I thought this was pretty interesting news on the DSLR front as when it comes to DSLR cameras, most people either think Nikon or Canon. According to J.D. Power and Associates 2012 Digital Single-Lens Reflex Camera Online Buyer Report, it was PENTAX which actually scored the highest marks when it came to online buyer’s satisfaction with durability and reliability; variety of features; ease of operation; and shutter speed/lag time, while Canon performs well in the picture quality factor.
The scores were pretty even however, but PENTAX edged out both Nikon and Canon.
Press Release
WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif.: 28 June 2012 — Online buyers of digital single-lens reflex (DSLR) cameras pay $1,291, on average, for their camera, up from $937 in 2011, according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2012 Digital Single-Lens Reflex Camera Online Buyer ReportSM released today.
The report examines satisfaction with digital single-lens reflex camera brands among verified online buyers. Responses were collected via PowerReviews–a social commerce network recently acquired by Bazaarvoice–and reflect the attitudes of actual DSLR camera owners who used an e-commerce site to make their purchase. The study measures satisfaction with DSLR cameras across five factors (listed in order of importance): picture quality (including picture clarity, sharpness and color); durability and reliability (including damage resistance, battery life and sturdiness); variety of features (including zoom, image stabilization and low light settings); ease of operation; and shutter speed/lag time (overall speed of the camera, including shutter lag time).
Pentax ranks highest in online buyer satisfaction with a score of 899 (on a 1,000-point scale), followed closely by Nikon (891) and Canon (888). Pentax performs particularly well in durability and reliability; variety of features; ease of operation; and shutter speed/lag time, while Canon performs well in the picture quality factor.
“Pentax’s customer base has shifted since 2011 from casual photographers to those who consider themselves semiprofessional or professional photographers,” said Sara Wong Hilton, director at J.D. Power and Associates. “In fact, across the industry, the results indicate a slight increase in self-identified semiprofessional photographers, possibly leading to the purchase of more high-end camera systems.”
Despite a shift in DSLR camera buyer demographics, overall satisfaction remains stable (888 in 2012 compared with 887 in 2011).
The 2012 Digital Single-Lens Reflex Camera Online Buyer Report is based on responses provided to J.D. Power and Associates through PowerReviews from more than 8,100 verified buyers who purchased a DSLR camera online. The study was fielded from May 2011 through April 2012.
