I’ve started rediscovering photography again after a multi year break, and I’ve currently got a decision to make. I’ve started doing some more macro photography recently, and I’m to the point I would like to purchase a macro lens. However, I now realize that new DSLR cameras seem to be on their way out and mirrorless is what the major manufacturers are moving to. My current gear is a budget Canon DSLR with a kit lens, and a basic 75-300mm.
My question is this. Should I switch to a mirrorless camera before I spend more money on lenses? I don’t have a huge amount of money invested so far, and whatever lens type I buy is most likely what I’m going to have to stay with for many years to come. My hard limit would be $1000 for the body, but preferably $700 or less. Since I would like to stay with Canon, that leaves me with the R100, R50, and RP at the very top end. I am open to other options however, especially if there are good aftermarket lenses and accessories.
Although I know there will still be new and used EF lenses available, I do worry a bit about future camera body upgrade options. I know I’m overthinking this a bit too much, but I’m just curious what other people think.
Mirrorless, no contest.
- Small form factor
- Can use virtually any DSLR / SLR lens, and many rangefinder lenses
- EVF that lets you zoom, Zebra, preview, show focus areas, etc.
As a current Canon photographer (700D owner) going mirrorless is definitely the future. Canon and Nikon have basically given up on DSLRs. (https://www.engadget.com/why-nikon-and-canon-have-given-up-on-dsl-rs-133042286.html).
However, I want to highly stress out to avoid Canon for mirrorless. The reason behind it is that Canon has been “defending” their mirrorless mount relentlessly. Meaning, that no other 3rd parties without Canon’s blessing can make lenses for the RF mount. (Source: https://petapixel.com/2022/09/06/canon-confirms-its-going-after-lens-makers-for-patent-infringement/)
So unless you wanna spend big bucks on Canon approved lenses, I’d go with either Nikon, Sony or one of the other mirrorless brands.
Fun fact, Sony is actually quite permissive in the licensing of their E mount. So they will basically let everyone make lenses for the E-mount.
Just use the converter and you can mount all the EF lenses on the new bodies
That will work as long as EF lenses are still available… But Canon already took some lenses out of production.
So basically, that’s gonna be a dead end path.
I went mirrorless and got an adapter for my existing EF lenses
Edit - If you have a look through my post history (not my comment history) you’ll see lots of bird photos. Anything with a 2023 or 2024 date on it was generally taken with my old EF 70-300mm lens using an adapter ring to mount it to a Canon r50.
Have you run into any caveats while using the adapter? I’ve heard comments about adapters sometimes causing issues with EXIF data, but I could easily see that being caused by cheaper adapters.
I haven’t experienced anything like that. The only real issue is that the autofocus isn’t quite as fast.
You can buy cheap dumb adapters that are just metal rings and transmit no data or more expensive adapters which transmit data and allow autofocus. Buy cheap adapters for any old lenses you want to use and expensive ones when you value the lense tech.
I’ve got a D750 and an XT100. Given the smaller size and the cheaper old lenses I can run the XT has gotten more use in the past few years.
Since you mentioned the XT100, what do you think about the lack of the large right hand grip versus your D750? I like the retro aesthetic, but I’ve got larger hands and I’m unsure of how comfortable it would be long term.
My hands are average so I haven’t had an issue. I bought used and it came with a thumb grip. Also I keep a leather shell case on it, feeds into the retro look and adds some bulk. At no point have I found it uncomfortable and no one else who has picked it up has complained given what I’ve added to it.
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That was my viewpoint on it as well. I don’t want to invest too far only to switch accessories a few years down the road.
Yes, get a mirrorless. I went from a Canon 7D to an R7 and I don’t regret it.
I have an a7r that I use with Minolta lenses from the 70s and 80s. With such a short distance to the sensor you can get adapters for everything, old lenses, telescopes, microscopes, etc.
I’m Canon as well and am going mirrorless. My current lenses should adapt quite well according to my research. EDIT: Planning to go from my 70D to an R6 mark 2.
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You can use Nikon F lenses (and most other SLR mounts) on mirrorless cameras with a cheap adapter, so if we’re counting old lenses any mirrorless has significantly more options.
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Mirrorless with adaptors are the way to go!
I literally just faced this same dilemma! I went online looking to upgrade the kit lens I’ve had on my Canon EOS 70D for nine years and got sucked into the mirrorless hype.
In the end I sortof ended up upgrading both… I got a great deal on a second hand Canon mirrorless body, and because it has in-body image stabilisation I could then spend a lot less money to get a 25 year old ‘L’ series EF lens rather than a newer one with IS in the lens.
I’m extremely pleased with this set-up so far, and even more pleased that I can add to my lens collection in future for much less money than if I needed IS hardware in every lens.
Just to add in case you’re not aware, the EF-RF adapters are literally just spacers that shift the lens mount to where it would have been if there was a mirror in there - optically it’s just 24mm of air, so no quality impact at all.
The only thing to keep in mind is that there is a slight autofocus slow-down with the much older lenses, but not enough to bother me.
