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Dpreview's reviews "Highly Recommended" is highly questionable



 
 
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  #1  
Old July 30th 09, 01:01 AM posted to rec.photo.digital.slr-systems,rec.photo.digital
The pixel Bandit
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 37
Default Dpreview's reviews "Highly Recommended" is highly questionable

RichA wrote:
Both cameras got "highly recommended." Evidently, it's a highly
flexible attribution.
E-P1 versus D300

Olympus E-P1:

Conclusion - Pros (14)
Excellent resolution, tons of detail in the shots
Appealing, bright and punchy out of camera results and well optimized
JPEGs
Very clever collapsible kit lens that's small, but offers decent
quality
Unique retro design puts SLR quality into a compact body
Good high ISO performance up to ISO 3200 and lots of control over
noise reduction
Superb build quality
Decent handling
Dual control dials - unusual design that works well
Lots of external control, easy access to photographic functions
Comprehensive feature set and impressive level of customization
Reliable metering and white balance (in natural light)
Lots of stuff to play with; art filters, aspect ratios, multi-exposure
and level gauge
In body image stabilization
Easy to use, high quality video mode

Conclusion - Cons (10)
Slow focus requires a more considered approach to shooting
Some highlight clipping (and poor dynamic range at ISO 100)
Low resolution screen that's hard to see in bright light
No viewfinder
No built-in flash (and the optional flash is expensive and pretty
basic)
Complicated menu system not that easy to navigate
Preview image brightness doesn't always match the captured image
brightness
Poor focus, slow lens and jerky live view image make shooting in very
low light frustrating, to say the least
No AF illuminator
The most interesting Art Filters slow down operation (and make the
movie mode virtually useless)

Nikon D300:
Conclusion - Pros (30)

* Very good resolution and detail without looking over-processed,
even up to ISO 1600
* Better balanced noise reduction than most; more chroma NR, less
luminance NR
* High ISO 3200 perfectly usable (if slightly softer due to NR),
ISO 6400 usable for small output
* Highly configurable Auto ISO function (can set maximum ISO and
minimum shutter speed)
* Conservative approach to image processing (slightly lower
sharpening) helps to avoid 'digital' artifacts
* Excellent dynamic range from ISO 200 - 800 (good highlight
'reach'), typical at ISO 1600
* Seldom mentioned built-in chromatic aberration reduction is very
effective (JPEG, RAWs through NX)
* Compact, solid body design with environmental sealing
* Quality glass pentaprism viewfinder (bright, large view) with
electronic grid lines
* Professional in-use performance (instant power-up, short shutter
lag and short viewfinder black-out)
* Improved auto-focus module (Multi-CAM3500DX) delivers fast and
accurate AF lock even in low light
* Auto-focus fine-tuning by body or per lens
* Nikon's excellent 1005 pixel RGB metering sensor
* Numerous 'hidden' designed-in features; AF tracking by color,
scene recognition system
* High speed continuous shooting (6 fps) can be boosted to 8 fps
with grip & battery
* 150,000 exposure shutter life
* Now Nikon standard range of image parameter presets, addition of
brightness adjustment
* Superb large, high resolution LCD (delivers full-color VGA;
640xRGB x 480)
* Live view with up to 1:1 pixel view, contrast detect AF as well
as passive (mirror flip) AF
* HDMI video output (up to 1080i)
* Compact Flash UDMA support, very fast throughput overall
* Menu system is a pleasure to use, attractive, logical and built-
in help
* Easy to use playback with very logical delete system (press
delete button twice)
* Highly configurable via custom functions (6 configurable hard
buttons / dials)
* Sophisticated interval timer feature
* Unique in-camera features: Overlay, Multiple exposures
* GPS data recording feature (requires optional cable, NMEA
compatible)
* Built-in AF assist lamp (white light)
* Probably the best battery information display in the business (%
charge, shots, aging)
* Optional wireless WiFi transmitter (802.11 b/g)

Conclusion - Cons (3)

* No timed mirror lock-up function (could be automatic with self-
timer)
* Non-articulating LCD (increases the usefulness of Live View
considerably)
* Average automatic white balance performance, still very poor
under incandescent light


It's horses for courses stuff.
For those contemplating a camera in the D300's price and
purpose range It's a highly recommended choice. I agree with
it too, incidentally.

As for the Oly? The EP1 is in no way, shape or form a choice
likely to be considered by someone shopping in the D300 market
place. For someone who is looking for a highly portable camera
that will pretty much fit in a shirt pocket whilst delivering
good quality images... The EP1 is a highly recommended choice.

In the 60's when I used Olympus cameras and their very
excellent lenses, I used to look at the pens and wonder if
they were likely to be useful to me. They weren't and I never
owned one but there in lies the difference in cameras.

I owned several OM1 cameras and a multitude of lenses for
them. The Pen then - as it is now, was a travel camera and
promoted as one - as it is now being promoted.

How many people Rich, do you suppose would pack a D300, flash,
grip and lenses for a weekend away at some beachside resort? I
know... You would but that 's not the point. For a travel or
happy snaps camera you probably couldn't go past an EP1.

For wedding photography and the occasional wild life
expedition into the wilds of Toronto... the D300 is absolutely
a better "highly recommended choice".

