The Progression to Mirrorless

If you're a longtime Sony shooter, you might have been a full-frame mirrorless user since October 2013, when Sony launched the Sony Alpha 7 and Alpha 7R. It took Nikon and Canon five more years before they launched their full-frame mirrorless cameras, the Nikon Z7 (pictured above) and Canon EOS R, in September 2018 and October 2018, respectively.

Sony users vs. all others: A recent polling of the 2,300 NightScaper Lounge members from my Instagram broadcast channel showed that about 23% are Sony users (totally mirrorless), with 26% being Nikon users, 38% are Canon users, and another 13% representing all other camera systems, i.e. Fujifilm, OM System and Pentax.

Canon and Nikon Mirrorless Users: Another poll revealed that 71% of both Nikon and Canon users have switched partially or wholly to mirrorless. However, 51% of Nikon users and 56% of Canon users are still using some of their older DSLR lenses on their new mirrorless cameras via adapters. Only 20% of Nikon users and only 15% of Canon users have converted totally to mirrorless bodies and lenses.

Adapters for older DSLR lenses: While both Nikon and Canon make lenses exclusively for their mirrorless cameras, both companies also have adapters that allow the older DSLR lenses to be used on their newer mirrorless cameras. Nikon makes the F-to-Z mount adapter, and Canon makes the EF-to-RF mount adapter. Both systems also have adapters with filter drawers, like the Canon pictured below:

"Good Glass Can Last a Lifetime." Although photographers may often upgrade their camera bodies every few years to the latest technology, they have been known to keep their lenses ("glass") for many years longer than their camera bodies. Having adapters that allow them to continue using their older glass on their new mirrorless camera bodies makes upgrading to mirrorless less expensive and less painful.

Best lens designs are reserved for mirrorless lenses: At some point, photographers may eventually have to switch totally over to mirrorless lenses as manufactures are making fewer and fewer lenses for the older DSLR mounts; and their newest technology and lens designs are being incorporated only into lenses made for mirrorless cameras.

Prices coming down for DSLR lenses: In the meantime, as more and more photographers switch over to lenses made for mirrorless cameras, the prices for many used DSLR lenses have started to come down, and there are beginning to be some great deals for these older lenses, including the new DSLR lenses that are still in the supply chain.

One NightScaper Lounge member, @kanactionshots responded, "I started off with Canon RF [mirrorless] lenses but I have slowly started buying EF [DSLR] lenses for astro, [i.e. the] Rokinon 135mm f/2.0 and the Sigma Art 14mm f/1.8. [I also] just purchased some used, Sigma Art 40mm and 28mm f/1.4's. I'm doing this so I can use the EF to RF adapter with a dual band filter."