How to choose the best camera. What is a system camera and how does it differ from a mirrorless one?

Previously, almost every photographer had a bulky SLR camera with several lenses in a case. Progress has changed the situation a little and presented consumers with small mirrorless cameras. Today's topic: system cameras - review and comparison. Let's find out what exactly they should be praised for, and which device is better to choose.

Main features

Olympus started the “revolution” back in 2009. It was then that the first camera without a mirror system was born - Pen E-p1. For all manufacturers, this was a loud signal for change. A mirrorless camera has undeniable advantages - low weight and dimensions. These advantages were achieved due to the fact that the mirror system, which was very cumbersome, was removed from the design. This function in gadgets is performed by a sensor and a special connector for working with any lenses from DSLRs.

If you disassemble the device, you will not be able to find the optical viewfinder. For framing, the display is used, which is located on the rear panel. Budget models generally lack a viewfinder, since they frame directly on the LCD screen (like on mobile devices or point-and-shoot cameras).

Well, we’ve gotten to know the device superficially, why not now take a look at the rating of system cameras?

TOP 5 best system cameras

In this review there will be models with removable optics, which are extremely close or even superior to SLR cameras.

Olympus PEN E-PL7

Let's start the review and comparison of system cameras with the model trademark Olympus, which has always been famous for its quality and wide functionality. At a minimum price, here, as always, there is maximum functionality. This model has absorbed into its essence the advantages of the best older brothers from the MFT (Micro Four Thirds) line:

a combination of the qualities of a good touch receiver and the small size of the device;
impressive functionality;
gigantic range of lenses available.

Important! The camera is perfect for amateur and advanced photographers (as a travel camera).

The technical specifications are as follows:

The aforementioned (4:3) bayonet mount.
Matrix 16.1 megapixels (17.3x13mm).
The shooting resolution is 1920x1080p.
3" touchscreen display that can be rotated.
Wi-Fi module for the Internet.
The weight of the device is 465 grams (without lens).

Flaws:

Expensive lenses.
Flimsy body materials.

Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark II

Another representative of a company that has caused a stir. This advanced gadget is the best choice for a photographer, since this model combines quality, functionality and a low price.

Important! The level of shooting may outshine some DSLR models, and the ability to parameterize shooting control only adds to the delight of looking at this gadget. It costs 660 dollars.

Characteristics:

MFT standard.
Matrix parameters: 17.2 megapixels (17.3x13mm).
Shoots video in Full HD resolution.
Equipped with a small (3-inch) touch screen and Wi-Fi wireless module.
The camera weighs exactly 390 grams, not including the lens.

Flaws:

The only significant disadvantage is the small battery capacity.

Sony Alpha ILCE-6000

The rating of system cameras continues with a truly fast model - the Sony a6000. The functionality of this small device is enough for the vast majority of photography enthusiasts. The body of one device combines:

ergonomics, quality of hybrid autofocus;
high-speed CPU (processor);
modern 24 megapixel APS-C matrix;
“ISO” up to 25600 and a shooting speed of 11 frames per second.

Important! The list can be continued endlessly, since there is tracking autofocus, an electronic viewfinder, and many other interesting devices. All this functionality will cost $750.

Worth highlighting:

E-mount from Sony.
25 MP APS-C matrix.
Shooting video in maximum resolution.
3-inch rotating screen.
Wireless communication module.
Weight 460 grams excluding lens.

Flaws:

Lack of touch display.
Difficulty in controlling menu functions.

Sony Alpha ILCE-5100

A very interesting model with extremely convenient controls and all the attributes that are so in demand among amateur photographers.

Important! This camera without mirrors has the characteristics of professional equipment and has no worthy competitors in its price category. The camera is decently balanced and is a great choice for those who enjoy taking family photos.
If you have not yet fully decided which type of equipment will be more convenient for you to use, ours will help you finally understand the details and make the right decision.

