Many of amateurs might not know what dslr cameras are or whats the differences between Mirrorless and DSLR camera well don’t worry, you are at the right article.
Mirrorless cameras are known as Compact System Camera, or CSC for short. They are similar to DSLR cameras in that both can change their lenses. But the first differs in the absence of the mirror system that distinguishes the second.
In 2008, Panasonic announced the Lumix G1, the world’s first professional mirrorless camera. Before this time it was very easy to give advice to anyone who wanted to enter the world of professional photography, as you had no choice but to buy a DSLR camera.
Which means that a mirrorless camera may be smaller, lighter and simpler mechanically, and it can also resemble the large compact cameras to which DSLR cameras belong. At the same time, it also differs in some matters, without the mirror system, the optical Viewfinder system will not be available, as some cameras of this class depend on the small screen on the back of the camera or on the electronic Viewfinder system, and there are some doubts about the quality of the image captured using the Mirrorless camera, In addition to the specifications and features, the most important thing is that many lenses compatible with this class were not available in the past.
But with the development of Mirrorless camera types and systems as well as the increase in the number of compatible lenses, has this class of cameras become a comparison or even superiority to DSLR cameras?
In this article, we try to answer this question by identifying the most important fundamental differences between the two categories, with a focus on the impact of these differences on the daily use of the camera.
Table of Contents
The main differences between a mirrorless camera and a DSLR
Size and weight
- DSLR camera: large and heavy, which may be an advantage when photographing with Telephoto telephoto lenses
- Mirrorless Camera: Smaller and lighter, but in some cases and with some types and categories of lenses, the size may reach the size of a DSLR camera.
Mirrorless Camera Small size and light weight are among the most important points in the promotion and marketing of the Mirrorless category. But at the same time, the compact size may not be a strong point if we do not take into account the proportionality between the size of the camera and the size of the lenses. In some cases with full-frame sensor cameras, the camera is thin, small and light, but it needs large and heavy lenses, which will negatively affect the camera and its life span.
However, some high-quality and high-priced mirrorless cameras are currently issued in a larger size that is very similar to DSLR cameras, while some of the last category cameras belonging to the entry-level category in the world of photography are significantly smaller in size.
Lenses
- DSLR Camera: Canon and Nikon cameras have a large number of different lenses to suit all shooting situations
- Mirrorless camera: Olympus, Panasonic and Fujifilm cameras have a good and increasing range of lenses, unlike Sony cameras, which are still of little versatility but are trying to increase the variety and number of their lenses.
If you want to have a camera that has enough lenses to test all the different possible shooting modes, there is no solution and no alternative to a DSLR camera, whether it is a Canon camera or Nikon cameras. They both have enough lenses in number and categories for everything a photographer dreams of, in addition to being compatible with a number of independent lens companies such as Sigma and Tamron.
Certainly, the age difference between DSLR and Mirrorless cameras contributes to the superiority of the first over the second in terms of the number and diversity of lenses, but the second type, who is ten years old, is trying to catch up with the first type in terms of the number of lenses. Olympus and Panasonic’s cameras rely on the same Micro Four Thirds lens port, so there are lenses that can cover a wide range of imaging modes from wide-angle to high-quality telephoto lenses.
At the same time, Fujifilm seeks to support its cameras with a number of different lenses, including powerful telephoto lenses, for example, even a group of 18-55 mm lens for beginners can perform outstandingly. But Fujifilm cameras still have a large number of shooting modes that the company seeks to cover with the appropriate lenses.
Viewfinder system
- DSLR Camera: A large number of photographers prefer the optical Viewfinder system because of its clarity, conformity to reality and no slowdown or suspension.
- Mirrorless Camera: Thanks to some other photographers, seeing the final image before capturing it on the back screen
Mirrorless If you don’t know what Viewfinder is then let me try to explain it simply. Professional cameras have a small viewing port on top of their body, similar to the port we used to look through to capture images with old film cameras. This port in modern professional cameras can provide a range of information and data about the image’s position and about the settings that you specify during shooting.
In the case of even cheap DSLR cameras, an optical viewfinder is available, which is a natural system that relies on the mirrors system available inside the camera, which ultimately leads to reflecting the real image inside the viewport. It is a better system in terms of clarity, matching the image to reality, as the image is not digital or prepared by the camera, in addition to that the system cannot be subjected to any slowdown or suspension.
