DLSR vs mirrorless

I can't believe the site is closing!!! It is starting to sink in and I don't like it! Anyways...

I have always been a grass is always greener guy, and when I can't make a decision between two products I usually buy both. I've done this for clothing, electronics, medical instruments, kitchen tools; you name it.

I have never owned a DLSR. I have purchased a few Sony point and Canon point and shoot cameras over the years. Two years ago I took the plunge and got myself a Z50 and loved it. Previously I've had a few friends into photography and they had DSLR, but I've never even used one. Love the idea of getting 1200 shots per charge instead of 300. I like the idea of autofocus that performs better. The sensor on top of the line Nikon DSLR's is comparable to the Z sensors and maybe even a little better. This could be offset however with better lenses. As a person who feels as if they are always missing out, I wonder what it would have been like to use say a D780 or D850. Is there anyone here that prefers theses DLSR's to Nikon's newest Z offerings? The only thing I don't like is the size, which is considerably bigger.

J_Allen said:

I can't believe the site is closing!!! It is starting to sink in and I don't like it! Anyways...

I have always been a grass is always greener guy, and when I can't make a decision between two products I usually buy both. I've done this for clothing, electronics, medical instruments, kitchen tools; you name it.

I have never owned a DLSR. I have purchased a few Sony point and Canon point and shoot cameras over the years. Two years ago I took the plunge and got myself a Z50 and loved it. Previously I've had a few friends into photography and they had DSLR, but I've never even used one. Love the idea of getting 1200 shots per charge instead of 300. I like the idea of autofocus that performs better. The sensor on top of the line Nikon DSLR's is comparable to the Z sensors and maybe even a little better. This could be offset however with better lenses. As a person who feels as if they are always missing out, I wonder what it would have been like to use say a D780 or D850. Is there anyone here that prefers theses DLSR's to Nikon's newest Z offerings? The only thing I don't like is the size, which is considerably bigger.

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I am coming from D850. which is still being sold new. I got a Z9, which is the camera that made me switch. Better autofocus than other Z bodies. Alot longer battery life than other Z bodies. much bigger battery.

J_Allen said:

Is there anyone here that prefers theses DLSR's to Nikon's newest Z offerings?

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An EVF is inherently different from an optical viewfinder such as on a DSLR.
Some people prefer one, other people the other.
People who prefer an optical viewfinder will probably prefer a DSLR to a mirrorless ILC.

The big difference is video. If you're only doing stills a D850 is hard to beat.

It took me about 15 seconds to adapt to the EVF, though I still miss all the wonderful sounds a DSLR or a SLR with Motor Drive make. I have only ever looked thru a Z9 finder, so I can't sys Yay or Nay about the Z7 or Z6 series of bodies. Some people cry about the delay between the EVF and what the Camera is seeing. While an OVF, is 100% real time, there is still Reaction Time and Shutter Delay. At least some of the Z series does a buffering thing, where images prior to the Shutter Release being activated are saved with the Burst. Depending on the Frame Rate chosen, the odds of getting the Perfect Shot, increased Infinitely.

Biggest difference are how AF works, and the viewfinder of course.

I've gone from a D850 to a Z9. Mostly the Z9 is equal or better, but it's taking a while to get used to the autofocus. Especially before the recent firmware upgrades!

I've been shooting mostly 3D Tracking for years, and with the D850, that's just dead reliable (and fast) as long as you are in the AF area. (Definite advantage to ML there).

With a DSLR, 3D really means 3D - the distance to the subject seems to be much much more important to the D850 (and previous Nikons) than the Z9. The Z9 seems to only see contrast, and it (in the beginning) locked onto the background early and often, and it didn't want to let go. And if you have subject detection turned on, the Z9 even at firmware 3.01 will constantly jump outside the 3D Tracking area to nearby subjects. The D850, within its limits of AF point coverage, was better at this sort of thing, especially with busy backgrounds.

But when you get a scenario that works to the Z9 strengths, the D850 can't touch it. Picking up eyes on fast moving subjects, for instance. It's not so much that the Z9 does something better than the D850, it's that the Z9 does some things the D850 never even heard of.

I was not interested in any of the ML cameras prior to the Z9. It's the only one I thought could equal the D850, and exceed it, in terms of tough autofocus situations.

