Mirrorless Myth

The whole concept of mirrorless cameras is they are smaller (and presumably lighter). Which probably is not the case IRL. Yes, theoretically, they can get smaller and lighter but practically they don't. At least in certain configurations.

I've been experimenting with window seat photography for some time. Initially I thought a phone camera would do, but quickly realized a telephoto lens was essential. Trying to stay as light as possible, I tried the Sony DSC-HX90V. Beautiful 30x zoom lens in a tiny package, completely useless. Autofocus never worked and manual (software - controlled by the lens ring) was way too slow. On an airplane everything moves. Fast. I ended up with zero "keeps" with the Sony. The next was Panasonic DC-ZS70. About twice as big as the Sony, but reportedly good and fast autofocus. Did not work either. With the lens extended it was too difficult to keep it steady trying to shoot a plane passing by in an opposite direction.

Last week I borrowed the Nikon D5500 from my son and plugged the Nikkor AF-S 300mm f/4E PF ED VR lens into it. The D5500 has an APS sensor, so the effective lens focal length is 450mm in this configuration. What a difference. Zero - lag composition (with DSLR, your'e looking optically through the lens and there is no sensor - bus - software - display path in between). Milliseconds matter. I've finally had some keeps. They are far from perfect, but show promise. I was sitting over a wing and shooting westwards at sunset.

Back home I spent a good while trying to find a setup that would match (or exceed) the compactness of the D5500 (420g) + 300mm PF lens (755g): a bit under 1200g for a premium quality 450mm combo. No chance. The comparable Olympus lens alone is heavier (1270g). And surprisingly the OM-D E-M10 III beats the D5500 by 10 grams only (having much smaller sensor with no mirror!). And the supposedly phenomenal bridge camera Sony DSC-RX10 IV is ONLY 80 grams lighter than my Nikon DSLR + telephoto lens combo (and again: the RX-10 has a much smaller sensor).

The PF (Phase - Fresnel) lens from Nikon is a monster. Incredibly small for what it delivers. And the D5500 defies the laws of mirrorless - a wonderful and capable camera costing very reasonable money.