Mirrorless camera shootout: DSLR alternatives get sized up and ISO-examined

It all started with Micro Four Thirds, but now just about everyone is jonesing to play along in the mirrorless camera game. The crew over at Serious Compacts managed to get ahold of quite a few contenders (Samsung's NX10, Sony's NEX5, Olympus' E-P2 and E-PL1, and Panasonic's GF1, GF2 and GH1), and rather than taking 'em apart one by one, they've decided to size 'em up in a fantastic size comparison piece. From lenses to bodies, all six cameras are shown from various angles, and even if you've convinced yourself to not be in the market for one of these bad boys, the eye candy alone is worth a peek. Furthermore, the group has been entered into a telling ISO comparison test, but if you came here looking for a spoiler, you'll be sorely disappointed. Tap those links below to get your study on, won'tcha?

[aim120 Posted Aug 17th 2010 3:55PM]

@pretol
Well who said this cameras is aimed at ignorant user who don't want to learn.
Sony main target audience is DSC upgraders and as a secondary camera for existing DSLR owners.
For those who want the best image quality ,but don't really want a DSLR for it size and complexity ,the sony NEX suits them.
If this camera was a loser like you say,why is it the highest selling compact interchangeable lens camera in japan and overall in number 3 .So it outsells most DSLRs.

Even in dpreview it was in no 1 to no 3 for the last 3 months in terms of clicks.

[zelannii Posted Aug 17th 2010 1:36PM]

Still waiting for Cannon's entry into this field so the wife can carry a nice small yet powerful camera and can trade lenses with my beast with an adapter. I can only imagine a pair of Digic 4s (or a 5) with 14+ MP, 1080p recording, CF and/or SDXC, and full manual control options, but in a camera she can carry around in a bag that's not bigger than her purse...

For now, we got her an SX210is, which is a DAMNED nice PnS. I'm actually still on film, waiting for the new year to see what cannon drops in full frame DSLRs. I'm torn between too expensive and a bit limited on their current DSLR line up.

[pretol Posted Aug 17th 2010 2:33PM]

@zelannii
No, you don't. Time and time again shows that NOBODY (but the core professionals) use adapters for adapting an SLR lens to a mirrorless camera. The MAIN advantage of a mirrorless camera is the short throw lenses that are smaller. With an adapter, your wive's camera will be JUST as big as an SLR. (for example, just the adapter on the 4/3's is the same size as fixed pancake lens)

If canon or nikon are going to enter the "mirrorless" arena, they're going to have to bring the new lenses with them, because it doesn't make any sense to market small camera with larger than necessary lenses.

so Yes - you can - but why? In the meantime, there's olympus pen1 and pen2, and there's lumix gf1.

[icase81 Posted Aug 17th 2010 3:20PM]

@pretol Actually, I use an adapter to mount vintage film SLR M.Zuiko lenses to my Olympus E-PL1. They work fantastic, and using a 28mm f2.2 is great for every day shooting (considering the 2x crop factory turns the 28mm into a 52mm equivelant). I paid $30 for the adapter and $20 for that lens, and $35 for a 75mm to 150mm lens that are great. Now, you need to manually set the aperture and focus, but thats fine for me since I don't like auto-focus anyways.

[pretol Posted Aug 17th 2010 3:15PM]

I didn't realize how TINY that olympus 14-42mm lens is. WOW!

[David Wagner Posted Aug 17th 2010 3:33PM]

@pretol

I recently bought an e-pl1 and I was struck by this as well. It collapses to become that small. You have to extend it to use it. I'm in love with the camera though. I've only ever had point and shoots before, and this thing is fairly awesome. In some situations it actually outperforms my buddy's far more expensive D3000.

[David Wagner Posted Aug 17th 2010 3:35PM]

@David Wagner
Sorry. He doesn't have a d3000, its actually a d5000.