burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

One of the main points folks miss about mirror-less camera designs is NOT to recycle old lens lines for new camera designs.

The first 35mm SLRs introduced a deep mirror box behind the lens flange. That made lens design — especially wide angle design — MUCH more challenging and complex than it needed to be to cover the 35mm full frame (24x36mm) area.

Remember the rangefinder cameras of the 1930s to 1950s? They were smaller, slimmer, and had much smaller lenses than the SLR cameras that followed them.

m43 is the first digital camera format to be designed from the ground up as digital only. Others followed from Sony, Fujifilm, and Canon (and Nikon's '1', but theirs is amateurish).

All dSLR formats are rooted in the 35mm SLR compromises. We don't need another compromise format...

Canon recognized this with their EOS-M models. While many of their dSLR lenses can be adapted, the EOS-M mount is different, and designed for a mirror-less (shallower) flange-to-sensor distance. Too bad the first M bodies have been mediocre, compared to competitive efforts.

I have said for years that we need more mirror-less digital cameras. I would love to see a full frame digital Nikon or Canon that features a completely new line of lenses — smaller, lighter, and engineered for the advantages of that shallower distance from mount to sensor. Looks like Sony got there first... A7s is decent for a first effort.

busmaster2 Loc: College Point NY

If you want to wet your feet on the Sony E system, you might like the Sony A3000. It's less than 300 with the 16-50 lens and is capable of taking very good shots. With it, you could purchase one of the Zeiss lenses which to me are incomparable. Then assuming you like the system, you could upgrade to a better body later on.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

Oh god... RESPONSIBILITY! Horrors!

To each his own. There are perfectly valid reasons to do most anything in photography (and reasons not to). I try to sort them.

Will Crockett got me started by loaning me his Lumix G3 and a few lenses to play with. When I saw what it would do — and it is a pretty mediocre m43 camera — I was hooked.

What's intriguing about Panasonic is that they are listening to the voices of the pros like no one else. They are reacting rather quickly to what they are hearing, too!

So how do you like your GX-7?

Shiatsu Loc: Fort Collins

I also have the EM-1 and EM-5 and am extremely happy with both of them for the same reasons. Definitely handle everyone you look at. I have a stronger preference for the EM-1 because of the right hand grip that the EM-5, EM-10 amd EM-5ii don't have. Happy hunting, I'm sure you'll make the best decision for your purposes.

:D

asiafish Loc: Bakersfield, CA

Canon 6D body with 35mm f/2 IS and 85mm f/1.8. Add the 24mm f/2.8 IS later.

Or for Nikon equivalent with even better IQ, but more money,...

Nikon Df kit (includes 50mm f/1.8G) with 24mm f/2.8D and 85mm f/1.8G

Magicman

A 6000 excellent choice. I have sony 28/105 f4 G lens pro with stabilization
Zeiss 24/1.8 and sony 50/1.8 for portrait. All great quality results. Depends on what you shoot. Good luck.

BobT Loc: southern Minnesota

The A6000 is a consideration. I would need a lens of 200mm to 300mm, though. That would be a "must have" lens. So I good do with a so-so wide to normal zoom (ie 16-50mm), a good wide aperture prime (ie 30mm, 3mm5, or 50mm), and a tele zoom.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

Have you seen this extensive lens list for m43?

http://hazeghi.org/mft-lenses.html

Don't forget the lenses you HAVE. Most likely, they can be adapted. Some must be set manually, some will work automatically, depending on adapter and brand.

http://www.metabones.com/ is a source for phenomenally great adapters.

CatMarley Loc: North Carolina

Everyone here will tell you that their choice is the best, but you asked for reasons, If I were starting out, knowing very little about cameras or photography, and advising myself from the point of view of someone who has been shooting film, had my own lab, devloping and printing film, printing the old color print system - even forgot what they called the system, I would probably advise the Nikon 5500 with the 18 - 200 lens. Reasons:
1. Simple to operate and learn, but capable of quite advanced tricks as well.
2. Lightweight and fairly small - it weighs about the same as my Fuji X-T1. Huge assortment of lenses, both new and used.
3. All the latest sensor technology plus the articulated screen - which I use a lot for my doggie photos (I breed and show dogs) and the grandkids.
4. In a couple of years, when Nikon brings out its REAL mirrorless camera, using the APS-C format. they will most likely engineer it so that Nikon D lenses can be used on it, and at that point you may find a mirrorless that will really REPLACE the DSLR, and you can find a new home for your 5500 (wife, son, daughter,?).

dibsdone

I recommend a smaller mirrorless system. Of course this depends on what your want to photograph. I have a large Nikon with multiple lenses but as soon as I travel I grab my Fujifilm XE-2. Going out in public with a large Nikon camera with say a 70-200 mm lens on it attracts too much attention. It's heavy and cumbersome. The small mirrorless almost looks retro and doesn't attract any attention. This helps with street photography or if you just want to be left alone while you shoot. The quality is still awesome and there are 16 megapixels which is plenty to be able to print the size you indicated.

Don't worry about megapixels this day and age as pretty much any new camera on the market can print the size you indicated.

The downside to my mirrorless is that for rapid shutter release - not so good. I would need this for say sports photography.

Another upside though is that it is a lot cheaper. With regards to the Fujifilm, their lens are excellent and some would argue they have better sensors than Nikon or Canon with better skin tone rendering.

Cdouthitt Loc: Traverse City, MI

If nikon...bwahahahahahahahaha. Don't hold your breath.

dibsdone

I couldn't agree with this more. I love my Fujifilm and now have 4 Fujifilm lenses. I really enjoy using the 55-200 mm lens. Recently bought the 56 mm 1.2 lens for portraiture. It has made travel photography so much easier. I used to lug around, as a carry on, a big pelican case to bring some of my Nikon gear. Now I can fit my Fujifilm camera and a couple of lenses in the same briefcase like bag I carry my laptop, headphones, etc. They have plans to release more lenses in the future and I will probably buy the next Pro rendition when it comes out.

CatMarley Loc: North Carolina

We shall see. Engineering wise, the mirrorless is simply better, more elegant mechanics. Ergo, I believe it is the future of consumer/enthusiast photography. It is now a work in progress, and both Canon and Nikon are conservative companies who tend to let the little guys do all the experimentation, and then take over the mass marketing themselves. Nikon and Canon did not get where they are by being stupid, nor by being great innovators or risk takers. So based on their history, I think your HaHa's are premature.

RickM1950 Loc: Davenport, IA

Hi Bob, as a big fan of my A6000, the kit lens takes very acceptable photographs. Here are a couple taken with the Kit lens.

Rick

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RickM1950 Loc: Davenport, IA

Oppppps....here is the second one.

Straight from camera

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A lil postp

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