Chris T Loc: from England across the pond to New England

I had this one out there, previously, but it got moved, so - here it is, again - where it belongs - in Main Photography Discussion ....

CO

Nikon will be introducing full frame and cropped sensor mirrorless cameras. They have a patent for a new Z lens mount. It will be necessary to use an adapter with current lenses. I wonder if this is a turning point and all manufacturers will move away from DSLR cameras. I hope DSLR cameras continue as I like an optical viewfinder best.

SS319

I would like to see parabolic sensor planes. A parabolic sensor would greatly simplify lens design and would result in a crisp image corner to corner.

Chris T Loc: from England across the pond to New England

Yes, CO ... I read all that, too. Frankly, I think it's a mistake for Nikon to introduce a new mount, this late, in the game. They should - like Sony, keep the same mount for both DSLRs and for Mirror-less. I say the same, knowing full well Sony uses A mount for one and E mount for the other, but there's such slight difference.
The adapters Sony uses from one to the other allow all automation and AF features to be transferred. That's no small feat!!!!

I don't think Nikon, Canon and Pentax will move away from DSLRs anytime soon - they all know too well it's their bread and butter.

Sony, on the other hand - already has, in a sense. Their mirror-less camera designs outnumber their DSLR-like designs on a ratio of about 6 to one. However, I don't see Sony abandoning the DSLR market, either. The a77 II has done very well for them, as has the a77, before it. But, I do see a limited crop in this department ...

However, as I'm sure you've noticed, CO .... Sony DOES use EVFs on all their DSLR-like designs, just as they do on all their MILCs ... so, no more OVFs, now ....

OVFs, on the other hand - are paramount in the design of Nikon, Canon and Pentax DSLRs ... I don't see any of them turning to EVFs anytime, soon ....

Chris T Loc: from England across the pond to New England

That certainly would, wouldn't it, SS ... simplify lens design ...

However, it's a fairly expensive proposition ....

Not at all sure, the public would stand for such an increased expense ....

However, with FF DSLRs now, costing $3200 to $6500 ... who am I to say?

DTran

I like DSLR but I think the trend is toward the mirrorless. The 2 big hurdles that they have to overcome is to eliminate the mechanical shutter completely and make the EVF good enough to manual focus without any aid.

Chris T Loc: from England across the pond to New England

D ... what kind of troubles have you experienced doing manual focusing with an EVF?

Chris T Loc: from England across the pond to New England

Rollei had an electronic shutter design out there, before they went under ....

I suspect that would make a marked improvement to ALL cameras, huh, D?

Harry0 Loc: Gardena, Cal

Get rid of crappy ergos. We have still cameras that do video, and video cameras that do srrills. Why is one 90 degrees from the other? Just because it's "legacy" for old folk. My old sigma DP fit my hand better than many modern DSLRs.
We don't need EVFs. An unnecessary complication; otherwise my phone would have one.
We should not have mechanical shutters anymore. A complication; 10% life of the electronic ones.
That AI recent innovation will soon become like AF, IBIS and Auto-ISO is now.
Better f'n batteries. I'm converting a $25 ebay grip to use 4x 18650 batteries. All day play.
Mirrorless. Because this is the 21st Century.
Fast, 50+ mp, FF+, and all the above. Can you imagine giving a P1000, prosumer built metal body FF 60mp with all the above, to a college kid? Why would a "system" camera make sense?

Chris T Loc: from England across the pond to New England

Oh, I agree with you about AI. No sooner did Oly introduce the E-M1X than Sony announced an AI firmware update for their flagship FF MILC - the a9!!!! … Yup, it will come to ALL dig cams, eventually.

Not sure, though, I agree with you on the electronic shutter being paired with an OVF, Harry - or, even - if that makes any sense at all. I have EVFs in ALL my Sony SLTs, and I WISH I had electronic shutters, too. It seems to me - those two things go hand-in-hand.

The scenario you've dreamed up - a P1000 in a FF metal body, with a 60MP sensor - sounds interesting!

altheman Loc: Christchurch, New Zealand

The logical thing is to remove the mirrors from DSLR cameras and replace the OVF with an EVF. A mirrorless DSLR type camera would have so much room in it to fit a truly hi res EVF in it plus all the other hi tec stuff and have room for a high capacity battery, plus with all the Canon and Nikon lenses available for their DSLR cameras it just makes sense. As far as I'm concerned the logical thing for Sony to do with it's A-mount cameras is to remove the mirrors altogether as they have the sensor tech already and the AF tech to be able to do it

Chris T Loc: from England across the pond to New England

Altheman - Sony has three lines of DSLRs/MILCs right now - the E-mount FF MILCs, the E-mount APS-C compacts, and the a-mount SLTs - which further breaks down into the FF model - the a99 II, and the APS-C models - the a77 II, and the a68. Those first two SLTs (a99 II / a77 II) are exactly the same body. So, yes, you're right - Sony has figured a way to put all the glass and electronics for a FF into the same body as an APS-C. Since they have the E-mount models, though, they don't really need to remove any mirrors, as they already did, for those. The SLT design does depend on a mirror, though - even though the mirror never moves - which is quite a feat! … The a99 II is a wizard at what it does, so is the a77 II.

