Thanks to many photographers rushing to mirrorless, many DSLR bodies and lenses becoming attractively cheaper on used market, which is good for me 😆 Nice unbiased thoughts, thanks for sharing!
Yes, it is indeed a great time to get a good deal. If you don't mind hanging onto DSLRs for a few more years, you can get a really good kit at a heavy discount.
I was hoping 1DX mark III would drop big in price so I can get a spare at a discount. I see myself staying with DSLR for the foreseeable future. It works for me and I like OVF. The Mark III really is the pinnacle of DSLR, decades of refinement and Canon threw everything but the kitchen sink into it. 16fps is way more than I need. Plus I can use it in Mirrorless silent mode, its like 2 cameras in one. Also the 50mm 1.2L longer on the RF vs squat on the EF.
No...not time to switch, just keep both and enjoy life with both. I have both and keeping both and enjoy them both for different situations. Why do people need to switch?
Its the young new photographers that will drive the DSLR into the film camera realm. Many of the old guys will hold on to their DSLR because they can still produce great photography, but the new kids will surely dive into photography with a mirrorless. The tech for mirrorless will get better and better, DSLRs have more or less reached their zenith. Its the age of youtubers, vloggers, camera phones, social media and mirrorless fits the times.
Marketability is key advantage of mirrorless. I am already frame grabbing 36 megapixel images from 8k. Having the ability to meet the demands of photos and video for clients is why I paid for A1. I mostly shoot stills and short video clips. Now if I am shooting 8k video and something stillworthy happens I can frame grab the clip for the client.
@@timjenkins8943 My company shoots youth sports tournaments and sells onsite. One problem I have is training my new staff members NOT to shoot in burst mode. (We do not edit or cull images before they go for sale at my sales stations, and the kids don't want to scroll thru an indeterminate number of images to find the ones they want to buy
@@SJHFoto I have set my Sony to slower FPS then quickly back to fastest because something happened where I wish I had more photos. A1 can tag images so you can select key photos during a break in play and then just download the selects.
I did just the opposite, switched my EOS R to 1Dx II and very happy I did. It is awesome how responsive 1Dx II is and the ergonomics of it. Also in 3 years it will be one of the best optical viewfinder cameras and EOS R will be very old first generation mirrorless camera.
Just found your channel- really appreciate the content you are making. We need more videos from experienced pros! Nothing wrong with the many videos that are made by enthusiasts about cameras and techniques but so many content makers do not have actual professional experience and I often feel frustrated having spent time trying to watch a video only to figure out pretty quickly that the maker is a hobbyist. Thanks for sharing your experience!
I resisted. I've been shooting with a 1Dx and 1Dx mark II for the past year and a half. I've grown as a sports photographer, and was in the process of upgrading my 1Dx to a mark II, but that didn't work out and I was in need of a secondary camera body. A friend let me use his R6, and I was blown away at the AF and how nice the images looked. Same MP as my 1Dx mark II but the R6 images looked sharper with better colors. Fast forward a month or so, and I sold some gear and managed to get an R3. Its head and shoulders better than my 1Dx mark II, and I have a much higher ratio of keepers compared to my DSLRs. I will transition to mirrorless in the next few months, if possible. The biggest difference for me is the AF capabilities, low light performance and frame rate. The advantages are less obvious at a baseball game on a bright sunny day, but the difference at a night football game is huge. I'm not a better photographer, but the images I get are higher quality.
No reason to replace my great DSLRs and EF lenses. However, when they reach their expiry dates and no new DSLR around, then under compulsion yes, not by choice.
Great video. It's "DSLR" Not "DLSR". And I hope more and more people go mirrorless so the prices for gear for my D850 drop. Dang, Nikon is proud of their stuff.
One change I’ve already made is as a DSL shooter with discontinued Canon gear I’ve insured my gear up to the mirror less versions. So an insurance replacement will be for a mirror less gear.
Great Stuff Jerry! I have also slowly but surely started to switch.The only problem that I have found (other than battery life) with most of the mirrorless camera when using remotes, they do not allow you to use the fastest frame rate. They require you to switch to mechanical shutter (10fps) or purchase a cable to attach from the body to the pocketwizard to achieve the fast frame rate. Hopefully in the future they will address this so you don't have to have a annoying cable hanging off your camera. Glad to see you made it back safe
Thanks Steve! Very interesting. I've not tried using the Sonys as remotes yet... I just don't know how long the batteries would last with those cameras always on. Interesting that they need to be in mechanical shutter without special cables. That is indeed a wrinkle...
I think that only happens with R5 when battery dips below 50% of so. Not an issue with A1. You can also attach USB-C power delivery charger to power the A1 for very long time. i think you can also get a dummy battery for A1 as with previous models.
Hi Jerry, since you are talking about the future of photography…lately I was thinking how sport photography survived times when there was no Dslr’s yet.I mean how photographers managed to get clean,in focus shots let say in 1986 Mexico World Cup?What gear they were using and what techniques? I think that would be really good subject for your next video:)
Ooooh now that would be a fun topic. Unfortunately I wasn’t around during the film to digital transition but some of the stories I have heard are super interesting. I may have to recruit some friends and colleagues for that one!
Manual focus was an art back in the day and af kinda ruined it for the elite who could follow focus a shortstop diving for a ball. I used to focus on birds and license plates back in the day. Thankfully only had to shoot MF before switching to 8008 then F4. Those were very primitive but more reliable than manual focus for my eyes..
Anticipation, split focus screens and mentally mapping the field by distance for your quick DOF mental calculation. The screens on the old cameras were designed for manual focus. Anticipation of where the action would be by following the play and prefocusing around the sweetspot. I always used both eyes when shooting, one scanning the field. Head on a swivel. When autofocus started its debut it was still not so great, even when DSLRs first came out it was better. But now it is amazing how well it works, I finally feel that AF is complete. The 1DX Mark III is amazing at how well it works.
