Can Mirrorless Cameras Be As Good As DSLRs?

Are mirrorless cameras as good or better than DSLR models? That's the question I get most often from many photo enthusiasts when I travel around the globe on wildlife photo shoots. My readers know I am the Wildlife Ho-tographer using Canon equipment for over a quarter century. You can see my equipment bag and works on MichaelDanielHo.com

Sony has enjoyed a very good couple of years with their various mirrorless camera models, culminating with their top-of-the-line a7R II. Last year, Leica joined the competition by introducing the SL model. Even Canon may jump in this race by announcing their own full frame mirrorless camera some time this year.

I have used mirrorless cameras. They just don't feel right in my hands. They are ergonomically challenged and the functions and features are not suitable for my use in wildlife photography. There are many people who love their mirrorless cameras. They are small, light weight and take very good photos in travel, portrait and everyday life but when the shots really matter, I know very few photographers will reach for their mirrorless camera instead of the DSLR. Take a look at the above video. It's a bit light-hearted but you will get the impression why mirrorless cameras are not used by pros in the Olympic Games, World Cup and many other important sporting events. 

Canon EOS-M System and Full Frame Mirrorless Camera

Canon is expected to announce the EOS-M4 mirrorless camera and at least two EF-M prime lens some time in the first half of 2016 to beef up their mirrorless product line. This will not be enough to make them a leading player in this space.

When the EOS-M mirrorless camera was introduced in 2012, it was the 'laughing stock' of the mirrorless world. The AF was slow and the camera, 'rudimentary', because Canon was simply not ready for this new technology and was trying to play catch up, in a hurry.

Although Canon's mirrorless cameras are selling quite well in Asia and Japan, they are mostly lower end models and bring in little profits. They need to go upmarket and take a leaf from Sony and most recently, Leica. Canon is a big conservative conglomerate and operates at a glacial speed. They rarely aim to be first to bring 'revolutionary' technology to market but try to be best in their space, albeit coming from behind.

Canon is also working on a full frame mirrorless camera. Since they are already 'behind' in this segment, their next full frame mirrorless camera needs to be bold and different. I am a wildlife photographer using Canon equipment for over 25 years and have followed the company since my first EOS-1 purchase in 1989. My advice to them is bring out a top-of-the-line, full frame mirrorless camera with the EF mount as soon as possible. The new camera must come with a brand new sensor, advanced AF performance, an electronic viewfinder, best in class video performance with pro build quality and ergonomics. It will be a tall order but something well within Canon's capability and technology to manufacture. I think many serious photographers are willing to pay thousands of dollars to see such a camera built. You can see my equipment bag and works on MichaelDanielHo.com.

The fear that a full frame mirrorless camera may 'cannabilize' on Canon's existing full frame DSLR models is overblown. For example, all major luxury car brands have both expensive gasoline and alternative fuel powered models in their lineup. Many professional photographers, including myself, will buy a high end mirrorless camera in addition to their current DSLR equipment, provided it meets the requirements.

In the next few months, Canon is expected to announce more EF lens, the long awaited EOS-1D X Mark II and EOS-5D Mark IV cameras. Although Canon reported less than stellar third quarter financial results recently, they are hardly unique and the company is still profitable and healthy. Management needs to make bolder decisions faster and lead their competitors for a change.   

Market Share of Interchangeable Lens Camera Manufacturers

Sony has been on a roll lately with their sensor manufacturing business and they have a lead in full frame mirrorless cameras as well. Their Alpha 7 line of cameras received some good reviews. Leica recently announced their full frame SL mirrorless camera to join the competition. I reported in my earlier post Samsung had ceased their camera operations in both Germany and the United Kingdom. They are in the process of exiting other countries as well.

The camera sales chart above was prepared by Nikkei Asian Review. It shows the market share of interchangeable-lens camera sales in 2014. Canon had 43.3%, Nikon had 32.1%, Sony had 13%, and the remaining companies accounted for the rest. Nikon lost 2.5% share to Sony and other smaller companies compared to one year ago but Canon basically held steady.

