Comments on: Nikon's new SLR leads the pack for sensor quality

Sensor performance of the $8,000 D3X is a big step above Nikon's D3 and Canon's 1Ds Mark III. We're still waiting for medium-format camera tests, though.

[denisevans]

It is pretty clear that if you go through the individual component scores there is something very wrong with the final DXO summary scores. If you look at the individual performances on SNR 18%, Dynamic range, Tonal Range and then colour sensitivity, it is pretty clear that the 5DII and the D3x are pretty similar except that the 5DII allows you to go to higher ISO's. In the main the D3 is about 0.5 - 0.3 stop better than the 5DII at high ISOs big this gap rises to > 1 stop at the lowest ISOs. This 1 stop+ disadvantage for the 5DII and the D3X is largely irrelevant because at these low ISOs 100- 200, you can't actually see noise. You need an instrument to measure it! In summary I have no idea how DXO justify their final summary scores.

[LOOP909]

Is it pretty clear!!??? I think its pretty clear you shoot Canon! Stop Whining!

[willie0343]

It is apparent that this test does have some merits.I had the chance to see the high ISO performance on both Canon's 5D mkll and Nikon's D700 and I could say there is a better IQ in the Nikon's photos in the higher ISO shots, yes we are told to take things with the grain of salt when there is something that you will review ,but the truth is I find that their reviews have been accurate. I am a Canon user but the truth is that for the average eye the Nikon to me has slightly better imaging than Canon.

[inissila]

In the shadows you can see noise - the dynamic range improvement with the D3X at low ISOs is a key feature of importance to landscape photographers who sometimes have to merge several images taken at different exposures to get an acceptable print. The D3X's top dynamic range at base ISO is in my opinion a major feature combined with the high resolution.

[xophaser]

About time cnet do an indepth quality image review, like some time back with all the image comparsions. Lately, they been just stating that it is good or ok image and spending more time reviewing the features.

[denisevans]

For a serious technical discussion of sensor comparisons see:
http://www.clarkvision.com/imagedetail/digital.sensor.performance.summary/#model

I think that in all seriousness DXO needs to re-examine its final summaries. The individual test checks seem completely consistent with "clarkvision.com". DXO's reputation is on the line here. This is no small disparity! When you claim you are technical and you publish on the web you'd better not make any major mistakes!

[LOOP909]

Another Canon user!

[LOOP909]

Clarkvision!!??? The site is for retards!

[fafoua]

Hi Denis Evans, I totally disagree with what you say about low ISO performance. It all depends on how you use your camera. I don't do action photography. I use my Pentax K10D almost exclusively at ISO100. It has an amazingly good quality there. With a full frame sensor, I won't go higher than ISO400.
Why ? Because I do a lot of post-processing, bringing back details in the dark parts of my images, where the low ISO noise is present. The lowest the noise is as the base ISO, the best it is for my photography. I don't care about high ISO performance.
BTW, I'm totally confident with DXOMark methodology and accuracy.
Regards, Fafoua.

[dandear99]

Canon is absolutely junk! I've had 4 of their digital DLR's and they've all had image flaws. Worse, they hide it from the public because they are fearful from losing market share to Nikon. They will not let you speak to anyone in their Technical Service Dept.

[ppolgar]

I have been professional photographer for over 25 years. I happen to use both Canon and Nikon. However, I have never seen the level of disrespect and the bashing of Camera brands like I have seen in the last couple of years. In the film days, the emphasis was placed more the skills of the photographer more so then the equipment they choose to use either in the field or in the studio. For someone to say that Canon?s are absolute junk immediately illustrates the individual?s ignorance in the field of photography. Canon has developed several benchmark cameras in the past few years. Personally, I own both the Nikon D3 and the Canon 5D Mark 2. Both are excellent and both also have their strengths and weakness. I have posted my own personal reviews on Cnet on both of these camera systems. Regardless, even Nikon users, including myself openly admitted that Nikon had some serious catching up to Canon especially with respect to low noise and full frame technology. Kudos?s to Nikon for finally meeting market demands in these areas of camera technology. But in the real world, camera gear is still strictly a tool of the trade. In the right hands any relatively decent camera gear is more than capable of producing award winning photos. But, let?s refrain from all of this silly Brand trashing.

[Lakota01]

All I would like to say is that I have yet to see an Ansel Adams come out of the Digital DSLR age! All this instant gratification has seemed to breed nothing but a bunch of whinning, mines better than yours, keeping with the next Turkey rather than anyone that truly takes the time to want to learn all little ins and out and the true craft of using the light to produce the image with the equipment they purchase. Oh, but I forget myself we have Photshop and Lightroom and all those others to FIX what we can't do correctly in the first place. or even better yet it must have been the camera I better switch to that other brand I hear they better!!!! That will guarentee my pictures will be great!!! I have shot Canon film cameras, and Nikon film and digital D100, and currently D200, 300 and 700. As odd as it is I still have a 4X5 cherrywood view camera that will shoot circle around anything digital, but I still love all the digital world for the freedom from the chemicalsand yes the instant gratification. SO, Stop whining and just enjoy what you have and shoot the best pictures you can and always try to improve those pictures because you are never the best there is for long if you ever even are.