Polite DSLR vs Mirrorless conversation (2019)

I use mirrorless for video because I like being able to use the viewfinder, providing both better vision and an extra point of stability. Otherwise an entirely accurate breakdown. Thanks gentlemen!

A very respectful and polite conversation in-which some useful points are made.

As a Nikon DSLR user myself, I don't plan change my equipment. I can still get great quality still images and 1080P video from my Nikon D7000 and D750.

But I am interested in the new Nikon Z6 camera. As the price, here in the UK, is £2500 (including 24-70mm F4 lens and adapter for my existing F Mount lenses) this is expensive. 

£2500 Is the price of a reasonable quality used car on -the-road.

So I am going to await for some good quality used Z6s to appear on the market before buying.

At the present time, I would say that Mirrorless is a complement to DSLRs. If I were a professional (with the budget to buy a professional camera and lenses) I would go for something like a Nikon D5 (or maybe the new D6 when it appears).

It's over, DSLR is DEAD.....for vlogging.

Entertaining. Though it mostly seemed like one person (DSLR) refusing to acknowledge the arguments of the counterpart, and the other person (mirrorless) allowed this because he just knows better and feel sorry for the guy stuck in the past :)

That's black coffee?

Maarten is the only i watch from start to finish i don’t know why i enjoy old timers has a good ergonomics i think

Great video. I have recently moved from a D7200 to an X-T3 and I'm very happy with the Fuji's performance. However, I have added the battery grip to add more video time and this has taken away the 'compact' size. This was the main reason for my transition from DSLR to mirrorless!

"Well maybe you should just send the camera out there by itself" I had a good chuckle over that one! Great video Maarten and Paul. A very thoughtful and respectful debate. Something I feel that's rarely seen nowadays in regard to any versus or comparison topic.

Back in 2008, Canon was bringing to market the 5Dmk2.... a body that changed the landscape of what a portable camera could do... I will keep mine for a long time... MILC is good, but it does not truly bring anything to the playing field. Is the mirror a cumbersome method of providing live view? Absolutely! but it is a good way to show what you are seeing? also absolutely! The reason I have not "upgraded" my 5D2 is that the newer models bring more bells and whistles, but no TRUE improvements to the photographic experience. I will continue to enjoy the 850 frames or so per battery charge that I get.. and that is about the same as I still get with my 350D/XT, which is now 14 years old...

Correct you on a couple of points. Firstly no DSLR comes close to the weather sealing on the Olympus E-M1X. So mirrorless wins that one. Secondly framerates. Again E-M1X 18fps with shutter. 60fps raw electronic.

A third thing. I dont recall hearing you mention in-body sensor stabilization?? Maybe the biggest difference or do DSLRs now have that too and I missed the announcement because DSLR is the past for me.

Big respect to these two gentlemen.

Eye opening! Intelligent conversation! 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Hello Maarten I just subscribed. I'm a Nikon owner and have been wanting to upgrade from aps-c to full frame. Don't want to switch brand. I'm not sold on a Z6 (Z7 out of my budget). What is your opinion on going used (e.g. D750)? I shoot mostly wildlife some landscape. I think next gen or 2 mirrorless might solve current Z6 shortcomings (dual cards, vertical grip, focus equivalent to 3D tracking). Thanks in advance.

A used full frame D610 and a 50mm 1.8G combo can be had for$700-$800 these days...the PHOTO QUALITY that you get from that price point 10 years ago was impossible.. imagine that! The mirrorless boom propelled DSLR prices to unimaginable lows in the used market. In a way it was a good thing but I believe it'll take 15 to 20 years further down the road before DSLRs are put into obsolescence

Why keep pushing Nikon and canon?? Are they the best mirrorless cameras??? Have they caught up??

Those long takes are quite impressive.

My friend uses Nikon d850 the images are often mind blowing detailed.

Young snapper ... Priceless

Very good video.
But one advantage of the DSLR that was not mentioned is that the legacy use has led to a proliferation of how to guided and methodology sheets.

i'm a recent subscriber catching up with your videos . Those discussions are gems .
About this one : i would add the dslr used market provides much better values , mostly from the market move toward mirorless . You might not get a D850 but a still impressive D810 at nice price or a D610 at real bargain (like i did a few months ago) with a few 'D' lenses that won't move to adapted AF on a Z6 but are still way better than kit zooms .
The key is to know what you are buying with its current limit and lack of future in the first place. Second, it needs testing and often adjusting . For exemple, i bought a Nikkor 24mm f2.8D that i find surprisingly good at F8 corner to corner, acceptable at F5.6 and F11 but poor at other apertures. Also, not checking for available lenses for our use is a big mistake, new or used. People pay too much attention to bodies and not enough to lenses.
I should mention that i use several system but M43 is my main one .

Which camera is your favourite mirrorless and favourite DSLR?

Nice video explaining the various aspects of the camera systems. People have been hyping up mirrorless systems since Nikon and Cannon's entry.
But i would like to know if the hype is also about rise of computational photography (since mobile phones are basically mirrorless cameras).
I've been wanting to buy a camera and this video has helped me a lot. But i would also like to know if it worth to buy intermediate level camera body or to start with a beginner's body like Nikon 3500D. I will be shooting landscape and street photography and not much video though

Thank YOU, Maarten, for relevant content and civil exchanges. I absolutely enjoyed this over a cup of coffee this morning.

Dslr all day for photographs. I use a D500 for bird photography and there is nothing I want to replace it with at this time.

