DSLR cameras and mirrorless (microsilicon) cameras? What are the pros and cons? Is it worth buying a SLR now? And so on, problems will inevitably bother new photographers. Today I will break it apart for you and analyze it carefully.
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digital SLR camera is also called digital single-lens reflex camera.
It has a mechanical reflector, a phase detection autofocus system and an optical viewfinder designed with a pentagon mirror or pentprism.
SLR camera is a continuation of the SLR camera originally developed for film. When digital sensors developed, camera companies treated them like film and installed them in the same type of mechanical body. Many aspects of the construction of a DSLR camera are similar to that of an film DSLR camera .
Although technological advances ultimately add new features (GPS, WiFi, HDR, etc.) to DSLRs, they are still huge and mechanically complex, mainly due to the optical viewfinder. After all, the optical viewfinder of the DSLR can only work by relying on the mirror in front of the camera sensor. The mirror reflects light into a pentaprism or pentameter mirror above the sensor and outputs it in the viewfinder. All of these components are big and bulky. Although companies such as Canon and Nikon have done their best, DSLR cameras can only become so small.
Also, during the transition from film SLR camera to digital SLR camera, some camera manufacturers keep their original film SLR lens compatible with the newly released DSLR body to simplify the transition from film to digital. The problem with
also leads to DSLRs being limited to larger sizes and shapes to maintain compatibility with traditional lenses. Specifically, the lens mount and flange distance need to be kept at the same size as before, which again prevented the camera company from shrinking its DSLR.
Nevertheless, DSLR cameras have become very popular in the digital age, and DSLRs represent high-quality photography itself. Mirrorless cameras have only begun to surpass them in recent years. Advantages of
Digital SLR Camera (hereinafter collectively referred to as SLR Camera)
Beautiful optical viewfinder : The electronic viewfinder on the mirrorless camera can never copy the experience of the optical viewfinder, natural, instant, and real seen through the lens.
Long battery life : Because the optical viewfinder is optical rather than electronic, it requires little power to run. So, as long as you use the DSLR’s viewfinder instead of the rear LCD screen, the DSLR has a long battery life.
Used low price : Many people are turning to microsingle camera , so it is easy to buy bargains on DSLRs that are less frequently used.
DSLR limitations
Size and volume :Viewfinder system needs to leave room for mirrors and prism , which means that DSLR always has a pretty deep camera body and a prominent top. The viewfinder must be fixed in the same position on each SLR camera, aligned with the optical axis and digital sensors to work well. The volume must be larger to meet the above conditions.
Weight : Large size and large volume, which also brings a large weight. Although most entry-level SLRs use plastic body and internal components to reduce weight, they still cannot solve the problem of large size.
Complex mirror and shutter design : Every time you take a photo, the mirror must be moved away to let the light shine on the camera sensor, and there will be cracking noise and vibration of the mirror. Although manufacturers have been thinking of creative ways to reduce this problem, such as the camera's "silent mode". But for tripod photography, in order to reduce the dummy caused by vibration, it is usually necessary to use a "mirror lock" or "exposure delay" to allow the mirror to be lifted and then expose after the set delay.
continuous shooting speed limit : limited by the physical speed of the mirror flipping up and down. For example, the Nikon D6 needs a mirror up and down 14 times per second at 14 frames per second, and it will open or close with the shutter! This means that the mirror and shutter need to be perfectly synchronized, which is an amazing and expensive technology. It is impossible for ordinary SLR cameras to be equipped with such expensive technology, mostly with continuous shooting speeds of about 4-7 pictures.
cost more : The viewing system consists of dozens of different parts, and the imaging mechanism is complex. If any problems arise, the cost of technical support is high. Disassembling the SLR and replacing the internal components can be very time consuming for the service center. There is no exposure preview in
Viewfinder : When viewed through the optical viewfinder (OVF), the appearance of the final image cannot be accurately seen. If you want to know about exposure, you have to look at the camera meter, and it is not accurate, or you have to look at the LCD screen in live view mode.
sub-mirror and phase detection accuracy : SLR cameras with phase detection autofocus system require secondary mirror cooperation. The problem with the secondary mirror is that it must be positioned at perfect angles and distances for phase detection to work accurately. A slight deviation will cause loss of focus. Worse, the phase detection sensor and the secondary mirror must remain completely parallel. If they don't, some of the autofocus points may be accurate, while others are always error-prone.
