Maybe now, ironically, is the best time of all to be a DSLR user.
With Nikon preparing to disclose all the details of their mirrorless camera, Canon nearing their own announcement, and all the current options that have already done a number on the DSLR industry, we’re on the verge of a huge shakeup in the photography world. While it’s hard to predict how this whole thing is going to go down in history, one facet to these exciting times is the number of items that could hit secondhand marketplaces.
Two companies that are pillars to the industry are both introducing all new camera systems at just about the same time. These aren’t casual introductions either; Canon and Nikon simply cannot bungle these releases whatsoever for the sake of the their digital imaging divisions' future. The full weight of these two companies are and will be firing on all cylinders in order to give them the best position in what most agree is the future of photography. Whether we want it or not, I think almost everyone reading this is going to get a whiff of G.A.S. with not only Canon and Nikon’s marketing going all out, but don’t forget Sony hasn’t shown signs of slowing down either. If you aren’t questioning your current camera system within the next few months, are you even human?
This leads me to the point of this article. The big winners here are going to be beginner photographers and those who rely on buying used equipment to make their photography hobby a little more affordable. The used market for camera gear is fairly healthy these days, but I’m imagining some considerable price drops and even more particularly sought after lenses to be readily found once the transition to the new generation is underway. For every one “Why I Switched Camera Systems” YouTube video uploaded, ten thousand 50mm lenses will hit eBay at a deep discount.
While certainly not every photographer is going to be selling off their lot of Canon EF and Nikon F-mount lenses at first — they may need to get by on mount converters for a little bit while the native mirrorless lens offerings build up — I still think a big wave of used, low-cost DSLR gear is inevitably coming soon.
A man with some sense.
I'm not so sure about all this. When Nikon and Canon shipped all their pro digital cameras to Salt Lake City for the 2002 Winter Olympics that was a game changer because we changed mediums of capturing images. Kodak bit the dust because they were arrogant and refused to believe that Fuji film would overtake them and they didn't think digital would amount to anything. With mirrorless, we're not changing mediums, it's still a digital chip capturing the image. Granted, Sony and Fuji has come out with some fabulous technology. I would love to see chips with incredible dynamic range and 500,000 noiseless ISO. Maybe Nvidia will make that chip. I would love to have some burn forever led lights to compliment the high ISO chip. Although I don't think wedding receptions would appreciate constant lights. ;)
Neither Sony or Fuji have a full system. They don't have the lens line up of Nikon or Canon, and they certainly don't have the flash system. It's taken 16 years for Canon and Nikon to get where they are now with their digital offerings and full systems.
Some photographers use sand bags to weigh down their tripods with dslr's. I'm not sure, but they may need more sand bags to weigh down a tripod and mirrorless camera. :)
This pretty much
Well... I believe that the advantages of mirrorless at this point are vastly overstated. The best camera in existence is still the D850, although the Sony a7rIII is getting very close. Even if the Nikon mirrorless does improve on the D850, and my bet is that it will, the level of quality/AF we are at with Nikon DSLR today is so high that a better mirrorless will have little practical benefit for a large majority of photographers. Heck... how can you do much better than very sharp images shot with amazing lenses?
Cant wait for the price drops,. As a semi pro , I want a D4s , excellent camera but not available for love nor money in Western Australia used. Hope some come on the market as people upgrade to the mirrorless. Plenty of earlier model D4 as the D4s is a bit superior. Also want some new nikon glass as well. Hopefully a brand new mount will cause people to dump Nikon glass.