This Is The Difference Between Mirrorless Vs SLR Cameras

So, what’s the difference between Mirrorless vs SLR cameras?

This is an argument you might hear a lot of photographers having. As soon as new technology comes in, everyone freaks out and tries to stick to the old and familiar. To me, it is similar to when film photography started to give way to digital, except technology has been growing exponentially, meaning new tech is catching up to old tech much faster than we can keep up with the changes. I was slower to jump into the mirrorless world for many reasons.

It is fair to think that dSRLs are more traditional and the standard for professional photography, and I would have argued that a mirrorless camera was not up to par with their SLR counterparts about five years ago. Today, it’s a bit of a different story, so let’s dive in.

MIRRORLESS VS SLR EXPLAINED

What is a dSLR Camera?

dSLR stands for Digital Single Lens Reflex.

Your first clue here is that SLRs existed before digital, hence the d at the front. This system was used in film before digital sensors came in.

But what does SLR mean? It means that the camera uses a mirroring system to display the image and to focus. The light comes through the lens, bounces off a mirror, and shows you on the viewfinder exactly what your lens is seeing at that time. This makes the image you see as close as possible to what the final image will look like (as opposed to other systems like a twin-lens reflex or even rangefinder cameras). So when working with an SLR, you are using the reflection of the mirrors to see the image and to focus. As soon as you press the shutter, the mirror flips up, exposing the sensor to the exact same light, and capturing the image. This is called an optical process.

Another important characteristic of SLR cameras that I want to mention is the ability to interchange lenses. Of course, this also applies to mirrorless, but I want to make sure you understand this. Being able to change lenses is the very first thing that sets a professional camera apart from a consumer model. A point and shoot, or compact camera that comes with one lens attached, simply doesn’t allow the quality and possibilities that an interchangeable lens camera does.

The Pros and the Cons

SLR PROS

• the industry standard, with plenty of resources online
• bigger lens selection and compatible with older lenses
• longer battery life
• more camera options
• that delicious clicking sound when the mirror goes up
• years of experience in the market (film and digital)

SLR CONS

• heavier and bulkier
• lenses can be more expensive
• LCD is slower due to the mirror system
• will be obsolete sooner than later (technology will continue to develop and focus on mirrorless cameras)

What is a Mirrorless Camera?

As you might have guessed it by now, a mirrorless camera is a camera that, unlike SLRs, does not use a mirroring system to view your image or to focus.

So how does it work? Electronically and directly onto your digital sensor. This is why you find mirrorless cameras have EVF (electronic viewfinder) and LCD screens to view your exposure. They have to create the image digitally, as there are no mirrors reflecting what you see.

The lack of a mirroring system allows these types of cameras to be smaller, lighter, and have no need for optical viewfinders. This is a digital process, eliminating the optical one.A mirrorless camera does everything simultaneously: what you are seeing in your electronic viewfinder or digital screen is exactly what your digital sensor is seeing, and when you press your shutter button, it records that same digital image.

The Pros and the Cons

MIRRORLESS PROS

• smaller and lighter
• newest technology
• cheaper lenses
• equally capable as an SLR in technology
• where the future of photography is going
• available in full-frame and crop sensor

MIRORLESS CONS

• Looks less professional
• Lower battery performance
• EVF rather than optical view
• Sometimes slower focus
• Fewer lenses available
• electronic system vs mechanical system is more prone to failure

My personal experience

As I mentioned, it was a bit slow to jump on the mirrorless train. The choice between mirrorless and SLR was simpler a few years ago. If you wanted to work professionally, you had to get an SLR. If you wanted a high-quality camera with better portability and lighter, then mirrorless was for you.

But in the last few years, more and more photographers, including myself, have switched to mirrorless cameras.

The reason is simple: Mirrorless cameras have evolved exponentially in the last few years, with camera manufactures focusing their technology and evolution on these new systems. Mirrorless used to have a slower focusing system, fewer lens options, lower tolerance to low light/high ISO exposures, and overall didn’t perform well in professional settings. Well, as you might have guessed, this is not the case anymore.

I used my first mirrorless on a trip to Colombia in 2014. I was given a sony A something by one of the Sony reps to give it a try and play. It was interesting to try it, but I found the focusing system too slow, and the whole experience too digital. I couldn’t get used to the electronic viewfinder (and also I just don’t like sony’s).

Later that year I bought my first mirrorless (you can check out all of my camera recommendations here!). I decided to get a Fuji, because I loved the way they felt like an old film camera, and seemed to pass by discretely in public. At the time I wanted a lighter and smaller camera to travel with, that I could easily send my files to my phone, and edit on the go. I loved my Fuji XE2, but eventually, I stopped using it. I was so used to my full-frame sensor on my SLR, that the quality couldn’t compare. Especially once I started shooting for clients on my trips, I simply couldn’t justify a lower quality camera (not even to mention bringing that to a professional shoot, my clients wouldn’t be impressed with my little mirrorless setup).

Fast forward to 2019, when my shutter gave up on my Nikon D750. I had to upgrade my main workhorse, and I realized that nikon had put all their latest technology in their mirrorless system. Not only their mirrorless had much faster and efficient focusing system than my old mirrorless, they were full frame. Once I got my hands on one and saw all the features, the lens line up, and the quality of video, I was sold.

I kept my SLR as a second body, and to be honest, I only ever use it when I need to do a video and need two angles. My Z6 is MILES away in technology and performance, and the EVF is so good, that I’ve gotten used to it very quickly. To top it off, clients and photographers alike, now know that a mirrorless is equally professional and level of quality as an SLR.

So, what to choose between Mirrorless vs SLR?

I am a believer that the most important aspect of your choice should be your preference, then your budget, and also as important, the best technology you can get within both of those.

When I bought my first mirrorless they were just coming out. I wanted all the benefits of the small size for travel and at the time very few SLRs had the advantage of wifi to your phone. By the time I fully switched to mirrorless, I could have the best of both worlds: full-frame and professional technology, with the newest technology and size benefits of mirrorless. The adjustment to shorter battery life and EVF is definitely a curve, but it was worth it for me.

Think about what you really want your camera for, what matters to you, and make a choice based on that. there are excellent cameras both SLR and mirrorless, it truly is a matter of preference.

Take a look at my top recommendations for cameras – both mirrorless and SLR.

Summary

Today, the technology developed on mirrorless matches, and at times even surpasses that of SLRs. Your choice when it comes to Mirrorless vs SLR should be based on personal preference, and maybe just style, price, and brand.

If you are just starting out, all you need to know is that the difference between Mirrorless vs SLR, is as the names indicate, SLR uses a mirror system to focus and show your exposure, and a mirrorless doesn’t, it uses a sensor directly.

This comes with benefits and drawbacks that you can see listed above, but for your purpose of buying your first camera: If you are interested in video, want a lighter camera, and a cheaper system, you are ready for a mirrorless. You run with the benefit of having never used and get used to an SLR, so you are starting fresh.

If you worked with film SLRs before, or are upgrading from a system you already have, an SLR might be the best way to go for now.

Just starting out in photography?

Want to make your photography into a business? Check out my 12 week online program to take you from Beginner to Boss.