Mirror camera vs. Mirrorless

BettyAki

BettyAki

Suspended / Banned
Messages
12
Name
Alžběta
Edit My Images
Yes
Hey! What do you think is better and why? Normal (mirror) camera or mirrorless?
 
That quite a wide ranging question and there's scope for a lot of different opinions and views.

I have two mirrorless Sony A7ii and Fuji X-T3 and had Nikon FF Dslr in the past.

The reason I like mirrorless and this applies for the Fuji more so than the Sony, is the size and weight, and this means it's more likey i'll carry a camera with me and so I shoot more.
 
Mirrorless for me for a number of reasons...

- The camera and lens combination is generally a bit smaller and lighter, if that's your aim. For example my FF Sony A7 plus the Sony 35mm f2.8 or even my Voigtlander 35mm f1.4 is tiny.
- No Micro Adjust faff on, just generally accurate and consistent focus.
- Being able for focus accurately anywhere in the frame.
- Eye/Face detect. I initially ignored this but I now see it as a revelation as all you need to do is compose the shot and take it. You don't have to worry about moving the focus point and your subjects eye/face can be anywhere in the frame and the focus will follow it.
- I love the in view things, level, histogram, being able to see the exposure and the DoF. All this means that the hit rate should be very high with little if any chimping and retaking the shot as some do with DSLR's.
- I love that you can use old manual lenses or even new ones and focus extremely accurately, this is arguably the most accurate way to focus if you have the time.

The only advantage I can see for me for a traditional DSLR now is that some DSLR's and lens packages are amazingly cheap. I'd never willingly go back to DSLR's now though.
 
Size.
Weight.
Ability to adapt lots of lenses.
Easier to focus manual lenses.
WYSIWYG evf and lcd.
Makes perfect exposure easier and better with histogram.
Looks better.
Voigtlander lenses! :)
 
If I was starting again to build a system for the future, mirrorless is clearly the way for most people to go.
It is where all the manufacturers are directing their research and development.

However if I was on a strict budget, there are some fantastic DSL's offers out there , and a mirriad of excellent second hand lenses. The downside. Is that spares support, and new offerings are drying up for models even a few years old.

So there is no best choice. Just the one that meets your needs at the price you can afford.

You nor anyone else will ever be able to tell the difference by the actual images that they can produce.

The situation is of course a moving feast. And the advantage is moving strongly towards mirrorless as time passes.

Personally I had no hesitation moving to the Fuji system, and I have no regrets.
 
BettyAki said:
Well, that is up to you to define. I ask you for your opinion and the reason behind your opinion why do you prefer this or that.
Click to expand...
That's just stupid, 'better' is subjective, it needs a criteria and my needs are unlikely to be the same as yours - enjoy your trolling :)
 
I have both mirrorless and DSLR. I use both as both have their strengths, consequently there is no ‘best’ for me, only ‘best for a given task’.

Now, I’ve never been interested in keeping up to date with cameras so i tend to buy second hand equipment when it’s about to be or has just been replaced by the newest shiniest model so I’m not at the bleeding edge of technology so it’s possible that the latest top end mirrorless cameras would suit me perfectly. I can’t be bothered selling up or swapping systems to find out as I’m very happy with what I’ve got.
 
Phil V said:
That's just stupid, 'better' is subjective, it needs a criteria and my needs are unlikely to be the same as yours - enjoy your trolling :)
Click to expand...
I am not trolling. I just want to know opinions of other photographers based on their needs which they'll state. Because yeah... I was asking for a subjective answer. That is why is up to you define that word.
I am looking for a new camera. And I want to know more about pros and cons of any of them...

I really don't know why do you need to be so picky about words.D I was not mean to you or anything and you're just being passive aggressive right now. If you don't have anything constructive to say to my question then I see no point of your comments.
 
Welcome to TP @BettyAki :) , sorry you haven't had the greatest first experience here but it's usually a great place with a load of helpful and knowledgable folk.

It's very difficult to break habits and instincts of decades so I suspect many people stick to DSLRs because that is what they are familiar with but mirrorless has a number of advantages. Perhaps the last remaining advantage of a DSLR is the auto focus systems which are probably better/faster on a comparable price basis although mirrorless can have advantages in this area, such as eye-AF.
 
Last edited:
troutfisher said:
Why are you asking the same question that you asked the other day https://www.talkphotography.co.uk/threads/i-need-to-choose-new-camera.713512/ without giving the full explanation and expanding on the answers you got then.
Click to expand...

