Dslr or mirrorless?

[Blank_Canvas]

it focusses through the mirror. It's no coincidence that people are blown away by the sharpness of current mirrorless, they have superior focus accuracy due to fewer compromises in the focussing process.

When I went to school, light used to travel in straight lines and reflect of mirrors. I don't believe that the laws of physics have changed significantly to allow light to pass through solid matter.

 

[C.J]

I replaced my 5 year old Canon last month for a Sony A7ii with Zeiss 55mm.

I'm very happy with moving to mirrorless.

 

[Blank_Canvas]

There is not a chance that the XT1 has image quality even approaching the D750 I now own. As much as I enjoyed the Fuji, IQ of FF is much better. But that is stating the obvious surely?

That's not quite strictly true. You have missed the obvious. If you took two images of two identical scenes one with an X-T1, the other with a D750 and printed them as a 20 x 16 in reality your going to be hard pressed to tell which camera took which image. Unless you start to print bigger then you won't be able to tell the difference. Using a loupe or pixel peeping is not real-world. Most people don't even print images just viewing them on their computers anyway. The image quality is excellent on both. I'm currently running a Nikon D750 / D810 and Fuji X-T1 and XF system which I use for travel photography.

 

[SoDoSoPa]

What Dan said, This is a pointless debate and its what your comfortable using, because sure mirrorless is more compact than dslr's.

Out of interest how many pros or people use a mirrorless for there work against a dslr or other camera, maybe someone should make a poll or something.

 

[minnnt]

Just to be different and to try and stir it up a litte, the sharpest system i've ever owned was m4/3. It just lacked a little something for me over all. Not sure what though.

 

[Zanshin999]

I had a brilliant Sony NEX-5. Every time I used it I had to put my reading glasses on as there was no viewfinder! Just an lcd screen on the back. Became so much of a pain I sold it and bought a Panasonic TZ60. Not in the same league but the lack of viewfinder spoilt my enjoyment of using it.

 

[kendo1]

When I went to school, light used to travel in straight lines and reflect of mirrors. I don't believe that the laws of physics have changed significantly to allow light to pass through solid matter.

Half silvered mirrors and teleprompters.

 

[killwilly]

I knew I was right and should have got those popcorns......

 

[adrianday]

Wet plate collodian.

Discussion over.

 

[snerkler]

Just to be different and to try and stir it up a litte, the sharpest system i've ever owned was m4/3. It just lacked a little something for me over all. Not sure what though.

I find different sensor sizes give different 'looks' to an image (as do lenses obviously), but across the board I prefer the look of images on my D750 to my EM5-II. Trouble is this is very subjective and you get the people who can't see it saying it's all in your head, which is wrong IMO. They should just say that they can't see it

 

[snerkler]

When I went to school, light used to travel in straight lines and reflect of mirrors. I don't believe that the laws of physics have changed significantly to allow light to pass through solid matter.

Unless of course we're talking semi translucent mirror such as the Sony SLT's But yes, for the purpose of this 'argument' I believe we're talking mirrors that reflect light onto the AF module. Although on saying that, the light is still reflected onto the AF module in SLT's for the purpose of PDAF

 

[moojii]

Thanks for all your replies guys. Gives me lots to think about

 

[the_local_jacko]

I swapped to Fuji x-e2 from d800, 24-70 f2.8 and 70-200 f2.8. I did it to try and recapture the fun of photography again as my bag weighed a ton with all the Nikon kit and found myself leaving it at home. Final straw was lugging my gripped d800 and both lenses round Disney for 2 weeks.

Anyway, I've found following personally.

Pros

- Image quality superb. IQ on par with Nikon kit, colours are beautiful.
- EVF is def a grower for me. Took a while to get used to but actually prefer it now.
- light and easy to carry. Build quality is good.
- I only really shoot portraits but have more keepers than my d800. When the focus locks it's very accurate albeit it's probably marginally slower to lock.

Cons
- Dof obviously not as shallow as ff equivalent.
- Aperture ring. Prefer the dials of a dslr.
- Focus points larger on Fuji so focus less refined for very specific focus.
- Wish I had an ISO dial. Tempted to switch to Xt-1 for this one sole reason as its assigned to a function button on xe-2.
- marginally slower write speed. Noticed it with poor sd cards but only tiny difference on fast cards.

Overall I'm glad to have made the switch. Slowly over time I've adjusted things and found a setup that works well for me. Hope to get a longer lens to try to claw back some of the bokeh that I lost moving away from FF but apart from that I'm very happy.

