Not so long ago, whenever someone insisted that mirrorless cameras will be the dominant format going into the future of photography, DSLR users responded with incredulity. As long as Canon and Nikon are still making DSLRs, they argued, mirrorless cameras would always take a back seat.
No one was suggesting that mirrorless cameras are bad, just that they couldn’t keep up with DSLRs in terms of autofocus performance and build quality and lens selection.
Sure, mirrorless systems are compact and sometimes incorporate innovative features, but DSLR traditionalists refused to take mirrorless cameras seriously.
Then, seemingly all of a sudden, Sony, thanks to its Alpha series, became the best selling full-frame camera — mirrorless or DSLR — in the U.S. This announcement was made a month or so before Nikon and Canon were set to release their first mirrorless cameras.
FOX at Pexels
Yes, Nikon and Canon, those DSLR stalwarts had succumbed to the demands of an evolving photography landscape.
It remains to be seen exactly how the Canon and Nikon offerings stack up against the more established mirrorless bodies by Sony and the pending full-frame camera from Panasonic. And it will be some time before anyone can make a fair assessment of Canon’s and Nikon’s impact on the overall mirrorless market, disregarding sensor size, which also includes highly respected gear from Fujifilm and Olympus.
The fact that Nikon and Canon finally introduced mirrorless cameras doesn’t prove DSLRs are dead, but perhaps it’s a hint that DSLR production will slow down. I’m not an industry insider, so that’s just a guess on my part, but history has shown that technology generally makes no effort to outlive its usefulness.
If and when mirrorless cameras take over, DSLR loyalists will remain and I’d hope those photographers have access to new gear when they need it. Because I personally don’t care what kind of camera sells more or what brand is most popular.
The availability of options is what matters to me. But I’m also aware of the possibility that DSLRs could go the way of the floppy disk. The difference is I don’t know a single human who misses floppy disk storage. I know a few who would miss using a DSLR, though.
waseem kahlool at Pexels
Looking at all this from a purely technological perspective, my gut says mirrorless should be the future of photography. There’s no reason for it not to be — in due time, mirrorless cameras will embody all of the advantages once held by DSLRs and none of their disadvantages. Plus, you know, all the good stuff that mirrorless cameras already do.
Are mirrorless cameras the way of the future? I don’t know. Ask me again three years from now.
As always, we'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments below
Further Reading
- A Brief History of the Mirrorless Camera System
- Six Points to Consider as You Transition to a Mirrorless System
- Crop Factor Explained: How Sensor Size Affects the Field of View
Light Stalking https://ift.tt/2QeDJ3T
Sourced by Time Trap Photography sharing the best photography tips, news and tricks throughout the industry. Time Trap Photography is dedicated to freezing those special moments in life that can be revisited and admired for generations to come. - Shannon Bourque
Please visit our main site for booking availability and rates.
Receive valuable industry knowledge delivered free to your email each day.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Thank you so much for your comment. A moderator will review and approve all relevant posts. We appreciate your support and encourage you to stay with us by subscribing to our email updates. Where you can easily pick and choose what photography subjects interests you. Subscription link: http://bit.ly/photo-sub