Does Size Matter?Should you go mirrorless?
Doug [email protected]
• Portfolio at DougKaye.com
• Portfolio at DougKaye.com
• Written reviews at rds.com
• Portfolio at DougKaye.com
• Written reviews at rds.com
• Co-Host of All About the Gear
• Portfolio at DougKaye.com
• Written reviews at rds.com
• Co-Host of All About the Gear
• Frequent guest on This Week in Photo
• Portfolio at DougKaye.com
• Written reviews at rds.com
• Co-Host of All About the Gear
• Frequent guest on This Week in Photo
• Active on Google+ and Facebook
Topics• DSLR (Mirror) vs. Mirrorless
• Mirrorless History, (Dis)Advantages
• Sensor Size and Stabilization
• Field-of-View and Depth-of-Field
• Auto- and Manual Focus
• LCDs and Viewfinders
• Lenses, Diffraction and Adaptors
• The Best Camera
Does Size Matter?
The Acronyms
• DSLR: Digital Single-Lens Reflex
• MILC: Mirrorless Interchangeable-Lens Camera
• APS-C: ~1.5x Crop-Factor Sensor Size
• MFT: Micro Four-Thirds
• LCD: Liquid Crystal Display (rear)
• OVF: Optical Viewfinder
• EVF: Electronic Viewfinder
MILCs
• Mirrorless
• Interchangeable Lens
• Autofocus
• Electronic Viewfinder
Who’s Who
• The Old Guard
• Nikon & Canon
• The Upstarts
• Sony & Fujifilm (Full-Frame and APS-C)
• Olympus & Panasonic/Lumix (MFT)
• Leica? Samsung? iPhone?
Leica M (typ 240)
Full Frame24MP
$7,000without EVF
Manual Focus Only
Samsung NX30
APS-C20MP
$1,000
iPhone 5S
1/3” Sensor8MP
Fixed f/2.2 Lens$199
w/2-Year Plan
DSLR vs. Mirrorless
MILC History
Epson/Cosina R-D1
RangefinderAPS-C
6MP2004
Leica M8
Rangefinder1.33x Crop
10MP2006
Panasonic/Lumix G1
LCD & EVFMFT
12MP2008
Leica M9
RangefinderFull Frame
18.5MP2009
Sony NEX-5
LCDAPS-C
14.2MP2010
Fujifilm X-Pro1
16MP X-TransOVF+EVF
APS-C2012
Olympus OM-D E-M1
EVFMFT
16MP2013
Sony a7 (a7R)
EVFFull Frame
24MP (36MP)2013
MILC Advantages
• Smaller & Lighter
• Simpler & Less Expensive
• EVF vs. OVF
• Always in LiveView Mode (WYSIWYG)
• Accurate Autofocus
• Quieter & Less Vibration
• Simpler Wide-Angle Lens Designs
• Compatible w/Other Lens Mounts
MILC Disadvantages
• EVF vs. OVF?
• Autofocus Speed
• Lack of Accessories
• Diffraction (until the full-frame a7 & a7r)
• Legacy Wide-Angle Lens Issues
Sensor Size
• Full 35mm Frame (FF): 1x
• APS-C: 1.5x
• MFT: 2x
Pixel Size
• Larger Pixels Capture More Light
• Higher ISO, Lower Noise
• Broader Dynamic Range
• 16MP APS-C = 36MP Full Frame
• 16MP MFT = 64MP Full Frame
Field of View (FoV)
• Smaller sensors just crop the image.
• To get the same FoV, use a shorter lens.
• eg: 25mm on MFT = FoV of 50mm on FF
Depth of Field (DoF)
• Assuming the same aperture,Shorter Lens = Greater Depth-of-Field.
• DoF is determined strictly by the relationship of focal length and aperture.
• Regardless of sensor size!
Equivalent FoV & DoF
• 50mm on FF = 25mm on MFT (Similar FoV)
• But 25mm has greater DoF!
• Use wider aperture to get the same DoF.
• 50mm f/8 on FF = 25mm f/4 on MFT(Similar FoV and DoF)
• Two f/stop for MFT
• One f/stop for APS-C
Smaller-Sensor Implications
• Use shorter focal lengths (Preserve FoV).
• Use wider apertures (Preserve DoF).
• You can use lower ISOs.
• But you need faster lenses.
• Prime lenses become more important.
• You need faster shutters or ND filters.
Anti-Aliasing(Low-Pass) Filters
• Reduces Moiré
• Important for Video
• Cameras Without an AA Filter...
