I just bought a DSLR — the Canon 5DS. Yes, you read that right, and no, this article is not a repost from 2016. DSLRs are a very viable option that you should look into before buying your next camera.
Some claim that now is the mirrorless age. With major companies discontinuing lenses for DSLRs, and many completely shutting off their DSLR range, it is easy to believe that. However, just because a company no longer makes a product doesn’t mean that the product is bad or worse, irrelevant. For me, the DSLR I bought will be relevant right until it is no longer serviceable by the manufacturer.
Why would anyone invest in a dying camera breed? Sounds like a waste of money, right? I asked myself the same questions when I was pondering the idea of buying the Canon 5DS system.
After all, the new cameras are just better. I, and you, know they are. I am not writing this article to say that DSLRs are better, because they’re not. Mirrorless outshine DSLRs when it comes to autofocus, weight and size of the body, alongside many other things. If I was doing video full-time, I would buy the EOS R5 the day it became available. The video specs are incredible, and Canon set a new benchmark for the market. But, I don’t do video full-time. Commercial and editorial fashion photography is my bread and butter. My work is predominantly (95%) stills. Due to the hype created around the new mirrorless breed, many photographers are overspending on the “better” option. Here are a few reasons why the DSLR is still a very viable option and why I bought a DSLR.
What Do I Need?
First off, let me explain what I need from a camera. Bear in mind that what you need is probably different, feel free to comment on your needs below. As a fashion photographer, my work is either on location or in the studio.
- First and foremost, I need good resolution. My work is printed quite often, meaning that there has to be detail, and there has to be that resolution that will allow my images to be blown up to large sizes. When it comes to beauty, I may not have a macro lens with me, meaning I need to crop. Having extra resolution is very helpful.
- Another thing I need from a camera is decent autofocus. By decent, I mean autofocus that hits all the time. Missed images cost a lot in hard drive space, and no one likes a digital tech saying "focus" in front of a client.
- Battery life is important to me too. This comes down to having to bring less to shoots and being less interrupted while creating.
- Size and weight. For a while, I tried to use the tripod more, but I just can’t stand the static nature of it. So, I handhold my gear. Less weight is better, but what is even better is when that weight is evenly distributed. A lens-heavy setup is very uncomfortable.
- Price matters a lot. Everything I buy is an investment. I don’t want to invest loads into a camera that won't make me that money back.
- Lens choice concludes the list. Although that is more applicable to a brand, I would hate to be stuck with a camera system that does not offer a wide selection of lenses readily available at rental houses and for sale on the used market.
So, where does the current Canon DSLR lineup fit in, and why does it make sense to buy a DSLR, the 5DS in particular?
Resolution
The 5DS offers the highest resolution available in the Canon ecosystem. In general, DSLRs offer anything between 20-30 megapixels in resolution, which is plenty for most work, but I need more.
Autofocus
DSLRs have inferior autofocus to mirrorless. But does it suck? No, the DSLR autofocus, especially on the newer models, is really good.
Besides, getting sharp images is not only about autofocus. Having photographed beauty and other macro subjects, autofocus is only a part of a huge game. Other things like plane of focus, depth of field, hyperfocal distance, hyperfocal near limit, and so on are important factors to understand. Crucial to know. Things like focal length, subject size, sensor size, and more affect if you can get sharp images. While there is a genre of portraits at f/1.2 where the only sharp thing in the eye, they don’t have commercial viability on the market. More often than not, I use an f/2.8 lens to shoot at f/8 if not f/22. Understanding how focus works will get you sharp images, having good autofocus won't. Sure, DSLRs miss focus and they don’t have 100% coverage. But how often do you need autofocus points that are outside of the DSLR range? I know I am fine with the 61 that the 5DS has. Are you?
Weight
Let’s talk about one of the biggest arguments for mirrorless: weight. Although they are lighter, the lenses are the same if not heavier. Given that I shoot with a crew and more often than not have an assistant or a tripod to hold the camera, I am not worried about grams and ounces. There is a huge difference between taking a medium format camera and a DSLR. That difference doesn't exist as strongly in the DSLR versus mirrorless game. What I also found with shooting mirrorless is that the lens-heavy setups feel very strange. I much rather prefer for the whole thing to be balanced evenly.
Lens Choice
The Canon ecosystem has a lot of different EF mount lenses I can choose from. I don't see there being a shortage of EF lenses on the used market for the next 30+ years. Canon produced consistently sharp pro lenses that resolve plenty of detail even on the 50-megapixel beast.
Price
I set myself a budget of $950. No more, only less. While it seemed like a challenge, I waited long enough. For a professional camera that has incredible resolution and produces mindblowing detail while being a compact DSLR, there is really nothing else I can ask. The used market is full of 5D-series cameras that are great performers in most situations. If you need something tailored to sports, a 1D series camera is a great choice too. They are cheap cameras with professional quality that were built for pros to use.
Mirrorless is also built for pros to use, but as of now, they have the pro price on them.
Here’s how much you can have for the price of one EOS R5 ($3,900):
- A 5D Mark IV: $1,500
- An EF 70-200 2.8 IS II: $1,500
- $900 to spend on education, organizing shoots, or traveling to places
Closing Thoughts
I’d like to finish off by saying that the choice is yours. Me purchasing a DSLR is just that — a photographer purchasing a DSLR in 2021. My arguments stem from a need for a camera that caters to my specific needs at a very specific price point. Moreover, I don’t always rely on autofocus.
What do you look for in a camera? If you had $4,000 to spend on photography-related stuff, what would you buy and why? Let me know in the comments; I always read them!
