Is it time to ditch my DSLR and go mirrorless?

[DarkShadow]

IMO if you can supplement the Nikon D610 would be a safer bet first.I always find it easier to sell gear then replace what you once had just in case you really miss the full frame goodness.It would kinda suck buying it all over again.

 

[goodguy]

You are the only one that can answer this question, you know what you will loose switching to mirrorless.
Another option is D5500, its a rather small and light DSLR yet very powerful tool.

I highly respect Fuji X-T1 and with a prime lens it does offer a rather small yet excellent camera but for me that I love f2.8 zoom lenses its pointless, the two f2.8 prime lenses for this Fuji are big and heavy enough to void such a move on grounds for size and weight.
D5500 with a prime lens isnt much bigger or much heavier then the X-T1, I mean yes it is bigger and heavier but not as much as your D610

I came from APS-C and once I tasted the sweet nectar of FF sensor there is no way in hell I am going back to APS-C.
Of course there is the option of Sony A family and their A7R II looks very interesting but it is also a fairly big and heavy camera, add to that its (limited) F4 zoom lenses and you are getting a system that aint far from a FF DSLR in weight and size.

 

[Gary A.]

For me, the XT1 w/50-140 f/2.8 is half the weight and size than my 1D w/ 70-200 f/2.8.

 

[nerwin]

IMO if you can supplement the Nikon D610 would be a safer bet first.I always find it easier to sell gear then replace what you once had just in case you really miss the full frame goodness.It would kinda suck buying it all over again.

Thats what I'm afraid will happen. Because I know for a fact I'll miss the full frame sensor and the low light goodness. But the problem is that my budget will be small because if I was to sell my dslr now I could afford to buy a really top end mirrorless system..so I'll have to settle for something less which is why I've been eyeing the Ricoh GR and new one is coming out but doesn't seem to offer much new features so the older one probably can get for a good price. The only thing that bugs me about that camera is the lack of a viewfinder. So maybe I should consider a A6000 and a prime lens or a used Fuji X-E1 + 18mm f/2 or 27mm 2.8 or maybe the GX7 + 20mm f/1.7.

I don't know..the Ricoh GR is the cheapest and still a very good camera just lacks that viewfinder...errr.

 

[DarkShadow]

The Fuji are sweet though.The XT1 and the X-T10 that sits below the XT1 is so sweet I just got to have one in my hands even if I don't know how to shoot, I can still cuddle with it.LOL

 

[nerwin]

The Fuji are sweet though.The XT1 and the X-T10 that sits below the XT1 is so sweet I just got to have one in my hands even if I don't know how to shoot, I can still cuddle with it.LOL

Unfortunately, I can't afford those unless I sell some of my lenses.

A used LX100 could be doable however. I would be happy with that.

 

[DarkShadow]

IMO if you can supplement the Nikon D610 would be a safer bet first.I always find it easier to sell gear then replace what you once had just in case you really miss the full frame goodness.It would kinda suck buying it all over again.

Thats what I'm afraid will happen. Because I know for a fact I'll miss the full frame sensor and the low light goodness. But the problem is that my budget will be small because if I was to sell my dslr now I could afford to buy a really top end mirrorless system..so I'll have to settle for something less which is why I've been eyeing the Ricoh GR and new one is coming out but doesn't seem to offer much new features so the older one probably can get for a good price. The only thing that bugs me about that camera is the lack of a viewfinder. So maybe I should consider a A6000 and a prime lens or a used Fuji X-E1 + 18mm f/2 or 27mm 2.8 or maybe the GX7 + 20mm f/1.7.

I don't know..the Ricoh GR is the cheapest and still a very good camera just lacks that viewfinder...errr.

Yes not all of us have a money tree in the backyard. I know what your saying and its a tough call that only you can decide.
AS far as the lack of View finder you can look at this. hoodmanusa.com

 

[nerwin]

IMO if you can supplement the Nikon D610 would be a safer bet first.I always find it easier to sell gear then replace what you once had just in case you really miss the full frame goodness.It would kinda suck buying it all over again.

