EF mount's obselences

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EF mount's obselences

dolina
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p.1 #1 · EF mount's obselences

With Canon finally making a mirrorless interchangeable lens camera makes you wonder when they will abandon SLRs all together. If I am not mistaken it took Canon 5 years to transition from FD mount to EF mount.

So what do you think? Will we be seeing our beloved gear become yesterday's news or a decades old survivor?

Jan 10, 2013 at 05:38 AM

Jess Edward
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p.1 #2 · EF mount's obselences

I dont think SLRs will ever really go away. The mirrorless cameras are a completely different system that exists alongside the SLR system. I dont see Canon abandoning the SLR system because something new came along. they got rid of the FD system because the EOS system had autofocus.

You should have included "Never" in your poll.

Jan 10, 2013 at 05:46 AM

leftymgp
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p.1 #3 · EF mount's obselences

I'm okay if they want to come out with something new as long as the cameras are backwards compatible with EF lenses.

Jan 10, 2013 at 05:55 AM

scottam10
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p.1 #4 · EF mount's obselences

Mirrorless cameras may have competitive image quality for static subjects,
However the tradeoff for the small size is poor ergonomics; it is very slow to change settings on a tiny body with a touchscreen, and the contrast detect AF used in mirrorless cameras can't keep up with fast moving subjects (eg sports)

I can't see SLRs going away any time soon

Jan 10, 2013 at 05:58 AM

zlatko
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p.1 #5 · EF mount's obselences

dolina wrote:
With Canon finally making a mirrorless interchangeable lens camera makes you wonder when they will abandon SLRs all together. If I am not mistaken it took Canon 5 years to transition from FD mount to EF mount.

So what do you think? Will we be seeing our beloved gear become yesterday's news or a decades old survivor?

The only reason to abandon the mount would be to introduce something much better (such as autofocus in going from FD to EF). We are a long way away from mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras being better. They are smaller, but not better.

Jan 10, 2013 at 06:12 AM

Wahoowa
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p.1 #6 · EF mount's obselences

With how the Canon mirrorless performs, it's more like the Canon EOS-M will be obsoleted first.

Jan 10, 2013 at 06:57 AM

Gochugogi
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p.1 #7 · EF mount's obselences

I don't think the ILC will replace the DSLR. The attraction of the ILC is larger sensor quality combined with petite size. So it will replace the point 'n shoot. I can't imagine using a tiny ILC at arm's length to shoot large aperture telephotos or zooms. Adding an EVF, grip extension and Speedlite would allow it to use big glass but defeat the compact charm. My Oly E-P3 replaced my iPhone and S90 for point 'n shoot but the 5D2/7D comes out when I'm serious about image making.

Jan 10, 2013 at 08:15 AM

mpmendenhall
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p.1 #8 · EF mount's obselences

scottam10 wrote:
Mirrorless cameras may have competitive image quality for static subjects,
However the tradeoff for the small size is poor ergonomics; it is very slow to change settings on a tiny body with a touchscreen, and the contrast detect AF used in mirrorless cameras can't keep up with fast moving subjects (eg sports)

I can't see SLRs going away any time soon

Small body ergonomics is the easiest issue to fix --- there's no reason that a mirrorless camera can't be made with a 1-series-style body/grip.

Technology for the other factors is catching up, and is on a clear trajectory to eventually exceed SLR performance: EVFs that are bigger/brighter/clearer than OVFs (and work wirelessly off-camera); fast contrast AF that never misses focus; higher reliability with no moving parts; video-speed framerates; etc.

I expect (wild guess!) that in 5-10 years, Canon will have a "1-series equivalent" mirrorless attractive to professional users (and phase out new SLR development/production), and in 15-20 years will not support SLRs at all.

Edited on Jan 10, 2013 at 08:24 AM · View previous versions

Jan 10, 2013 at 08:23 AM

David Baldwin
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p.1 #9 · EF mount's obselences

Its taken me the best part of a decade to move to the point that my next body upgrade will allow me to be totally FF based, with no crop technology whatsoever!

I have never been totally reconciled to piddly little sensors, and piddly little slow lenses. I have no interest whatsoever in smaller cameras, and I can't be the only one. The day Canon stop making EF is the day I look at another brand.

Jan 10, 2013 at 08:24 AM

sirimiri
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p.1 #10 · EF mount's obselences

Aren't we really only talking about flange distance and what it entails?

Jan 10, 2013 at 08:38 AM

Paul Mo
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p.1 #11 · EF mount's obselences

mpmendenhall wrote:
scottam10 wrote:
Mirrorless cameras may have competitive image quality for static subjects,
However the tradeoff for the small size is poor ergonomics; it is very slow to change settings on a tiny body with a touchscreen, and the contrast detect AF used in mirrorless cameras can't keep up with fast moving subjects (eg sports)

I can't see SLRs going away any time soon

...fast contrast AF that never misses focus; higher reliability with no moving parts; video-speed framerates; etc.

I expect (wild guess!) that in 5-10 years, Canon will have a "1-series equivalent" mirrorless attractive to professional users (and phase out new SLR development/production), and in 15-20 years will not support SLRs at all.

You may well be right. What is certain is evolution. I loved my Linhof 4x5 but my 5D MKIII is more practical.

