What are your favorite lens review sites?

6BQ5 · 10-20-2014, 07:27 AM

I frequently visit three websites to read lens reviews.

ERPhotoReview.com
LensTip.com
Photozone.de

I use these sites to get an indication of how a lens may perform under certain test conditions. Real world examples certainly take priority. I also don't necessarily compare numbers between the sites. The measurement systems differ enough to void any comparison. What I do look for are trends. When I see a lens peaking at f/5.6 on one site I will generally see the same lens peaking at the same f/5.6 on the other site.

For non-analytical reviews that concentrate on real world subject matter and experiences I always come to the user reviews here on PF.

Which sites do you peruse for lens reviews?

**Digitalis** · 10-20-2014, 07:30 AM

Fredmiranda - that site has reviews as well as practical field reviews by competent photographers. Reviews are mostly on brand name and third party Nikon and Canon lenses, but they are still useful.

JinDesu · 10-20-2014, 07:45 AM

I use this for comparing Sigma/Tamron lenses - not on Pentax though. I wish they had Pentax comparisons, but oh well:

Sigma 17-50mm f/2.8 EX DC OS HSM Lens Image Quality

ElJamoquio · 10-20-2014, 08:52 AM

Originally posted by 6BQ5

I frequently visit three websites to read lens reviews.

ERPhotoReview.com
LensTip.com
Photozone.de

I use these sites to get an indication of how a lens may perform under certain test conditions. Real world examples certainly take priority. I also don't necessarily compare numbers between the sites. The measurement systems differ enough to void any comparison. What I do look for are trends. When I see a lens peaking at f/5.6 on one site I will generally see the same lens peaking at the same f/5.6 on the other site.

For non-analytical reviews that concentrate on real world subject matter and experiences I always come to the user reviews here on PF.

Which sites do you peruse for lens reviews?

Photozone is my favorite. LensTip is also OK. In the past I've dismissed DxO and DPReview, but if you take their results with a bit of salt, they can add understanding to the overall picture.

lytrytyr · 10-20-2014, 09:21 AM

SLR Lens Review is OK for some ZK lenses:

Reviews

SLR gear has several Pentax lenses reviewed.
Their "blur unit" widgets are quite informative,
although tied to the body they happened to be using:

Lens Reviews - SLRgear.com!

Photozone has some unique reviews,
like for the first three Q lenses,
but the Imatest charts may be misleading.
Also, they are not good at assessing wide-angle lenses,
or telephoto lenses at infinity.

The original Polish version of Lenstip, Optyczne,
has some good critiques of the Photozone tests
(explaining how the two sites
may have widely differing Imatest charts for the same lens/sensor).

DeadJohn · 10-20-2014, 09:28 AM

Originally posted by 6BQ5

...LensTip.com...

LensTip is the only site I've found that regularly tests coma distortion. I love them for that.

lytrytyr · 10-20-2014, 09:31 AM

Originally posted by DeadJohn

LensTip is the only site I've found that regularly tests coma distortion. I love them for that.

And flare!
And astigmatism!

**luftfluss** · 10-20-2014, 09:59 AM

Lenstip

Stavri · 10-20-2014, 10:14 AM - **2 Likes**

Originally posted by DeadJohn

LensTip is the only site I've found that regularly tests coma distortion. I love them for that.

The Pentax reviewer at LensTip has a hard-on for absolute sharpness wide open, hardly has any good words for most pentax lenses (FA limiteds included) because they're not critically sharp wide open (must have caught the OTUS bug),

Here's a LensTip summary of most Pentax glass:

Pros:...................
..............................
...............................
................................
...............................
....................................
...............................
....................................
.......................................

Cons: Not sharp wide open, too expensive!

Verdict: Don't buy!

Outis · 10-20-2014, 10:28 AM

I look at Flickr pools dedicated to different lenses if I want to check the bokeh quality.

**luftfluss** · 10-20-2014, 12:02 PM

Originally posted by Stavri

The Pentax reviewer at LensTip has a hard-on for absolute sharpness wide open, hardly has any good words for most pentax lenses (FA limiteds included) because they're not critically sharp wide open (must have caught the OTUS bug),

The only lens I've seen them criticize severely is the FA31. Any other Pentax lenses I've checked have been generally praised.

Heie · 10-20-2014, 12:05 PM

I'm disappointed that the in-depth reviews conducted here haven't been brought up even once - we've been trying really hard, especially in the comprehensiveness of the in-depth review content lately.

-Heie

**luftfluss** · 10-20-2014, 12:22 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by Heie

I'm disappointed that the in-depth reviews conducted here haven't been brought up even once - we've been trying really hard, especially in the comprehensiveness of the in-depth review content lately.

-Heie

Probably because most of us consider this to be "our forum", rather than a "lens review" site.

Heie · 10-20-2014, 12:33 PM

Originally posted by luftfluss

Probably because most of us consider this to be "our forum", rather than a "lens review" site.

I'll buy that, albeit still not satisfactory

-Heie

DSims · 10-20-2014, 12:42 PM

Photos tell the real story anyway. You just need to look at a number of them. And after you've got the general idea, you need to look at the settings used (especially the aperture) as well.

Thus, the PPG, PBase, and pixel-peeper are my favorite "lens review" sites.

