After 18 years of using DSLR’s for my photography with my Nikon’s D80, D7200 and D500 crop sensors, I decided that it was time to move to the mirrorless format 2 years ago with my full-frame Z6II. As a double-challenge, this also involved transitioning from a crop to a full frame sensor format as well as a new lens mount system introduced by Nikon for the Z series, called the Z mount. Although I have no regrets in making the move as it is mostly positive, it did involve some challenges. This article is solely based on my experience with Nikon equipment, but I believe that it would apply if you are using other brands. I hope sharing this experience with you will help if you are also contemplating this move.
First thing I noticed was how small and lighter the mirrorless camera is due to the absence of the mirror mechanism. The fact that I was moving from my D500 (crop) to the Z6II (Full-frame) and that the camera was lighter and smaller was a bonus, especially as I spend hours and day’s hiking looking for subjects. This may change as the new trend seems to be going back to the larger and heavier bodies as more functions are added.
The major advantage for me, was that without the mirror, all of the focusing functions are now handled directly by the sensor. This means that what you see in the viewfinder (or back LCD screen) is an actual rendering (live-view) of what the camera sees with the settings you are using. You get immediate feedback on how your settings are impacting the exposure for the photograph you are taking. In addition, you can also see additional information in the viewfinder such as your histogram, horizon guide, etc. This allows you to make adjustments as you go to resolve issues without having to stop and review photos that have been taken. Its a big time saver when shooting wildlife or for any high action photography.
What drew me to the Nikon Z system is that it allowed me to continue using all of the F Mount lenses that I had invested in for my DSLR’s as they are all compatible with the new Z system through an FTZ adapter. Any further lenses I will purchase will be for the Z mount, but in the meantime I can continue to use my old glass. I did just add the Nikkor Z 180-600 to my toolkit and the quality of this lens and the images it renders is better as it is designed for the larger Z mount. It also fully utilizes the improved vibration reduction capabilities of the Z6II. This just confirms that moving to the new system was a good decision.
The biggest challenge, and its a big one, was to adjust to the upgraded focusing system in the mirrorless camera. The focusing system is so different that I had to retrain myself with the new system and forget how the DSLR system worked. Even after two years of use, I sometimes have to remind myself as I can slip back to the old ways. The basics are still the same, but with the mirrorless, I now have access to more focus points and tracking options that did not exist on my DSLR’s. You have to be able to remember them all and then continually evaluate which one is best for the situation you are in. Once you master it, it starts to show in the results with less missed shots and sharper images. I kept one of my DSLR bodies as a backup until I can invest in other mirrorless bodies. When I use it, I now miss all of the new functions available in the mirrorless cameras.
There are few other things worth mentioning that you must be aware of when switching to mirrorless.
Your battery life is going to suffer due to the use of the electronic viewfinder or if you use the back LCD screen a lot. Using the WIFI functions will also have a major impact. To minimize this, I always place the camera in airplane mode and set the timer for the LCD screen to the shortest time that I can. I also set the camera’s sleep timer to the shortest I can. Adding a battery grip did double my available battery time. With it, I can go all day and sometimes two day’s without having to recharge batteries. I can now also recharge the batteries in-camera from multiple sources as opposed to a dedicated charger.
By design, the sensors in the mirrorless cameras are now closer to the front edge of the lens mount and extra care is required to ensure you do not damage it or introduce dust when changing lenses. However, these sensors are easier to clean as they are more accessible. High end cameras are now coming out with a protective curtain (looks like a shutter curtain) that closes when the camera is turned off to protect the sensor.
Sensors are also being released with larger resolution which has its pro’s and con’s. It makes for more available pixels and more details being captured by the camera at a higher speed, but it also generates larger files. I have to manage this, especially in wildlife photography, where I am always shooting in bursts of 14fps and can generate over 500 to 600 images when spending time with an interesting or active subject. This causes me to have to be ruthless when culling images as it impacts my storage requirements. You will need larger capacity and faster CF Express or/and SD cards for the camera as well as a robust and large storage system for your computer. At this time I am running a 2TB Hard Drive. You also need to ensure proper and redundant backup of your larger and more numerous files. All of this involves costs that you may not think about when purchasing the new camera.
I do not shoot videos, so I cannot speak about that part other than mentioning that most mirrorless cameras are now called hybrids meaning that they can equally produce high end results for photography or videography. Having the ability to change at the touch of a button from photo to video mode is a great feature.
So it is without reservation I would encourage you to take a look at mirrorless camera systems (cameras and lenses). This is where we will see the greatest improvement in features and image quality as manufacturers continue to invest. New features such as shutter-less captures, image pre-capture, faster frame rates and pixel-shift are now being introduced. Firmware updates are continually released to further enhance the capabilities of cameras. Mirrorless cameras are now a priority for manufacturers as they will eventually stop producing DSLR’s.
Note: Although I mainly use and mention Nikon equipment in this article, I am not sponsored by Nikon and have purchased and paid for all my equipment.