My most challenging type of photography is underwater, using 3D Tracking. I was able to match the D850 performance overall with the Z9, with a few 'better thans' here and there. Video (which I don't really do yet) is massively better on the Z9 (or any Nikon ML) in terms of autofocus over the D850.

Personally I could never go back to DSLR's after switching to mirrorless. I think mirrorless is superior in basically every way. The only area in which DSLR's are still better is battery life.

When it comes to the specific case of Nikon F vs Nikon Z I wouldn't even consider F. I'd choose Nikon Z any day of the week. Not just because it's mirrorless, but also because the Z lenses are generally better than the F lenses. The Z lenses are generally very good and many of them are absolutely fantastic.

So buy a DSLR and find out. They are all mature technology, so it is as good as they are going to get. I personally prefer the optical viewfinder, but mirrorless has definite advantages in some areas.
There’s room for both systems in my photography.

I think if I were to still be shooting sports, I’d still have DSLR. For more stationary subjects, I am glad I switched to mirrorless. The ability to see EVERYTHING in the viewfinder is awesome.

The D850 is arguably better than all Z cameras except the Z9.

There are reasons to use a mirrorless camera though, for reasons that make a Z camera better than a mirrorless camera. Near WYSIWYG previews of what you are shooting is a big one. There are other smaller reasons, like not having to do any AF fine-tuning. Size and weight as well.

But there are also things where a DSLR has an advantage.

Overall though, from a technology and performance perspective, I think the D850 beats Nikon's Z offerings (except the Z9).

With that said, I'm willing to live with the trade-offs and much prefer using a Z7 to a D850.

I've used mirrorless but not Z, yet.

I've used Nikon F SLRs and DSLRs since 1996 or so.

I feel no compulsion to change.

My D3 does all I need. A Z body won't change that.

Plus the F stuff is so plentiful and cheap. And all the Z folks are complaining about how expensive everything is.

capanikon said:

I've used mirrorless but not Z, yet.

I've used Nikon F SLRs and DSLRs since 1996 or so.

I feel no compulsion to change.

My D3 does all I need. A Z body won't change that.

Plus the F stuff is so plentiful and cheap. And all the Z folks are complaining about how expensive everything is.

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Well, like I said, I think the D850 beats all the Zs except the Z9 in overall performance. It really is at the pinnacle of camera technology at the moment.

I have a D850 as well as Z cameras (7 and 9). If someone was to take away my Z cameras and tell me I could only use a D850 I would have no issues getting the shot. Like you and the D3, the D850 would meet all my needs. I would miss the Z 800mm PF though.

They both have pros & cons so it depends what your requirements are, surely?

I came from a 750/850 for reasons important to me which no DSLR can offer just because of the technology - silent shooting, no AF fine tune and ‘night vision’ EVF. If not, then I might not have switched - apart from GAS!

So, no way do I miss DSLRs (I would never decide on a camera due to battery life). My 850 probably was a bit better AF-C than my Z6II , but that doesn’t mean the Z6II is rubbish, far from it.

PHXAZCRAIG said:

Biggest difference are how AF works, and the viewfinder of course.

I've gone from a D850 to a Z9. Mostly the Z9 is equal or better, but it's taking a while to get used to the autofocus. Especially before the recent firmware upgrades!

I've been shooting mostly 3D Tracking for years, and with the D850, that's just dead reliable (and fast) as long as you are in the AF area. (Definite advantage to ML there).

With a DSLR, 3D really means 3D - the distance to the subject seems to be much much more important to the D850 (and previous Nikons) than the Z9. The Z9 seems to only see contrast, and it (in the beginning) locked onto the background early and often, and it didn't want to let go. And if you have subject detection turned on, the Z9 even at firmware 3.01 will constantly jump outside the 3D Tracking area to nearby subjects. The D850, within its limits of AF point coverage, was better at this sort of thing, especially with busy backgrounds.

But when you get a scenario that works to the Z9 strengths, the D850 can't touch it. Picking up eyes on fast moving subjects, for instance. It's not so much that the Z9 does something better than the D850, it's that the Z9 does some things the D850 never even heard of.

I was not interested in any of the ML cameras prior to the Z9. It's the only one I thought could equal the D850, and exceed it, in terms of tough autofocus situations.

