mirrorless cameras: Wanted to know if anyone out there has experience using mirrorless interchangeable -lens cameras. I like outdoor shooting and my Nikon70-300 wears me down. Don't...

scamp

Wanted to know if anyone out there has experience using mirrorless interchangeable -lens cameras. I like outdoor shooting and my Nikon70-300 wears me down. Don't use a tripod much when I'm going after butterflies

docrob Loc: Durango, Colorado

scamp wrote:

Wanted to know if anyone out there has experience using mirrorless interchangeable -lens cameras. I like outdoor shooting and my Nikon70-300 wears me down. Don't use a tripod much when I'm going after butterflies

well your lens is going to weigh the same regardless of the camera u use

doc72248

i have been using a pentax Q for about two months. i like it for its light weight and the fact that they have a fish eye lens that was under $100. cheap enough to play with. many in camera editing styles and picture taking pre sets. such as HDR, water color, and posterization.
14 meg. pix. good images to work with. it is light ,small- i can hold everything i have in one hand.

Zerbphlatz Loc: Southern New Hampshire

I'm confused - how does use of a mirror in the camera works wear you down more? Is it the vibration you feel from the mirror flip or that an SLR probably has more "stuff" in it so weighs more?

Davethehiker Loc: South West Pennsylvania

Zerbphlatz wrote:

I'm confused - how does use of a mirror in the camera works wear you down more? Is it the vibration you feel from the mirror flip or that an SLR probably has more "stuff" in it so weighs more?

Traditionally, better SLR cameras used both a mirror and a pentaprism. The pentaprism is a big heavy, expensive chunk of glass. It remains to be seen, but new cameras may replace the mirror and pentaprism with lighter, less expensive electronics. There may also be some other technical advantages.

sloscheider Loc: Minnesota

docrob wrote:

well your lens is going to weigh the same regardless of the camera u use

Nope, smaller sensors don't need as large of a lens. Many of the ILC's use the Micro 4/3 sensor which is a bit smaller than the APS C sensors found in many DSLR cams. Lenses are definitely smaller and lighter.

I believe the ILC's use the main sensor for focusing just like point & shoot cams so that could be a limitation.

Disclaimer: I have NOT used one outside of the showroom but am researching them as a good quality more portable camera

ole sarg Loc: south florida

how close can you get to the butterflies. Perhaps all you need is a nice 28 to 135 if Nikon makes one or someone else, and use it.

Why do most on this site like these bazooka sized lenses? The longest lens I have is a 28-200 tameron and it is seldom on the camera, usually have either the 50mm or a 19-35 wide angle. I have a 2x tele extender if I really need to shoot something afar.

Am I missing something?

scamp wrote:

Wanted to know if anyone out there has experience using mirrorless interchangeable -lens cameras. I like outdoor shooting and my Nikon70-300 wears me down. Don't use a tripod much when I'm going after butterflies

ole sarg Loc: south florida

If memory serves the interchangeable lens mirror less cameras do not have a viewfinder and thus you have to hold them away from your face and avoid the reflection of the sun or tilt the screen or some such thing.

I would find this very un-natural and a pain.

scamp wrote:

Wanted to know if anyone out there has experience using mirrorless interchangeable -lens cameras. I like outdoor shooting and my Nikon70-300 wears me down. Don't use a tripod much when I'm going after butterflies

carolb

I agree that a mirrorless camera may not be the answer to your problems. Independently of that, I have a Nikon 1J1 and its size, weight, and faster than the speed of light wins me over.

Sbaker Loc: Washington, DC

Panasonic G3 has a viewfinder and the lens and the camera is much lighter than a DSLR camera.

ole sarg Loc: south florida

yes it does an electronic view finder. IMO I find these kinda strange. Others may not.

Sbaker wrote:

Panasonic G3 has a viewfinder and the lens and the camera is much lighter than a DSLR camera.

prophet

there are so many complication to each..

NIKONUT Loc: San Diego

carolb wrote:

I agree that a mirrorless camera may not be the answer to your problems. Independently of that, I have a Nikon 1J1 and its size, weight, and faster than the speed of light wins me over.

If that "big" lens bothers him that much then he should do like you did with the J1. I did with the Nikon 1 V1. This is getting so versatile with interchangeable lenses (their own) and also using the FT1 adapter and other lenses that I think people might start using this and other similar cameras as their main or second/backup camera. Also the V1 has a viewfinder which, when I need it (outdoor) makes shooting much easier.

bobby shaftoe

check out the macro quality of the Nikon P7100 at http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/P7100/P7100A.HTM

scamp

Thanks for all the responses. I use the 70-300 for birds as well. I hike in the mountains 3-4 times a year(NC). I am a little 61 year old and carrying gear in backpack and holding camera starts to wear down my shoulders. Was looking for alternatives. Didn't know there was already 4th generations of mirrorless cameras out there. The lens are lighter. Looking at Nikon1V1 and NEX-5N