Originally posted by AfterPentax Mark II So perhaps the phone is the reason that ends the DSLR, because people are used to light equipment and if they want to improve on the pictures they take, they will look for a camera that is almost as easy to carry around as their phones, I think.
My goodness! All this about being lightweight, controls floating before the eyes, etc. When Pentax designed a more svelte DSLR to compare with the svelteness of APS-C mirrorless, so many complained its reduced right-hand grip as not being bulky enough for "good ergonomics"!! Many wanted something of the "right size" to hold in the hand with dedicated controls with good feel and touch. I am the "touchy-feely" type myself, not controls "floating before my eyes" type. For me, the KP has been fine to satisfy this while also being more compact and with high quality. For others, they have made it clear, they wanted something BIGGER, not smaller! Something they can GRIP solidly. So they waited and got it. I do not believe the DSLR is being threatened by phones in any significant way.
There's nothing new about "most people" wanting a smaller, simpler-to-operate camera. This was so way back with film cameras, like the old small-box brownie and later even smaller p/s cameras. "Most people" would shy away from the more expensive big SLR cameras. Today's phones have replaced those p/s cameras of yore, not DSLR cameras. As to "most people" preferring their lightweight phones fitting in their pocket or purse- nothing new.
As to mirrorless, I just received a very nice little catalogue from B&H- "Popular Photo Gear". Lots of cameras and lots of lenses by different brands like Sony, Canon, Olympus, Fuji, Panasonic, and Nikon. All models shown are mirrorless, except a Nikon advertisement on the back which includes their top DSLR, the D850. The D850 is listed for $500 off on special, now "only" $2,500! The top mirrorless Z models are the Z7 II (now $2,600!) and Z9, which has the battery grip built on and is humungous in size. I believe it is even larger than the Pentax K-1 II with its battery grip, and offered at $5,500!! Both of these models apparently use the same sensor as the D850. A while back, someone here posted a video by that "Wha's-up" guy who often runs imaging tests of lenses and cameras, who ran tests of the 45mp Nikon D850 against the 36mp Pentax K-1 II and demonstrated the Pentax model to be capable of superior imaging over the Nikon, beyond a doubt. The Pentax K-1 II is now offered at $1,800 and with a free battery grip and other accessories!!
Prices of models by other makes were really up there also. And the prices of lenses! And the sizes of lenses! Not to forget, what we wind up carrying and holding is a camera and lens combo!
When I saw all that was being presented, did it cause me to drool over all this mirrorless gear? Quite the opposite- it made me appreciate my K-1 II and KP, my fine lenses, as well as my other Pentax and Pentax-related equipment, even more!! And I am very appreciative of the great prices I got it all for!
I think the point made of mirrorless having fewer moving parts and being less expensive to make, therefore bringing in greater profits, is indeed true. This whole shift is about making lots of money.
If Pentax decided to eventually come out with a FF mirrorless model about the size and design of the KP, that could take the DFA and FA lenses, I might even decide to put up with the artificial VF (EVF) instead of the real thing in order to use it (maybe). But I do not feel any shortcoming of performance from my equipment, not even AF performance. It operates just fine for my needs.
I have very rarely used it for video, then only short clips. It was fine for that. I have a video cam for more extensive shooting, and sometimes I am using my DSLR to shoot stills while having my video cam running on a tripod.