Eric Bornstein Loc: Toronto Canada

Hello. This is my first post on the site. I have been reading queries and answers for a number of months and like the sincerity that I find. I have been a Nikon SLR and DSLR user for many years and enjoy the huge potential for creativity that the cameras and interchangeable lenses have allowed me. I am now considering a lighter system as my needs (may) have changed. I am considering purchasing a mirrorless camera system but have no knowledge of the technology. I am concerned about low light capability, type of lenses that one can buy and shutter release speed. The readers 'out there' will be of inestimable value.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Welcome to our forum!

Mirrorless is a whole new world, with all sorts of options. Google will help, as will the responses you get here.

amehta Loc: Boston

I think the most important thing is to make sure you are comfortable with the EVF (electronic viewfinder) of the particular camera you are considering. If it bothers you, the camera will never get used. If you like it, then everything else is basically the same as a DSLR.

Today you can get a mirrorless interchangeable lens camera in a variety of sensor sizes:
1. full frame (35mm) (Sony A7)
2. APS-C (1.5x smaller) (Sony A77, Fuji X-T1, ...)
3. micro 4/3 (2x smaller, 4x3 aspect ratio) (Olympus, Panasonic)
4. 1" / CX (2.7x smaller) (Nikon 1)

With each smaller sensor size, the camera and lenses get smaller and lighter. Low light capability is generally not a factor of mirrorless vs DSLR, but sensor size. There are quite a few lenses available for these, and because the lens mount is closer to the sensor, there is room for an adapter to use DSLR lenses. The shutter release speed is not generally an issue, they perform comparably to DSLRs, and sometimes the shutter lag can be less because there is no mirror to move. I believe autofocus speed can sometimes be an issue because they tend to use contrast detection, while many DSLRs use phase detection, or both, which can be faster.

troutisme

jere is a photograph from the fuji xe1 and 18-55mm lens. you can get this camera so cheap now and the lens is much better than anything else out there. i would add this camera is best for landscape and street photography (perhaps with 35mm lens) and not action of kids and sports. also the 35mm lens and any other lens fuji puts out are wonderful sharp lenses.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Beautiful! Is the Mormon Row in the Grand Tetons?

SueMac Loc: Box Elder, SD

Here are 2 test shots from the Sony A6000. We received this camera yesterday and did some testing with it.

First shot 0075: Lens: 55-210, Focal length 111.00. In 35mm it would = 166. Exposure Mode-Auto, Scene setting was Night. No Flash. f/5.6 at 1/20th (hand held) ISO 6400, shot in RAW

2nd Shot 0078: Lens: 550210, Focal Length 194.0, (In 35mm it would = 291.0, Exposure Mode-Auto, No scene settings and no flash. f/6.3 at 1/25th (hand held) ISO 6400. shot in RAW

You can see the dust on the fan on shot #2. So I'd say it has good low light on these photos. Only processing was to change to JPG. I usually take my photos in M but hubby and I are testing the camera in all it's modes. Since this camera has a "scene" mode, most of those only work in JPG...so it has in camera processing. So far I'm more impressed with this tele lens than the one that came with it....more testing with it today when it is sunny. This lens that we used has great image stabilization.

This is not my D800, but it has a lot of potential and even with this telephoto lens the whole set up is LIGHT! It is so small, it almost feels like a toy compared to the D800 and a big heavy lens.

First Shot

(Download)

2nd Shot

(Download)

OviedoPhotos

Welcome to the Forum.

I use a mirrorless when I travel via air. They are lighter weight and easier to use.

When I do road trips or portraits then the DSLR comes out.

I try and keep a rugged, waterproof camera with me all the time when walking or hiking.

Waxhouse Loc: Tampa Via Philadelphia

Mirrorless is the future. If you can miniaturize anything and make it as good or better it will sell.