Phase detection and lens calibration issues : The same problem with the phase detection system extends to camera lens , and requires proper calibration for each SLR body. If you have autofocus issues on your SLR, after-sales technicians will usually ask that the problematic lens be sent with the camera body. If the technician only adjusts the lens, you may find the problem worse after making such adjustments.
Complexity : Although manufacturers have greatly improved their efficiency in SLR production over the years, assembling the mirror mechanism is not easy, requiring extremely high-precision assembly systems, areas where metal parts rub against each other need lubrication, etc. In turn, all of this will lead to increased manufacturing costs. DSLRs are relatively cheap because they have been around for some time and camera companies have honed their manufacturing techniques, but their mechanical structures are still more complex than mirrorless cameras.
mirrorless camera (for easy understanding, collectively referred to as micro-single)
Basically, the only difference between micro-single and SLR camera is that the mirror is removed. But this change gives mirrorless cameras greater flexibility in design and functionality, not to mention reducing the number of moving parts in the camera, which helps reduce the cost of the camera. But at present, it seems that manufacturers do not intend to give concessions to consumers.
Any camera without a mirror is technically used for mirrorless camera technology, including smartphones, sports cameras, etc. However, the term "mirrorless" usually refers to "mirrorless interchangeable lens camera", also known as the abbreviation of mirrorless ILC, which is commonly known as micro-single in Chinese. Like the SLR, you can replace the lens on the mirrorless camera to expand your creative choices.
With the rise of microsilver, most camera manufacturers have shifted from SLR cameras to microsilver, except for Pentax . While Nikon and Canon still offer some SLR models, both companies have not made new SLRs for a while. They focus on mirrorless cameras, or micro-single. Advantages of
Microsingle Camera
is smaller in size and lighter in weight : Removing the mirror or pentaprism can free up a lot of space. This means that microscopes can be designed to be smaller in size and lighter in weight than SLRs. But not all, such as Nikon Z9, Panasonic S1R and Canon EOS R3. But overall they are certainly lighter.Here is an example of the weight reduction of SLRs compared to microsingular cameras:
Canon 5D Mark IV 152 g
Canon 7DII 298 g
Nikon D850 Nikon Z7II 300 g
Nikon D6 Nikon Z9 110 g
Mirrorless ( Pentaprism ) mechanism also brings the following benefits:
Quietrible shutter: no longer slaps the mirror, if you use electronic shutter , you can shoot almost completely silently.
Reduce camera shake : The only physical component in the microscope that causes vibration is the camera's mechanical shutter device. Even so, electronic shutters can be used to completely get rid of camera shake caused by shutter mechanisms. Of course some SLR cameras can also do this in real-time viewing.
is easier to clean: If dust falls on the micro-single sensor, it will be easier to clean. It is easier to see the dust clearly when cleaning the micro-single camera sensor, and when you blow away the dust, it will not easily fall back into the camera room or run inside the camera.
Very fast continuous shooting speed: is different from SLRs that can reach up to 10-14 frames per second, microscope can shoot at 20fps, 30fps or higher, because there is no mirror to move up and down for each photo.
structure and after-sales maintenance are cheaper : mobile parts only have mechanical shutters, and some even do not have mobile components, and the price of the camera can be more competitive. This is achieved on the Nikon Z9, which has no mirrors and no physical shutter curtains, thus costing less than its competitors.
Better and smarter autofocus : In terms of autofocus, ordinary micro-single is generally better than ordinary SLRs. Microsilons have a phase contrast detection hybrid focus system that most SLRs do not have. Moreover, manufacturers are now investing most of the automatic focus research and development into micro-single. The artificial intelligence automatic focus system and subject detection function on modern micro-single are worth having.
