DSLR vs. Mirrorless
When digital cameras were introduced into the market, they quickly replaced film and caused a disruption in photography. It made photography available to just about anyone regardless of their skill level. What the Digital Age ushered in was the availability of affordable consumer electronic devices which anyone can use. What followed was the Computer and then Information Age which led to the development of digital cameras. Film cameras became obsolete due to the more advanced features that digital cameras provided.
The DSLR
The DSLR (Digital Single Lens Reflex) camera became popular for its ease of use and high quality. Although they can be quite expensive, a DSLR provides great quality and lower cost for imaging. Since images don’t need to be captured on film, it lowered costs with the use of reusable digital storage. Photographers also could see in their camera display an approximation of their exposure, thus giving them an idea of how the image will appear without having to develop it first which you have to do with film. Most DSLR functions were also electronic and customizable, offering photographers more features to use. The DSLR had maintained the 35 mm format from film cameras along with the viewfinder and detachable lenses, but the camera body was the main difference. Instead of film to capture the image, the DSLR uses electronic sensors. The image is then saved to digital storage (e.g. SD Card) that can then be transferred to a computer for further editing and retouching.
The introduction of a digital workflow saved photographers not just money, but also time. It often takes a long time to process images from film since it requires working in a dark room. Digital images are instant and immediately available so that photographers can take as many exposures as they need with their storage size the only constraint. It still had more advantage than film since you can typically shoot hundreds of images to digital storage (even thousands depending on the capacity of the storage device). With film, the photographer can only shoot up to 36 exposures per roll of film (35 mm) and even less with medium format film cameras.
While a DSLR is electronic-based, it still makes use of mirrors. The mirror forms a part of a camera’s optical system. That means that there are plenty of moving parts in a DSLR that has to deal with the camera’s optics. Having to move the lens to focus properly on an image so that it is aligned to the sensor requires complicated mechanical parts. This can also limit or affect the speed at which a camera can capture frames of a scene, like in video or for slow motion captures. To address this, electronic sensors were designed to overcome issues with optical elements of the camera. This has led to the introduction of mirrorless cameras.
The Mirrorless
Mirrorless cameras are also called MILC (Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens Camera), allows the light to pass through the lens and directly to the camera’s sensor. Whereas the DSLR followed the same principles of using mirrors like in traditional film cameras, a mirrorless camera uses electronics to view the subject without using mirrors. Mirrorless cameras show the image directly on the rear LCD display. Early generation of mirrorless cameras did not have a viewfinder, but now camera makers have added a feature called the EVF (Electronic Viewfinder). You would normally take the shot by using the camera’s LCD display rather than placing it to your eye like with a viewfinder.
Mirrorless cameras also have a lighter and smaller form factor, since it doesn’t contain mirrors. With less moving parts, mirrorless cameras also have the advantage of being faster than DSLR. They are great for capturing slow motion since they have the capability to capture more frames per second. It also shoots exposures much more quieter than a DSLR. Other than having no mirror, DSLR and mirrorless are actually still based on the same design that use electronic sensors that replaces film. Mirrorless are no more superior than DSLR are to film. They are all cameras and what they do is create images. In terms of quality, you cannot really say that just because it is mirrorless that it will be higher quality than DSLR. Much like you cannot really say that DSLR has more quality than film. Their main differences are in their construction and features.
One thing early adopters complained about was the battery time. Compared to DSLR, mirrorless cameras consume more battery power due to its more electronic design. Using the EVF on a mirrorless camera is one feature that requires a lot of power. There are third party accessories that provide longer lasting battery solutions by providing a grip. That allows the photographer to utilize two batteries, one on camera and the other on the grip. One hack some photographers recommend is to simply turn off the mirrorless camera when not in use to save battery. Other photographers would just buy a secondary battery to bring on their shoot, but that adds to expenses. These are being addressed, so eventually new versions will not suffer the same problems. Advances in battery technology will surely be helpful.