The technical details of this device are as follows:

E-mount from Sony.
24 MP – matrix based on APS-C technology.
Shoots video in a resolution of 1920x1080 pixels.
Sony 5100 is equipped with a touch screen that can rotate.
The camera has a module for wireless Internet connection.
The camera weighs 283 grams, excluding lenses.

Flaws:

The battery charge lasts for a maximum of an hour of operation.
There is no microphone input.
The assembly materials are not of the highest quality, which is why the device is extremely fragile.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GM1

The rating of mirrorless cameras with interchangeable lenses will be closed by an interesting model from Panasonic, which has been famous for its high reputation and popularity for many, many years. They have an excellent compact product with very wide functionality - Lumix GM1.

Important! This device is best suited for those enthusiasts who are used to photographing everything fully automatically or taking full control over all known parameters. This gadget is perfect for home use, individual use, and even for shooting on long trips.

Technical characteristics of this model.

Until recently, the photographic equipment market was represented mainly by two classes of devices - SLR cameras and digital point-and-shoot cameras. “DSLRs” were aimed at professional photographers and advanced users. While compact point-and-shoot cameras with automatic shooting modes are aimed at a wider, amateur audience. At the same time, compact digital cameras did not provide all the opportunities for amateurs to realize their creative vision and unleash their creative potential. But in last years A new class of devices has appeared on the market, which can be considered intermediate between SLR cameras and point-and-shoot cameras. These are mirrorless (system) cameras with interchangeable lenses.

In terms of their technical parameters, image quality and ease of use, “mirrorless” cameras can easily compete with amateur and even semi-professional SLR cameras. Moreover, their cost is often significantly lower. Therefore, today those who are planning to purchase a digital camera have a reasonable question: what to prefer - an SLR camera or a hybrid (mirrorless) camera? In order to answer this question, let's try to compare these two classes of devices.

Design of a mirrorless and SLR camera

SLR camera design (http://fujifilmru.livejournal.com)

As you know, a SLR camera is different from a regular one. digital camera using a special system with a mirror (1) and a pentaprism (3). The mirror in this case is designed to deflect light into the pentaprism optical viewfinder (2). At the moment the shutter is released, the mirror is raised, due to which the light flux, instead of the viewfinder, is directed to the surface of the photosensitive matrix (4). Focusing of the optics is carried out using a block of individual phase sensors (5). The advantage of this design of an SLR camera is that the image seen in the optical viewfinder is transmitted without any distortion or changes.

In addition, a DSLR camera provides the photographer with ample opportunities to change all shooting parameters to achieve the optimal result. Thanks to the design features of the SLR camera, it is possible to use fast phase detection autofocus, which, together with the optical viewfinder, allows you to instantly catch and capture the moment the photographer needs in the picture.

Everything is clear with a SLR camera - it has long become a common tool not only for professional photographers, but also for beginner photography enthusiasts who want to improve their skill level. Moreover, today there are SLR camera models designed for beginners. They are equipped with automatic shooting modes and convenient controls.

But what is “mirrorless”? As you might guess, the idea behind these cameras is to avoid using a mirror. The production of mirrorless cameras was started by Olympus and Panasonic, who presented the Olympus PEN E-P1 hybrid camera based on the MicroFourThirds matrix format. In recent years, many “mirrorless” models have been released, which quickly proved that they can compete with many DSLR cameras in terms of image quality.

Device without SLR camera(http://fujifilmru.livejournal.com)

So, the design of a mirrorless camera does not include a mirror or any associated devices. If in a SLR camera the light passing through the lens system in the lens hits a mirror with a pentaprism, then in a “mirrorless” camera the light flux is immediately directed to the photosensitive element (1). The preview of the image is carried out not using the optical viewfinder, but by reading the image by the processor (2) directly from the camera matrix. Sighting occurs using an electronic viewfinder (3), which is an LCD display that supports LiveView mode. It should be noted that the idea of abandoning the very principle of operation of a SLR camera by removing the device with a mirror from the body has both its pros and cons.

