What are the pros and cons of mirrorless cameras compared with DSLRs?
Asked 5/2/2015
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I’m considering moving from a traditional DSLR to a mirrorless camera and would like a practical comparison from photographers who have used both. What are the main advantages and disadvantages of mirrorless systems versus DSLRs, especially in terms of size, handling, and lens/body design?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
11y ago
2 Answers
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Here are different elements that you could consider as pros, cons, and sometimes in the middle, depending on the photography you do, concerning mirrorless cameras.
Smaller and lighter: Thanks to the absence of a mirror (used to project the light coming from the lens through the optical viewfinder on DSLRs), the distance between the sensor and the lens is narrower, resulting in smaller and lighter bodies. Furthermore, as the lenses are closer to the sensor, they can have a smaller diameter, resulting in smaller and lighter lenses too! Nevertheless, in some cases, having a big camera can be useful. For example, when doing long exposure photography, it's nice to have a sturdy setup. Else, having a bigger camera can look more professional and this can be seen as an advantage for some photographers. Furthermore, the grip is usually better on bigger cameras.
Smaller battery life: This is definitively a con. As the light is actually captured by the sensor and recomputed in order to be displayed on the screen (or the electronic view finder), the battery lasts less longer than DSLRs. Furthermore, as the bodies are generally smaller, the batteries are also smaller resulting in much shorter battery life.
Focus: As the focus is computed directly with the sensor, it should be more precise. However, it is usually slower than DSLRs focus system.
Lenses choice: The big DSLR brands (like Nikon or Canon) have a huge range of prime and zooms lenses, while mirrorless cameras usually have less choice. However, this will probably equilibrate in the future as mirrorless cameras are becoming more and more popular
I've been using a DSLR for years and I'm now about to switch
Originally by user21665. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user21665
11y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
A key advantage of mirrorless cameras is size and weight. Because they don’t use a reflex mirror, the body can be smaller and lighter, and lens designs can sometimes be more compact as well.
That said, smaller isn’t always better. A larger DSLR-style body can feel more stable in the hand, may balance better with bigger lenses, and can be an advantage for some uses such as long exposures where a sturdier setup is welcome. Some photographers also prefer the more substantial, “professional” feel of larger cameras.
So the trade-off is mainly portability versus handling. Mirrorless is attractive if you want a lighter kit and more compact system. A DSLR may still appeal if you value a bigger grip, more mass, or the ergonomics of a larger camera body.
In short: mirrorless generally wins on compactness, while DSLRs can still have practical advantages in comfort and stability depending on how you shoot.
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