Imagine you’re somewhere deep in the Pacific Rain Forest to take pictures of the elusive spirit bear. It’s wet, and it’s cold. On top of that, the light is patchy, the shadows are dark. There’s a bit of movement down river. You lift your camera to your eye to capture the moment. In your imagination, what were you holding? A DSLR and a long lens? In actual fact, for some photographers, more and more often, it’s a mirrorless kit.
Michelle Valberg was a recent guest speaker at Vistek’s ProFusion Expo in Toronto. At ProFusion, Valberg spoke about why she is increasingly leaving her DSLR behind these days in favor of her mirrorless kit. Valberg has the credentials: she is a renowned wildlife photographer, Nikon Ambassador, and photographer in residence for CanGeo. Canada Post also recently used her bear images for our stamps.
Michelle Valberg's Spirit Bear
I'd be remiss if I didn't suggest you also check out her not-for-profit of choice, Project North, an organization dedicated to improving the lives of children in Canada’s north through sport and education. Inspiring stuff!
So, why does Valberg now favor mirrorless?
An Electronic Viewfinder is Key
Valberg is emphatic that an electronic viewfinder (EVF) is the best thing to happen to photography since the advent of digital. She explained to me that she would put the EVF first on any list of mirrorless advantages because of live exposure and focus peaking.
Live Exposure
First, let’s agree that using the LCD to review your images is a fantastic advantage over older film cameras. Instantaneous feedback offers you the chance to make corrections that would have taken hours or weeks with film. These days, it can be the difference between getting that fleeting moment nailed or letting it slip by. For any photographer who shoots in a situation where the subject is out of their control, it’s an advantage you’d be foolish to pass on.
Moving back and forward between your viewfinder and the LCD is a recipe for missing out. Wildlife can move so quickly that if you move away from your viewfinder for a moment, you may miss your shot.
Most wildlife photography takes place during the transition hours: from darkness through blue hour and golden hour and back. Light can change quickly. Valberg stressed that being able to see the light change and see how your adjustments are compensating for the changes without lifting your eye from the viewfinder puts you seconds ahead of those taking an eye off their viewfinder to check out their LCD.
Michelle Valberg's Spirit Bear Water Halo
Similarly, if you’re interested in getting a shot of something moving through shadows or just about to burst from the shadows, think a leopard stalking its prey, the EVF will let you see what your exposure will look like before the big cat takes those final steps.
Michelle Valberg's Misty Bear
When some moments come and go in less than a second, this could clearly come in handy.
On a related note, an EVF can help out when you quite simply can’t take your eye from the viewfinder. Imagine you’re set up and waiting for a bear, and then, the light changes just as the bear ambles out of the treeline 50 feet away you. There is no way you can move your camera from your eye to check out your LCD. As Valberg explained it, at this point, you’re committed to your camera or you’re not. If you have your camera up, shoot away; if not, don’t even think about moving. Doing so is either going to provoke one of the largest apex predators on earth or scare it away. Sure, you can make an educated case with an optical viewfinder and adjust using your experience, or with an EVF, you can guarantee you’re getting the exposure you want.
Michelle Valberg's Bear Feeding
Valberg is also a proponent of the creative uses of an EVF. Shooting in black and white is a difficult art to learn. Seeing your images as black and white right in front of your eye as you adjust your exposure is very helpful in achieving the look you want. Using the EVF this way can really help fast-track the learning process for beginners and help experienced pros really dial in their vision.
Focus Peaking
For those of you who have shot wildlife, you’ll know that a really long lens will mean that even shooting at f/5.6 will mean that the animal may move in and out of focus just by breathing. Autofocus is great. But, sometimes it doesn’t pick out the eye, instead maybe focusing on a whisker or horn. Valberg shoots using autofocus and then manually adjusting, relying on focus peaking to make sure she’s focused where she wants to be. As she explained, she is able to use much wider apertures than typical in wildlife photography, even creating amazing portraits at f/2.8 and f/4.
Light Weight
It can often take very serious physical efforts to get to the places where the wildlife is still wild. Valberg is an avid kayaker and often shoots from her kayak. Taking away the mirror box and the related bulk from a camera gives mirrorless cameras the opportunity to be smaller and lighter.