Great video! I’m a novice. I wanted a starter interchangeable lens camera for wildlife and astral photography and my deciding factor ended up being mirrorless for style. I chose an Olympus which I love for it’s value for money features, smaller easy handling size and cool retro looks. I love it and photographing.

Wonderful review and discussions. I really like to like Z cameras but I’m too much in love with my D750 to replace it. Perhaps when Z8 came out I will be ready to give up my DSLR.

I am gonna buy myself a nice new D850 tommorow! Let me know when a pro Z8 with a 70-200 is ready!

Great discussion!

Nice video. Film went when sensors got better... and I admit I do landscape photography with a hasselblad... from inside the car because it's mounted to a drone! Amazing how things change in a handful of years.

Sorry Maarten, I am more convinced to go with a DSLR. But wait, Mirrorless is the future :)

This video confirmed my approach of not being an early adopter. I am a pro/semi pro shooter shooting 90% studio flash and my current pair of DSLRs work just fine for my needs. The trick is to know when 'VHS' is dead and DVDs are the new standard and not be left behind. But nobody wants to buy the DVD player for $500 and work out all the bugs of the tech for it to be $100 3 years later. I will wait at least another full year before jumping in to (Canon) mirrorless. They really are just tools for me, and like any pro, I don't love my equipment, I just use it and I realize that my skill is more important than the tool.

“There’s still no mirrorless camera with the weather sealing and reliability of a high-end DSLR”

laughs in Olympus

can you come to Britain we need people like you to run our country

A very polite conversation indeed. I found it very interesting. I am an amateur photographer who wants to invest in a digital camera as I am interested in photography. I do not think I will be shooting lot of videos and sports shots. My preferences are landscapes, portrait and wildlife /nature photography. Based on my needs I believe a DSLR will be a good choice. But will it be late investing in a DSLR body if things change in 3-4 years as I will not be able to use lenses and possibly have to switch brands. Since only full frame cameras (and recently released a6600) offer respectable battery life (800 - 1000 shots) in the mirrorless category I am not completely convinced into buying one. My only worry is the future of the technologies.


How realistic is this transition as there were reports that companies like Nikon and Canon will be releasing fewer DSLR going forward?

Just love the great conversation and thanks for sharing!!!

This is a fantastic video!!
At least clears out the fact that the new cameras and advancing technologies are just enablers. Actual secret of making a great photo lies in identifying the right light, decisive moment, and a combination of a decent lens and sensor. Doesn't bother much if it has a mirror or not.
Regards 🙏

Hi Maarten, just discovered your videos, I'm working my way through the list :)
In this video, you both take the point of view of a professional photographer, or at least someone who spends a lot of time with a camera. I don't fall into that category, and that's why I don't see any advantage for a DSLR for me. The occasional photographer that I am mostly wants to take back some high quality pictures from a trip abroad, or from a little shoot outside when the motivation is there. I think the deciding difference is therefore the size and practicality for me.

This was a very enjoyable video. It reminded me of a personal experience that I've had. I use a Sony A9 for professional work. I'm a part timer when I'm not working as an insurance salesman. I have a GFX 50S they I'd like to say I use professionally, but I enjoy using it more for my personal work. Certainly not the ideal camera for certain things like hockey. But I brought it with me on a weekend away with my wife to catch our daughter's hockey game.
Bottom line: I prefer to use the GFX. It's simple, and it's images are spectacular. MUCH more difficult to nail focus in that environment, but good planning pays off.
It reminded me of your friend's DSLR comments. Technically it's a mirrorless versus a mirrorless comparison, but there's a massive gulf between an A9 and a GFX. And I personally prefer to use the latter even if there a limitations in certain uses.
Be well.

...and when you switch a DSLR to liveview, doesn't it also become very similar to a mirrorless? All that remains is for camera manufacturers to put in all the features on a dslr (Switched to liveview) from their mirrorless equivalent. Just as Nikon has done with the D780.

Very Sarcastic yet entertaining.. Enjoyed every second of this video.

I thought I was almost watching a scripted Professional Wrestling match ! 😁
Debate like horse-drawn carriage vs newfangled automobile, VHS tape vs DVD,
but at some point in the future, mirrorless-cameras will also meet their successor.

interesting points discussed & in very easy to understand manner ! your u tube videos are always pleasure to watch!
for this particular topic of dslr vs mirrorless - I would like to add that - the price of mirrorless lenses is quite high compared to dslr cameras & choice is less so makes lot of difference for someone who has just started to learn photography .

This was lovely, gents! Maarten - if you were buying an only camera in 2020 and had to choose between a dated but more affordable D750 and a Z6...? Curious re: any insights you'd care to share!

Such a beautiful and funny conversation on a serious subject , great video and nicely presented. I am still with my Nikon D750 ....I don't have any issues with the results...

Revisiting the same beautiful stuff today (after 3 years) I'd say that if Paul is right, then the next generation of Pro photographers would be using Pentax instead of Nikon or Canon...that's only if Pentax is going to survive in the first place, which I hope so, not because I use Pentax (and I dont') but because of its great legacy...

In 2019 Paul said here "DSLR's are going strong". Do you think the same is true now Maarten?

Obviously most (all?) major manufacturers have moved to mirrorless. However I'm not sure what actual ownership is like. Are pros still relying on old work horse DSLR's? Are amateurs sticking with their DSLR's from the 2010s?

Personally I am still on an old Nikon dslr, it does what I need. I may pick up a mirrorless for video at some point