CatMarley Loc: North Carolina

The new fuji xt4 is supposed to be silent, also good in low light. IQ on Fujis is superior.

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

Get out your D2Xs, set mirror lockup (often appreviated "MLU") and look through the viewfinder. Nothing to see, right? When an SLR's or DSLR's mirror is locked up, it blocks the view through the optical viewfinder. I don't know how you'd be able to take concert photos with your D2Xs' mirror locked up!

Mirror lockup is normally used with stationary subjects and longer exposures... A tripod is used and the shot is set up while the mirror is still down, allowing the view to be seen through the viewfinder. Then, before tripping the shutter to take the shot, the mirror is locked up to prevent internal camera vibrations that might cause shake blur in image when using shutter speeds from approx. 1/30 to 2 seconds.

Shooting concerts, I seriously doubt you'll be using a tripod, shooting stationary subjects or using long exposure times. Mirror lockup serves no purpose for you. It doesn't somehow magically turn a DSLR into a mirrorless camera.

You *might" be able to use Live View. This acts similar to mirror lockup. In fact it lifts the mirror up out of the way, same as mirror lockup. Except with Live View the scene is displayed on the camera's rear LCD screen. It's slower than shooting "normally", though. And you will be holding the camera at arms length. And the illuminated screen on the back of the camera might be an obnoxious intrusion on people around you at the concert.

Most mirrorless cameras have electronic viewfinders... as opposed to the optical viewfinders in most DSLRs. When you look in the viewfinder of the mirrorless, you are viewing a tiny screen that has the scene projected onto it, much like Live View. There is no mirror in the mirrorless to reflect the image through a viewfinder.

I suspect the reason the "editor" is making this recommendation is that mirrorless cameras can operate more quietly than DSLRs. While most mirrorless still use a mechanical shutter that makes some noise, they eliminate the "slap" of the mirror rapidly moving out of the way so that a shot can be taken. It also may be easier to see the scene in the viewfinder with a mirrorless, because it can be set to display "exposure simulation".

Older mirrorless cameras had a lag in the viewfinder image display, which made them problematic shooting active subjects. Newer models have largely solved this problem with much faster, "real time" for all practical purposes, display of the scene.

Some mirrorless cameras also offer electronic shutters, which can make for truly silent operation. But there's a problem using those to shoot moving subjects, called the "rolling shutter effect". Essentially, images can become distorted when the electronic shutter is used. Search online for more info, before taking photos using an electronic shutters.

There are *a few* cameras sort of in between the functionality of DSLRs and mirrorless. Sony has made some models with "transmissive mirrors". As I understand it, they have a mirror and an optical viewfinder like a DSLR, but the mirror doesn't move. It's semi-transparent to allow light to pass through to the image sensor behind the mirror. I don't know what models might currently be in production, other manufacturers have made cameras like these in the past, but AFAIK only Sony has done so recently.

rehess Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA

Apparently this particular Nikon cannot function with the mirror up - but a more modern DSLR will, using the back screen as a "viewfinder". That is why the back screen on many more modern DSLRs is moveable.

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

Using the camera's rear screen instead of the viewfinder to compose and take photos is called Live View... as I explained above. It can be done with many digital cameras and doesn't require a moveable rear LCD monitor (though one might be useful at times).

Mirror lockup (MLU) is a different function. Nothing is projected on the rear LCD of the camera when MLU is done.

However, when Live View shooting is done, MLU is one part of the process.

EDIT: I just did an online search...

D2Xs *does* have mirror lockup... it might even have a dedicated "mirror up" button.

D2Xs *does not* have Live View (or video capabilities, which are largely linked to Live View).

rehess Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA

On modern Pentax cameras, mirror lockup occurs automatically, so the user doesn't think of it. I hold the camera just a foot or so from my eye - as close as I can focus - not in "zombie mode" - and the whole process is as seamless and quick as using the optical viewfinder.

rcarol

"My understanding is that most mirrorless systems autofocus really struggles in low light conditions. Actually not just low light but indoors in general."
I don't know where you got that information since that is certainly not my experience. I have several mirrorless cameras from different manufacturers and my experience is that they focus very well in low light. But more to the point, the reason for suggesting a mirrorless camera in this instance is that a mirrorless camera will be much quieter to operate than a DSLR, particularly if using silent mode which is not available on a DSLR.

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

You are doing what I referred to as "Live View" shooting. I don't know, maybe Pentax calls it something different. But it's a pretty universal term across camera brands.

