camerapapi Loc: Miami, Fl.

In my humble opinion one of the most important steps in photographic sharpness is the close proximity of the rear of the lens to the focal plane. Modern dSLR camera bodies have a larger distance between the rear of the lens and the focal plane plus the mirror that flips up and down with the exposure. Theoretically speaking the mirror should be a contributor to slight blur but in real life that is not the case and the images made with a dSLR camera and good optics are usually superb. I do not know the secret but since the original Exakta SLR of the early 50's the images have been of excellent quality with those cameras.

After the Second World War Nikon reorganized from being an optical company designing optics for the war to a camera company. In 1957 when Leica was king Nikon introduced the Nikon SP rangefinder camera which was not very different to what we now call mirrorless. The quality was superb to the point that Life magazine, after the experience of David Douglas Duncan in Korea using Nikon optics switched to use only Nikon cameras and lenses. This is all obviously of historic interest.

The fact is that photographers have been wanting smaller and lighter cameras and lenses and the main reason why modern poly-carbonated components of excellent quality are so often used with photographic gear. Olympus and Panasonic have been very successful with their mirrorless cameras and Sony and Fuji have also introduced excellent cameras and lenses. Mirrorless seems to be here to stay although I have said in several occasions that there are still problems with the tracking function of these cameras for action and wildlife photography.
I do not have any experience with the Z7 but I have already read several reviews stating that the AF system is not at a par with that of a dSLR yet.

The images I have seen from that camera using the new lenses designed for it are indeed superb. Nikon has always been an optical company and they have lots of experience in the designing and manufacture of lenses. I have not seen any real life prints from their mirrorless cameras but I have to assume that the images have to be of excellent quality based on what I now know.

Vignetting has never been an issue with rangefinder cameras, it has never been with my Olympus mirrorless bodies but there must be something I am not aware of based on your statement about vignette being an issue with the short distance from the lens to the focal plane.
I said a few years back that the future looked brilliant for mirrorless cameras and time has proven me right.

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

True wide angle lenses - like the super angulons with a short back focus - due to the physical distance differences between the center of the image and the corners - have always had a vignett problem - in the past, this was mitigated by using a neutral density "center filter" (before digital software). Leica's 21mm super angulon had this problem .

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Bill_de Loc: US

I would think the rangefinder camera is as different from today's mirrorless as you can get. Unlike a dslr that uses a mirror to reflect the image coming through the lens, the rangefinder uses mirrors just measure a distance. It has nothing to do with the image and except for convenience it could be external from the camera.

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markjay

Nah,

Canon is kicking Nikons ass in the new mirrorless game.
Especially the lenses!

jederick Loc: Northern Utah

Good info, Larry...thanks for sharing!!

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

This may be a premature idea - especially regarding resolution......wait awhile and see how things shake out.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

There is a bit of renaissance going on in camera design now.

Nikon did the best thing they've done to a lens mount since 1959.

Canon, ditto, but since 1987. The cool thing is, those old EF lenses can perform better on their mirrorless bodies than on previous bodies, due to the addition of IBIS.

Now, Panasonic is about to release new full frame cameras (S1, S1R) that use the Leica L mount. It has a wide throat of 51.6 mm. Despite being smaller than the mounts from Canon or Nikon, it still accepts both formats, APS-C and full-frame.

Panasonic has planned ten lenses for release before the 2020 Olympics, in addition to the six lenses Leica has released so far, plus two Leica lenses planned for 2019, and three Leica lenses planned for 2020.

Leica shares the L-Mount with Panasonic and Sigma, and this alliance is open to other camera and lens manufacturers. There could be a proliferation of lenses available soon, similar to the Micro 4/3 standard (which now sports over 100 lenses for Olympus and Panasonic Micro 4/3 cameras to share).

BebuLamar

But Canon decided not to include IBIS in their first full frame mirrorless.

ole sarg Loc: south florida

the longest lens made for the M is a 135 and that has no trouble!

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

SLR mirrors do add some vibration during exposure. That's why there is a mirror lock-up switch on better SLRs and some dSLRs, and why "Live View" mode is handy. Mirror shake is most likely to be noticeable at speeds between the full-open curtain speed (varies with shutter design; usually between 1/60 and 1/250) and around 1 second. It's less noticeable at longer and shorter exposures. It's worst (in my experience) from about 1/2 to 1/60 second. When I used a Nikon F3 on a copy stand, my typical exposure was 1/8 at f/6.3 at ISO 64. So I locked up the mirror. Now, when I use my Lumix, I use electronic shutter mode, silent mode, and trip the camera from my iPhone. That eliminates mirror shock (no mirror) and shutter shock (no mechanical shutter), leaving only the swish of the diaphragm blades if I pre-focus manually. Then the problem becomes vibration of the table due to passing cars, etc.

