Lenses for mirrorless systems
Right now, the camera market is undergoing a seismic shift. After dominating the market for half a century as the camera type of choice for serious photographers, the single lens reflex is giving way to the new breed of mirrorless cameras. Designed from the ground up around digital sensor technology, these can be smaller, lighter, and faster than DSLRs. Their lenses can also be made smaller and sharper, particularly wideangles.
The scale of this transition is remarkable. Since Canon and Nikon first entered the full-frame mirrorless market two years ago, 40 new mirrorless models have been introduced, compared to just seven DSLRs. The vast majority of new lenses have also been for mirrorless, as these two behemoths have scrambled to catch up with market-leader Sony. Third-party makers such as Sigma, Tamron, and Samyang have also decisively shifted their attentions.
If you’re a DSLR user and perfectly happy with the kit you already own, then there’s no reason to change. Canon, Nikon and Pentax DSLRs are still on sale, with huge lens ranges available for them. But if you’re tempted by the advantages of the new technology, deciding which system to adopt can be a daunting prospect. Do you stick with the same brand as you currently own, or go for something different? For seasoned photographers, this is as much about selecting their preferred lens range as it is about choosing a new camera.
Making sense of systems
In this article, I’m aiming to make sense of what the various systems offer, and how the new ones are taking shape. The camera companies all have different approaches – for example Nikon has a built a nice range of travel-friendly f/1.8 primes, while Canon has stretched the boundaries of lens design more. Thanks to a significant head start, Sony has a much larger full-frame lens range than anyone else, and its E-mount is supported by all the third-party makers, too. For those less interested in playing sensor-size top trumps, Fujifilm’s APS-C X system is superb, while Olympus and Panasonic have both built up strong ranges within their shared Micro Four Thirds format. More recently, the latter has joined forces with Leica and Sigma to form the L-Mount Alliance, which is mainly focused on
