Originally posted by GeneV It seems to me like 30 years ago, when you bought an off-brand lens, which tested as a less than stellar performer, there was more of a chance that the performance was truly abysmal so as to get in the way of your photos. Now, it seems like I can take a lens that legitimately tests "poorly" compared to others, and have to work hard to find the situation in which the difference in the lens resolution or vignetting or CA makes a difference in my photo.
So it seems that you are saying that the user ratings of 8-9 across the board are actually accurate. If there is such little difference between lenses, it must come down to personal preference. So why should anyone ever go for a more expensive lens over a cheaper one? (except maybe for WR?)
Originally posted by Lowell Goudge - sample/test shots some people want sample shots, but others insist they must be either of subjects they (the reader) like, or museum/art gallery quality to make the review worthwhile and credible - everything is rated 8 or higher. True, but if all people want is gallery/museum quality shots this would be the case also.
I still feel i'm being misrepresented here. In my initial posts I was saying I used sample shots not to judge for myself the quality and issues, but to judge the experience of the photographer/reviewer.
Experience is important to me. A newbie to photography will tend to rate a cheap lens well because that's all they know. An experienced photographer will rate a more expensive/exotic lens well because they know the difference it makes.
Originally posted by Lowell Goudge Your list above is a good starting point, and when the dust settles from this thread maybe what will come out of it is a guide on writing lens reviews, to be posted as a sticky, in the review database,
I think a Review Guide would be great. Some sort of pro former that can be followed, to make the reviews more uniform. Maybe even a form that is filled out which automatically formats the resulting review.
My favourite suggestion for improving the review section is the ability for users to rate reviews or reviewers, Amazon style.