One of the reasons LIFE switched to Nikon was cost. The Japanese bodies and lenses were significantly less costly than their German counterparts. Since the performance was virtually indistinguishable in the magazine, the switch was an easy decision. It pleased the bean counters! That choice by LIFE led to a choice of Nikon by the US military (along Beseler Topcon, for some arcane reason). It also cemented the Nikon brand into the minds of many youth, eventually clinched by the song, Kodachrome, by Paul Simon.

Despite the fact that I started with a Canon FX in 1968, I bought a Nikkormat FTn in 1969, mostly due to the reputation Nikon had among the press. Our high school contract yearbook candid photographer had six Nikon F bodies. So I went that direction, eventually picking up a Nikon FTn. Funny... I had tested Nikkormat FTn, Canon FT QL, Pentax Spotmatic F, and Minolta SRT-101. The Spotmatic felt best in my hands, and their lenses were the easiest to focus. But all because Time-Life and the local press used Nikon, that's the way I went.

The more I used the FTn, the more I appreciated its performance and rugged reliability, but the less I liked its ergonomics. the shutter button strained my index finger. Changing film was a pain... What do you do with the back while it's off? I had to wear shirts with clean pockets. They fixed all that stuff with the F3. It's a classic. It reminded me of the Pentax Spotmatic from the late 1960s. I wore one out!

I never have liked the reflex mirror and pentaprism/pentamirror designs, though. Finder blackout is what kept some old-timer photojournalists using rangefinder cameras until they died. At least you could see the moment of exposure and know you got the expression you wanted from a person. That's one of the reasons I got interested in mirrorless cameras. They're still evolving, but by 2014, they were good enough to use for all but sports and wildlife work. The Sony A9 appears to have broken that barrier. Its existence is why so many reviewers didn't like the Canon and Nikon full frame announcements. I suspect Canon and Nikon are already working on their "A9 killers" along with Panasonic.

Welcome back, friends, to the show that never ends...

Remember, if your old cameras still work, you can still use them. Or someone else can. When a G.A.S. attack occurs, remember that your knowledge, experience, training, passion, mental vision, purpose, and curiosity USUALLY are more important than your gear. Have a good reason to upgrade or switch!

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

What is the F-stop ??

gwilliams6

I am laughing at all you Sony bashers. That "small" E-mount has done extremely well for everything from APS-C, Full frame, AND Professional Cinema Camera Lenses for years,in the hands of filmmakers like Steven Spielberg, and James Cameron, no less. . Sony has no lack of sharp, fast and top image quality lenses for E-Mount. And in fact the E-Mount is the most widely shared lens mount in the world among third-party lens makers,including f 0.95 lenses, still and cine lenses. Folks please get your facts straight and actually know what you are talking about before making outlandish statements.

As Sony Execs. emphatically stated at the recent Photokina, having a larger lens mount is NOT necessary for top quality, fast lenses.
https://www.sonyalpharumors.com/sony-answers-nikon-and-says-larger-aperture-lens-does-not-require-a-larger-mount-diameter/

One recent example, Sony's new E-mount 24mm f1.4 G-Master lens with XA lens elements tests sharper at f1.4 from corner to corner than previous 24mm f1.4 lenses on the market. Debunking the other myth that a larger lens mount is needed for better corner to corner sharpness. Cheers

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

I have been waiting for the Sony fanboys ! .....

"As Sony Execs. emphatically stated at the recent Photokina, having a larger lens mount is NOT necessary for top quality, fast lenses.
https://www.sonyalpharumors.com/sony-answers-nikon-and-says-larger-aperture-lens-does-not-require-a-larger-mount-diameter/ "

Of course they are going to tell you that ! Duh.... but we are talking optical physics here. Of course it is not impossible to design a really good lens on the e-mount - just easier and cheaper with a bigger mount !.....

Properly designed, the ULTIMATE quality large aperture lens will come from a very adequate sized lens mount - and at a price most can afford.

We will have to see how "well" the e-mount does against what Nikon and Canon will be coming up with for their mirrorless.....

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Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

There is a little talked about IBIS which is digital.
Canon has this on the R in the video mode and it apparently works pretty well.
Just like many anti canon pundits condemned Canon when they went EF mount is it possible that this digital IBIS is just the genesis of something bigger?
The not having a sensor wiggle around in the camera allows for a far more accurate focus and perhaps Canon is developing an IBIS that is purely digital.
No moving and wiggling parts kind of like removing the slapping mirror it is removing the unstable and willgling sensor.
Who knows it is just a thought extrapolating what they already have in the R camera.

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

I am all for non wiggling lens elements and sensors !