Are entry level DSLR's dead in the water?

[usayit]

Oh really?

Please back up your claim.

I argue that the opposite is can be true.

It depends on what do you mean by a good photograph and by a good image quality. A good photorgaph to me (almost always) implies a good image quality. Whereas good image quality does not nessessary mean a good photograph*. I am not saying that MILCs have a better image quality than DSLRs.
What I am saying is there are two customer's mindsets - one group wants their photos to be sharper, more colourful, more detailed and generally more beautiful than what they get with their cheap compacts. MILCs have a good trick up their sleeve - " Look, it is small and user friendly, just like your compact, well - almost. But it has all the options just like a DSLR !"
But the truth is - these options will remain exactly as it is - just options, buried deep in their menus. Most MILC users will use Auto mode most of the time. Wheeas DSLR buyers strive for a better photograhpy rather than just a better image quality. And that, of course means going beyond Auto. I hope it is clear. I can even go as afr as to suggest that a typical MILC user will never devote as much time, energy, additional funds etc into his photography as an average DSLR user will do. I would say today's MILC is "smart casual". It is a smart choice for a casual photography.

*There are of course some famous great photographs with a poor image quality, but this is a completely different story.

Whole lotta nothin in that post... complete drivel.

DSLR buyers strive for a better photograhpy rather than just a better image quality.

Load of generalized B.S. I see A LOT of DSLR owners who barely switch past Auto AND Auto doesn't necessarily mean less of a photographer. There are a lot of DSLR users here that pixel peep and spend countless threads discussing pure image quality and couldn't point out an effective photograph if their life dependent on it.

I ask to back up your claim... and the truth is you can't because there is no correlation... between a photographer's intent, experience, and the equipment they shoot with. Look at history... there has never been a correlation. There was a time that 135 format was largely laughed at as a "toy" format and only a serious photographer would use MF or LF. Sounds familiar to the drivel you are attempting to press.

 

[IByte]

.....What's a MILC, Is it the stuff I pour, mix in with my whey shake every morning? Someone help.....where is Em!!! Mishy!! Hello?

 

[usayit]

Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens Camera

Personally.. I'm not big on that terminology.

 

[pab]

In the past 8 days I have had literally 4 friends and family members buy 2 D3200's and 2 D5100's. I think at the current price points consumers tend to spend just a few more dollars to get seemingly a much better camera based on specs.

Sent from my SCH-I605 using Tapatalk 2

 

[BrianV]

The original question was "are entry-level DSLR's dead in the water". The D600 kit camera+lens just dropped below $2K, for a 24MPixel full-frame camera. That will push DX and comparable DSLR's down in price, across the board. A good entry point DSLR with zoom lens is under $450 these days. That is about the same as a NIB EPL-1 body from Cameta camera for $140, EVF-2, and 14~42 kit lens. Want a 45/1.8 in u43 format: more than a Nikon 85/1.8 for full-frame.

Two things need to happen for "MILC"s to compete: better resolution electronic viewfinders that compare with optical viewfinders, and more realistic pricing by the manufacturers at introducion of new products. The Olympus EVF-2 has been out for 3 years, and still seems to be highly regarded. Basically the same chip as in the OM-D, and the same that Leica uses for their new cameras. It's a decent finder, but no where near as good as an optical finder, SLR or RF.

 

[LungFish]

Entry-level DSLRs and MILCs offer different things to the consumer and can therefore co-exist. When the mirrorless format reaches maturity their market share will reach equilibrium.

For now I believe the newness of the mirrorless market is one of it's drawcards, every manufacturer has it's own take and it's exciting to see what they come up with. Unfortunately I think this is temporary, eventually the less succesful companies will follow the popular ones and they will all be pretty similar. Just like DSLRs.

 

[Steve5D]

Based on what I saw at Best Buy last weekend, the entry level DSLR market is alive and well and thriving...

 

[skieur]

There are a lot of cell phone shooters out there who shoot more for Facebook type reasons than anything else and like the small size of their "cameras". They are not likely to progress to a DSLR. They are more likely to move to the smaller size of a high quality point and shoot with more features and a large telephoto range.

skieur

 

[amolitor]

When entry level DSLRs die off, what will we call the cheapest available model of DSLR?

 

[rexbobcat]

When entry level DSLRs die off, what will we call the cheapest available model of DSLR?

Formerly-Professional DSLRs

Concise and not at all confusing.

I also don't get all of the Best Buy flack (well, maybe to some extent but...)

