The attractiveness of mirrorless cameras: I probably missed the initial discussions as to why the interest in mirrorless cameras, but I've been wondering: are they in some ways better...

cboysen Loc: Homewood, IL

I probably missed the initial discussions as to why the interest in mirrorless cameras, but I've been wondering: are they in some ways better than DSLRs? If so, how? Are they lighter? Cheaper? Do they use better lenses? I'd appreciate answers. Thanks.

10MPlayer Loc: California

The body is smaller and weighs less. Because of physics, the lenses are bigger and weigh more. I am not sold yet. If someone can show me how the entire package of body and lens is smaller and lighter I'd like to see it.

letmedance Loc: Walnut, Ca.

10MPlayer wrote:

The body is smaller and weighs less. Because of physics, the lenses are bigger and weigh more. I am not sold yet. If someone can show me how the entire package of body and lens is smaller and lighter I'd like to see it.

I recently handeled both Nikon and Canon newest mirrorless cameras. Not very much difference in size and weight from their DSLR siblings.

Also checked out the P1000, this think is an armfull, it is bigger than a breadbox.

bsprague Loc: Lacey, WA, USA

I have to laugh a little. This has to be a "troll" topic looking for reactions.

I've never had a DSLR. I had a few film SLRs and the flipping mirror was a spectacular advantage because you could see through the lens at what the picture was going to be. If you're shooting film, it is an amazing feature.

We have transitioned to digital. Now we can see what the sensor is capturing without a flipping/flapping mirror. We can also shoot video through the EVF.

They come in all sizes, at all prices and with all kinds of lens choices.

ken_stern Loc: Yorba Linda, Ca

The way I see it in many ways the mirrorless is a lot like what digital was like in say the earlier part of this century ---

A work in progress

If I stay healthy & upright I'll eventually own one!!

PixelStan77 Loc: Vermont/Chicago

cboysen wrote:

I probably missed the initial discussions as to why the interest in mirrorless cameras, but I've been wondering: are they in some ways better than DSLRs? If so, how? Are they lighter? Cheaper? Do they use better lenses? I'd appreciate answers. Thanks.

As an owner of a Nikon FX DSLR D800 system with many lenses, have no desire to start all over again with Mirrorless.

mas24 Loc: Southern CA

cboysen wrote:

I probably missed the initial discussions as to why the interest in mirrorless cameras, but I've been wondering: are they in some ways better than DSLRs? If so, how? Are they lighter? Cheaper? Do they use better lenses? I'd appreciate answers. Thanks.

You have missed many discussions on this forum regarding mirrorless cameras. I will speak about Sony only. For there are other reputable Brands, such as Panasonic, Olympus, and Fujifilm. Nikon's most recent mirrorless is the Z6 full frame. Canon has one or two mirrorless cameras? Sony has the "E" mount for mirrorless. And they have excellent lenses, that can rival Nikon and Canon. The "G" Series and Zeiss lenses, are Sony's finest lenses. Canon and Nikon have a huge number of lenses to choose from. Sony's full frame "E' mount premier lenses are gradually catching up. There is debate, as to whether mirrorless is a better choice? Also there is a difference in the viewfinder.

wmurnahan Loc: Bloomington IN

cboysen wrote:

I probably missed the initial discussions as to why the interest in mirrorless cameras, but I've been wondering: are they in some ways better than DSLRs? If so, how? Are they lighter? Cheaper? Do they use better lenses? I'd appreciate answers. Thanks.

They are no better or worse, different, like a film rangefinder and a SLR. Both would give you an equal quality 35 mm picture. For me one big plus is because of the missing mirror box, any DSLR, SLR, even medium format lenses are usable with an adapter. I can use some of the best glass ever made plus all the glass I already own from 40+ years of photography, and I can pick it up cheap, and for a lot of my work, manual focus is how I would shoot it anyway. Another plus is what I see is what I'm getting with the EVF. If I want a small camera, I can put my 35 2.8 Zeiss on and have an almost pocketable set up when I use my 6500, but really the a7ii is only bigger by the EVF bump.

