Nikon D800
Samsung DV300F
Olympus OM-D E-M5
Fujifilm FinePix F770EXR
Nikon D4
Nikon Coolpix P510
Canon PowerShot SX260 HS
Nikon Coolpix S9300
Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ30
Is this the End of the SLR Camera?
Our third Christmas guest writer, photography website editor Ian Burley from DPNow, considers if the days of the SLR camera are numbered.
SLR cameras are special, aren’t they? The first time you pick up an SLR, peer through the viewfinder and release the shutter, if was the same for you as it was for me (all those years ago!) , it was a watershed experience; rather like driving a car for the first time. The viewfinder, the mechanical whirr, clunk and click of the mirror and shutter operating in tandem, and the reassuring interchangeability of the lens, they all add up to a feeling that never goes away. An SLR has purpose, a mechanical assuredness, almost infinite potential. It’s exhilarating and satisfying in use and makes one look down upon compact cameras with a sense of diluted respect.
But is the SLR camera era under threat? Will many of us never fulfil long-cherished ambitions to own an SLR? Might existing SLR users abandon their old reflex passion… for something new?
I’m referring to the new generation of camera that people are still trying to classify, an interchangeable lens system camera that is not an SLR, nor a rangefinder camera. Panasonic Lumix has produced the first of its kind, the Lumix DMC-G1. Actually an evolution of the Olympus-inspired Four Thirds DSLR platform that Panasonic Lumix is a member of, the new camera is another Panasonic/Olympus joint venture, called Micro Four Thirds. It’s called ‘Micro’ because the new cameras and lenses are smaller and lighter than DSLRs, but have the same size sensor.
The G1 actually looks like a DSLR, but inside its diminutive body there is no mirror, no pentaprism, and so no through the lens (TTL) optical viewfinder. That acronym, ‘EVF’ , dreaded by many who have experienced the noisy and flicker electronic viewfinders of so-called bridge cameras, lies at the heart of the G1. The good new is that Panasonic has managed to raise the bar on Electronic ViewFinder technology to a point that many are saying this technology could at last spell the end for SLRs, digital or otherwise. Or will it?
Make up your mind, I hear you say! But I’m only reflecting the confused debates that have already addressed the arrival of the non-reflex interchangeable lens system camera. Some are convinced that the SLR concept, which actually dates back in part to the 1880s, is well past its sell-by date and digital electronics must inevitably make the modern DSLR’s electro-mechanical mirror and prism obsolete. Others dismiss the notion that an electronic viewfinder will ever be a satisfactory alternative to an optical reflex viewfinder.
I actually think that much of the debate has completely missed the point, certainly for this stage of the evolution of cameras like the Panasonic Lumix G1. Around 130 million digital cameras, excluding camera phones and pocket computers with built in cameras, were sold globally during 2007. But only 7% of this figure represents SLRs. Panasonic believes that there is a huge untapped market for cameras like the G1, outside of the SLR market. Market research suggests that many people baulk at the opportunity to upgrade to a DSLR, largely because they are seen as too large, heavy and bulky. There is even research that suggests many people don’t like SLR viewfinders. The electronic viewfinder experience is closer to that of users of compacts, so familiarity is maintained.
So why is the G1 smaller than a DSLR? For technical reasons surrounding the space that is taken up by the mirror box in SLRs, lenses for SLRs tend to be physically large. Without the need for a mirror box, new-generation cameras like the G1 can not only be smaller for a start, but their lenses can be significantly smaller and lighter as well.
Panasonic hopes that the market for G1-style cameras will, ultimately, be larger than that for SLRs. And there are already widespread rumours that Panasonic’s competitors have seen the light and are now developing their own ultra compact non-reflex system cameras.
It’s likely that some DSLR owners will supplement their existing camera with something like a G1 for convenience and practicality. So there is an overlap with the DSLR market, but will it actually replace it? I have to say that, given time, the answer is yes. But how long it will take is another matter.
Biography
Ian Burley has been taking pictures since his parents gave him a plastic roll film camera 40 years ago. Skiving off sports at school in favour of long afternoons in a stuffy photographic dark room was the norm. Ian studied computer science at university but his schoolboy summer job in a camera shop later turned into his first full time job. The call of the digital revolution eventually lured Ian in to a career as an IT journalist, but photography was never far away and in the late 90s Ian was able to return to his photographic roots by specialising in articles on digital imaging. He now runs three photography websites, DPNow.com, FourThirds-User.com, The Olympus UK E-System User Group, and is a regular contributor to What Digital Camera magazine.
If you have wondered how lenses can be shrunk simply by removing an SLR’s mirror box, Ian explains all.
