I feel like the basic form factor of the camera is now more or less solved and is tied to the size of the sensor. Have we seen any real developments now that the gripped body with a viewfinder and a monitor on the back is out? Aside from that there are the narrow bodies for size purposes but those are also less comfortable to hold for a long time unless they have very light lenses.
I'm not so sure of that - there may be future technological innovation that changes everything. For example, how about drones (maybe with interchangable lenses) completely replacing the current MILCs? Permanently hovering around us, controlled with a chip implanted in our brains?
Or a bit more futuristic, how about lenses with "flexible" glass, that can change focal length and apperture as needed? That would completely eliminate the need to change lenses. Probably not very realistic, but we simply don't know what technologies might come in the future and how they impact photography/cameras.
However, one thing I am pretty sure of - mirrorles is forever. No matter what imaging devices we will see in the future, I highly doubt that any of them will reintroduce a mirror. ;)
I'm restricting things to hand-held cameras for now. If drones or goggles or something else entirely (dreams from AI created by prompt?) relegate the hand-held-camera to the dustbin of history then I'll consider myself told.
We'll see, of course. :)
Flexible lenses don't change the form factor excessively. At the end of the day if it's hand held it must be within some bounds of size. It can't be too big or too small or you can't hold it. I would *love* for a 600mm f/4 lens to be no larger than 70-200mm for example, but it's awful hard to beat physics.
I think it's fair to say mirrorless camera's are where the industry are going. In my work I started using a Z6 over my D850 in January 2019 and despite the D850 have the higher res sensor and other advatages, the Z6 has been more efficient and easier to use. An added bonus is that the focus accuracy on mirroless cameras is better, plus the handheld success rate is higher with in camera stabilisation. Of course as you know, you can use an adapter and use a non AF/non stabilised lens and achieve great results in lower light than previously imagined.
Where DSLR still seem to have an advantage is switch on and be ready to shoot, plus battery life.
With adapters, you do not need to rush into changing your entire lens collection, you can select and plan your upgrade path without worry because the adapter (on Nikon anyway) works very well. I'm a working photographer and have only bought 4 new Z lenses in the past 4 years, that will change a bit this year as I plan to add four new ones during the course of this year. I will keep my F 70-200mm f/2.8 for the forseable future as it's not a lens I use everyday. It works very well with the FTZ so it is not an issue.
The early mirrorless cameras, while producing great images had a pretty average user experience with the view finder - they were laggy and of poor quality - that issue seems to mostly have been solved, espeacially with the more recent cameras.
I would not hesistate in recommending someone to choose a mirroless camera if they thinking of getting a new body.
I know the basic pros and cons for both ...
I bought the D850 after I already had the Z7II.
Simple reason: Red Dot Flare / Sensor Flare is much more pronounced with the Z7II.
You live and learn.
That is a new one for me. What is red dot flare? I believe those cameras share the same sensor, so I'm guessing it is not sensor related.
It's a new one on me too, but it looks like our very own PhotographyLife covered it:
https://photographylife.com/red-dot-flare-issue
The reason why the effect is amplified on small mirrorless cameras has to do with the shorter flange distance. All of that back and forth reflection madness is happening because the intensity of reflections is higher at such short distances. If the flange distance is doubled like on DSLRs, those pixel reflections get too big to cause much trouble. This does not, however, mean that DSLRs are immune to this particular issue. If the lens is stopped down enough, DSLRs can produce different patterns too.
It's a new one on me too, but it looks like our very own PhotographyLife covered it:
https://photographylife.com/red-dot-flare-issue
The reason why the effect is amplified on small mirrorless cameras has to do with the shorter flange distance. All of that back and forth reflection madness is happening because the intensity of reflections is higher at such short distances. If the flange distance is doubled like on DSLRs, those pixel reflections get too big to cause much trouble. This does not, however, mean that DSLRs are immune to this particular issue. If the lens is stopped down enough, DSLRs can produce different patterns too.
That is interesting. Not something I've noticed but will have to look out for it.
Same. But I'm also not usually shooting into the sun at f/16 (because I use zooms and my sunstars are pretty mediocre)
Still using 1926 and 1849 Mirrorless cameras. Deardorffs.
Hoping the batteries don't die because I can't figure out where they would be...
- For next year mirrorless will be a "new love". For Nikon , Z8 II will be the new star.But,there îs a but :what will be the opinion of AI. I am nearly sure that instead of shoots of the real world taken by real people like us , shall be the images of an imaginary word believable for robots which shall rule .
- Thank You.
I hope OnlyNorth's vision is not too close. I'll expect to be dead before it comes. But it seems like a pretty good subject for some kind of science fiction now, though. A society steeped in ruthless perfection by AI, sinking into a godlike entropy, reality forbidden porn, surreptitiously created and circulated by brave underground artists. Blank verse, live piano performances clinkers and all, focus errors, blown highlights and unretouched scars raising a little transgressive thrill as the secret samizdat of human imperfection nibbles away at the brutalist foundation.
AI will destroy stock photography probably. Lots of corporate use cases will go away. Some concept artists are likely going to lose jobs, as well as the folks banging out art for clients.
AI can't replace photography as a hobby, nor can it replace photography of events that happen in the real world. That's your sports, your real estate, your head shots, etc. It may work out to replace some uses of film and photography for glamour, commercials etc.
That's my best guess anyway.
But AI art won't replace people's compose a picture taken of the real world any more than the advent of photography removed people's desire to paint on a canvas.
The market is going to see changes of course.
Mirrorless cameras are unlikely to fade like Laserdisc or Betamax, as they’re widely adopted and backed by major brands like Sony, Canon, and Nikon. Their compact size, advanced features, and growing lens ecosystems make them a strong choice for modern photography. While DSLRs still have niche uses, the industry’s shift toward mirrorless suggests they’re future-proof and here to stay.
Mirrorless cameras are unlikely to fade like Laserdisc or Betamax, as they’re widely adopted and backed by major brands like Sony, Canon, and Nikon. Their compact size, advanced features, and growing lens ecosystems make them a strong choice for modern photography. While DSLRs still have niche uses, the industry’s shift toward mirrorless suggests they’re future-proof and here to stay.
I agree with this – mirrorless cameras are here to stay. There's not much improvement to be had now beyond the basic design!
Coming from the repair/service side of photography, I can tell you repairing a mirrorless camera is far easier than DSLRs. No more adjusting miror and sub-mirror angles, the position of the autofocus sensor, cleaning dust from between focus screens and prisms, having to de-solder and solder back on PCBs and wires, and a plethora of mechanical components that are simply non-existant on mirrolress. I miss the battery endurance of DSLRs, but they've had several decades to mature - mirroless is still evolving. Nothing lasts forever, live for the present, keep an eye on the future, and cherish your memories of the past.