There's no doubt that the future of the photography industry is mirrorless, but that's certainly not going to be an overnight transition, and just when each manufacturer is going to stop manufacturing DSLRs isn't clear. It appears Canon will release at least one more generation of their professional DSLRs.
Canon Rumors is reporting that Canon will likely announce an update to the 1D X Mark II in late 2019 and that the 5D Mark IV will too get another update (though it's not clear when) before that series goes mirrorless. Canon's thinking seems to be that both lines are coming due for an upgrade (both having been released in 2016) and that their current mirrorless technology is not of a level that would warrant it replacing those DSLRs (particularly the 1D line). We were big fans of the 1D X Mark II in our review, and it's still a highly capable and refined camera that any mirrorless camera seeking to replace it would have to live up to and surpass. Seeing as the EOS R has been met with very mixed reviews, it's probably a wise decision to give that line time to mature before they replace their top DSLRs.
Head over to Canon Rumors for the full story.
Mirrorless has been the future it has just taken Canon until now to realize it. They know it and that's why the DLSR is going to have one last generation in their pro line. They will be ramping up their new glass to be able to resolve 60 plus MPs. Lens technology alone dictates a move to something different. Like it or not the DLSR is dead.
DSLR cameras have distinct advantages over MILC based cameras:
1) Battery life. This is huge. Requiring a glowing screen to take a picture gobbles up power. I can shoot *hundreds* of photos on a single charge with my EOS 5D III. The same can not be said of my wife's EOS M6. This can be somewhat mitigated by the use of an EVF which may consume less power vs the LCD screen to light up.
2) Especially for astrophotography or for low-light venue shooting - light pollution - keeping a bright LCD screen on while composing photos is detrimental to the experience (dark adjusted viewing the sky or other people) vs holding the camera to your face to compose.
3) Eye-in-viewfinder ergonomics (particularly among mid to higher end DSLR cameras). The placement of controls and dials to control your camera while looking through the viewfinder is much faster to operate than the controls on a touch LCD screen.
MILC has advantages over DSLRs:
1) Short flange distance - enabling DSLR lenses of other brands to be adapted and used.
2) Size / Weight / Cost - removing the prism / mirror box / AF sensor reduces the size, weight, and potential cost. While one might consider the smaller size to be a disadvantage, you can buy accessory grips to adjust MILCs to your preferences.
Both can compose via LCD. Both are equally functional for video. With the invention of dual-pixel phase detection, the PDAF sensor isn't a significant advantage. Precision focusing screens aren't really a factor vs more intelligent focusing systems.
To me, the battery life and ergonomics keep me from buying another mirrorless for a while. The EOS R is an interesting piece of kit. The RF 28-70mm f/2 lens is somewhat compelling. If they can make a 24mm-135mm f/2.8 with IS for a similar size then I'm interested in giving them more money. My 28-135 f/3.5-5.6 IS is a mainstay after 15 years. The 24-105 f/4L IS II is tempting, but so many of my shots are in the 100-135mm portion of that focal length.
I used to love canon. But I fear they are being too conservative with their product development.
What incentive is there to stay with Canon when Fuji and Sony have better sensors, and there is equal or better glass to be had?
Switching over to Fuji was like getting out of a 90s car and into a 2018 car. Oh wow, no cassette deck! Power windows are standard?
Canon overall has better glass than Fuji. Sony still lacks several specialty lenses.
Well it seems I'm in the minority having shot with mirrorless equipment and then going to a DSLR. Granted my mirrorless was a micro four thirds but it still offered all the advantages of a mirrorless system. I just really enjoy the look and feel of sitting a DSLR rather than looking at a screen. The live exposure view, live histogram, and other features offered on the mirrorless viewfinder LCDs are handy but I don't find that they're really essential when modern full frame DSLRs have the dynamic range that they do. I also find all of those features as detracting from the shooting experience.
The weight savings are over blown, especially now with everyone moving towards even faster glass for these mirrorless system. Generally I'm backpacking with my "heavy" DSLR equipment and I've done the math. A comparable Sony mirrorless lens/body would save about 4 oz. Not significant enough for me to jump to mirrorless.
Mirrorless is exciting because it's new tech, but I'd be really surprised if Canon or Nikon completely stop DSLR development in the next ten years.
I love the hybrid viewfinder of the Fuji X100 series that can switch from EVF to optical (granted not through the lens). I would like to see more development of that type of technology. EVF plus focus-by-wire lenses is too much of a disconnection from the moment.
The inherent problem Canon has now is convincing is all that we should pay premium prices for machines that no longer have the same precision engineering required of snapping shutter and flipping mirrors. As soon as the 5D Mark II came out, someone went ahead and sawed off the front and stuck a Leica lens on it, showing all the stuff in front of the sensor was now cruft. And Canon and Nikon kept their open secret up until Sony came in and started devouring their lunches.
And here we are, 6 years later. Nikon puts out a pro-level mirrorless, Canon our out a prosumer product with terrible ergonomics but at a decent price, and they both have new mounts...
If there is one thing we can count on is that these two companies will keep on doing what made them money until it start making them money again.
But I’ll be darned if that new Canon 1.2 50mm doesn’t look worth every penny. But then again I can always pick up a Speed Boost for my 70-200 and a kick-as Sony for less than either of these *new* cameras.
What’s a boy to do. Ironically the only thing keeping me Canon is Magic Lantern. :-/
I bought a Panny GH2 when they were first released. I love mirrorless and immediately saw the potential to replace DSLRs. However I am not trading in my Nikon D800e yet and will upgrade to a D850 before going mirrorless. Electronic viewfinders have come a long way. They do have advantages. For example zooming in through the eyepiece. Also they can enhance an image in low light and make the viewfinder image brighter and easier to see than in real life. However I like shooting in winter. The liquid crystal displays would slow down in sub zero weather and eventually stop refreshing. Whereas so long as I can keep swapping batteries to keep shooting in cold weather, once the electronic displays slow down it became impossible to frame my compositions or focus. I will eagerly await till EVF are on par with optical viewfinders in all conditions. We aren't there yet.