What I'd love to see is an amazing (see successfully implemented) eye-tracking focus. For example, in a cluttered environment if I eyeball something the AF instantly locks and lights, and I can shoot.

Jan 10, 2013 at 08:40 AM

melcat
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p.1 #12 · EF mount's obselences

dolina wrote:If I am not mistaken it took Canon 5 years to transition from FD mount to EF mount.

For the first few years EOS was not exactly impressive. The overlap between the T-90 (last pro-level FD mount) and EOS-1 (first pro-level EOS mount) was only a couple of years, and I'm not sure how complete the EOS lens line was. I suspect for many people busy taking actual photographs it did come as a nasty surprise, although, on the upside, relatively few of those doing it for a living used Canon gear.

mpmendenhall wrote:EVFs that are bigger/brighter/clearer than OVFs

No-one ever mentions colour accuracy and gamut. When will this technology exceed first Adobe RGB 1998 and then Epson Ultrachrome gamuts?

Jan 10, 2013 at 08:43 AM

Paul Mo
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p.1 #13 · EF mount's obselences

I can't wait until Nikon changes flange distance so I can use my EF lenses on prosumer Nikons.

Jan 10, 2013 at 08:46 AM

mpmendenhall
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p.1 #14 · EF mount's obselences

melcat wrote:
mpmendenhall wrote:EVFs that are bigger/brighter/clearer than OVFs

No-one ever mentions colour accuracy and gamut. When will this technology exceed first Adobe RGB 1998 and then Epson Ultrachrome gamuts?

These are probably less important characteristics for an EVF; you mostly don't worry about fine-tuning color until much later, when you are viewing the image on a computer monitor. Good dynamic range would be a higher priority (and is already well on its way). However, given that high color fidelity / gamut technology already exists for large LCD panels, this shouldn't be an impassible hurdle for EVFs.

Jan 10, 2013 at 08:49 AM

melcat
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p.1 #15 · EF mount's obselences

mpmendenhall wrote:
These are probably less important characteristics for an EVF; you mostly don't worry about fine-tuning color until much later, when you are viewing the image on a computer monitor.

You are making a subjective judgement there. I *do* want to see the actual scene colours at the time; it is part of the creative process. I want to be "immersed" in the scene - it is why I use SLRs.

It's nothing to do with "fine tuning" or colour correction, but seeing the scene as it is.

Jan 10, 2013 at 08:56 AM

mpmendenhall
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p.1 #16 · EF mount's obselences

melcat wrote:
mpmendenhall wrote:
These are probably less important characteristics for an EVF; you mostly don't worry about fine-tuning color until much later, when you are viewing the image on a computer monitor.

You are making a subjective judgement there. I *do* want to see the actual scene colours at the time; it is part of the creative process. I want to be "immersed" in the scene - it is why I use SLRs.

OK; that's fine. I don't mean to imply that viewfinder color accuracy shouldn't be important to you. However, your original question about how "no-one ever mentions colour accuracy and gamut" almost answers itself --- for a majority of current SLR users, who might become future EVF users, this is a secondary concern to more common issues (ergonomics/focus speed/etc.). For guessing how Canon, a camera maker catering to the general majority of SLR shooters, is going to transition to future technologies, it makes sense to primarily consider the "common" issues with mirrorless cameras, rather than the niche concerns of a few specialists. Just as some people still love shooting large format film, yet Canon doesn't sell 4x5 cameras, Canon is also likely to move ahead with mirrorless cameras regardless of the occasional specialized concern.

Jan 10, 2013 at 09:08 AM

scottam10
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p.1 #17 · EF mount's obselences

mpmendenhall wrote:

Small body ergonomics is the easiest issue to fix --- there's no reason that a mirrorless camera can't be made with a 1-series-style body/grip.

Technology for the other factors is catching up, and is on a clear trajectory to eventually exceed SLR performance: EVFs that are bigger/brighter/clearer than OVFs (and work wirelessly off-camera); fast contrast AF that never misses focus; higher reliability with no moving parts; video-speed framerates; etc.

I expect (wild guess!) that in 5-10 years, Canon will have a "1-series equivalent" mirrorless attractive to professional users (and phase out new SLR development/production), and in 15-20 years will not support SLRs at all.

Fair enough but I don't see how that would make the EF mount obsolete, unless the EVF and reduced flange distance allows better lens design

Jan 10, 2013 at 09:36 AM

mpmendenhall
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p.1 #18 · EF mount's obselences

scottam10 wrote:
Fair enough but I don't see how that would make the EF mount obsolete, unless the EVF and reduced flange distance allows better lens design

Improved lens design possibilities with a shorter flange distance is already a major consideration. The other big advantage to Canon for dropping the EF mount would be producing a single lens and body line with a continuous path from cheap, pointy-shooty models to high-end professional models. This helps to reduce duplication of effort (extra costs) in design and manufacturing, along with encouraging Canon customers to stick with the system as they move up from entry-level to professional products.

Jan 10, 2013 at 09:52 AM

jcolwell
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p.1 #19 · EF mount's obselences

sirimiri wrote:
Aren't we really only talking about flange distance and what it entails?

Yes, and mount diameter.

Jan 10, 2013 at 11:42 AM

chez
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p.1 #20 · EF mount's obselences

Jan 10, 2013 at 01:15 PM

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