Ping Phil

When the 400D was released, the review was completed and published. Two/Three weeks later people in the 400D forum started reporting problems with underexposure and Phil updated the review to include a mention of the underexposure.

I dont think the AF issues could be reason for the review not to be posted.

snappey said:

The 40D preview is pretty much a reprint of
Canon's release information. Compare, for example, the D300 hands-on
preview with the 40D preview and you'll see that the D300 hands-on
preview is much more comprehensive and complete.

Click to expand...

The information provided as part of D300/D3 preview is pretty much an extension of the Nikon published specifications. There is literally no comment on the performance of the camera itself. Yes, agreed, it has more pages - but there is literally no beef there.

--
http://www.pbase.com/pradipta

Doug Kerr said:

Visit The Pumpkin, a library of my technical articles on photography,
optics, and other topics

Click to expand...

Interesting place, thank you. Bookmarked.

One observation: I struggled to find PDF links at first, it took some time to guess that links were topic headers... You first use topic names as links to anchors, and then, when one gets to the topic, its header is all of a sudden a PDF link. I'd suggest using the "Issue ..." line as a link to PDF.

As to the contents -- great stuff.

Hi, v,

vadims said:

One observation: I struggled to find PDF links at first, it took some
time to guess that links were topic headers... You first use topic
names as links to anchors, and then, when one gets to the topic, its
header is all of a sudden a PDF link. I'd suggest using the "Issue
..." line as a link to PDF.

Click to expand...

Good observation. I need to do something to make it easier to identify the link. Maybe the best would be direct: "Click here for the article". (I really don't think the "Issue . ." line would be any more obvious than the title.)

Best regards,

Doug

Doug,

I usually use the icon for the associated program for links like that. You can capture them from Explorer and save them as a gif. On occasion I'll put the file size in () like (144kb) especially if the file is large.

--



Rob Kircher
My Stuff: http://www.pbase.com/rkircher

Maybe Phil's philosphy is like Thumper's................"If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all."

There have been issues with the the 1D Mark III as we are aware.

Perhaps Phil didn't want to post anything negative back then. Since it's been out a while maybe that window is closed? Just a thought. I guess we'll have to ask him to know for sure.

He has already previewed the 40D and the 1Ds Mark III.
--
DeeDee G.
http://www.pbase.com/deedee_g/root

Dukeleto said:

Dukeleto said:

I think Nikon has some very exciting products, but Canon is still the

Click to expand...

leader in Pro Digital SLR, untill proven otherwise...and Phil may be
just waiting for Canon to fix the AF issues on 1Ds Mark III to keep
the Dynasty alive for Canon.

Click to expand...

Are you saying that Canon is the leader in spite of the fact that the 1D-III has some seriuos issues? That does not ring of "leader in Pro Digitial SLR" in my books.

--
tony
http://www.tphoto.ca

--
Canon EOS1V/EOS5D
Nikon F100/D80
F31fd

I don't think the criticism is fair to Phil or an indication of any plot on his part....

I have seen him complain on this forum several times that Canon does not give him any early access to cameras in advance. Nikon on the other hand seems to be willing to give them out for pre-testing and pre-reviews.

Canon may be overly agressive in releasing new models and Nikon overly conservative. Sometimes beign agressive pays off for both the company and the customers...and sometimes it may not.

I understand that he has complained to Canon to no avail to have reviewable bodies to test and has not been successful at getting that policy changed.

In this case Canon seems to have been silencing those who had been testing the latest firmware...so the delays in getting reviews may be a matter of policy on Canon's part until they sort out to their satisfaction any potential issues with the 1DMKIII.

From a manufacturer's point of view no review is probably much better than a review with qualifications in it. Better to wait for any issues to resolved, and then get the reviews of your products in a way that is uniformly positive.

Howard

Phileas Fogg said:

I don't know Phil but logic tells me that he only has the power to
ask Canon to supply him with suitable test models. Do you all think
he goes out and buys these cameras? He is at Canon's mercy. If/when
they send him a 40D, 1DmkiII, 1DsmkII then he and his staff will do
their diligent tests

Click to expand...

I had this point of view too, however, don't be so trusting. Phil has plenty of loyal contacts in the photographic retailing arena in London and worldwide, one of whom can very easily "lend" him a demo model from their sales shelves (in exchange for shelf sign) for a week... he is choosing NOT to do this...

Perhaps there is a Nikon sponsorship issue. Now that dpreview is owned by AMAZON, the unbiased, not-for-commercial notion is out the window... As NIKON and many others are feeding AMAZON with "incentive dollars to advance their products." you all can connect the dots..?..

I know that Nikon is fast and loose with CASH for their retailers, with special cash bonuses to the sales folks within retailers... in years past I was involved with a major retailer, and witnessed the NIKON cash bonus plans, which was a significant factor for many sales folks, in "moving" a potential buyer from another brand to NIKON... The unfortunate result is that many in the buying public are trusting their favorite sales-guy at Photo resellers are giving advice, based on their own wallet, at the expense of the "free" exchange of ideas when looking at products.