More wider autofocus points : Most SLR cameras have a limited number of focus points, mainly distributed around the center of the picture. If you need to move the focus to the very edge of the picture, the only option is to recompose the center focus after locking, which is not a perfect technique. While the microsingle camera autofocus points are distributed almost throughout the picture, you can focus easily even if your subject is in a corner. However, some DSLR cameras also have this function in real-time viewing, but the autofocus speed and tracking speed during real-time viewing are simply a joke for most micro-single cameras. Image preview in
Viewfinder : Using the microsimple, you can accurately preview the picture in the viewfinder, because the picture of electronic viewfinder comes from the sensor. In other words, if you increase exposure, change white balance, and change special effects, the effect of the screen display is the shooting results after you press the shutter. But the SLR camera can only be displayed on the LCD on the back. When shooting in the LCD display, the shutter response speed of some SLR cameras will be further reduced (such as my previous Nikon D5500).
No phase detection/sub-mirror alignment problem : A long-standing problem with SLR cameras is the focus accuracy problem when shooting through the viewfinder. Microsimples don't have this problem because they read autofocus information directly from the camera's sensor. This means more precise autofocus can be performed through the viewfinder, and fewer cases are required to manually adjust poor focus.
has obtained the manufacturer's best-quality lens : The best innovation in lens design recently is micro single lens . Like Nikon's Z-mount lens or Canon RF-mount lens, most of them are very good lenses. These lenses are closer to the camera sensor and have a larger bayonet, which helps designers design higher-quality and lighter lenses.
microsingle camera is the latest innovation field : the latest video specifications and the fastest processing capabilities need to be found on the microsingle system. Any other new features of the manufacturer are almost innovations made for microscopes, not SLRs.
Electronic viewfinder:
Although some photographers still like the appearance and feel of the optical viewfinder. But there is no doubt that electronic viewfinders (EVFs) have huge advantages over optical viewfinders (OVFs).
main advantages are as follows
information overlay: Use a SLR optical viewfinder, you cannot superimpose any information except the basic grid and focus. Limited camera setup information is usually displayed directly below the viewfinder. But with an electronic viewfinder, you can see various information in the viewfinder, such as real-time exposure data, histograms, waveforms, zebra stripes, and horizon indicators. To put it bluntly, the working principle of electronic viewfinder and ordinary display screen is the same.
Image Review : Another key feature obtained in the electronic viewfinder is image viewing. It is necessary to see the image you just took in the viewfinder. And on the SLR, the LCD screen must be used to view the images, which is a challenge in bright outdoor conditions. The limited brightness of the LCD monitor will drive you crazy. Therefore, if you use a SLR to take travel photos, or shoot in any bright scene, I especially recommend that you buy a baseball cap with a huge brim, or pair it with a special hat for the "Rich Rich" in the Qatar World Cup [grin]. When you need to check the LCD screen, its light-blocking effect will make you feel relieved. (Of course, it is also good to use such a hat for a micro-single shooting. In addition to being convenient for viewing the monitor, it can also prevent the sun from shaking eyes)
Focus peak and zoom function: This is a very useful function , which can view which areas of the screen are in focus. When performing manual focus on on the microscope, you can choose to zoom in to see if the focus is accurate. It will be much more difficult on a DSLR.
no longer has the problem of viewfinder coverage : The coverage range of most mid- and low-end SLRs is about 95%. This means you won't see the entire image while taking pictures. Using electronic viewfinders, most of them can achieve 100% viewfinder coverage. It can avoid taking photos of some useless scenery.
Brighter viewfinder : If the light is very weak, you may not be able to see too much through the optical viewfinder. Focusing with an optical viewfinder in low light is also difficult, so you can't easily tell if the subject is in focus before taking a photo. Using an electronic viewfinder allows you to see the subject clearly in low light. Although there are some image noise, it is much better than the guess of an optical viewfinder.
