SLR to mirrorless? Any regrets?

[Stephen B]

[attachimg=1]

[size=13pt]After four eye operations for torn retinas and associated cataracts since Oct. 2016, my eyes are now so clear and my vision is where it was around 20 years ago. Could I take up photography again? So last October I purchased a Sony A7M2 mirrorless camera with a Zeiss F4/24-70 lens.

I chose this because it has a full size 24mp sensor and the available lens/camera combinations are considerably lighter than some Cannon/Nikon DSLR alternatives. There are now sufficient native lenses on the market and additionally there are primes from Zeiss (Loxia) and Voightlander now available. Consequently I see plenty of lens options for my interests in  street, landscape and flower photography.

The image stabilisation is a great feature. The image above was hand held. [Note file size was considerably reduced to allow posting here on the FOG.]

 

[Sparktrician]

I actually asked the question in Dec 2014, but no I ended up with a 5DIII in spring of 2015.  I don't do the kinds of extreme shooting you do.  It's looking like mirrorless has come far enough along for me to take a leap, except the price.  I would want the feature set and capabilities of the top end Sonys, but I'm not paying what a 5DIV costs, so more waiting.  If I had a regular need for a travel camera, it might be a done deal.

I had previously said I was going to move to the Fuji X-E2.  Not so.  Last June I moved to the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX8, and with no regrets.  I had found that the Fuji was so small the the meat of my right thumb overlaid some of the back panel controls and often changed things too easily.  The GX8 is far better for my purposes and fits my hand far better.  On top of that, the Panasonic/Leica lenses are just amazingly sharp.  If I were going to look at things today, the only change I'd make would be to grab the DC-G9 body which was just released in January.  They have also just released the GX9 body as a successor to the GX8 body, but I see it as not being an improvement.  The ergonomics are just wrong.  The Pana/Leica 12-60mm lens (24-120mm in the 35mm format) is a terrific walking around lens and the 42.5mm Nocticron (85mm in the 35mm format) is just killer-sharp for landscapes and portraits.  I use the 8-18mm Pana/Leica lens (16-36mm in the 35mm format) for real estate photography and some landscapes.  Good luck in your search. 

 

[miclee15]

I view this with the same as woodworking tools - the right tool for the right situation.
I have been a Nikon DSLR user for as long as I can remember, I recently bought a Fuji XT2 w/a number of lens for a big trip.  I brought both kits with me and enjoyed using both depending on the situation.    They all take great pictures, in low light, bright light.  Lense quality is the major factor when you get into sensors at the upper ends of the scale (ignoring Full Frame debate).  The biggest difference for me is the speed to focus.  My Nikon (D500) focuses faster on the subject, Fuji a bit slower.    I take my Nikon when I go to my daughters softball games, my Fuji to her school event where I just need to take non-action photos.  They all take great pictures.

I don't think I'll give up my DSLR yet, but as the focus speed improves at the "reasonable" end of the price sprectum the decision will become more difficult.  I think the only camera w/very fast focusing is a Sony a9, but with it being over $4000 not something I'd pull the trigger on now.

 

[JeremyH.]

Never bothered me a bit.

 

[DashZero]

My journey
Rebel XT 18-55 kit sold
20D 50mm 1.8, 17-40L sold
1DMKii sold
5D 50mm 1.4, 16-35L sold

Leica M8, Leica 35mm 1.4 current

All the other cameras eventually gave me enough work to buy the M8 and a Lens.
Now I take photos for me instead of for other people.

