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DPChallenge Forums >> Photography Discussion >> The DSLR is fading away. Now what?
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 08/30/2021 03:40:44 PM · #1
CNET article:
The single lens reflex camera has been the iconic mainstay of "serious" photography since the 1960s, and its digital version, the DSLR, has served that role during the 21st century. But a 50-year run at the top seems to be peaking as cameras with mirrors and pentaprisms are being pushed aside by mirrorless cameras. Now what?
 08/30/2021 03:55:28 PM · #2
I'll definitely go mirrorless in the next couple years. I will not look back (too often). The SLR has had an incredible run, for what is in fact just a little bit of a Rube Goldberg solution. It's kinda funny that what was for a long time the big downside of mirrorless (less than stellar AF performance) is now a selling point, as the performance has blown past SLR AF in a cloud of sensor dust. The AF performance of the latest cameras from Canon, Sony and Nikon is astoundingly good, and will still get better.
One remaining bugbear is battery life, which is still mediocre as compared to DSLRs. To be expected, since:
- The sensor is being used continually
- There is an EVF, in addition to the rear display
- There is a *ton* of computation going on for the advanced AF features
This will improve, with time.
 08/30/2021 05:24:43 PM · #3
Can't happen too soon, say I :-)
 08/30/2021 05:41:22 PM · #4
mixed feelings, or maybe not so mixed: the advances in mirrorless will certainly continue along with all technology, and in the end we will wind up with still more energy dependence and space junk.

I will keep my 2 favourite lenses, even if only to worship - pre DSLR, no auto focus, no aperture priority. It still astonishes me that my newer lenses, albeit moderately priced, are just very good and not at all exciting.
 08/30/2021 07:34:45 PM · #5
The really cool part about mirrorless is easier adaptation of a wide variety of vintage glass. Shorter flange distance is a gift in that regard. One thing I am dying to try is doing some portrait shooting with the Zeiss 75/1.5 Biotar. With mirrorless and focus peaking I should be able to nail focus pretty reliably.
 08/30/2021 07:52:06 PM · #6
it seems that all cameras are fading away being supplanted by phones. I wonder what are sale numbers for cameras now compared to say 20 or 10 years ago? I am sure they are way down.
 08/30/2021 08:03:45 PM · #7
Originally posted by LevT:
it seems that all cameras are fading away being supplanted by phones. I wonder what are sale numbers for cameras now compared to say 20 or 10 years ago? I am sure they are way down.

In broad strokes, you would be correct. In fact, -84% between 2010 and 2018. However, that figure is very misleading. Note that interchangeable-lens cameras have in large part held their ground. The 'phone camera revolution has kicked point-n-shoots in the arse, as you'd expect. But for those that want artistic control and technical capability, there is no substitute for a dedicated camera.
 08/30/2021 08:08:03 PM · #8
Originally posted by kirbic:
The really cool part about mirrorless is easier adaptation of a wide variety of vintage glass. Shorter flange distance is a gift in that regard. One thing I am dying to try is doing some portrait shooting with the Zeiss 75/1.5 Biotar. With mirrorless and focus peaking I should be able to nail focus pretty reliably.


I hadn't thought of that, the shorter flange distance.
 08/30/2021 08:35:41 PM · #9
My worry is that cameras are getting too easy. Shots that would have been very difficult for me to get are getting much easier.

People are already less impressed by impressive shots -- simply because they don't trust or know if it's been photoshopped. So the one in a million capture, or the National Geographic worthy captures have people immediately assume that it's faked. :(
 08/30/2021 09:48:19 PM · #10
I miss the control of my DSLR, but the phone takes such great pictures, that's all I use these days.
 08/30/2021 10:02:00 PM · #11
I like mirrorless cameras and all that they offer, however, I don't care for how expensive the gear seems to be. I'll live with my one "good" (old now) mirrorless Sony A7II, and continue to lug around the A65, A77II, or A99 DSLR's for landscape and wildlife / action photos (anything where AF is helpful). I use the A7II for more "artsy" kind of stuff (wide open bokeh, motion blur, etc.). Mostly using old M42 glass.

Honestly, another part of the reason for not embracing mirrorless more than I have is the glass I have for the Sony A mount (DSLR) already. They would be very expensive to replace. Stuff like 12-24, 24-135, 70-200, 70-400, a couple of primes, etc. cover all the bases for me now.

I have one eye open for a decent priced Sony A99II (DSLR) still! :-)
 08/30/2021 10:41:44 PM · #12
Originally posted by glad2badad:
I... I don't care for how expensive the gear seems to be...