For me absolutely not,when I look through the viewfinder I want to see what my eyes see,not a pixelated version,I accept that the final image has been produced from pixels,but I want to retain a little analogue imput.Plus one of the initial reasons for mirrorless was that removing the mirror reduced weight and size,but there are some big mirrorless cameras out there
It took me a while to get used to it as well, and truth be told I rejected those early EVFs. I don't have too much issue with them anymore. You are right though, some of the mirrorless cameras are getting large. It will be interesting to see what the final size and specs of that R3 end up being.
As much as there are advantages with mirrorless I think I got worse as a photographer with EVF. I still love it for low-light but there was something special about looking through the viewfinder of a DSLR. Kinda like eating with your hands vs knife and fork.
I totally agree ST,and by the way,when watching the recent Olympics,there were many more 1DX Mk3 professional photographers than any using the R series,I did see one or two using Sony mirrorless, I have nothing against mirrorless,I just don't want a pixelated image in my viewfinder,end of rant
Great stuff. I have the theory that the 1Dx type ruggedness is a heritage from when if your camera body broke, your film fotos where lost. Any thoughts?
Very Nice Information, cleared many of my doubts, it's big dilemma created by camera companies they have stopped producing DSLR's and we don't have any option but to buy Mirrorless whether we like or not, Nikon hasn't come with upgrades to D7500 Or D500 since over 5 years, So only option is Z50, Z5 or Z6ii. I am confused between D500 Or D780 or Z6ii. I think I will buy D500 and use it for 10 years from now 😊
Wildlife photographer here...I already switched to mirrorless and loving it, good bye to those days where my 5DIV missed the AF on a bird flying super slow.
Yup, that is one benefit of all the R&D money going to mirrorless... AF technology is on par or has even surpassed what are in DSLRs. Great avatar photo!!!!
Nice one Jerry, have played with the r6/ r5/ and a9 all are fab but the battery life sucks needs to better or a least catch up to my DSLR. Must admit that you shocked me with the Olympus kit !
Olympus is a great for a personal kit. It won't break the bank, and has very interesting lens ranges (like a 24-200 f/4 and their 80-300 f/2.8 equivalent... both are incredibly useful ranges and apertures). My concern however is the longevity of the brand and their technology... not sure how long they can hang on competing with the big three.
@@JerryTLai I feel that way about my Pentax 645Z. Love that camera but it seems they are gonna be dropping out of the market at some point. It is built like a tank and has a great OVF.
Yes the R5/R6 are awesome cameras. It might sound a little odd, but for what I do if I were to buy one I'd get the R6... I don't need the file size of the R5 so I might as well pocket the difference in price.
I see your point, but if sales were down almost 100%, there would be almost no sales. :) Crap, you know what? I just Googled "How much have camera sales dropped?" Ummm...93%. So yeah, you're right. You'll have to excuse me while I go wash this egg off my face. :) But you know what? Hopeuflly that trend will continue, for selfish reasons. I need more gear for my D850. Hopefully those prices will drop also.
You mention weight. Yes, that would be an advantage! The older I get, the harder it is for me to shoot a volleyball tournament with the 5Dmk iv and 70-200mm f/2.8 all day, or worse, the 50-500mm Sigma for lacrosse and the like (I sold that big boy-WAY TOO HEAVY!!) But the frame rate doesn't matter to me-I primarily shoot single shot anyway-we sell onsite, and I can't be bothered with tons of photos as the kids don't want to see a movie broken into frame by frame
Battery life on mirrorless cameras will have to surpass my Nikon D5/D6 and Canon 1dx Mark ii/ Mark iii cameras. I tried Canon and Nikon mirrorless cameras weren't as great for my needs.
Great video! But man, I just finished paying off my 5d Mark 4, so it'll be years before I can switch to a mirrorless camera. Maybe by then, I can find a good R3 for relatively cheap :)
I switched from DSLR to mirrorless in 2018. The mirrorless have been workhorses and have paid for themsevles but I still miss my old dslr and film bodies.
So the main reason for mirrorless is that manufacturers switch to mirrorless? That is a kind of meta reason. As I mainly take photos of architecture, a better autofocus system does not bring me any benefit. Not having an optical viewfinder is a big downside for me, as I only see a digital copy of reality while looking through an electronic viewfinder. I not not like the idea that the sensor is power all the time as long as my camera is turned on. My DSLR only uses the sensor while I take a photo. So in theory the same sensor should not get as warm if used in a DSLR. That should reduce noise.
That is quite the user name! Hope you don't ever have to type that into a phone :-) In your case, you're right, some of the benefits of mirrorless don't apply much to you right now but I would think the EVF would be helpful. You can see an exact live preview of the picture you are taking. No guessing or fiddling with settings. Besides, isn't taking a photo a digital copy of reality as it is so I have a hard time seeing the difference between viewing via optical vs EVF? In any case, thanks for watching!
@@JerryTLai Queen Elizabeth visited my hometown a few years ago and when she passed with her car and waived her hand, I took a few photos. As I saw that through my OVF, I saw the real Queen. If I had an EVF back then, it would only be a copy that would still look the same, if I recorded a video with my camera and watched that video later. I could even have send that video to someone else and if he watched that video in his EVF, he would have seen exactly what I saw. The same when I watched Usain Bolt in the Rio Olympics. I want the "real" light coming from the subject into my eyes.
Currently an A1 and A9ii user, yes battery is not as good so buy cheap batteries I never run out of battery because I have plenty of cheap batteries :) I love my Sony system and won't ever switch back :) have to move on to the future technology. Thank you for all you're content it's awesome 👌
Good tip! The batteries will certainly eventually improve. There's definitely no looking back. Maybe some folks can hang on a little bit longer, but there's certainly no going back :-) Thanks for watching!
@@JerryTLai I have had no issues with aftermarket batteriesand they are pretty affordable, I shoot HS sports about everyday for maxpreps and have no issues the batteries are getting better :)
The camera companies will tell you it is super dangerous and a fire hazard to use knock off brands. Truth be told, I've not had any issues with knock offs, at least with both Canon and Sony. The Canon knock offs I used for the 1D series do sometimes get a little toasty, so its at least worth noting that "knock offs are not recommended" by the manufacturers, but in reality likely not going to cause problems under normal use situations.