• Sony a7R
• Olympus OM-D E-M1
• Fujifilm (all)
Shutters
• Leaf
• Focal Plane (Front & Rear Curtain)
• Electronic
Autofocus Technologies
• Contrast (LiveView & Early MILCs)
• DSLRs (Dedicated A/F Sensors)
• Phase Detection Autofocus (PDAF)
• Cross-Point PDAF
• Hybrid Autofocus (Pixel Stealing)
• Canon’s Dual-Pixel Sensors
Contrast Autofocus
Autofocus Technologies
• Contrast (LiveView & Early MILCs)
• DSLRs (Dedicated A/F Sensors)
• Phase Detection Autofocus (PDAF)
• Cross-Point PDAF
• Hybrid Autofocus (Pixel Stealing)
• Canon’s Dual-Pixel Sensors
DSLR Autofocus
DSLR Autofocus
Autofocus Technologies
• Contrast (LiveView & Early MILCs)
• DSLRs (Dedicated A/F Sensors)
• Phase Detection Autofocus (PDAF)
• Cross-Point PDAF
• Hybrid Autofocus (Pixel Stealing)
• Canon’s Dual-Pixel Sensors
Phase Detection Autofocus
Autofocus Technologies
• Contrast (LiveView & Early MILCs)
• DSLRs (Dedicated A/F Sensors)
• Phase Detection Autofocus (PDAF)
• Cross-Type PDAF
• Hybrid Autofocus (Pixel Stealing)
• Canon’s Dual-Pixel Sensors
Cross-Type PDAF
Autofocus Comparisons
• DSLR w/PDAF
• Fast, but inaccuracies due to mis-alignment
• Contrast
• Slow and hunts, but very accurate
Autofocus Technologies
• Contrast (LiveView & Early MILCs)
• DSLRs (Dedicated A/F Sensors)
• Phase Detection Autofocus (PDAF)
• Cross-Point PDAF
• Hybrid Autofocus (Pixel Stealing)
• Canon’s Dual-Pixel Sensors
Hybrid Autofocus
• “Pixel Stealing”
• Introduced with Sony NEX-3 and NEX-5
• Now Used by Most MILCs
• Notable Exception: Sony a7R
Canon’s Dual-Pixels
Autofocus Comparisons
• DSLR w/PDAF
• Fast, but inaccuracies due to mis-alignment
• Contrast
• Slow and hunts, but very accurate
• Hybrid
• Fast and accurate, but uses sensor area
Manual Focus
• (Almost) Always Required with Adaptors
Focus Peaking
EVF DoF Scale
Image Stabilization
• In-Body Image Stabilization (IBIS)
• Olympus
• In-Lens Stabilization
• Sony
• Panasonic/Lumix
• Fujifilm
Rear LCDs
• Tilting
• Fully Articulating
• Touch-Sensitive
Tilting LCD
Articulating LCD
Tilting LCDs
• Sony NEX-5, -6, -7, A5000, A6000, a7, a7R
• Olympus OM-D E-M5 and E-M1
• Fujifilm X-T1
• Panasonic/Lumix GX7 (Fully Articulated)
Touch-Screen LCDs
• Panasonic/Lumix GX7
• Olympus OM-D EM-1 and EM-5
• Sony NEX-3, NEX-5 (A5000)
Lenses
• Larger Sensors → Larger Lenses
• Smaller Sensors → Faster Lenses
• MFT (Olympus & Lumix): Largest Selection
• APS-C (Sony & Fujifilm): Decent Selection
• Full Frame (Sony): Weak Selection
• Solution: Legacy Lenses via Adaptors
Why Lens Adaptors Work
• MILCs have no mirrors!
• Shorter flange-to-sensor distance
• Sony a7 and a7R Are “Universal”.Use Canon, Nikon and Leica lenses.Problems with focal lengths <28mm.
Which Lens Adaptors
• Passive: No Autofocus or Data Exchange
• Active (eg, Sony A- to E-Mount)
• Close-Focus Adaptors
• Some Support Manual Aperture Control
• $20 or $300+?
Passive Adaptor$20-$300
Close-Focus Adaptor$310
Active AdaptorSony A- to E-Mount
$350
Lens Adaptor Problems
• Vignetting
• Planarity
• Past-Infinity Focusing
• Autofocus
• Aperture Control & Awareness
• EXIF Data & Lens Identification
• Magenta Color Smearing
Magenta Smearing
Lens-Cast Removers
• CornerFix
• Standalone DNG Processor
• Adobe Labs Flat Field Plugin
• For Lightroom
Wide-Angle Lenses
Diffraction
• Relationship of Aperture and Pixel Pitch
• NOT a Lens-Quality Issue!