Some mirrorless cameras do not come with a Vewfinder system at all, which means that the rear screen is not used, which makes photography a bit difficult in sunlight, which may hinder the clear view of the screen. Some of the other cameras, which are the most expensive of them, of course include an electronic Viewfinder system, not optical, which does not depend on the mirror system as it is not present in this type of camera, so some image is directly from the sensor without passing through the system of mirrors and reflections, which means that The picture you see through the viewport is more digital than real.
The Viewfinder electronic system has evolved to make it harder to see the pixels and noise that were in this system in previous cameras. However, up to this point, some delay in system absorption can be observed if the camera is rapidly changed direction or moved. Also, some professional photographers prefer to see the realistic image as if they see it with their own eyes, which is available in any DSLR camera.
As for the benefits of the electronic Viewfinder system, it can be summed up in its ability to display more information and data related to the imaging, and it can also simulate the final digital image that the camera will take after these settings, which may provide viewing the image through the back screen before capturing it, as is the case in DSLR cameras. Ultimately it depends on your personal preferences and desires.
Auto focus
- DSLR camera: This type of autofocus is distinguished in fast action photography
- Mirrorless camera: It is characterized by the use of auto focus via Live View using the LCD screen in the back of the camera
A DSLR camera has a highly accurate and fast autofocus system, as the system is located under the mirrors inside the camera body. This system has a very fast speed that makes it best for shooting fast moving objects. The problem with this system is that, as I mentioned, it depends on the presence of the bottom of the camera’s mirrors, but when using the Live View feature, which depends on looking at the back-camera screen for photography or video shooting, which forces the camera to shift the direction of the mirrors and thus this auto-focus system disables Work, and thus the camera also has to switch to another system that relies on the image captured through the lens sensor, which slightly reduces the quality, speed and accuracy of focusing.
Some recent Canon DSLR cameras rely on the Dual Pixel CMOS autofocus system, which is an integrated system within the camera’s sensor, allowing fast and accurate autofocus even when using Live View mode.
Mirrorless cameras rely on an autofocus system that relies on a system built into the camera sensor, while some modern cameras rely on a hybrid autofocus system that combines the built-in sensor system with a contrast autofocus system, which is a system capable of autofocusing quickly and with remarkable accuracy.
Video shooting
- DSLR Camera: It was the best for many years, but its strong competitor stopped this advantage
- Mirrorless camera: 4K quality and autofocus compatible with Live View may make it the future of video shooting
Mirrorless camera Before the development of mirrorless cameras, DSLR cameras provided high quality HD and Full HD supported by distinct features in addition to a large number of lenses and accessories that made it a crowning queen in the world of video photography. This has changed with the development of the second category cameras, which were able to provide features and advantages that no DSLR camera can provide.
Unlike DSLR cameras, most mirrorless cameras are characterized by the availability of 4K quality in video shooting, in addition to the advanced processing system and the auto focus system using the accurate and fast back screen, and the accessories and assistance systems are increasing dramatically in the last period to provide an integrated video imaging system.
Other differences
Properties
The characteristics of the two types do not differ much as both offer an integrated manual control system.
picture quality
The two types don’t differ much in terms of pixel size. It is also not different in the case of sensor size, it is easy to find the same sensor size in the two types in the case of full-frame sensor cameras or APS-C sensors.
At the same time, some inexpensive mirrorless cameras offer a lower image configuration, which means lower quality as well, but they have a very decent size and definitely an affordable price as well. So you have to decide between compact size and superior quality.
Battery life
The DSLR camera has more battery life than its competitor, as it can capture between 600 to 800 photos per charge, and some of its expensive types can capture more than 1000 photos. Mirrorless cameras can only capture between 300 to 400 images on a single charge.
Price
In the event that you look at the capabilities and specifications, regardless of the price, there are no major differences between the two types, in any high financial category you will be able to buy any of the two types with almost the same specifications. This differs slightly if you consider the price or buy a camera for beginners, in this case what cheap DSLRs provide is better than what a mirrorless camera of the same price category can provide.
Conclusion
The technical differences between DSLRs and mirrorless cameras cannot be the only differences we have to pay attention to when choosing the best camera. Experimentation and testing are the best that can help you make the right choice. But before testing and trying, just remember this summary:
DSLR cameras are powerful and can provide excellent value for their price category, whether inexpensive or high, and provide the most suitable means for old school lovers in photography in addition to their ability to capture high-quality images. The mirrorless camera is clearly smaller, technically advanced, and appears to be the way to the future.
