Mirrorless cameras – the latest hi-tech gadget for photography lovers
Such cameras are still relatively new, so as time goes by, the technology will improve
DSLR (digital single-lens reflex) cameras have been at the forefront of photo technology for two decades now.
But a newer kind of photo gadget is starting to challenge DSLRs for the lead – mirrorless cameras.
You might not know exactly what they are, but you’ve probably heard of them, because they’re hot in the photo world right now. Whether you should buy one or not, though, depends on your needs as a photographer or videographer.
Here’s how mirrorless cameras compare to traditional DSLRs:
How is a mirrorless camera different from a DSLR?
The big difference between a mirrorless camera and a DSLR comes from how their image sensors and viewfinders work.
Image sensors are the chips inside cameras that capture the photograph by detecting and recording the light coming into the camera. Viewfinders, meanwhile, are the part of the camera that you look through to compose a shot; they typically include a small optical lens are placed at the top of the camera.
DSLRs use a mirror system, which bounces the light coming through the main camera lens up to the viewfinder. When you press the shutter button, the camera flips the mirror out of the way and the image sensor is exposed to light. The advantage of the mirrors is that they allow you to frame a shot precisely the way the image sensor will record it.
