> Phil Askey on his dpreview.com just posted his usual thorough
> reviews
> of the 4 most recent 8MP bridge cameras. The winner was the
> C8080. In
> addition his summary talked about the handling and quality as
> superior
> too, in contrast to the Reichmann review.
Handling is VERY subjective. Personally, I find Phil's analysis
to be more in the line of "Consumer Reports" which weights
things in a "grid" format vs a "usability" format. Just like M.
Reichmann tends to fixate on handling issues, Phil tends to
fixate on the resolution charts.
But I'm reminded that reviewers have generally weighed certain
products better than others due to features, but failed to pan
the handling or usability. If reviewers described the Canon
DREBEL's viewfinder the way it really is, it would be a scalding
comment. How DARE they put such an aweful viewfinder in a $1000
camera body. Mirrorprisms died out thirty years ago! But no,
we don't get more than a passing comment that it isn't as bright
as the 10D. And compared to the SLRs of ten years ago the 10D
is a disaster.
Now that I've shot almost 4000 pictures with my Minolta A1, I
can honestly say that M. Reichmann's assessment of the Minolta
(A2) is far more usable than Phil's Grid approach to product
review. But it's all in what you want and how you shoot. I
have to use my camera as a pro camera with pro usability. I
can't fight the camera or spend time in menus--a point lost upon
Phil, who values menus. He saw little value in the anti-shake
feature--whereas I'm sold on it and see tremendous value in it.
Grip shape and button/control locations are rarely mentioned.
If I didn't need the usability features of the Minolta, I'd
probably get the Olympus due to the better image quality/color.
The Olympus is also a better built camera.
Phil's reviews are good and give good baseline information, but
I find M. Reichmann's reviews/observations to be more valuable.
How else would I have known about the RAW buffer problem with
the Sony F828. Phil's review barely gave it a passing comment.
But he fixated upon the lack of a "Focus Assist Lamp" in the A1.
(even though he acknowledges that it didn't need it).
Reviews are opinions based on the individual's history and
working methods. M. Reichmann's working methods are very
similar to mine, so I personally value his viewpoint.
While typing this out, a thunderstorm cleared out and the
setting sun lit it up like a pile of fire. I was able to grab
the A1, use the Memory Recall to bring up RAW mode, I shot
several pictures and then dialed in additional contrast and
saturation and even tossed in some warming. Within ten minutes
I shot nearly 50 pictures. Immediately I saw something needing
a straight uncolored shot, so I hit the memory recall, picked
the one I wanted (of five) and the camera completely
reconfigured in an instant. Oh, and of the 50 or so pictures,
about half were taken with anti-shake turned on because I didn't
have time to setup the tripod.
Field testing or grid review. You pick which is more
appropriate for you.
AG
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