Harry0 Loc: Gardena, Cal

One problem I have is that many discussions here coincide/ parallel with others, and I tend to lose track of who said what to whom when and where. *sigh*

I have a few Canon folk. With cameras that, at the right angle outside, the Sun in daylight will seep thru the viewfinder and interfere with the sensor. WTF?! Instead of fixing the problem they sell a not too cheap 5x disposable hood- that a roll of black tape would do better for a dozen lifetimes. Remove that vestigial viewfinder- that flippy screen can tell me everything it does, and more.

Oh! Is it 85 degrees or higher, AND you're doing videos. AND you have both the EVF and the screen on, AND the Sun is shining thru that EVF again? Your Canon may overheat. WTF?! A skinny little heatpipe with the body itself on the other end, and no EVF- no problems. In the meantime you suspect the battery- yup it's warm. In the time it takes you to figure that (wrong!) out, replace the battery, and get ready to start over again your camera has cooled off. Good for another 20 minutes of video.

In the meantime: Scenario # I pick up the camera- and automagically log myself out of nearby conversations. Visiting uncle is now mobile furniture. Make my adjustments, take my shots, put down the camera, and try to log back in. Scenario #2 I pick up the camera and flip the screen. The kid's Mom and I look at the screen together, talk, and spend time getting the spontaneous shots *I* want interspersed with the PC desktop worthy posed shots *she* wants. A900 all day.



In the meantime, I have a few Nikons. (tho this ain't a Nikon thang!) I have this nice bendy big flash/ video light unit that fits in the hotshoe. I also have a stereo mic, that also fits in the hotshoe. Sunday's project will be opening the box, looking for a clear space to throw a thru bolt, screw and glue a cold shoe 1/4" strobe adapter. I did think of using monster velcro glued to the sides. That's Plan B. Plan D is bolting the mic to the camera's tripod socket.

> the logical thing for Sony to do with it's A-mount cameras is to remove the mirrors altogether <
Exactamundo! Been looking at various camera's specs- with electric shutter the speed can get doubled. It's done with software. Firmware. Upgradeable? Could last decades of constant quiet reliable use. Mechanical- has a built in half life. Hundreds of $$ to fix a bumped camera.
Howzaa bout a Sony A99-VII? Mirrorless. A Sony Foveon-type FF sensor. Fully articulated screen. I have a DSC980- this'll have 2 built in flashes like that, one on each side, right above the stereo mic spots. 15 meter waterproof and useful. A functional handheld RF remote, and a full control phone app. A smart hotshoe. Dual slots. Wifi. The size and shape of my A900.
I actually personally don't like (EVIL!) Sony, but I might buy this one ...

We're coming up on the 3rd decade of the 21st Century- we should be the Jetsons by now!

Bill_de Loc: US

Well, you created more of a problem resurrecting all of Chris's threads that were happily laid to rest a year ago. Alter ego or fan boy?

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Chris T Loc: from England across the pond to New England

Jetsons we ain't … yet, Harry … but who knows where we'll be in another decade?

The a99v (v indicated a built-in GPS) was a much bigger DSLR, than the a99 II. So, Sony has accomplished a major feat, upgrading it, and putting it all into the a77 / a77 II body!!!! … And, they both - to my knowledge, have the Fully Articulating Screen, as do both the APS-C a77 and a77 II. It's a little different than the flip-out kind Canon uses, though, in just about everything, and Nikon used on its D5600, D5500 and D5300 models, though. It doesn't flip out to the left. Instead - you pull it out towards you, and then - push it either down, or UP - for Selfies. Plus, of course - you can fold it back towards the screen to look at menus, and for Live View. And, when through, fold it back against the back for LCD protection. It's a little different, but, essentially, affords all the utility the Canon / Nikon model does. As for weather protection - the a77, a77 II, and the a99 II - all come with maximum weather proofing. And, many cameras now have Dual Slots - it seems to've become a necessity for Pro level cameras. The other stuff sounds vaguely interesting, though … have you applied for a patent, Harry?