Perhaps she did not get the answers to her question the first time around.
But no one needs permission to ask questions on this forum. Or give explanations as to why they do so.
It is good to see new people here and the expectation on us, is that they should be welcomed not bullied.
 
Terrywoodenpic said:
Perhaps she did not get the answers to her question the first time around.
But no one needs permission to ask questions on this forum. Or give explanations as to why they do so.
It is good to see new people here and the expectation on us, is that they should be welcomed not bullied.
Click to expand...
I know.
They'll be telling her to try Google next....or use the search function.
 
for me it doesn't really matter whether it's mirrorless or not. My A7ii is mirrorless, but thats not why I bought it.
However, I like the fact that I can use adapted legacy lenses and the fact that what you see is what you get.
The fact that it's mirrorless also means that for a full frame body, it’s relatively compact.
 
Mirrorless for me, the reasons being:-

On sensor AF
EVF being able to display more info plus real time exposure (WYSIWYG)
Auto switch between VF and LCD
Manual focus aids
Bells and whistles like eye AF (maybe they’ll start to do this on DSLR too though)
Size and weight (although this is Lens dependant too)

The only thing I sometimes prefer with DSLR is the OVF just in terms of it’s nicer to look through, but this for me doesn’t outweigh the benefits of an EVF, especially now resolution and lag has been improved a lot.
 
I don’t really have a preference, whatever camera system I own usually works for me. Currently Nikon ‘mirror’ but if I were to change then I’d go mirrorless, although mirror or lack of is irrelevant it’s the benefits each can bring and lack of mirror can bring more accurate autofocus, wider spread of af points and fancy eye af.

Size/weight doesn’t bother me infact I prefer a hefty camera and I believe the smaller mirrorless cams don’t always pair up with well with larger lenses.
 
troutfisher said:
Why are you asking the same question that you asked the other day https://www.talkphotography.co.uk/threads/i-need-to-choose-new-camera.713512/ without giving the full explanation and expanding on the answers you got then.
Click to expand...
I've been new to the forum. And also to the knowledgeable photography community. Even though this is a similar question I decided to ask again in a different way to get new answers.

Why are you asking me so many questions that don't really matter?

I do photography for a few years but I've got no idea about cameras. I am just trying to get informations that I can process and continue with.
 
sirch said:
Welcome to TP @BettyAki :) , sorry you haven't had the greatest first experience here but it's usually a great place with a load of helpful and knowledgable folk.

It's very difficult to break habits and instincts of decades so I suspect many people stick to DSLRs because that is what they are familiar with but mirrorless has a number of advantages. Perhaps the last remaining advantage of a DSLR is the auto focus systems which are probably better/faster on a comparable price basis although mirrorless can have advantages in this area, such as eye-AF.
Click to expand...
Thank youuu! I really started to think that I do something wrong even though I stand by my words. I come here to educate and I sincerely thank to every single one of you who stated an opinion, insight or just a comment that could help me! Thank you. I am trying my best.
 
I switched to mirrorless systems years ago and won't look back.

IMHO camera companies are and will be focusing on their mirrorless technology going forward and just like very few people use films nowadays, very few will be using DSLR in the near future.
 
DSLRs have been around quite a while and have a good range of lenses available. Mirrorless is seen as the future as it brings with it technology that DSLRs can’t (namely through removing the mirror). What the person you spoke to probably meant was if they were starting now they would think twice about investing in the older DSLR tech and would likely look towards mirrorless. Mirrorless isn’t cheap by any means but then it’s probably not that much different to the price of DSLRs and their lenses years ago if you add inflation. some DSLR lenses work on mirrorless cameras. Canon lenses are supposed to work just as well on their mirrorless cameras. Nikons not so well but can still be adapted. Sony doesn’t have any of their A series lenses that will work with there mirrorless e mount but canon lenses can be adapted but just won’t perform as well as on canon cameras.

regarding weight reductions with mirrorless it’s bit of a myth. The cameras can be lighter but the lenses will weigh the same as their DSLR counterparts. Thats down to the physics of lens construction for the specific sensor size. A full frame lens will be roughly the same size in a mirrorless or DSLR. The only time you see smaller lighter lenses is when the sensor is smaller hence M43‘s lenses are a fraction of the size and weight of frame frame equivalent lenses.

