Is It Time to Go Mirrorless
Have you sworn to be buried with your DSLR in hand? Does a camera without a mirror just seem wrong? Have you scoffed at mirrorless much the same way so many of us once scoffed at digital? Or are you just on the fence as to whether you want to make an expensive change?
There is much to love about a good DSLR, and more recent models such as the Canon 5DMIV and Nikon D850 have many high-end features. But it you haven’t already done so it might be time to explore how a digital camera can enhance your work and shooting experience.
About eight years ago I bought my first mirrorless--a Sony NEX-7—from a photographer who cited poor lens selection as his reason for selling. It was lightweight and tiny at a time I was starting to deal with serious hand fatigue from my Canon 5DMIII. But there truly was a poor selection of lenses, and the menus, buttons, and other features were like an alien landscape after nearly a lifetime of shooting Canon. I decided to wait for Canon to release its first mirrorless. So I waited… and waited.
Then came the Sony A7rii, the first mirrorless to offer eye auto focus, in-body stabilization, and the ability to use an adapter with third party lenses. The latter was a game changer for me and many other photographers. I could justify a new camera if I could continue to use my Canon lenses; this was almost a necessity because even though the lens selection had expanded, it was still extremely limited. I started with just one Sony lens and an adapter and have added one G Master (top of the Sony line) lens each year.
Fast forward to the present. Canon is solidly in the game, and every year the major players race to provide the coolest new thing. Each manufacturer has a robust mirrorless lens lineup and offers adapters to shoot with legacy lenses. Without getting too granular, here’s an overview of what the top mirrorless cameras can offer.
The ability to capture the most fleeting moment: Because mirrorless cameras don’t rely on mechanical shutters, they can capture an incredible number of frames per second. Paired with the right combination of settings, fast camera cards, and lenses designed to focus quickly, the Sony A1 and Nikon Z9 are capable of shooting 30 frames per second; Canon R5 shoots 20.
The ability to quickly focus on almost anything: Mirrorless cameras use both phase and contrast detection and have autofocus points covering almost the entire sensor. There are also many choices for focus area and method. This means that if you suddenly see a bird fly from a tree the camera can usually grab focus even if you’re catching it from near the edge of the viewfinder. Add to that an increasing array of specialized focus recognition targets—bird/human/animal eye focus, planes, cars, and others—and the hit rate for achieving focus far
outweighs the miss rate. This, combined with fast frame rates, can be a game changer for wildlife, sports, and other action photography.
Improved performance in challenging lighting: In the past we had to choose whether to buy more expensive and heavier lenses with stabilization. Now this is offered in the camera, allowing us to confidently hand hold at longer shutter speeds. Most digital cameras are better at focusing in lower light, too, and noise is usually much better, especially in the shadows.
The ability to hand-hold for longer periods of time with less fatigue: Anyone who has ever shot a wedding or long event knows they’re going to feel it after handling two full-sized bodies and multiple lenses over the course of a long day. For me, this was a major factor in switching to mirrorless. Not only are the cameras much lighter, but mirrorless lenses are significantly lighter, too.
The ability to instantly see changes to exposure settings: I can’t stress enough how much this has changed and improved my photography. Being able to see your image as you change settings gives you complete control. I used to shoot primarily in aperture priority, but now I am rarely out of manual mode. I have my camera controls custom set so that I can make changes without taking my eye away from the viewfinder. I realize this inherent understanding of exposure is a hallmark of professional photography, but I never entirely got there without pain. If in doubt, I can also choose to see a histogram in my viewfinder so I can quickly adjust to avoid clipping,
Amazing resolution: Do a search and you can find lots of discussion comparing the resolution of the latest digital cameras to medium format. Most recent digitals are in the 42mp to 60mp range, resulting in the ability to get a great photo at extreme crops, and to print extremely large prints without extrapolating.
In truth, this is just scratching the surface of what mirrorless cameras can do. I haven’t talked at all about video capabilities, wifi, Bluetooth, and faster flash-sync speeds.
If you’re considering making the switch, I recommend taking some time to think about what’s most important to you based on the work you currently do, and then think about things you would like to be able to do or frustration points with your current system. With those things in mind, check out the offerings. While some of the things I’ve discussed are offered on flagship cameras with hefty price tags, each year many of these features are being incorporated in less expensive models.
I know one thing: I will never go back!