Mirrorless cameras

Can someone explain to me what all the hubbub is about with mirrorless cameras? I can't seem to find anything about them, apart from some of the manufacturers now producing them.

Any point and shoot is mirrorless...are you talking about the "micro" cameras that have interchangeable lenses but no mirror? Basically a point and shoot with a big sensor and no phase detection focus, but you can switch out the lenses. To me, at least right now, they don't really have a point, the lens selection/quality is so-so, and by the time you are done lugging around some lenses having a thin body doesn't seem to really serve any purpose. Also many of them don't have a mount for a hotshoe flash, which I would never give up. Would much rather have a really good small point and shoot like the S95 to go with my 60D if portability is a major concern.

I remember reading about Sony coming out with them, but I'm sure there are others. Basically there is a mirror just like a normal SLR, but with Sony's they apply an electrical current to the mirror which then makes it transparent. So when you hit the button to take a picture the mirror goes clear and the shutter opens, bringing the light onto the sensor. This eliminates the whole mirror flop up mechanism so you don't have any camera shake from the mirror.

Different tool to do a different job. I use an NEX-5 bridge camera and often, it's exactly the right thing for the job. The lenses are actually very good, focusing is accurate and plenty fast enough, HD video is excellent and it's pleasure to use, when you get used to it. I wouldn't substitute my SLRs but as an additional tool, it's brilliant.

TheBigDog wrote in post #13069951
I remember reading about Sony coming out with them, but I'm sure there are others. Basically there is a mirror just like a normal SLR, but with Sony's they apply an electrical current to the mirror which then makes it transparent. So when you hit the button to take a picture the mirror goes clear and the shutter opens, bringing the light onto the sensor. This eliminates the whole mirror flop up mechanism so you don't have any camera shake from the mirror.

Not on the NEX-5 or similar, which doesn't have a viewfinder so doesn't need a mirror at all.

stormwerks wrote in post #13069715
Can someone explain to me what all the hubbub is about with mirrorless cameras? I can't seem to find anything about them, apart from some of the manufacturers now producing them.

They are a lot smaller than a DSLR which is the main advantage. Many of them use an APS-C sensor so IQ is about the same as a DSLR. I had a Sony NEX-3 for a while and they are actually pretty good cameras. Depending on the manufacturer and model they can either act more like a P&S or a DSLR. Sony just introduced the NEX-7 which is a 24MP mirrorless with an electronic VF and is priced around $1,300 so it's definitely into DSLR territory.

I think this - http://www.wired.com …-transparent-mirror-tech/ - is what BigDog meant, but this uses a fixed translucent mirror. Looks interesting though.

stormwerks wrote in post #13069715
Can someone explain to me what all the hubbub is about with mirrorless cameras? I can't seem to find anything about them, apart from some of the manufacturers now producing them.

Here's a few links.

http://forums.dpreview​.com/forums/forum.asp?​forum=1041

http://fourthirds-user.com/forum/index.p​hp?

http://www.mu-43.com/

http://e-p1.net …8jllsm23lguaon1​vbq0f698o7

Keyan wrote in post #13069812
To me, at least right now, they don't really have a point, the lens selection/quality is so-so, and by the time you are done lugging around some lenses having a thin body doesn't seem to really serve any purpose.

Aside from pretty much any lens ever made being able to be adapted. There's plenty of great glass out there if your willing to give it a go. Providing you don't mind manual focus, but the EVF on the Oly is more than adequate for the job. As far as "lugging around some lenses" I'd rather lug around every native M4/3 lens made than my kit with all the lenses I currently own with only one body.

stormwerks wrote in post #13069715
Can someone explain to me what all the hubbub is about with mirrorless cameras?

The main advantages are that they can be smaller and cheaper [EDIT]. Everything else that a mirrorless camera can do could also be done with a mirror camera, such as:

• Shorter backfocus distance. This is a huge benefit for wide angle lens design. Just compare the Leica 24mm f/1.4 with the equivalent Canon -- more vignetting, sure, but the design is so much less retrofocal that aberrations are much better controlled. Less distortion, less CA, better contrast, etc.
  
• High frame rates. Few cameras can swing their mirrors up and out of the way fast enough to hit even just 11 FPS, whereas if you skip the mirror there are several cameras that are already up to 300 FPS (at low resolution).
  
• Electronic viewfinder. Has both benefits and drawbacks compared to an optical viewfinder.
  

JohnB57 wrote in post #13070017
I think this - http://www.wired.com …-transparent-mirror-tech/ - is what BigDog meant, but this uses a fixed translucent mirror. Looks interesting though.

yup, that's what I was thinking about, thanks for finding that again John

Sensor of a DSLR, size of a PnS... what else is there to say?

http://www.bloomberg.c​om …ity-for-sony-cameras.html

They're chasing the money... The issue I see is that the low-end consumer market for point and shoots has matured (if not declining) due to cellphone cameras getting better. The margins there are also dwindling. You start moving up the chain... can't quite compete as an up-start against the monoliths that have decades of SLR experience and camera/lens markets (Look at the Samsung DSLRs... even trying to tap into the existing Pentax K-mount lens didn't help them out too much), so they made a new market - the EVIL (electronic viewfinder / interchangeable lens) and MILC (mirrorless interchangeable lens camera).

wunhang wrote in post #13071251
They're chasing the money... The issue I see is that the low-end consumer market for point and shoots has matured (if not declining) due to cellphone cameras getting better. The margins there are also dwindling. You start moving up the chain... can't quite compete as an up-start against the monoliths that have decades of SLR experience and camera/lens markets (Look at the Samsung DSLRs... even trying to tap into the existing Pentax K-mount lens didn't help them out too much), so they made a new market - the EVIL (electronic viewfinder / interchangeable lens) and MILC (mirrorless interchangeable lens camera).

Good thing they didn't call it Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens Format!

RTPVid wrote in post #13071261
Good thing they didn't call it Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens Format!

Or: High Accutance Large Format Automatic Rangefinder Single Exposure Digital.