You probably have heard the hype between DSLR and mirrorless cameras. But the question is, is there really a difference between the two? And if there is, which is better than the other? As the DSLR vs Mirrorless battle ensues, it is important that you be knowledgeable of the key differences between the two. In this article, we will be explaining how both work, the features that make each one of them unique, and any other thing that you need to know when it comes to mirrorless and DSLR cameras.
DSLR Vs Mirrorless: What Separates The Two – CSC or Compact System Cameras are often denoted as mirrorless because unlike SLR or single lens reflex cameras, they do not have a mirror to reflect light from the lens into a pentamirror or pentaprism viewfinder. Because this pentaprism and the mirror are absent makes it possible for mirrorless cameras to be made much smaller than the standard Digital SLR cameras. CSC cameras mainly differ from compact cameras in the sense that they accept interchangeable lenses which are made as a part of the system.
As earlier mentioned, DSLRs have optical viewfinders that make it possible to show the view through a lens after it’s been reflected off the mirror into the pentaprism – which then flips the image so that it projected the right way up on the viewfinder. Since the mirror sits in front of the sensor, it has to be lifted and the shutter opened to make it possible for an image to be captured. During this exposure, the viewfinder gets blacked out for a brief period.
For a CSC camera, the only thing that serves as a barrier between then sensor and the light is a shutter curtain. This curtain options to expose the sensor allowing for a live view feed to be sent to the screen or electronic viewfinder at the back of the camera. Nonetheless, this too has to shut and open fast to allow for shot exposure, before closing and re-opening again. Mirrorless cameras have electronic shutters which work by taking snippets of each live view feed.
When comparing DSLR vs Mirrorless it is important that you consider a couple of things in the bid to know which is better than the other. Here are some quick previews of some of the things that stand out between the two.
Speed – when it comes to speed, the mirrorless camera is much faster considering that it can use both electronic and mechanical shutters.
Image Quality – image quality wise, both types can produce high-quality images with most cameras sharing similar resolutions and graininess.
Video quality – on matters of video quality, the mirrorless stands out as it possesses far superior autofocus capabilities making it easier to really good results fast.
Battery life – DSLR cameras generally have longer battery life since they can shoot without the need of using an electronic viewfinder or LCD screen which consume lots of power. As such, they can shoot for far longer on just one battery.