Eye damage : When viewing through the viewfinder, you must take extra care when shooting the sun, especially when using a long focal lens. Can burn your retina in a fraction of a second. When using an electronic viewfinder, it is equivalent to you just looking at the electronic screen, so it will not cause harm to your eyes.
limitations of microsingle
electronic viewfinder lag: Some early or low-end mirrorless cameras have low-quality electronic viewfinders, and their response is not very sensitive and there are some lags. In contrast, the optical viewfinder is instantaneous. If your microsingle camera has a low-quality electronic viewfinder, it is definitely annoying thing, but fortunately, the recently released microsingle electronic viewfinders are very good, and most people cannot feel this disadvantage.
Red dot pattern : Since the flange distance of mirrorless cameras is very short, most mirrorless cameras have the problem of "red dot pattern", which is when shooting the sun in the picture with a small aperture. Light reflects back and forth between the sensor and the rear lens element, forming a grid pattern of red (and sometimes other colors) in the image. There is currently no easy way to solve this limitation of mirrorless cameras. But then again, it is strongly not recommended to use the camera like this in strong light, as the sun's rays may damage the camera sensor
Price : In theory, producing microscopes is cheaper than producing SLRs because there are fewer moving parts. However, most mirrorless cameras are priced higher than those of the same level of SLR products. On the one hand, the camera company has invested a lot of R&D funds, and on the other hand, it also wants to make more profits from . However, I believe that the price of micro-single cameras will drop over time.
Battery life : Most microsingular cameras consume more power than SLR cameras, mainly because of their more power-consuming electronic viewfinders. While microsingle cameras are doing better in these areas, it may still be a problem for people who travel frequently and have little power. The good news is that today’s microscope cameras can usually be used for a whole day without charging. It's not enough, buy two more batteries. However, you can see the difference here:
SLR per charge CIPA shooting vs mirrorless per charge CIPA shooting
Canon 5D Mark IV 900 vs Canon R5 320
Canon 7DII 670 vs Canon R7 660
Nikon D850 1840 vs Nikon Z7 420
Nikon D6 3580 vs Nikon Z9 740
DSLR cameras no longer compete with mirrorless cameras because the camera companies have stopped designing new products except Pentax. Although many people will still use or even buy DSLRs for many years to come, most new cameras sold now are mirrorless cameras.
future innovation aspects of micro single camera
In terms of innovation, everything is concentrated in the field of micro single. Mirrorless cameras will continue to offer more exciting features, and the possibilities are truly endless. Thanks to advances in display technology and sensor data analysis, a lot of work can be done with EVF and autofocus systems alone.
In the field of autofocus, the performance of microsingular cameras has been very outstanding. With faster processors and more advanced AI learning algorithms, autofocus and subject recognition will be improved.
Video is another area of progress, but there is still room for improvement for video autofocus. The video stabilization algorithm will also get better as processing speeds accelerate. In addition, as the sensor and processing speed accelerate, the frame rate will be further improved. Many cameras can already shoot 240fps videos, but for some types of movement (like flying insects), this is still not fast enough.
in-machine processing also has greater potential for improvement. Smartphone manufacturers have used such technologies to compensate for the drawbacks of smaller sensors in their phones, and camera manufacturers can do more and better. Can
digital SLR still "play"?
It is undeniable that DSLR cameras are still very powerful photography tools. The distance between the best microscope and the best DSLR is much smaller than the distance between the DSLR and the film camera.
Since so many people are turning to microsimple now, there are also huge numbers of lightly used DSLR cameras on the second-hand market, including some amazing cameras like the D850 or the Canon 5D IV. Therefore, for some consumers, DSLR cameras may still be suitable cameras. In fact, quite a lot of photographers still use SLRs only, or use SLRs while using microsimples, which may not change in many years to come.
Conclusion Summary
I believe that one day, the only choice for a new camera will be a mirrorless camera. If you choose to buy a SLR today, at least understand the pros and cons I have covered in this article.
It is also very necessary for you to read this article before purchasing a camera:
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