 

[Sparktrician]

I had previously said I was going to move to the Fuji X-E2.  Not so.  Last June I moved to the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX8, and with no regrets.  I had found that the Fuji was so small the the meat of my right thumb overlaid some of the back panel controls and often changed things too easily.  The GX8 is far better for my purposes and fits my hand far better.  On top of that, the Panasonic/Leica lenses are just amazingly sharp.  If I were going to look at things today, the only change I'd make would be to grab the DC-G9 body which was just released in January.  They have also just released the GX9 body as a successor to the GX8 body, but I see it as not being an improvement.  The ergonomics are just wrong.  The Pana/Leica 12-60mm lens (24-120mm in the 35mm format) is a terrific walking around lens and the 42.5mm Nocticron (85mm in the 35mm format) is just killer-sharp for landscapes and portraits.  I use the 8-18mm Pana/Leica lens (16-36mm in the 35mm format) for real estate photography and some landscapes.  Good luck in your search.

One more modification on my end.  The Lumix GX8 made some great photos, but I found that I had the same issue with it that I had with the Fuji mentioned earlier.  Panasonic brought out the G9 a little over a year ago.  I tried one on to gauge the fit to my hand and bought it the same day, trading in the GX8.  All the top-end Leica lenses fit the G9, so this was a no-brainer.  I couldn't be more happy with the G9 and all it can do. 

 

[DashZero]

Those are really nice photos. I love the landscape you took.

I had previously said I was going to move to the Fuji X-E2.  Not so.  Last June I moved to the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX8, and with no regrets.  I had found that the Fuji was so small the the meat of my right thumb overlaid some of the back panel controls and often changed things too easily.  The GX8 is far better for my purposes and fits my hand far better.  On top of that, the Panasonic/Leica lenses are just amazingly sharp.  If I were going to look at things today, the only change I'd make would be to grab the DC-G9 body which was just released in January.  They have also just released the GX9 body as a successor to the GX8 body, but I see it as not being an improvement.  The ergonomics are just wrong.  The Pana/Leica 12-60mm lens (24-120mm in the 35mm format) is a terrific walking around lens and the 42.5mm Nocticron (85mm in the 35mm format) is just killer-sharp for landscapes and portraits.  I use the 8-18mm Pana/Leica lens (16-36mm in the 35mm format) for real estate photography and some landscapes.  Good luck in your search.

One more modification on my end.  The Lumix GX8 made some great photos, but I found that I had the same issue with it that I had with the Fuji mentioned earlier.  Panasonic brought out the G9 a little over a year ago.  I tried one on to gauge the fit to my hand and bought it the same day, trading in the GX8.  All the top-end Leica lenses fit the G9, so this was a no-brainer.  I couldn't be more happy with the G9 and all it can do.

 

[Cheese]

I really like the Skyline photo Sparky... [big grin] Are those the Smokies?

Speaking of swallow tails, here's a yellow tiger swallow tail that shows up every year. Ya I know that's impossible  [smile]  but it's always only one, never 2 and never none. This has been happening for the last 5-7 years so I'll say it's the same butterfly. [wink]

Taken with an SLR and a 105 micro.

[attachimg=1]

 

[Sparktrician]

Thank you!  [smile]

Those are really nice photos. I love the landscape you took.

I had previously said I was going to move to the Fuji X-E2.  Not so.  Last June I moved to the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX8, and with no regrets.  I had found that the Fuji was so small the the meat of my right thumb overlaid some of the back panel controls and often changed things too easily.  The GX8 is far better for my purposes and fits my hand far better.  On top of that, the Panasonic/Leica lenses are just amazingly sharp.  If I were going to look at things today, the only change I'd make would be to grab the DC-G9 body which was just released in January.  They have also just released the GX9 body as a successor to the GX8 body, but I see it as not being an improvement.  The ergonomics are just wrong.  The Pana/Leica 12-60mm lens (24-120mm in the 35mm format) is a terrific walking around lens and the 42.5mm Nocticron (85mm in the 35mm format) is just killer-sharp for landscapes and portraits.  I use the 8-18mm Pana/Leica lens (16-36mm in the 35mm format) for real estate photography and some landscapes.  Good luck in your search.

One more modification on my end.  The Lumix GX8 made some great photos, but I found that I had the same issue with it that I had with the Fuji mentioned earlier.  Panasonic brought out the G9 a little over a year ago.  I tried one on to gauge the fit to my hand and bought it the same day, trading in the GX8.  All the top-end Leica lenses fit the G9, so this was a no-brainer.  I couldn't be more happy with the G9 and all it can do.

