Moving to Mirrorless

  • In reply to Mike B:

    The USB connector is a standard USB-C one - not sure there is a Micro-USB-C. Micro-USB normally refers to the previous version (B) that can only be plugged in one way (USB-C is reversible). I can't remember what cable mine came with - I seem to have a drawer full of various USB cables! Both my desktop & laptop both have USB-C ports making connection simple with straight leads so I've never had any concern. The use of USB-C is necessary for the battery charging feature (older versions wouldn't supply sufficient current via the port to charge the camera battery).

    One other thing I meant to comment on - the file sizes are big, so make sure you have plenty of storage, it doesn't take long to fill up hard drives. Pictures are bad enough, but video is humungous. Last summer, doing all the slo-mo insect videos (4k @100fps) filled up 3.5TB (yes, Tera Bytes!) of disk space. Never ending expense this hobby!

    ___

    Find me on Flickr / All about your camera - The Getting off Auto Index

  • I'm slightly wary of joining this debate, it's reading a bit like a Canon owners club at the moment, but there are other very good mirrorless systems out there for much much less money and physically much smaller.
    As some of you may know I use a Lumix G9 Micro 4/3 camera with 100-400 and 12-60 Leica lenses and use the 100-400 for 90% or more of my photography. This gives me very good results with some limitations coming from the smaller sensor size, mainly about low light situations at high ISO (DXO Photolab 5 takes most of the noise out at high ISO) and the focusing being a bit slow in low light with little contrast plus less resolution from the smaller sensor but I've learned to live with this. A very high percentage of my best photo opportunities come in good light.
    However there are some big positives, the crop factor gives me a 200-800 telephoto reach with focusing down to just over 4 feet for macro work. The smaller sensor with 20 MP gives fast burst rates (less data to handle) and the possibility of something that full frame cameras haven't sorted out yet - Pre-Burst (Pro-Capture on OM system cameras) where you can take pictures before fully pressing the shutter button by the camera buffering with shutter held half way and recording once fully pressed and keeping a number of frames from before pressing capturing any earlier action. Great for birds and butterflies taking off with open wings.
    The Lumix G9 and some but not all the OM System cameras have this and possibly some Fuji cameras.
    For anybody not committed to an expensive DSLR system Micro 4/3 could be worth a look.
    Good luck,
    Trevor
  • Sorry, Terry. I should mention that I use Canon because two of the last three cameras I've been given are due to Limpy's no longer using them! I love my 5D II but at the same time I'm well aware there are many other worthwhile manufacturers. You get some beautiful photos with your camera so please carry on as you are.

    Our herring gulls are red listed birds.  Think about that the next time you hear some flaming idiot calling for a cull of them.

  • In reply to Clare:

    Thanks Clare,
    I'm perfectly happy with my G9 and it's portability (2kg body and 100-400 lens together) although if Lumix finally get around to a G10 with better low light focusing I'd be more than tempted.
    Trevor
  • In reply to TJS:

    TJS said:
    I'm slightly wary of joining this debate, it's reading a bit like a Canon owners club at the moment, but there are other very good mirrorless systems out there for much much less money and physically much smaller.


    As some of you may know I use a Lumix G9 Micro 4/3 camera with 100-400 and 12-60 Leica lenses and use the 100-400 for 90% or more of my photography. This gives me very good results with some limitations coming from the smaller sensor size, mainly about low light situations at high ISO (DXO Photolab 5 takes most of the noise out at high ISO) and the focusing being a bit slow in low light with little contrast plus less resolution from the smaller sensor but I've learned to live with this. A very high percentage of my best photo opportunities come in good light.
    However there are some big positives, the crop factor gives me a 200-800 telephoto reach with focusing down to just over 4 feet for macro work. The smaller sensor with 20 MP gives fast burst rates (less data to handle) and the possibility of something that full frame cameras haven't sorted out yet - Pre-Burst (Pro-Capture on OM system cameras) where you can take pictures before fully pressing the shutter button by the camera buffering with shutter held half way and recording once fully pressed and keeping a number of frames from before pressing capturing any earlier action. Great for birds and butterflies taking off with open wings.
    The Lumix G9 and some but not all the OM System cameras have this and possibly some Fuji cameras.
    For anybody not committed to an expensive DSLR system Micro 4/3 could be worth a look.
    Good luck,
    Trevor

    Firstly, Trevor you're always welcome to join in, I and everyone else will know your comments will always be constructive.

    Further, the title is mirrorless, not Canon or Nikon Mirrorless, and while I am Canon along with others, I have had a chance to play with a couple of Nikon's, and fine cameras they are, along with the fact, there will be those out there reading, and may be considering/fearing the change, who don't use Canon or Nikon, but may be your camera or camera manufacturer or another brand.

    So your input will be just as valuable as anyone else, and not forgetting, it's not just about the camera, but also tips and tricks that may be unique to mirrorless.