The article below from Nikkei Asian Review analyzed how Sony changed strategy and managed to get ahead of the competition in the mirrorless space. Nikon is trying to play catch up by perhaps buying Samsung's mirrorless business while Canon is working on its own full frame mirrorless camera and may introduce it some time in 2016..


TOKYO -- The once-mighty Sony is looking for salvation in digital cameras and other imaging products. But with the electronics market maturing and its business model losing effectiveness, the Japanese company faces a tough road to recovery. 

At Foto Meyer, a camera shop in Berlin, customers are often seen carefully examining interchangeable-lens cameras and turning to shop clerks for advice. They are mostly interested in mirrorless cameras, which account for 60% of the shop's sales, according to an employee there.

Mirrorless cameras are small, light and have an interchangeable lens that does not have a mirror reflex optical viewfinder. The first model was developed by Japan's Panasonic in 2008. Sony introduced its own version in 2010. But the cameras did not fare particularly well against single-lens reflex cameras. This was especially the case in the U.S. and Europe.

But that has changed in a big way. According to one industry group estimate, Germany's mirrorless camera market is expected to grow about 150% by volume in 2015 compared with 2012, while the U.S. market is seen expanding 80%. Much of this consumer "awakening" to the allure of mirrorless cameras has been attributed to Sony.

The arrival of a Sony mirrorless model with a full-frame image sensor had a big impact on the market, said Rainer Martin, president of Fotomax, a major German camera distributor.

Existential Crisis

Full-frame cameras use a large image sensor equivalent in size  to that used for conventional 35mm cameras. High-end cameras for serious amateurs and professionals are usually full-frame. Full-frame is synonymous with high-resolution, and consumers are hungry for it, Martin said. In 2013, Sony introduced the full-frame mirrorless Alpha 7 series, completely changing the image of mirrorless cameras, which were generally seen as the lesser cousin of SLRs.

Sony began developing the Alpha 7 series in 2012 out of fear that the company "could be weeded out," Executive Vice President Shigeki Ishizuka said, looking back at that time. Ishizuka oversees Sony's imaging products and solutions business. After the company entered the mirrorless market, there was "a sense of stagnation" because the consumer transition away from traditional camera makers, such as Japan's Canon and Nikon, did not occur as smoothly as Sony had hoped, he said.

Adding to the difficulties was the rapid contraction of the digital camera market due to the growing popularity of smartphones. Sony decided to shift its focus to a different target. "We concluded that a market for professionals definitely exists," said Kimio Maki, senior general manager of the digital imaging business group.

"If we don't conquer the market for sophisticated amateurs and professionals, we will never become professionals ourselves," Ishizuka said. He decided to funnel a large chunk of the company's resources into developing full-frame cameras. "We learned that people won't buy our products unless we improve our brand," Ishizuka said.

In the two years through October, Sony's share of the full-frame camera market is estimated to have surged by about 400% in Germany and about 600% in the U.S.

The success of the Alpha 7 owes much to the shift in Sony's focus. "We had nothing to lose, which allowed us to take risks," Ishizuka said.

As a late entrant, Sony was wise to spot a niche in a market mostly dominated by established players like Canon and Nikon. Their business depended on a solid customer base built up over years, selling as many cameras as possible and making profits on high-margin interchangeable lenses. Sony found that the companies' loyalty-based approach to marketing prevented them from focusing on developing full-frame mirrorless cameras.

In its medium-term strategy for the three years from fiscal 2015, Sony prioritizes the imaging business for generating steady profits and a positive cash flow. It expects sales in the segment to hold steady at around 720 billion yen ($5.82 billion) in the current fiscal year ending in March 2016, and targets an operating profit of 58 billion yen. Though that would represent a 40 billion yen drop in sales from the 2011 level, it would be a threefold jump in operating profit. Crucially, profit margins for Sony's imaging business are higher than for its TV operations, which only recently returned to the black. The imaging business could become one of the company's leading electronics operations.

