About DPInterface Review Ratings

In June 2006, DPInterface introduced a ratings system which was and will be implemented in reviews from now on. Those numbers are simple yet sensible.

Categories

First, the reviewed camera is classified into the appropriate category:

• Entry-level - A camera with no manual controls with simple operation.
• Mid-range - More advanced than an entry-level camera. May or may not have full manual controls.
• Ultra-compact - Stylish, small digital cameras which may have some manual controls.
• Ultra-zoom - Digital cameras which have 10X to 12X optical zoom with optical image stabilization. Usually have full manual controls.
• Prosumer - Digital cameras with many advanced controls. May have optical image stabilization or big zoom. Can be a camera with an APS-sized sensor but fixed lens.
• Digital SLR - Advanced cameras with manual controls, expandability and interchangeable lenses.

Ratings

Based on their group, individual cameras are rated based on their overall impression, comparison against competing cameras and how they fit into today's standards. For example, a 10 megapixel camera with 10X optical zoom may be rated with a poor rating if it includes 8 MB of memory and other competing cameras at that time have 15X zoom.

• Body/Exterior - Build quality, ergonomics and materials used are taken into account. Includes body styling for ultra-compact cameras and professional looks for prosumer and ultra-zoom cameras. Example: A large camera with a plastic tripod mount and a tiny grip may lose points.
• Bundle, batteries and memory - Everything that's in the box with the camera plus included batteries and bundled memory.
• Lens - Optical zoom, focal length, lens aperture range, optical image stabilization and any special glass or lens coatings.
• Feature set - Include any bells-and-whistles, nice features (including macro), battery life, LCD size and movie mode.
• Controls and operation - Factors in external controls (Jog dial, zoom ring, focus ring, buttons), arrangement, expandability, flash unit, shooting modes and manual controls. Any clutter is noted and also taken into account.
• Performance - Speed of the camera in many aspects; Startup time, buffer, continuous shooting, autofocus speed, shutter lag, shot-to-shot, flash recharge time and internal camera speed.
• Image quality - Includes noise, chromatic aberration, distortion, color accuracy, red-eye and any other image quality issues.

Value for money is not taken into account as it's up to a user to decide if the features and quality meets his/her needs.

Numbers

So here's how a camera performs based on the ratings given.

• 9.0 - 10.0 - Excellent; perfect or close to it
• 7.0 - 8.5 - Above average
• 5.0 - 6.5 - Average; on par with other cameras of its class
• 3.0 - 4.5 - Below average
• 1.0 - 2.5 - Terrible; most or all of the competition are very much ahead

Overall

The DPInterface review ratings system is designed to assist users further by offering a more accurate guideline to the pros and cons of a camera and how it stacks up against competition. The only drawback of all ratings systems (this one included) is they're good for a certain period of time and cannot be used to compare against an older or newer product - at least without much difficulty. But rest assured that our reviews will be in-depth complete so you'll be able to compare any camera with another.

Tell me what you think. Drop me a line at dpinterface@gmail.com.

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