[JohnR]

As far as I can tell, there are three mirrorless (large-ish sensor, interchangeable lens, no mirror) systems:

1. Micro 4/3 (MFT). Olympus and Panasonic and... ? Crop factor 2.
2. Sony NEX. Crop factor 1.5.
3. Fuji X. Crop factor 1.5.

Are there others?

[low.pfile]

John,
Add the "Nikon 1" system. Proprietary lenses. Crop factor of 2.7x

[SET Man]

Hey!

   I think Samsung have mirrorless system cameras with APS-C sensor. I remembered saw them at the store. And Canon now also have one also.

Take care,
Buddy

[JohnR]

Thanks guys. And it looks like Pentax have one too (or two?)... 

[lowtech]

Yes - The Pentax K-01 is a mirrorless camera that uses the same sensor that's used in their K5.  They recently discontinued it and they can be had for a fraction of their original retail.  It's a fantastic camera and its image quality puts many of the more popular DSLRs to shame (IMO).

Their other mirrorless is the "Q" and it doesn't accept all the standard K-mount lenses that the K-01 accepts.

[SET Man]

Hey!

   Just remembered reading about this not long a go.... here's a doozie for ya....



   http://www.hasselblad-lunar.com/

  Hasselbald teamed up with Sony and this is what you'll get...if you can afford it, a souped up Sony NEX 7.  Well, I think it will still be a lot cheaper than their current digital MF cameras.

   This is like Leica teamed up with Panasonic. But I think the Lunar is going to be very expensive. I'm very surprised by this since Hasselbald are known for their MF camera systems. And using their iconic MF moon camera to promote a APS-C sized sensor cameras system is a bit odd for me. I'm sure a die hard Hassy fans will call this a lunacy.

  Oh! Well, I'll wish them luck. And of all the Lunar cams I think I like the one above with brown leather best. Or maybe I can save a few grands and just get the Sony NEX 7. 

Take care,
Buddy

[Wind Chaser]

Their other mirrorless is the "Q" and it doesn't accept all the standard K-mount lenses that the K-01 accepts.

That's incorrect, there are numerous adapters that allow you to mount more lenses on a Q than a K-01.




Here's my Q with an M50/1.7 (which has a FOV of 275mm lens on a FF)

[low.pfile]

So, what are thinking about John? I've had a m4/3 since my Italy trip. picked up a Nikon 1 V1 afterwards. having a few digis, I see the pros and cons. While I am not at the cutting edge, I could elaborate. as well as others who have embraced the various formats.

Oh I just bought a used D3S.

[JohnR]

So, what are thinking about John?

Hi Ed - well, in short, thinking about ditching the DSLR for a mirrorless system. I was about to buy a compact just for wide angle... looked at the Panasonic LX7, then the Sony RX100 and Fuji X10... then arrived at the X-mount cameras and in particular the X-E1... and found that Fuji have a wide-angle solution that Nikon just doesn't have (at any reasonable price) - the 14mm, which by all accounts is a steller performer.

I just sold my little Bessa L w/ 25mm lens, I'd like to do what I could do with that. But without developing and scanning film



I just don't see a solution from Nikon. The 24/1.4 is too expensive and I'd have to buy an FX body as well.

Then I find that the Fuji 60mm macro also is reported to be excellent, and I'm wondering if I should just switch. Fuji make an adapter for M-mount lenses, of which I don't have any, but there are third-party ones for F-mount. So I could sell the shorter lenses (which will just about pay for the body and two lenses) and keep the longer lenses... maybe. I don't use AF much so losing that is not a concern to me. And I don't shoot "action" so some slowness in the camera doesn't bother me either. My current S5Pro is not exactly a speed demon

Anyway, so I'm just trying to get perspective on the whole thing before jumping. I think we're up to seven different systems now! What lenses do you have for your m4/3 camera?

[low.pfile]

Hi Ed - What lenses do you have for your m4/3 camera?

With my GF2 I started with the 20mm, f1.7(40mm view) and the 45mm 2.8(90mm view), the 14-45 zoom--all panasonics. the 20mm is my favorite, i like primes. the other two are nice but never seem to need them. it's a travel camera for me. I wanted to use it for street but the shutter lag is a bit too much and it has a loud shutter.



^14-45mm @f/4.0 ISO 100



^20mm @f/1.7 ISO 100



^20mm @f/2.5 ISO 160



^20mm @f/1.8 ISO 1600 Ambient light only

[charmerci]

Hi Ed - well, in short, thinking about ditching the DSLR for a mirrorless system. I was about to buy a compact just for wide angle... looked at the Panasonic LX7, then the Sony RX100 and Fuji X10... then arrived at the X-mount cameras and in particular the X-E1... and found that Fuji have a wide-angle solution that Nikon just doesn't have (at any reasonable price) - the 14mm, which by all accounts is a steller performer.