Polo Bugnone said,
"Let's be real, the ONLY real good argument for DSLR right now is price, and that's because of the used market. That's it."
For me and what I like in a camera body, there is another argument in favor of DSLRs. That of size and weight. I want a large camera with some decent heft to it. The mirrorless bodies that I have tried out are horrible in this regard. They are puny and don't balance the way I like with my 300-800mm Sigma mounted on a full gimbal head.
I have a Canon 5D4 (small & light) and an old 1D4 (large and heavy), and even thought I like the image quality and resolution of the 5D4 much better, there are plenty of times when I use the 1D4 instead, because I like that the grip is built in and not added on, and I prefer the larger, heavier form factor. It is NOT more comfortable to carry around, but it IS more comfortable to shoot. The bigger and heavier a camera is, the more enjoyable it is to shoot with, but the more of a pain in the ass it is to carry around. I prioritize shooting over carrying around, and I am glad to put up with the carrying around inconveniences because when I am actually shooting with the camera it is so much more comfortable to use because of the larger size and greater weight.
I hope they make much larger, heavier FF mirrorless bodies in the near future. Hopefully, when Canon comes out with a true "pro" mirrorless body, it will have a big built-in vertical grip and approach the size and weight of the 1Dx series of DSLRs.
Paolo, you can't just take what you see as important and apply it to everybody else. If not having to change batteries is important to someone, and not having to ever carry a spare battery is important to someone, then what right do you have to tell them that it shouldn't be important to them? People are allowed to have any order of priorities they want. If battery life is more important to someone than resolution or autofocus abilities, then that is their choice of priorities and you or I would be wrong to criticize it.
To each their own. I agree with Tom Reichner. I wonder if any readers still use 35mm film cameras?
Just because a car has anti-lock brakes, lane keep assist, adaptive cruise control, park assist, night vision and HUD makes is better than the ones that don't have those features? Pointless arguments. It's the end result that matters not the tool, which in itself isn't all that old. If you are a gadget freak, have money to burn or simply want to show off just because your camera is newer than mine, like anyone cares, then go for it.
Is it possible to look at a photographic print and determine whether it was made with a mirrorless vs a DSLR?
Or look at a photo and know that it was shot with a 35mm film camera?
I have a 5D Mkiii and a 7D Mkii and some very expensive glass and after being in the photography game for over 40 years I never fail to get the images I want with the kit I’ve got so Canon won’t be getting me to part with any cash for mirrorless any time soon. I’ve taken over 500 images in two days this week and the results speak for themselves.
500 to me in two days, is a lot of picture taking. But of course, you do it for a living. Getting clients, using the right equipment that you need, and knowing how to use them, plus your skills equals great income.
"Photography is not about cameras, gadgets and gizmos. Photography is about photographers. A camera didn't make a great picture any more than a typewriter wrote a great novel." ~Peter adams
Actually, photography should be about the photographs themselves, far more than it is about the gear or the photographers using the gear.
Is there anything more inane than "What is right for me is right for everyone?"
I agree, David Illig. It is ridiculous to say what is RIGHT for me is RIGHT for everyone. Especially if some of the everyone is LEFT handed, like me.
And around and around we go
And where it stops, nobody knows.
I purchased the 5DSR in 2015 when it was introduced. I bought a 2nd body last year when they reduced the price. After 6 years, I am still in awe of this great instrument. I do landscapes and shoot 90% from my RRS tripod. It works for me and I have no plans to ditch this camera plus all my great “L” glass for new technology.
I bought my 5Dsr used. All my gears are used, except for the Canon 6D, which I gave to my grandnephew. What is an RRS tripod?
“Really Right stuff” manufactures phenomenal tripods.
I would buy Nikon D850 as many times as I need to replace. I hope they keeping making it. I think unless you are into video I see no reason to switch to mirrorless.
This is 120% correct. I bought a Nikon F2 and here's why you should: no need to upgrade megapixel or buy expensive CFexpress Type A. New technology is waste of money. This is how I roll.
My grandfather tought us how to meter by eye. No sunny f17 rule. Stick pinky out and judging from reflectance I can ballpark exposure to 1/10th stop.
my great great great grandfather put paper in a box then made hole. 1000 min later he has photo properly expose. no need for dslr.
Wow, you still use film cameras, eh?
buy whatever floats your boat. you like to do stuff that harder way, go get old gear. you like better autofocus for bird watching, get the new stuff. the camera is so cheap compare to long range lenses.
. if you take just portraits...old stuff will do...the model don't move that much.
everyone's need is different. writer's need might not be your need.
Made a switch from D800E to Nikon Z7.
Pros:
1.Lighter and smaller
2.Able to see in the EVF in very low light
3.Able to replay in the EVF (good for aging eyes)
4.Good for low angle and high angle shots
Cons:
1.Poorly shaped and over-sized sun stars
2.Ugly color blotches appear around sun stars due to reflection from the sensor. (This happens to my Fuji X system too).
I solved the cons by using the Z7 with a FTZ adapter and use F-mount lenses, which people sold in panic.
zeissiez lee said:
"Pros:
1.Lighter and smaller"
I would list that as a con instead of a pro.
I much prefer the heft size of the large pro DSLRs like the Canon 1 series. Smaller bodies are uncomfortable to hold in the hand, and lighter bodies don't balance well with the larger lenses like my 300-800mm Sigma.
Yes, a “pro” for someone could be a “con” for someone else.
"the new cameras are just better. I, and you, know they are. I am not writing this article to say that DSLRs are better, because they’re not. Mirrorless outshine DSLRs when it comes to autofocus, weight and size of the body, alongside many other things."
Don't shoot the messenger!