Good glass seems to get more expensive all the time, but I think when accounting for inflation, really not so much.
It amazes me how much value you get now in a camera body. The original Canon 5D, a game changer in its day, originally retailed for about $3400 in September 2005, which would be $4700 in today's dollars. The Canon R5 retails for $3900 in 2021. The 5D still takes as good a photo today as it ever did, but I'd hate to compare images side-by-side with the R5. And you really would not want to live with the 5D's AF today, although when it was released it was a solid performer.
 08/31/2021 01:02:35 AM · #13
I've made the move to a mirrorless a few years ago. Much better for travel and toting on the bicycle. For functional purposes, I consider mirrorless the same thing as a DSLR. It does the same job for me.

I agree on the battery life though, my DSLR could sip at one battery for the whole day. Not the case anymore.
 08/31/2021 08:05:28 AM · #14
Originally posted by Yo_Spiff:
I've made the move to a mirrorless a few years ago. Much better for travel and toting on the bicycle. For functional purposes, I consider mirrorless the same thing as a DSLR. It does the same job for me.

I agree on the battery life though, my DSLR could sip at one battery for the whole day. Not the case anymore.


I really like my R5. It takes some getting use to. For instance I shoot in manual mode almost all the time now. There are some things that still need improvement. Battery life is one of them. I have to keep a close eye on the power level and keep the extra batteries in my pocket when I am doing wildlife photography. One of the reasons I bought the R5 is its size and weight. A battery grip takes that away. A longer life battery would be a real enhancement. Also, since I still have my 5D Mark IV and all the lenses I did not want to duplicate everything in RF lenses so I use the adapter. Again, it adds a little more bulk. I am waiting for a good 70-300 RF lens that I can use exclusively as my walk around lens. One is not available yet.
 08/31/2021 09:34:46 AM · #15
Size matters a lot to me, so I'm committed to Canon's M series cameras for now. It's just unfortunate that Canon don't seem to be so committed to them as there are very few M series lenses available - nothing with more reach that the 55-200mm zoom. And I hate the fact that the top of the range M6 Mark II doesn't have a built in viewfinder, only one that connects through the hotshoe, meaning one can't use external flash and the EVF simultaneously.

DPReview is full of rumours that Canon are planning to move to R series APS-C cameras which will obviously use bigger lenses and won't work with many of those I already have. If those rumours come true I may be forced to rethink my choice at some time. I often wonder if there's a Fuji camera in my future.
 08/31/2021 10:49:03 AM · #16
Originally posted by GinaRothfels:
DPReview is full of rumours that Canon are planning to move to R series APS-C cameras which will obviously use bigger lenses...


I think there is a *very* good chance that RF-mount APS-C cameras will appear. FWIW, there is no reason that the lenses for an RF-based APS-C camera would be larger than the EF-M system. It's true that the mount diameter is larger, but that has little impact on lens size.

Originally posted by GinaRothfels:
I often wonder if there's a Fuji camera in my future.


Watch the market in the next couple years. The top competitors in interchangeable-lens cameras are Canon, Sony and Nikon. Nikon is a distant third at this point. I don't even know where Fuji stands right now. If you are looking for flexibility in a system, look to the market leaders.
 08/31/2021 12:06:42 PM · #17
Some of us will remain antediluvian, if for no other reason that we're happy with where we are, not in a position of either being able to, or wanting to, spend the money to continue chasing the ever increasing level of technology.

I have a D850, a D810, two 28-300VR lenses, a 16-35VR lens, and a D5100 with an 18-200VR.

I also still have my old D70s with an 18-135, but that sits on the table with my Mom's old cameras as an antique.

I'm not going to a different platform, I don't want to relearn how to use my camera to its best advantage, and at my age and point in life, I can't see spending the money to get a better camera than what I have.

The D5100 that I have is pretty small. The body & 28-200VR lens weigh just under two and a half pounds. That's just slightly more, by about an ounce or two than the Z6 with its 24-200 lens.

So if I don't want to lug around the D850, I have that. But I don't much like it 'cause it's too small for my large and calloused hands.

I do see camera companies losing lower end market share to cell phone manufacturers......I have this D5100 'cause Vivi hated dragging it around and she got a cellie that produces really terrific images....(He said grudgingly.......)

I'll be curious to see how the mirrorless fares as a pro camera in the long haul.

But this dinosaur will keep his DSLRs.
 08/31/2021 12:19:05 PM · #18
Originally posted by NikonJeb:
I'll be curious to see how the mirrorless fares as a pro camera in the long haul.


