Charles 46277 Loc: Fulton County, KY

I broke down and bought a mirrorless full frame, Canon EOS R. I haven't done shooting except to see if it worked, and it did.

What I was not prepared for was that just looking through it--whether viewfinder or screen--is entirely different from the mirror images I have seen for 50 years. It is as if I had cataracts removed! There is a new sort of clarity and color balance is more daylightish.

I have a wide zoom and a long zoom (both L series) that should keep it simple (from 17mm to 400mm), but of course why be simple when you can be confused? I have extension tubes for macro, but the 60mm EF-S macro is awfully sharp, even if it is cropped, and would probably be better than a macro-extended zoom. A Pentax Takumar 135mm prime with extension tube might be my main macro for this camera... I have not tried manual focus yet.

I wonder if the flash will read through the lens of a manually pre-set lens automatically.

It has been a long time since I had a camera without built-in flash, so I had to get a new flash. Even my Hasselblad H2 has fill flash, and the Canon 650D has one--I just turned it on and it knew what to do for perfect light when I wanted it. The new flash does everything but target my drones in Crimea. Fortunately it can also point and shoot. I will have to break down and learn how to outsmart the darned thing.

Most of my hobby life has been natural light photography. I would use the built-in flash to take a picture of some small object to sell on eBay, but rarely anything else. I wish they made a tiny fill flash attachment that just did the traditional basics with through the lens metering--maybe the size of a one-inch thick credit card. Then it could be the master unit for all the slave units you can finance. Is it OK to call them slaves? It seems to make light of something heavy.

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

Enjoy your excellent camera and share shots.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Yes, I tend to avoid cameras without a pop-up flash, but the trend seems to be away from them. Too bad.

As for the beautiful scene in the viewfinder, you realize that's generated by the electronics, like a TV, right? It seems you prefer an artificial scene to Nature. No offense intended, of course. I know what you mean about those EVFs.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Cheaper to make the camera without a built-in flash....
And the sell more external flashes that way.

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

I do miss the pop up flash as well.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

In some instances that camera says
"You need more light, here <click>.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Yep. The more you delete, the lower the cost. That's why we see prices dropping all around us.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Just wait 'till one needs 2 cans of tuna to make a sandwich.

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

My Zoom post of the tunnel was possible with a pop-up flash that I would not have carried a separate flash. Totally didn't anticipate coming across a tunnel on the hike.
But the flash was there.
Guess I now need to carry a flash as I transition to full mirrorless.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Agreed.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

I hate that kind of downsizing. We know prices will rise, but we don't expect to get less when we buy something. Tuna and ice cream are my two pet peeves.

larryepage Loc: North Texas area

Actually, eliminating the pop-up flash frees up a ton of space inside the camera body...usually at least a "full-size" circuit board and a capacitor close to the size of a AA or AAA battery. That's a lot of space in the scheme of things that can be used for other, more valuable functions, like dedicated autofocus processors. In addition, the flash unit itself is a really weak link in the camera's weather sealing system. Plus, pop-up flashes are relatively weak, way too close to the lens, and just generally pretty mediocre. So I've come to be quite ok with not having such a flash on my newer cameras. It's been a very fair trade, in my judgment. (And yes, I do carry one of my SB-400 flashes much of the time. It fits great in a pocket.)

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Yup, everyone has their own philosophy and reasoning for having it or not having it; using it or not using it.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Years ago I mentioned "reduced sizes" to one manufacturer. Their reply was "People want smaller portions."....

KenProspero

Though a pop up would be nice -- the battery life of mirrorless cameras vs dslr, well, sucks for lack of a better term. I think I'd rather have a flash with its own power supply.