• 24 MP FF: Visible at f/11
• 36MP FF: Visible at f/8
• 16MP APS-C: Visible at f/8
• 24MP APS-C: Visible at f/5.6
• 16MP MFT: Visible at f/5.6
Video
• Use Cameras with AA/Low-Pass Filter
• Sony NEX-5, -6, -7, A5000, A6000 and a7
• Olympus OM-D E-M5
• Panasonic/Lumix GX7
• Fujifilm Cameras Don’t Need One
• Avoid:
• Sony a7R, Olympus OM-D E-M1
WiFi & Mobile Apps
• Olympus OM-D E-M1 (not E-M5)
• Sony a7, a7R, NEX-5, -6 (A5000, A6000)
• Panasonic/Lumix GX7
• Fujifilm X-E2 & -T1 (not X-E1 or X100S)
• Some have NFC for easy Android setup
Installable Apps
• Sony a7, a7R, NEX-5, -6 (A5000, A6000)
• Time Lapse, Stop Motion, Multiple Exposure
• Lens Compensation
• Remote Control
• Picture Effects, Editing
• Social Media Uploads (Flickr)
The Best Camera?
The Best Camera?
is the one that comes out right after you buy something else.
...Doug Kaye
Today’s Hottest MILCs
• Full Frame
• Sony a7, a7R
• APS-C
• Fujifilm X-T1, X-E2
• Sony NEX-5, NEX-6 (A5000, A6000)
• MFT
• Olympus OM-D E-M1 and -M5
• Panasonic/Lumix GX7
Micro Four-Thirds
• Panasonic/Lumix
• GX7
• GM1
• Olympus
• OM-D E-M5
• OM-D E-M1
Panasonic Lumix GM1
MFT16MP$750
w/Lens
Panasonic Lumix GX7
MFT16MP$750
Olympus OM-D E-M5
MFT16MP
$1,000$752
Olympus OM-D E-M1
MFT16MP
$1,400
APS-C• Sony
• NEX-3
• NEX-5T → A5000
• NEX-6 → A6000
• NEX-7
• Fujifilm
• X-E2
• X-T1
• X100S (Fixed 23mm Lens)
Sony NEX-3
APS-C16MP
$319 w/Lens
Clearance!
Sony NEX-5T
APS-C16MP$450
Sony A5000
APS-C20MP$500
w/Lens
Sony NEX-6
APS-C16MP$600
Sony A6000
APS-C24MP$648
Replaces NEX-6Announced 8pm Tonight!
Sony NEX-7
APS-C24MP$870
Fujifilm X-E2
APS-C16MP
$1,000
Fujifilm X-T1
APS-C16MP
$1,300
Fujifilm X100S
APS-C16MP
$1,300w/Lens
Full Frame
• Sony
• a7 (24MP)
• a7R (36MP)
Sony a7
Full Frame24MP
$1,700
Sony a7R
Full Frame36MP
$2,300
Non-Interchangeable Mirrorless Cameras
• Full Frame
• Sony RX1R
• APS-C
• Fujifilm X100s
• Point-and-Shoot (Smaller Sensors)
• Sony RX100 II
Small-Camera Tips
• Use wider-angle lenses (FoV)
• Use larger apertures (DoF)
• Avoid small apertures (Diffraction)
• Use prime lenses
• Carry two (!) spare batteries
How to Choose?
1. Lenses? (Your most important decision!)
2. Need DSLR-speed autofocus?
3. Shallow DoF or low light?
4. Large prints?
5. Best walkaround camera?
Lenses
• Olympus or Panasonic/Lumix (MFT) for broadest native lens selection
• Fujifilm X-T1, X-E2 and Sony APS-C for great Zeiss lenses
• Sony a7 and a7R for 3rd-party primes via adaptors
Autofocus Speed
• Olympus OM-D E-M1 is currently the fastest autofocusing mirrorless camera.
• Fujifilm claims the X-T1 is faster, but I haven’t tested it yet.
• Sony A6000 should be good, too.
Shallow DoF,Low Light or Large Prints?
• Sony a7 for handheld
• Sony a7R for tripod
Walkaround Camera?
• Fujifilm X100S
The Bad News
• Panasonic, Fujifilm, Olympus camera divisions all losing money
• Sales of once promising “mirrorless” format devices are sputtering
• Consumers prioritising connectivity to social networks
...Reuters
More Bad News
• Compact camera sales to drop more than 40% in 2014 (IDC)
• Panasonic’s overall camera sales dropped 40% in April-September 2013. They have until March 2016 to become profitable, or else!
• Olympus’ 2011 scandal: hid losses for years.
• Nikon, Canon & Sony >60% market share.
The Future?
• Panasonic and Olympus (ie, MFT) are shaky.
• Sony is getting out of TVs and computers.
• Sony acquired 11.5% of Olympus ($645 million)
• Sony makes sensors for Olympus, Nikon & Fuji
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