Sony’s mirrorless cameras are winning over the pro market, report says
Aug 14, 2018
John Aldred
John Aldred is a photographer with over 25 years of experience in the portrait and commercial worlds. He is based in Scotland and has been an early adopter – and occasional beta tester – of almost every digital imaging technology in that time. As well as his creative visual work, John uses 3D printing, electronics and programming to create his own photography and filmmaking tools and consults for a number of brands across the industry.
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Nobody can really deny Sony’s popularity amongst the enthusiast & hobbyist market. They’ve pretty much taken the world by storm amongst those who want smaller, lighter systems, without sacrificing features or quality to pursue their passion. And the Sony A7III set all kinds of new standards for the term “basic model”.
For many working professionals, though, who depend on their kit to keep a roof over their heads, they’ve stuck to what they know. That means Nikon and Canon DSLRs. But Sony seems to be winning them over with their latest round of fast, accurate mirrorless bodies.
Bloomberg reports that more pros are starting to switch to Sony now that they’re able to shoot images more easily than with their DSLRs. Or rather, the absence of the mirror & prism, along with faster continuous shooting rates & more advanced autofocus systems allows them to nail the shot more often.
Nikon and Canon have mostly sat on their backsides to see how the whole Sony thing plays out, and their own attempts at mirrorless so far haven’t helped their situation. Of course, both of them are set to announce something supposedly good pretty soon. Nikon in just 9 days, and Canon hopefully by Photokina. And let’s hope they offer something impressive.
Technical abilities aside, though, there are other things that have held many off from making the switch. The report says that “Some pros say Sony hasn’t rolled out new lenses fast enough, and have complained that customer support has lagged behind Canon and Nikon”. I’ve certainly heard a few horror stories about Sony’s customer support in some countries that would undoubtedly put me off. And I know a few people who switched from DSLR to Sony back to DSLR again.
The lens situation seems to be largely resolving itself, though, especially now that there are more native E mount options from 3rd party companies, like Sigma’s Art series lenses. Sony also says that they’re working to improve both themselves, though, by bringing out more OEM lenses and making their customer support more… uh… supportive. They’ve already announced plans to become the top camera brand by 2021, so they’re likely pretty serious about the promise, too.
The pro market, they say, is worth around $3.2 billion a year, with Canon & Nikon pulling in the lion’s share. Sony’s A9, A7RIII and A7III cameras really do seem to have raised the bar in many respects for cameras of all types. And if they do manage to step it up with support, that dominance of Nikon and Canon may very well come to an end.
Although DSLRs do still have a strong presence in the pro market, and I don’t plan on giving my own up any time soon, they may not have long left. As the tasks we ask of our cameras get more demanding, DSLRs just seem to be getting left behind. It’s not that mirrorless necessarily allows you to do something that DSLRs can’t, they just seem to be able to do it more often and more consistently now that the tech has caught up.
It will be very interesting to see how the next year or so plays out. Nikon is set to announce their first (first two?) full-frame mirrorless cameras within the next couple of weeks. Canon’s will be coming shortly after that. And we’ve still yet to see a Sony A7SIII.
Head on over to Bloomberg to read their full thoughts on Sony’s growing position.
John Aldred
John Aldred is a photographer with over 25 years of experience in the portrait and commercial worlds. He is based in Scotland and has been an early adopter – and occasional beta tester – of almost every digital imaging technology in that time. As well as his creative visual work, John uses 3D printing, electronics and programming to create his own photography and filmmaking tools and consults for a number of brands across the industry.
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21 responses to “Sony’s mirrorless cameras are winning over the pro market, report says”
Why? Not going to make you shoot any better :)
Ding Ding Ding
Glad I’m not a pro. Cameras are quickly becoming like iPhones, a “new and improved” version every couple of months.
It’s mostly not the pros who are selling, buying and switching every couple of years. Most of them only buy when something breaks or their accountant tells them they need to spend some money before the tax year ends. :)
This is stupid.
The article this links to is subjective fanboy drivel, and the Bloomberg article (among the many absurdities) suggests that focusing and exposure are problematic for professionals.
It’s all nonsense. Obviously the product of someone with a deadline and not much content, or a paid endorsement.
Like many have said, a new body (of any kind) isn’t going to magically make your images better.
Even the idea that the EVF makes everything easier is silly.
And, trend chasing isn’t something long-time pros typically do.
Why do you care so much? Just shoot with what you like.
I care because frankly I’m tired of every piece of journalism related to photography gravitating around gear lately. Specifically Sony.
Does my speaking about it bother you?
Why do you care that I care?
Shooting with what I like isn’t even close to the issue. You’ve missed the point.
Not that it really matters of course.
“Does my speaking about it bother you?”
Less than my speaking about it bothers you, apparently. :)
If your current gear ie tools are doing exactly what you want then why go through the expense of changing ? As Henry said it’s just trend chasing like people who buy the lastest 4k TV when they had a perfectly decent 1080p TV then proceed to watch nothing higher than 1080p definition anyway.
Wait for 23 August. Nikon mirrorless full-frame is expected to be announced on that day. Two versions, high speed and high resolution. Then we will see…
And then… It will change absolutely nothing.
Couch expert detected.
For someone with that long tongue, your photos are not speaking very reassuring. You talk the talk but you dont really walk the walk…
Enroll for some English lessons, buddy. I hardly get your gibberish…
“Bloomberg reports that more pros are starting to switch to Sony now that they’re able to shoot images more easily than with their DSLRs”
No, Not a chance this statement is true in anyway. All ‘real’ pros can and do shoot with what they have been using just as easily as ever. My god, what nonsense on the web. I must have been a magician then to be able to get an image outta my F3 & manually focused lenses at the Silverdome !
I wish they make my canon camera shoot images than video… It’s like the dual function microwave now. I am not a videographer. Since I have a dual function microwave, do I need another that uses a mirrorless door to make a better dish?
What a waste for that price it should edit for me
$$$
That’s an awfully stupid question.
Article is a bag of wank.
I shoot withnumerous cameras, they do everything I need them to.
Stick with my Nikon D750 thanks, why would I want to go mirrorless anyway, can’t see what all the fuss is about. It won’t make you a better photographer.