New Lens Now vs. Wait for Mirrorless Camera
camerai
Registered Users Posts: 13 Big grins
Greetings -- Haven't posted here in awhile. I have a Nikon D40 and I am taking a long trip for which I feel I need a 300mm zoom added to the camera capability. But I am retired and expenses are expenses and I wonder if I should forego it in case Nikon comes up with a mirrorless camera. The D40 is somewhat entry level, and some kind of camera upgrade is in my future. And if it is mirrorless the current type of lenses will not be compatible.
I hear that the mirrorless cameras use digital imaging while the mirror type reflects actual light which is better. Also I hear that the smaller sensor in these new cameras isn't offset by greater sensitivity, yet.
Anyone have any opinions on what direction I should take?
CAMERAI
I hear that the mirrorless cameras use digital imaging while the mirror type reflects actual light which is better. Also I hear that the smaller sensor in these new cameras isn't offset by greater sensitivity, yet.
Anyone have any opinions on what direction I should take?
CAMERAI
0
Comments
Why would you want a mirrorless camera? I'm guessing because they're lighter and easier to carry than DSLRs. That's fine, but they are lower in the market. They're not gonna have the capability of, say, the D3100. DSLRs will have better image quality because of the bigger sensor they use. However, you may be willing to sacrifice a little bit of image quality to gain a lighter setup.
The "mirror type reflects actual light." I'm not sure what you mean. DSLRs use an actual mirror, which reflects light into the viewfinder. This way, you can see exactly what the lens sees, in real time. Mirrorless cameras are, well, "mirror-less." They don't have a mirror. This allows them to be much smaller and lighter than DSLRs. However, you don't get to see what's coming through the lens real time. Instead, the sensor "reads" the light and shows it to you, on the screen. It's called live view, and it's basically an electronic viewfinder (EVF). This is not real time, though, because the sensor has to record what it sees and transmit the data to the screen. This process takes time. Not much, a fraction of a second, but it's still not real time like a DSLR viewfinder.
Honestly I prefer the real-time DSLR viewfinder over EVF live view. Others are willing to give up the viewfinder for the smaller size of the camera.
The smaller sensors in the mirrorless cameras don't have image quality that's as good as modern DSLRs. However, the D40 you have is older, and I would expect the mirrorless camera to have better image quality, despite the smaller sensor. It should also have better sensitivity to low light than the D40. It should be able to shoot at higher ISO's with less noise. Technology improves over time.
Like I said, I don't think there will be a 300mm zoom for the mirrorless camera yet. Probably a 200mm superzoom, but that will be so big that I don't see the point of buying the smaller camera! Take a look at the Sony NEX 18-200, it's a big lens on a tiny camera.
My opinion? It depends on what you want. If you want the real-time viewfinder and bigger sensor of a DSLR, then you should go ahead and buy that 300mm zoom now, and upgrade to a newer DSLR in the future. However, if you want the lightest travel kit, then go for a mirrorless. It doesn't have to be Nikon. If I were to buy a mirrorless kit right now, it'd be a Sony. The Sony NEX cameras have a big DSLR-sized sensor (same size as your D40) in a small, light body. They have good lenses, including the 18-200 superzoom. Panasonic, Olympus, and Samsung (who am I forgetting?) have good mirrorless cameras too. I'm not sure when the Nikon mirrorless will be announced, but it may ship too late for your trip. And when it is announced, it's very likely that it will have a smaller sensor than your D40 or a Sony NEX.