Thein's words

[NicoM]

Hmm indeed.

I trust Leica's specifications, just as I trust any manufacturers' specifications. I regard their marketing collateral as I do any other marketing collateral.

I don't trust any on-line reviewer's opinions or test results ... that information is at best supplementary to my personal use and experience with the products. It's mostly useful as entertainment as it fuels such amusing debates about nothing. ;-)

G

To be fair, Ming has also been an editor of a camera magazine in the past. I also consider him to be the reviewer with the best real examples of what the gear reviews are capable of doing.

His reviews are also unbiased. It was the people in the thread that said that he came to a solid conclusion that the Nikon was better than a Leica setup. Ming used the word "possibly", indicating that he wasn't certain. He rarely makes conclusive statements unless there is an obvious night-and-day differences, or if it is one of his head to head comparisons in very controlled situations.

 

[Godfrey]

To be fair, Ming has also been an editor of a camera magazine in the past. I also consider him to be the reviewer with the best real examples of what the gear reviews are capable of doing.

His reviews are also unbiased. It was the people in the thread that said that he came to a solid conclusion that the Nikon was better than a Leica setup. Ming used the word "possibly", indicating that he wasn't certain. He rarely makes conclusive statements unless there is an obvious night-and-day differences, or if it is one of his head to head comparisons in very controlled situations.

I'm sure he does his best, I've read his blog off and on for a while and he seems an honest and earnest individual. Same for some of the other reviewers.

But to me, their opinions are just that: another user's opinion. I find some of them more credible than others, but I never rely upon reviewers (never relied upon magazine reviews either, not since Norman Goldberg retired).

I do my own equipment evaluations when I buy equipment. If I find it lacking, I return it (as apropos) or sell it off.

G

 

[Aristophanes]

Ming Thein is known for his exhaustive testing and comparisons. His D800 vs. Leica M and S2 are usually reference points precisely because he does provide test results.

His style is pretty good because he cuts through marketing and love-ins.He's willing to question conventional wisdom. That's what his article is basically saying.

Most people cannot try before buy or afford to return and restock. They trust reviews and informed comment. That's how market opinions are formed, which make or break products. The sum knowledge of the many, captured eloquently by a few (like Ming), are usually very accurate.

They balance marketing and its ugly offspring, fanboy hyperbole.

 

[Richard G]

Enjoyed most of this thread. Sonofdanang my hat is off to you on three counts. No, four.

 

[giellaleafapmu]

Enjoyed most of this thread.

I am also enjoying this thread but nothing even remotely comparable to an answer is coming out. The Leica Monochrome is outstanding: yeah we knew this. The M9 and M240 are also great: yep, I bet they are. Nikon, Canon, Pentax gear is also so good that only the photographer skill matters: probably, for sure every recently produced camera is quite good. But...did anyone tried the small Nikon? 🙄

GLF

 

[redisburning]

They balance marketing and its ugly offspring, fanboy hyperbole.

you have a lot more faith that these reviews are not shadow marketing campaigns than I do.

I've seen people register for this very forum just to have their first post be a link to a "review" on their personal blog of equipment loaned to them (and rarely disclosed in a highly visible way) by a manufacturer.

a manufacturer would literally NEVER lend their products to me for pre-release "testing" (aka hype generator). because I would load up imatest and start posting numbers including highly detailed MTF50 and 10 topographic maps of the entire field of coverage, comparisons of values with other systems, comments on centering, and demonstrations of the unsharpness gradient.

you know, the stuff that the guys who have to buy their own review samples do.

the marketing people at Fuji have it right; find a guy willing to shill to the full extent of the word and make sure his exposure is at the absolute maximum you can manage.

 

[Godfrey]

As I pointed out in one of my posts in this thread, I have tried it. At the time I was told that the EVF was unavailable. That was a deal breaker for me. For you to determine whether it willwork for you depends on whether you don't mind using an EVF or can accept the loose framing of an aux OVF or whatever else you require in a camera.

The output of the camera was excellent. While I do occasionally use an optical finder on a AF body/lens it's not ideal - I want to see the actuality of what wil be in the final frame.
I understand there is EVF available now.

Hmm. I don't see any EVF accessory available on the Nikon website for the Coolpix A, nor do I see any interface plug on the body for one.

G