Did anyone else read the Amateur Photographer magazine review this week pitching the two ‘sister’ cams? I know reviewers are typically more pro Nikon due to their historical generosity with freebies but this is normally reserved to Canon/Nikon comparisons.
In this review the Fuji matched the Nikon blow for blow in the technology stakes as you would expect – the problem came with the image comparisons. Even taking into consideration the fact that the images were printed on the usual magazine recycled rough stock, the Fuji sensor was visually leagues ahead of the Nikon for detail capture and noise reduction across the entire ISO range. In higher ISO’s in particular the Nikon images looked very smudgy and undefined whereas the Fuji still had very recognisable and crisp detailing. Only one instance showed the Nikon in a positive light and that was a colour test where the Fuji’s increased dynamic range and vibrancy tended to wash out detail slightly in vivid reds.
Despite all this – the magazine concluded that the Nikon was the superior camera for image capture. Canon/Nikon tests tend to be a little more subjective so you take them with a pinch of salt but in this case the differences were huge and beyond doubt. It seriously brings into question the objectivity of reviewers like this; I had always put far more trust in AP reviews over say the online DP reviews that do tend to side a little with whoever is the most generous PR department.
In this review the Fuji matched the Nikon blow for blow in the technology stakes as you would expect – the problem came with the image comparisons. Even taking into consideration the fact that the images were printed on the usual magazine recycled rough stock, the Fuji sensor was visually leagues ahead of the Nikon for detail capture and noise reduction across the entire ISO range. In higher ISO’s in particular the Nikon images looked very smudgy and undefined whereas the Fuji still had very recognisable and crisp detailing. Only one instance showed the Nikon in a positive light and that was a colour test where the Fuji’s increased dynamic range and vibrancy tended to wash out detail slightly in vivid reds.
Despite all this – the magazine concluded that the Nikon was the superior camera for image capture. Canon/Nikon tests tend to be a little more subjective so you take them with a pinch of salt but in this case the differences were huge and beyond doubt. It seriously brings into question the objectivity of reviewers like this; I had always put far more trust in AP reviews over say the online DP reviews that do tend to side a little with whoever is the most generous PR department.