--

I'm coming back as a Pelican...
Watch out because I'm staying the worlds biggest ass-hole!
  #2  
Old July 30th 09, 06:24 AM posted to rec.photo.digital.slr-systems,rec.photo.digital
The pixel Bandit
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 37
Default Dpreview's reviews "Highly Recommended" is highly questionable

Rich wrote:
On Jul 29, 8:01 pm, The pixel Bandit wrote:
RichA wrote:
Both cameras got "highly recommended." Evidently, it's a highly
flexible attribution.
E-P1 versus D300
Olympus E-P1:
Conclusion - Pros (14)
Excellent resolution, tons of detail in the shots
Appealing, bright and punchy out of camera results and well optimized
JPEGs
Very clever collapsible kit lens that's small, but offers decent
quality
Unique retro design puts SLR quality into a compact body
Good high ISO performance up to ISO 3200 and lots of control over
noise reduction
Superb build quality
Decent handling
Dual control dials - unusual design that works well
Lots of external control, easy access to photographic functions
Comprehensive feature set and impressive level of customization
Reliable metering and white balance (in natural light)
Lots of stuff to play with; art filters, aspect ratios, multi-exposure
and level gauge
In body image stabilization
Easy to use, high quality video mode
Conclusion - Cons (10)
Slow focus requires a more considered approach to shooting
Some highlight clipping (and poor dynamic range at ISO 100)
Low resolution screen that's hard to see in bright light
No viewfinder
No built-in flash (and the optional flash is expensive and pretty
basic)
Complicated menu system not that easy to navigate
Preview image brightness doesn't always match the captured image
brightness
Poor focus, slow lens and jerky live view image make shooting in very
low light frustrating, to say the least
No AF illuminator
The most interesting Art Filters slow down operation (and make the
movie mode virtually useless)
Nikon D300:
Conclusion - Pros (30)
* Very good resolution and detail without looking over-processed,
even up to ISO 1600
* Better balanced noise reduction than most; more chroma NR, less
luminance NR
* High ISO 3200 perfectly usable (if slightly softer due to NR),
ISO 6400 usable for small output
* Highly configurable Auto ISO function (can set maximum ISO and
minimum shutter speed)
* Conservative approach to image processing (slightly lower
sharpening) helps to avoid 'digital' artifacts
* Excellent dynamic range from ISO 200 - 800 (good highlight
'reach'), typical at ISO 1600
* Seldom mentioned built-in chromatic aberration reduction is very
effective (JPEG, RAWs through NX)
* Compact, solid body design with environmental sealing
* Quality glass pentaprism viewfinder (bright, large view) with
electronic grid lines
* Professional in-use performance (instant power-up, short shutter
lag and short viewfinder black-out)
* Improved auto-focus module (Multi-CAM3500DX) delivers fast and
accurate AF lock even in low light
* Auto-focus fine-tuning by body or per lens
* Nikon's excellent 1005 pixel RGB metering sensor
* Numerous 'hidden' designed-in features; AF tracking by color,
scene recognition system
* High speed continuous shooting (6 fps) can be boosted to 8 fps
with grip & battery
* 150,000 exposure shutter life
* Now Nikon standard range of image parameter presets, addition of
brightness adjustment
* Superb large, high resolution LCD (delivers full-color VGA;
640xRGB x 480)
* Live view with up to 1:1 pixel view, contrast detect AF as well
as passive (mirror flip) AF
* HDMI video output (up to 1080i)
* Compact Flash UDMA support, very fast throughput overall
* Menu system is a pleasure to use, attractive, logical and built-
in help
* Easy to use playback with very logical delete system (press
delete button twice)
* Highly configurable via custom functions (6 configurable hard
buttons / dials)
* Sophisticated interval timer feature
* Unique in-camera features: Overlay, Multiple exposures
* GPS data recording feature (requires optional cable, NMEA
compatible)
* Built-in AF assist lamp (white light)
* Probably the best battery information display in the business (%
charge, shots, aging)
* Optional wireless WiFi transmitter (802.11 b/g)
Conclusion - Cons (3)
* No timed mirror lock-up function (could be automatic with self-
timer)
* Non-articulating LCD (increases the usefulness of Live View
considerably)
* Average automatic white balance performance, still very poor
under incandescent light

It's horses for courses stuff.
For those contemplating a camera in the D300's price and
purpose range It's a highly recommended choice. I agree with
it too, incidentally.

As for the Oly? The EP1 is in no way, shape or form a choice
likely to be considered by someone shopping in the D300 market
place. For someone who is looking for a highly portable camera
that will pretty much fit in a shirt pocket whilst delivering
good quality images... The EP1 is a highly recommended choice.

In the 60's when I used Olympus cameras and their very
excellent lenses, I used to look at the pens and wonder if
they were likely to be useful to me. They weren't and I never
owned one but there in lies the difference in cameras.

I owned several OM1 cameras and a multitude of lenses for
them. The Pen then - as it is now, was a travel camera and
promoted as one - as it is now being promoted.

How many people Rich, do you suppose would pack a D300, flash,
grip and lenses for a weekend away at some beachside resort? I
know... You would but that 's not the point. For a travel or
happy snaps camera you probably couldn't go past an EP1.


Not indoor snaps, apparently. Evidently, Panasonic wouldn't share
it's contrast detection technology with Olympus. The focus sucks,
like a P&S only (according to Dpreview) worse than the best of those.
That, coupled with a crappy low res LCD and no EVF that makes manual
focusing a major chore is enough to have killed any self-respecting
"highly recommended" recommendation.


Yeah but it's a nice looking camera!

--

I'm coming back as a Pelican...
Watch out because I'm staying the worlds biggest ass-hole!
 




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