I’ll tell you, when we hiked the volcanoes in Rwanda to visit the mountain gorillas, we really wished we had had lighter gear. You only get to visit the gorillas for an hour so that they don’t get too stressed. We must have spent the first 10 minutes just catching our breath.
True Silent Mode
Anything with a mirror is going to make noise when you press the shutter. Modern DSLRs can be quite quiet, but they still make noise. Sure, you could put your camera in a blimp if you’re sitting in a hide, but there’s no way you’re hiking around a rainforest with one.
If you’re trying to be still enough to capture wildlife, the silence of mirrorless is going to provide a bit of an edge over its mirrored counterparts. Most of us grew up with the sound of mirror slap, so it somehow feels comforting. There are even apps to add those sounds to alerts on your phone. But, as Valberg also pointed out, even if you’re just looking to be quiet by yourself in the environment, the snap of a mirror can take you out of that peace.
I loved the sound [of Nikon's mirror slap]. Now, I love the silence, especially with wildlife.
Michelle Valberg's Mute Swans
Still to Video
Finally, Valberg mentioned mirrorless’ ability to switch between still and video without having to move more than a finger, never getting a blacked-out viewfinder as you would with DSLRs. By keeping the camera to your face, you can shoot away and switch between mediums as the subject requires.
Missing Your DSLR?
I asked Valberg what she missed most about her DSLRs. She said that she flat out doesn’t. Valberg explained that if she picks one up now, it feels far too heavy, like a tank when she wants a nimble kayak.
In the end, Valberg explained that she doesn’t pack her DSLRs anymore.
If I missed it, I would still have one in my camera bag. Sadly, I sold my D5, and I leave my D850 at home.
Your Thoughts
There is a lot of money invested in DSLRs and their lenses. If they are to go the way of the dodo, will you use this as a chance to stock up, or will you hop on the mirrorless train? What do you think will push you into converting? What do you think you’ll miss most about your DSLR?
All images provide courtesy of Michelle Valberg.
Got it. Sony a6100/6400 + Sony E 70-350mm is within your budget.
Yes, it is. But, the question is, will that work better for fast-action birds in flight than the DSLR gear that I can get for the same amount of money?
I mean, the point is not to try to go mirrorless, and the point is not to stay with DSLR.
The point is to get to 400mm with the very highest frame rate and autofocus performance I can for $2300.
If mirrorless cannot compete with DLSR on a low-dollar budget basis, for this type of photography, then it wouldn't make any sense to go mirrorless at this time if one is primarily interested in shooting fast-paced action with rapidly moving subjects.
The problem I have with many proponents of mirrorless cameras is that they seem to think that mirrorless would be best for everybody. Why can't these people see that DSLRs are still the best thing for certain photographers, given specific subject matter and set budgets?
DSLRs are clearly better for certain types of photography, while mirrorless cameras are clearly better for other types of photography. Why can't some people see that?
The last sentence doesn't make sense. Name one type of photography DSLR's are better. Budget photography? That might have been the case a while back since DSLR's have been on the market for a long time but mirrorless have been on the market long enough to be in affordable price bracket.
You said you would gladly switch if there was an option that would best your 10 year old DSLR for the price. I gave you an example for low budget setup suitable for wildlife and BIF, below the budget limit you set. Give it a shot. Renting doesn't cost much or alternatively buy from a place that lets you return it if you find it does not suit your needs.
I wish a mirrorless could do this.
45 secs sequence captured as single shots (630 shots @14 fps) and joined up in a video editing program. Shots are "as-is" jpgs without any processing. 20 or 30 fps would obviously lessen the jitter
View on Youtube for more details.
https://youtu.be/Bi3TLK823EA
Great moment. Which is your favourite frame?
Thanks.
From the sequence probably this first one. Overall for the day I like the 2nd one a bit more. #1 is not really ideal, would have preferred a tiny bit of more separation between the beak and the right wing and the fish showing both eyes.
Fisherman at the location estimate the fish at around 15lbs.
Nice work!
Sony a9 at 20fps will get you 346 JPEG shots. Doesn't have to option to slow down to 14fps but if you went down to 10fps you could shoot quite a long time before any buffering would slow you down.
