Changing the focal point: from DSLR to Mirrorless

Deze blog is geschreven door Dimis Zim, stagiair bij YM Academy / Ymke Myrte Photography. Omdat hij uit Cyprus komt, is deze blog Engelstalig.

Always evolving

Evolution in constant, especially in the world of photography. From the transition of analog film to the digital era, to nowadays where even the DSLR is getting replaced by the new and sharp-edged mirrorless cameras. Much like the analog to DSLR shift, the DSLR to mirrorless sets a milestone and transforms the experience of photography, both in terms of technology and workflow.

This blog talks about the differences in these two mediums and points the advantages and disadvantages of this transition, to hopefully navigate and help other confused photographers, just like me, make a final decision on what they are upgrading their gear to.

Transition to digital

The transition from analog to DSLR photography revolutionized the way we capture and process images. Analog cameras relied on film rolls, requiring careful consideration of each shot due to limitation in the number of exposures. Developing film was a time-consuming and often expensive process, adding layers of complexity to photography.

Enter the DSLR, equipped with digital sensors and advanced features, offering photographers freedom and flexibility. Digital cameras allowed instant image review, eliminated the film processing costs and provided virtually limitless exposures. This shift democratized photography, making it more accessible to enthusiasts and professionals alike.

The mirrorless transition

Like the analog to DSLR shift, the move from DSLR to mirrorless cameras represent a leap forward in photographic technology. Mirrorless cameras, as the name suggests, eschew the bulky mirror mechanism found in DSLRs, resulting in more compact and lightweight designs. This reduction in size and weight enhances portability, making mirrorless cameras ideal for travel and street photography.

Furthermore, mirrorless cameras are equipped with electronic viewfinders (EVFs) that provide real-time previews of exposure, white balance, and depth of field adjustments. This feature offers a more accurate depiction of the final image, empowering photographers to make informed decisions before pressing the shutter button. Additionally, the absence of a mirror not only allows for silent shooting modes, ideal for discreet or noise-sensitive environments, but in some cases that also ensures a longer life expectancy, one which is much higher than the DSLRS.

With that being said, since mirrorless cameras use more electronic features, such as the electronic viewfinders but also the continuous autofocus systems, they tend to consume battery power at a much faster rate than DSLRs, which rely on optical viewfinders and simpler autofocus mechanisms instead. Another disadvantage in my opinion, which some people might agree, and some might not, is the sound the mirrorless cameras produce. While the silent shooting is a big advantage in a lot of cases, I personally feel like the intimacy of the shooter with their camera is lost to a big extent since the mirrorless a lot of times might feel a bit too technical. There is just something in the sound of the shutter & mirror sound that I find satisfying, and it makes me feel like I’m losing the touch of taking photographs without it.

In conclusion

On a closing note, of course if you are opting to go for a professional level of a mirrorless camera, since they are so brand new, they are also on the expensive end of the camera budget. If you are a working student like me, the price of your gear is a big thing to consider. Even so, investing in a DSLR now feels like more of a risky choice since they are now being discontinued, so you might need to think twice before investing in something that is going to be harder to deal with in the long run, in case of damage.

But, at the end of the day, what I believe is that we have reached a point in photography where the result of your click does not heavily matter on what camera it was shot with. (If the camera was of course produced within the last 8-10 years.). Unless of course you are going for large prints, I don’t really think a lot of people can tell the difference between the model of the cameras from the result, so, you might as well go with what you feel most comfortable with/ what you can afford. 🙂

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