4 Reasons Why You Should Buy a Mirrorless Camera

DSLR cameras have always offered professional photographers the gift of customization. Those who buy cameras for a specific purpose have the option of simply buying a camera without a lens and picking out the perfect lens after. That way you can really get the best bang for your buck. 

Mirrorless cameras offer a wide variety of features and settings that can be customized to your liking. Learn about mirrorless cameras and find out why a mirrorless model might be right for you.

What is a mirrorless camera?

A mirrorless camera is a camera without a mirror inside of it. That might sound very obvious; let me explain. DSLR cameras feature a mirror. When light enters the lens, it bounces off the mirror to create a preview of the image. In mirrorless cameras, light goes straight into the image sensor to show you a preview. The difference might not seem too striking to photography amateurs. You still get a preview, right? Well, it’s a bit more complex than that.

Mirrorless cameras are the latest craze in the world of photography. By latest I mean they’ve been around for a few years and they are taking over, slowly but surely. Here are some reasons why you should consider a mirrorless camera over a DSLR.

It is newer

Regular DSLR cameras that we grew up with are not as prevalent on the market anymore. Some manufacturers, like Pentax, are still committed to releasing DSLR cameras, but most have switched to mirrorless models. Major brands like Canon (one of my personal favorites) have gone completely mirrorless and haven’t released a DSLR in years. Of course, there are some great older DSLR models that are still on the market. However, if you want to be sure that you’re getting the latest technology, mirrorless should be your pick.

It is lighter 

Because there is no heavy lens on the inside of the body of the camera, mirrorless models tend to be lighter and more portable. That’s an important feature for sports photography and other types of photography that require lots of movement. If you want to capture shots of athletes in the air, you will need freedom of movement with your camera. A heavy-duty DSLR may not allow for that as well as a mirrorless camera.

It is faster

If you select a faster shutter speed on your mirrorless camera, it will be able to capture even more images. At the end of the day, it’s all about quality rather than speed. However, once you’ve mastered the art of photography, you cannot afford to slow down. This is a feature that I, as a sports photographer, appreciate. Athletes move fast and I need to be just as fast to capture the best shots of them. You can’t do that with a slow camera. 

It offers higher quality

Let me explain. If you’ve ever had a DSLR camera, you are familiar with the exquisite quality of image you can get, but you also know how much work you have to put in to get there. Mirrorless cameras tend to be cheaper. That means that you can get the same great quality for less. Other features like better image stabilization and tracking allow photographers to capture better shots with ease. Technology does not stand still and mirrorless cameras are definitely an upgrade in many ways.

Mirrorless models seem to be taking over, but that doesn’t mean that your tried and true DSLR is out of fashion. If you’re new to photography, I recommend looking into mirrorless cameras, as they are a lot easier to operate. Once you find the right camera for you, everything will fall into place.