I shot close to 200 RAW files in this sequence but made the GIF just for the fun part.
https://www.facebook.com/sami.m.kallio/videos/10156524084336968/
Great article! I'd like to suggest an article on using mirrorless cameras with strobe in studio. Has anyone written about it? I'd love to see it here!
I wonder how different the pros / cons would be. Thoughts?
I'm curious, what would that article be about? From my experience you just use the camera as usual. The only possible gotcha is to disable exposure preview but that's about it. And if using a Fuji XPro, not even that is necessary :-)
Pulling out strobes would certainly change / negate the EVF advantage. I don't see why the difference in weight would make a switch necessary. Maybe the focus peaking?
In my experience not that simple if you have strobes that cycle the modeling lamp. The cycling "blinds" the EVF and it gets a little mixed up. By the way my camera is a Z6. Any help will be welcome!
I like
Does it really matter, what brand you shoot? At the end it is the result and persistancy that counts. Every make has it's advantages and disadvantages. Just my opinion though...
I don't disagree at all. I thought that the article was much more about the format than the maker.
Yes you didn't. But if you bring mirrorless, in comparison to DSLR, into play, it also include brands automatically. You can replace brand by format. My opinion is the same on that. At the end the result counts. ;) It wasn't any offence to you or the article at all, just my opinion.
No offence taken at all! I've developed a thicker skin writing here ;) I do appreciate the clarification though.
I don't think brand matters, if it works for you. But, I do think that format works. I think it'd be wrong to maintain that large format view cameras are capable of the same type of exactness as DSLRs in wildlife. Of course, you could tell a different kind of artistic story, but, it wouldn't be more fine art instead of sharp moments of life and death like BBC.
No, it doesn't mater what brand. But honestly, I have not seen anyone say that the brand matters. Just pointing this out because it seems like the way you said it, that you think there are others who are focusing too much on what brand to use, but I have not seen this. Almost everybody everywhere - all photographers worldwide - all say that brand doesn't matter. And I think they're all correct.
In my experience not that simple if you have strobes that cycle the modeling lamp. The cycling "blinds" the EVF and it gets a little mixed up. By the way my camera is a Z6. Any help will be welcome!
It's focus peaking, not focus peeking. It's not a typo, it's used multiple times in the article.
I am glad you made this clarification. It's extremely annoying when people misspell focus peaking. The term "focus peeking" doesn't make any sense. It is ridiculous that some people actually think that is the correct term.
You guys are correct. I stand corrected. Thank you.
I would point out that almost all focus peaking does zoom in to provide a peek at the areas of peak focus.
😜
No problem, Mark.
I just re-read the comment I left yesterday, and am embarrassed over how harshly critical I was. I apologize for that. I do tend to be very sensitive concerning spelling and grammar.
Just over a year ago I picked up a new Lumix G9 with a Leica 100-400 lens (less than a kilo). I also had a canon 7DII and a sigma 150-600S lens (so heavy I could not hand hold at all). After picking up and using the Lumix G9 I have NEVER touched the canon again. I sold all my canon gear within months of purchasing the G9. I shoot birds and nature and absolutely LOVE the freedom the lighter camera gives me, the absolute silent shutter when I need it and the speed in which I can focus and adjust focus to capture the birds exactly how I want them. Mirrorless is definitely the way going forward and the micro four thirds is perfect for me as a nature photographer. This article is spot on!
My G9 is my fav camera for street photography now - I too sold all my Canon gear. Usually I'll have a Sony A7RIII in my hands, instead of the Panny though.
Let me tell you... Sony offers no weight saving once you add a lens to the mix, but it does add (for me) so much more enjoyment that I don't care.
I think enjoyment is critical. Something we often forget as we chase down gear!
I would love to make the switch, but current AF on the Z7 is still not fast enough for BIF.
There are positives vs negatives for any credible current FX or APC camera for Wildlife Photography, which is not one pure genre. It's a consortium of genres, with a diversity mirroring biodiversity itself. Compare microscopy of the infinitesimal vastness to macro closeups of invertebrates through to large mammals and birds in flight..... A spectrum of Very Different skills and gear needs.