All images in this article © Ian Burley
Nikon D800 Review
Samsung DV300F Review
Olympus OM-D E-M5 Review
Fujifilm FinePix F770EXR Review
Nikon D4 Review
Nikon Coolpix P510
Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ30
Fujifilm X-Pro1
Canon PowerShot SX260 HS
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX200V
#1 Gustav Jensen
It is not a DSLR nor a rangefinder.
It is EVIL (Electronic Viewfinder with Interchangeable Lenses)
I beleive EVILs is the future or maybe in a distant future it will be video cameras, where each image is several megapixels
12:13 pm - Tuesday, December 23, 2008
#2 James
I think this is a convenient opinion piece for someone with a vested interested in this technology already to be pushing this agenda. dSLRs have had increased home market attention in recent times but they havent had an effect on the core of the dSLR market, pros and enthusiasts who wont necessarily be willing to throw away all their gear for something which only offers a smaller body than what they have now, infact people in this market often buy larger/heavier cameras in part due to these aspects rather than the lightweight compact-like E-3/4/5xx, D40(x/60 type models. So only entry level dSLRs may see any real threat from this!
1:47 pm - Tuesday, December 23, 2008
#3 J. L. Smith
Not EVIL, LIVE!
(Lens Interchangeability with Electronic Viewfinder).
1:50 pm - Tuesday, December 23, 2008
#4 Antony Shepherd
While I think that at the pro end of the market the full-frame DSLR will reign supreme, it's going to be the consumer market where these ELVIS cameras
(Electronic Live Viewfinder Interchangable-lens System - I racked my brains and had to cheat there) will supplant the DSLR thanks to their smaller size making them easier to carry about.
I'm sorely tempted by the G1, but I'm waiting for Olympus to announce something first.
2:56 pm - Tuesday, December 23, 2008
#5 Richard Grupe
When I think of EV's...I think of shutter lag and get a little vomit in my throat. That being said (or maybe it should not have been), remember the Sony 828? It drove me to a dslr for obvious reasons. If it had been able to perform at the level of an entry level dslr, I would not have $20,000 worth of gear now. I really didn't want to spend that kind of money...but I wanted to shoot wildlife and had no recourse.
My point being, I would have taken the dreaded EV if the responsiveness was there.
So...I tend to agree with the author...the next generation of photographers will look back at the dslr like I do the 35mm film camera. Hopefully they won't have to deal with the overlapping terminology (so old shooters can understand the relationship to outdated technology) that we deal with.
3:11 pm - Tuesday, December 23, 2008
#6 Mladen Radman
Regardless what we call these Micro 4/3 systems; LIVE or EVIL it is interesting concept but challenge to conventional FX/DX DSLR, somewhat failed to materialise. No doubt potential is there to add more "consumer" features like phone for instance and appeal to SMS audience.
Proper camera systems like Nikon with models like D3/D700/D300 or Canon equivalent will never aim for such level of "consumer" versatility, but carry on pushing technology where it matters, did i mention Leica S2, or medium format!
So in conclusion good luck to micro 4/3 in pursuing place within their own niche but lets not pretend that they are anywhere near becoming cameras of choice for serious shooters.
3:14 pm - Tuesday, December 23, 2008
#7 Robert
It's not the end of the SLR.
Look what I did with my Nikon SLR
http://www.makeitdigi.com/
4:46 pm - Tuesday, December 23, 2008
#8 m
i think i just wasted three minutes skimming this article and making a comment. - now four minutes.
5:26 pm - Tuesday, December 23, 2008
#9 AA
Yes the old school Prism Mirror SLR will be dead very soon.
Unfortunately, the EVF will be the standard - basically, since Video crept into cameras like the D90, that spelled the beginning of the end.
Everything will be based on Video. After all, isn't that what the chip is all about? Then, the cameras will be so well programmed with numerous possible exposure combinations and the capabilities to shoot a dozen brackets all at once through the RAW variants in one shot, we won't ever have to do any thinking. The bursts will all be based on fast video-capture frame rates too.
Oh well.
5:52 pm - Tuesday, December 23, 2008
#10 Sal
Funny, I was thinking that Micro 4/3 cameras pose more danger to the Advanced Point and Shoot cameras rather than to DSLRs. The Oly Micro 4/3 prototype looks more like a rangefinder camera than a DSLR. I will not be surprised to see non-interchangeable lens cameras in the micro 4/3 format as well. Due to the sensor size Micro 4/3 will not be able to compete with serious DSLRs, especially the FullFrame models.
8:39 pm - Tuesday, December 23, 2008
#11 Olivier_G
By the way, there is enough room in a micro 4/3 camera to put... a mirror!
11:56 pm - Tuesday, December 23, 2008
#12 Colin_C
The real killer is if, like the G1, there are adapters for existing SLR lenses to fit on the new format cameras.