People who switched early to mirrorless reaped the benefits. Mirrorless is an investment that has definitely paid for itself and more. It's also kept me safe in certain situations where the sound of the DSLR caused bodily injury in the past. Sony Life Insurance company should offer lower rates to those who use mirrorless for this reason alone. :)
Unfortunately I'm the least familiar with the Nikon range and capabilities. I see the price between the two is pretty similar. If their performance is roughly the same, like I said in the video, it might be a good opportunity to start inching towards the mirrorless systems. If the D850 is a vastly superior camera, then you have a bit of a tougher choice.
@@JerryTLai I love the 850, but it's like you said, they are pretty similar and if i can get a z7 with an adapter for even less than an 850 I might have to go for it!
I have added the z6 to my setup. I chose to stay with Nikon because I have a nikon glass. I couldn't really afford to switch to a new system and get all new glass. Having the z adapter is great. The z may be lagging Sony but as Nikon puts more into their program they will get even better. The electronic viewfinder is amazing. Especially when you might be dealing with shadows and sun in a game. I loved having the silent mode shooting track. I could be right on top of the sprint starts and be shooting before the gun goes off. You'd be kicked out doing that with a dslr. It takes a little getting used to but I shoot both mirrorless and dslr at Milb games. Eventually, dslr cameras will go away but not tomorrow. I do like the feel of the z in my hands. Better than the others I've held. As he said buy extra batteries. In the end it's the person holding the camera.
@Robert Hindman, yes the live exposure preview is another benefit of mirrorless. I didn't touch on that in detail in the video but it is a nice bonus as well. Very useful in variable conditions or perhaps around sunset where light starts to fall off rapidly.
Great video. Been debating this myself recently. But, I rented a Nikon Z7II for a wedding last weekend (Nikon's current most expensive mirrorless body) and I was not as impressed as I thought I would be. Maybe the Z9 will be loads ahead, but for me, I can't see myself switching for 1-3 more years. I wasn't around for the switch from film -> digital, but I wonder how comparable it is to this example. And, a side note, sad to see the Central Camera in this video. I went there many times before it burned down last year.
I don't know a whole lot about Nikon's Z line. But I can say Canon was very open in saying their initial forays into mirrorless (e.g. the original Canon R and the M-Series before that) were not geared towards the pro user. Even with the R5 and R6 they do say have pro capabilities but they'll stop short of calling it a 1D-series replacement. It will be interesting to see if Nikon comes out with their own mirrorless version of their D-series bodies.
Hello, Luke! I am one of those old farts who has been doing sports photography since drawing on chalk (haha) and I switched from a Canon 650 film camera to the Canon 300D. It was quite a difference! And by the time I went to even the prosumer 40D, the ISO and the ability to shoot sharper shots was so amazing! I actually dusted off the old 650 last year (during COVID when work was non-existent (I shoot youth sports, not pro sports, so EVERYTHING was shut down)), and yea, I almost can't believe how bad film was in comparison. The mirrorless jump is nowhere near that amazing. I am just sorry that it seems that every camera maker made the swap (no 7D mk iii, or 5D mk v) I mostly do girls volleyball (girls buy SO much more than boys) and dance competitions
Back in 2018 I preordered 2 Z6 as it made sense with my existing gear. Thankfully ripped the Nikon bandage off and switched to Sony. I still love using my old Nikon gear and the Sony is nowhere near matching the skin tones and color. But Sony is perfect for fast action video and stills and have not failed to deliver in 3.5 years. With A1 I can finally trust flash in most circumstances compared to Nikon.
Sorry to ask this here, but I don't know how else to contact you-I shoot mostly girls volleyball and dance competitions. Are you going to review those?
Thanks for watching! I have a contact email in my about page. I haven't photographed a whole lot of volleyball or dance, so I probably won't have a dedicated video for those sports.
If you are doing Photos only then the older DSLRs are just as good (Stills auto-focus is good on most brands including Panasonic Gh4, Gh5) But If you are doing Video then newer Mirrorless (Sony, Canon, Fuji, Olympus, and even the 2021 Panasonics) are better than the older DSLRs.
Yes this is also a good point. If you want to do higher end / higher resolution video, a lot of times the only option you have now or going forward will be mirrorless. However, I have heard that sometimes at 4K or even 8K some of the new bodies have a problem with overheating... so it's not quite there yet but as I said, any disadvantages that mirrorless systems currently have are rapidly closing.
You can get a very good old DSLR with old glass for a fraction of the cost of a new morrorless camera with sports glass. The new mirrorless fast long glass is very limited. For sports, DSLR is still by far the most cost effective way to go. If you have the money for the correct camera and glass for mirrorless sports photography, you likely don't need to be watching this video.
Very true, the cost of entry if you go the DSLR route is going to be much lower, and will continue to fall. A full sports kit of mirrorless glass is going to be prohibitively expensive for most.
I think Sony 400/2.8 is competitively priced compared to DSLR glass. Nikon is $11.2k and Sony is $12k. Sony does have a big hole in the lineup in regards to Nikon 180-400 Tc and canon 200-400+TC and 300mm. I think Nikon is coming out with a 400/2.8 with built-in TC. Hopefully Sony will fill this line up soon with in-built 1.4 and 1.7 TC modes to push the envelope.
I currently shoot with Olympus E-M1 II, but the limitations with the ISO for clean and crisps photos (Primarily shoot basketball and other indoor events), have made me thinking about buying a DSLR like the 1Dx Mk. 1, now that it is at a price point I can work with. Any guidance you can help me on with my dilemma.
Ah yes, I have a similar situation with my personal gear. The EM1-II is a nice camera for the price point, but it definitely has its shortcomings which you have pointed out. Since the price has dropped quite a bit, having used both, I will say that the 1Dx Mk I is superior to the EM1-II in every way except for form factor.