 

[stevewestern]

I'm coming in late to this but I went from a Canon 5D2, 24-70 f2.8, 70-200 f2.8 mk2 etc to an Olympus OMD-EM1 with 12-40 f2.98 and 40-150 f2.8 as the weight and bulk of the Canon meant it was getting little use.
I mainly shoot children in classrooms, at school sports and plays etc and whilst I really like the size and quietness of the OM I do struggle with the focus and low-light capabilities to the extent that I am starting to think about changing again, but have no idea what to even start to look at. Also, the reach of the 40-150 suits me so well..
I do wonder if I have got a 'rose-tinted' memory of how good the 5D2 was at focusing on moving subjects given how good many some say that the EM1 is but any change would need to be almost as quiet as mirrorless but with better focusing and low light capabilities - maybe am I asking for too much from one system ?

 

[boyfalldown]

There is not a chance that the XT1 has image quality even approaching the D750 I now own. As much as I enjoyed the Fuji, IQ of FF is much better. But that is stating the obvious surely?

Ones mirrorless. One's full frame DSLR. Can you tell the difference?

I'll agree - there is a difference, but for most applications, in most situations you'll be taking and presenting photos you won't be able to tell. Unless you need to print really big for example

 

[snerkler]

The 2nd is significantly better imo, but I'm not sure the first is displaying right tbh.

 

[Blank_Canvas]

Ones mirrorless. One's full frame DSLR. Can you tell the difference?

I'll agree - there is a difference, but for most applications, in most situations you'll be taking and presenting photos you won't be able to tell. Unless you need to print really big for example

Thanks for posting this example, this is exactly what issued earlier on.

 

[boyfalldown]

I'm not sure the first is displaying right tbh.

Its just one composite.....not sure why just one wouldn't be displaying right, but would love to know if thats the case somehow.TBH I struggle to tell them apart at this size?

 

[littleted]

OP hard choice I've just been through this hell myself. My father has the 800e and Sony A7II all with Zeiss glass and Nikor and they do,produce some very good results HOWEVER using the 800e is a task its heavy hurts my arms, I'm a strapping lad and in my view is too big,also the lack of Live view through the EVF annoyed me.

A7 much smaller but add the glass and it's debatable, i good camera though and kinda the holy grail,if you can afford the A7RII

I dropped back to Olympis and Fuji the Fuji is very very good however I feel APS-C is like a 29inch MTB wheel it's good but what's the longevity on it, Sony have already said they will concentrate on FF and will soon release a 4/3, but don't get me wrong cracking camera

I then move into 4/3 Panasonic rule the roost in tech world with the 20meg gx8 4k video for stills etc. but it's not out yet
So I eventually bought the EM5II I was going for the Em1 but at 18 months old the EM5II is a good middle ground till the em1 mk2 drops I can build up my lens collection for these and LUMIX land, without needing a mortgage for FF lens. It's light fully weatherproof when used with pro lens, and takes good snaps.
I nearly bought the A7 II but looking at macro and telephoto it was so expense and massive I decided against it.

So in short if I was in Your boots which I was kind of

FF it would be A7II A7RII or D750
CPC EM5 II or Fuji
Portable Rx100 mk4
Do anything cam Fz1000

Lens wise no idea on FF but Zeiss if it's 4/3 pro stuff from Zuiko is awesome

Obviously my view lol and I know nothing yet, but after week of ringing vendors talking to pros in the UK, YouTube commentary etc, I made my decision

 

[Brom]

It seems that it's all about what you want from the camera and personal choice. Until recently I used an Olympus OMD EM-1. Once you get your head round the menus it's an amazing camera with good IQ, and there are even better m4/3's available today. The only downside for me was the relatively slow autofocus when tracking moving targets, because of this I moved to Nikon FF. It is heavier and it does make my arm ache when I am using it hand held with a big(ish) lens, but I'm willing to accept that to get the results I want. That's my personal choice, I decided what (IMO) was the best I could afford to get the results I wanted and went for it. So far, no regrets.

 

[moojii]

I'm thinking it's got to be a mirrorless for me..... But which one?

Sounds like fujis are top of the tree at the moment? Again, which one to go for?

 

[Merluza]

Which picture is which?

 

[damianmkv]

I love the way the Fujis render but their lenses are more expensive than Olympus / Panasonic so you pays your money etc

I went from Nikon to Olympus in December and love it, sure there are some things it's not fantastic at as others have said but it makes up in other areas.

 

[wyx087]

I'm thinking it's got to be a mirrorless for me..... But which one?

Sounds like fujis are top of the tree at the moment? Again, which one to go for?

Fuji X is simply the best photographer's camera. But lenses slightly on the expensive side and not many choices.

Olympus and Panasonic are very competitive in pricing and range of lenses.