User ID

cboysen wrote:

I probably missed the initial discussions as to
why the interest in mirrorless cameras, but I've
been wondering: are they in some ways better
than DSLRs? If so, how? Are they lighter?
Cheaper? Do they use better lenses? ........

All of the above, but only sometimes.

As you mention, you missed the initial
discussions. FYE, all that is still on the
forum for your reading pleasure. Dig in !

.

speters Loc: Grangeville/Idaho

bsprague wrote:

I have to laugh a little. This has to be a "... (show quote)

Mirrorless cameras were there before SLR's did see the light, they did not appear in the digital age!

wdross Loc: Castle Rock, Colorado

cboysen wrote:

I probably missed the initial discussions as to why the interest in mirrorless cameras, but I've been wondering: are they in some ways better than DSLRs? If so, how? Are they lighter? Cheaper? Do they use better lenses? I'd appreciate answers. Thanks.

It depends on what you compare. There is not much size, weight, and cost difference between FF DSLR and mirrorless FF. And there is not much size, weight, and cost difference between APS-C DSLR and APS-C mirrorless. But going from FF DSLR to APS-C mirrorless there will be a difference in size, weight, and cost. And from APS-C DSLR to Micro 4/3rd there will be a slightly bigger difference in size, weight, and cost. And between FF DSLR and Micro 4/3rds there will be a very big difference in size, weight, and cost. Quality wise, as long as you are not blowing up images bigger than 30 X 40, none of the formats will disappoint you.

BebuLamar

cboysen wrote:

I probably missed the initial discussions as to why the interest in mirrorless cameras, but I've been wondering: are they in some ways better than DSLRs? If so, how? Are they lighter? Cheaper? Do they use better lenses? I'd appreciate answers. Thanks.

They have the EVF. That is the deciding factor. You like the Reflex finder or EVF that's it.

larryepage Loc: North Texas area

As stated above, they are mostly just different. If you look at images on this forum, the truth is that you cannot tell which were taken with a DSLR and which with a mirrorless camera, nor whether that mirrorless camera had an electronic viewfinder or an LCD screen, nor whether it had interchangeable lenses or not.

Mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras are simply something different that is getting quite a bit of attention from manufacturers right now and are therefore gaining features and functionality.

There's always a lot of interest in new and different. Think of the new features in automobile design over the last few years. Lots of interest. Some things have caught on, some not. And some of those features with the most vocal and even viral support are struggling to gain support beyond a small but hard core group of folks.

chrisg-optical Loc: New York, NY

cboysen wrote:

I probably missed the initial discussions as to why the interest in mirrorless cameras, but I've been wondering: are they in some ways better than DSLRs? If so, how? Are they lighter? Cheaper? Do they use better lenses? I'd appreciate answers. Thanks.

Unless you're talking M4/3, the size and weight difference is not a selling point for me - since I like to use long lenses. However if you are using lenses in the "normal" range it can be an advantage for travel and street photography, for APSC (such as the Fuji XT series) or FF.

The lack of a mirror means a lot less audible noise and vibration - to me that would be biggest plus. Should also be more reliable as there are less moving parts to break or jam.

Less latency between shots - higher overall fps. Ability to preview exposure in EVF - which btw may take some time getting used to if you are a DSLR shooter.

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

cboysen wrote:

I probably missed the initial discussions as to why the interest in mirrorless cameras, but I've been wondering: are they in some ways better than DSLRs? If so, how? Are they lighter? Cheaper? Do they use better lenses? I'd appreciate answers. Thanks.

They are not THAT much lighter than DSLR's, in fact in the case of some models of DSLR's, they are heavier. In some cases they are less expensive and in some cases they are more expensive. No, the lenses are the same, made by the same manufacture as before.
In some ways their are advantages of mirrorless, and in some cases DSLR's have an advantage.
Their are many, many sites you can explore on the internet comparing the mirrorless and DSLR's.
YOU SHOULD READ SOME.