Speculation surfaced a few months ago that Nikon might be about to announce an APS-C Z-mount mirrorless camera with no EVF. Further details have emerged and it seems that two are in the pipeline, and one of them might be packed with pro features.
Nikon looks to be a step closer to bringing its DX line — its APS-C sensor DSLR cameras — to the world of mirrorless with not one but two different bodies. From what can be seen by the patent diagrams shown over on New Camera, it’s still not entirely clear whether the EVF is completely removed or whether it’s present as some sort of pop-up. Nikon Rumors has a few different diagrams that don’t give any further clues but does suggest that the rear display is fairly huge.
Particularly significant is that there appears to be two different designs in the works with one featuring more dials and buttons, suggesting that it will offer professional-level performance — perhaps an upgraded version of the Nikon D500 that featured 10 frames per second and 4K video. Given Nikon’s progress with video specifications, it will be interesting to find out what Nikon is planning, especially as heat dissipation and stabilization are both easier to achieve in cameras with cropped sensors. We can but hope that two card slots are included, if simply to prevent that debate from resurfacing.
So where does this leave the F-mount, and what does the future hold for Nikon DX DSLR shooters? Leave your thoughts below.
UPDATE: Nikon Rumors is reporting that Nikon is about to announce the launch of the Z50, the first of its APS-C Z-mount cameras. It seems that henceforth, Zx will be used for full-frame mirrorless Z-mount cameras, and Zxx will be used for cropped sensor bodies.
Im thinking the D7500 will be like 400 quid Grey Market soon then ill swoop.
Also the F mount is pretty much dead, i dont think there will be another DX lens created now.
I'm thinking cheaper lenses and bodies for DSLR! Yay!
These are the best times for consumers willing to carry a tad more weight and accept "less" performance - which from the looks of all new ILC sales is more and more of us. Thousands of high quality used ILC camera bodies and lenses will be sold at cut rate prices and brand new equipment will be cleared from inventory with instant rebates during these transition years. For those willing to sit tight and be patient a magnificent feast lies ahead and almost no one looking at their images will be able to tell the difference.
No viewfinder is a non starting point for me when taking photos, video is fine to use the screen, but photos the camera must be going to my eye.
Even Landscape on a tripod? When the back screen tells me exactly the same info as the viewfinder i see no point in crouching down just to say im looking through the viewfinder.
For me, personally, yes. Outdoors is a particular area that I like to isolate my composition, so I'm not dealing with sun/glare/trying to see the screen... Especially if I am going to be taking advantage of the real time exposure preview that mirrorless cameras provide. Aside from the isolation helping me see the image better, it also just helps me mentally focus, but that's a more personal thing. Hm, speaking of focus, manually focusing the image is also something I find to be easier through the viewfinder, come to think of it...
I just use focus peaking tbh so zoom in 100% on the LCD and dial it in. but i rarely have the camera anywhere near eye level so looking through the EVF would be a pain. I normally tilt the screen if its sunny to see but yes its definitely handy having the EVF there if there is glare.
If I have to crouch down to see through my viewfinder, then I'm using the wrong tripod (unless obviously compositionally the view I'm going for is lower than eye level)...but my tripod (3LT Travis) sits with my viewfinder at my eye level when I use a tripod.
I despise using the screen to compose shots, it just doesn't feel right.
Each to their own i suppose, i do fear that your hatred towards the back screen is more a mental than a physical thing though.
I've said this before: mirrorless cameras are no big deal big deals. Get one if you want, just don't overpay for a "gee whiz" factor that's been around for 20 years. And I agree with Barry Wilson; if you already have a mirror Nikon you will soon be seeing all kinds of deals for practically any F bayonet product. It's kind of a shame that the F bayonet is being dropped; it's been around for, literally, a century. However, I have no qualms carrying around a mirror DSLR. . . it's not the mirror that makes a camera heavy, it's the features.
If this is true then I don't understand Nikon's decision. Nikon should be following Canon's approach. They released the Canon Eos R which was their "flagship" mirrorless and then they released the Canon Eos RP which is the more budget orientated full frame mirrorless option. However, Nikon has just done the Z7 which is the high megapixel option and then the Z6 which is the model most people would get. They should release a Full Frame budget option (Z5) that appeals to more people. That should be done before releasing APS-C models. I really want to jump into the Nikon Mirrorless system but not for 3K AUD for the Z6. I just don't think I would jump into their Mirrorless system with a APS-C camera unless it was super competitively priced. That is just my opinion. Guess I will just have to stick with my Nikon DSLR and Sony mirrorless for even longer.