Mirrorless Canon EOS M cutaway

Comparison: advantages and disadvantages

Now let’s compare mirrorless and DSLR cameras according to the main parameters, taking into account the features of their design:

— Overall dimensions and ease of use

The absence of a system with a mirror and a penta prism has made mirrorless cameras more compact. They have smaller weight and size characteristics, which allows the photographer to carry the “mirrorless” camera with him all the time like a regular point-and-shoot camera. Of course, compact size is one of the main advantages of mirrorless cameras. Carrying a large and heavy DSLR camera with you, especially when traveling, is very inconvenient.

But at the same time, compactness does not always mean ease of use. Indeed, on the large body of the mirror device you can place many more controls. In addition, excessive compactness often interferes with a more comfortable grip of the camera. However, this is largely a matter of habit and individual preferences of the photographer.

- Matrix

Unlike compact digital cameras, which use light-sensitive matrices that are noticeably inferior in their characteristics to sensors used in SLR cameras, this is all right in “mirrorless” cameras. They are equipped with large sensors, exactly the same as in SLR cameras, which allows you to take high-quality images.

Yes, of course, mirrorless cameras do not have full-frame sensors, but you must agree that full-frame digital cameras are not required for every shooting situation. They are needed only by professional photographers seeking to obtain maximum image quality. If we compare the matrices of amateur-level SLR cameras and “mirrorless” cameras, then there is virtually no difference in characteristics between them.

— Viewfinder

But where there is a difference is in the viewfinder. In addition to the notorious mirror, mirrorless cameras also lack an optical viewfinder, which works great in any lighting conditions. Thanks to the optical forward viewfinder, the user can always see exactly what is happening in reality, without any distortion or delay.

Mirrorless cameras use an electronic viewfinder instead of an optical viewfinder, that is, a display operating in LiveView mode. The display quality on such an electronic viewfinder is often inferior to traditional optics, since the resolution of the display has not yet reached the limits accessible to the human eye. In addition, the built-in electronic viewfinder does its job rather poorly in low light conditions - the picture begins to become clogged with noise, and the image becomes grainy. In a word, in this parameter “mirrorless” cameras are inferior to DSLR cameras.

— Autofocus

The same can be said about the autofocus system, although here mirrorless camera manufacturers make serious efforts to compensate for the autofocus shortcomings inherent in hybrid cameras. The fact is that, due to the design features, mirrorless cameras use contrast autofocus instead of phase detection, which is used in DSLRs. In this case, focusing is done programmatically, by analyzing the image falling on the matrix.

As practice shows, phase autofocus is slightly faster than contrast autofocus in terms of speed and accuracy. Therefore, in this parameter the SLR camera also wins. DSLRs are faster in focusing and have no problems with “clinging” to the desired object in various shooting situations.

— Replaceable optics

Of course, SLR cameras now have a much larger selection of photo accessories and interchangeable lenses than any without SLR camera. The choice of lenses for DSLRs is wider, but you need to understand that mirrorless cameras have appeared on the market relatively recently. And for this a short time Photographic equipment manufacturers have already released a sufficient set of optics for their mirrorless cameras. Probably, in a few years, given the growing popularity of mirrorless cameras, the range of interchangeable optics for them will be as wide as for traditional DSLRs. We can say that thanks to the constant expansion of the line of optics for mirrorless cameras, this problem will eventually become a thing of the past.

— Autonomy of work

One cannot ignore such a parameter as the battery life of the camera. A feature of mirrorless cameras is the constant operation of the light-sensitive matrix, image analyzer and display, which leads to fairly rapid depletion of the battery reserves. As a result, DSLR cameras can significantly exceed mirrorless cameras in terms of battery life. In addition, the impressive dimensions of the body of SLR cameras allow them to install more capacious batteries to ensure long-term battery life of the device.

conclusions

Before answering the question of which is better - a DSLR or a mirrorless camera, you need to understand that ideal photographic equipment, in principle, does not exist. Each camera, due to its design features, presents a set of certain types of compromises. And if these compromises seem quite reasonable to one user, then for another they may turn out to be completely unacceptable.

