Mirrorless Cameras

11 years 1 month ago #277078 by Baydream
A friend called tonight to ask if I had, or knew someone with, a mirrorless camera. I don't have experience with these so I told her I would ask here.
My understanding is that you get a larger sensor than a "compact" but a smaller size than a DSLR. The Nex seems to be a bit of a hybrid with its viewfinder design.
How does the cost of lens stack up with DSLRs?

My friend is planning a trip to Italy and wants a decent camera for her husband.

Any comments would be helpful.

Shoot, learn and share. It will make you a better photographer.
fineartamerica.com/profiles/john-g-schickler.html?tab=artwork

Photo Comments
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11 years 1 month ago #277097 by KCook
Well, I was curious too, so I just bought a used Olympus PL2. Which has a 4/3 sensor, smaller than the Sony NEX.

Lens prices for mirrorless are kind of the Wild West. New lenses, fully auto everything, are pricey for what you get. New DSLR lenses are a better value, IMHO. On the other hand any mirrorless body can take any legacy lens ever made, thanks to adapters. This puts you firmly in Manual Focus territory, but those antique SLR lenses are dirt cheap on eBay. As none of the mirrorless bodies are full frame, this legacy game does not include wide angle. Of course casual users are not likely to have much interest in adapters and hunting down legacy lenses. As for new lenses, the ones for Panasonic appear especially pricey to me.

All of the mirrorless brands have the usual 3X kit lens, plus a tele zoom, and a "pancake" prime. For those at least the prices should not be too bad.

The differences between the various mirrorless models are more serious than the differences between various DSLR. So research (or an easy return policy) is important. And I mean research beyond the hoary old "how does it fit in your hands" that you hear all the time for DSLR selection.

I'm having a ball with my PL2. But it won't completely replace my DSLR. And I'm pretty sure most folks who just want a full auto snap shooter would be happier with an SLR-like ultrazoom point-and-shoot.

what was the question? Kelly

Canon 50D, Olympus PL2
kellycook.zenfolio.com/

The following user(s) said Thank You: Baydream, robbie
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11 years 1 month ago #277137 by Baydream
Very helpful, Kelly. I will talk to my friend about her husbands experience level and quality expectations. My guess is for travel, a higher end P&S may be the ticket. The only complaint I have with P&S (besides smaller sensors) is the shutter lag for action shots.
They are getting so much better every day.

Shoot, learn and share. It will make you a better photographer.
fineartamerica.com/profiles/john-g-schickler.html?tab=artwork

Photo Comments
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11 years 1 month ago #277170 by KCook
Yup. I could really be tempted by a Fuji X20 or X100.

Canon 50D, Olympus PL2
kellycook.zenfolio.com/

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11 years 1 month ago #277205 by MajorMagee
Mirrorless is great for travel because of the low weigh and compactness.

It may not be Italy, but this was the Venice of China - Wuzhen Xizha

E-PL1 with Panasonic Lumix 20mm f/1.7 Pancake

Here's an example of the low light performance at the Clock Exhibit in the Forbidden City.

E-PL1 with Panasonic Lumix 20mm f/1.7 Pancake

This was a very light and easy to pack combination for a mult-week trip overseas. There were only one or two situations during the trip where I needed a zoom and this kit didn't fully suit my needs.

The image quality of the newer models like the OM-D E-M5 and the PEN E-PL5 is far above anything you'll get from a P&S and on par with the mid-range APS-C DSLRs.

The Olympus native lenses are generally less expensive than the equivalent Panasonic ones because the Oly image stabilization is in the body and not the lens. That's also what makes it perfect for using the older high quality glass.

I love shooting with the legacy manual lenses.

E-PL2 with Zuiko OM 50mm f/1.4 on Fotodiox Adapter


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11 years 1 month ago #277254 by MajorMagee
Here are some other excellent examples of Mirrorless travel photography.

France, Greece, and Jordan


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