57 replies to this topic

[johnspierce]

Nice article Doug, thanks.

 

I wish Nikon had been a bit more adventurous with their latest FX.  Instead of the Df, they could have given us a D800rm - mirrorless in the spirit of the Sony A7r.   Then, people would have a choice between their top-of-the-line DSLR which has a great optical viewfinder or a similar top-of-the-line Mirrorless which would still have spectacular image quality.  The Df is probably a fine camera, but it just seems to be targeted to be fashionable rather than useful.

 

As Alex Mustard noted in a different thread, a mirrorless FX will still require the same size domes and ports, but I still like to see anything get smaller if possible.  Traveling to the South Pacific with their ever more restrictive carry on guidelines, even saving 1 - 2 pounds on the housing/body combo is welcome, particularly if you can keep the same image quality in the bargain.

Edited by johnspierce, 11 January 2014 - 12:58 PM.

[Phil Rudin]

The port size for at least the Nauticam A7/A7r housing will be smaller, just not as small as M43 and NEX size ports. Smaller port opening than DSLR housings and smaller ports as well for dedicated lenses. DSLR lenses used with adapter will require larger ports just like with the NEX systems.

[diverdoug1]

I think that the sky is the limit for sensor technology in both mirror-less and dSLR futures. So the "benchmark" performance of the sensors will not be enough to slay the dSLR. Getting rid of the need for a pentaprism by vastly improving electronic viewfinders might eventually spell the death knoll for my beloved dSLR. As far as weight savings, I am debating about how to pack my 9.25" glass dome safely in checked baggage for my Palau trip next week. It is to heavy for my carry-on allowance

Edited by diverdoug1, 11 January 2014 - 02:06 PM.

[diverdoug1]

The Df is probably a fine camera, but it just seems to be targeted to be fashionable rather than useful.

I really don't get the reason for the Df other than it looks like an older style camera. I can't wait for the D5!

Edited by diverdoug1, 11 January 2014 - 01:51 PM.

[Phil Rudin]

Getting back to the main issue of this thread I have no issue one way or the other regarding two forums or one however this diverted discussion of the Sony A7/A7r seems to show that many current camera discussions greatly intermingle and are worthy of one or both forums.

Regarding optical viewfinders and EVF's it is clear that the quality optical viewfinder of "full frame" cameras still are superior however as sensors sizes get smaller so do OVF's while the OMD-D E-M1 EVF is as large as the one in the D-800. So for the large percentage of users not buying a $3000.00 camera an argument can be made for EVF over smaller OVF's. If you ever used a camera like the Olympus E300,410, 510/20 the EVF of M5 and M1 are much more useful.

[diverdoug1]

sensors sizes get smaller so do OVF's while the OMD-D E-M1 EVF is as large as the one in the D-800.

You lost me on this Phil. It seems that sensors are getting bigger and better for all types of digital cameras, and the viewfinders are getting bigger on the dSLR or staying the same. I even use the Aquatica external optical viewfinders (45 and 180 degree) and they are great. I think I may be missing your point.

[Phil Rudin]

Sorry for not being more clear. The size of the sensor, I.E. M43, APS-C, 35mm, MF, etc. Limits the size of the optical viewfinder in turns of how large the image appears in the viewfinder. The EVF is not limited in this regard so EM-1 has a larger viewing area than EM-5 but with the same sensor size and all else being equal.

Edited by Phil Rudin, 11 January 2014 - 03:35 PM.

[Glasseye Snapper]

Fuji is expected to announce the new Fuji X-T1 later this month and it is supposed to have the best EVF yet. Mirrorless still has more catching up to do and it is hard to overestimate the value of their lens line-up, but maybe the most surprising thing about mirrorless is the speed of progress after their marketeers decided to go after the  higher end of the market. As a result mirrorless is no longer the cheap option with small size as its main advantage. Fortunately for us m43 shooters, Nauticam and just today Aquatica are making great aluminum housings at about half the cost of DSLR. For me the choice between DSLR in Ikelite or EM5 in Nauticam was another important factor in choosing the latter.

 

Bart

[Aliens]

Love the EVF on my Sony NEX7

[CamelToad]

I think separate forums would be nice.

[TedJ]

I would like to see a separate forum category as well.

[oskar]

I think there are not enough followers to slice and dice this community in a lot of sub forums.  Two are enough.   One compact/fixed lens forum   and  one System camera forum.  I can skip subjects not directly in my interest.

 

I'm happy to call these whatever, as long as this is the gist.   The system issues and solutions are similar for all of these, mirror or not. 

 

Cheers

/O

[Aliens]

Or have a Sony forum.

[Aliens]

I think that the sky is the limit for sensor technology in both mirror-less and dSLR futures. So the "benchmark" performance of the sensors will not be enough to slay the dSLR. Getting rid of the need for a pentaprism by vastly improving electronic viewfinders might eventually spell the death knoll for my beloved dSLR. As far as weight savings, I am debating about how to pack my 9.25" glass dome safely in checked baggage for my Palau trip next week. It is to heavy for my carry-on allowance

I am heading to Palau next month. United offer one free bag up to 23 kg second bag is US$40. Carry on is a international sized roller bag 22 cm x 35 cm x 56 cm as well as a back pack . There is no weight restriction for the carry on.

[diverdoug1]

I am heading to Palau next month. United offer one free bag up to 23 kg second bag is US$40. Carry on is a international sized roller bag 22 cm x 35 cm x 56 cm as well as a back pack . There is no weight restriction for the carry on.

United does have a 40 pound weight restriction for the carry-on, but I just got back from Palau on United yesterday, and no carry-on baggage was weighed. 

[Aliens]

Thx DiverDoug. There is no mention of weight restriction on web but 40 lbs (20kgs) is heaps! But yes they tend to check the size limits rather than the weight. How was Palau. We are doing the liveaboard on Siren hopefully inc some wrecks in March.

[diverdoug1]

Palau was great!  Are you already booked with Siren?  If not, please PM me about some potential problems with them.

[Aliens]

yep all booked. We were on Palau Siren for her first voyage on Komodo trip. It was brilliant. Staff, food, rooms, free beer were great. Lots of photography space. A little squeezy on dive deck around the sides but managable.

[scuba-s]

I'm all for separate forum as well.

[denniscloutier]

I don't think we need a new forum, but I suggest that the one we have should be renamed.  Mirrorless cameras are not slrs and they aren't point and shoots, so I don't know where to post mirrorless camera stuff.  Perhaps the slr forum should be renamed "Interchangeable Lens Cameras".