Sony has the top specs, so it's also great if you can live with the controls and can remember all your customised buttons.

I went with Fuji X series because X100. Simple as that. The X100 felt perfect, only downside was the lack of wider and telephoto options, so ditching DSLR for X-E2 solved that.

 

[minnnt]

Fuji X is simply the best photographer's camera. But lenses slightly on the expensive side and not many choices.

Olympus and Panasonic are very competitive in pricing and range of lenses.

Sony has the top specs, so it's also great if you can live with the controls and can remember all your customised buttons.

I went with Fuji X series because X100. Simple as that. The X100 felt perfect, only downside was the lack of wider and telephoto options, so ditching DSLR for X-E2 solved that.

With the exception of a long telephoto, what other lenses do you want? I guess a dedicated macro from Fuji would be high on the list for some.

 

[wyx087]

With the exception of a long telephoto, what other lenses do you want? I guess a dedicated macro from Fuji would be high on the list for some.

I guess I worded it badly: because X100 can't do ultra-wide and telephoto, so I decided to complement it with X-E2 and I'm selling my full frame DSLR kit.

 

[minnnt]

Ahh right, gotcha!

I think the X100 started many peoples love affair with Fooj.

 

[Blank_Canvas]

Fuji X is simply the best photographer's camera. But lenses slightly on the expensive side and not many choices.

Olympus and Panasonic are very competitive in pricing and range of lenses.

Sony has the top specs, so it's also great if you can live with the controls and can remember all your customised buttons.

I went with Fuji X series because X100. Simple as that. The X100 felt perfect, only downside was the lack of wider and telephoto options, so ditching DSLR for X-E2 solved that.

Both Samyang and Carl Zeiss make lenses in the XF mount for Fuji combined with the existing XF lenses that's not too bad. Add to that the that the option of using an adaptor to mount Nikon lenses on the Fuji !

So you want lots of lens choices, but went for a fixed lens option on the X100.......forgive me but I'm a little confused !

 

[JohnN]

M43 do some excellent glass, so thats Olympus and Panasonic - the Olympus E-M10 & E-M1 has outstanding in built stabilisation.

 

[MK1 Photography]

I swapped to Fuji x-e2 from d800, 24-70 f2.8 and 70-200 f2.8. I did it to try and recapture the fun of photography again as my bag weighed a ton with all the Nikon kit and found myself leaving it at home. Final straw was lugging my gripped d800 and both lenses round Disney for 2 weeks.

Anyway, I've found following personally.

Pros

- Image quality superb. IQ on par with Nikon kit, colours are beautiful.
- EVF is def a grower for me. Took a while to get used to but actually prefer it now.
- light and easy to carry. Build quality is good.
- I only really shoot portraits but have more keepers than my d800. When the focus locks it's very accurate albeit it's probably marginally slower to lock.

Cons
- Dof obviously not as shallow as ff equivalent.
- Aperture ring. Prefer the dials of a dslr.
- Focus points larger on Fuji so focus less refined for very specific focus.
- Wish I had an ISO dial. Tempted to switch to Xt-1 for this one sole reason as its assigned to a function button on xe-2.
- marginally slower write speed. Noticed it with poor sd cards but only tiny difference on fast cards.

Overall I'm glad to have made the switch. Slowly over time I've adjusted things and found a setup that works well for me. Hope to get a longer lens to try to claw back some of the bokeh that I lost moving away from FF but apart from that I'm very happy.

The aperture ring is a godsend for us "from the film days" types!
I have been shooting Fuji since the X100 first came out, I am still amazed what these cameras can do in giving a filmic quality to my images.
I know have a Fuji X100T and have to say I think I am in love .......

 

[the_local_jacko]

The aperture ring is a godsend for us "from the film days" types!
I have been shooting Fuji since the X100 first came out, I am still amazed what these cameras can do in giving a filmic quality to my images.
I know have a Fuji X100T and have to say I think I am in love .......

Point absolutely taken. Only been shooting relatively seriously for 4 years so DSLR is all I have ever known. It's mainly because I tend to knock it when focusing or zooming and don't realise. Just taking a bit of getting used to but certainly not a deal breaker. It may grow on me like the EVF did.

 

[MK1 Photography]

Point absolutely taken. Only been shooting relatively seriously for 4 years so DSLR is all I have ever known. It's mainly because I tend to knock it when focusing or zooming and don't realise. Just taking a bit of getting used to but certainly not a deal breaker. It may grow on me like the EVF did.

It's interesting as my son came from a Canon 5D to a Fuji XT1 and found the transition to dials unusual to say the least
But I taught him to have the camera to his eye and make adjustments by feel just like the old days mind you I am only 53 but have been taking photos since I was 12!