Enthusiast mirrorless camera roundup (2014)

i am a bit perplexed here because i was an early user of the Olympus OM-d EM-5 and loved it except that i have to baby sit the batteries....i finally got sick and tired of batteries that wouldn't work or having the camera fail to turn on, so I junked them and bought all Olympus brand batteries. Last time it failed so often (and BTW this is my second em-5 - i brought the first back to the dealer because of this and they just handed me a fresh out of the box demo replacement...and the batteries still fail. I'll go to turn on the camera and nothing...so with 2 em-5's this is so unreliable that I no longer carry it.

How can a M4/3 sensor possibly compete with the NX1 and its APS-C sensor?

Hi Lightscapefoto, I sold all my Canon gear and solely shoot with an EM-1. I don't miss it. It isn't a replacement for it, but, it is the right camera for me right now. My back is so much better for it.

I dont care about Enthusiast and Pro labels. They are just that. I have sold images that I took with an iPhone.

The Nikon1V3 is in this "enthusiast" category with the GH4 and the EM1, while the a6000 and GX7 are relegated to the "mid-range" category.
Can you do us a favor and explain how these categories are determined?

GH4 Review (What We Don't Like) says "WiFi can be awkward to set up".
Actually the WiFi is a complete doddle to setup - turn the WiFi on at the camera and select new or previous connection, goto iPad and switch WiFi to the camera, enter password if required for new connection (or QR), open Panasonic Image App. Sorted. (Ok this is yet another area where the Japlish manual could do better and their technical-authors/proof-readers should go back to school)
Next, "Focus peaking can be too subtle to assess focus point".
What? The GH4's FP is like being smacked upside the head with a large wet fish! It leaps into action as soon as you touch the focus ring. It is adjustable too.

The basic problem is DPR are cherry picking when they use the manufacturer's classification (e.g. putting the Nikon 1 V3 here), and when they choose to ignore it (no A6000 or A7 here).

Same problem in the entry-level mirrorless category. Several cheap cameras are missing there (E-PL7, A5000), yet they randomly add in Fuji offerings which are far more expensive than most of that category.

And ironically, spec-for-spec, the X-M/A1 are very similar to the Nikon 1 V3, but placed at opposite ends of the mirrorless category.

Those labels are nonsense. A "pro" camera won´t turn the user into a pro photographer, but a pro photographer can turn an iPhone into a pro camera. so what´s the point?

Pro, semi-pro, holidaymaker, etc etc, we are all photographers and I suspect a major reason that we don't greet categories such as high end, professional and so on with much enthusiasm is that we hate being labelled an "enthusiast." It's as bad as being labelled an "opera buff."
Scanning old 35mm slides and negatives has taught me that the first thing to consider when choosing full frame over APS-C - or the reverse - is the format, viewing medium, and hence the required resolution, of the final output. For a lot of "professional" work, a camera such as the Fujifilm X100S/T, which is APS-C of course, is more than sufficient. To move up from there, get a similar camera with interchangeable prime, repeat prime, lenses.

It seems pointless trying to pigeon-hole them into so many different categories, especially when what separates cameras is paper thin these days.

Lots of pros are using the X-T1 to shoot weddings, does that not make it a pro camera? The D750 is replacing the D810 in many pros bags due to its low weight and large feature set, yet it's 'high-end', not pro.

No Sony cameras in the mix - hardly a credible review.

What is a good camera if it lacks superb lenses..

Would have expected to see a Sony A7 variant in this list over and above the Nikon.

What the heck?? No mention AT ALL of Sony's offerings? The A5000, new A5100, A6000, and upcoming rumored A7000? Sony has great deals out right now on these cameras and kits.
Ditto with Samsung and their NX offerings.

Now the interesting question is what will be in that "high end mirrorless" category. The three Sony A7s and what? The Samsung is here, XT1 here, GH4 here, E-M1 here... Obviously nothing from canon or Nikon and no matter how much I love the street shooting abilities of my X-Pro1 it does not compete with the A7s except on build quality.
So what am I missing? I guess sony has a category all by itself.... Which actually may not be far from the truth.

It looks like a nice camera. But it does not have good range of lens.

Hi MP does not always mean winner. A balance of low light, resolution are only two factors. AF speed, movies and on and on. The best over all may not be the best camera for you. What you want of a camera should your first choice. I do not disagree with DP, but the camera they have in first place, is not a camera I would prefer over my X-T1. I would like more MPs, but lens and operation of the camera are more important to me, that is me. What do you want?