@@JerryTLai Thanks for taking your time to reply. I think I must follow my heart and go back to the DSLR world. Might keep my Olympus just for everyday use ;)
Switching to Mirrorless is like switching to Electric vehicles 😅 disclaimer (Don't take this seriously, this is just for laughs) You know what I find funny. Film photojournalist could get thee shot with just 36 in the chamber. Knowing how to shoot far out weighs the camera you shoot with. Camera manufacturers vs reality Mirrorless is smaller Z9 and R3 are as big as the D5, D6 and 1DX II & III 🤣 Mirrorless is lighter More power draw and you replace the weight of the body with more batteries. *The D6 body is lighter than the Z9 😭😭😭😭😭 Canon LP-E19 batteries weight .49lbs 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 so technically you're heavier with mirrorless. The lenses are lighter and sharper. They're now less durable and less artistic. EVF is better, b/c you can see your final image. Yes but it's delayed even on the A9, Z9 and R3. We're going to stop DSLR production Plenty of used gear available at a 1/10th of the cost. Mirrorless and supply chains are, well they've seen better days. Mirrorless has better video. I use a video camera or smartphone for video 🤷🏾♂️ Better battery life, no record limit restrictions, same size or smaller, better audio and video controls and won't fail in the heat. I can also shoot 10-Bit internal on my smartphone 🤷🏾♂️ We added 8K I've had 8K in my pocket for nearly 4yrs 🤣 and it's only ever overheated after 5hrs But what about bokeh 🤣 I use f4, f5.6, and f8 when I shoot video like most film makers and use a longer focal length if I want bokeh. But the auto focus is better. The pro DSLR bodies hit rates were between 98%-99% the same hit rate for Mirrorless. Honestly I think my smartphone hit rate is 100% no lie 😭 Has anyone ever missed focus on an iPhone or Galaxy? Sure quality is meh for print, but once on social media or web or bill board you can't tell the difference. Mirrorless, you can shoot in the dark. Why do people do that? If you're shooting a wedding reception in a really dark room with no flash, all your guest will have dark eyes with no catch light. At least wedding ceremonies have some light even candle light. An old Nikon D200 can shoot in the dark and came out in 2005. IR gives any camera an extra +4EV of low light AF. For $50 an SC-29 can give me +3 to +4EV AF. An SU-800 and most Canon Speed lights came with this function. But it has IBIS 🤦🏾♂️ 1/1000s VR and IBIS don't really work. It is good for run and gun, maybe vloggers and highlight reels. No real film maker wants IBIS or Autofocus any where near their main camera. B cameras sure.
Switching to Mirrorless is like switching to Electric vehicles 😅 disclaimer (Don't take this seriously, this is just for laughs) You know what I find funny. Film photojournalist could get thee shot with just 36 in the chamber. Knowing how to shoot far out weighs the camera you shoot with. Camera manufacturers vs reality Mirrorless is smaller Z9 and R3 are as big as the D5, D6 and 1DX II & III 🤣 Mirrorless is lighter More power draw and you replace the weight of the body with more batteries. The lenses are lighter and sharper. They're now less durable and less artistic. EVF is better, b/c you can see your final image. Yes but it's delayed even on the A9, Z9 and R3. We're going to stop DSLR production Plenty of used gear available at a 1/10th of the cost. Mirrorless and supply chains are, well they've seen better days. Mirrorless has better video. I use a video camera or smartphone for video 🤷🏾♂️ Better battery life, no record limit restrictions, same size or smaller, better audio and video controls and won't fail in the heat. I can also shoot 10-Bit internal on my smartphone 🤷🏾♂️ We added 8K I've had 8K in my pocket for nearly 4yrs 🤣 and it's only ever overheated after 5hrs But what about bokeh 🤣 I use f4, f5.6, and f8 when I shoot video like most film makers and use a longer focal length if I want bokeh. But the auto focus is better. The pro DSLR bodies hit rates were between 98%-99% the same hit rate for Mirrorless. Honestly I think my smartphone hit rate is 100% no lie 😭 Has anyone ever missed focus on an iPhone or Galaxy? Sure quality is meh for print, but once on social media or web or bill board you can't tell the difference. Mirrorless, you can shoot in the dark. Why do people do that? If you're shooting a wedding reception in a really dark room with no flash, all your guest will have dark eyes with no catch light. At least wedding ceremonies have some light even candle light. An old Nikon D200 can shoot in the dark and came out in 2005. IR gives any camera an extra +4EV of low light AF. For $50 an SC-29 can give me +3 to +4EV AF. An SU-800 and most Canon Speed lights came with this function. But it has IBIS 🤦🏾♂️ 1/1000s VR and IBIS don't really work. It is good for run and gun, maybe vloggers and highlight reels. No real film maker wants IBIS or Autofocus any where near their main camera. B cameras sure.
Thanks to many photographers rushing to mirrorless, many DSLR bodies and lenses becoming attractively cheaper on used market, which is good for me 😆
Nice unbiased thoughts, thanks for sharing!
Yes, it is indeed a great time to get a good deal. If you don't mind hanging onto DSLRs for a few more years, you can get a really good kit at a heavy discount.
@@JerryTLai Praying for d850 to hit $2000. If it's ever in stock again.
I was hoping 1DX mark III would drop big in price so I can get a spare at a discount. I see myself staying with DSLR for the foreseeable future. It works for me and I like OVF. The Mark III really is the pinnacle of DSLR, decades of refinement and Canon threw everything but the kitchen sink into it. 16fps is way more than I need. Plus I can use it in Mirrorless silent mode, its like 2 cameras in one. Also the 50mm 1.2L longer on the RF vs squat on the EF.
Yes! Just bought a 5D Mark III, Sigma 35mm 1.4 ART, Canon 50mm 1.8 STM and Canon 85mm 1.8 USM for $1000. 🥳
No...not time to switch, just keep both and enjoy life with both. I have both and keeping both and enjoy them both for different situations. Why do people need to switch?
Its the young new photographers that will drive the DSLR into the film camera realm. Many of the old guys will hold on to their DSLR because they can still produce great photography, but the new kids will surely dive into photography with a mirrorless. The tech for mirrorless will get better and better, DSLRs have more or less reached their zenith. Its the age of youtubers, vloggers, camera phones, social media and mirrorless fits the times.
