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The great mirrorless vs DSLR camera debate has been rumbling for a few years now.
BothCanonand Nikon have been discontinuing, or simply not updating, their DSLR models over the last few years.
Look – no mirror!
There’s also a healthy second-hand market, which counts for a lot during these financially-challenging times.
Nikon hasofficially confirmedthat it’s ceased production on two of its most popular entry-level DSLRs, theNikon D3500andD5600.
In reality, we don’t expect to see any new DSLRs launched from this point on.
Look – no mirror!
Mirrorless is the future, but second-hand DSLRs continue to offer great value.
In the early days of mirrorless cameras, the situation was very different.
If you were a pro, you tended to pick up a DSLR.
Look – no mirror!
This has now changed completely.
But what exactly are the differences between a mirrorless cameras and a DSLR?
And are there any situations where you should still consider the latter?
The Canon EOS R5 is an excellent mirrorless camera
Our in-depth guide is here to give you all the answers including a simple explanation to that first question.
Mirrorless vs DSLR: what’s the main difference?
The key is in the names.
Mirrorless cameras tend to be smaller than DSLRs
This is a true optical path, with no digital processing in the middle.
By contrast, mirrorless cameras youve guessed it dont have a mirror.
With these cameras, the light passes through the lens and straight onto the sensor to be processed.
DSLRs have a wider choice of lenses
DSLRs use the same technology as their film counterparts, which have been around for decades.
Theyre very familiar for anybody who has been serious about photography in recent years.
These days, almost no new DSLRs are coming to the market.
Adapters can help you use older lenses on newer mirrorless models such as the Nikon Z9
By taking away the mirror, mirrorless cameras give you several advantages (and very few disadvantages).
In the beginning, mirrorless cameras tended to use smaller sensors than DSLRs.
APS-C is also a common sensor size, for both mirrorless and DSLR.
The Sony A7S III’s electronic viewfinder is a joy to look through
The electronic viewfinders found on early mirrorless cameras werent particularly great, being low in resolution and slow.
All of this makes it sound like mirrorless is the obvious winner.
And it’s great for those who need high levels of zoom in a small package.
The Canon EOS R5 is adept at tracking subjects
DSLRs have the age advantage, with the lens format having been around for decades.
It’s really only those with very niche needs who are missing out by choosing mirrorless.
As such, this system offers the most all-encompassing range at the moment.
The Panasonic G9 II can focus on the eyes or body of an animal
Fujifilms X-series is also pretty comprehensive, having been around for a similar length of time.
Its medium-format GFX series has fewer options, but is gaining ground as the years go by.
Sonys APS-C and full-frame mirrorless cameras have been around for quite some time now.
The Sony A9 III can shoot at 120fps with no rolling shutter distortion.
We’re hoping to see a lot more RF-S lenses arrive to make cameras like theEOS R7andEOS R10more attractive.
Nikon also uses the same mount across both its APS-C and full-frame mirrorless systems.
Another fairly recent introduction is theL-mount alliance, which is a joint venture between Panasonic, Sigma and Leica.
Panasonic cameras such as the GH6 are often praised for their video prowess
Mirrorless cameras use electronic rather than optical viewfinders.
That means they display the image directly from the sensor readout and not via an optical mirror/pentaprism system.
Optical viewfinders are also easier to use in low light.
The Fujifilm X-S20 has a dedicated vlog mode
This will come down to personal preference.
TheSony A7S IIIis an example of a simply stunning electronic viewfinder, offering superb clarity with a 9.44m-dot resolution.
And this is increasingly becoming standard on the latest mirrorless cameras.
Mirrorless cameras such as the Nikon Z9 tend to have more features than DSLRs
Mirrorless vs DSLR: Autofocus
Professionals who wanted the very fastest autofocusing used to head straight for DSLRs.
They use fast and efficient phase-detection autofocus modules which are mounted below the mirror in the cameras bodies.
However, DSLR systems are limited by the fact that their autofocus only works while the mirror is down.
The Hasselblad X2D 100C has a whopping 100MP resolution
Since theres no mirror, these types of cameras use sensor-based autofocus all the time.
Many are contrast-based AF, but they tend to be faster than the equivalent AF modes on DSLRs.
They impress not only with their speed, but also accuracy when it comes to tracking a moving subject.
The Nikon Z7 mirrorless camera has a 45.7MP BSI full-frame sensor
Both theCanon EOS R5and theCanon EOS R6are two recent introductions that offer almost unerring accuracy when tracking a subject.
All of the major mirrorless brands offer Face/Eye detection, helping you to get sharp shots almost without fail.
The latest models are also leveraging the power of AI to offer enhanced subject recognition and tracking.
The Canon EOS 250D has serious staying power
One example is theSony A7R V, which features a dedicated AI chip for this purpose.
Compared this to theCanon EOS R3, which can shoot full-resolution RAW stills at 30fps.
TheSony A1can do the same at a resolution of 50MP with autofocus.
The Nikon D3500 is our current pick for best cheap camera
You have to be a little careful, though, when looking at the specs.
You’ve also got to be realistic about what kind of burst shooting speeds you are going to need.
What’s more, the latest all-electronic flagships are pushing the boundaries of burst shooting speeds.
The Nikon D3500 is a DSLR classic – but how many more will follow it?
TheNikon Z9can capture 11MP JPEGs at 120fps, with full autofocus and auto exposure.
ThePanasonic Lumix GH6is currently our pick for the title ofbest 4K camera.
It offers fantastic video quality and value in tidy packaging.
The EOS R10 points the way to Canon’s mirrorless future
We’re also starting to see even higher resolution options come to the market.
TheCanon EOS R5is another, although its subject to some recording limitations.
We expect 8K to become the norm over the coming years as the technology develops and becomes more commonplace.
Image quality between the two is pretty much identical, aside from the newer sensors found in mirrorless bodies.
Processing power is at its height in mirrorless cameras again, by virtue of them being newer.
Mirrorless vs DSLR: Image quality
There’s nothing to choose here, either.
But the compact system camera market offers smaller formats too.
This pattern is repeated across the range of DSLRs and mirrorless cameras.
So, this is one area where DSLRs do often have a substantial practical advantage.
That isn’t too difficult these days, though most recent mirrorless cameras offer in-camera USB charging.
That said, it’s only that cheap because it’s been superseded.
You’ll find a comprehensive overview of thebest budget camerasin our dedicated round-up.
This is borne out by many of the premium entries in our list of thebest camerasoverall.
But these days it’s becoming increasingly difficult to argue the case for the DSLR.
Mirrorless cameras give you the advantage in many different scenarios.
They are generally lighter and smaller their DSLR equivalents often with smaller and lighter lenses to match, too.
The trade-off is that you might not get the latest tech, but not every photographer needs it.
DSLRs also give you a more comprehensive lens range, at least for the time being.
This is, though, often down to personal choice and shooting preferences.
Nikon hasalready said as much, and other manufacturers like Canon are likely to follow suit.
Right now, there’s never been more choice but for most photographers, mirrorless makes the most sense.