12:29 am - Wednesday, December 24, 2008
#13 B Phillips
Too bad Panasonic went with a mechanical (read LOUD) shutter though. Nothing "reassuring" about the mirror flip + shutter release for wildlife subjects! When they figure out how to put an electronic shutter in the package, maybe then they'll kill something off.
1:36 am - Wednesday, December 24, 2008
#14 AA
"I will not be surprised to see non-interchangeable lens cameras in the micro 4/3 format as well."
Errrrrrrrr............ Sal..............
that's what most compacts and ultra-compacts already are, buddy!!! Cameras like the Fuji S2000, S100, Canon Powershot SX1 & SX100 - these types ARE and HAVE ALWAYS BEEN the 4:3 cameras with non-interchangeable ultra-zoom cameras.
So your point is...........?
Just think about it this way:
MEGA-HD VIDEO with Intelligent Still Capture. That's where we're headed.
5:04 am - Wednesday, December 24, 2008
#15 BB
BB: just like you said... Errrrrrrrr ..... AA.......
NO
The micro four thirds format doesn't only specify sensor format ratio to 4:3, but also many other things, like the sensor size, which is 18 x 13.5 mm, unlike your S2000 which is like 6x4mm. Not same thing
6:20 am - Wednesday, December 24, 2008
#16 carlhamilton
if this new format could deliver the same or even greater photographic responsiveness , dynamic range , then we really have a viable alternative to the DSLR .
'wishing though that its physical features as well as its heft be patterned competitively with a full-size DSLR in order to gain merit of its intended purpose .
7:24 am - Wednesday, December 24, 2008
#17 carlhamilton
that is because the weight is so light and the shape so puny that it feels like a toy in the hand
7:37 am - Wednesday, December 24, 2008
#18 AA
BB -
Ya OK, yes and no - I forgot to mention that the sensor sizes are different but the frame ratio is the same and that there are plenty of mega-zoom non-interchangeable cameras out there.
I'm just happy there are so many different sensors with so many different sensor sizes and ratios for us to play with!
5:41 pm - Wednesday, December 24, 2008
#19 Ruth
I wear glasses and sometimes it is hard to see the EVF for me. I won't part with my DSLR even if it is heavier. This camera is trying to get compact camera users to buy their systems.
11:29 pm - Wednesday, December 24, 2008
#20 Digital
I don't think it's the end of dslr , just an other system available, but I don't think all those photogs will make a switch after gettings used to the dslr system.
10:29 am - Thursday, December 25, 2008
#21 Sal
AA wrote: "Errrrrrrrr............ Sal..............
that's what most compacts and ultra-compacts already are, buddy!!! Cameras like the Fuji S2000, S100, Canon Powershot SX1 & SX100 - these types ARE and HAVE ALWAYS BEEN the 4:3 cameras with non-interchangeable ultra-zoom cameras.
So your point is...........?"
AA, I am not sure what your point or objection was about, but here we go: none of the cameras listed by you are Micro 4/3 type cameras. They all have much smaller sensors:
Fuji S2000 - Sensor size 1/2.3 " (6.16 x 4.62 mm, 0.28 cm²)
Fuji S100 - Sensor size 2/3 " (8.80 x 6.60 mm, 0.58 cm²)
Canon SX1 - Sensor Size 1/2.3 " (6.16 x 4.62 mm, 0.28 cm²)
Canon SX100 - Sensor Size 1/2.5 " (5.75 x 4.31 mm, 0.24 cm²).
Now. let's compare that to the 4/3 or Micro 4/3 camera sensors (both formats share the same sensor size:
Olympus 520 - Sensor size 4/3 " (18.00 x 13.50 mm, 2.43 cm²)
Panasonic G1 - Sensor size 4/3 " (18.00 x 13.50 mm, 2.43 cm²)
See the difference?
5:25 pm - Friday, December 26, 2008
#22 Peter-John
AA's suggestions that "Everything will be based on Video" and "MEGA-HD VIDEO with Intelligent Still Capture. That's where we're headed" make me wonder if (a) that's a bad thing and (b) what does photography lose if it is?
2:20 am - Wednesday, December 31, 2008
#23 BatteryGenie.com
I agree, the SLK is dead. Atleast you can get the batteries from http://www.BatteryGenie.com
8:14 pm - Wednesday, December 31, 2008
#24 Dave
Two big problems with the camera.
1. EVF lag. You're always seeing an image that lags by 50-100ms. This makes it even harder to predict which shot you'll get.
2. Panasonic has some of the worst image science in the business. Their demosaic/color processing/white balance are all trailing the rest of the industry.
4:06 pm - Thursday, January 1, 2009
#25 adessio
When the TOLED technology is well designed we'll have, believe me guys, DSRLs with 3 options: OVF, EVF and live preview.
And about their death I believe it was only a metaphor for the newly created ninche.
1:31 am - Tuesday, January 13, 2009