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Well said, same here. I tried Z7 and there was too much lag/jittery in the EVF for fast moving/ panning, fast sports, air show, etc. Z9 EVF has pretty much fixed that.

PHXAZCRAIG said:

My most challenging type of photography is underwater, using 3D Tracking. I was able to match the D850 performance overall with the Z9, with a few 'better thans' here and there. Video (which I don't really do yet) is massively better on the Z9 (or any Nikon ML) in terms of autofocus over the D850.

Click to expand...

J_Allen said:

I can't believe the site is closing!!! It is starting to sink in and I don't like it! Anyways...

I have always been a grass is always greener guy, and when I can't make a decision between two products I usually buy both. I've done this for clothing, electronics, medical instruments, kitchen tools; you name it.

I have never owned a DLSR. I have purchased a few Sony point and Canon point and shoot cameras over the years. Two years ago I took the plunge and got myself a Z50 and loved it. Previously I've had a few friends into photography and they had DSLR, but I've never even used one. Love the idea of getting 1200 shots per charge instead of 300. I like the idea of autofocus that performs better. The sensor on top of the line Nikon DSLR's is comparable to the Z sensors and maybe even a little better. This could be offset however with better lenses. As a person who feels as if they are always missing out, I wonder what it would have been like to use say a D780 or D850. Is there anyone here that prefers theses DLSR's to Nikon's newest Z offerings? The only thing I don't like is the size, which is considerably bigger.

Click to expand...

Nah, I left DSLR as soon as I could, first mirrorless was a Fuji X-E2.

After many Fuji cams, I slowly worked my way back to Nikon.

jjz2 said:

J_Allen said:

I can't believe the site is closing!!! It is starting to sink in and I don't like it! Anyways...

I have always been a grass is always greener guy, and when I can't make a decision between two products I usually buy both. I've done this for clothing, electronics, medical instruments, kitchen tools; you name it.

I have never owned a DLSR. I have purchased a few Sony point and Canon point and shoot cameras over the years. Two years ago I took the plunge and got myself a Z50 and loved it. Previously I've had a few friends into photography and they had DSLR, but I've never even used one. Love the idea of getting 1200 shots per charge instead of 300. I like the idea of autofocus that performs better. The sensor on top of the line Nikon DSLR's is comparable to the Z sensors and maybe even a little better. This could be offset however with better lenses. As a person who feels as if they are always missing out, I wonder what it would have been like to use say a D780 or D850. Is there anyone here that prefers theses DLSR's to Nikon's newest Z offerings? The only thing I don't like is the size, which is considerably bigger.

Click to expand...

Nah, I left DSLR as soon as I could, first mirrorless was a Fuji X-E2.

After many Fuji cams, I slowly worked my way back to Nikon.

Click to expand...

FF Mirrorless is just a passing fad, my neighbors cell phone is 50MP.

Mal Paso said:

FF Mirrorless is just a passing fad, my neighbors cell phone is 50MP.

Click to expand...

How big is that 50MP sensor?

Jake James said:

Mal Paso said:

FF Mirrorless is just a passing fad, my neighbors cell phone is 50MP.

Click to expand...

How big is that 50MP sensor?

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Dude, EVERYONE knows it's only the megapixel count that matters. 200mp phones are the best!

After using the modern tuch-screen mobiles, will you go back to old keypad mobiles?

Even if manual transmission has it's advantages, preferred are the automatic cars...

So forget DSLR and enjoy your ML camera...

aniltulsi said:

After using the modern tuch-screen mobiles, will you go back to old keypad mobiles?

Even if manual transmission has it's advantages, preferred are the automatic cars...

So forget DSLR and enjoy your ML camera...

Click to expand...

Oh, I adore standards. I've only driven a standard for the past 27 years or so.

I had a 1991 Audi 200 Turbo Quattro with five-speed manual.

Then a 2002 Honda Civic LX coupe with five-speed manual.

Now a 2012 Honda Civic Is coupe with six-speed manual.

It's the only way to drive.

People with automatics are missing out.

It is strange when I -- every so often -- wind up driving an automatic car. Every time this happens: I come to my first stop sign. I move my foot to the clutch pedal. I feel a sting of slight panic, coz I can't find the clutch pedal! Then I remember I'm driving an automatic ... a slush box. XD