Bottom line with Nikon MILC for charismatic wildlife... The consensus is the AFC of the Z system needs improving - for more erratic moving subjects especially. The closest-focus priority does seem better since first FW but then again Nikon does not spell out such fixes ?!? The photos above are all excellent,examples but none could qualify as too challenging to be in the category of "Erratic/Fleeting target" - point being existing Z AFC (such as it si AFC) does fine with no clutter and on imposing subjects. Many animals and birds are not so obliging.
I disagree strongly with the notion that focus-peaking often clinches the shot. Nonsense in too many situations, because it risks losing the shot with blurred eye. Thom Hogan tried a similar spin on his recent essay experiences in Botswana with the Z system. It is too unreliable, even if one started of with MF systems back in the 1980s (so your MF skills are well muscle-trained). Too often the subject shifts its stance, even it's standing still. An elementary rule of wildlife (as with much of portrait photography) is to clinch a sharp eye. For most wildlife subjects, if the eye(s) ain't sharp the image better give an incredible excuse to the contrary...
The choice of a finer single-point Mode in AFC will also help greatly to focus on the subject's eye. Ideally, a 1/4 the area of the current Z7 Single-Point. Better still, give the photographer the Custom option to select between at least 3 different sizes of the cursor.
AFS+Pinpoint is too often unusable - too ****g slow!. Too often, subjects don't wait for twiddling MF for focus-peaking. There are similar showstoppers because of missing Z Menu Options, which are standard on DSLRs (see Photography Life's Firmware list submitted to Nikon last year but still ignored).. A gamechanger will be to re-implement the D850 type option to set Fn to AF-On+Focus-mode (ie. Single Point). This allows instant toggling from Wide-S mode etc (pointless to try and argue you can use a dial + Fn button - far too sluggish). Nikon has the terrible habit of discarding features that work so well (?)
Moreover, why have all of Nikon's FW updates failed again and again to update its firmware to register a positive AF in AFC mode? Inexcusable, all these gaps - and especially at the price of these cameras! They are dead enders for wildlife UNTIL we see these standard features fixed for Custom menus and core AFC features. Free advice - Stick with a D850 until then, unless you really rely on Silent-Shutter. Inexplicable Nikon is ignoring the message, as it's the Ambassadors who should be shouting out about these glaring gaps - most of them can solved with FW.
OTH the lighter weight of the Z7 is marginal with heavier telephotos, and too often unbalances a rig. In any case, compare a 675g Z7 to the 840g D750. A 400 f2.8 + TC2 sure needs a gripped D850 packed with its ENEL18 battery! Perhaps it's different with a Z50 but this is a DX plus its other differences.
The positives of MILC that matter for wildlife should ideally be ranked up topmost in such an article, The combination of silent shutter plus EVF are so often game changers... The other welcome new arena is the eclipse of AFFT :-) The other myths to expunge from the real world of photography is all the youtuber drivel citing fast Z battery drain and single XQD slots. This is just so much wasted bandwidth. The XQD format is one of Nikon's best ideas in the past decade!
My experience with MILC is solely the Z7 and using the best telephotos thanks to the FTZ (70-200 f2.8E FL, 300 PF, 500 PF, 400 f2.8E FL - also with all 3 current TCs). This is since early October 2018 - almost daily shooting. I've also updated Firmware as soon as it's been released (hoping for the real fixes). And this shooting is in comparison with D850 which still sees side by side use. I have no experience with other MILC systems, however.
Great input! Well thought out and explained.
I'd imagine that this is still a technology in its infancy. Perhaps we'll get there eventually? In the meantime, the EVF, as we both pointed out, really is a game changer in so many difficult / fleeting wildlife conditions.
Personally, I've never depended on manual focus when shooting wildlife. And, since moving on from my split screen AE-1, rarely depend on manual focus at all.
And, couldn't agree more . . . . "A spectrum of Very Different skills and gear needs."
