For the last decade, Mirrorless cameras have been sprouting up left, right and center. You may have heard of the Canon R, the Nikon Z or the Sony a7 - these are all recent mirrorless camera releases. But what exactly is a mirrorless camera?
If I mentioned it's a camera without a mirror, you’d die of boredom. But, If I mentioned that you get a faster, smaller, lighter and more powerful machine, i’d peak your interest. Lets have a look at mirrorless cameras, and the most notable choices.
What’s Wrong with the Mirror?
A DSLR uses a mirror to bounce light entering the camera via the lens to the viewfinder. This is due to the body using one lens for two jobs; framing and capturing. The mirror poses a few problems. For one, it’s a large part that makes up the camera body - that space could be better used. As it’s a moving part (flipping out of the way for the exposure), it adds camera shake. This blurs hand-held images under 1/60 second.
By removing the mirror, the camera body can be smaller; in turn, lighter. As the mirror no longer needs to flip up and down for each image, burst modes are improved. With no moving parts, there is no sound, making these completely silent cameras. Having a bigger gap between the mount and sensor, it makes it easier to create and manufacture high-end lenses.
Is a DSLR better than a Mirrorless Camera?
In most circumstances, it is very difficult to say if one camera is better than another. Each photographer demands a different advantage or benefit. Sure, you can compare quality, size, weight, etc, but it comes down to what the camera is being used. The mirrorless camera isn’t only an upgrade of a DSLR, it’s an off-shoot. Not having a mirror poses both benefits and disadvantages.
DSLRs are still used today; the introduction of mirrorless cameras didn’t kill them off. First of all, high-end DSLRs still produce high-quality images with deep tonal ranges and realistic colors. The extra weight from the mirror wont pose a problem to those who use tripod support. Portraiture and studio photography are the most useful for DSLR cameras. As DSLRs are older, they tend to have a larger range of compatible lenses.
What was the First Mirrorless Camera?
The first ever mirrorless camera system came in 2008 with the release of the 12 MP Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1. It was also the first camera to use a micro four thirds sensor size, with a resolution of 4000 x 3000. To create the mirrorless system, an electronic viewfinder replaced the optical viewfinder. This allowed for tighter lenses, while making the camera body lighter and smaller.
Notable Mirrorless Cameras in 2022
In 2022, Mirrorless cameras account for most digital camera sales on the market. It makes sense as the cameras are lighter, smaller and allows for any type of sensor size. It's the younger brother of the DSLR, and is around to stay. This is the year that Nikon told the world that they are concentrating on improving mirrorless cameras rather than their backlog of DSLRs.
A few years ago, mirrorless became the word on every photographer's mind. It was one of the biggest improvements on how a digital camera operates for quite a while. Canon and Nikon were fighting amongst themselves, while camera companies such as Sony took up the slack.
There has never been more options than today, and it will only improve. As more and more attention is placed on mirrorless camera systems, the technology will become cheaper and better.
Full-Frame Mirrorless Cameras
The Canon EOS R5 is a 45 MP beast with an in-body 5-axis stabilization system. While it isn’t entirely a Mirrorless system, its hybrid nature utilizes benefits from both worlds. You won’t reach other mirrorless camera’s burst rates, but at 20 fps, there isn’t much you’ll miss.
The field of view is almost covered by AF points, clocking in at over 1050 to ensure perfect focus. The Dual Pixel sensor will even allow you to change the focus after capturing the image – never missing a shot again.
While most were still arguing over Nikon Vs Canon, Sony created the A1. This true Mirrorless system shoots images of 50MP at a speed of over 30 fps – goodbye memory! Like the Canon R5, the advanced AF system recognizes the eyes and faces of humans and animals. It learns as it goes, helping improve itself and your photography.
This megalodon (in features, not size) has everything one would need with any camera, and a price tag to match. Burst rates for sports, and resolution for large, high-quality prints are definitely a plus. A 1/400 flash sync is perfect for studio photography. Low light sensitivity at -4, doesn’t beat the R5 (at -6) but good enough to place it in the top 5 best mirrorless cameras today.
APS-C Mirrorless Cameras
Fujifilm is no stranger to mirrorless systems – the X-Pro 1 came out a decade ago; the same year as Canons and a year after Nikons introductory models. The X-T4 is the latest mirrorless system from a company who knows what they are doing. Even though it’s a crop sensor, expect a 26 MP image with incredible resolution.
The best quality for me is the in-body camera stabilization, a sure benefit to those who capture handhold stills. It can fire up to 20 fps, making it a great model for moving objects. It’s more than enough for those that want to break into mirrorless photography.
The Nikon Z fc is the second mirrorless camera to use the Z-lens mount. It uses the same crop sensor (20.9 MP) as the Z50, yet gains many benefits. For one, this model has specific dials for ISO, EV compensation et al, giving it a nostalgic look and feel. 11 fps isn’t the fastest burst rate you’ll find, but plenty fast for stills and some moving objects.
The biggest benefit with this camera is the fully-articulating LCD screen (1.04M-dot touchscreen). It can help capture stills and video, or hide to save battery power. The Z fc was the first camera to offer this brilliant idea. Image stabilization isn’t in the camera body, rather inside the lenses, which is better for those shooting long distances.
Micro Four Thirds Mirrorless Cameras
A micro four thirds sensor is a smaller crop sensor, and a perfect choice for those starting their photographic journey. The Olympus OM-D IV is an entry level mirrorless camera that doesn’t break the bank. The sensor is 20 MP, and comes with 5-axis in-body image stabilization. As the sensor is smaller, you do have the chance of gaining focal length, depending on your choice of lens.
As it’s a compact model, the burst frame rate is comparably low. This system is best used for travel or street photography. The touch screen flips down, so you can shoot without raising the camera to your eyes. It works in very low light, ready for all situations. The best part about this system is there are many lenses to choose from.
Panasonic Lumix G100 is the perfect choice for vloggers, content creators and those with a wide range of interests. As the mirrorless camera is small, lightweight and easy to use, it’s accessible for everyone in all situations. The grip is big enough, and the large viewfinder helps line up scenes correctly.
The image stabilization comes from in-lens mechanics, allowing you more control over your shots. It exceeds with its shutter speed, reaching up to 16,000 with use of the electronic shutter. This makes it great at capturing fast moving objects. With the 20MP image, it’s more than enough to share and/or print.