Mag

In Memory of
DSLR’s
Gone but never forgotten
Saying that DSLRs don’t have a place in photography isn’t exactly true,
however, they are no longer the king of digital cameras like they once
were. In 2004, Leica released the first mainstream mirrorless camera, the
M8 digital rangefinder camera. Since then all the major manufacturers
have jumped on board developing their own versions of mirrorless
cameras, pushing the capabilities and technology further and further.
In my opinion, the most significant moment in mirrorless history was
when sony released their A-series cameras in 2013. Sony has pushed the
development of mirrorless cameras at a much faster rate than any of the
other manufacturers through this series of cameras.
The obvious reason to change to mirrorless is for space-saving and to
reduce the amount of weight you are carrying around. The benefits
of mirrorless extend much further than this, including a much larger
range of available lenses, and much longer lifespan due to less moving
components. The distance between the sensor and lens flange is very
different from a DSLR, which allows the use of adapters for almost all
lens types, which technically gives you an almost limitless catalog of
lenses you can use. This also means that changing to mirrorless from
another system is a little easier because you can use your old lenses with
an adapter until you get native lenses.
While there are plenty of advantages, there are still some things you
should consider before you commit to jumping ship. Using adapters for
other lenses with different mounts is all good and well for a temporary
solution, but long term it becomes an inconvenience because autofocus
can be very hit and miss, or just not work at all. The usability is very
different compared to a DSLR as well. DSLR’s are more ergonomic
and have plenty of quick access buttons strategically placed around
the camera so you can quickly adjust settings while taking photos. My
Sony has more custom buttons, however, they are a little more difficult
to access and take more effort to change settings. It’s also squared
and blocky compared to my Nikon bodies which makes it a little less
comfortable in my hands. Mirrorless cameras are also very prone to
building up dust on the sensor at a quicker rate than DSLRs because the
sensor has direct exposure to the environment when a lens isn’t attached,
usually when you’re changing lenses.
immerse / essay