Canon dSLR vs mirrorless

Hi guys and gals, hoping for a bit of advice that i'm going to give a friend of mine.

My best friend wants to get a camera for when we go on holiday or just genrally go somewhere he wants to take photos. As i'm into photography, he's asked me what camera he should get with a budget, he has around £300. I first said that the Canon EOS 1100D would suit his needs as he knows nothing about aperture, shutter speed, ISO, noise etc. and i believe the 1100D would be good as it's a beginner dSLR and is pretty cheap to buy new at the moment. At this moment in time he will not want to buy any other lenses, but i can't speak for the future.

But now coming to think about it, I know for a fact he is not going to want to carry around a big camera when he's basically going to be using it as a point and shoot and probably won't venture into manual mode at any point, but he really wants the sharp detailed photos that a dSLR can produce.

So i'm thinking of recommending the Sony NEX-F3. It's smaller, more designed for Auto mode shooting (with manual modes if you wanted them), has the APS-C sensor inside and produces some nice sharp detailed shots.

But, i can guarantee he will ask 'Well if it produces the similar quality photos, then why do you carry round such a big camera?'
I want to give him a list of benefits a dSLR has over a mirrorless camera, using the Canon EOS 1100D vs Sony NEX-F3 as the comparison.

Here's what i got that i can think of off the top of my head:
Big grip - Allows you to hold the camera more comfortably and securely.
Optical viewfinder - Better framing, some mirrorless cameras have optional electronic viewfinders, but these are pretty expensive.
More lenses - Bigger variety of lenses to suit your needs and shooting style.

Anything else you guys can add to the list using the two cameras as comparison?

It's a simple answer, the NEX is designed to meet HIS needs, at his skill level. Your DSLR's are designed to meet your needs as someone who is interested in producing something more than nicely crafted, good quality records of life. Mirrorless make a lot of sense for those who want better than P&S quality, but really want P&S ease of use. Your friend is pretty much the market segment that Mirrorless cameras are aimed at. You only need to see the number of folk struggling to use a DSLR with Liveview hand held, because "That's the the way you take pictures now, you don't use that little view finder thingy any more". It is the separation of those who just want to take nice pictures from those that are interested in the "process" of creating great images. There are a lot more folks in the first category who are currently not getting the best from the DSLR that they own who would in all probability get much better results changing to a really good P&S compact or Mirrorless camera designed to specifically meet their needs. The Mirrorless is probably the right tool as you have a large sensor for quality with the option to put decent glass in front of it, but designed to be easy to use for those with less technical skill, and no interest in having to learn those skills.

I see the current bottom end of the DSLR market going over to the Mirrorless style cameras fairly soon, I think the 1100D and similarly specced cameras disappearing, and the bottom of the DSLR ranges becoming camera of the like of the 650D, the latest of the xxxD range which have continuously moved more up market since the 300D. In fact I foresee that given a few years the bottom of the DSLR market will fall closer to whatever Canon replaces the 60D with. Not only that but I think that they will all loose the auto scene modes, so that they only have PASM like the xD models now have. Anyone who will "need" or want auto scene modes will be using a Mirrorless, as that is who the Mirrorless market is aimed at.

I guess that the above is a bit rambling, but I think it covers the answers fairly well in a variety of different ways.

Alan

A couple of observations from someone who uses both.

• NEX screen is brilliant, but compromised in bright sunlight.
  