    So please feel more than free to join in.

    Mike

    Flickr Peak Rambler

  • In reply to Whistling Joe:

    Whistling Joe said:

    The USB connector is a standard USB-C one - not sure there is a Micro-USB-C. Micro-USB normally refers to the previous version (B) that can only be plugged in one way (USB-C is reversible). I can't remember what cable mine came with - I seem to have a drawer full of various USB cables! Both my desktop & laptop both have USB-C ports making connection simple with straight leads so I've never had any concern. The use of USB-C is necessary for the battery charging feature (older versions wouldn't supply sufficient current via the port to charge the camera battery).

    One other thing I meant to comment on - the file sizes are big, so make sure you have plenty of storage, it doesn't take long to fill up hard drives. Pictures are bad enough, but video is humungous. Last summer, doing all the slo-mo insect videos (4k @100fps) filled up 3.5TB (yes, Tera Bytes!) of disk space. Never ending expense this hobby!

    It is a micro-c to micro-c lead!

    Mike

    Flickr Peak Rambler

  • It is interesting to see how different people get on changing to mirrorless,there is a guy on twitter who has gone from Nikon D500 to Nikon Z9 and he's struggling.
    twitter.com/.../1554043789714636800

    My Flickr photos

  • In reply to Mike B:

    The R5 has arrived, unpacked and battery packs on charge. Using the 5D4 battery pack, menus, continue to follow the Canon format, and set up how I want to start off with, though no doubt as I explore more with the menus, things will change as to how they suit me.

    Cards in situ and formatted. The Canon downloader software, which is my preferred option to download photos, had to be updated to accommodate the R5. That came as no surprise, I've had to do the same with each camera upgrade and still is an easy and quick process via the Canon Support webpages, with a plus. This time it retained my preferred settings as to file allocation and file numbering.

    The menus are very much on a par to the Nikon's I played with on Sunday, which is no surprise, but a lot to explore, and play with. Thank goodness for digital, or I'll be needing a mortgage to pay for endless rolls of film and developing.

    I just need to get out and play with the camera properly, and the forecast for the weekend is looking good.

    Mike

    Flickr Peak Rambler

  • In reply to Alan:

    Alan W said:
    It is interesting to see how different people get on changing to mirrorless,there is a guy on twitter who has gone from Nikon D500 to Nikon Z9 and he's struggling.
    twitter.com/.../1554043789714636800

    Good to hear from you Alan.

    Yes it can be interesting how some people manage to make the change, or not. I know there have been a lot of people who struggled to make the change from film to digital, and many of the medium format users stayed with the MF right to the bitter end.

    I've always liked the concept of mirrorless, just no the cost, so when the opportunity came to make the leap, I grabbed it

    I have take your friends side to a large extent, I like being in control, and the facility is certainly available on the 5D4, my previous DSLR's and continues with the R5. Even the two Nikons I played with on Sunday, still allowed full manual control, though it might take a while to get the desired selections set up, as I'm sure the R5 will be.

    I have a similar problem with smartphones. They really do tear my brain cells apart trying to dictate what text I should type etc, and still today, cannot get my head around that feature, even more so because I've the feature deactivated, but it still changes words. But unlike the cameras I have, that doesn't seem to allow me to have control, it still want to dictate irrespective.

    Sadly I didn't take note of the two Nikons I played with Sunday, but the menu format would certainly have me scratching my head. Not because it was complex, it was as straightforward as Canon menus, just a slightly different format and layout. But my observations were, the basics are the same. it's all about familiarity I guess.

    The massively increased number of focus points and options, are going to make the R5 nicely interesting, though it does seem I can simplify it yo what the 5D4 has.

    Compared to what was available on my very first SLR, a Zenit E, and my first TTL SLR a Praktica BC1, which was upgraded to the Minolta 7000i Dynax soon after its launch, there was a big leap in menus and options, and that has progressed over the years with DSLR's generally.

    I'm anticipating a big learning curve, though if I'm honest, I never really got further than the basic settings on my 5D4. Perhaps I should have explored more, and who knows, I may stay with the same formula on the R5.

    Mike

    Flickr Peak Rambler

  • In reply to Mike B:

    Excellent news the camera has arrived - good luck with playing :-)
    In truth, unless you're using all the AF points for tracking, it's pretty similar to the 5D4 so shouldn't be too hard to get the hang of it (ie you still get choices of single spot, small groups, big groups etc you can move around). There's a benefit to keeping it simple of course - less confusion when you're trying to grab a quick shot! One benefit I do like is the extra control wheel - in Manual mode for example, I have control of shutter, aperture AND exposure compensation on different wheels which makes for quick alterations when shooting.
    Oh - and your cable pic - we're talking the same cable type - it's generally just called USB-C :-)

    ___

    Find me on Flickr / All about your camera - The Getting off Auto Index