Obviously, the Nikon 1 does not belong in this group because it doesn't look like an SLR. Serious, it doesn't belong at all, because of its many photographic shortcomings. A flagship? It is a rowboat only a Nikophant could love. DP says the category is for cameras with photographic prowess that fits up against, just below enthusiast full frame. Bah.

Sony a600 should be the winner here. OK, It's won the mid-range category hands down but it would be also contender here.

I honestly don't understand how a6000, the best rated mirrorless camera in many review sites including DPR is not listed here. This overview totally sounds like, which cameras NOT to buy because there is the one (a6000) beating All of these on ALL fronts...
And 1-inch sensor Nikon 1, evf-less is enthusiast, and A6000 is not?
Wow, DPR, just Wow!

Looks like if Nikon rebadged the Pentax Q, and upped the price to $1600, it would have been in contention too ........ and if Sony make the A7 ii too cheap it will be chucked in with the beginners cameras ..... hmmm someone asleep at the wheel ?

It's a good thing I don't base my decisions based on DPR says I should buy, I'd miss out on all that incredible Fuji XF glass.

Why aren't the Sony A7 series in this roundup?

Idk, I always try to entertain stated metrics and embrace the inevitable subjectivity in this roundup business. But, I'm looking at the studio test scene results and it seems the 28MP BSI of the NX1 is markedly better in terms of stills IQ than the GH4*. Add to that the very impressive AF and 15fps in the NX1. Of course the GH4 is the king for video. But the 4K NX1 looks to be very capable as well for video. So I'd reverse the recommendation: NX1 just edging the GH4.

*it should be noted the X-T1 is better than everyone here at high ISO JPEG's - gorgeous.

Perhaps DPR didn't include the Sony A6000, because they have inside information about a A7000 coming soon.

BTW, I think the A6000 got an award for Worst Kit Lens. :-)

its weird that they post the studio test scene for the NX1 here before doing that on the NX1 preview itself. There are some market laws at work here. Also not sure what the Nikon 1 V3 is doing here. It should have been the a6000.

I was looking over some recent images taken with my prehistoric Olympus EPL1. I doubt very much if you would notice much of a difference between an ELP1 print & that of most modern mirrorless.

Very weird, where do I find the A6000? Given its performance is better than the Nikon 1 and at least on par if not better than the M1, and also that for the next part the A7 is supposed to be included, this selection is very odd.

I think one problem not taken into account properly when assessing this type of camera, is system support. Many more advanced photographers, whether enthusiast or pro have specific needs for the type of photography they specialize in. They are capable photographers used to work arounds, but this still has to be possible.

No matter how advanced these cameras are, if you can't adapt them to your specific task easily, this is irksome. What I mean is simple things like automatic extension tubes, teleconverters, flash adapters, or even spare batteries etc. The lack of basic items like this, missing from so called system cameras is unnecessary. These are generally not high tech items, except maybe teleconverters, and there is no big R&D necessary.

Obviously the manufacturers want you to buy their own high priced accessories. But the manufacturers must realise that by limiting these accessories, they are putting off influential photographers from using their system.

I understand the feeling twoards the Nikon 1 V3 and why many do not see it as belonging this category of enthusiasts' mirrorless cameras. For mirrorless systems, the name Nikon and also the name Canon seem to have gained a certain reputation that does not indicate quality in its products. and few gets really enthusiastic about them, except for some reviewers. Many mirrorless owners won't be seen dead shooting with a Nikon or Canon MILC, kinda like driving a Volvo in past years before that brand got sold off. Ha ha.

...repeating last year ....Sony has 40% of the market of these ILCs. Put A6000 if you think A7 is way too professional (the barebones A7 is found cheaper than most of the models you look at anyway). I am accepting A7 is better than all these since it is not in the same category.....and we have now A7 II which evidently is out of this world....

DPR this is shame.

For one I agree with the final assessment. BTW it is GH4 on the last page NOT DH4

Regarding your comment on the NX1 having "limited button customization", I am counting no less than 4 programmable buttons (down, left, right pad buttons + dof preview) plus the larger rear wheel. The * and AF-ON button behavior can also be customized as well as the front and rear wheel...

... And then there is the i-fn button on the lenses that can also be programmed on its own or in conjunction with other camera buttons...

In what sense is that " limited"?