All very valid true and very valid points.
Jim, I think mirrorless is great for video, but for us sports shooters...I don't know
Marketability is key advantage of mirrorless. I am already frame grabbing 36 megapixel images from 8k. Having the ability to meet the demands of photos and video for clients is why I paid for A1. I mostly shoot stills and short video clips. Now if I am shooting 8k video and something stillworthy happens I can frame grab the clip for the client.
@@timjenkins8943 My company shoots youth sports tournaments and sells onsite. One problem I have is training my new staff members NOT to shoot in burst mode. (We do not edit or cull images before they go for sale at my sales stations, and the kids don't want to scroll thru an indeterminate number of images to find the ones they want to buy
@@SJHFoto I have set my Sony to slower FPS then quickly back to fastest because something happened where I wish I had more photos. A1 can tag images so you can select key photos during a break in play and then just download the selects.
As always a great unbiased video. Thank you Jerry! Keep them coming.
Thanks for the comment, and thanks for watching!
I did just the opposite, switched my EOS R to 1Dx II and very happy I did. It is awesome how responsive 1Dx II is and the ergonomics of it. Also in 3 years it will be one of the best optical viewfinder cameras and EOS R will be very old first generation mirrorless camera.
Just found your channel- really appreciate the content you are making. We need more videos from experienced pros! Nothing wrong with the many videos that are made by enthusiasts about cameras and techniques but so many content makers do not have actual professional experience and I often feel frustrated having spent time trying to watch a video only to figure out pretty quickly that the maker is a hobbyist. Thanks for sharing your experience!
I resisted. I've been shooting with a 1Dx and 1Dx mark II for the past year and a half. I've grown as a sports photographer, and was in the process of upgrading my 1Dx to a mark II, but that didn't work out and I was in need of a secondary camera body. A friend let me use his R6, and I was blown away at the AF and how nice the images looked. Same MP as my 1Dx mark II but the R6 images looked sharper with better colors.
Fast forward a month or so, and I sold some gear and managed to get an R3. Its head and shoulders better than my 1Dx mark II, and I have a much higher ratio of keepers compared to my DSLRs. I will transition to mirrorless in the next few months, if possible.
The biggest difference for me is the AF capabilities, low light performance and frame rate. The advantages are less obvious at a baseball game on a bright sunny day, but the difference at a night football game is huge.
I'm not a better photographer, but the images I get are higher quality.
No reason to replace my great DSLRs and EF lenses. However, when they reach their expiry dates and no new DSLR around, then under compulsion yes, not by choice.
Hello Jerry this another great video. You have way to tell the facts.
Great video. It's "DSLR" Not "DLSR". And I hope more and more people go mirrorless so the prices for gear for my D850 drop. Dang, Nikon is proud of their stuff.
One change I’ve already made is as a DSL shooter with discontinued Canon gear I’ve insured my gear up to the mirror less versions. So an insurance replacement will be for a mirror less gear.
I have ONE mirroless camera...because it's small. But I love my DSLR's. :)
Great Stuff Jerry! I have also slowly but surely started to switch.The only problem that I have found (other than battery life) with most of the mirrorless camera when using remotes, they do not allow you to use the fastest frame rate. They require you to switch to mechanical shutter (10fps) or purchase a cable to attach from the body to the pocketwizard to achieve the fast frame rate. Hopefully in the future they will address this so you don't have to have a annoying cable hanging off your camera. Glad to see you made it back safe
Thanks Steve! Very interesting. I've not tried using the Sonys as remotes yet... I just don't know how long the batteries would last with those cameras always on. Interesting that they need to be in mechanical shutter without special cables. That is indeed a wrinkle...
I think that only happens with R5 when battery dips below 50% of so. Not an issue with A1. You can also attach USB-C power delivery charger to power the A1 for very long time. i think you can also get a dummy battery for A1 as with previous models.
Hi Jerry, since you are talking about the future of photography…lately I was thinking how sport photography survived times when there was no Dslr’s yet.I mean how photographers managed to get clean,in focus shots let say in 1986 Mexico World Cup?What gear they were using and what techniques?
I think that would be really good subject for your next video:)
Ooooh now that would be a fun topic. Unfortunately I wasn’t around during the film to digital transition but some of the stories I have heard are super interesting. I may have to recruit some friends and colleagues for that one!
Ask @walterioos.
Manual focus was an art back in the day and af kinda ruined it for the elite who could follow focus a shortstop diving for a ball. I used to focus on birds and license plates back in the day. Thankfully only had to shoot MF before switching to 8008 then F4. Those were very primitive but more reliable than manual focus for my eyes..
Anticipation, split focus screens and mentally mapping the field by distance for your quick DOF mental calculation. The screens on the old cameras were designed for manual focus.
Anticipation of where the action would be by following the play and prefocusing around the sweetspot.
I always used both eyes when shooting, one scanning the field. Head on a swivel.
When autofocus started its debut it was still not so great, even when DSLRs first came out it was better. But now it is amazing how well it works, I finally feel that AF is complete. The 1DX Mark III is amazing at how well it works.
Picking up my A1 today and love my Sony mirrorless cameras! Less neck pain. BTW, great topic.
Heck yeah man, the a1 is an amazing camera. Better pick up a bunch of extra harddrives while you're at it though ;-)
For me absolutely not,when I look through the viewfinder I want to see what my eyes see,not a pixelated version,I accept that the final image has been produced from pixels,but I want to retain a little analogue imput.Plus one of the initial reasons for mirrorless was that removing the mirror reduced weight and size,but there are some big mirrorless cameras out there
It took me a while to get used to it as well, and truth be told I rejected those early EVFs. I don't have too much issue with them anymore.
You are right though, some of the mirrorless cameras are getting large. It will be interesting to see what the final size and specs of that R3 end up being.
As much as there are advantages with mirrorless I think I got worse as a photographer with EVF. I still love it for low-light but there was something special about looking through the viewfinder of a DSLR. Kinda like eating with your hands vs knife and fork.