prayingmantis

I have some important observations to make if you are thinking of purchasing Sony. I own both a Sony A77 and A99. I have purchased and returned for full refund a Sony A7. Both of my cameras are mirrorless. You asked a question regarding low light sensitivity. Because the Sony autofocus system diverts about 20% (not sure about the exact figure, it may be higher or lower)from ever reaching the sensor there is some light loss. The resultant image would require about a half stop more light than a Nikon DSLR. For example, if you have both a Nikon DSLR and a Sony A77 and you shot the same subject with each camera and you got a perfectly exposed image with the Nikon at f/5.6, 1/100th and ISO 400, it would require and ISO of 600 or a 1/2 stop more in the aperture setting to get an equivalent histogram as seen on the Nikon. Now some warnings regarding the A7 and A7R. The number of lenses available from Sony for those two cameras at this time is almost nil. I am not up to date on whats available presently but when they first started to deliver those cameras to buyers on the waiting list for B and H photo there were no lenses available. If you already owned a variety of Sony, Carl Zeiss and Sigma lenses with the Sony Alpha DSLR mount (I have 8 of those lenses)you could only use those lenses with a $250 adapter. Now the biggest negative for me and the reason I returned the Sony A7 to Adorama after I received it. The Sony line of DSLR's have been distinguished from Nikon, Sony, Pentax, Olympus etc in that they have image stabilization within the camera body so that any lens whether it has IS or doesn't have IS can be used with a great IS system in the camera body. So what does Sony do to screw people like me is to come out with a 36mp camera (A7R) which does not have IS. I use IS all the time, even on tripod (the Sony A77 and A99)are designed to work on a tripod. I take hand held shots with my Sony 300mm and Carl Zeiss 135mm lenses and can not do that with the A7 or A7R. When I shoot indoors in a poorly lit room I find that I can hand-hold my Sigma 35mm F/1.4 lens with shutter speeds down to 1/10 second with no blur. I wouldn't be able to do that with an A7 and A7R. For me IS is one of the biggest advances in camera technology of the past 50 years. So the answer to obtaining IS on a Sony A7 or A7R is to purchase only those lenses made by Sony specifically for those two cameras as those lenses have image stabilization built into the lens. Those lenses of which there are only 2 or 3 available at this time (compared to more than 100 for a Nikon DSLR) can be mounted on the A7 and A7R or a NEX point and shoot without the $250 adapter. You could possibly by 3rd party manufacturers such as Sigma with IS in the lens however I haven't checked the availability for E mount so I can comment on availability. One subtle difference you should be aware of if you plan to buy either an A7 or A7R is that the A7 has both phase detection autofocus and contrast detection AF while the A7R only has contrast detection AF. Sony claims that autofocus is only a bit slower in the A7R and I think reviewers have born out the fact that there is only a tiny difference in speed (read dpreview.com). Lastly I would like to state that for me I didn't like the ergonomics of the A7 as it is indeed a very small camera and therefore the layout of camera controls is radically different than my Sony A99 or A77 or any Nikon or Canon DSLR. When I held my Carl Zeiss 135mm f/1.8 lens mounted on a Sony A7 there was very poor balance and I found it awkward to use that body as the lens so dwarfed the body. One last observation. I can highly recommend the Sony A77 and A99 bodies. The A77 is very light, compact, full of features and sells for $1400 retail. However the A77 and all Sony DSLR's prior to the A99 which came out about 18 months ago have an in camera image processor which resulted in very noisy images in ISO's greater than 400 which for me was quite disappointing. The A99 was their first camera with a new image processor (all digital cameras have an image processor) called the Bionz Z processor. The A99 has very acceptable noise at ISO 3200 so kudos to Sony. If you are considering an A77 be certain to wait for the latest new version of the A77 which has the

prayingmantis

Sorry I got cut off on the above entry. If you wait you can purchase the soon to be released A77 with Bionz Z processor and for $1400 you can get a great APS-C camera.

Eric Bornstein Loc: Toronto Canada

Your responses thus far have been most helpful. The camera shop in Toronto where I visited was pushing the Olympus pro (mirror less) camera with two lenses; 12 to 40 (2.8) and a 9 to 18. The camera has good weight and the images are sharp. The EVF system us so different. A whole new 'language' to learn! Purchase decision us pending.

TedPaul Loc: Madison, MS

Troutisme. Love the pic. While I was waiting for my M. No knowing how long. I got that Fuji from Adorama. I was not wild about it. Probably short on learning. I seriously considered selling 7 Leica lens and going mirrorless. I think mirrorless is the way . Enjoy yours. I was wrong in my feelings.

n3eg Loc: West coast USA

If you haven't upgraded your DSLR collection in a while, you will be amazed with what the new mirrorless cameras have to offer. You can adapt old lenses and use them with manual focus and aperture. ISO goes to 25,600. Processing is so good that some have abandoned RAW.

And if you're looking for a lighter system, my Olympus E-PL5 with 14-42, 40-150, 75-300 lenses, wide angle adapter, macro filter lenses, spare battery, USB cable, and various filters weighs 4 1/2 pounds and fits in a 9 1/2 inch long bag. The camera with 14-42 lens weighs just 1/4 ounce short of a pound.