Hi ...
I just read the post this morning and decided to make my own honest visual test
running the scene with the same time ( not at the same time )and see the quality and visual aspect ..
the speed do not matter in test like that , as you need to focus what you will get after the time and not how faster it render.
If someone claim that Octane is faster, it mean that it render more realistic in a shorter time that other software .
from your test the quality of Luxrender was horrible it could be not even compared . Don't get e wrong, it would be possible to generate
the right effect but I would have to change the camera response and parameters , I create my HDR Light maps the correct way so I am expecting the program response also correct to the Maps .. and not spending time correcting the render and guessing what would be the best setting .. that why Octane did the job exactly I was expected it will do.
I made simple test and run also small test in SLG ..( that render on the same speed as Octane but with minder good visual effect and response to the light , it also DO NOT accept 48 bit HDR light maps so I had to switch to 32 bit
well judge for your own eyes , I used the same light maps, the same material setting, and object,
the Kernel was set on 2 x better quality in Octane that Luxrender other way I would generate 14.000 s/px and not 7K
but I push the setting in octane to max for this HONEST visual test
speed not always mean the best .. it is like with the fast food , you know
thanks for your time
Cath