DSLR's: the future and lens compatability with mirrorless systems...

Richdog · 11 Feb 2015 at 10:29

With the relentless advance of mirrorless systems it got me to thinking about my Nikon DSLR and the money I have invested, and will be investing, in lenses.

Lets say that the mirrorless takeover is inevitable at some point in the next few years, do you think for example that DSLR lens F-mount compatibility will be possible with the new generations of mirrorless bodies?

I know I will get use from my body and lenses, but it's also galling to think that I may not be able to use them down the line with the newer mirrorless bodies.

insane200 · 11 Feb 2015 at 13:22

There is no reason why Nikon cant re-use the same lens mount system with DLSM type camera's, You can buy Adapters for Lumix DSLM that will allow Canon/Nikon mount lenses to fit

Genoma · 11 Feb 2015 at 14:00

I don't think it's really worth worrying about, these are two different tools. I would hazzard a guess that Can-ikon/Sony aren't looking to converge these systems or replace one with another, there is certainly no evidence to suggest this will happen, much to the contrary (new Canon DSLRs, new lenses, etc, etc, etc...)

Sh4rkie · 11 Feb 2015 at 14:27

Genoma said:
I don't think it's really worth worrying about, these are two different tools. I would hazzard a guess that Can-ikon/Sony aren't looking to converge these systems or replace one with another, there is certainly no evidence to suggest this will happen, much to the contrary (new Canon DSLRs, new lenses, etc, etc, etc...)

I wouldn't say that of Canon. Their mirrorless system the eos-m only has three / four oem lens and Canon push to using the ef/ef-s adaptor with the system. Even with the announcement of the new m3 there was no mention of new eos-m lens to go with it.

Genoma · 11 Feb 2015 at 14:48

I'm in agreement, I think the OP is worried that mirrorless will replace his DSLR - what I meant is that there is no evidence to suggest this is true given the new DSLR models, new DSRL lenses are revision of existing DSRL lenses ongoing.

robj20 · 11 Feb 2015 at 14:53

I think one day mirrorless will do away with the mirror but only when the live view is up to the task and on sensor focusing. Its a way to go yet, i think mirrorless right now is good enough for a lot of people but if you want things like top notch focusing a DSLR is still king.

Richdog · 11 Feb 2015 at 14:55

Genoma said:
I don't think it's really worth worrying about, these are two different tools. I would hazzard a guess that Can-ikon/Sony aren't looking to converge these systems or replace one with another, there is certainly no evidence to suggest this will happen, much to the contrary (new Canon DSLRs, new lenses, etc, etc, etc...)

Personally I don't think that there is really any question that Mirrorless will eventually replace DLSR... in my mind it's not a matter of if, but when. The mirror is dying, it is old, near-antiquated in technology terms.

Smaller sizes, equivalent image quality, high burst, great video, near-silent operation... the only thing they are really lacking is down to generational and technological issues, such as AF performance etc. All of those limitations will no longer be an issue at some point.

Manufacturers are of course not going to give up on DSLR's at this stage, but they will imo be phased out eventually and over the next years I think we will see less and less DSLR's being released as production methods are unified (producing two distinct types of camera technology will not be cost-effective at some point when DSLR sales drop), and R&D is instead poured into more compact Mirrorless solutions that yield pro results. I also think in the not too distant future we will see a much bigger push in marketing and advertising for the Mirrorless solutions too, as attention is shifted from the DSLR's.

PS: And as I love my DSLR's I will be sure to delay that moment as long as humanly possible.

D.P. · 11 Feb 2015 at 19:44

The mirror will definitely dispaear but it will take some time to fully replace DSLRs. There are 3 things that nee to happen:
1) On Sensor phase detection has to catch up with dedicated PDAF systems. The marketing teams seem to think they are already there with Fuji, Sony, Nikon, Panasonic and Olympus all stating they have the worlds fastest AF system in their EVIL cameras. They are all wrong.
2) EVF are still not as good as OVF for the majority of demanding users
3)Peoples perceptions about EVF will also have to change once the technology has caught up. This will take longer than 2.

I am not really worried about my Nikon lens investment. A Nikon mirrorless solution has a very high chance of maintaining the F-mount. If they go for a reduced flange distance then they can make an adapter and the entire future of Nikon would rest on that adapter working perfectly and without compromise.

Personally I hope they keep the F-mount. Smaller flange distances can only reduce the size of lenses that have focal lengths longer than the flange distance and less than the F-mount flange distance, which pretty much mean lenses in the 30-45mm range can be made smaller. With longer focal length lenses the lens size would actually have to increase in length to maintain the same focal distance. Reducing the flange distance can make some lenses bigger because the angle from the mount t the sense edge is increased which can lead to increased colour fringing, side-to-side color cast, increased vignetting and reduced sensitivity.

That advantage with 30-45mm zone is really not that interesting. Have a look at what Nikon has done with the 300mm f/4.- PF lens. Half the size and weight by using Phase-Fresnel design like Canon's DO.

Richdog · 11 Feb 2015 at 20:56

Well, I hope they do maintain the F-mount... it would make a lot of people happy.

Was reading about the PF lenses today, very interesting but the cost will no doubt be eye-watering to start with.

D.P. · 11 Feb 2015 at 22:44

Richdog said:
Well, I hope they do maintain the F-mount... it would make a lot of people happy.

Was reading about the PF lenses today, very interesting but the cost will no doubt be eye-watering to start with.

The Nikon 300mm PF lens has an RRP of $2000 USD against the RRP of the original at $1400 or $1500. The predecessor is quite an old lens so a rise in rice even if it was a plain lens design would be expected. The new lens also has VR which the old didn't. We have all seen how Nikon/Canon have been raising lens prices with each new release so an extra 500-600 doesn't seem excessive to me.

There is some cost saving with PF lenses, since the PF element does a better job of aligning the different colour wavelengths then the rest of the lens needs fewer elements to do correcting, which is exactly here the smaller-lighter lens comes from. That reduced some of the costs.

Prices will start high but will likely fall if the technology has a wider uptake. there are strong rumors that Nikon ill release a 24-70mm f/2.8 VR with PF. I find that rumour quite surprising but if true would be a strong sign that Nikon wont to update many such lenses. I could see the 70-200mm lenses getting the PF treatment as well as all the exotic teles and some of the consumer tele zooms.