I totally agree ST,and by the way,when watching the recent Olympics,there were many more 1DX Mk3 professional photographers than any using the R series,I did see one or two using Sony mirrorless, I have nothing against mirrorless,I just don't want a pixelated image in my viewfinder,end of rant
Great video-thank you so much!!!
Glad you enjoyed it, thanks for watching!
Great stuff. I have the theory that the 1Dx type ruggedness is a heritage from when if your camera body broke, your film fotos where lost. Any thoughts?
Very Nice Information, cleared many of my doubts, it's big dilemma created by camera companies they have stopped producing DSLR's and we don't have any option but to buy Mirrorless whether we like or not, Nikon hasn't come with upgrades to D7500 Or D500 since over 5 years, So only option is Z50, Z5 or Z6ii. I am confused between D500 Or D780 or Z6ii. I think I will buy D500 and use it for 10 years from now 😊
Always love your content! Cheers
Appreciate that! Thanks for watching!
Wildlife photographer here...I already switched to mirrorless and loving it, good bye to those days where my 5DIV missed the AF on a bird flying super slow.
Yup, that is one benefit of all the R&D money going to mirrorless... AF technology is on par or has even surpassed what are in DSLRs. Great avatar photo!!!!
Nice one Jerry, have played with the r6/ r5/ and a9 all are fab but the battery life sucks needs to better or a least catch up to my DSLR. Must admit that you shocked me with the Olympus kit !
Olympus is a great for a personal kit. It won't break the bank, and has very interesting lens ranges (like a 24-200 f/4 and their 80-300 f/2.8 equivalent... both are incredibly useful ranges and apertures). My concern however is the longevity of the brand and their technology... not sure how long they can hang on competing with the big three.
@@JerryTLai I feel that way about my Pentax 645Z. Love that camera but it seems they are gonna be dropping out of the market at some point. It is built like a tank and has a great OVF.
I did. Went R6. Love it! Doesn’t miss.
Yes the R5/R6 are awesome cameras. It might sound a little odd, but for what I do if I were to buy one I'd get the R6... I don't need the file size of the R5 so I might as well pocket the difference in price.
@@JerryTLai you can use cRAW and get more images in a burst plus smaller file sizes.
Camera sales are down nearly 100%. The manufacturers are hustling all of us.
I see your point, but if sales were down almost 100%, there would be almost no sales. :) Crap, you know what? I just Googled "How much have camera sales dropped?" Ummm...93%. So yeah, you're right. You'll have to excuse me while I go wash this egg off my face. :) But you know what? Hopeuflly that trend will continue, for selfish reasons. I need more gear for my D850. Hopefully those prices will drop also.
Great video. Very informative!!
Appreciate that. Thanks for watching!
You mention weight. Yes, that would be an advantage! The older I get, the harder it is for me to shoot a volleyball tournament with the 5Dmk iv and 70-200mm f/2.8 all day, or worse, the 50-500mm Sigma for lacrosse and the like (I sold that big boy-WAY TOO HEAVY!!)
But the frame rate doesn't matter to me-I primarily shoot single shot anyway-we sell onsite, and I can't be bothered with tons of photos as the kids don't want to see a movie broken into frame by frame
Not yet - I am wait listed for the z9 and new adapter that will allow me to use my 600/4 fl-e on it
The new glass is behind the release of bodies.
Yup, lots of glass on the way!
Battery life on mirrorless cameras will have to surpass my Nikon D5/D6 and Canon 1dx Mark ii/ Mark iii cameras. I tried Canon and Nikon mirrorless cameras weren't as great for my needs.
Having the extra battery in the grip helps... but it still lags behind considerably vs the D5/D6 and 1Dx series.
@@JerryTLai These new R34/ Nikon Z9 body's ability will have to be better than my current Dslr for me to switch.
Great video! But man, I just finished paying off my 5d Mark 4, so it'll be years before I can switch to a mirrorless camera. Maybe by then, I can find a good R3 for relatively cheap :)
Haha, well by then even when the R1 and R1 Mark II or R1x or whatever they are going to call them, I'm sure the R3 will still be a great camera :-)
I switched from DSLR to mirrorless in 2018. The mirrorless have been workhorses and have paid for themsevles but I still miss my old dslr and film bodies.
Absolutely! If someone is willing to send me all new equipment, totally free, I will switch. Otherwise, my DSLRs are working just fine, thank you!
So the main reason for mirrorless is that manufacturers switch to mirrorless? That is a kind of meta reason. As I mainly take photos of architecture, a better autofocus system does not bring me any benefit. Not having an optical viewfinder is a big downside for me, as I only see a digital copy of reality while looking through an electronic viewfinder. I not not like the idea that the sensor is power all the time as long as my camera is turned on. My DSLR only uses the sensor while I take a photo. So in theory the same sensor should not get as warm if used in a DSLR. That should reduce noise.
That is quite the user name! Hope you don't ever have to type that into a phone :-) In your case, you're right, some of the benefits of mirrorless don't apply much to you right now but I would think the EVF would be helpful. You can see an exact live preview of the picture you are taking. No guessing or fiddling with settings. Besides, isn't taking a photo a digital copy of reality as it is so I have a hard time seeing the difference between viewing via optical vs EVF? In any case, thanks for watching!
@@JerryTLai Queen Elizabeth visited my hometown a few years ago and when she passed with her car and waived her hand, I took a few photos. As I saw that through my OVF, I saw the real Queen. If I had an EVF back then, it would only be a copy that would still look the same, if I recorded a video with my camera and watched that video later. I could even have send that video to someone else and if he watched that video in his EVF, he would have seen exactly what I saw. The same when I watched Usain Bolt in the Rio Olympics. I want the "real" light coming from the subject into my eyes.
Currently an A1 and A9ii user, yes battery is not as good so buy cheap batteries I never run out of battery because I have plenty of cheap batteries :) I love my Sony system and won't ever switch back :) have to move on to the future technology. Thank you for all you're content it's awesome 👌
Good tip! The batteries will certainly eventually improve. There's definitely no looking back. Maybe some folks can hang on a little bit longer, but there's certainly no going back :-)
Thanks for watching!
