Unfair & biased Group test

[wavemachine]

I think the Sony found itself in the group test purely on the basis of the fast FPS, I agree it seemed odd to be pitching it against cameras twice the price.

Saddly I think the main factor that let it down was auto focus speed during the test. I use Canon equipment but am by no means bias TBH I think most of the cameras are very similar and can take equally good shots in the right hands however I just bought a Canon on the basis of it ticking the right boxes for me and it felt right.

[donoreo]

Ok, I am actually surprised Angela has not been in to explain/defend the test.

[deadlydave]

Originally Posted by wavemachine

I think the Sony found itself in the group test purely on the basis of the fast FPS, I agree it seemed odd to be pitching it against cameras twice the price.

Saddly I think the main factor that let it down was auto focus speed during the test. I use Canon equipment but am by no means bias TBH I think most of the cameras are very similar and can take equally good shots in the right hands however I just bought a Canon on the basis of it ticking the right boxes for me and it felt right.

.

I agree with your rationale concerning the burst rates mentioned, however as the A55 shoots at 10fps (faster than the 7d), you would have thought it logical to put the faster of the 2 Sony's or even both in to the hat, to highlight how much quicker the A55 and it's newer technology was (there was after all 2 Nikons & 2 Canons). A missed opportunity of rubbishing or praising the new Slt's maybe ?.

Regarding your second point, I also totally agree, I don't think anyone makes a bad dslr, yes Canon is top, but having been doing it for 40+ years it should be, depending on who you speak to it's either Sony or Nikon in second place, with Pentax making bit of comeback.

I find the A55 just too small and the button placement naff, but there are lots of people that love it, the A65 & A77 are the 2nd generation of Slt's both are bigger with 24mp & 10fps+, and lots of fancy features, to put this new technology into context imagine the winning camera (the 7d), with slt technology, how good an action camera would that be ?..

And yes part of me wishes the Mag would do a 7d vs A55 test, i have no doubt the 7d would walk the iq aspect (the A580 beats the A55's iq anyway), but as far as action & fast focussing are concerned is the difference worth £600 ?. Bearing in mind that the A55 was Sony's first generation Slt.

[thefonz78]

I also use dxomark for my review's

[Amy Davies]

Originally Posted by donoreo

Ok, I am actually surprised Angela has not been in to explain/defend the test.

Hi Don,

Angela was on holiday last week and is out of the office all this week.

I will ask her to explain the decisions behind which cameras were included when she gets back next week.

Thanks,

Amy

[Amy Davies]

Oh and P.S. I'd like to point out that Canon and Nikon cameras do not get preferential treatment in our reviews.

There's plenty of examples, but here are a few:

Sony a35 - 4 star review:
http://www.techradar.com/reviews/cam...-992297/review

Olympus PEN EP3 - 4 star review:
http://www.techradar.com/reviews/cam...-982069/review

Sony Cybershot HX100V - 4 star review:
http://www.techradar.com/reviews/cam...-993879/review

Panasonic GF3 - 4 star review:
http://www.techradar.com/reviews/cam...-980241/review

In case you're wondering, the camera reviews on TechRadar and Digital Camera are now written by the same people.

Hope that helps,

Amy

[donoreo]

Originally Posted by Amy Davies

Hi Don,

Angela was on holiday last week and is out of the office all this week.

I will ask her to explain the decisions behind which cameras were included when she gets back next week.

Thanks,

Amy

I thought she must be, she has always commented before when someone questioned the tests.

Welcome back! Please do so more often.

[Oly Paul]

Originally Posted by Amy Davies

Oh and P.S. I'd like to point out that Canon and Nikon cameras do not get preferential treatment in our reviews.

There's plenty of examples, but here are a few:

Sony a35 - 4 star review:
http://www.techradar.com/reviews/cam...-992297/review

Olympus PEN EP3 - 4 star review:
http://www.techradar.com/reviews/cam...-982069/review

Sony Cybershot HX100V - 4 star review:
http://www.techradar.com/reviews/cam...-993879/review

Panasonic GF3 - 4 star review:
http://www.techradar.com/reviews/cam...-980241/review

In case you're wondering, the camera reviews on TechRadar and Digital Camera are now written by the same people.

Hope that helps,

Amy

Off course one could argue that Canon and Nikon have no direct competitors to those cameras listed.

It will be interesting to see your Mags comparison between the new Nikon V1 CCS against the Nex and micro fourthird models and see if you wax lyrical over the Nikon even thought it's out gunned in sensor size,or pehaps you will pit it against a compact point and shoot.

[Amy Davies]

Actually, Paul, we have already compared the V1 against the NEX-7 and the Olympus PEN E-P3:

http://www.techradar.com/news/photog...-nex-7-1028895

Although it would be unfair to make a final conclusion of the Nikon V1 system as we haven't had it for a full review yet, you'll note in the piece that the Olympus is named as possibly the best candidate here as it offers a good compromise, it's the cheapest camera (though that may change when the NEX-7 and V1 come to market), but it has neither the smallest or the biggest sensor.

We will of course be producing a full review of both the V1 and J1 in due course, each of which will be put through our lab testing and real world testing to ascertain the final result.

Of course the V1 and J1 won't be pitched against compact cameras, but other compact system cameras in the market, a particularly interesting comparison will be against the Pentax Q which also uses a smaller sensor than on the NEX, PEN, NX and G series cameras.

Hope that helps.

Thanks,

Amy

[Geoff Harris]

I don't expect anything we say will make a difference to the wilder eyed conspiracy theorists, but let's see what Angela says about the choice of Sony kit when she returns from Japan. I'd appreciate if people were gentlemanly about it and at least gave her the right of reply before making any more accusations. I'd also remind people that comments here are in the public record and anyone who breaches the rules of the forum will be removed. We have no problem with robust criticism and negative feedback, but not when it oversteps the mark into abuse or personal attacks on the professionalism of the team.

Geoff, Editor