So long DSLR! Why and why now.

For the first time that I can remember my main camera is no longer a Canon. For the longest time it was a Canon SLR eventually when switching to digital it has been a few Canon DSLR. This fall I made the decision to sell my Canon DSLR and all the lenses that I had and fully switch to mirror less cameras.

This decision was not one a took lightly, I had this though in my head for over 6 months and finally pulled the trigger. This decision was also heavily based on my experience this year with shooting a Fuji X-E1. Without having the hands on experience of using the Fuji I doubt I would have had the confidence to make the jump and purchase a Sony A7 as my main camera. Bellow are the reasons I decided to switch.

• Small size great sensor. The Fuji and Sony both have great sensors in a compact size. For street and urban photography having a smaller camera is less obvious. It is also much easier to travel with compact camera and lens.
• Feel. Booth cameras feel much more like the film cameras I have used for years. Metal and manual. I quickly feel in love with the ergonomics of both cameras, unlike my Canon DSLRs which always felt a little off in my hands.
• Lenses. I have a large collection of vintage lenses. Being able to buy a few inexpensive adaptors and not having to worry about the brand of a lens just knowing it will work is great.
• Shooting Style. Over the past two years I have realized my shooting style was based on my film cameras. I am very comfortable manually focusing and the focus peaking helps a ton with that. My style tends to be less about the speed of the camera, taking single shots.
• Going back to basics in a modern way. Using mirror less cameras has really allowed me to get back to shooting in a way I’m used to. I’m setting everything manually. Taking more time to set up a shot and really pre-visualizing what I want the outcome to be. The real modern benefit is that I have a digital sensor and can quickly send photos right over to my iPad and post digitally.

Why now? Well mirror less technology has finally reached a point where this is possible for me. I also wanted to have a full frame sensor, which was first available with the Sony A7. Follow this blog to see my experience no longer shooting with a DSLR.