@@JerryTLai I have had no issues with aftermarket batteriesand they are pretty affordable, I shoot HS sports about everyday for maxpreps and have no issues the batteries are getting better :)
The camera companies will tell you it is super dangerous and a fire hazard to use knock off brands. Truth be told, I've not had any issues with knock offs, at least with both Canon and Sony. The Canon knock offs I used for the 1D series do sometimes get a little toasty, so its at least worth noting that "knock offs are not recommended" by the manufacturers, but in reality likely not going to cause problems under normal use situations.
People who switched early to mirrorless reaped the benefits. Mirrorless is an investment that has definitely paid for itself and more. It's also kept me safe in certain situations where the sound of the DSLR caused bodily injury in the past. Sony Life Insurance company should offer lower rates to those who use mirrorless for this reason alone. :)
This is gonna be a nice one to watch, as I'm currently debating over a D850 and a Z7 😅
Unfortunately I'm the least familiar with the Nikon range and capabilities. I see the price between the two is pretty similar. If their performance is roughly the same, like I said in the video, it might be a good opportunity to start inching towards the mirrorless systems. If the D850 is a vastly superior camera, then you have a bit of a tougher choice.
@@JerryTLai I love the 850, but it's like you said, they are pretty similar and if i can get a z7 with an adapter for even less than an 850 I might have to go for it!
I have added the z6 to my setup. I chose to stay with Nikon because I have a nikon glass. I couldn't really afford to switch to a new system and get all new glass. Having the z adapter is great. The z may be lagging Sony but as Nikon puts more into their program they will get even better. The electronic viewfinder is amazing. Especially when you might be dealing with shadows and sun in a game. I loved having the silent mode shooting track. I could be right on top of the sprint starts and be shooting before the gun goes off. You'd be kicked out doing that with a dslr. It takes a little getting used to but I shoot both mirrorless and dslr at Milb games. Eventually, dslr cameras will go away but not tomorrow. I do like the feel of the z in my hands. Better than the others I've held. As he said buy extra batteries. In the end it's the person holding the camera.
@@berthindman5778 Oh man... And with the price difference between the Z6 and the d850... Looks like I'm going mirrorless before I had anticipated
@Robert Hindman, yes the live exposure preview is another benefit of mirrorless. I didn't touch on that in detail in the video but it is a nice bonus as well. Very useful in variable conditions or perhaps around sunset where light starts to fall off rapidly.
Yes.
LOL, I guess I could have made my video a lot shorter :-)
Great video. Been debating this myself recently. But, I rented a Nikon Z7II for a wedding last weekend (Nikon's current most expensive mirrorless body) and I was not as impressed as I thought I would be. Maybe the Z9 will be loads ahead, but for me, I can't see myself switching for 1-3 more years. I wasn't around for the switch from film -> digital, but I wonder how comparable it is to this example. And, a side note, sad to see the Central Camera in this video. I went there many times before it burned down last year.
I don't know a whole lot about Nikon's Z line. But I can say Canon was very open in saying their initial forays into mirrorless (e.g. the original Canon R and the M-Series before that) were not geared towards the pro user. Even with the R5 and R6 they do say have pro capabilities but they'll stop short of calling it a 1D-series replacement. It will be interesting to see if Nikon comes out with their own mirrorless version of their D-series bodies.
Hello, Luke! I am one of those old farts who has been doing sports photography since drawing on chalk (haha) and I switched from a Canon 650 film camera to the Canon 300D. It was quite a difference! And by the time I went to even the prosumer 40D, the ISO and the ability to shoot sharper shots was so amazing! I actually dusted off the old 650 last year (during COVID when work was non-existent (I shoot youth sports, not pro sports, so EVERYTHING was shut down)), and yea, I almost can't believe how bad film was in comparison. The mirrorless jump is nowhere near that amazing. I am just sorry that it seems that every camera maker made the swap (no 7D mk iii, or 5D mk v) I mostly do girls volleyball (girls buy SO much more than boys) and dance competitions
Back in 2018 I preordered 2 Z6 as it made sense with my existing gear. Thankfully ripped the Nikon bandage off and switched to Sony. I still love using my old Nikon gear and the Sony is nowhere near matching the skin tones and color. But Sony is perfect for fast action video and stills and have not failed to deliver in 3.5 years. With A1 I can finally trust flash in most circumstances compared to Nikon.
As always common sense advice Jerry✌
Appreciate your support, thanks for watching!
Sorry to ask this here, but I don't know how else to contact you-I shoot mostly girls volleyball and dance competitions. Are you going to review those?
Thanks for watching! I have a contact email in my about page. I haven't photographed a whole lot of volleyball or dance, so I probably won't have a dedicated video for those sports.
If you are doing Photos only then the older DSLRs are just as good (Stills auto-focus is good on most brands including Panasonic Gh4, Gh5)
But If you are doing Video then newer Mirrorless (Sony, Canon, Fuji, Olympus, and even the 2021 Panasonics) are better than the older DSLRs.
Yes this is also a good point. If you want to do higher end / higher resolution video, a lot of times the only option you have now or going forward will be mirrorless. However, I have heard that sometimes at 4K or even 8K some of the new bodies have a problem with overheating... so it's not quite there yet but as I said, any disadvantages that mirrorless systems currently have are rapidly closing.
You can get a very good old DSLR with old glass for a fraction of the cost of a new morrorless camera with sports glass. The new mirrorless fast long glass is very limited. For sports, DSLR is still by far the most cost effective way to go. If you have the money for the correct camera and glass for mirrorless sports photography, you likely don't need to be watching this video.
Very true, the cost of entry if you go the DSLR route is going to be much lower, and will continue to fall. A full sports kit of mirrorless glass is going to be prohibitively expensive for most.
