Mirrorless fans...

<p>I have a couple of questions for those of you who have been shooting with mirror-less cameras for a while. Do the sensors have a tendency to get dust on them quicker, or need cleaning more often? It seems like they might, just because the sensor isn't behind a shutter, or mirror, and are more exposed to the lens breathing dust onto them. I'm becoming more interested in mirror-less then I once was, but this is one issue that might prevent me from going mirror-less. I really hate sensor dust/muck. In any event I really like what I hear about these little Sony a7rll cameras, and things like the Fuji XT1 etc.</p>

<p>Been using one for over 2 years...only cleaned twice, when a dust spot showed up in a shot. And I usually change lenses 2-3 times/week in an average week, both at home and in the field. I wouldn't freak out about dust unless you are doing alot of shooting in a truly dusty environment, then close adherence to dust is warranted. I usually keep the sensor face down when changing lenses.</p>

<p>There are no focal plane shutters in front of the sensor?</p>

<p>There are FP shutters, but they stay open as the default position.<br>

My Fujifilm XE1 has not needed to be wet cleaned in 2.5 years. I did wet clean it once, but the spot I was trying to get rid of turned out to be beneath the sensor cover glass!</p>

<p>Haven't noticed it, seems less than my dslr actually.</p>

I've been shooting with a Sony A7ii and A7Rii exclusively for over a year now. I've only cleaned the sensor twice on each

camera. The sensor is designed to repel dust and undergoes a brief cleaning cycle ( vibration) each time you turn it on.

Both camera had persistent spots early on which requires wet cleaning. I suspect oil residue from the manufacturing

process. My Nikon D3 required brush cleaning every month or so and wet cleaning yearly.

 

Proximity of the sensor to the opening does not result in dust accumulation, but makes cleaning much easier. I use mostly

prime lenses on the Sony and mostly zoom lenses on the Nikon, which are suspected to pump air. Prime lenses are

changed much more frequently than zooms. Mostly it is the flapping mirror stirring things up in the DSLR.

 

Putting it another way, I rarely think to check for dust spots in the A7's, but daily with the Nikon, which I clean only when it

gets disguisting. With the Sony, you always see what the sensor sees, often magnified in the viewfinder. With the Nikon, only when chimping or editing.

<p> Thanks Guys, I'm the type that would leave one medium zoom on the camera most all of the time perhaps changing it a couple of times a year. I can also see what Edward says about mirror-less being much easier to clean being true. I presently need to wet clean my dslr sensor a couple of times a year, which is very tedious, as I can't stop until it's perfect or it'll bug me.<br>

I have to say after watching some videos on youtube by a photographer named Jason Lanier I'm rethinking the whole mirror-less thing. <br>

Do any of you expect Sony to release any new full frame mirror-less cameras in the near term, as I'm not sure I really need the 46 mp of the A7RII, but want the same build, and features of it?</p>

<p>Sony is not shy about introducing new FF cameras - three since last December, the A7ii, A7Rii and A7Sii. If there's a particular feature you're looking for, you might hold off. However the A7Rii offers spectacular performance in resolution (42 MP), high ISO performance (109,000, very good at 25,600) and a 13 stop dynamic range. Sony and Zeiss native mount lenses have kept up with technology, to the point you need a tripod and cable release to take full use of the 42 MP sensor. The completely silent shutter mode is great when you need to be discrete, although the mechanical shutter is as quiet as my Leica M3.</p>

<p>I would like to see better battery life, full 4,2,2 in-camera video recording, and perhaps double SD card slots. There is also a firmware tweak regarding auto focus. At present, the diaphragm stops down to the preset value once focus lock is attained, whether in single or continuous focus mode. This causes focus to hunt at times in continuous mode and smaller apertures. (I think it is intended to correct for focus shift, with unintended consequences.)</p>

<p>Based on your description, and my experience in which I change my lenses on my µ43 cameras a LOT more often, as long as you're careful, you won't have a problem. I always point the camera down when changing lenses, and never leave the front open for more than a few seconds.</p>

<p>I also had more of a dust issue with DSLRs, maybe because that mirror flapping around is moving dust around. But even then I had very little issue.</p>

<p>I think a lot of dust collects on the rear ends of lenses. If I'm not diligent about cleaning them, and vacuuming out the bag, I have to clean the sensor more. The mirror in a DSLR probably dislodges this lint, which eventually finds its way to the sensor. With mirrorless cameras, this lint seems to remain undisturbed.</p>

<p>I've been shooting my XE-1 since February 2014 and haven't had any trouble with dust. Rather surprising, actually. I guess it's better at keeping itself clean than my old DSLR was.</p>

<p>Thanks Guys, There's one last question I have. Is there any tendency for the sensor to have more noise, or overheat than with a dslr? I only ask because it seems like it must have to be on while you're composing a shot, and looking through the viewfinder at your subject even before you take the picture. I don't care about video in that regard.</p>

<p>Bruce, modern sensor technology seems to be designed for that use. Doesn't seem to be a problem anymore.</p>

<p>Thank's Peter.</p>

<p>Hi Bruce! You sure change your equipment so fast. I think you just got your D7200 recently and now you want to switch to mirrorless. I wonder what the cost of changing equipment like that? I don't think I can afford it. To be honest I think it's easier for me to go for the the top of the line like the D4 or expensive Leica equipment than upgrade/changing equipment that fast. </p>

<p>Maybe he's augmenting, not replacing. A lot of folks do.</p>

 

<p>Overheating in the Sony A7 sensor, for example, is not significant. I think the issue was raised as a diversion to explain the 30 minute limit on video clips. In fact, the limit is regulatory, not electronic. Cameras which can shoot more than 30 minutes of video at a time are subject to an increased tariff of about 3% as a "video camera." I've shot over two hours continuously, except for a brief restart before the 30 minute limit expired. At least one company offered a $90 firmware upgrade to remove this limitation. I'd pay it in a heartbeat if offered by Sony.</p>

<p>Lol, yeah Bebu, you're right, I'm always in search of the Holy Grail. The problem for me is that what I consider to be the Grail keeps changing. I guess that makes me a camera floozy. I had the same issue back in the film days as well. Lets face it, the camera industry could do with more floozies the way some of them are going.</p>

<p>Thanks Edward, yeah I guess it makes sense that if you can shoot video without a noise, or great heat penalty, then the length of time I ponder a composition shouldn't be a problem. Although I've been know to ponder a while.</p>

<p>Okay Bruce I hear you! The Holy Grail keeps changing on you. Glad I don't have such a problem.</p>