How Long Until Medium Format Mirrorless smaller than today's High End SLRs?

[CameraQuest]

With endless improvements in sensors and EVF,

how long will it take until we have medium format mirrorless cameras
-- interchangeable lens cameras --

that are smaller (ie lighter weight) than 2014's high end Nikon & Canon DSLRs?

 

[HuubL]

marginally smaller in width and height perhaps, but they won't grow thinner than the DSLRs, I'm afraid.

 

[Bill Clark]

My thoughts, why is medium format needed anymore? Perhaps I'm missing something. I have 40x30 prints made from my Canon DSLR. To make an enlargement that size requires studio like ingredients.

At any rate, digital medium format, at the most, has a limited market.

I'm retired and just make noise now at places like here!

 

[Solinar]

Medium format digital without the mirror is a concept that I haven't really thought much about.

Call me clueless - but why would a mirror-less 645 camera not be thinner than a Mamiya Phase One 645DF or a Pentax 645z?

 

[YYV_146]

I agree with Bill - in this day and age of super-high resolution 135 sensors, medium format is doomed to be a very small niche, perhaps only taken up by serious fashion and landscape photographers.

 

[NY_Dan]

The optical characteristics for medium format are different and produce a different look than 35mm -- so while the same detail may be possible the same look wont -- and the dynamic range of larger pixels might yield a "better" result on MF -- all I want for Xmas is a 1/2 inch thick replacement door with a 2 1/4 x 2 1/4 sensor for my Rolleiflex -- it could be powered by the energy generated by the winding crank!

 

[Darshan]

I agree with Bill - in this day and age of super-high resolution 135 sensors, medium format is doomed to be a very small niche, perhaps only taken up by serious fashion and landscape photographers.

You seriously think soccer moms of today hauling their groceries and star kids to various practices in Mercedes/Porsche/Escalade's wouldn't fancy an even "bigger" sensor camera to show off to their "social" girlfriends? 😀😀

 

[Darshan]

-- it could be powered by the energy generated by the winding crank!

bravo 🙂

10 char

 

[BillBingham2]

I'm thinking the medium format folks will be smart and abandon the idea of a viewfinder on the camera and use an iPad. Attach the sensor to the back of the glass, control the sensor/shutter from the iPad and the focus and the aperture are manual on the lens.

That's the way I would rock the boat for MF camera makers. Bring out an small body for each of the old mounts. Put a good tripod mount on the bottom. Perhaps a more holdable body like the old Mamiya Press. Lota nice glass out there.

Again, use an iPad/iPod as your viewfinder. Perhaps a Mini snaps into the back of the Mamiya Press body version. Think of using fingers to enlarge the view to focus.....

B2 (;->

 

[Darshan]

I suspect the Head Bartender knows that someone out there (Fuji, Sony etc) is onto something. 😀

 

[Al Patterson]

I said 2018 becuase of watching the improvements over that last 4 or 5 years.

Sure, they can build it, but who will be able to afford it?

 

[daveleo]

1. Isn't it impossible for the lenses to be smaller ?

2. If MF bodies can get smaller, won't that technology allow "FF" bodies to get smaller too ?

So, I think "NO" MF setups will (must) always be larger than "FF" setups.

But then you asked about "future" MF setups compared to current FF . . . so, yeh, maybe . . . how far into the future are we allowing MF to evolve before we do the comparison ??

Logging out now 😀

 

[burancap]

As others...

Not a question of medium format ever being bodily reduced in size, but rather, when will smaller formats out-resolve larger bodies? Arguably, I think that time has come and gone with Foveon.

 

[Addy101]

My thoughts, why is medium format needed anymore? Perhaps I'm missing something. I have 40x30 prints made from my Canon DSLR. To make an enlargement that size requires studio like ingredients.

At any rate, digital medium format, at the most, has a limited market.

I'm retired and just make noise now at places like here!

Why do you need full-frame/APS-C/43s when 1" is just as good? :bang:

 

[uhoh7]

marginally smaller in width and height perhaps, but they won't grow thinner than the DSLRs, I'm afraid.

eh? Mirrorless is always thinner than anything with a prism. 🙂

+
next gen organic sensors can handle high ray angles, so the rear elements can be closer to sensor.

 

[NY_Dan]

I have a beta prototype and shot this test photo yesterday (9/12/2014) at the companies secret proving grounds (Astor Place, NYC). Just look at all those pixies!

 

[uhoh7]

thought you were gonna tell us that was just ONE of the pixels LOL

nice shot 🙂

 

[Solinar]

Why do you need full-frame/APS-C/43s when 1" is just as good? :bang:

The Pentax 645D and 645Z sensors are essentially 4/3rds ratio - albeit with approximately six times the surface area of what we call a 4/3rds sensor.

Best Regards from:

 

[truefriendship]

I voted 2015. I think we'll see an announcement soon. The DSLR market is shrinking, and the manufacturers need to prop-up margins with some niche products.

~Rif

 

[DougFord]

I'll cheat, as the question specifies non-fixed lens cameras.
As a fixed lens variant of a medium format camera I'd look to the sony rx2 and extrapolate from there with respect to increased sensor size/ relative camera dimensions. Presumably Sony could bend a MF 100mp sensor today if they were so motivated. Affix the thing to the back of a Zeiss designed lens and watch everybody's head explode.
Once they nail the process/costs of bending FF sensors what's stopping them from bending larger sensors! Where will it all end?! They're stuff'n FF sensors into anything that's not nailed down. (mind the dog!) lol
Long answer longer, my guess is next year, technologically possible.