Mr Mike W

This question is for those who have made the transition from DSLR to Mirrorless cameras. What do you feel is the biggest advantage that you have found in making the switch? Is there anything that you were disappointed in?
Your answers will help ME decide if I too should make the switch.
Thanks in advance for your lucid comments.
Mike

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Why do I love mirrorless? Let me count the ways:

1. Smaller body by removing the space needed for that yesteryear flapping mirror.
2. IBIS that turns every lens into a stabilized lens, even the golden oldies of the manual focus, pre-electronic ages.
3. EVF with shimmering highlights of the plane of focus.
4. Histogram available for display in electronic view finder (EVF).
5. Detailed 10x zoom in EVF.
6. Silent (not a single noise) shutter.
7. Extreme frames per second, 20+.
8. Image playback in EVF for review when LCD impossible to see in bright light.
9. Image playback at 10x zoom in EVF.
10. Sharper mirrorless lens designs.
11. More ultra fast lenses as sharp wide open as any stepped down DSLR lens ever.
12. One digital platform supporting portfolio of legacy DSLR lenses, legacy SLR lenses and modern mirrorless lenses.
13. Autofocus beyond f/8 for extended configurations.
14. Platform for any / all ongoing technology advancements in digital photography.
15. EVF that displays the results of the image before shooting.
16. EVF that allows for ad hoc updates like boosting the ISO for a brighter focus view, then restore ISO and shoot, without even lowering the camera from a shooting position.
17. Entire frame available for selective AF position.

I'm sure I missed probably several others.

Mr Mike W

Impressive list. Thanks. BTW I have enjoyed your numerous posts and your extensive knowledge of photography.

DavidPine Loc: Fredericksburg, TX

Amen Amen!

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Thank you Mike! I still have a foot in each camp, with the added wrinkle of only using old manual focus 1980s lenses on my modern mirrorless body. I look forward to merging / consolidating everything onto a single mirrorless digital platform.

dukepresley

My Z6 is smaller, lighter; I just returned from a couple of weeks across the pond, and my observation is that cell phone cameras have even widened the gulf between them and us. I was on a tour in Messina: 40 cell phones and 2 cameras.

But my loyalty to Nikon continues unabated!

srg

Yes, indeed. I do too

David Martin Loc: Cary, NC

I made the switch from Nikon D500 to Canon R5 and couldn't be happier with my decision. No disappointments.
For many of the reasons listed by CHG_CANON.
You should select the mirrorless model of your dreams that fits your budget, and rent it for a week.

Sergey

After Paul's list there's not much to add.

I am non totally switched. I still have Canon 5D MarkIII but I also bought Olympus O-MD E-1 (now upgraded to Mark III).
Buying Olympus a few years ago was a decision dictated by two main reasons - I wanted something lighter than my Canon and I really wanted IBIS. Before buying it I rented a few cameras - Sony A600 (if not mistaken), Fuji XT-1, Oly O-MD E-5 and Oly O-MD E-1. Of those I liked the feeling of Fuji the best, loved Sony for autofocus, but ended up buying Olympus because of IBIS and weight. If Fuji XT-4 were available at that time I could have chosen it instead (but it would be heavier)

Love my Olympus for incredible IBIS and lighter weight and size (good for walking around in city and hiking/backpacking), but ergonomics wise I still prefer my Canon 5DM3. Sadly I use it less and less, limiting to car trips.

There are so may choices of mirrorless now. I suggest you do your research online, narrow it down to 3-4 cameras, then rent them out for a week and see which one you like the most.

JD750 Loc: SoCal

Shooting Mirrorless M43 since circa 2005. I like the advantages of the EVF.

Disappointed that Canicon took so long
To catch on.

IDguy Loc: Idaho

Im a Nikon user. I agree with most of the above. But not IBIS. It makes the sensor more delicate to cleaning. IMHO lens VR is almost as good. I find myself using my Z50 much more than my Z6…even though the Z6 lenses I have are much more expensive and better range (24-200).

An advantage is that they are new using updated processes and firmware and so far have been good with firmware updates.

One obvious disadvantage is dust on the sensor due to open shutter when changing lenses. Even though the shutdown sensor cleaning does not seem to work on my Z6 and the Z50 doesn’t have the feature I haven’t found sensor dust a problem. If my rocket blower doesn’t get it so far my Arctic Butterfly has. If they put the Z9 sensor cover on the next updates of Z6 and Z7 I might consider one.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Well, as usual, Canon leads with way, with sensor covers for their mirrorless cameras and dust gaskets for their (higher-end) lenses. Personally, I prefer every lens is IS-enabled via the camera's IBIS over whether to pick the IS lens or not for the DSLR / SLR.

Grahame Loc: Fiji

My response is based upon owning the Nikon Z6 mirrorless and Nikon D800. I have had the Z6 for over a year and used it for the same types of shooting.

Main Advantage -

The EVF with it's histogram allows quicker determination of 'wanted' exposure in certain circumstances where speed of working is a priority.

Disadvantage (only one) -

It's small size necessitates controls on the right side being closer and less prominent. This affecting the speed that I am able to find and adjust controls in situations where speed of working is important.

bsprague Loc: Lacey, WA, USA

My addition to Paul's list is that mirrorless cameras are generally better for those that also want to shoot video.

Secondly, mirrorless makes it easy to shoot slow shutter speeds with ND filters for the shots with exaggerated motion blur, like ocean waves and water falls.

ImageCreator Loc: Northern California

I get a bit tired of the constant preaching how mirrorless is god's gift to the photography world.