I mean, when I went try had all of the current models except the D4 and 1DX.

Don't judge people just because they "only" have a 5DII and MUST have the 5DIII in order to take macro pictures of garden flowers at two in the afternoon. True story lol

 

[dprasad]

I personally would not consider a mirrorless camera as a replacement for a entry level DSLR; since with a mirrorless I find that you do not get the feel as you would with a DSLR. I find that a mirrorless is a good camera for when you cant carry your DSLR around, or need something small and compact to use.

I believe that models such as the Canon T3, Nikon D3000 will remain available.

 

[BrianV]

I'm guessing that most "Professional Grade DSLR's" are used by photographers that do not rely on it for their income and a lot of "Entry Level" DSLR's and mirrorless cameras are used for scientific and technical photography. I use a modified EP2 (Visible+Infrared) in the Lab and a Leica M9 for personal use. Both are defined here as "Mirrorless".

 

[skieur]

When entry level DSLRs die off, what will we call the cheapest available model of DSLR?

Well, if companies move away from DSLRs there won't be any cheapest available DSLR to worry about.


skieur

 

[kathyt]

My second shooter has the Fujifilm X-Pro1 and always brings it along. It has such a lag time after you press the shutter button. The image quality is really nice though. I also like the auto WB. Everytime I grab it to take a shot I feel I am going to throw it over my shoulder because it is soooo light.

 

[shents]

Thanks for the responses. A lot of the objections to the suggestion that MILCs are going to decimate the market for entry level DSLRs come from the perspective of experienced photographers - a group that I would submit is NOT the target demographic for entry level DLSRs.

As of the moment, there are not much lenses available for MILCs which give DSLRs advantage. For some the lack of a viewfinder is a deal breaker and there are not much options for lighting. Lastly, prices of MILCs are more expensive than entry level DSLRs and are comparable to mid-range DSLRs. I was considerd the Sony NEX-5 but couldn't afford. This simply means that entry DSLRs are still alive and kicking.

I agree with you on price. Hopefully that will change as competition increases and sales volumes grow and costs can be defrayed over larger numbers of units.

Not sure the lack of an optical viewfinder, or any viewfinder at all, is such a dealbreaker for many prospective entry level DSLR buyers. You've got a generation of people who grew up on point-n-shoot digicams.

The problem seems to be that MILCs are aimed at being a 'nice point and shoot' and thus, mostly geared towards being shot on full auto. This, in turn means that buttons are eschewed over a 'simple looking' layout with few physical buttons. The problem being that for experienced shooters who need control, physical buttons are actually simpler than menus.

Derrel made much the same point, but the benefit of dials and buttons is most obvious to experienced shooters, not newbies. Again, we've got a generation of people who are used to digicams, for whom lots of dials and buttons may not be a priority when they are considering their first ILC.

Hell, I've spent over $300 looking for the right ergonomic mouse based on quality and how it feels in my hand.

We're talking about entry level DSLRs. The average consumer looking to step up from digicams to their first ILC is probably not obsessing about ergonomics.

Not to be unkind but the realisation that to choose a mirrorless body over the heft of (some) SLR is a no-brainer belies some inexperience/lack of awareness. There can be some benefits to a heavy/steady camera and mirrors/optical finders over EVF.

No offense taken, I love a good discussion. Your point about the benefit of a heavier camera is a good one, but again, this is coming from the perspective of an experienced shooter, not someone who is contemplating stepping up from point-n-shoots.

I'd love to hear from people who are buying or have recently bought an entry level DSLR (Nikon D3100, 3200, and whatever Canon's equivalent is) with full awareness of the MILC offerings prior to their purchase. Why did you opt for a DSLR - did you really want fast autofocus of moving objects, or very shallow DOF?

As I said earlier, when I bought the D3100, I had no idea there was an entire genre between digicams and DSLRs, and I'll bet MANY entry level DSLR buyers in the US in 2012 are likewise unaware. But as that changes, I think the market for MILCs will benefit at the expense of the market for entry level DSLRs.

Hey I was going to buy the d3100 due to budget, but can now afford the d5100 so I have been racking my brain also.. its a mare! I hav also been looking at the sony a37.. A s a newb I guess you are always worried its the wrong choice, spesh as I dont have much knowledge on lenses..I will almost def get the d5100 i think, Do you guys think is a good cam just the size in hands is all that puts you off?.... I have vern troy hands it will be fine :lmao: