I've been holding off on getting a new camera until things settle a bit on the new tech front. Many companies have been coming out with mirrorless technology that surely will put a dent in the DSLR sales. Imagine, nano technology will allow us to carry a fraction of the weight we used to lug around.
With technology in products such as the iPhone and other hand-held devices improving and professional camera technology improving as well, pretty soon, most of us will be looking to sell off our antiquated (not to mention heavy) equipment as the two eventually will meet in a much more easily transportable case.
Yes, there are traditionalists who will poo poo the idea of way too many 'Auto' features, but there will still be plenty of 'Manual' functionality to appease the pros. In addition to the ability to have a professional quality point-and-shoot on hand without throwing your back out on a leisurely walk, the quality of the software now available to every experience level, makes turning your snaps into a money making product or artistic expression a painless experience.
Below is a great article I found on an amazing website called, Digital Photography Review that helps to sort the whole thing out. Enjoy!
IS A MIRRORLESS CAMERA IN YOUR FUTURE?
Mirrorless cameras may not have taken-off in all global markets yet,
but they're making progress, both in terms of technology and sales. The
marketing efforts have reached almost hysterical levels, helping to
raise awareness that mirrorless interchangeable lens camera is here.
We've had a chance to use all of these cameras extensively (and have
reviewed most of them), so now seems like the ideal time to look at all
the cameras and help you decide whether a Mirrorless camera is for you
and, if so, which models you should consider.
GETTING TO GRIPS WITH SENSOR SIZES
It's difficult to engage with customers about the merits of sensor
sizes so, to a great extent, the manufacturers sell these cameras on the
strength of them offering interchangeable lenses. The association of
interchangeable lenses with 'DSLR quality,' combined with the promise of
flexibility that changeable lenses bring help to differentiate
Mirrorless cameras from compacts. But it's primarily the increased
sensor size that brings the image quality improvement, both in terms of
low-light performance and control over depth-of-field.
The other key thing to consider is lens availability. The Micro Four Thirds lens mount, used by Panasonic and Olympus has by far
the widest range of lenses, followed by Samsung's NX range, Sony's
E-mount, Pentax Q and Nikon's 1 system. However, when considering the
lens availability, it's worth being honest with yourself about how many
lenses you're planning to buy - if you're only going to buy one
additional lens, then it doesn't really matter how extensive a 'system'
is, so long as it includes the lenses you might want.
WHAT'S OUT THERE?
Being a fairly new market, it's taken a little while for a consensus to develop amongst manufacturers about who might want a Mirrorless camera and what they might want it for. The result is a diverse ecosystem yet to be exposed to the evolutionary pressures that tend to result in homogeneity. In general, we feel it's possible to break down most of the Mirrorless class into three main groups, much as can be done with DSLRs: beginners, intermediate users and enthusiasts. But, beyond this classifications, there are some interesting niche cameras and alternative takes on the concept.
As you'd expect, the more sophisticated the audience, the more
external control you get, the more features you can expect a camera to
have and the more you can expect it to cost. In some cases this means
more external control, or the option to add an external viewfinder, but
it also tends to mean higher-resolution sensors and higher-resolution
rear screens. The classes aren't precise - you could argue, for
instance, that the Panasonic G3 offers more features and functionality
than the GX1. But here we're trying to consider the overall intent - a
balance of features and price, to split the cameras by the shooting
style we believe they're intended for.
In this overview we're restricting our coverage to relatively
recently-released cameras that we consider to be 'current generation'.
Of course some older models are also still for sale new, often at a
bargain prices.
