Fraser Euan White
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What would be/were the main reasons you would/did choose a mirror-less camera over a DSLR?

For those that are picking size/weight:
(1) Is FF mirror-less camera and an equivalent lens that much lighter - there is a lot of weight in the lens?
(2) For those with FF Nikon or canon gear why not a lighter crop sensor DSLR from the same manufacturer where your current lenses would be compatible?
(3) Did anyone consider just buying a standard prime (50mm) lens for their camera to use for street/travel as surely this would be the lightest/cheapest option?
Thanks
For those that are picking size/weight:
(1) Is FF mirror-less camera and an equivalent lens that much lighter - there is a lot of weight in the lens?
(2) For those with FF Nikon or canon gear why not a lighter crop sensor DSLR from the same manufacturer where your current lenses would be compatible?
(3) Did anyone consider just buying a standard prime (50mm) lens for their camera to use for street/travel as surely this would be the lightest/cheapest option?
Thanks
I wouldn't choose a mirror-less camera.
Why?
No suitable lenses, I want to see where my subject is (not where it was), AF is not (yet) responsive and reliable enough, no suitably robust Mirror-Less bodies (yet), small/low voltage batteries etc etc.
They are great for some (many?) but, so far, useless to me. Some seem to like them though.
Everyone to their own - whatever suits one best.
1. Latest mk3 Sony A7 is getting bigger and heavier and A9 is even more so. Lenses - good ones are quite substantial too, and many will just run adapted Canon ones for a start. So very little reduction...
2. Canon FF output is miles better than APSC and requires almost the same collection of quality lenses and pretty much same size of bodies (5D vs 7D? - same) make a no-brainer as long as you can finance it.
3. More like 85 + 35mmm perhaps. Or you can leave your supertelephoto and 5 speedlite collection at home and just enjoy a light combination of 24-70 and 70-200mm.
I am seriously surprised how weak and fussy humans became lately.
We should go back to debating which sensors produce the best colour rendition and resolution and the quality of lenses.... and editing techniques, marketing, etc...
Thanks for the reply, just as a matter of interest how old are you?
The reason I ask is I have a D4 & with a 24-70 f2.8 + 70-200 f2.8, flashgun, tripod and a few bits and bobs there is considerable weight in the backpack for me (Not the best of health).
I'm interested if a Mirror-less would really save that much weight with the same combination of lenses? (If i was to keep the Nikon Glass I would have to add an adaptor to the Mirror-less camera and not sure the weight saving would be that much?)
The weight saving, for me at least, is not in just the combination of a lighter body and lens but the whole bag. I mostly cycle when heading out to photograph, I also had surgey on my back some years back and it still pains me today. Every little helps. I can have a bag of primes , camera, flash and extras that weighs 1/4 what my old FF gear did.
Other reasons include:
- IBIS, I prefer it to OIS in lenses because it works for all your lenses
- The EVF - they have gotten much better, they're crisp and clear and you can have a tonne of information right there through the VF, or none at all - I like the wysiwyg benefit too
- 4K video in very affordable bodies. Only the higher end dslrs have it, but you can get it in a very cheap M43 body like the G7
- Cost of lenses - there's some really nice budget primes across the range for less than similar Dslr ones
- True silent mode shooting using electronic shutter when needed
- Discretion - the neat and tidy size, especially a small prime, nobody takes notice of you so it's easier to get good candids
- Touch screen - some dslr have this now too so maybe that's not so specific to mirrorless now
Hi Keith - did you go FF Mirror-less?
I think you're maybe behind the times a bit on one or two points. If you haven't tried the latest and greatest mirrorless kit maybe you can Google your way to some of the better reviews and blogs, visit the various threads or do what I do when I think kit is inadequate, look at what others are achieving with the same kit.
I shoot mainly wildlife and have recently moved from canon 1D and sigma sport lens weighing around 6 kg to MFT the weight of my camera and long lens now is less than 1.5 kg I have noticed no noticeable change in photo I.q and can still shoot b.i.f . I did for a while try canon .M series cameras but the lens weight was unchanged , if your considering a 50mm for walkabout there are quiet a few good primes available or you can go down the route of legacy glass as most old glass works well with converters , i.e. in my bag I have a Helios 44M and a NIKKOR ais 50mm f1.4 .For those that are picking size/weight:
(1) Is FF mirror-less camera and an equivalent lens that much lighter - there is a lot of weight in the lens?
(2) For those with FF Nikon or canon gear why not a lighter crop sensor DSLR from the same manufacturer where your current lenses would be compatible?
(3) Did anyone consider just buying a standard prime (50mm) lens for their camera to use for street/travel as surely this would be the lightest/cheapest option?
Thanks
Have you really looked at what’s available these days or just stating history , A/F no problems with mine on the Panasonic g80 ( which btw is mid range) plenty of options of focus points to .Or look at the fact that the longest high quality lens available is half the focal length that I use 90% of the time
For me mirror-less is simply a no go (except for landscapes) as the AF/batteries/tracking/lenses/viewfinder/bodies (etc) are simply not up to what I need or are not made = mirror-less is just not there for me.
I am sure this will change in the future, but without bigger (higher voltage batteries), larger and more robust bodies + a viable optical TTL viewfinder - I can't see it happening soon.
We will see.............
For those that are picking size/weight:
(1) Is FF mirror-less camera and an equivalent lens that much lighter - there is a lot of weight in the lens?
(2) For those with FF Nikon or canon gear why not a lighter crop sensor DSLR from the same manufacturer where your current lenses would be compatible?
(3) Did anyone consider just buying a standard prime (50mm) lens for their camera to use for street/travel as surely this would be the lightest/cheapest option?
Thanks
Alaska-6164874 by Ned Awty, on FlickrFor those that are picking size/weight:
(1) Is FF mirror-less camera and an equivalent lens that much lighter - there is a lot of weight in the lens?
(2) For those with FF Nikon or canon gear why not a lighter crop sensor DSLR from the same manufacturer where your current lenses would be compatible?
(3) Did anyone consider just buying a standard prime (50mm) lens for their camera to use for street/travel as surely this would be the lightest/cheapest option?
Thanks
I only found out about this the other week!Never have to calibrate a lens ever again
For those that are picking size/weight:
(1) Is FF mirror-less camera and an equivalent lens that much lighter - there is a lot of weight in the lens?
(2) For those with FF Nikon or canon gear why not a lighter crop sensor DSLR from the same manufacturer where your current lenses would be compatible?
(3) Did anyone consider just buying a standard prime (50mm) lens for their camera to use for street/travel as surely this would be the lightest/cheapest option?
Thanks
Rosie Chinon 50mm f1.9 by Terence Rees, on Flickr[/URL]Never have to calibrate a lens ever again
I only found out about this the other week!
Or look at the fact that the longest high quality lens available is half the focal length that I use 90% of the time?
Incidentally I do not "Google" photography gear to find out what it will or won't do - I try it out personally. Reviews are biased (including the few that I have written!) because we all have different priorities etc so they are a poor guide to one's individual needs.
For me mirror-less is simply a no go (except for landscapes) as the AF/batteries/tracking/lenses/viewfinder/bodies (etc) are simply not up to what I need or are not made = mirror-less is just not there for me.
I am sure this will change in the future, but without bigger (higher voltage batteries), larger and more robust bodies + a viable optical TTL viewfinder - I can't see it happening soon.
We will see.............
If mirrorless had come first, and then someone came up with the idea of sticking a mirror in front of the sensor, would anyone have said "wow, brilliant idea", or would the collective response have been "why"?