Camera Comparison - An Honest Assessment

[Graham_of_Rainham]

Will we ever see a truly honest side by side comparison of cameras, that uses only the end product in a "blind" assessment of the products ability to produce Quality Images.

I stumbled across this very interesting comparison that is a real world comparison, providing valuable conclusions.

If you do follow the link and scroll down to the two images with the trees, try to make your own assessment of the images before you reveal what camera took what image.

I would love to see someone do something similar with all the brands. But then again all that will likely do is show that they are all as good as each other, and it's down to us to make the difference.

[Horacio]

Re: Camera Comparison - An Honest Assessment

Hi Digg, Very interesting article. It is astonishing to see the similarity in the world of results for A3 size printed pictures Regards Horacio

[Ian]

Re: Camera Comparison - An Honest Assessment

I think it is fair to say that most non-budget price cameras are very good these days, so a lot of the discussion over image quality is concentrated on fine details.

However, the comparison the article linked to doesn't really test dynamic range and high ISO performance, where I feel the Hasselblad would have walked all over the Canon G11.

Ian

[sara_criss]

Re: Camera Comparison - An Honest Assessment

Well i would like to add here.
Its matter of Price the more you spend the more you earn in term of quality.
I have been using Canon SD880.
That was really good.
But recently i have bought a great piece which i love is Sony Cyber Shot 12.1 Mp.
Awesome picture quality

[ash]

Re: Camera Comparison - An Honest Assessment

Being a tester and user of so many camera's I think you are more than qualified to comment on this post Ian, and I would agree that there are so many low end budget dslr's and compact camera's that are more than capable of producing excellent results in good light, its the extremes that these compacts and low end camera's seem to struggle with.

[Graham_of_Rainham]

Re: Camera Comparison - An Honest Assessment

I can't help but wonder what the results would be if this type of "test" was repeated with some of the latest "compacts". We are now starting to see images taken with mobile phones winning competitions.

While there will always be capabilities that set one camera above the other at the "extreames" there are so few times when this is needed that it begs the question of what it is that people are paying for.

Then again, that's the same for most things, which was the thought that crossed my mind as I drove along a 50MPH Avarege Speed Camera controlled stretch of road with a new Ferrari in front of me.

[Patrick]

Re: Camera Comparison - An Honest Assessment

I think it is fair to say that most non-budget price cameras are very good these days, so a lot of the discussion over image quality is concentrated on fine details.

However, the comparison the article linked to doesn't really test dynamic range and high ISO performance, where I feel the Hasselblad would have walked all over the Canon G11.

Ian

It still makes for an interesting comparison. It wasn't a technical test but a subjective one, and in that respect is an eye opener. Yes it has to be said that if the ISO were pushed and heavy cropping or ultra large prints or a combination of both the Hasselblad would win hands down.
What counted in these 2 picture 13X19 was that some highly professional people couldn't see a difference, and those that could only by the greater depth of field from the Canon.
Lets not forget that much of the extra dynamic range the Hasselblad enjoys will be lost due to the limited dynamic range of the print medium used, even the very best of papers cannot exploit it all, viewing on screen will negate much of the quality of Hasselblad due to screen resolutions and screen dynamic range even on the very best monitors.
None the less this says something, not that the G10 (yes Ian it was a G10 not G11) is better or even as good as the Hasselblad it clearly isn't if comparing camera to camera, but pound for pound of cost the G10 could claim to be better value by a long way.
The author clearly stated he was not about to give up his Hasselblad in favor of a G10, after all he is a pro.

Patrick

[ash]

Re: Camera Comparison - An Honest Assessment

A sony cybershot 12.1, well that really narrows it down!

[ash]

Re: Camera Comparison - An Honest Assessment

So I guess you will be selling your dslr then?

[Ian]

Re: Camera Comparison - An Honest Assessment

It still makes for an interesting comparison. It wasn't a technical test but a subjective one, and in that respect is an eye opener. Yes it has to be said that if the ISO were pushed and heavy cropping or ultra large prints or a combination of both the Hasselblad would win hands down.
What counted in these 2 picture 13X19 was that some highly professional people couldn't see a difference, and those that could only by the greater depth of field from the Canon.
Lets not forget that much of the extra dynamic range the Hasselblad enjoys will be lost due to the limited dynamic range of the print medium used, even the very best of papers cannot exploit it all, viewing on screen will negate much of the quality of Hasselblad due to screen resolutions and screen dynamic range even on the very best monitors.
None the less this says something, not that the G10 (yes Ian it was a G10 not G11) is better or even as good as the Hasselblad it clearly isn't if comparing camera to camera, but pound for pound of cost the G10 could claim to be better value by a long way.
The author clearly stated he was not about to give up his Hasselblad in favor of a G10, after all he is a pro.

Patrick

Not sure what you mean about dynamic range and print reproduction. If you have blown highlights and noisy or blocked shadows, I can't see how printing will be in favour of images like that. Maybe some noise will be trimmed, but that's about it.

What I was trying to point out was that the scene that was being photographed was almost entirely of mid-tones, so not much of a test of a camera's performance.

Ian

[Graham_of_Rainham]

Re: Camera Comparison - An Honest Assessment

<snip>
What I was trying to point out was that the scene that was being photographed was almost entirely of mid-tones, so not much of a test of a camera's performance.

Ian

This is begs the question, what type of image would be the best test of a cameras performance.

If you had to take a single picture, that could be used for the assessment of the performance of various cameras, what would it be

I can just imaging AP going back to shooting the same boat across the river week in and week out

[Ian]

Re: Camera Comparison - An Honest Assessment

This is begs the question, what type of image would be the best test of a cameras performance.

If you had to take a single picture, that could be used for the assessment of the performance of various cameras, what would it be

I can just imaging AP going back to shooting the same boat across the river week in and week out

That AP boat on the Thames was all about sharpness and resolution. It worked very well, actually. But lenses have got so good the test was made redundant.

I good test image wouls have a good range of shadow detail as well as bright highlights, as well as a range of colour and details.

Ian