Were you wrong about Mirrorless?

I remember just a few years ago, people said DLSR was the best, no need to upgrade, this serves me fine, etc...

Were you one of those people who have now seen the light and willing to share your thoughts?

Although I’ve dipped my toe into the mirrorless pond by purchasing an M6 Mark II this summer, my main camera since 2018 is my 5DS-R. For bird photography, I use my EF 600mm f/4 L IS USM II. For travel, my main lenses are my EF 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6 L IS USM and my EF 11-24mm f/4 USM.

When Canon releases a high resolution (80 megapixel or greater) mirrorless camera, I’ll upgrade to that.

I saw the light in 2012.

I bought my first mirrorless in 2012 - Sony NEX 5N, I was SO disappointed with autofocus... I bought immediately 5DM III right as it was available 6 months later. I was sceptical about mirrorless until Canon developed Dual Pixel Autofocus. After that I was sceptical only about battery life...

I saw a lot of light after I placed my order for EOS-M kit on June 7th 2013.

Despite various shortcomings, I sold my EOS 7 and many larger lenses in order to settle for the smaller mirrorless M camera.

Today most of those shortcomings are fixed with EOS M6 II...

I don't look back to the days when I carried a 15 kg backpack around... 😉

My first mirrorless was RP for $850.  I no longer had to focus and recompose.  It got me to own the great RF 24-105 F4 L which I got 4 years ago new for $899

M didn't interest me until M6II for $850.  Best APS-C camera I've ever owned because in part the 32 f1.4 and the 11-22 and the great performance of my 100L on this body.

I'm in a hold pattern now though - stuff is really pricey

Morvegil wrote:

I remember just a few years ago, people said DLSR was the best, no need to upgrade, this serves me fine, etc...

There are still folks in this camp. Doesn’t mean they’re “wrong” about anything actually. Many have simply done their own evaluations and run the numbers and concluded that DSLRs (or their current cameras) still do everything they need a camera to do. In some ways they may be the “smart” ones.  

Were you one of those people who have now seen the light and willing to share your thoughts?

OTOH there are the growing numbers who have simply dived right into the deep end (like ME, hehe), not once looking back at their DSLRs. There are benefits to mirrorless for sure, but you still have to do those critical (self) evaluations, or you’ll be throwing your money in the wrong places just as easily as ever. 😲

And I wholeheartedly agree with the posters who laud the Forums here for the great help they provide in making these ongoing decisions, ESPECIALLY now that mirrorless has hit the scene. I personally thank you all!

“Seen the light?” Well the light truly comes from within, same as always. My best advice simply continues to be “Know Thyself!” 😄

Happy shooting all!

R2

Morvegil wrote:

I remember just a few years ago, people said DLSR was the best, no need to upgrade, this serves me fine, etc...

Were you one of those people who have now seen the light and willing to share your thoughts?

Wasn't wrong about mirrorless but initially cautious.  Bought an original M kit shortly after they were introduced - followed that with an M2 (from Japan) plus several M lenses.  Later upgraded to M50 and now I have two copies of M6II that I plan to use for the foreseeable future.  Altho dated (obsolete?) the original M still produces great images and is definitely fun to use.

Meanwhile, I still have/use a 6D and may eventually transition to the R.  While I do enjoy all that mirrorless has to offer I also like the DSLR form factor with optical viewfinder.

I went into mirrorless for the weight saving and size. Much easier for hikes. Every generation has gotten bigger and heavier. I don't see much difference in size compared with the DSLR counterparts with the latest iterations.

I am a little sour that Canon did not have the foresight to make the EF-M mount a little bigger for FF.

I have moved on and maybe I will get a R camera one day.

Morvegil wrote:

I remember just a few years ago, people said DLSR was the best, no need to upgrade, this serves me fine, etc...

Were you one of those people who have now seen the light and willing to share your thoughts?

In analogous times, I used a SLR (I still have my Minolta X-700) with different lenses.

But with the introduction of digital cameras I wasn't interested in DSLRs because of size and weight, so I used different types of cameras with fixed lenses.

With the introduction of the M my interest in ILCs began to grow, because of the small form factor. Finally, about 5 years ago, I started with my M6. And now, I don't want to go back, neither to cameras with fixed lenses, nor to those with more size and weight.

And since all my previous digital cameras "forced" me to operate solely with the LCD, I don't need no EVF or OVF anymore.

Yes and No!   I still have a Canon 70D and still use it.  I also have a Canon M5 and the EF to EF-M adapter and continue to use that, although mostly with EF & EF-S lenses.

More recently my friend (he uses a Canon 7D) and I both bought a Canon R7 kit with the 18-150 mm IS lens.  We both returned them.  We did not coordinate our buying and selling.

So, why did I return my R7; but have kept the M5?  In short, the R7 had too many "features", as evidenced by the 963 page Advanced Manual.  That's more than double the 70D's pages.  Control and menu-wise, the M5 is much more like the 70D.

The M5 has the same color palette as the 70D.  I much prefer the older Canon palette over the new R series palette, especially the reds.  That was disappointing.

The M5 has the same hot shoe as my 70D and they can share flashes, off-camera cords, and the ST-E2 controller.  To use the R7 I have to use the AD-E1 adapter or buy a new flash or two.

So, I am not wrong about mirrorless per se; but I was wrong about which Canon mirrorless.

In closing, I would like to remind everyone, that mirrorless is not new.  My point and shoot cameras, and my Panasonic FZ300 & FZ1000 cameras are mirrorless, they just don't have interchangeable lenses.  Rangefinder cameras are mirrorless.  Leica's go back to the 1920's.

GeraldW wrote:

The M5 has the same hot shoe as my 70D and they can share flashes, off-camera cords, and the ST-E2 controller. To use the R7 I have to use the AD-E1 adapter or buy a new flash or two.

I just wanted to clarify for folks that all of their existing flashes will indeed work directly on the R Series hot shoe/ accessory shoe (just as they work on the M Series).  An adapter is only necessary if you want to maintain the same level of weather sealing.

R2

I bought my M3 many years ago. I still have a 6D with a LOT of lenses, but my goto camera is the M50 now. The 6D hasn't been touched in years. I really need to sell it.

Alan

R2D2 wrote:

GeraldW wrote:

The M5 has the same hot shoe as my 70D and they can share flashes, off-camera cords, and the ST-E2 controller. To use the R7 I have to use the AD-E1 adapter or buy a new flash or two.

I just wanted to clarify for folks that all of their existing flashes will indeed work directly on the R Series hot shoe/ accessory shoe (just as they work on the M Series). An adapter is only necessary if you want to maintain the same level of weather sealing.

The GP-E2 also works on the R7 without any adapters.