 

[Sparktrician]

Thanks, O Cheesy One!  The Skyline photo was taken along the Skyline Drive, looking SE, south of Thornton Gap.  The swallowtail was taken the same day, about two miles north of where I got the Skyline photo.  That butterfly just sat there patiently while I got set up and made the shot.  Meadowlark Gardens was shot during the Blue Hour one morning last year. 

I really like the Skyline photo Sparky... [big grin] Are those the Smokies?

Speaking of swallow tails, here's a yellow tiger swallow tail that shows up every year. Ya I know that's impossible  [smile]  but it's always only one, never 2 and never none. This has been happening for the last 5-7 years so I'll say it's the same butterfly. [wink]

Taken with an SLR and a 105 micro.

[attachimg=1]

 

[koenbro]

I went mirrorless in 2011, previously having been a Nikon SLR, then DSLR user, with a 4 x 5” large format camera for nature shots.

Got a Fuji X 100, which rekindled my love of photography. Afterwords, while on a trip in Japan, sometime in 2015, I picked up an X-T1 in a photo store there, and  upon return to the states promptly ordered one from B&H.

The X-T1 is my workhorse. Have the 14/2.8, 23/2, and 35/1.4 primes and love the setup. Still small and manageable, the image quality is off the charts, and if I have to travel real light, just grab the 23mm. The Fuji film simulations are to die for!

I recently tried the X-Pro2, but it didn’t fit right in my hands, and the optical viewfinder felt a bit gimmicky.

Have no regrets about leaving DSLRs behind.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[VirTERM]

I went mirrorless in 2011, previously having been a Nikon SLR, then DSLR user, with a 4 x 5” large format camera for nature shots.

Got a Fuji X 100, which rekindled my love of photography. Afterwords, while on a trip in Japan, sometime in 2015, I picked up an X-T1 in a photo store there, and  upon return to the states promptly ordered one from B&H.

The X-T1 is my workhorse. Have the 14/2.8, 23/2, and 35/1.4 primes and love the setup. Still small and manageable, the image quality is off the charts, and if I have to travel real light, just grab the 23mm. The Fuji film simulations are to die for!

I recently tried the X-Pro2, but it didn’t fit right in my hands, and the optical viewfinder felt a bit gimmicky.

Have no regrets about leaving DSLRs behind.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I went from Canon 5d and 1d mk2 to Fuji x 100 and I never looked back. Portable, solid and great image quality. Got it while visiting Hong Kong before it was available in US/ Canada. The only thing I would change in it, is to allow to change the lens.

 

[CT-Mike]

I went from a Canon AE-1, to a 20D, and a few months ago I was looking at upgrading to  5D MkIV. A Pro photog friend recommended I look at mirrorless, and ended up with an EOS R and the 24-105 F4/L. Family surprised me with the 35 mm Macro F1.8 for Christmas, loving it so far.

 

[morggan25]

Cheese, nice macro photos! Thanks for sharing.

 

[Packard]

I was a wedding photographer for many years.  The studio I worked for had a largely Jewish clientele. 

But I was assigned to one of the rare church weddings.

I was shooting the actual ceremony with my flash and Hasselblad.  The Hasselblad was louder than the priest.  Instead of competing with me, he stopped the ceremony and asked me to leave. 

I did shoot the entire reception, but there was just one shot of the actual ceremony, though I did get some of the bride and her entourage walking down the aisle. 

The bride did not complain when choosing the photos as she was witness to the fact that I was booted from the church. 

But I was not blameless.  My Omega Rapid was quieter than a Leica, and I could have shot high speed film and not used a flash.  The Omega was just as sharp as the Hasselblad, but the high speed film would look grainy compared to the flash shots.

 

[Hipplewm]

Go mirrorless and never look back
They are better in all respects