Beginners' cameras
 |
This is the area in which all the manufacturers think Mirrorless
systems offer the most advantages: as small cameras that are as simple
to use as point-and-shoot compacts, but with substantially better image
quality. Between these and entry-level DSLRs there's been plenty of
price competition, and even though we're only really on the second or
third generation of these cameras, you can get a pretty mature product
for a bargain price.
| Sensor Size | Pixel Count | Movie capability | Screen Size | Touch Screen? | Viewfinder? | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sony NEX-C3 | APS-C (23.4 x 15.6 mm) |
16.2MP | 720p30 MPEG4 9Mbps |
3" 920k |
No | No |
| Olympus PEN E-PM1 | Four Thirds (17.3 x 13 mm) |
12.3MP | 1080i60 AVCHD 17Mbps |
3" 460k |
No | Optional 1.4m or 920k EVF |
| Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3 | Four Thirds (17.3 x 13 mm) |
12.3MP | 1080i60 AVCHD 17Mbps |
3" 460k |
Yes | No |
Intermediate cameras
 |
The intermediate class is directly comparable to the popular 'Rebel'
level of DSLRs. These are aimed at people who have perhaps already owned
a enthusiast compact or an older DSLR and want a newer, more capable
camera, or who are upgrading from a point-and-shoot compact but want to
develop as photographers and take more control over their cameras.
The result is more external buttons, improved features and, in many cases, more accessory options.
| Sensor Size | Pixel Count | Movie capability | Screen Size | Touch Screen? | Viewfinder? | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sony NEX-5N | APS-C (23.4 x 15.6 mm) |
16.1MP | 1080p60 AVCHD 28Mbps |
3" 920k |
Yes | Optional 2.4m EVF OLED |
| Olympus PEN E-PL3 | Four Thirds (17.3 x 13 mm) |
12.3MP | 1080i60 AVCHD 17Mbps |
3" 460k |
No | Optional 1.4m or 920k EVF |
| Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3 | Four Thirds (17.3 x 13 mm) |
15.8MP | 1080i60 AVCHD 17Mbps |
3" 460k |
Yes | 1.4m equiv. EVF |
| Samsung NX200 | APS-C (23.4 x 15.6 mm) |
20.3MP | 1080p30 MPEG4 u/n |
3" 610k |
No | No |
Enthusiast cameras
 |
These are the cameras aimed at people with extensive shooting
experience. Perhaps intended as a second camera, or as a replacement for
a similarly high-end camera. These tend to be the models that offer the
highest levels of external controls, the strongest specifications and
product design that says 'I'm serious about my photography.'
| Sensor Size | Pixel Count | Movie capability | Screen Size | Touch Screen? | Viewfinder? | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sony NEX-7 | APS-C (23.4 x 15.6 mm) |
24.3MP | 1080p60 AVCHD 28Mbps |
3" 920k |
No | 2.4m EVF OLED |
| Olympus PEN E-P3 | Four Thirds (17.3 x 13 mm) |
12.3MP | 1080i60 AVCHD 17Mbps |
3" 610k OLED |
Yes | Optional 1.4m or 920k EVF |
| Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1 | Four Thirds (17.3 x 13 mm) |
15.8MP | 1080i60 AVCHD 17Mbps |
3" 460k |
Yes | Optional 1.4m equiv. EVF |
Specialist cameras
 |
A couple of niches have sprung up in the Mirrorless camera sector,
from the video-focused Panasonic GH2, through to the fun, rather
irreverent Pentax Q. We've currently put the point-and-shoot targeted
Nikon 1 cameras in this group too, given their conceptual differences
from all the other 'Beginner' level cameras (smaller sensors, more
flexible autofocus), but you may wish to consider these too.
| Sensor Size | Pixel Count | Movie capability | Screen Size | Touch Screen? | Viewfinder? | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2 | Four Thirds (˜19 x 13.5 mm) |
16.1MP | 1080p30 AVCHD 24Mbps |
3" 460k |
Yes | 1.5m equiv. EVF | ||
| Ricoh GXR Mount A12 | APS-C (23.6 x 15.7 mm) |
12.1MP | 720p24 Motion JPEG |
3" 920k |
No | Optional 1.4m EVF | ||
| Nikon 1 J1 | CX format (13.2 x 8.8 mm) |
10.1MP | 1080i60 MPEG4 |
3" 460k |
No | No | ||
| Nikon 1 V1 | CX format (13.2 x 8.8 mm) |
10.1MP | 1080i60 MPEG4 |
3" 920k |
No | 1.4m EVF | ||
| Pentax Q | 1/2.3" Type (mm) |
12.4MP | 1080p24 MPEG4 |
3" 460k |
No | No |
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