I know that there were some photogs shooting the upcoming Canon R3 in Tokyo. I think that if the RF cameras can take on that kind of assignment, the writing is on the wall for the SLR.

I agree with you about large hands and small cameras, not a good fit, literally. I do think that Canon and Nikon, and to a degree Sony are adequately addressing the ergonomics. I was all set to jump on the R5 last year, pulled in my horns because, well, the 5D Mk IV is still meeting my needs, and I have other financial commitments at the mo. But eventually, jump I will. Given the news that the R3 (finally) uses a backside-illuminated sensor, it may behoove me to wait until that propagates down the food chain.
 08/31/2021 12:58:31 PM · #19
Originally posted by kirbic:
Originally posted by GinaRothfels:
DPReview is full of rumours that Canon are planning to move to R series APS-C cameras which will obviously use bigger lenses...


I think there is a *very* good chance that RF-mount APS-C cameras will appear. FWIW, there is no reason that the lenses for an RF-based APS-C camera would be larger than the EF-M system. It's true that the mount diameter is larger, but that has little impact on lens size.


Even if that proves to be the case, at some point I won't be able to use the lenses I already bought if they discontinue the EF-M system.
 08/31/2021 01:13:05 PM · #20
Originally posted by GinaRothfels:
Originally posted by kirbic:
Originally posted by GinaRothfels:
DPReview is full of rumours that Canon are planning to move to R series APS-C cameras which will obviously use bigger lenses...


I think there is a *very* good chance that RF-mount APS-C cameras will appear. FWIW, there is no reason that the lenses for an RF-based APS-C camera would be larger than the EF-M system. It's true that the mount diameter is larger, but that has little impact on lens size.


Even if that proves to be the case, at some point I won't be able to use the lenses I already bought if they discontinue the EF-M system.


The EF-M lens sitch is an interesting case... in *theory* I would bet it is mechanically possible to design a mount adapter. The M system has an 18mm flange distance (distance from the mount to the sensor) and a 47mm inner diameter, whereas the RF system has a 20mm flange distance and 54mm diameter. So there is 2mm of space lengthwise, and 3.5mm of space radially for an adapter. Tight, but not impossible. Making electrical contact would be the challenge.
 08/31/2021 02:02:27 PM · #21
Do you know that last year vinyl albums outsold CDs?

There's a chance that in a few years DSLRs will outsell mirrorless cameras for the same reason.
 08/31/2021 02:02:47 PM · #22
Originally posted by posthumous:
Do you know that last year vinyl albums outsold CDs?

There's a chance that in a few years DSLRs will outsell mirrorless cameras for the same reason.


or SLRs will outsell them both.
 08/31/2021 02:24:40 PM · #23
Originally posted by posthumous:
Originally posted by posthumous:
Do you know that last year vinyl albums outsold CDs?

There's a chance that in a few years DSLRs will outsell mirrorless cameras for the same reason.


or SLRs will outsell them both.

I guess all I might need to buy is a new battery ... :-)
 08/31/2021 02:27:42 PM · #24
I have both 5DM4 and Sony A7Rii and I find that Sony has something missing like when I a having a flash on top of sony and Canon (same flash brand), I find that Sony takes 1-2 seconds to fire the flash after hitting button and sometime it takes 3 seconds too where as the Canon is spontaneous. I tried looking all options in Sony and so far no luck.
 08/31/2021 02:39:31 PM · #25
Originally posted by kirbic:
Originally posted by GinaRothfels:
Originally posted by kirbic:
Originally posted by GinaRothfels:
DPReview is full of rumours that Canon are planning to move to R series APS-C cameras which will obviously use bigger lenses...


I think there is a *very* good chance that RF-mount APS-C cameras will appear. FWIW, there is no reason that the lenses for an RF-based APS-C camera would be larger than the EF-M system. It's true that the mount diameter is larger, but that has little impact on lens size.


Even if that proves to be the case, at some point I won't be able to use the lenses I already bought if they discontinue the EF-M system.


The EF-M lens sitch is an interesting case... in *theory* I would bet it is mechanically possible to design a mount adapter. The M system has an 18mm flange distance (distance from the mount to the sensor) and a 47mm inner diameter, whereas the RF system has a 20mm flange distance and 54mm diameter. So there is 2mm of space lengthwise, and 3.5mm of space radially for an adapter. Tight, but not impossible. Making electrical contact would be the challenge.


Without electrical contact, it's not much better than using vintage lenses.

Edit: Actually it's worse, because there's no manual aperture control on most M-mount lenses - only on MF lenses like those from 7artisans.

Message edited by author 2021-08-31 14:45:01.
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