DickE Loc: Southern California

OK, everyone, This topic has probably been discussed before. I'm pretty new to the forum so I haven't seen the discussion. I'd like to know the relative advantages of the new mirrorless digital cameras. How do they work and how do they compare to DSLR's?

Eestern Sierra Nevada in Winter

P7049 Loc: Madison, WI

In a mirrorless camera like a Sony you are shooting through a filter and must suffer some altering of the image. It has been said on this forum that no professional uses such a camera.

redhogbill Loc: antelope, calif

here are a few threads to follow

http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/search.jsp?q=mirrorless+vs+dslr&u=&s=0

rjaywallace Loc: Wisconsin

Try using UHH's Search function (near the top of this page), search on the same question as in your heading - you will find loads of reading material. Some of the things you may want to note are the relative size and weight of the cameras as well as their cost and the cost of their lenses. Also try Google for info as to how a mirrorless camera works - reams of info is available.

rjaywallace Loc: Wisconsin

Phil - there are MANY examples here and in the trade and enthusiast press of exceptional photos that were taken with mirrorless (and even 'lowly' DX) cameras. Your assertion that no professional uses them is total bollox!

P7049 Loc: Madison, WI

follow the threads above.

mcveed Loc: Kelowna, British Columbia (between trips)

Well whoever said it was wrong.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HMen8j3mWjM

craggycrossers Loc: Robin Hood Country, UK

Happy Saturday from 8 hours in front of you, Dick !

Yeah, you're right - there are many DSLR devotees here (including me, D700 too !). I LOVE my D700 and am loath to part with it. Trouble is I'm now using my Fuji X-T1, and prime XF lenses 35 & 56mm more. Why, you might say?

All products have benefits, some of which fit our personal individual needs. I shoot all sorts - a general photographer, and certainly not a pro. But, even coming to this hobby late in life (60 yrs), I always have recognised and appreciated quality ..... so my number 1 need is picture quality. If this is you, and I've looked at some of your earlier posts, I think it is ..... then look for the systems that will give you what you need. Undoubtedly the leaders in the mirrorless field are Fuji, Olympus/Panasonic and Sony, all offering well-established cameras and lenses giving A1 picture quality.

What else? Cameras tend to be smaller and less weighty .... just easier to carry around with you. Amazing difference in weight between my D700 with 28/50/85mm lenses and my Fuji X-T1 and 35, 56mm (50 and 85mm equivalent) lenses. I carry both using the same paracord wrist strap. Simply... same picture results, less to carry !

Yeah, they have different sensor sizes, but if you do your research you'll find that the "full frame" advocates are on a losing battle, at least the picture quality from the best mirrorless cameras is as good, sometimes better, than DSLR. Picture quality from any of those I've mentioned will simply amaze you. Biggest is not necessarily best - hey, don't forget I'm British !

Essentially you can "stay big and weighty" or join the mirrorless brigade and achieve much the same.

Can you use your existing lenses? Yes .... with an adapter. But you'll be hard-pressed to find an adapter for any system that enables true and accurate autofocus ..... better to use the manufacturer's lenses. Fuji and Olympus have got this down to a T ..... get one of their cameras and get their lenses. Sony full frame cameras and lenses are good, but expensive in comparison.

My choice, I'll admit, has been Fuji. There are highly capable devotees here for micro 4/3 (Olympus and Panasonic) and Sony. Listen to everyone !

One nice feature .... you see, in the electronic viewfinder (Fuji X-T1 is terrific) ,and can control with aperture, shutter speed and ISO, what your final pic will be ..... so helpful in extraordinary lighting conditions.

Lots of good "mirrorless" websites ....

http://www.sansmirror.com/newsviews/

http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdhmyOvut1KmxFJBaM0aElA

Hope this gives you a start .....

craggycrossers Loc: Robin Hood Country, UK

Phil - you're shooting through a lens, just as any other camera - don't listen to 'em - they're wrong ! If you wanna know where to read to prove 'em wrong .... just ask !

orrie smith Loc: Kansas

mirrorless cameras are lighter and easier to transport, image quality is subjective to what you shoot. try renting a mirrorless and see if you like it. compare it to a dslr.

joer Loc: Colorado/Illinois

Perhaps someone said that but it isn't so. Plenty of people shoot with mirror-less including professional.

Each has advantages over the other but mirror-less is gaining ground because its a better design with fewer mechanical parts and is potentially smaller and lighter.

Many believe that the DSLR's days are numbered, including the top executives at Fuji, Sony, Panasonic, Olympus and others.

Just a matter of time before Canon and Nikon out of necessity join the band wagon.

Peakbagr

New here, but not new to photography. I go back to the Olympus OM-1 and OM-3 Kodachrome 25 days. Then and now Olympus concentrated on fantastic glass and making small cameras, small DSLRs, and now mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras do more with less. I switched from a DSLR to an Olympus OMD E M-1, their small, flagship mirrorless camera. It's less than half the size of some DSLR cameras, has a great grip, and the lenses are fantastic and small as well. The camera body and the accompanying lenses are weather sealed and I use them in very cold winter mountain conditions. The in-body image stabilization allows me to hand hold in lower light and slower speeds than I ever could with any other camera. And I don't worry about getting caught in a rain storm or concerned that it might be too cold to bring it along. Go to other independent camera sites and read the reviews and the people migrating from large DSLRs to mirrorless for some of the reasons I mentions and others in this thread.

bdk Loc: Sanibel Fl.

At this time I am not a fan of mirrorless. why? its a very odd reason. I like the weight of a DSLR in my hand. For some reason when I have a very light camera I seem to move it more and get more blurry pics ..... The DSLR is heavier and I dont seem to have as many problems. Maybe someday I'll want that light weight but not now.

So Im at a dam shooting eagles with 100 other photographers all with much better equipment than I could ever afford. No problem they all talk to me and I get along with them great. IN comes a guy with a mirrorless camera, they treated him like he had the plague... Making fun of his camera.... I think its a stigma we need to get over.

DickE Loc: Southern California

Thank you so much for the information. It is especially helpful insight coming from a Nikon D700 user. You are correct that quality of the image is most important. A reduction in weight with no loss of quality is a real advantage. I have admired the Leica range finder system for years. I guess it would be considered a "Mirrorless camera." I would have purchased a Leica long ago for street photography were it not for the price. I guess quality usually has a cost. I will check out the information in the links you attached.
Thanks again,
Dick "from eight hours behind."

P7049 Loc: Madison, WI

There was an article on UHH several weeks ago that talked about cameras that had no lens and just gathered digital information from in front of the camera. How do these thoughts about "Mirrorless vs DSLR" affect this discussion.