Are Sony Cameras DSLRs? The larger Sonys look just like DSLRs, but Sony calls them DSLR-like. The big advantage of the SLR over older cameras was the view coming right through the...

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

The larger Sonys look just like DSLRs, but Sony calls them DSLR-like. The big advantage of the SLR over older cameras was the view coming right through the lens. Mirrorless cameras still give you the view right through the lens. Couldn't they be called DSLRs?

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Darkroom317 Loc: Mishawaka, IN

jerryc41 wrote:

The larger Sonys look just like DSLRs, but Sony calls them DSLR-like. The big advantage of the SLR over older cameras was the view coming right through the lens. Mirrorless cameras still give you the view right through the lens. Couldn't they be called DSLRs?

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Any SLR by definition has a single lens and a mirror. The mirror is the reflex part. A Twin Lens Reflex Camera has a mirror and two lenses. With view cameras one views image directly through the lens on the ground glass. These cameras have no mirror therefore they are not reflex cameras.

Ranjan Loc: Currently Cyber-Nation!

jerryc41 wrote:

The larger Sonys look just like DSLRs, but Sony calls them DSLR-like. The big advantage of the SLR over older cameras was the view coming right through the lens. Mirrorless cameras still give you the view right through the lens. Couldn't they be called DSLRs?

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I think the "reflex" is missing from the mirrorless cameras hence ILC designation is more appropriate for the mirrorless cameras that allow different lenses and FLC for the mirrorless cameras with integral (fixed) lenses.

jaymatt Loc: Alexandria, Indiana

Since Sony says they are "DSLR-like," they aren't.

wingclui44 Loc: CT USA

jerryc41 wrote:

The larger Sonys look just like DSLRs, but Sony calls them DSLR-like. The big advantage of the SLR over older cameras was the view coming right through the lens. Mirrorless cameras still give you the view right through the lens. Couldn't they be called DSLRs?

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No! No reflects from mirror. It's not "Single lens Reflects-SLR"

MT Shooter Loc: Montana

jerryc41 wrote:

The larger Sonys look just like DSLRs, but Sony calls them DSLR-like. The big advantage of the SLR over older cameras was the view coming right through the lens. Mirrorless cameras still give you the view right through the lens. Couldn't they be called DSLRs?

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No, but their A mount cameras do use a translucent mirror systemr. TSLR is their accepted designation because the mirror remains in front of the sensor when shooting and does not flip up as a DSLR does.

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

The A series HAS a pellicle mirror for AF only ( the VF is electronic off the sensor) - and it does not move. That is what makes the A series "DSLR-like" ....a hybrid if you will.

Canon calls a semi transparent - semi reflective mirror "pellicle" - Sony calls it "translucent" ....

mas24 Loc: Southern CA

Yes, I agree. The Larger Sony cameras do look like DSLRs, but Sony no longer makes DSLRs. They make two versions, the DSLTs, crop sensor, and Mirrorless. Also a6000 series, crop E-mount. A camera you own. The DSLTs are the Translucent Mirror, and you have Mirrorless. Full frame sensor. Sony says they will never produce another new DSLR. As they did in past years, with their a350 model. A good camera when released.

bobmcculloch Loc: NYC, NY

jerryc41 wrote:

The larger Sonys look just like DSLRs, but Sony calls them DSLR-like. The big advantage of the SLR over older cameras was the view coming right through the lens. Mirrorless cameras still give you the view right through the lens. Couldn't they be called DSLRs?

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not reflex, no reflections etc

Toment Loc: FL, IL

I think "reflex" refers to the prism in the camera which allowed the viewer to look directly through the lens.
Sony made that type at one time. Today Sony has EVF's which do not use a direct lens view.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

bobmcculloch wrote:

not reflex, no reflections etc

That's what I was thinking - no reflection, so no reflex.

G Brown Loc: Sunny Bognor Regis West Sussex UK

With my sony I can see the effect of changing apperture through the viewfinder (electronic) whereas I cannot do this with my older Canon. I don't think you could do this with a SLR camera either. Perhaps that is why it is DSLR like.

Darkroom317 Loc: Mishawaka, IN

G Brown wrote:

With my sony I can see the effect of changing apperture through the viewfinder (electronic) whereas I cannot do this with my older Canon. I don't think you could do this with a SLR camera either. Perhaps that is why it is DSLR like.

You can with the depth of field preview button that most SLRs have. It stops down the lens

BebuLamar

The Sony SLT (A99 etc..) has a mirror but the mirror isn't used for viewing so it's not a DSLR.

dpullum Loc: Tampa Florida

The real confusion comes with the fact that the interchangeability of lenses makes them SMLR. M for multi. But as this question like a Rose by any other name is just a thorny!! I have an Sony A-65

Jerry, now that it is snowing in the Catskill Mountains, has too much time in front of the fire place reading old photo magazines published before they all stopped publishing in paper. Wonder if they fired the team that came up with the phrase "DSLR Like?"