DSLR vs Mirrorless Cameras, which one should you buy?
DSLRs were the go to option if you wanted to start photography a few years ago. That changed with the launch of the Mirrorless cameras in 2009. Mirrorless cameras, as the name suggests, don’t feature a complex mirror system like DSLRs do, which makes them lighter and more compact.
A DSLR uses a mirror inside the camera body which reflects the light coming in through the lens up to a prism, and into the viewfinder where you can preview your shot. The shutter opens, the mirror flips up and light enters the image sensor when you press the shutter button and the image is captured.
In Mirrorless cameras, light travels from the lens straight onto the image sensor which captures a preview of the image to display on the rear screen or on a second screen inside the electronic viewfinder that you can put your eye up to.
Professionals have taken some time to adapt to Mirrorless cameras mainly due to the absence of an optical viewfinder which can’t exist without a mirror. This makes taking pictures more difficult as you cannot accurately preview them. In good lighting, the results are similar but low light photography is much easier with DSLRs.
Autofocus speeds on Mirrorless cameras are increasing, but DSLRs reign supreme in this regard. DSLRs are a better choice for shooting fast moving objects such as sports or wildlife. The lens selection for Mirrorless cameras is also limited when compared to DSLRs, as many manufacturers make a variety of lenses for DSLRs, but the lens selection for Mirrorless cameras is mainly done by the camera maker.
Mirrorless cameras have an edge in shooting videos because they have phase detection, which is present only on high-end DSLRs. Mirrorless cameras alsogenerally shoot video at a higher resolution, which makes them a better option for filmmakers, high ISO performance is also noticeably better than DSLRs.
Excluding the high-end DSLRs, the picture shooting speeds of Mirrorless cameras are also greater than that of DSLRs as the lack of a mirror makes it quicker to take picture after picture. Their light size also makes them easier to hold and carry and helps you fit more gear into your camera bag.
Battery life is similar on both cameras if you’re using the LCD screen but DSLRs have the ability to shoot without the screen or EVF which can increase their battery life. However, all DSLRs and Mirrorless cameras come with removable batteries, so you can put in a new one when you run out of juice.
Whichever camera you buy is subjective to your needs. If the absence of an optical viewfinder is a deal breaker for you, or if you need a faster autofocus to capture fast moving objects and take a lot of photos in challenging lighting, DSLRs are the option for you. But if you want a light camera, which takes similarly good pictures at great speeds, and shoots great video, a Mirrorless camera should be your choice.
The Canon 80D is a good choice for a DSLR, The Sony A6500 is a similarly good Mirrorless Camera.