Anecdotally, I questioned many Photo sales staff, after they finished presenting a Nikon item (and I'm not picking on Nikon personally, having been a Nikon guy for 20+ years) to a customer, and asked him, why he was pointing out the positive features of the other competing camera,,, even if the other had better performance,,, most times, the Incentive dollars the salesman was going to receive was the major factor in his pitch... sad indeed... Bottom line there is no fairness with SALES practices.

Therefore, Caveat Emptor, "Let the buyer beware" is alive and well in photo-marketing, and perhaps true with internet based reviews/reviewers.

Canon spends its money in Print/Electronic media, as does Nikon, however Nikon pays-up in a big way in CASH to the folks that speak directly with the buying public, as do many other "camera factories"....

None of this is accusatory for Phil and his motivations or lack thereof, as I do not know why or when Phil performs his reviews...

JimW

Phileas Fogg said:

What do you all want him to do if Canon takes
its sweet time to send him cameras to test?

--
visit my photo gallery of images from my 10D

http://phileas.fotopic.net/c258181.html

Click to expand...

--
.
‹(•¿•)›

JimWilson, Boca Raton, FL, USA.
http://www.rumor-page.com
http://www.FAUdigital.com

I feel the OP was sincere after my exchange with him, but I am noticing that as well. People take all of this way too personally.

I'm a Canon user, and I personally am really excited about the latest Nikons, particularly the D3. This is going to force Canon to move.

I want to see more "breakthrough" cameras from Canon, like

5D - closest thing to affordable FF. Cheaper than many thought possible.

10D - Loads of improvements over the D60, with a very substantial price reduction.
1Ds - First real FF DSLR

Most of Canon's other offerings over the past 5 years have been evolutionary. Very good cameras, but not groundbreaking in the same way.

For years, I thought many of the Nikonian users on these forums were such obvious fanboy types, and it was a little annoying. At the same time, they have a problem which Canon users don't: Nikon is a much smaller and more vulnerable company, and they were in real danger of watching their marketshare continually erode to the point where they simply wouldn't have the leverage to compete.

Canon users don't have this excuse. Canon is a huge company with considerable resources and a very accomplished engineering and R&D division. Canon isn't going anywhere, not for a long, long time. It is up to them now to get a move on and give us some more groundbreaking DSLRs, as well as improvements to their lens lineup and flash.

I hope Nikon does not let up in 2008. There needs to be better competition against the 5D/5D II and 1Ds III in particular, as well as the rest of Canon's lineup. I am extremely happy with Canon products myself, but I am not happy with the way that company got so complacent and, in the case of the 1D Mk III problems, so arrogant.

and am not worried about iso noise with either. Remember that all of the forum angst 100% crops represent a poster viewed up close.

Maybe you print out a lot of posters?

and what models do you have of each - to understand your comparison.

You said:

"Now that dpreview is owned by AMAZON, the unbiased, not-for-commercial notion is out the window... As NIKON and many others are feeding AMAZON with "incentive dollars to advance their products." you all can connect the dots..?.."

Then you say:

"None of this is accusatory for Phil and his motivations or lack thereof, as I do not know why or when Phil performs his reviews..."

So, to be clear, you're not accusing Phil of throwing the unbiased, not-for-commercial notion out the window? Are you saying it isn't his choice? That Amazon is pulling the strings here? You admit you don't know Phil's motivations...but you still want to suggest he is no longer unbiased?

Just trying to "connect the dots."

And do you think if that was true that Canon would not be wise enough to also participate? Prior to Amazon buying they did not provide units in advance...why would that change now? In both cases the publicity was available if they took advantage of it.

nt here

Greetings:

One error (even a serious one) does not relegate Canon to be a 2nd fiddler to nikon...however, will Canon remain the top choice for professionals, will depend on how they adequately respond to the concerns of their customer base:

• First in addressing/mitigating the current AF problems on 1D M3 - like now!
• and secondly, providing some exciting product for their customer base (enough to dampen Nikon's D3 and D300 thunder) in the next 4-6 months.

If Canon fails to do the above, (and all Nikon new offerings are as good as they are claiming to be), only then can we consider Nikon in pulling ahead of Canon and becoming the preferred choice for Pro Digital SLR....

...The ball is still in Canon's court - how they respond to this challenge will show the true grits of their establishments...and I for one, haven't given up on Canon this quickly.

subdoodle, you have no Canon. Please stop lying.

Hi, Rob,

Rob Kircher said:

Doug,

I usually use the icon for the associated program for links like
that. You can capture them from Explorer and save them as a gif. On
occasion I'll put the file size in () like (144kb) especially if the
file is large.

Click to expand...

I'm not sure this applies to the situation under discussion. Take a look at the site (link below) and you'll see what I mean.

But thanks.

Best regards,

Doug

Visit The Pumpkin, a library of my technical articles on photography, optics, and other topics:

http://doug.kerr.home.att.net/pumpkin

Actually all Nikon really has now is announcements. They haven't gotten their latest into the hands of consumers yet.

I eagerly await the introduction of the D300 so I can try it out at the local store and see what's what about it.