Why Cameras Have Mirrors
Prior to digital electronic sensors, cameras used film to capture images (i.e. photos or prints). The mirror is used to allow the photographer to see the image through the viewfinder. A system of mirrors reflects the subject to the eye via the viewfinder. Once the shutter opens, it allows the light to go through the lens with the amount of light determined by the opening of the aperture. The mirror must then move out of the path of the light coming into the film once the shutter button is released. The film is exposed to the light and the image is created. Film would later be replaced by a sensor on DSLR cameras.
With mirrorless cameras the mirror becomes insignificant to the image creation process. Since there is no need for a viewfinder, mirrors are not used. The sensors are charged couple devices that can capture light directly through the lens. Later mirrorless cameras would incorporate an EVF. It is a more complex system to create the image, that involves an image signal processor, while on film it just requires the light for exposure. By removing the mirror element, mirrorless cameras are much lighter, compact and also faster when it comes to focusing (less moving parts).
The Market
While the DSLR quickly replaced film cameras, the introduction of mirrorless did not quite have the same impact. Mirrorless have been around since 2008 ( Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1), but have not overtaken DSLR in sales. One might have assumed that since mirrorless is based on much more advanced technology, photographers would flock to it in droves. That has not been the case as sales have shown that mirrorless has actually been in a sort of plateau with gradual spikes. DSLR on the other hand, reached a peak around 2009 and then suddenly declined. However, mirrorless did not significantly lead to the lower sales of DSLR. This has been more attributed to the rise in smartphone sales. Since smartphone makers integrated camera features, the demand for digital cameras overall have declined.
DSLR cameras, at their initial price range, are much more affordable than mirrorless cameras. Mirrorless can be quite expensive due to their more electronic design. DSLR cameras have also achieved more scale and distribution than mirrorless cameras, so they are readily available. The demand for entry level photographers is geared toward the low end DSLR line up, but now there are also affordable mirrorless cameras in the market. Lenses have always been an issue for DSLR photographers moving to mirrorless due to compatibility issues. In order to use older lenses with a mirrorless body, it will require a ring adapter.
Which One Is Better?
Are mirrorless better than DSLR?
Mirrorless cameras are known for having superior quality. However this can be misleading information. This is because when compared to high-end DSLR, the quality is mostly the same and not very noticeable unless viewed in high resolution. There are DSLR cameras that are more superior than some mirrorless cameras and vice versa. Quality in an image has more to do with the lens and sensor combination, not the mirror. The best image quality come from the best glass on a lens paired with large sensor sizes.
A mirrorless camera’s main advantage is the speed, smaller size and lighter weight. An example of mirrorless cameras that are really compact are the one integrated with smartphones. They fit right in the palm of your hand. That can quickly go out the door if you are using a large lens on a mirrorless body. Mirrorless are also quieter, thus making them ideal for event shoots like weddings or speaking events. When shooting more intimate moments, some silence may allow for less distractions and more on capturing the scenery and emotions.
The price difference makes mirrorless more a premium product, but they usually go down in price when a new version arrives. When market demand shifts toward mirrorless, DSLR will gradually disappear. Mirrorless provide a more compact version of the DSLR and its capabilities with added features. It was like how the DSLR made image capture on a film camera digital. There are still high-end DSLR and film cameras, but in the long run they will become more expensive to use as parts become rare. It is like that already with film, since demand for it has declined so has production.
It may even be fair to say that if a user’s imaging needs are met by their smartphone camera, a DSLR or mirrorless becomes unnecessary. It appears that DSLR and mirrorless cameras are becoming more of a prosumer device since consumers are putting off their purchase since they are already satisfied with their smartphone camera. Image quality of the highest degree is more for professionals and content creators, while the average consumer just wants to take photos for sharing and social media. In the end it really becomes a matter of choice and preference to ones needs when it comes to taking photos.
