Hello everyone, today I want to talk to you about mirrorless cameras which are rapidly gaining popularity, but are they really worth the money? Should you buy a mirrorless camera or a DSLR? Well, this isn't necessarily a straightforward question.

Hello everyone, today I want to talk to you about mirrorless cameras that are rapidly gaining popularity, but are they really worth the money?

Should you buy a mirrorless camera or a DSLR? Well, this isn't necessarily a straightforward question. Many photographers would argue that DSLRs are dead and mirrorless is the future, but we think a lot depends on your budget, what kind of kit you already own, and what you'll be shooting.

Mirrorless cameras have experienced a rapid rise in popularity and manufacturing over the past few years, with mirrorless camera production surpassing DSLR production for the first time in 2020. We'll discuss the key differences between mirrorless cameras and DSLRs, reasons to choose a mirrorless camera over a DSLR, and weigh the benefits of making the investment going forward.

If you're convinced you want a mirrorless camera, check out our guide to the best mirrorless cameras. But if a DSLR is more your style, then we've got a guide to the best DSLRs too. Or, if you want to know which cameras are the best overall, find the best cameras for photos and videos in our buying guide.

So mirrorless vs. DSLR – what’s the difference?

Let’s talk about some of the key differences between mirrorless cameras and DSLR cameras. Mirrorless cameras are smaller, lighter, and more portable than DSLRs, and this reason alone is enough for photographers to switch to mirrorless. The reason why they are so different in size is hidden in the name - mirrorless cameras don't need to be big enough to have a mirror built into the body. In a mirrorless camera, light passes directly through the lens and directly onto the sensor. In a DSLR camera, light passes through the lens and reflects off a mirror onto a prism, which then redirects the light to your eye through an optical viewfinder (OVF).

Mirrorless cameras are lighter, smaller, and more portable than DSLRs

As the camera market shifts increasingly toward mirrorless cameras, DSLRs are becoming increasingly affordable. The benefit of this is that you can often find better deals on DSLR cameras, especially on the second-hand market. Although mirrorless cameras do seem to be worth longer than DSLRs. For example, a DSLR camera with a high shutter number will be worth less than a mirrorless camera with the same shutter number. That's because there's no physical shutter mechanism in mirrorless cameras. There are a lot of differences between the two camera types, though, and you can find out more on our dedicated DSLR vs. mirrorless page.

Why choose mirrorless?

With the rise of mirrorless cameras, photographers are realizing that bigger doesn’t necessarily equal better. Portability is an important factor when choosing a camera, and mirrorless cameras are great for travel because they are small and light. If the camera is too small for you, there is also the option of purchasing a grip that attaches to the camera body. While this may sound like there's more to buy, it's better to have options because you can't make a DSLR smaller.

Another advantage of mirrorless cameras compared to DSLRs is the electronic viewfinder (EVF). Both the EVF and the LCD screen are electronic representations of what the sensor sees. This is advantageous because it shows how the image will look in real time. When you adjust a setting, you can directly see its effect on your image without having to test it first. It's a more intuitive way to shoot and can be the difference between a "shot" and a missed shot because you were too busy looking at the image you just captured. The EVF is great for astrophotography where the correct settings are required, and it also makes composing shots in the dark easier.

Mirrorless cameras have electronic viewfinders, making it easier to compose shots in low light

Mirrorless cameras are also quieter because they don't require a complex mirror system inside the camera body. In fact, you can use Silent Shooting mode to completely eliminate noise, which is ideal if you're shooting sports or any type of activity where shutter sound might be distracting.

Mirrorless camera technology has been improving at a rapid pace, and they are now leading the way with new autofocus systems. Tracking moving objects as well as face/eye detection and even animal eye detection becomes much easier with mirrorless cameras. Thanks to the EVF, you can see exactly which part of the image the camera is tracking. Most mirrorless cameras these days can actually focus better than DSLRs.

Many camera brands also include in-body image stabilization (IBIS) as a default setting on many new mirrorless cameras, as well as an image stabilization feature on many lenses. This is known to drain battery life, however, brands have been improving this.

When comparing mirrorless cameras to DSLRs, the main differences are build and usability. Ironically, image quality isn't necessarily a factor in practice, as there's usually not a huge difference between the two side-by-side.

Is mirrorless the future?

With companies putting more and more resources into mirrorless cameras and their rapidly improving technology, it's easy to see that mirrorless is definitely the future. The rise and success of Sony and Fujifilm full-frame mirrorless cameras have even prompted Canon and Nikon to enter the mirrorless market.

Mirrorless cameras are becoming more and more popular every year

Since mirrorless seems to be the way forward, you need to weigh whether mirrorless will actually benefit you. If you already have a comprehensive DSLR kit, does it make sense to switch to mirrorless? Maybe not. However, you can invest in a lens mount to use other lenses with your mirrorless camera, meaning you can keep your existing lenses without having to invest in a whole new kit. Since the flange distance is shorter on mirrorless cameras, using a lens with a lens mount usually ends up being a similar distance to a DSLR camera. This gives you access to any future lenses released, as well as cheaper lenses on the second hand market. The shorter flange distance also makes it easier for companies to design high-quality lenses for mirrorless cameras.

At its core, the decision of whether mirrorless is worth the money largely comes down to your personal needs – if everything we’ve mentioned here sounds beneficial to you, then it might be time to finally make the switch to mirrorless Reflector.