Lab tests by DxOMark suggest that spending the upgrade money on a premium lens can produce a significant gain in image quality.
"To DxOMark’s credit, users can get as much or as little information as they like. In fact, in an “Overview” tab, those that want to see a single number, get a single “simple” number."
"DxOMark [...] is not really a classic review site: there is no real hand-written text explaining what is good or bad and when/why you should care. DxO tries to fulfill the need for simple answers by using clear color schemes (green is good) and generating a handful of simple ratings so that you can see “who wins” and by how much."
"DxO's understanding of digital imaging and optics, plus how to measure their performance, is to a very high standard. "
"[…] the upgraded DxOMark should be a very handy tool for anyone interested in DSLR camera and lens technical performance."
"[DxOMark] has got some significant differences over established reviews sites. First, it adds a parameter the others lack, transmission, which measures how much light actually makes it through the lens. [...] Second--and this is the bigger difference--the tests show how each lens works on a wide range of camera bodies [...] Seeing how a lens works differently on different bodies can help inform prospective buyers whether a high-end lens is worth its premium on a lower-end camera, or how well an existing lens collection will work on a new camera body."
"If you are into ranking, you will be thrilled with their lens rankings."
"Another great benefit of this new feature is that you can compare up to three lenses side-by-side. This is HUGE if for example you are looking for lenses for a specific DSLR/iLC. "
"DxOMark's lens testing is unique in the fact that lenses are lab tested on many different camera bodies to give users real-world information about how this particular lens performs when matched with that particular camera."
"Another cool feature of DxOMark are the Use Case scores based on different photography styles including portraiture, reportage, landscape, and more. All in all, there's a ton of data available on DxOMark.com for interested photographers to sift through to help them make informed lens purchasing decisions–from the simple Stars and Score numbers to advanced graphs and plotted data for really getting yourself into the thick of things when comparing various lens and camera combinations."
"Test results are a new feature to this article, and are based on objective measurements provided by DxOMark's state-of-the art camera test facility, with their permission."
Pentax K-x – taking shots at Nikon and Canon
"DxOMark, di proprietà della società francese produttrice di software professionali DxO Labs, è ormai conosciuto dalla maggior parte degli appassionati di fotografia digitale grazie alla classifica (contestata, discutibile ma comunque interessante per vedere come si comportano i sensori delle macchine digitali) online che comprende ormai una buona parte delle fotocamere più interessanti in commercio."
Leica M9: sensor RAW
" […] it’s clear that DxOMark ratings are useful when buying a new camera, and that the process is technically valid."
This review outlines DxOMark's benefits and provides a thorough comparison of several DSLR cameras based on DxOMark Scores.
"[…] i test effettuati da DxOMark e la classifica delle migliori fotocamere in base al sensore aggiungono pepe al dibattito tra appassionati."
"Nella classifica più chiacchierata del web, per quanto riguarda la fotografia digitale, sono entrate anche tante altre nuove macchine."
"DxOMark […] it’s a great tool for photo enthusiasts and pros alike, a real-world comparison of RAW sensor performance before in-camera image processing."
"DxOMark measures sensor quality by analyzing RAW image data based on thousands of images shot under both lab and 'real life' conditions."
Youbook.fr briefly presents DxOMark (French only).
"DxOMark.com est un site de comparaisons des performances d'appareils photo numériques réflex sur plus de 45 modèles en utilisant le fichier RAW de ces derniers."
"DxOMark [...] réalise aussi une mesure globale de la performance des appareils, avec le DxOMark Sensor. Cette nouvelle échelle agrège en une seule valeur l’ensemble des mesures complexes de Dxomark.com, ce qui facilite la comparaison de la qualité globale des appareils photo."
"... their software is used by many top magazines and Web sites for analyzing camera and lens performance".
Jason Dunn, from Digital Home Thoughts compares cameras based on DxOMark results.
"I was quite shocked to find out what this DXOmark testing system has to conclude."
"DXOmark has a lot of interesting stories to tell."
"DxOMark.com recently tested the RAW image file performance of the GH1 and discovered that its noise, dynamic range, and colour reproduction performance was significantly better than any previous LiveMOS sensor. Pixel for pixel, DxOMark rates the GH1's sensor at the same level as the 18 megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor of the Canon EOS-7D. "
Nikon’s greatest hits, 1999-2009
"DxoMark è un interessantissimo sito dove vengono misurate e testate le caratteristiche dei sensori delle fotocamere digitali. Sul sito è possibile confrontare i risultati delle prove di ogni sensore, la cui valutazione è effettuata con un metodo specifico."
"Based on their DxOMark sensor metric, DxO notes that compact-camera sensor performance generally is now "only 1 to 2 stops away from entry-level DSLRs." DxO also tried normalizing their DxOMark Sensor data to factor out the effect of differences in sensor size.
It also has to be pointed out that the DxOMark Sensor figure of merit is a composite one, computed from separate scores for Color Depth, Dynamic Range and High-ISO performance, and the specific weighting between these isn't stated."