The biggest question will be budget. At the moment you will get more bang for buck with a DSLR setup bug it may not be seen to be as future proof as mirrorless. The D750 you were thinking of isn’t a bad camera. It may be about 5 years old but it will still take good photo. Mirrorless is definitely seen as the future. Canon announced last year they were stopping production of their DSLR lenses to allow them to concentrate on producing their new mirrorless lenses. As time passes I’d expect to see a shift by the manufacturers to concentrate on mirrorless to point where at some point in the near future DSLR technology isn’t produced any more. That may be a few years away yet and be at a point where today’s technology will be send to be old and pass it just like some see DSLRS released a decade ago.
 
Id say as answer to both your threads that user experience, gelling(?) with your camera and getting to know it well is a lot more important than mirror or sensor size.
Im regularly shooting together with a couple other lunatics from my photo club, the 3 of us ( with Eos R, D750 and X-T3)getting out early or going home late spending a good amount of time out on the same locations, shooting more or less the same subjects and sharing our images afterwds. The technical differences are really not seen, the differences in photographers personality, vision, composition and craftmansship comes out clearly in the images. DOF, dynamic range and Iso performance does not show. So get a camera you want totake out and shoot with and practice practice practice
 
I’m probably old fashioned so sticking with DSLR but I wouldn’t be able to afford to change all my kit anyway
But I think that it depends on what you photograph and what you prefer
I still like to use a viewfinder most of the time and but do like to use tilting back screen on my 6D 2 for butterflies when they are low down to the ground easier on my back :)
 
Phil V said:
That's just stupid, 'better' is subjective, it needs a criteria and my needs are unlikely to be the same as yours - enjoy your trolling :)
Click to expand...

Wow this was really uncalled for.
What a way to help a newcomer to the forums. Good job.
 
I've used DSLR and mirrorless for quite some time now and I have just finished selling off the last of my DSLR kit (cameras and lenses) so you can obviously see where my preference is. :)

For me, I didn't find anything not to like about mirrorless, smaller, lighter, seeing live exposure in the EVF, faster focusing with the new Canon RF lenses.
I guess it will come down to budget. Some of the new mirrorless kit is expensive.
 
I worked hard and saved for my Canon DSLR.
I made a decision at the time that I wouldn't chase technology, but LEARN as much about the capability of the camera I bought.
I'm still doing the same, but what swung my way to Full Frame from Crop was DoF and ISO handling.
I'm thrilled with my currrent camera, and see no reason for me to change
 
rob-nikon said:
regarding weight reductions with mirrorless it’s bit of a myth. The cameras can be lighter but the lenses will weigh the same as their DSLR counterparts. Thats down to the physics of lens construction for the specific sensor size. A full frame lens will be roughly the same size in a mirrorless or DSLR. The only time you see smaller lighter lenses is when the sensor is smaller hence M43‘s lenses are a fraction of the size and weight of frame frame equivalent lenses.
Click to expand...

The thought that mirrorless can't offer you bulk and weight savings is the myth but it depends on the package you choose. You can for example pick a relatively small body and fit a great honking lens to it. The amount of bulk and weight you've saved then becomes marginal as the lens is the majority of the bulk and weight but you will always get that percentage saving that the smaller body can offer.

However if you choose a small and light body and mount a small and light lens on it you can end up with a significantly smaller and lighter camera and lens package. For example. Mount a compact kit lens or prime on a Sony A6000 and what APS-C DSLR can get anywhere near it? It's the same with a Sony A7 plus a 35mm f2.8, no FF DSLR comes close.
 
What you never get with mirrorless is focus problems due to lack of conformity between the lens and focus mechanism in the body.
Mirrorless cameras focuses directly on the sensor using either contrast detect or by hybrid phase detect pixels on the sensor.

On a Dslr focus is by a secondary mirror system, and the main sensor is not involved. which can be faster but is always a compromise and can be inaccurate. some can be individually calibrated by the user.

Of the three systems, contrast detect is the most accurate but by far the slowest. Hybrid systems have the accuracy of contrast detect, but most of the speed of Phase detect.
The best and most recent developments of the hybrid system have proved as fast as the best DSlr systems, and retain the advantage of working with any lens that can be fitted by mount adaptors, and used for manual focus, they do not need to be calibrated in any way.
Mirrorless cameras lead the way in eye and face detect, this is difficult to achieve on DSLR cameras. and will probably never filter down to the majority of them.
 
Last edited:
woof woof said:
However if you choose a small and light body and mount a small and light lens on it you can end up with a significantly smaller and lighter camera and lens package.
Click to expand...
I agree. If you take the micro four thirds system as an example: you can have a tiny outfit such as a GM5 with a 12-32mm lens or a honking great G9 with a 100-400mm...