10-20-2014, 07:27 AM	#1
6BQ5 Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Nevada, USA Photos: Albums Posts: 3,348	What are your favorite lens review sites? I frequently visit three websites to read lens reviews. ERPhotoReview.com LensTip.com Photozone.de I use these sites to get an indication of how a lens may perform under certain test conditions. Real world examples certainly take priority. I also don't necessarily compare numbers between the sites. The measurement systems differ enough to void any comparison. What I do look for are trends. When I see a lens peaking at f/5.6 on one site I will generally see the same lens peaking at the same f/5.6 on the other site. For non-analytical reviews that concentrate on real world subject matter and experiences I always come to the user reviews here on PF. Which sites do you peruse for lens reviews?

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10-20-2014, 07:30 AM	#2
Digitalis Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Melbourne, Victoria Photos: Gallery Posts: 11,694	Fredmiranda - that site has reviews as well as practical field reviews by competent photographers. Reviews are mostly on brand name and third party Nikon and Canon lenses, but they are still useful.

10-20-2014, 07:45 AM	#3
JinDesu Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: New York City Photos: Gallery Posts: 5,638	I use this for comparing Sigma/Tamron lenses - not on Pentax though. I wish they had Pentax comparisons, but oh well: Sigma 17-50mm f/2.8 EX DC OS HSM Lens Image Quality

10-20-2014, 08:52 AM	#4
ElJamoquio Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 4,873	Originally posted by 6BQ5 I frequently visit three websites to read lens reviews. ERPhotoReview.com LensTip.com Photozone.de I use these sites to get an indication of how a lens may perform under certain test conditions. Real world examples certainly take priority. I also don't necessarily compare numbers between the sites. The measurement systems differ enough to void any comparison. What I do look for are trends. When I see a lens peaking at f/5.6 on one site I will generally see the same lens peaking at the same f/5.6 on the other site. For non-analytical reviews that concentrate on real world subject matter and experiences I always come to the user reviews here on PF. Which sites do you peruse for lens reviews? Photozone is my favorite. LensTip is also OK. In the past I've dismissed DxO and DPReview, but if you take their results with a bit of salt, they can add understanding to the overall picture.

10-20-2014, 09:21 AM	#5
lytrytyr Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2011 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,310	SLR Lens Review is OK for some ZK lenses: Reviews SLR gear has several Pentax lenses reviewed. Their "blur unit" widgets are quite informative, although tied to the body they happened to be using: Lens Reviews - SLRgear.com! Photozone has some unique reviews, like for the first three Q lenses, but the Imatest charts may be misleading. Also, they are not good at assessing wide-angle lenses, or telephoto lenses at infinity. The original Polish version of Lenstip, Optyczne, has some good critiques of the Photozone tests (explaining how the two sites may have widely differing Imatest charts for the same lens/sensor).

10-20-2014, 09:28 AM	#6
DeadJohn Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: New York Posts: 4,834	Originally posted by 6BQ5 ...LensTip.com... LensTip is the only site I've found that regularly tests coma distortion. I love them for that.

10-20-2014, 09:31 AM	#7
lytrytyr Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2011 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,310	Originally posted by DeadJohn LensTip is the only site I've found that regularly tests coma distortion. I love them for that. And flare! And astigmatism!

10-20-2014, 09:59 AM	#8
luftfluss Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: NJ Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 11,627	Lenstip

10-20-2014, 10:14 AM - 2 Likes	#9
Stavri Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: at a Bean & Leaf Photos: Albums Posts: 1,832	Originally posted by DeadJohn LensTip is the only site I've found that regularly tests coma distortion. I love them for that. The Pentax reviewer at LensTip has a hard-on for absolute sharpness wide open, hardly has any good words for most pentax lenses (FA limiteds included) because they're not critically sharp wide open (must have caught the OTUS bug), Here's a LensTip summary of most Pentax glass: Pros:................... .............................. ............................... ................................ ............................... .................................... ............................... .................................... ....................................... Cons: Not sharp wide open, too expensive! Verdict: Don't buy!

10-20-2014, 10:28 AM	#10
Outis Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Cambridge, MA Posts: 935	I look at Flickr pools dedicated to different lenses if I want to check the bokeh quality.

10-20-2014, 12:02 PM	#11
luftfluss Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: NJ Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 11,627	Originally posted by Stavri The Pentax reviewer at LensTip has a hard-on for absolute sharpness wide open, hardly has any good words for most pentax lenses (FA limiteds included) because they're not critically sharp wide open (must have caught the OTUS bug), The only lens I've seen them criticize severely is the FA31. Any other Pentax lenses I've checked have been generally praised.

10-20-2014, 12:05 PM	#12
Heie Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 968	I'm disappointed that the in-depth reviews conducted here haven't been brought up even once - we've been trying really hard, especially in the comprehensiveness of the in-depth review content lately. -Heie

10-20-2014, 12:22 PM - 1 Like	#13
luftfluss Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: NJ Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 11,627	Originally posted by Heie I'm disappointed that the in-depth reviews conducted here haven't been brought up even once - we've been trying really hard, especially in the comprehensiveness of the in-depth review content lately. -Heie Probably because most of us consider this to be "our forum", rather than a "lens review" site.

10-20-2014, 12:33 PM	#14
Heie Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 968	Originally posted by luftfluss Probably because most of us consider this to be "our forum", rather than a "lens review" site. I'll buy that, albeit still not satisfactory -Heie

10-20-2014, 12:42 PM	#15
DSims Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Southern California Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,236	Photos tell the real story anyway. You just need to look at a number of them. And after you've got the general idea, you need to look at the settings used (especially the aperture) as well. Thus, the PPG, PBase, and pixel-peeper are my favorite "lens review" sites.