DSLR discontinued? Been out of the loop.

[Apple fanboy]

Another endorsement here for mirrorless.

I'm a long-time Nikon user (since 1991); last did a major overhaul of my system in 2012-13 with the D800 and some appropriate lenses, and had been waiting for a meaningful upgrade to that. The D850 would have been it but no PDAF on the sensor was a dealbreaker as I'd always maintained that to get me to shift would require a proper hybrid camera. Nikon were reported to be field testing a D850 replacement (D880?) in 2020 which would have been a counterpart to the D780, their 24MP hybrid DSLR with full PDAF on-sensor for video, but then covid hit and then their leading component supplier factory in Japan burned down, and they were left unable to support both DSLR and mirrorless at the same time. When they came out with the Z8, that was effectively in mirrorless what a D880 would have been in DSLR. And I think it's a great camera.

Now even the D6 and D850 are being discontinued.

I'd strongly recommend any of the Expeed 7-based mirrorless cameras in Nikon's lineup; overall their performance is a big improvement over DSLR, video is better in every respect, autofocus improves in many more ways than it regresses (though the problems mirrorless cameras inherently have with level horizontals remain, only the Canon R1 has come close to addressing that one that I know of), and now that the viewfinders on the latest models refresh at 120Hz instead of 60 it feels much more immediate to use them, no longer like you're watching a broadcast rather than the real thing. The Expeed 6-based Nikon mirrorless all only have 60Hz finders and can't always keep up on autofocus with moving subjects, though they're fine for portrait and landscape; Expeed 6 is more than enough for the very best of traditional DSLR autofocusing for photos, but for the video-supporting phase-detect autofocus on the sensor that mirrorless cameras depend on for both stills and video, it's not enough power to do the blend of PDAF and contrast detection that really good mirrorless AF requires. Hence Expeed 7 in Nikon, DIGIC X in Canon and so on.

I still don't think any mirrorless or any other DSLR equals a Nikon D6 for autofocus for sports & action photos (as opposed to video AF where the D6 is poor), but the latest mirrorless bodies are getting close.

A very informative post. Can you explain what you mean by problem with level horizontals? I always have the horizon levelling indicator on and haven’t noticed my Z6iii any better or worse than my D750. Admittedly I don’t shoot a lot of architecture or even landscape these days.

 

[uacd]

While DSLRs are no longer manufactured, their lenses still live!

Plenty of new lenses for old DSLRs.

While many people would endorse mirrorless, if you have old DSLR that is still working or can be revived with battery swap, or if you are tight on budget, the second hand DSLR can be a magical choice, way better than your smartphone can do.

Swapped battery in my D3100 and took it out for a shoot today. I only shoot manual. This camera feels like extension of my hand, I could shoot blindly by just feeling the AF motor vibrations. Btw this was made with f1.8 50mm Nikkor FX lens, so it effectively gave me 75mm distance.

Used old-school one-point AF, my favorite so far.

Thinking about elevating the game by going with AF-S 24-120. It is still sold and manufactured. Even if D3100 stops working one day it won’t be an issue to get another F-mount DSLR on 2nd hand market

 

[jbachandouris]

Well past the return period for my Canon mirrorless. Not a bad camera. Just small. Came with 2 lenses and body for $899.

 

[Apple fanboy]

While DSLRs are no longer manufactured, their lenses still live!

Plenty of new lenses for old DSLRs.

While many people would endorse mirrorless, if you have old DSLR that is still working or can be revived with battery swap, or if you are tight on budget, the second hand DSLR can be a magical choice, way better than your smartphone can do.

View attachment 2541676

Swapped battery in my D3100 and took it out for a shoot today. I only shoot manual. This camera feels like extension of my hand, I could shoot blindly by just feeling the AF motor vibrations. Btw this was made with f1.8 50mm Nikkor FX lens, so it effectively gave me 75mm distance.

Used old-school one-point AF, my favorite so far.