Thats what I'm afraid will happen. Because I know for a fact I'll miss the full frame sensor and the low light goodness. But the problem is that my budget will be small because if I was to sell my dslr now I could afford to buy a really top end mirrorless system..so I'll have to settle for something less which is why I've been eyeing the Ricoh GR and new one is coming out but doesn't seem to offer much new features so the older one probably can get for a good price. The only thing that bugs me about that camera is the lack of a viewfinder. So maybe I should consider a A6000 and a prime lens or a used Fuji X-E1 + 18mm f/2 or 27mm 2.8 or maybe the GX7 + 20mm f/1.7.

I don't know..the Ricoh GR is the cheapest and still a very good camera just lacks that viewfinder...errr.

Yes not all of us have a money tree in the backyard. I know what you're saying and it's a tough call that only you can decide.

I could selling my 105 2.8G macro..even though its an amazing piece of glass..I don't see myself using it a TON but I would make probably all my money back on it and could turn around and buy a camera.

 

[PropilotBW]

When I switched from Nikon to Olympus M4/3, I didn't have the funds to own both systems. One had to fund the other. I have no regrets. I was able to buy top of the line Olympus equipment.

 

[MrWrong]

What about an Olympus OM-D E-M5? Now that the Mark II is out there are some pretty good deals on the original. There is also the OM-D E-M10 which has similar specs to the E-M5 but costs slightly less.

 

[astroNikon]

by the way, if you are looking for a reduction in size (and not just mirrorless), Have you looked at the mini dslr Canon Rebel SL1? I've only played around with it in the store but it's nice and small comparatively.
Canon U.S.A. Support Drivers EOS Rebel SL1 18-55mm IS STM Lens Kit

 

[nerwin]

What about an Olympus OM-D E-M5? Now that the Mark II is out there are some pretty good deals on the original. There is also the OM-D E-M10 which has similar specs to the E-M5 but costs slightly less.

Its something I'm considering. But I'm not a fan of the 4:3 crop. Is there a way to shoot 3:2 while still shooting raw?

 

[MrWrong]

What about an Olympus OM-D E-M5? Now that the Mark II is out there are some pretty good deals on the original. There is also the OM-D E-M10 which has similar specs to the E-M5 but costs slightly less.

Its something I'm considering. But I'm not a fan of the 4:3 crop. Is there a way to shoot 3:2 while still shooting raw?

The specs on amazon say 1:1, 4:3, 3:2, 16:9 I don't know for sure but I would think you can pick any of the 4 and still shoot in raw. I can check on my E-PL1 when I get home later. I would think it would function the same. Maybe some one here that owns one can confirm.

 

[nerwin]

So after thinking about this for a while now, I think selling my DSLR would be a terrible idea. I just know that I'll miss it. So I think the best bet is to buy another camera that's compact to complement my dslr. Whether it be a Ricoh GR, Fuji XE-2, Sony A6000 or a Olympus OMD. My heart kind of wants the XE-2...love the x-trans sensor. Wish I had the money right now because I saw an XE-2 with a 18-55 2.8-4 for $650 on eBay. But the Olympus OMD-EM10 is $450 body only and the lenses are really affordable, so thats totally an awesome.

Its true that I could sell my 105 2.8G macro and get a really nice mirrorless system. But that is just such a superb piece of glass and took me a while to save up for. I won't lie though, I don't use it as often as my other lenses but it's there when I need it.

 

[MrWrong]

So I tested with my E-PL1 and I can set it to 3:2 and still shoot raw. I would guess that the E-M5 and the E-M10 function the same way. If you decide to pick either one up you should be able to set it on 3:2 and not have to worry.

I think you are making the right choice by not selling your DSLR. I like my E-PL1 and despite how old it is, its still a very capable little camera. There are times however that I wish I would have gotten a DSLR though and will probably end up picking one up in the future.