Moving from DSLR to mirrorless
BLAYNE SLABBERT tests a mirrorless camera to see if it can replace his trusty DSLR.
Irecently went on holiday and for the first time I didn’t take a camera, instead relying on my phone to capture my family’s memories. I got a good range of images but I really missed my DSLR and how it makes you take a more considered approach to photography.
It didn’t make the trans-Tasman trip because it was too big – a common complaint about DSLRs.
I’ve been tempted to switch to a mirrorless camera for a while but have been reluctant to forgo my trusty Canon 650D and its optical viewfinder and familiar user interface.
But its bulky size was becoming more noticeable so it was time to try something new – The Fujifilm X-T10, which is the company’s newest mirrorless camera aimed at the consumer/enthusiast market.
My Canon is about three years old so it is unfair to put it head-to-head against a brand new camera. So this review is more about transitioning to a mirrorless camera rather than comparing the quality of each.
LOOKING GOOD
My biggest concern about mirrorless cameras is switching to an electronic viewfinder (EVF) after using an optical one for many years. But It didn’t take long to adjust to the EVF, which uses video to show a preview of what is being seen instead of the traditional optical viewfinder. It’s sort of like looking at a really big TV close up. The advantage is that what you see through the viewfinder is what your photo will look like. This ‘‘live view’’ changes as you make adjustments and is a huge advantage over DSLR.
The disadvantage is there’s a slight lag as you pan your camera to take a photo. It also struggled a bit at the beach with bright light coming off the sea.
SIZE MATTERS
My Canon looks like dugong compared to the sleek design of of the Fuji, which weighs about 50 per cent less (575g versus 381g).
However, the trimness of the Fuji adds a degree of fiddliness when it comes to operating the dials. If you have Colin Meads-type hands this camera would feel like a toy.
But as the saying goes, the best camera is the one you have with you. The Fuji can fit into my jacket pocket and would’ve certainly squeezed into my suitcase for my holiday. I could see this going nearly everywhere with me.
USER INTERFACE
If you own a DSLR, you probably have a Canon or Nikon but since both companies have only made tentative moves into the mirrorless market you will probably have to change brands. This means learning a new interface. Fuji’s approach is to use physical dials. It didn’t take me long to get used to it and in the end I preferred it to my Canon’s mix of buttons, dials and onscreen adjustments.
However, the Canon’s touchscreen is great and no mirrorless manufacturer is close to matching its usefulness and quality.
LENSES
The other reason stopping many people from changing is they have several lenses for their DSLR and may be reluctant to upgrade.
This is a tough and potentially expensive decision.
The quality of lenses for mirrorless cameras is great, however they have fewer options compared to Canon and Nikon.
The best thing to do is check the lenses from the mirrorless manufacturer you are considering and see if they have the sizes you want at the quality and price that suits you.
SHOULD YOU CHANGE?
If you have stopped using your DSLR because it’s too bulky to take anywhere with you, then the answer is probably yes.
But if size is only one of the reasons then there is a lot to consider, including your budget, lenses and user interface.
One thing not to get too concerned about is image quality as all consumer or enthusiast-type DSLR and mirrorless cameras take great photos.
If you are a real pixel peeper then look at sites like DXOMark and read plenty of reviews.
I loved the X-T10 and would recommend it, though you might want to visit your local camera shop to see if you are happy with the size and the EVF.
The same goes for any other mirrorless brand, since it’s worth looking at models from Sony, Olympus and Fuji, Panasonic and Samsung.