D-SLR PERFORMANCE SURVEY

The camera survey represents an approach to average user experiences for a number of Digital SLRs. Please take a few moments and enter some performance information from your viewpoint.

Please, be conservative with your ratings! It isn't helpful to enter professional performance values entry level bodies. In contrast to the lens performance survey most characteristics are given by the body specification but there're still several issues that are "a matter of taste". If you don't know how to rate your camera in a certain category simply don't enter anything! This should keep the database more consistent. Please note that the camera survey must have a different scope than the lens survey. Many aspects are already obvious just by looking at the specs so it's e.g. pointless to ask "whether the camera has sufficient features" or so. There could be more categories to rate both AF and metering performance but at a certain point I had to draw a line.

Topics:

Browsing the Camera Database

Please be aware that it is totally pointless to conclude anything based on just a few user inputs for a specific camera - the results start to stabilize after at least 10-15 inputs. The more inputs the more reliable is the data (obviously) so make sure to have a serious look at the last column of the output table (-> no. user inputs) before analysing the camera characteristics.

SURVEY RESULTS
RAW DATA
Graphical (simple)

Enter new Performance Data:

Please note that you don't have to provide a rating in all categories. If you don't know for sure how to rate a specific criteria just leave the default setting (no data).

BASE INPUTS
Skill Level: Select your skill level:
D-SLR Select your camera:
 
Image Sensor Quality
Sensor noise @ ISO 100/200: Image sensors usually produce little electronic noise at lower ISO settings. Please rate the noise level on a scale of 0 (worst) to 10 (best) relative to other ISO settings as well as other D-SRLs.
Sensor noise around ISO 400: Image sensors noise starts to get visible at medium ISO settings. Please rate the noise level on a scale of 0 (worst) to 10 (best) relative to other ISO settings as well as other D-SRLs.
Sensor noise around ISO 800/1000: Image sensors usually produce substantial electronic noise at high ISO settings. Please rate the noise level on a scale of 0 (worst) to 10 (best) relative to other ISO settings as well as other D-SRLs.
Automatic White balance: Digital cameras can compensate color casts via white balance calibration. Please provide a rating about the quality of the AUTOMATIC white balance settings on a scale of 0 (worst) to 10 (best).
Artifacts in Raw image: Please consider such effects like banding, moiree, hot/dead pixels etc. Rate the presence of sensor artifacts on a scale of 0 (worst) to 10 (best).
Sensor dust: Dust specks on the sensor tends to be a problem. Some sensors have dust filters whereas other suck in dust like hell. Please rate the issue on a scale of 0 (worst) to 10 (best).
Sensor edge performance: Individual sensor pixels are a little bit retracted (below the surface). As a consequence image sensors like light entering in perpendicular way. Otherwise the image may suffer from increased vignetting (on top of lens vignetting) or color shifts (on top of chromatic lens abberations). If you're aware of this specific sensor problem (as opposed to lens performance problems!!!) you may provide a rating on a scale of 0 (worst) to 10 (best).
 
AF Performance
AF Speed
Normal (Day-)light:		 Please consider AF speed relative to other SLRs as well as over a variety of SLR-lens combinations. Please provide a rating on a scale of 0 (worst) to 10 (best).
AF Speed
Low Light:		 Please consider AF speed relative to other SLRs as well as over a variety of SLR-lens combinations. Please provide a rating on a scale of 0 (worst) to 10 (best).
AF Accuracy
Normal (Day-)light:		 Please consider AF accuracy both for static objects as well as object tracking. Please provide a rating on a scale of 0 (worst) to 10 (best).
AF Accuracy
Low Light:		 The AF performance suffers quite a bit in low light. AF hunting is a common problem here - especially when combining the camera with slow speed lenses. Take typical in-room light as a guidance here. Please provide a rating on a scale of 0 (worst) to 10 (best).
 
METERING SYSTEM
Matrix Metering: Spot and center-weighted metering are both static methods which are just dependent on the principal calibration of the metering system. Matrix or segment metering systems are designed to analyse scenes indenpendently from the user - please rate the reliability without user interaction on a scale of 0 (worst) to 10 (best).
Metering Tendancy
(all metering modes):		 How would your camera expose an scene like 18% gray (an average scene without extreme highlights nor shadows nor extreme colors). Please provide a rating on a scale of -5 (extremely dark) to 5 (extremely bright).
Flash Accuracy: Please consider accuracy for both fill-in and full flash. Full-flash = the flash light is dominant compared the ambient light. Please rate the accuracy of the full-flash control of your camera. Fill-in flash = the ambient light is dominant compared to the flash light. Please rate the accuracy of the fill-in flash control of your camera. Please provide a rating on a scale of 0 (worst) to 10 (best).
 
OPERATION & HANDLING
Build Quality: How would you rate the overall build quality (controls & materials) of this camera ? Please provide a rating on a scale of 0 (worst) to 10 (best).
Handling of
PHOTOGRAFIC Features:		 Rate the ergonomical quality of the camera inkl. ease of usage for the primary functions as well as accessibility of secondary features (e.g. custom functions, bracketing or multiple exposure settings). Please provide a rating on a scale of 0 (worst) to 10 (best).
Handling of
DIGITAL Features:		 Rate the ergonomical quality of the camera inkl. ease of usage for the primary functions as well as accessibility of secondary features (e.g. custom functions, bracketing or multiple exposure settings). Please provide a rating on a scale of 0 (worst) to 10 (best).
Digital Processing Speed: Combined rating for the overall processing speed. Please consider such aspects like image preview, deletion, data transfer, time lag till exposure. Please provide a rating on a scale of 0 (worst) to 10 (best).
Mirror Vibrations: Mirror vibrations can have a negative impact on the image quality - both for handheld as well as tripod-based photography. Please rate this category only if you've experience with multiple SLRs. Please provide a rating on a scale of 0 (worst) to 10 (best).
Noise Level
(mirror, shutter):		 Rate the noise level of you camera compared to other SLRs. Please provide a rating on a scale of 0 (worst) to 10 (best).
Viewfinder: There're two principal viewfinder designs - mirror-boxes and true pentaprism. Mirror-box designs used in base-class cameras tend to be rather dark whereas coated pentaprisms used in professional SLRs usually provide a brilliant viewfinder image. Please provide a rating on a scale of 0 (worst) to 10 (best).
external Display: Here you should provide a rating on a scale of 0 (worst) to 10 (best) for the quality as well as the color and contrast accuracy of the external LCD display.
Battery lifetime:
(without booster or add'l battery pack)		 How many images lasts a fully loaded battery under normal shooting conditions (incl. usage of external display) within a reasonable timeframe (say 2 weeks) ?
 
USER
Price/Performance ratio: Please provide a value rating in relation to the price on a scale of 0 (worst) to 10 (best).
User satisfaction: Please describe your all-in-all impressions about this camera. Please provide a rating on a scale of 0 (worst) to 10 (best).

After submitting the form you'll have to wait for the reply of the database server!
Otherwise your data will enter the photo nirvana!!!