Still, Sony has a long way to go to match the likes of Canon and Nikon. U.S. market research company IDC estimates that Canon controls 43% of the global market for interchangeable-lens cameras by volume, with Nikon holding 32% and Sony just 13%. Although Sony prioritizes profitability over volume, stable growth requires a certain degree of scale.

While Sony has built up a winner with mirrorless cameras, it has found itself outmaneuvered in video cameras. GoPro of the U.S., for example, invented a wearable camera by drastically shrinking a conventional video camera, ending Sony's dominance in that corner of the market. The rise of smartphones, with their ever-improving cameras, is also a threat.

In the fast-changing market for digital cameras, companies seeking an edge need to find ways to make their products stand out. Sony must keep this in mind if it wants to make the mirrorless segment a cash cow.

Additional Info On Canon EOS-1D X Mark II Camera

Canon EOS-1D X Mark II camera

* * *  I'm on my Polar Bear Photo Tour. Read latest post on location here  * * *

The current EOS-1D X camera has been my pick as the best full frame DSLR camera for sports and wildlife photography three years in a row. According to the latest information I have received, the long awaited EOS-1D X Mark II model will most probably be equipped with 4K video. That indicates to me Canon feels Nikon will definitely include 4K video in their soon to be announced D5 camera. They also want to make sure Sony, Leica and Nikon are not the only companies with a full frame camera capable of 4K video.

In order to support 4K video and other improved features and function, Canon will probably break its usual habit and equip the new camera with their latest processor - DIGIC 7. Up to now, Canon has always introduced their newest processors on the lower end models like the Powershot cameras first. The DIGIC 6 was a case in point. On top of that, the Mark II model will probably come with dual CFast card slots to handle the added processing power and vast amount of data. This means for many owners of the new DSLR, especially those who plan to use the 4K video feature a lot, they will have to buy a whole new supply of more expensive CFast memory cards.

My best estimate is the EOS-1D X Mk II may come with a new sensor in the low 20MP range, powered by new Digic 7 processors and additional processor(s) for metering and other functions. A new AF system with many more than the current 61 points and perhaps all cross-type. Frame rates matching the current model but perhaps without mirror lockup and a state of the art LCD monitor. The list price should be just below $7,000. Announcement may come in early Q1, 2016 with delivery commencing early Q2. I am very anxious to get my hands on the new camera. After almost 4 years, the EOS-1D X is getting a bit 'long in the tooth'. Keep checking back for the latest development and information.

Still here in the Canadian sub Arctic on my Polar Bear Photo Tour. Last night, there was some decent Aurora Borealis activity. Click here to see Polar bear photos from my previous tours. You can follow my travels on Facebook , Twitter and Instagram and see my works on MichaelDanielHo.com. I will be providing updates on the tour as time, condition and WiFi signal permit.

Canon Posts Lower Q3 Profit But Lifts Full Year Forecast

* * *  Read the latest post on Canon's full frame mirrorless camera  * * *

Canon Inc. reported lower 3rd quarter profits for 2015 but raised its full year forecast due to the 'strong' US Dollar and 'weak' Japanese Yen. Going forward, the United States is expected to increase its interest rates in 2016, thereby pushing the Yen even lower and giving Canon's 2016 profit a potential further boost.

The DSLR camera segment is a matured business even though this is where Canon and many other camera makers make most of their profits. There is little Canon can do to stem the gradual loss of market share of the low end cameras to higher end smartphones. They need to concentrate on their strength and make the DSLR camera experience as enjoyable as possible for serious and professional photographers.

To that end, Canon should seriously consider introducing a prosumer to professional mirrorless camera with the same size and shape of their higher end DSLRs. The mirrorless market is here to stay and growing. The current EOS-M line is boring, brings little profit and is highly discounted.