"The DxOMark score measures sensor performance based on the raw file, a foundation for overall image quality but only a facet of a camera's overall performance. "
"The company postponed scoring the A700 because until the newer version 4.0 of its firmware, the camera performed noise-reduction processing on the green light captured by the sensor before generating the raw file".
"DxO Labs does something quite tricky: Quantifies the quality of an image sensor's performance, so you can look at a neat number grade for a quick gauge."
Adorama Imaging Resource Center publishes a comprehensive digital camera body review based on dxomark.com objective test results.
Read latest Nikon D3x review based on dxomark data and ranking.
"DxO Labs Measurements show that the Nikon D3x is the first camera that truly deliver more than 12-bit color depth."
"Nikon's new SLR leads the pack for sensor quality"
"DxO has real chops in the testing business; the company makes a business selling analytical tools and services to camera makers and others. Don't confuse the DxOMark results with a full evaluation of a camera, though; other significant factors include autofocus, in-camera processing, durability, optics, interface, accessories, customer support, and availability of third-party and used lenses."
Peering at the screen and looking at prints produced results which pretty much matches DxOMark's test results [...]. What we see is that the Sony and the Canon are essentially indistinguishable up to and including ISO 800.
“And unlike much of what you see on the web, you can take this information seriously. It comes from France’s DxO Labs, which supplies sophisticated testing software to the optical industry…”
"We have such faith in DxO's good science that in the months ahead, when you look up a camera test on www.PopPhoto.com, you'll find a link to www.dxomark.com..."
Download in PDF
“One verdict is in on Canon's EOS 5D Mark II: its sensor ranks very high on DxO Labs' test of sensor performance. “
“Pixel-peepers have been devouring DxO's new statistics…”
"Objective lab tests of RAW images made with the 5D Mark II, conducted by DxOMark for digital noise levels at low light and high ISO, color depth, and exposure latitude, show excellent overall image quality with improvement in all areas over the EOS 5D”
“Not that DxOMark tells us everything about a camera's performance […], but it does give us some points of objective / relative comparison on the technical side of the ledger.”
"We are thrilled to be able to offer this image quality data provided by DxOMark," notes AIRC Learning Center editor Mason Resnick. "This allows us to give objective information about image quality that was obtained under controlled lab conditions. With our editorial team's decades of experience interpreting such data for consumers, we will be able to explain what the results mean in ways that our readers will understand and use in their buying decision process."
"DxO Labs, a French company with deep experience measuring cameras' technical performance, has launched a Web site called dxomark.com that features detailed information on the performance of the image sensor at the heart of many higher-end digital cameras..."
“The website, currently in the beta phase, makes it possible for you to assess the quality of your camera before the impact of any RAW conversion. “
“Check the Image Quality database for a look at how your participation will help this site become the "reference" benchmark for RAW information exchange.”
"The real story of image quality starts with the sensor. Until now, we've had only a limited ability to analyze image quality at the RAW level. A new, free information resource from DxO Labs promises to change all that starting today”
“In a move that will be hailed by photographers around the world, DxO Labs has released DxOMark, a free web site offering the ability to compare test results from more than 45 current amd past camera models. These test results are taken from the raw images produced by cameras, and are directly comparable between cameras”
“I have a great deal of time for DxO. The company, based in Paris, France, has some very clever people at its heart and they are the digital imaging experts behind a surprisingly wide array of optics-related solutions, from DxO Optics pro, the remarkably effective profile-based image-fixing and enhancement software package, through to the development and licensing of designs for digital camera optics in both cameras and camera phones. Here at DPNow we use DxO Analyzer, a professional suite of tools for assessing digital image quality.
So today's announcement of the launch of a new DxO website resource for anyone interested in the quality of digital camera sensors and the RAW image files these cameras produce is very interesting…”
dxomark.com is a new website that allows you to compare the image quality of RAW files from digital cameras. Available as a free online resource, dxomark.com makes it possible to assess the intrinsic quality of a camera before the impact of any RAW conversion. DxOMark Sensor aggregates dxomark.com’s large and complex set of measures into a simple scale, allowing for easy comparison between camera performances.
“There are many decisions that need to be weighed before buying a new camera. Features such as low-light performance, sensor size, rugged construction, image quality and dynamic range, and other factors that need to be considered before purchasing a camera. There are a lot of different resources available to help you with your decision, including reviews on Outdoor Photographer and other digital imaging Web sites.
DxO Labs launched a free Web site today called DxO Mark that compares different camera image sensor data from unprocessed RAW images…”
“Today (…) there is a new tool that brings a little more sanity to the process of comparing some of the more numerically measurable properties of digital SLR cameras. It's called DxOMark”
“…Instead of just regurgitating manufacturer numbers and forcing one draw their own conclusions by peering at comparison photographs, DxOMark is the product of rigorous testing and analysis by DxO Labs…”