Two-sided debates have always consumed the photographic industry, be it film versus digital, primes versus zooms, or manual versus automatic. It is only fitting that the latest developments in camera design have spawned a new conversation: DSLR or mirrorless. Photographers old and new are asking the question, “Should I go mirrorless?” and, as we look forward to 2016, a definitive answer has only become more difficult to pin down. Right now there are some clear pros and cons to each system and, hopefully, after seeing the main points you will be better equipped when you make a decision.
Is Bigger Still Better?
When you look at a line of DSLRs, it has always been easy to pick out the top dog. Flagship models usually boast large bodies with added buttons, dials, controls, and super-sized batteries that mark them as the “professional’s” camera. And this is alongside industry-leading features and specs. Lately, the most revolutionary and impressive cameras have been tiny compared to these classic flagships, with models such as the Sony a7R II packing in a high-resolution full-frame sensor, along with stellar autofocus and 4K video recording.
With this camera being significantly smaller than most DSLRs, it is starting to change the opinion that bigger equals better, even though the Canon 1DX Mark II and Nikon D5 still show there’s merit to the bigger body.
Mirrorless has always touted its diminished size advantage, especially with the Micro Four Thirds format, which promised near-equal image quality to the common DSLR. The smaller sensor afforded designers the ability to shrink the camera while balancing image quality, making it much better than existing compacts with fixed lenses. Over time, other formats joined the mirrorless ranks, including 1", APS-C, and full-frame, but thanks to the omission of a mirror box and optical viewfinder, these cameras were able to shave off a chunk of weight and bulk with ease.
Today, you will likely be able to find a mirrorless camera that checks off all the necessary requirements and save your back and shoulder from a few more pounds of gear. But, make sure you find one that is comfortable for you. If a larger DSLR feels better in the hand, you may find the additional weight is not as important as comfort.
The Viewfinder Debate
One major point of contention of a mirrorless system is the use of an electronic viewfinder instead of the tried-and-true optical system. DSLRs are loved because of their true-to-life through-the-lens optical viewfinder system, which uses a series of mirrors to reflect light to your eye. Mirrorless cameras, on the other hand, eliminate all the prisms to make significant savings on size, but require an electronic viewfinder or LCD screen for image monitoring. If there is one thing photographers have learned to trust above any display, it is their own eye. We have even created the term “chimping” to describe the act of checking images on the rear screen. So where do shooters fall on the optical versus electronic spectrum? Right down the middle.
This is one of the easiest ways to decide if you should “go mirrorless.” If you can’t stomach the thought of replacing your trusty optical finder with an electronic display, then you will do best sticking to the classic SLR. There are other reasons to keep the OVF over a newfangled EVF, including the ability to compose without turning on the camera, an “unlimited” dynamic range, and the fact that it is the “real” image being presented to you with absolutely no lag or delay. Electronic viewfinders have usually been plagued by two things: resolution and refresh rates. If you look through an EVF and can make out the pixels, it can ruin the experience. Likewise, if you start shooting and miss the shot because the image you were looking at was a few frames behind, it can be incredibly disappointing. However, screen technology has gotten better and better, making this less of an issue today and even less so tomorrow.
The latest EVFs have gotten quite good, with current models offering in excess of 2.36 million dots (usually 3 dots = 1 pixel) and boasting refresh rates greater than 60 fps, making this less of an issue. It is still a concern if this is going to be your first EVF, but most forward-thinking users are able to quickly and easily adjust to the system and benefit from their numerous advantages. Being a screen, it has access to many digital-only features. Users can punch-in to check focus, put up a histogram for exposure, and have a digital level all in view without removing their eye from the viewfinder. Hybrid shooters can also record video with the same display with which they compose images, making it an apt documentary tool. I’ve shot in pitch-black theaters using the viewfinder to avoid the distracting “glow” of an LCD. One final bonus is that what you see is what you get, meaning that what you see in the viewfinder is exactly how the image will be captured. So, even if EVFs aren’t quite perfect, they do a spectacular job and are loaded with features.
Lenses, Mounts, and Adapters
DLSRs will have the greatest selection of lenses, with many specialized optics, and have tried-and-true electronics with complete autofocus support and stabilization. They will also have greater selection of certain common lenses such as all-in-one zooms or the classic 50mm and more third-party support. Mirrorless systems are newer, and so are still working to catch up, though they do have impressive optics themselves. If you are looking at a new mirrorless system, make sure that you can get the lens you need in the system you want to purchase, as the lens will have a larger impact on your images than the camera and will last far longer.
If you already own a vast and varied collection of lenses, mirrorless may be the way to go, since the adapter market has exploded in recent years— you can pair almost every kind of vintage or current lens with a modern camera body. So, if you prefer manual optics or are looking to move into digital from your film setup, a mirrorless camera may be best. Also, newer adapters are incorporating electronics, such as these from Metabones for connecting Canon EF lenses to Sony E bodies with full communication, and this Techart PRO option that adds autofocus to purely manual Leica M-mount lenses.
Which Takes Better Photos?
Neither. DSLRs and mirrorless cameras each offer their own unique features and are constantly being updated. It seems that mirrorless bodies have been getting more attention, as of late, with some of the latest features coming to these models before DSLRs, but DSLRs are very much in the game.
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Interestingly, point-and-shoots have also edged their way up the chain with powerful models like the Sony RX1R II and the Nikon DL series that offer professional features in exceptionally compact forms. Photographers may be better off picking up a point-and-shoot instead of a mirrorless if all they want is a small camera for travel or day-to-day use.
In the End…
… it doesn’t really matter. Pick the camera that you feel most comfortable with or gives you the features you need for your work. If you need 4K video and exceptionally high-resolution stills, you may be best suited with a Sony a7R II. If you want to shoot fast-paced sports in a professional environment with some long glass, then a Nikon D5 or Canon 1D X Mark II may be just what you need. Trying to save on weight for your next camping trip, an Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II could be right up your alley. Or, if you are a new parent wanting great images in a camera that fits in a purse, the Nikon DL24-85 could be just right, and you don’t even need to worry about lenses. Find out what is comfortable and fits your needs, and don’t worry about the DSLR versus mirrorless debate.
