Mirrorless cameras competing with Prosumer and Digital SLR cameras

You must have seen various types of camera in the camera store or read the reviews on the Internet or in magazine photography. Camera technology is more advanced, and we made ​​confused to choose compact-system cameras or digital SLR cameras. When should we make the criteria, then you will see three kinds of cameras.

1. Compact-system camera: a camera with a small sensor, a lens that has been integrated in a single system and setting capabilities are limited

2. Digital SLR camera: a camera with a large sensor, there is flexibility for the setting, and a full range of lens sizes as needed (interchangeable lens)

3. Prosumer camera: compact camera with super-zoom lens and there is enough flexibility which is almost equivalent to setting the Digital SLR camera.

Touchscren feature on mirrorless camera. Image: petapixel.com

The criteria of these three have changed because since 2008, the world of digital cameras is livelier with the presence mirrorless camera. New members in the world of digital cameras and has a system similar to the workings of a Digital SLR camera. 

The camera is also equipped with the ability to change the lens (interchangeable lens). But the mirrorless camera does not have reflective mirror that reflects light from the lens to the viewfinder.

The loss of mirror components causes the absence of an optical viewfinder (replaced by electronic viewfinder) and allows the camera body to be thinner than a Digital SLR. The result is the cameras with the body of a compact camera with the “eyes” are big. Olympus and Panasonic are pioneers in the field of mirrorless camera. Now you can find other mirrorless brands such as Ricoh GX, Samsung's NX, Polaroid, Canon EOS-M, Sony NEX and others.

What factors should be considered when selecting the mirrorless camera?

A new Panasonic GX-7 camera. Image: en.a5bary.com

Design and interface

Mirrorless cameras in general has a compact design with slight variations in the dimensions of his body, but has a variety of variations on the buttons that serve as an interface between the camera and the user.

Olympus PEN and Panasonic G series have quite a lot of the interface (feels more like a Digital SLR), while relying on internal Sony NEX and touch screen menu (feels like a compact camera).

Sensor size

Mirrorless camera sensor size is generally larger than those used in compact cameras, but are generally smaller than Digital SLR. This will affect the ability to shoot in lowlight conditions (high ISO). The cameras with larger sensors have better ability to suppress noise on lowlight condition.

Ricoh GX 200. Image:  cameras.webhostingoverview.com

By order of the size of the sensor Sony NEX, and Samsung NX Ricoh GX have big sensor with APS-C size, followed by the Olympus PEN and Panasonic G with sensor 4/3, Nikon 1, which has been strengthened with the CX sensor and by the Pentax Q sensor size 1 / 2.3 "(equivalent to compact-system cameras and Prosumer cameras).

Setting options

Mirrorless cameras have the option of setting equivalent to entry-level DSLR enthusiast, with a bonus of a variety of art-filter and on-board digital processing.

Features

Some series Olympus PEN and Panasonic G has an image stabilizer. Average mirrorless camera is equipped with face-detection. Nikon 1 autofocus ability with phase-detects and contrast-detect.

Lens options

Olympus PEN as a pioneer of this family have many options because most lenses can use mount lenses with 4/3 is used by Olympus DSLR family E. By itself, the lens can be used also by Panasonic G.  Other Mirrorless cameras rely on a wide range of lens adapters to be able to use a variety of lenses. Combination with a vintage manual lens mirrorless body can be accommodated by using the M42 adapter.

Accessories

Additional accessories on the mirrorless camera are not as much on the DSLR camera. The accessories include bias added flash, GPS, electronic viewfinder. Several types of mirrorless cameras do not provide a port for additional accessories.

The combination of compact dimensions, setting freely, and freedom of choice as an herb sounds ideal lens for the photographer. What this means is that the DSLR era has come to an end? For now, the answer is "no" or maybe "not yet". There are at least two factors are still a barrier for mirrorless cameras, namely:

Olympus PEN E-P5. Image: news.xinhuanet.com

1. Sensor size - in general is small, so that the resulting image in lowlight conditions (high ISO) is still less than DSLR cameras, there are several types of mirrorless cameras have managed to overcome the problem of low light.

2. Mirrorless camera features and accessories are still not complete as DSLR cameras.

In addition to various other limitations in terms of performance and features, but mirrorless cameras also has some advantages that will be very beneficial if used properly, for example when you are on vacation, family events, business meetings and meetings with friends at the coffee shop. Now you can capture every precious moment with mirrorless cameras and any photos you can upload to social networking on the Internet with Wi-Fi facility.

Digital SLR cameras, as well as compact-system cameras and Prosumer cameras are now getting competition from mirrorless cameras, so the camera manufacturers have worked hard to create a more attractive camera.