Anyway, so I'm just trying to get perspective on the whole thing before jumping. I think we're up to seven different systems now! What lenses do you have for your m4/3 camera?

As one who is perpetually on a budget, I wonder if the x-e1 is a good idea. That's a lot of money for a digital camera since the technology improves year after year.

I have the Olympus EP-L1 with their standard 14-42mm lens. The quality is very good and it shoots RAW files. I'm not that crazy about the software that comes with it though. The photos downloaded tend to be a bit hyper-saturated - sky blues tend to be a bit unnatural. (Though there's always manipulating the saturation via software plus there are also other software options.)

I really wonder if - using the same lens - if the $1K Fuji is really that much better than the under $200 Olympus.

[JohnR]

I really wonder if - using the same lens - if the $1K Fuji is really that much better than the under $200 Olympus.

That's a good point, and I guess this is really about the system. Lenses will last longer than bodies. The nice thing about the mirrorless cams is that you can get adapters for other lens systems so I can keep the longer Nikon (in my case) lenses.

Now that I think about it, I suppose you could look at it the other way around and say hey, with a set of SLR lenses you can use any mirrorless camera that takes your fancy now or in future, with the right adapter.  You do lose some features though.

Pricing and purchasing is quite different here. Deep discounts generally only come with grey market imports, and in some cases, Panasonic for example, can only be sensibly bought grey market at all as RRPs are silly. Olympus and Nikon are more on a par with your prices and Fuji actually looks better priced here than there. Occasionally a superseded model will get sold cheaply but you have to be lucky to find it. That's how I got my LX2 years ago.

Anyway, I'm starting to find my way around the m4/3 offerings...
 

[JohnR]

This is interesting (hope this works....):

http://j.mp/1aVz475

[lowtech]

More interesting now.  http://tinyurl.com/llaq6dv

[low.pfile]

that's a cool tool. I'll be sending friends to there when they are in need of that sort of comparison.

[Crimson]

There's also the Samsung NX series. I have the entry level NX1000 which I'm quite happy with, although it lacks a VF and flash (although both can be purchased separately and are shoe-mounted).

[Wind Chaser]

I went from having two DSLRs (and many lenses) to the NEX-5, the NEX-5N, the Nikon V1, the Pentax Q and the Oly XZ-1. The DSLRs (with most of their lenses) are gone, but I've kept everything else.

I reach for the Q most often, because it is the smallest, lightest and most fun camera to use of the lot. However I do love Oly colors and the macro results from the XZ-1.  I love the speed, the instant AF, tracking, fps, deep buffer, the video and slow motion capabilities of the V1.  I love the IQ, flip out screen and articulating EVF of the NEX. I couldn't make do with just any one camera; they are all too different. If I know in advance what I will be shooting, I will choose accordingly.  If I don't know what I will be shooting, I will grab the Q.

[JohnR]

I went from having two DSLRs (and many lenses) to the NEX-5, the NEX-5N, the Nikon V1, the Pentax Q and the Oly XZ-1.

That's quite a collection! 

I reach for the Q most often, because it is the smallest, lightest and most fun camera to use of the lot.

Gosh it is small... it must be in Pentax DNA. Remember the Auto 110? I still have a couple of rolls of developed 110 film somewhere that I never figured out how to scan.

[SET Man]

I went from having two DSLRs (and many lenses) to the NEX-5, the NEX-5N, the Nikon V1, the Pentax Q and the Oly XZ-1. The DSLRs (with most of their lenses) are gone, but I've kept everything else.

I reach for the Q most often, because it is the smallest, lightest and most fun camera to use of the lot. However I do love Oly colors and the macro results from the XZ-1.  I love the speed, the instant AF, tracking, fps, deep buffer, the video and slow motion capabilities of the V1.  I love the IQ, flip out screen and articulating EVF of the NEX. I couldn't make do with just any one camera; they are all too different. If I know in advance what I will be shooting, I will choose accordingly.  If I don't know what I will be shooting, I will grab the Q.

Hey!

    I like your solution... can't decide what's best for you? Just buy them all! 

   Actually I've never noticed the Pentax Q before. Look like they are based on smaller P&S size sensor. The camera is so small. You can get adapter for your SLR lenses for the Q? I can imagine what it will look like with bigger SLR on the front of it, like 50mm f1.4.

Take care,
Buddy

[lowtech]

http://translate.google.com/translate?sl=auto&tl=en&js=n&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&u=http%3A%2F%2Fbcnranking.jp%2Fnews%2F1212%2F121228_24511.html&act=url