I think Sony 400/2.8 is competitively priced compared to DSLR glass. Nikon is $11.2k and Sony is $12k. Sony does have a big hole in the lineup in regards to Nikon 180-400 Tc and canon 200-400+TC and 300mm. I think Nikon is coming out with a 400/2.8 with built-in TC. Hopefully Sony will fill this line up soon with in-built 1.4 and 1.7 TC modes to push the envelope.
I currently shoot with Olympus E-M1 II, but the limitations with the ISO for clean and crisps photos (Primarily shoot basketball and other indoor events), have made me thinking about buying a DSLR like the 1Dx Mk. 1, now that it is at a price point I can work with.
Any guidance you can help me on with my dilemma.
Ah yes, I have a similar situation with my personal gear. The EM1-II is a nice camera for the price point, but it definitely has its shortcomings which you have pointed out. Since the price has dropped quite a bit, having used both, I will say that the 1Dx Mk I is superior to the EM1-II in every way except for form factor.
@@JerryTLai Thanks for taking your time to reply.
I think I must follow my heart and go back to the DSLR world. Might keep my Olympus just for everyday use ;)
I'll always shoot DSLR.
Switching to Mirrorless is like switching to Electric vehicles 😅
disclaimer
(Don't take this seriously, this is just for laughs)
You know what I find funny. Film photojournalist could get thee shot with just 36 in the chamber. Knowing how to shoot far out weighs the camera you shoot with.
Camera manufacturers vs reality
Mirrorless is smaller
Z9 and R3 are as big as the D5, D6 and 1DX II & III 🤣
Mirrorless is lighter
More power draw and you replace the weight of the body with more batteries. *The D6 body is lighter than the Z9 😭😭😭😭😭
Canon LP-E19 batteries weight .49lbs 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 so technically you're heavier with mirrorless.
The lenses are lighter and sharper.
They're now less durable and less artistic.
EVF is better, b/c you can see your final image.
Yes but it's delayed even on the A9, Z9 and R3.
We're going to stop DSLR production
Plenty of used gear available at a 1/10th of the cost. Mirrorless and supply chains are, well they've seen better days.
Mirrorless has better video.
I use a video camera or smartphone for video 🤷🏾♂️ Better battery life, no record limit restrictions, same size or smaller, better audio and video controls and won't fail in the heat. I can also shoot 10-Bit internal on my smartphone 🤷🏾♂️
We added 8K
I've had 8K in my pocket for nearly 4yrs 🤣 and it's only ever overheated after 5hrs
But what about bokeh 🤣
I use f4, f5.6, and f8 when I shoot video like most film makers and use a longer focal length if I want bokeh.
But the auto focus is better.
The pro DSLR bodies hit rates were between 98%-99% the same hit rate for Mirrorless. Honestly I think my smartphone hit rate is 100% no lie 😭 Has anyone ever missed focus on an iPhone or Galaxy? Sure quality is meh for print, but once on social media or web or bill board you can't tell the difference.
Mirrorless, you can shoot in the dark.
Why do people do that? If you're shooting a wedding reception in a really dark room with no flash, all your guest will have dark eyes with no catch light. At least wedding ceremonies have some light even candle light. An old Nikon D200 can shoot in the dark and came out in 2005. IR gives any camera an extra +4EV of low light AF. For $50 an SC-29 can give me +3 to +4EV AF. An SU-800 and most Canon Speed lights came with this function.
But it has IBIS
🤦🏾♂️ 1/1000s VR and IBIS don't really work.
It is good for run and gun, maybe vloggers and highlight reels. No real film maker wants IBIS or Autofocus any where near their main camera.
B cameras sure.
Hello my friends
Who can help me buy a camera? Please
Switching to Mirrorless is like switching to Electric vehicles 😅
disclaimer
(Don't take this seriously, this is just for laughs)
You know what I find funny. Film photojournalist could get thee shot with just 36 in the chamber. Knowing how to shoot far out weighs the camera you shoot with.
Camera manufacturers vs reality
Mirrorless is smaller
Z9 and R3 are as big as the D5, D6 and 1DX II & III 🤣
Mirrorless is lighter
More power draw and you replace the weight of the body with more batteries.
The lenses are lighter and sharper.
They're now less durable and less artistic.
EVF is better, b/c you can see your final image.
Yes but it's delayed even on the A9, Z9 and R3.
We're going to stop DSLR production
Plenty of used gear available at a 1/10th of the cost. Mirrorless and supply chains are, well they've seen better days.
Mirrorless has better video.
I use a video camera or smartphone for video 🤷🏾♂️ Better battery life, no record limit restrictions, same size or smaller, better audio and video controls and won't fail in the heat. I can also shoot 10-Bit internal on my smartphone 🤷🏾♂️
We added 8K
I've had 8K in my pocket for nearly 4yrs 🤣 and it's only ever overheated after 5hrs
But what about bokeh 🤣
I use f4, f5.6, and f8 when I shoot video like most film makers and use a longer focal length if I want bokeh.
But the auto focus is better.
The pro DSLR bodies hit rates were between 98%-99% the same hit rate for Mirrorless. Honestly I think my smartphone hit rate is 100% no lie 😭 Has anyone ever missed focus on an iPhone or Galaxy? Sure quality is meh for print, but once on social media or web or bill board you can't tell the difference.
Mirrorless, you can shoot in the dark.
Why do people do that? If you're shooting a wedding reception in a really dark room with no flash, all your guest will have dark eyes with no catch light. At least wedding ceremonies have some light even candle light. An old Nikon D200 can shoot in the dark and came out in 2005. IR gives any camera an extra +4EV of low light AF. For $50 an SC-29 can give me +3 to +4EV AF. An SU-800 and most Canon Speed lights came with this function.
But it has IBIS
🤦🏾♂️ 1/1000s VR and IBIS don't really work.
It is good for run and gun, maybe vloggers and highlight reels. No real film maker wants IBIS or Autofocus any where near their main camera.
B cameras sure.
Nope, at least I won’t.
I’ll stick to my H2D-39 until it’s dead.
For me ... Its a BIG NOOO .. I love my Canon EOS 6D and Canon EOS 6D Mark II Bundle with EF 24 -m105 mm F4L IS II USM ......