• SLR has dioptre correction - I need to wear spectacles when using the NEX and as I walk a lot, this can be a bit inconvenient
  
• NEX is not as compact as you think, especially with the standard zoom - it won't easily fit into a pocket
  
• Battery life on the NEX is very poor compared with SLR
  
• Additional Sony lens choice is nowhere near as extensive - the NEX is not a true system camera - and lenses are expensive
  
• Although the NEX is just as controllable as an SLR, the way you use it discourages creativity
  
• On the positive side, images are excellent and for video, it's superb
  

BigAl007 wrote in post #15503901
It's a simple answer, the NEX is designed to meet HIS needs, at his skill level. Your DSLR's are designed to meet your needs as someone who is interested in producing something more than nicely crafted, good quality records of life. Mirrorless make a lot of sense for those who want better than P&S quality, but really want P&S ease of use. Your friend is pretty much the market segment that Mirrorless cameras are aimed at. You only need to see the number of folk struggling to use a DSLR with Liveview hand held, because "That's the the way you take pictures now, you don't use that little view finder thingy any more". It is the separation of those who just want to take nice pictures from those that are interested in the "process" of creating great images. There are a lot more folks in the first category who are currently not getting the best from the DSLR that they own who would in all probability get much better results changing to a really good P&S compact or Mirrorless camera designed to specifically meet their needs. The Mirrorless is probably the right tool as you have a large sensor for quality with the option to put decent glass in front of it, but designed to be easy to use for those with less technical skill, and no interest in having to learn those skills.

I see the current bottom end of the DSLR market going over to the Mirrorless style cameras fairly soon, I think the 1100D and similarly specced cameras disappearing, and the bottom of the DSLR ranges becoming camera of the like of the 650D, the latest of the xxxD range which have continuously moved more up market since the 300D. In fact I foresee that given a few years the bottom of the DSLR market will fall closer to whatever Canon replaces the 60D with. Not only that but I think that they will all loose the auto scene modes, so that they only have PASM like the xD models now have. Anyone who will "need" or want auto scene modes will be using a Mirrorless, as that is who the Mirrorless market is aimed at.

I guess that the above is a bit rambling, but I think it covers the answers fairly well in a variety of different ways.

Alan

Agreed, now i think about it more the NEX seems like the right camera for HIS needs, it would even probably suit me as a second/back-up/holiday camera, but i love my dSLR too much, i'll live with the bulk!

And yes this is true, the 1100D is fading out, as so is the 550D hence their low prices to buy new. I own the 650D and bought it just before Christmas, I'm no pro but i use it in manual and understand all the settings, i also try and invest in glass aswell now as knowing it's not all about the body. 650D does what i need it too do, give me enjoyment out of a (expensive) hobby and also provide me with amazing quality photos. I do also think dSLR's will start to fade the AUTO modes out, and aim them at people wanting to use them as intended, not just a over-sized p&s.

Thanks for the input!

JohnB57 wrote in post #15503919
A couple of observations from someone who uses both.

• NEX screen is brilliant, but compromised in bright sunlight.
  
• SLR has dioptre correction - I need to wear spectacles when using the NEX and as I walk a lot, this can be a bit inconvenient
  
• NEX is not as compact as you think, especially with the standard zoom - it won't easily fit into a pocket
  
• Battery life on the NEX is very poor compared with SLR
  
• Additional Sony lens choice is nowhere near as extensive - the NEX is not a true system camera - and lenses are expensive
  
• Although the NEX is just as controllable as an SLR, the way you use it discourages creativity
  
• On the positive side, images are excellent and for video, it's superb
  

I use my NEX5 maybe 5% of the time, but having used it on vacations as my only camera, I wouldn't ever want to be without an SLR.

Ahh the dioptre! How could i forget. I need this as i wear glasses/contact lenses for long distances, my friend also has similar eye-sight (if not worse) than me, so it could come in handy! In regards to compactness i think he wouldn't mind selling the 18-55 and buying a second hand 16mm pancake

If your friend has no desire to learn about photography, will always be shooting in auto mode, and will never be changing lenses, even a mirrorless camera is probably overkill. Why not just buy a good point & shoot camera? It will be smaller and less complicated.

Digital SLR's are not for everyone.

How about a Sony RX100 for your friend, it is a compact size P&S with a large sensor (1" I believe) that has fantastic reviews.

What about the latest G series ( 15 is the latest now I think ) The lens retracts to pack it away and it has a good range when zoomed fully out too.