I’ve started rediscovering photography again after a multi year break, and I’ve currently got a decision to make. I’ve started doing some more macro photography recently, and I’m to the point I would like to purchase a macro lens. However, I now realize that new DSLR cameras seem to be on their way out and mirrorless is what the major manufacturers are moving to. My current gear is a budget Canon DSLR with a kit lens, and a basic 75-300mm.
My question is this. Should I switch to a mirrorless camera before I spend more money on lenses? I don’t have a huge amount of money invested so far, and whatever lens type I buy is most likely what I’m going to have to stay with for many years to come. My hard limit would be $1000 for the body, but preferably $700 or less. Since I would like to stay with Canon, that leaves me with the R100, R50, and RP at the very top end. I am open to other options however, especially if there are good aftermarket lenses and accessories.
Although I know there will still be new and used EF lenses available, I do worry a bit about future camera body upgrade options. I know I’m overthinking this a bit too much, but I’m just curious what other people think.
I literally just faced this same dilemma! I went online looking to upgrade the kit lens I’ve had on my Canon EOS 70D for nine years and got sucked into the mirrorless hype.
In the end I sortof ended up upgrading both… I got a great deal on a second hand Canon mirrorless body, and because it has in-body image stabilisation I could then spend a lot less money to get a 25 year old ‘L’ series EF lens rather than a newer one with IS in the lens.
I’m extremely pleased with this set-up so far, and even more pleased that I can add to my lens collection in future for much less money than if I needed IS hardware in every lens.
Just to add in case you’re not aware, the EF-RF adapters are literally just spacers that shift the lens mount to where it would have been if there was a mirror in there - optically it’s just 24mm of air, so no quality impact at all.
The only thing to keep in mind is that there is a slight autofocus slow-down with the much older lenses, but not enough to bother me.