Cameras Panasonic G9 and GM5 A65 DSC03472.JPG
 
Or a delightful compromise with a Fuji X T30

TA3X5520web.jpg
 
Bobsyeruncle said:
Trolling? :thinking:
Not sure why you'd consider her response to be trolling.
I'd say you're the one trolling :LOL:
Click to expand...
Because if you ask 200 people for their favourite... you’ll get 200 useless answers.

my conclusion is that the Op knows this, you’re entitled to conclude differently.
 
Without getting into all the pros and cons of it, it did occur to me the other day how much more bang for back you can get by opting for an older DSLR set up. My pal asked me to sell some of his Nikon gear. Among it, pro DSLR's of yesteryear and big, fat 2.8 zooms. I don't think the whole lot is worth that much more than I've just shelled out for an X-T4 body alone. It's quite sobering!
 
woof woof said:
Mirrorless for me for a number of reasons...

- The camera and lens combination is generally a bit smaller and lighter, if that's your aim. For example my FF Sony A7 plus the Sony 35mm f2.8 or even my Voigtlander 35mm f1.4 is tiny.
- No Micro Adjust faff on, just generally accurate and consistent focus.
- Being able for focus accurately anywhere in the frame.
- Eye/Face detect. I initially ignored this but I now see it as a revelation as all you need to do is compose the shot and take it. You don't have to worry about moving the focus point and your subjects eye/face can be anywhere in the frame and the focus will follow it.
- I love the in view things, level, histogram, being able to see the exposure and the DoF. All this means that the hit rate should be very high with little if any chimping and retaking the shot as some do with DSLR's.
- I love that you can use old manual lenses or even new ones and focus extremely accurately, this is arguably the most accurate way to focus if you have the time.

The only advantage I can see for me for a traditional DSLR now is that some DSLR's and lens packages are amazingly cheap. I'd never willingly go back to DSLR's now though.
Click to expand...


ML for me too, because of all that ^^ plus IBIS. Some earlier Sony dslr had this [Steady Shot] feature but it was nowhere near as effective as IBIS in any mirrorless camera - the whole wysiwyg nature of ML evf/LCD, I never enjoyed using an OVF, I want to preview my exposures before even taking the shot
 
Last edited:
Certainly if starting from scratch I'd be going mirrorless and when my current kit eventually needs replacing it will be with a mirrorless system, hope and pray Nikon have released a Z8 by then...

But right now, for the stuff I shoot, there's no benefit whatsoever in chopping in my current kit for a mirrorless system whilst the DSLR's are perfectly fit for purpose.

GC
 
Phil V said:
Because if you ask 200 people for their favourite... you’ll get 200 useless answers.

my conclusion is that the Op knows this, you’re entitled to conclude differently.
Click to expand...
She is too new to this photo forum malarkey to know that.
Anyone could look up sales statistics and settle for that as the best.
However few of us actually match the average when it comes to our own choices..

If you chose the highest selling, camera, lens, flashgun tripod head and tripod and camera bag, and accessories. It is almost certain that nothing would match or fit, or be suitable for any single branch of photography. You would get a similar mixed result if you chose the technical best of everything.

The diversity of need and of supply ensure that there is no single answer to almost any question that you can formulate.

However this lack of definitive answers does not mean that useful information can not be gained by asking open ended questions. On the contrary they are the ones best able to ascertain the most reliable answers in interview and investigative situations. Such answers do need interpretation but they tend to reveal far more information than direct questions.


For instance, the direct question, what is better a Leica or a Rolleiflex? Would be a useless question.
However the question, discuss the advantages and disadvantages that you have found when using medium format and 35mm cameras and give examples to illustrate these? would throw up a massive amount of information, that could lead to further more pertinent questions.

The OP's addition of "and why?" Turned her question into an open ended one.
And has elicited much useful information.
 
Last edited:
gcgraphs said:
Certainly if starting from scratch I'd be going mirrorless and when my current kit eventually needs replacing it will be with a mirrorless system, hope and pray Nikon have released a Z8 by then...

But right now, for the stuff I shoot, there's no benefit whatsoever in chopping in my current kit for a mirrorless system whilst the DSLR's are perfectly fit for purpose.

GC
Click to expand...
Have you seen the rumour of the Z7s and Z6s? Small but useful tweaks over the Z6 and Z7 but should make for a couple of excellent bodies.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top