Is it my imagination? Am I paranoid?

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

03/26/2008 01:24:13 AM · #1

First I would like to say that all the photos that score in the top ten of any challenge are really great shots. The thing that got me wondering, and I know that others have had the same thought, is that there are many photos that score outside the top ten that are far better than those that made it. I was cruising the challenge archives and noticed an interesting trend where the top ten photos were concerned, so I started doing a little math. Out of the last 15 challenges, I noticed that 65% of the top ten photos were shot with Canon cameras, 27% were shot with Nikon cameras and only 8% of the top ten shots were taken with other brands of camera. Is it my imagination or is that a little odd? I enter challenges for the fun of it and because I like to share. I know that there are way better photographers out there than me so don't think that I'm making excuses for low scores on my part. Its just that with percentages like these, I can't help but wonder if there are camera purists out there who base their votes more on what camera was used than on the merits of the photograph. It could be that Canon and Nikon cameras are more popular and more frequently used by DP enthusiasts, but I still wonder.

MelonMusketeer

Nikon D7000

Nikon MF 50mm f/1.4

03/26/2008 01:32:28 AM · #2

This is something that has been chewed around in other threads earlier.. I think that if you check stats about the numbers of owners of the different brands in DPC land, you will find that they may match the numbers you are seeing in the challenge results. Fuji's are best anyway. : )

Dr.Confuser

Nikon D800

03/26/2008 01:33:11 AM · #3

If great photos are normally distributed accross manufactures, they will follow the population (market share) of manufactures' cameras. No wonder Canon and Nikon rule the roost.

Message edited by author 2008-03-26 01:34:09.

SaraR

Sony Alpha a7R III

Sony FE 24-70mm f/2.8 GM

03/26/2008 03:07:13 AM · #4

Originally posted by swordandsigil:

I can't help but wonder if there are camera purists out there who base their votes more on what camera was used than on the merits of the photograph.

How would a voter know what camera was used?...

NVPhoto

Canon EOS-40D

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II

03/26/2008 12:40:43 PM · #5

Of course it makes sense that the % of top photos will be higher for Canon and Nikon rather than other brands. DPC is a sample of the total market of photographers and Canon and Nikon both dominate in terms of market share. Canon has a larger market share than Nikon which means more users so statistics say more ribbons should be won with Canon than any other brand.

There is no conspiracy of Canon users voting for Canon images or vice versa.

(Canon and Nikon dominate for SLR market share...Kodak still has the highest market share of digital cameras. THis is mainly due to the Kodak easy share and other low end digital cams.)

Nikon AF Nikkor 85mm f/1.8D

03/26/2008 01:05:34 PM · #6

Originally posted by SaraR:

Originally posted by swordandsigil:
I can't help but wonder if there are camera purists out there who base their votes more on what camera was used than on the merits of the photograph.

How would a voter know what camera was used?...

Good thing you're not a criminal investigator, locking up hoards of innocent people! ;-)

Louis

Nikon D800

03/26/2008 01:42:18 PM · #7

The only way to tell what camera was used for any challenge shot would be to check the EXIF data while voting was going on. I would imagine that most users do not export EXIF data when saving their photos for web use. As an example, of the nine winners on the front page right now, only two have intact EXIF data that identifies the camera used.

It seems to me that it would be an awful lot of work, with no real qualifiable outcome, to "cheat" by artificially increasing the scores of those photos that were taken with your favourite camera.

03/26/2008 02:14:18 PM · #8

Originally posted by Strikeslip:

Originally posted by SaraR:

Originally posted by swordandsigil:
I can't help but wonder if there are camera purists out there who base their votes more on what camera was used than on the merits of the photograph.

How would a voter know what camera was used?...

Good thing you're not a criminal investigator, locking up hoards of innocent people! ;-)

If you look at any photo in a challenge, you will see that the camera used to take the photo is listed. If you look at the results of the challenge its very plain. Not to mention the fact that a great many DPC photographers have their camera model as part of their username. I hate to break the news to you but I am currently a college student finishing my AS in Criminal Investigations and will begin my MS program in Criminal Justice within the year. I dont think there's a conspiracy, I merely think its odd and I'm getting some really informed answers which I was hoping for.

03/26/2008 02:17:36 PM · #9

Originally posted by Louis:

You are right, I missed that. I have to say that I am really pleased with the informed answers in this thread.

NVPhoto

Canon EOS-40D

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II

03/26/2008 02:17:51 PM · #10

Please show me where you can see the camera model during voting. Also please show me where you can see the photographer's name during voting.

03/26/2008 02:20:10 PM · #11

.....oops...... missed the post x2 above, hehe. :-)

Message edited by author 2008-03-26 14:39:40.

03/26/2008 02:21:09 PM · #12

.

Message edited by author 2008-03-26 14:39:26.

03/26/2008 02:21:59 PM · #13

Now please... let all those innocent people out of the jail.