When we enter the field of photography professionally and have to choose between which professional cameras we will choose to accompany our service: DSLR cameras or mirrorless cameras ?, this is the question that surprises photographers these days, when faced with all the features of mirrorless cameras. and the image and video quality they can provide. Each of them has its pros and cons, and in this article we will help you understand what works best for you.
Unlike mirrorless cameras, DSLR cameras have the same design as 35mm sensor cameras, inside your body you’ll find a prism that directly reflects the image captured by the lens in the camera viewfinder, so you have a real, straightforward view. of what is being taken or photographed, and then apply your lighting and focus techniques to take a photo that meets your requirements. When you press the shutter, this prism rises and the light goes directly to the image sensor that records your photo.
- In mirrorless cameras.
- This prismatic mirror is not present and the image captured by the photographic lens is projected into an electronic viewfinder.
- Some camera models such as the Sony Alpha Mrrorless provide a second viewfinder (EVF) where you can view the image projected by the viewfinder.
- As with the Sony Alpha A6300 and Sony Alpha a6500.
- But not having a mirror is not an inconvenience.
- Understand why:.
Because they support a mirror that receives the image of the lens and prism that is projected into the viewfinder, DSLR cameras tend to be much larger and more robust than mirrorless cameras Some DSLR models weigh up to 1. 5 kg and are almost 10 cm long. they are compact and lightweight, which can be carried in small pockets, backpacks, without adding too much weight without their size interfering with image quality and therefore become more convenient for professionals working in more than one field of photography or video, or for those who need it a lot. mobility.
See below this comparison between a Sony a9 and a Canon 1DX
In this sense, DSLR cameras have a point of view for the technology they use call?Focus phases? It quickly measures the depth of subjects and lighting, separating more precisely the objects to focus on and at a much higher speed than mirrorless cameras.
The cameras feature a contrast focus system, where the sensor captures the largest points of light and subject coverage to adjust focus, making it a little slower in low-light environments and Mirrorless cameras in this regard feature LED lights and additional photo equipment. with better resolutions in low light conditions.
The positive thing in this case is that the contrast system joins the sensor and, with it, the ability to record a greater amount of light increases the number of focus points, reaching up to 425 points as in the Alpha a6300, while cameras like Nikon The D3400 have 11 more accurate phase bulbs in terms of depth , in any case both work with hybrid sensors for faster speed.
As explained, the DSLR camera projects the image directly into the viewfinder as it will be captured, with ISO settings, aperture and focus, for example, already programmed by the photographer, and the shot must be adjusted with each new lighting condition. Mirror cameras, the projection on the LCD allows you to have other lighting perspectives to change your final result, being able to adjust the functionality without mirror to obtain a different lighting than the one captured by the lens.
Some mirror camera models have a viewfinder that simulates the viewfinder and still allow real-time settings in screen display mode. In addition, better technology has been developed to work with transmission systems and audio and video monitors. DSLRs are distinguished by their accuracy in low-light environments, as the display provides more detail and control over the situation.
Both models have developed good image stabilization systems, but mirrorless cameras have gained confidence when it comes to sharper images. DSLR cameras have image stabilization in the camera itself, effectively stabilizing the image sensor, but they talk about some models of photographic lenses, which are usually more expensive The same optically stabilized lenses have less camera compatibility, making it more expensive to buy DSLR lenses with stabilization system than for mirrorless cameras.
Mirrorle Sony and Panasonic cameras have adopted an internal axis system, which not only keeps the sensor stable, but adjusts it to suit camera movement. This Steady Shot stabilizer works independently and you don’t need a lens to do so. However, Panansic’s Mirrorless Cameras offer mounting for MFT lenses with electronic conversations, while Sony offers the full range of E-mount lenses, allowing for greater compatibility of professional lenses while maintaining professional stabilization quality.
Mirrorless cameras and DSLR cameras are difficult at this comparison point. DSLRs produce images with less noise, even at high ISO levels, delivering satisfactory results in low-light areas. In the first lines of mirrorless cameras, the grain left something to be desired, but today and the new Lines Sony Alpha Mirrorless and Panasonic Lumix GHX Mirrorless have a chip in their sensors that eliminates grain points surprisingly provide images with very low points in the image, similar to DSLRs.
Larger sensors are another feature of the new mirrorless models, without the large mirrors to reflect the image in the viewfinder, it was possible to make a better investment in mirrorless cameras with Full Frame sensors that record in 4K and Full HD. previously they were only found on powerful professional cameras, with some models from the Canon EOS 5D Mark range.
DSLR cameras do not have the ability to use the Phase Focus system in their videos, using the contrast detection system that is already used in mirrorless photography, i. e. SLR cameras have their own image focus system with good performance and another used in video. which has been adopted and improved by its competitor to be used in both photography and video.
Thanks to chips placed in mirrorless cameras to absorb the sound of photos, it is possible to use the same effect during recording, which results in better focus quality on the videos, offering a continuous focus to keep the subject in the foreground, even with other objects close to the camera lens or that intersect in the director’s path. All in 4K quality.
Olympus DSLR camera models have joined similar DSLR models to also support 4K, Full HD and HD resolutions, inspired by cameras like the Nikon D5 that also use the same system to capture images and share them for Ultra HD in videos. Mirrorless cameras meet the needs of filmmakers of all levels, offering 4K resolutions, while to achieve the same quality, you need to use professional DSLR cameras, which can do more according to the photographer’s choice.
DSLR cameras always use a mechanical shutter system, where diaphragm blades determine the quality of light entering the sensor, thus reducing efficiency and firing speed, compared to mirrorless cameras, which use electronic shutters that facilitate the separation and capture of large amounts of images. Per second. , Sony Alpha models already have at least 6 photos per second (FPS) keeping the average of 05. More advanced mirrorless models achieve higher speeds.
In short, they are at the same level, increasingly improving their technologies, making the photographic market more intense. DSLR cameras offer more models of accessories for photography and video, facilitating the quality and end-of-life of professional recordings. and the convenience of your work. The quality of mirrorless cameras is already recognized worldwide, although DSLRs are better known and popular due to features well known to professionals.