Thinking about elevating the game by going with AF-S 24-120. It is still sold and manufactured. Even if D3100 stops working one day it won’t be an issue to get another F-mount DSLR on 2nd hand market

I had the D3200 back in the day. Absolutely a DSLR will continue to be a great camera (and great value for money on the second hand market).

Depends on what you shoot and what your budget is.

 

[BotchQue]

Saw a ewetube video that claimed photographers were moving back to DSLRs for various reasons, in droves; it was some guy with an iPhone that I never heard of, so I didn't watch it.
But, I know for myself, I have no burning desire to switch over to the Z-mount. I know they're even sharper, focus quicker, and I would like to have that eye-focus feature, but its not worth it to me to change over everything at this point. I'll be sticking to my dF (landscapes, astro, and macro, all in fully Manual) and my D-500 for wildlife, and my 23 F-mount lenses (mostly Nikkors, with one Tokina, one Zeiss, one Vöigtlander, and one Chinese micro lens that let me photograph Lincoln's kneecaps on the US penny!).

 

[edubfromktown]

I am attending the Albuquerque, NM Balloon Fiesta in October and will be bringing my "mirrored" Nikon with a few lenses in addition to S25 Ultra mobile phone (with a tiny tripod and Manfrotto clamp).

I've had the tripod since the 2000's and quite often, TSA pulls me aside thinking it is some sort of weapon (gun) until I extend the tiny legs

When I need flash power (and/or a slave flash) and in certain other situations, a DSLR produces better restults.

 

[Apple fanboy]

Saw a ewetube video that claimed photographers were moving back to DSLRs for various reasons, in droves; it was some guy with an iPhone that I never heard of, so I didn't watch it.
But, I know for myself, I have no burning desire to switch over to the Z-mount. I know they're even sharper, focus quicker, and I would like to have that eye-focus feature, but its not worth it to me to change over everything at this point. I'll be sticking to my dF (landscapes, astro, and macro, all in fully Manual) and my D-500 for wildlife, and my 23 F-mount lenses (mostly Nikkors, with one Tokina, one Zeiss, one Vöigtlander, and one Chinese micro lens that let me photograph Lincoln's kneecaps on the US penny!).

Nothing wrong with the f-mount system. Or sticking f-mount lenses on a Z body with an adapter. You won’t notice any difference.

But whoever the YouTube guy is he is wrong. Nothing to suggest that at all. But of course in this day an age he might be hoping to gain engagement by making crap up.

Wouldn’t be the first person to post factually incorrect videos in the hope his comments section might blow up!

 

[barracuda156]

While DSLRs are no longer manufactured

But this is not the case.

 

[leifp]

Finally pulled the trigger and picked up a D850 for basically the same price as a Zf. I’m very much still in the SLR camp but conflicted on good ergonomic design. That Zf is too classic, the D850 too digital yet both have some top notch features. Hopefully somebody crafts a mILC with moulded grips and human ergonomics but with the button control of the classics of yesteryear…

 

[mollyc]

But this is not the case.

Who besides maybe Pentax is manufacturing new dSLRs en masse?

Finally pulled the trigger and picked up a D850 for basically the same price as a Zf. I’m very much still in the SLR camp but conflicted on good ergonomic design. That Zf is too classic, the D850 too digital yet both have some top notch features. Hopefully somebody crafts a mILC with moulded grips and human ergonomics but with the button control of the classics of yesteryear…

I have a GFX that I find to be the most ergonomic and has the best control placement of any camera I've used. I have small hands, so long term it's slightly oversized for me, but I just wear a strap if I take it out for longer so that I don't have to physically hold it all the time.

 

[barracuda156]

Who besides maybe Pentax is manufacturing new dSLRs en masse?

Well, Pentax does, so the statement above that “DSLRs are no longer manufactured” is factually wrong.
Seems like Leica does, though that won’t be en masse in any case.

Expectedly, DSLR won’t stay in low-end, since that is overtaken by smartphones.

 

[uacd]

Nothing wrong with the f-mount system. Or sticking f-mount lenses on a Z body with an adapter. You won’t notice any difference.