Take a leaf from the Sony a7RII and Leica and introduce much higher end mirrorless cameras but make them look and feel more like DSLRs, like the recently announced Leica SL mirrorless camera. I and many other photographers will be interested in buying one of these cameras if Canon decides to sell one. I am a wildlife photographer and you can see my works on MichaelDanielHo.com


(Corrects dateline to Oct 27)

* Q3 operating profit falls 21 pct to 71.8 bln yen

* Steep fall had been flagged by Nikkei business daily

* Investments in new businesses also weighed on profit

* Full-year earnings forecast lifted on weaker yen

By Sophie Knight

TOKYO, Oct 27 (Reuters) - Japan's Canon Inc said quarterly operating profit fell by a fifth as demand for digital cameras slumped and it spent more on developing new businesses, but it nudged up its full-year earnings estimates on a sharply weaker yen.

The consumer shift to smartphones for casual photo taking has pummelled demand for compact cameras, while the growing popularity of lighter mirrorless cameras has taken away market share from higher margin single-lens reflex cameras.


Operating profit for the July-September quarter came in at 71.8 billion yen ($665 million), not far off figures flagged by the Nikkei business daily earlier this month.

Investments to boost businesses such as video surveillance and semiconductor steppers also helped to outweigh a 11.4 billion yen contribution from a weaker yen, a company spokesman said.

Revenue fell 4.5 percent to 872.2 billion yen.

The export-reliant company lifted its operating profit forecast but it acknowledged that but for the weaker yen, it would have revised down.

It now expects 370 billion yen for the year to end December, up from a prior prediction of 365 billion yen and a 9.7 percent increase on the previous year.

While a softer yen boosts earnings for export-oriented companies, the Japanese currency's rapid descent against the greenback - around 8 percent over the July-September period - has driven up import costs and prompted complaints from Japan Inc that yen weakness has gone far enough.

"It's difficult to give an ideal level but if it stopped at its current level it wouldn't be a bad thing," said Chief Financial Officer Toshizo Tanaka.

Japan's currency is trading at around 108 yen to the dollar after having weakened to as low as 110 yen at the beginning of this month. A Reuters Corporate Survey showed in September that only one quarter of Japanese firms preferred an exchange rate of 105 yen or weaker.

Canon's shares closed up 0.8 percent on Monday ahead of results. (1 US dollar = 107.9600 Japanese yen) (Reporting by Sophie Knight; Editing by Edwina Gibbs)

Canon EOS-5Ds vs Sony a7R II Comparison

Canon EOS-5DsR DSLR and Sony a7R II mirrorless cameras

* * *  Canon EOS-5Ds for $2,799 including shipping  * * *

* * *  Read the other comparison between the two cameras  * * *

* * *  Read the latest post on Canon's full frame mirrorless camera  * * *

My readers know, I have been a Canon user for about 25 years. Through the decades, I have used almost all of Canon's cropped and full frame, film and digital cameras, plus the EF and EF-S lenses. You can see my equipment bag and works on MichaelDanielHo.com

The recently released Canon EOS-5Ds and EOS-5DsR cameras are descendants of the original EOS-5D, released in 2005. It was the first 'affordable' full frame digital camera and the official list price was roughly the same as the current list price of the EOS-5Ds. Considering inflation and the monumental advancement in technology packed into the new camera, I must say it is a very good deal, indeed.

The Sony a7R II camera was released in June 2015. The following comparison covers the two cameras' major features, and assumes the reader is already familiar with the functionality and capabilities of DSLR and mirrorless cameras. It is intended to help those trying to decide whether to upgrade or keep their present Canon or Sony bodies.