I'm not arguing with you about how it's used or works. I am stating that even though the mirror does, in fact, lock up during Live View, it's *not* same thing as the Mirror Lockup function. Mirror Lockup *doesn't* display the scene on the camera's rear LCD screen

What I'm saying is that it's *not* possible to do Live View shooting with the original poster's D2Xs camera. That's an older model DSLR that doesn't have Live View *or* video capabilities (which are closely related).

The D2Xs *does* have Mirror Lockup (so do many Pentax and other brands, both modern and old)... but it's probably not usable for most concert photography, such as the original poster is planning to do.

jno

D2X and most cameras of the era are terrible in low light...lots of grain due to using ISO higher than 400.

GoofyNewfie Loc: Kansas City

Love the “Zombie mode” tag.
I can picture that!

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

Agreed... particularly the most recent mirrorless have pretty amazing low light focusing abilities.

I'm most familiar with Canon... whose more entry-level DSLRs typically can autofocus down to about -0.5EV or -1EV light levels. Their more advanced DSLRs can AF down to -3EV (moonlight, full moon, clear night)... but the EOS R can autofocus as low as -6EV, while the EOS RP as low as -5EV (approx. quarter moon on a clear night... or aurora borealis/australis on a clear, moonless night).

Not sure if this is too big a concern, though. Stage lighting at concerts is often relatively bright and more than sufficient for autofocus. Of course it varies, but the performers you'd want to photograph are usually spot lit at least some of the time. I used to photograph dance under stage lights... with film ISO 100 to 400 (actually ASA back then, but it's the same thing as modern ISO).

rehess Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA

On my Pentax KP one reason to switch to LV {which focuses like a MILC} is that the camera cannot AF as a DSLR but can focus like a MILC under darker circumstances.

charlienow Loc: Hershey, PA

So, when did you become a philosopher?

rehess Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA

We are arguing past each other.

I do understand that this particular camera has only mirror lockup and it is not the same as LV.

Jaackil Loc: Massachusetts

First of all in none of those comparisons does the Z6 blow the D500 away. It also appears that the D500 has the edge in low light if I am reading it correctly. In the lab a Z6 may have the edge in dynamic range but it is not that compelling. In the real world the dynamic range of the D500 is excellent to the human eye and that is really all that matters. I mean if the human eye can’t discern the difference what does it matter? My main point was the D500 has more than enough dynamic range for proffesional shooting. But there were also a couple of other points I mentioned beyond the auto focus. Low light capability and compatibility with lenses already owned. Yes you can buy an adapter But that also puts the price back close to the D500. It also kind of defeats the purpose of a smaller lighter body in my mind. Another issue is battery life I believe the D500 has more than 3 times the battery life of the Z6. The Z6 is rated around 300 my experience with it was closer to 250 shots. I get about 950 shots with my D500, I never run my battery all the way to dead before replacing. Also the D500 is a much more rugged body. Both are usually important to professional shooters.
Another isssue no one has brought up that does matter to me and maybe not the OP and that is ergonomics. Mirrorless are usually smaller lighter bodies. This is just my personal preference but I don’t like the way they balence with a longer lens. For everyday carry a mirrorless is nice but I still prefer a bigger heavier body when I am working I like the weight balence better. I would suggest that the OP actually go to a brick and mortar or rent a mirrorless and see if they like the feel. When I first started I loved my D3100 until I replaced it with a D7100 now I don’t like the smaller lighter body. Most of my shooting is done now with a D7200 and a D500. I shoot mostly sports and I think there are some similarities between shooting sports and concerts. The need for low light capabilities fast and accurate auto focus and a fast frame rate to catch the action. There are no perfect cameras each has it’s limitations.

CatMarley Loc: North Carolina

Have you seen on TV a press conference and heard that deafening banging and clicking? That is the sound of mirrors in DSLR cameras. The mirror is the essential part of the optical system of your DSLR. It bounces the light coming through the lens up to the eyepiece so you can see what you are shooting. When you lock it up out of the light path you can't see anything. So NO you cannot do concert photography with a locked up mirror.
A mirrorless operates on a different principle. It electronically transports the image from the sensor to the eyepiece. There is no mirror slapping around. The new Fuji has a very silent shutter as well. Reports indicate that it is difficult to hear any shutter action. No mirror slap or shutter click is what you want at a concert. Mirrorless is the way to go.