Markm10431

Is Mirrorless a viable option?
Sony has the Alpha Nikon the J series and there are a half dozen others.
I have no experience with them, curious about how they compare to the "dated" (as one person recently called it in another forum) technology of a DSLR
can you get the same frame rates? is the IQ the same?

Nitro-C5

I'm not a person stuck in my ways so I can/will adapt to changes when they come...and do believe in a few years companies will likely stop making DSLR and offer just mirror less. That said IMO for entry level (first camera they own) and hobbiest (when they are going to upgrade/outgrow their current DSLR) I think Mirrorless might make sense as its kind of an evolution. This is especially true if they do not have a lot of lenses yet. That said for the working Pros (and especially the sports action shooters) Mirrorless does not make a lot of sense ... right now anyway as the Top of the Line DSLRs are still overall superior.

The biggest advantage of Mirrorless would be they are smaller/lighter....but remember the Mobile Phone craze and how they changed. Initially they were huge then everyone wanted smaller and smaller phones....now the big phones are cool again! I have really big hands so a battery grip is a necessity already so caring around something small makes zero sense to me. Also battery life is not nearly as good in Mirrorless Camerss. I also prefer the Optical Viewfinder in DSLRS as well. The lens selection is 10-20 times more options (for now) on DSLR....of course that will eventually change. Mirrorless are better at video...but I don't shoot video so don't care about that. You can usually find more "features" on Mirrorless, but again if you know what you are doing likely going to be shooting in Manual, AV or TV modes anyway. Regarding quality of images, really much more to do with the competency of the photographer and the quaility of the glass. Too be honest if someone cannot get a decent shot with a DSLR its unlikely its going to be any better using a different camera.

All of that said for me still the biggest advantage of DSLR's is the Focus Speed and Precision especially in low light. I have been shooting racing now for several years and although I'm sure they exist, I don't know of a single person that shoots these events using a mirrorless camera. I often shoot with Mark Rebilas who is widely considered one of the best Sports Action Photographers in the world shoots each event with (3) Canon 1DX's on his shoulder. I'm sure this will change down the road, but I won't be giving up my current camera bodies at this time.

Here are some highlights from a few articles that I think sum it up pretty well:



Bottom Line
Mirrorless cameras have the advantage of usually being lighter, more compact, faster and better for video; but that comes at the cost of access to fewer lenses and accessories. DSLRs have the advantage in lens selection and an optical viewfinder that works better in low light, but they are more complex and bulkier. Today’s mirrorless and DSLR cameras both display just how far digital camera technology has come, as both carry the ability to produce outstanding image quality with stunning performance and convenience

When to choose a DSLR

Mirrorless camera zealots will argue, but the fact is that this is not a one-way fight. DSLRs have disadvantages, but they have advantages too. They’re bigger, fatter, chunkier and more ‘grippable’. They handle better with bigger lenses (and lenses are getting bigger, year by year) and they have more space for external controls, so you spend less time navigating digital interfaces, tapping at touchscreens (try that when they’re damp with mist or rain or you’re wearing gloves) and their batteries last all day instead of just the morning.

They also have optical viewfinders. Mirrorless users might not care, but DSLR fans would never swap the ‘naked eye’ viewfinder image of a DSLR for a digital simulation, no matter how good.

There’s another thing. If you’re on a tight budget you’ll have to work hard to find a mirrorless camera with a viewfinder for the same price as a DSLR – and all DSLRs have viewfinders. Actually, we’ll go further. You will struggle to get a mirrorless APS-C camera with a viewfinder for the same prices as a Nikon D3500 or a Canon EOS 2000D. Except for the Sony A6000, but that’s a five-year-old camera.

DSLRs are still a great choice if you like your cameras big, chunky and physical. They can do video too, but if that’s your main interest then probably you should be looking at a mirrorless camera instead.

When to choose mirrorless

Mirrorless camera bodies are smaller and, if you choose carefully, you can get smaller lenses to go with them – though this only really holds water with the Micro Four Thirds format, as APS-C mirrorless cameras come with lenses as large as their DSLR counterparts.

If you’re an Instagramer, influencer, blogger or blogger, a mirrorless camera like the Olympus PEN-EPL9 or Canon EOS M50 is perfect. They’re small, light and adaptable and have tilting/vari-angle screens that let you shoot from all sorts of angles. They’re great for both video and stills and can easily fit in an everyday bag.

If you’re a pro or semi-pro videographer, mirrorless is the way to go here, too. This is where all the video development in cameras, lenses, hardware and accessories is happening with cameras like the Nikon Z 6 and Sony A7 III.

But if you’re a regular stills photographer who occasionally dabbles in video, the choice is tougher and you have to decide for yourself which you prefer. The market is heading towards mirrorless, but DSLRs are still popular, and there are plenty of people out there who would like this resilient and adaptable old camera design to keep on going for ever.

DSLRs aren’t done. Mirrorless cameras might be the future, but the future isn’t here yet, and for now the DSLR design still does a few things brilliantly where mirrorless cameras are still playing catch-up.

99mallett

I bought a Canon EOS-M several years ago when they first came out. I thought that it might a good alternative to lugging around a DSLR and heavy lens when traveling, sightseeing, etc. Expensive mistake... I put nearly $1000 in a camera, two lenses, adapter, flash, extra batteries, etc. and was very disappointed with the operation and photo quality. The touch screen was too finicky and hard to use, the shutter response was slow and the screen was impossible to see in sunny conditions. That was 7-8 years ago and I'm sure that they've improved.

savewave

I bought the Canon M6 when it first came out for the same reason and have been happy with it since it allows me to shoot RAW and use my existing Canon lenses with an adaptor. Based on the reviews I've seen, the Canon mirrorless (V1 at least) isn't as good as other brands such as Sony. I think the weak points for my mirrorless are:

• The camera isn't as sturdy as my 1D series Canon bodies. I've had to replace it once already when Canon factory repair told me it had shock damage that couldn't be repaired. Not sure where that came from as I've never dropped it.
• Both the electronic viewfinder and the display screen can be difficult to use in some lighting conditions.
• I prefer to use manual settings, but don't like the screen display you get when on manual mode.
• The shutter lag is slight, but enough to be off-putting.
• It's difficult in some shooting situations to set your focus point. (I'm spoiled by the joy stick thumb control on my DSLRs).
• The FPS rate on my M6 is okay, but not ideal. The FPS rate diminishes when I'm using a speedlight and I haven't figured out how to override it.
• The camera isn't as quick to acquire focus and doesn't hold focus as well as my DSLRs when shooting wildlife or sports.
• You can usually photoshop it out, but the M6 produces a lot of noise in low light situations. When I have good light, I'm perfectly happy with the image quality I get.

carlton_fritz

What is the Nikon J series?

Tony kakkar

Mirrorless cameras are lighter, more compact, faster and better for video; however, that comes at the expense of access to fewer focal points and accessories. If you are new-bie and unable to find your choice of a mirrorless camera then read this reviews https://www.thecrazybuyers.com/best-mirrorless-camera/

RedZ4me

DSLR's will be history, you see it coming.....just like manual transmissions from manufacturers - I switched from Nikon D750 to Fuji XT3 - no regrets. The support and aftermarket is growing and will keep going. Today's mirrorless features, speeds etc are not the same as 3-4 years ago. Sony and Fuji are the leaders at this time

RedZ4me

junk and ancient - that's why the J line is discontinued - not even close to what is on market now - NOT even close.