But whoever the YouTube guy is he is wrong. Nothing to suggest that at all. But of course in this day an age he might be hoping to gain engagement by making crap up.

Wouldn’t be the first person to post factually incorrect videos in the hope his comments section might blow up!

On the other hand I can see a resurgence in old digicam usage. Maybe the same people who bought portable old point-and-shoots on flea market decided to up their game and get old DSLR😃

After all this is much less expensive to get into vs buying new mirrorless cam and building a system over it.

Also this is much, much less expensive than shooting film (which was a trend in 2020-2023 I believe), probably same crowd discovered 2005-2012 era Nikons can produce same “analog” noise but with normal clarity and no need for scanning

 

[mollyc]

On the other hand I can see a resurgence in old digicam usage. Maybe the same people who bought portable old point-and-shoots on flea market decided to up their game and get old DSLR😃

After all this is much less expensive to get into vs buying new mirrorless cam and building a system over it.

Also this is much, much less expensive than shooting film (which was a trend in 2020-2023 I believe), probably same crowd discovered 2005-2012 era Nikons can produce same “analog” noise but with normal clarity and no need for scanning

This is already a thing among Gen Z!

 

[uacd]

Hopefully somebody crafts a mILC with moulded grips and human ergonomics but with the button control of the classics of yesteryear…

And OVF! Saves battery life a lot + in my opinion better than EVF. One single plus of EVF is that I can shoot without my glasses, on the other hand small OLED display probably would have added a lot in terms of digital eye strain.

Upd: however I don’t know what magic is required to get OVF back since it is simply a copy from pentaprism (which is technically what differentiates DSLR and mirrorless cams

 

[mollyc]

Well, Pentax does, so the statement above that “DSLRs are no longer manufactured” is factually wrong.
Seems like Leica does, though that won’t be en masse in any case.

Expectedly, DSLR won’t stay in low-end, since that is overtaken by smartphones.

Leica discontinued the S line with no announcement of a new model, so I wouldn't count them among dSLR manufacturers.

Pentax also hasn't announced any new bodies in years and speculation is they are done making cameras also, but nothing confirmed. I'm rooting for Pentax, though, so hope they are in fact still producing, but they are kind of quiet as to what might be coming forward.

 

[Fishrrman]

DSLR's will eventually disappear (perhaps with the exception of a very few "niche" cameras) because mirrorless cameras will eventually become cheaper to build with fewer mechanical moving parts (that break down). Fewer repairs.

The market for DSLR's will become "the used market", and it may become increasingly difficult to keep these old units working as they age out.

Beyond that, there are tricks mirrorless can do (such as in-camera focus stacking) that are probably "beyond the reach" of DSLR units. And focusing has become more precise, image tracking superior, etc.

Just as film gave way to the image sensor, the mirror will give way as well.

The next step will become the elimination of the mechanical shutter assembly.

Eventually, "global shutter" will probably become the norm.

My camera-buying days will be over by then... (sigh)

 

[SalisburySam]

…one Chinese micro lens…

I’m guessing you meant “macro.”

 

[barracuda156]

DSLR's will eventually disappear (perhaps with the exception of a very few "niche" cameras) because mirrorless cameras will eventually become cheaper to build with fewer mechanical moving parts (that break down). Fewer repairs.

Just as film gave way to the image sensor, the mirror will give way as well.

Mirrorless in principle cannot provide the same experience of photography. You never really see what you shoot directly.
Sure enough, I cannot make predictions on people’s preferences over time, but I don’t think the situation is analogous to film vs digital (though film did not die out over 20 years up to date).

 

[mollyc]

I’m guessing you meant “macro.”

surprisingly nikon calls their macro lenses “micro” lenses.

 

[BotchQue]

I’m guessing you meant “macro.”

Nope, micro. That lens magnifies at more than 1:1; on the back of some US pennies you can just make out the statue in the center columns of the Lincoln memorial, and this lens can get a picture of his kneecaps!
The lens is a pain in the butt to use, however; hard to find your subject and find focus.