Originally posted by Mikesul We are always foolish to follow the recommendations of experts or testers without taking into account the actual data they present and the use we want to make of it. As Norm has pointed out DxO is upfront about their test methods. It is up to us to look at the tests, note how they were conducted and then include the results as one of the factors we think about in evaluating a lens (or anything else).
Exactly, when I first found out what DxO does it was upsetting to say the least. But, that page was always there to read. They describe their test methods. When I think of DxO now, I think wedding photographers, or people who shoot in doors a lot. If you shoot in those kinds of conditions, then their tests are relevant to you.
I shoot 90% outdoors, at 100 ISO, and most of their conclusions are completely irrelevant to me. I don't care what the best you can do in the worst conditions is. I care what the best you can do in the best conditions is. And DxO doesn't address that.
I completely disagree with lens correction. Our eye sees with a curved field of view, a lens should have it. Heavily corrected images look artificial to me. They look like cartoons. SO I see DxO and a number of people who love them as pushing a false agenda. Sure DxO can do it. They just have never proven it's beneficial thing to do. And despite what folks might tell you, software doesn't make up for not having a tilt shift, unless you actually don't have a tilt shift. For those who don't have and haven't seen one used by a pro, the emulation will seem like it's what you want. It's amazing though how many people say it's the same thing, who haven't actually seen the real thing. Or to put it more bluntly, if you haven't stood behind the 8x10 frosted glass and worked the controls, you don't even know what the possibilities of tilt shift are. When one of those guys tells me, "I can do the same thing with software." I might believe them. Strangely however, from my observation, not one contributor who has actually used a tilt shift camera has said the software is just as good. Lots of people who haven't have though. Who you going to trust?
Engineers gone mad I tell you.