I don't care what you use or why. I enjoyed using my DSLR, and I enjoy using my E-M10. For me, there is a noticeable difference in size and weight, but that isn't why I bought it. I like 4/3 systems overall.
To me weight is a factor, but size is even more important. I can put my EOS M with 22mm f/2 in my pocket. My D7000 + 35mm f/1.8 has no hope of fitting in even the largest of pockets.
Your comparison may be relevant to your specific uses. I did detailed comparisons between my Nikon DX gear and m43 gear for my uses and found weight savings that really mattered. My comparisons:
Most people don't use a dslr 8 hours a day, this is not the norm when shooting photography.
If you are concerned with size or weight or both, take the grip off the nikon when not using it for work. It will be a lot smaller. When you do the size difference is not that big. if you want a sony a6000 because you need a new toy great. But the reality the size is not that different when you compare camera to camera and not a grip.
Size matters
In almost every conversation, it is always brought up that Mirrorless is lighter than DSLR. You can save weight by going mirrorless. Quick search of the forum will show many such advise. I have always consider mirrorless to replace DSLR as well. With the fast focus Sony a6000, seems like the gap is closing.
I have been looking closely at a mirrorless APS-C system, and how much lighter they are. Micro 4/3 are definitely small, but they are just lacking for low light situation that I find myself in. In the last two weeks, one was at a dance, and another at an aquarium. Not happy with the high ISO pictures. If you have remote flash and possibly reflectors and an assistant, you can make a beautiful picture, but I don't want to go thru that effort in those particular situations.
Here are two graphs that shows the weight comparison: Source .
For the camera, a light DSLR is not that much heavier than mirrorless APS-C. Not a huge amount of savings there as far as weight is concerned. See below.
Mirrorless vs DSLR Weight Comparison
Lens:
For the fast f2.8 mid range zoom weight are about the same for Mirrorless and DSLR. That is what I typically use. Nothing gained there. The only exception is for the slower 16-50mm f3.5-5.6 where mirrorless is half the weight. However, if you compare the exact zoom range of 18-55mm f3.5-5.6, the mirrorless lens is exactly the same as DSLR lens. There are no difference unless you count the worst case 40g (about the weight of my car keys) as difference.
Note that for tele zoom that goes up to 200mm, there is also minimal weight difference also.
Mirrorless Lens vs DSLR Lens Weight Comparison
This is my conclusion:
My DSLR is little heavy at close to a lb. However, going mirrorless is not going to save much weight at all. Just get a D5300 instead and use the same lens. Mirrorless camera might be thinner making it hard to grip, but weight is about the same just looking at the numbers.
Am I missing something or is something more to the weights comparison.
One feels good in your pocket, one feels good in your hand. I prefer it to fit my hand and small cameras do not do that. I can put the camera in a bag, a backpack, whatever but it must be comfortable and easy to hold in my hand. That is what is important to me.
That's not an advantage of the camera being different, that is the advantage of not bringing other stuff. This is part of the discussion that confuses me. People talk about how much lighter the mirrorless is, compared to their entire camera bag. You can just carry your DSLR, without the whole bag of lenses and other high quality stuff, and it will be lighter too. That's what I do. My camera bag usually makes it as far as the car, but when I arrive at where I am going, I leave the bag behind, bringing only the camera, and the lens mounted on it. On rare occasion I put a lens in a belt pouch.
Yup, I agree. I agree that everyone has different needs. I value being able to put my EOS M in my pocket and not have to worry about it while I am dealing with other logistical issues involved in being outside of my house with my family.
Most people use their cameras when traveling. If I am on tour in Paris or St Petersburg, I WILL have the camera literally on me 8 hours a day or more, and the weight makes a difference after a day of touring. Also, what you can fit into your carry-on luggage with everything else you need in there also differs a great deal, even with one lens, let alone 2 or more. You can check out the sizes and prices of E-M5+12-50+40-150 vs, say, 70D+15-85+55-250, which will give you approximately the same abilities.
By the way, how do people actually shoot JPEG-only on a DSLR? I am sure it's possible but... It's not just you don't see the image on EVF as it would be directly BEFORE you take the image, but you don't see it automatically AFTERWARDS, either? I don't get what's the point of high burst rate (jpeg-only) if you have no idea how the images look like, e.g. if they are all blurred? On a bright light you remove your eye from the OVF and look the LCD and the histograms and try to see if the colors are right? Or do you always use a gray card?
Chimping all the time, like it's 1999.
A CanonT5i body is 236g heavier than a Sony A6000, given that the Sony only weights 344g to begin with, that's a big difference.
A D5300 is still almost 6 oz heavier than some small mirrorless (E-M10, A6000, X-E2).
See numbers below.
** Camera and a Fast Wide-Zoom Lens **
This is exactly the setup I want for my E-M10. I tried the combo out and really, really like it.
Funny, I'm a DSLR user. Have been for years and years and wil continue to be. However, I'm not going to hide my head in the sand and pretend there isn't a difference in size compared to mirrorless. I can and will happily shoot both. I purchased the a6000 because I need occasional video for work. I don't buy toys or fall for the latest and greatest gear. If I did, I wouldn't still have a D700.If you are concerned with size or weight or both, take the grip off the nikon when not using it for work. It will be a lot smaller. When you do the size difference is not that big. if you want a sony a6000 because you need a new toy great. But the reality the size is not that different when you compare camera to camera and not a grip.
Size matters
Here's the thing, I decide if it makes a difference to me. If I'm not working, I only carry one camera and one small prime lens, occasionally I will carry an alternate prime.