Thanks and Seasons Greetings to You :-)
Hopefuly, the AF will advance by software that makes more efficient (ie much faster usage) of the on-sensor PDAF pixels in Contrast-Detect (currently one reads this is ~60 refreshes/second. And even better, if engineers tumble to cunning plans that exploit cross-linking pattern-recognition from multiple AF sensors. So not only horizontally as is the current constraint
I must share Two intriguing snippets on configuring the Z system AF that have been picked up on Nikon forums: namely FredMiranda. One is from a pro wedding youtube channel. This stands apart from the hoi polloi of snakeoil peddlers, because this guy clearly knows his subjects (no surprise considering he and his partner have 1+ year intensive shooting with their four Z cameras). Checkout Monochrome Memoirs 'The BEST Way To Set Up AUTO FOCUS On the NIKON Z6' It may sound like sorcery but it's argued that speeding up Video AF locking settings [g3 and g4] also improves AFC for Stills (?!?). The skeptical scientist in me advances the hypothesis that this could the be corollary of low=level coding of response-rates in the PDAF sensors (?) Whatever is going on with the electrons and electronics thunking code, it's no less weird if the Firmware controls in AFC and video-AF do indeed overlap in their influence.... Some might consider this a primitive implementation!
2nd is a comment in NikonRumors - to quote : “Here is a way to make your Z6/7 focus faster and more reliable. Increase contrast and sharpness on picture profile. And make sure you shoot RAW so you can dial it back down.
Don't trust this? Test it yourself.
Flat profile with contrast and sharpness all the way down VS standard with increased sharpness and contrast. You will be surprised”.
Initial impressions on FW 2.20 is there is indeed an improvement, but the impacts of these arcane tweaks needs more testing.
My biggest complaint with the Z6/Z7 after testing them was the AF-C performance with the FTZ adapter in place. It was pretty good with the 24-70 f4 S lens that shipped with my test copies, but even with my 400mm f2.8 VR FL lens the FTZ adapter and AF tracking was not good enough. From what I've gathered through talking with other Z users is that it's the FTZ adapter that is causing the AF problems. I mean I agree with them to a degree, but it's also partly that the Z camera's are just not that great for AF tracking of fast moving subjects. My second complaint was that the FPS advertised is sort of a lie as they depend on the settings and it's give or take. I preferred the Z6 over the Z7 as I'm a photojournalist and need excellent low light performance and high FPS. However after testing the Z6 for two weeks I was not sold and sent the camera back, the Z7 I sent back within a week as well. Hopefully Nikon's next mirrorless will be better or they will be in serious trouble lol. For me personally I will be sticking with my D4s/D5 and D500 for now and I'm honestly thrilled with all three of those DSLR's. In fact the D4s which is from 2014 is my favorite of the three, because it's just amazing in every way. The sensor performance, dynamic range, High ISO abilities, AF performance, battery performance and build quality is second to none. The D4s has all of the modern functions like Group AF and my favorite Custom Setting, which allows you to assign AF modes to the lens function buttons. I have all three of my bodies setup to change from Group AF to Single point AF with the press of one of the lens function buttons on both my 400mm f2.8 VR and 70-200mm f2.8 VR lenses, which are my two main lenses. Being able to go from Group AF to single point so quickly has really changed the game for me and I cannot think about how I survived without that lol. A colleague and friend of mine is and has been testing the D6 and I think people who do what I do and still shoot Nikon will be super pleased with the D6. I don't know 100% of the details, but from the specs and abilities I do know about, it will be a game changer for Nikon and the DSLR. Canon will also probably have very similar specs in their new 1Dx Mark III, but I still think the D6 will be beat it for stills at least. I've heard great feedback from a friend who is a Canon Explorer about the 1Dx Mark III, but he's paid to say it's great haha and I bet it is, but the D6 sounds better so far. The biggest thing I loved about the Z6 was the IBIS/VR and the D6 having that is really the best of both worlds in my world. I don't use VR a lot as I shoot mostly fast action sports and breaking news, but when I do, VR is very important. Lens based VR is still the best in my opinion and both of my tele options mentioned above have the newest 4.5 stop system and it rocks, but having both IBIS and lens based VR is going to be nice. Don't expect much of an AF performance improvement in the D6 over the D5/D500, but expect big things for LiveView, silent shooting, video and image quality. The sample files I saw had incredible dynamic range and High ISO performance. The new sensor and SNR firmware/AD converters and processor in the D6 contribute to amazing DR and High ISO performance, all while having more megapixels over the D5! The D5 is known for poor dynamic range at low ISO's and amazing dynamic range at High ISO's, but the D6 has both amazing High and Low ISO dynamic range. Also be aware that only the newer E-type lenses will benefit from the increased FPS in the D6 and G or D type lensers will top out at 10-10.5 FPS!
