Mirrorless AF Becoming More Capable

[Mike Farley]

If this article at DPReview about Sony's latest cameras is anything to go by, DSLRs are starting to lose out in the one of the few remaining areas where they previously had an advantage over mirrorless systems, autofocus. In particular, continuous AF performance which is the main reason why I have hung onto my Canon gear for so long.

http://www.dpreview.com/articles/165208 ... e-on-focus

The other main advantage that DSLRs still maintain is in the maturity of their systems, but even here the mirrorless manufacturers are moving to fill the most significant gaps. Is the time fast approaching when Canon and Nikon will have to become more serious about switcing their attention to producing mirrorless systems?

[Mike Farley]

Is the time fast approaching when Canon and Nikon will have to become more serious about switcing their attention to producing mirrorless systems?

It occurs to me that the development of rapid acting on sensor phase detect AF is another part of the jigsaw which Canon and Nikon will have to complete as part of any plans to migrate away from DSLRs to mirrorless offerings. The problem with making any significant change which breaks with past offerings is that it allows existing customers to decide whether they wish to continue with the system or move elsewhere. Undoubtedly some former Canikon users have done just that and jumped ship, but momentum is still with DSLR sales for the moment and it does not justify making a switch just yet. If people can use their current lenses on the new bodies, as Sony has demonstrated is a possibility, that provides an incentive to stick with a manufacturer and opens up the possibility of future lens sales as customers upgrade. Of course, the joker in the pack might be companies such as Metabones who could produce adapters to mount Canon DSLR lenses on a Nikon mirrorless body, for example.

Another consideration will sensor size. Both Canon and Nikon are clearly basing most of their lenses on full frame and to date their users have been malnly content to use these lenses on crop sensor cameras. With the exception of the m43 consortium and partially Sony, most manufacturers who have introduced new mirrorless systems have opted for APS-C, no doubt based on this being the sweet spot for price and performance. Sony, of course, has dipped its toe in both APS-C and full frame waters, but now seems to be concentrating on full frame. For the moment, at least; this is "yet another new mount" Sony we are discussing.

Sony has demonstrated that lenses for full frame mirrorless are not really that much smaller than their DSLR counterparts. Many of Fuji's lenses for its APS-C X-Trans sensor cameras are not that much smaller than their full frame equivalents, which could mean that people will be prepared to continue much as they are at present. It would retain the benefit of their existing investment and avoid a full scale switch to another system, which most hobbyists would be reluctant to do on cost grounds. Consider also that there are currently few rumours about Canon's intentions, which would indicate either nothing is happening (unlikely) or something very big is currently under wraps. Could something be about to happen sooner than we think?