The only thing I really care about is the ability of the equipment I own relative to the applications at stake. DxO is an interesting input because it helps validate my informal impressions and can also help identify the sweet spot for a piece of equipment.
Exactly as I do.
I value DxO to a degree, but I like SenScore and LenScore better than the rest of the rating systems.
The performance of the 1DxII or other Canon bodies is the least of my concerns as long as they are not significantly superior. I would pay real close attention if the successor of the 5Ds offered 2 stop more DR than the hypothetical D900 because that would help my photography. I wouldn't hesitate long to dump all my Nikon equipment on my usual auction site if such a breakthrough were to happen. And that may partially happen in the coming months, but probably not in favor of Canon equipment for now.
I dumped my Canon equipment when it became clear they were stuck in the middle, quality-wise, and that they weren't coming out anytime soon.
I would hesitate to dump what I have at this point, because I don't think anything is going to be radical enough to make me do so.
There were options
radically-better than my old EOS 7D ... but I doubt very seriously that there is going to be anything "radically-better" than my D500 or D810 for quite awhile.
I like the Nikon system better, especially their old school manual lenses being reversible for my macro, inexpensive, fast, and tough for field conditions.
I like to think that, as a photographer, I am defined by the photographs I take, not by the gear I own.
The gear you own affects the images you take.
So even if Nikon were miles ahead, and they have been in terms of DR for many years, I do fully understand that there are many good and bad potential reasons why many Canon photographers do not care, or do not care enough to switch brand. Perhaps they don't have the time/cash to manage a switch, perhaps they don't know (few people join such forum in fact), perhaps they like their lenses better (or really need a unique lens such as the 17mm T/S), perhaps they work with equipment provided by their company, perhaps they hate the ergonomics of Nikon/Sony bodies, perhaps their applications don't involve contrasty scenes or perhaps the DR they have today is overall good enough in a majority of cases, perhaps they have personnal connections with Canon marketing, perhaps they are unable to deal with change, perhaps they are conspiracy theorists and think that Nikon is funding DxO, perhaps they are so influenced by marketing that they cannot imagine that a recognized and leading brand such as Canon could fall so far behind on such a key metrics for so long ("that cannot be true", "too big to fail",...), perhaps they are fanboys who identify themselves with their camera brand,... good and bad reasons.
I go with
most quality for least money as my yardstick.
When I started, Canon had the 7D and Nikon had the D300, and the 7D was the better camera for the least money. That is why I went with them in the first place.
I stayed with Canon for awhile because of a similar reason: the MP-E 65mm lens. It was peerless. I was also enamored by the 200-400 and 11-22mm zooms.
But I had outgrown my "starter camera," and I needed to get rid of my 7D ... and Canon continue(d) to lag for so long that I wasn't willing to buy one of their cameras again, and so made a decision to go a different route to take my photography to the next level.
Though I was labeled a "Canon fanboy," I was ultimately a
quality product at the best price fanboy.
And the tide turned: Canon began to be the company that made inferior products and charged
more for them.
Why should I buy a $3500 5DSr when I could buy a $2800 D810, that was
a better camera?
Why should I buy an $11,000 200-400mm f/4 when I could buy a $6000 300mm f/2.8 + 2x extender, and have
a better lens and
more reach?
I don't care, their reasons not to pay attention to what other brands do are what they are and trying to change them has zero value for me. I tried to spread the good word about the value of better DR (and stitching, and....) for too long here and there, and the main outcome has probably been to end up being categorized as a Nikon fanboy (at least I never claimed a 6 stops advantage...). The truth is that I was promoting DR, not Nikon, but that doesn't matter... believe me, it's just a waste of time.
Cheers,
Bernard
I agree with you.
People may not see this, but I have always followed "best quality for best price,"
not any particular brand.
When I started that happened to be Canon; right now it is Nikon.
Check the rating of the 7D and it is better than the D300 (and it was cheaper, too, when these products were first released).
Now, the quality has been reversed: the 7D II is floundering in mediocrity, while 6 out of the Top 10 FF cameras are Nikons, and 5 out of 10 APS-Cs are too (soon it will be 6 as well, as soon as the D500 stats come out
).
There is no intelligent person who can say the 7D II + 200-400mm (at $12,800) is a "better deal" than getting a D500 + D810 + 300mm + 2x TC + Tripod, etc. (for $12,780).
I have
two cameras that are
by far better and more capable than the 7D II, a marginally-better (and more consistent) top-tier lens, and more supplemental equipment for that same money. Canon simply doesn't offer the same value to me that it did when I started.
People can poo-poo LenScore and SenScore, but they really are better rating system than anything out there (they just don't like where their gear ratings are placed
)
Getting new gear feels good, and I am thrilled with the quality of gear I have now. I almost don't even use my Voightlander macro lens anymore, because of how good the 300mm lens is (even with a 2x converter), and how accurate the AF is, that I can get the same nature macro shots, from 12-20' back, in a split-second, with nearly the same quality results. I can raise it up and get a bird on a tree. Slap the 2x TC on and get a deer (or bear) in the woods ... and I am looking forward to doing just that in the forthcoming weeks/months ahead
But you're right, it is a waste of time to tell some people ... but there are some who are listening too, like I was.
Jack