EOS-5Ds and EOS-5DsR DSLR cameras :

• 50.6 MP full frame sensor
• Powered by dual DIGIC 6 processors
• Optical low pass filter on EOS-5Ds. Self cancelling on EOS-5DsR
• 1.3x (30.5MP) plus 1.6x (19.6MP) with 1:1 ratio crop mode 
• 3.2 inch, 1040K dot LCD screen.
• Dual card slots, one CF, one SD
• Burst rate 5 fps. Burst depth, up to 510 JPEG and 14 RAW files
• ISO range from 100 - 6400, 50 - 12800 with expansion
• 61-point High Density Reticular AF, 41 cross type points, 5 double cross type 
• 150,000 pixel RGB+IR metering sensor, 252 zone
• Custom Functions - 16, USB 3.0
• Number of cross-points depends on the speed of the lens used.
• 59 ms. shutter lag, 150,000 cycle shutter and .71x viewfinder.
• DxOMark overall sensor score - 87
• Low light ISO - 2381 ISO

Sony a7R II mirrorless camera :

• 42.2MP BSI Full-frame CMOS sensor
• ISO 50-102400 expanded
• 5 axis built in IS
• 399 Phase Detection AF system
• Max 5 fps shooting
• 3.0 inch 1229K dot LCD screen
• Shoots video in 4K
• Shutter rated at 500,000
• Low light ISO - 3434 (no surprise here)
• WiFi / NFC
• 2.36m dot Electronic Viewfinder
• Battery life 340 shots
• SD card slot and Memory Stick
• Mic and Headphone sockets

The first thing that stands out is the Canon EOS-5Ds is a 'bigger and heavier' camera. That in itself means little since both cameras can produce excellent photos that can be printed in very large size. If one needs to print super large sized photos, the EOS-5Ds has a slight edge.

The Sony a7R II does have the advantage over the Canon EOS-5Ds, with an expanded ISO of 102400 vs 6400. Both cameras shoot at a maximum of 5 fps and there are of course, differences with proprietary processors, video speed, AF system, etc. but suffice to say, they are differences without much distinction. The final stand out point is the Canon EOS-5Ds has better battery management capability and claims to shoot 700 vs Sony's 340 shots on a fully charged battery.  

In conclusion, both cameras are great for full frame photography, capable of producing sharp, extremely huge prints. The Canon EOS-5Ds is a full frame DSLR while the Sony a7R II has a full frame mirrorless design. The Sony a7R II is superior to the older a7R in all aspects.

More importantly, to me, the difference between a DSLR and mirrorless camera's design is the real issue. The EOS-5Ds (in particular the EOS-1D X) feels like a real camera with excellent grip and ergonomics. It is designed as a more rugged body and goes with a full complement of EF lens, from 8mm to 1200mm. The Sony is designed as a 'lighter, compact all-in-one package' stuffed with 'fluffy' technology and works with a smaller complement of lens, although one can buy an adapter and use it with some Canon's EF lens.

For the photographer who prefers to travel light and take mostly landscape/nature/portrait photos and videos, the Sony a7II R is a good choice. As a wildlife photographer, neither the Canon EOS-5Ds nor the Sony a7R II camera is a good alternative for wildlife photography, in my opinion. I am waiting for the EOS-1D X Mk II and EOS-5D Mk IV to debut later this year or early next year for my next DSLR purchase.

Whether one wants to upgrade from their present camera depends entirely on whether one needs a camera capable of producing mega prints. For Canon users thinking of upgrading from the EOS-5D Mk III to the EOS-5Ds, read my comparison here. For a comparison between the Nikon D810 and the Canon EOS-5Ds, read this post. 

Canon DSLR Coming With Back-Illuminated Sensor?

Sony announced their new A7R II camera today, with the world's first, back illuminated, 42MP sensor. Canon has been working on this type of sensor as far back as 2012.

The upcoming EOS-1D X Mk II and EOS-5D Mk IV are expected to have unmatched performance in high ISO performance. We will have to wait and see whether Canon chooses to follow Sony and release their version of a back-illuminated sensor.