?.. I'm not so sure, they're a bit unusual.

They generally do a pretty good job of testing things more or less to destruction, I know of one or two people over here who have subscribed, and they weren't the gullible types.

Also it's quite expensive.. I'm not sure how much advertising they carry, they're certainly very well known over here.

 

[unfocused]

These magazines are living from advertisement (not from the people buying them). They actually sell the reader to the company who buy advertising-space in these magazines. So the big companies with big advertisement budget like good publicity. So ask yourself what they are going to write...

Are you sure about that?

It looks like the UK Consumer Association magazine is very similar to the U.S. Consumer Reports. An independent testing association that carries no advertising and accepts no corporate support.

My complaint about Consumer Reports has always been that they seem to test to the lowest common denominator. Very good for products that you don't know or care that much about (for example a refrigerator, stove or washing machine).

But, if you are an enthusiast, their ratings may not reflect your priorities. For me, a stereo review from Consumer Reports might be just fine because I really don't care, so long as it plays my CDs. But, if you are a audiophile, it isn't of much use because you probably have very specific things you are looking for. Similarly, a camera review might be great guidance for someone who is just getting into photography, but probably not much use for someone who has specific features and needs in mind.

 

[old-pr-pix]

The UK Consumer Association magazine “Which” has just rated DSLRs and compact systems cameras for the April edition. The scoring is independent of price and is 45% for IQ, 30% for ease of use, 10% for viewfinder, 10% for video and 5% for flash.

Interesting, but not sure how relevant. How did they measure IQ? What lens - just the kit lens? Ease of use - does that mean it has a green box setting? How did they award points for flash - whether it was built-in?
Nothing for auto focus abilities, nothing for exposure metering options, nothing for frames per second, blah, blah, blah. No concern for Wi-Fi or GPS. Not even a nod to HDR or how many 'filters' are built-in. No wonder Nikon Df came out on top!

 

[Tinky]

I think there is a serious underlaying point...

It's nearly impossible to buy a bad camera these days.

Which is not, as somebody alluded to earlier, for geekbenchers with dr charts, it's for your average consumer.

The truth is, that you can actually take a very nice picture with a Nikon DF and an EOS 700D.

I don't particularly agree with their findings, but as somebody who in a previous job sold thousands of cameras, I can tell you that sometimes folks just like the brand, the finish, the menu, or the way it fits in your hand.

Generally it makes no sense at all to buy any product based on just one review.

 

[Mt Spokane Photography]

I have a hard time buying into a rating from a print or online rating magazine. They are looking at a Camera for a different user than me. There is also the matter of personal preference, and we all ignore deficiencies when we judge that they are not important to us.

Sometimes, it is just better to build a matrix of factual performance characteristics, options, reliability, service and parts availability, accessories, and let a potential buyer pick what he needs.

I've bought highly rated cameras before only to resell them or return them because some of the issues they did not bother to mention were very important to me.

 

[Maiaibing]

The UK Consumer Association magazine “Which” has just rated DSLRs
For DSLRs: #1 is the Nikon DF (but no video); 2, Canon 5DIII;

Was the 5DS/R mentioned? Seems strange to me it did not make the #2 place since its very similar to the 5DIII - just a little better in lots of small aspects from menu system to shooting options to IQ (all of which the Magazine seems to rated highly).