Mark, as you suggested and I would agree whole heartedly that given Michelle’s well earned reputation as a wildlife photographer her opinion should seriously be considered. She is unquestionably one of the best wildlife photographers in Canada. I too have seen her talk at Vistek’s shows over the last few years and she is terrific.
However, did Michelle just inadvertently kill Nikon’s DSLR flagship line ? It was only just 2 years ago, that both the D5 and D850 were being described by Michele and other Canadian Nikon ambassadors at these talks as nothing short of “ game changing “ for wildlife photographers.
However given in her own words she has sadly sold her D5, now leaves her D850 at home, and does not miss dslrs at all, how does that leave Nikon’s loyal consumer base feeling that Nikon’s top wildlife influencer now sees their $7,000 D5’s and $4,000 D850’s as nothing more than heavy, clunky paperweights?
I was literally going to pick up a brand new D850 over the Christmas holidays to back up another Nikon body for an upcoming wildlife safari but now probably not. Maybe I will rent it instead, or just stick with what I have. If they are that redundant why would I go down to Vistek here in Toronto and drop $3,650 now ? How many other Nikon people will now second guess a new DSLR purchase which Nikon’s best retailers are literally featuring today all over their Websites ? Was this then Nikon’s marketing strategy, to kill DSLR sales, by communicating how inferior they are to Z line, which if so is a bit odd given new “ game changing “ d780 and D6 DSLRS that will be launched next month?
I will only offer one thought on all of the hyperbole expressed about all of the new features and especially the love of a live histogram in the EVF, in how with a D7 as a wild life photographer you won’t be missing any more shots because you had to look away to check your exposure. Does anyone, anywhere really think that iconic and Global Nikon Wildlife Ambassador, David Yarrow was missing shots in the Masai Mara with his D850 due to a chimping issue ?
I am not anti mirrorless at all, it is the future but I am anti “ first generation “ build for any tech products, as we have all learned that being the “ early adopter “ is not a smart investment. The D7 is a good camera just not a great wildlife one yet.
They will only improve over time so while Michelle is happily shooting with her new D7 I think I will just sit on the sidelines and wait for another year or so and see how it all plays out.
You mean Z7 not D7? Correct?
Thank you, yes meant Z7.
If it were me going on a wildlife safari, considering the cost of the adventure, I wouldn't take either of the Nikon mirrorless bodies for one reason; a single memory card. Michelle uses the Z7 because she's an ambassador and Nikon wants her to be shooting with the latest, as it should be.
But, neither of us are ambassadors, so choosing a camera for a very expensive trip, at least for me, dual card slots become mandatory. If I'm a Nikon shooter, the D850 with grip would be my choice. 9fps and that terrific sensor and focusing ability, it's tough build, it makes total sense for a trip of a lifetime.
When Nikon announces their 'flagship' mirrorless, no doubt that it will have dual memory cards. But, when will that be? With the D6 coming out and the latest blurb about the 750 replacement, I don't see a high end mirrorless on the horizon for Nikon. Pricing the Z7 where they did and it not having dual slots was a mistake in my estimation, at least in a pro setting.
David hello,
I totally agree with you. In regards to wildlife photography let’s assume that this is not just any day trip where you return back home at night but but one where you spent considerable money and effort to travel to. Most blogs/experts/guides suggest bringing two portable hard drives, back up camera body ,back up batteries, and if you wear eyeglasses even having an old back up pair as well, etc. etc.
Then why would anyone want to put all of your image eggs in a one card basket? While I have never had any of these things mentioned above ever fail on me, I have due to ‘ user error ‘ inadvertently dropped an SD card in a hotel parking lot where it sat in the rain, driven over by cars for 24 hours where it died. I never thanked engineers for putting two cards in my DSLR body more than in that moment when I realized I only had one card. I guess ‘ peace of mind ‘ is a subjective thing and mine is definitely more is better than less.