As you can easily see from the comparison above, mirrorless cameras in general have more disadvantages compared to a traditional DSLR camera. But all these shortcomings, be it contrast autofocus or an electronic viewfinder, cannot be called insurmountable. Technical progress does not stand still, and leading photographic equipment manufacturers are constantly working to improve the performance of mirrorless cameras by introducing new technical solutions. It is not for nothing that articles are now increasingly appearing in the press asking the question: is the era of SLR cameras coming to an end?

If you choose today between a SLR camera and a hybrid camera, it is difficult to determine a clear winner. It all depends on the specific tasks facing the photographer and his individual preferences. For the vast majority of shooting situations, either camera is suitable. Ideally, by the way, it is better to immediately purchase both a DSLR camera and a “mirrorless” model that you can carry with you like a regular point-and-shoot camera. The good thing about a mirrorless interchangeable lens camera is that you get almost everything you need, but in a much more compact package.

If compactness and weight of equipment are important to a photographer and at the same time he requires high quality photographs, then purchasing a mirrorless camera is the optimal solution. If he wants to get pictures of maximum quality, shoot reportage stories and completely control the filming process by using precise manual settings, then it is better to prefer a traditional DSLR.

When choosing a digital camera that provides high quality photographs, you will have to face not so much the need to decide between a DSLR and a mirrorless model, but rather the problem of choosing a specific model. In general, when making a comparison between hybrid and SLR cameras, it is best to proceed from the characteristics of specific models.

On the market in currently presents a wide variety of models of photographic equipment, and in in a good way Complete “anarchy” reigns here. This means, for example, that a mirrorless camera can cost more than an advanced DSLR without being superior in any significant way. And vice versa. Therefore, when choosing a digital camera, you should always start, first of all, from your current tasks, individual preferences and budget.

In 2008, the first models of mirrorless cameras entered the market. These cameras are called differently:

EVIL (Electronic Viewfinder with Interchangable Lens) - electronic viewfinder and interchangeable lenses,
MILC (Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens (Compact) Camera) is a mirrorless compact camera with interchangeable lenses,
ILC (Interchangeable Lens Compact) - interchangeable compact lenses,
ACIL (Advanced Camera with Interchangeable Lens) - an advanced camera with an interchangeable lens.

These are all names of one class of cameras: mirrorless system digital cameras with interchangeable lenses.

Differences between mirrorless cameras

The main difference between this class of cameras and SLR cameras is absence of a movable mirror and pentaprism. This made it possible to reduce the working distance of the lens.

Sighting and depth of field assessment occurs using an LCD screen or electronic viewfinder.

On the left is the mirror block of a SLR camera, on the right is the sighting and lens block of a mirrorless camera

Another difference is considered focusing method. Focusing in mirrorless cameras occurs only using the contrast method.

DSLR cameras use faster and more accurate phase focusing. But in mirrorless cameras, when manually focusing, you can bring the focusing area closer, which is an advantage. There may also be an indication of the contrast level in the focusing area, which makes focusing easier. Yes, and using the touchscreen you can select an object in the image, which will be used to focus.

The latest models of mirrorless cameras also have phase focusing, which uses sensors built into the matrix. Then the camera uses hybrid focusing (phase and contrast).

What do system cameras provide?

The use of a mirrorless camera with a larger matrix than that of compacts and the ability to use interchangeable lenses allows the photographer to get Image quality comparable to photos taken with DSLR cameras. And all this with a camera comparable in size and weight to compacts.

In terms of capabilities and price, mirrorless cameras are located between compacts and DSLRs. They are often comparable in performance to entry-level DSLRs. These cameras can be recommended for amateur photographers who lack the capabilities of a compact camera, but size and weight play a role.

It is worth saying that the choice of optics for DSLRs is much larger, and you may encounter a problem when choosing the lens needed for a mirrorless camera in a particular situation. But manufacturers are constantly expanding their fleet of lenses for system mirrorless cameras, and various adapters are also being produced to match cameras and lenses.

Mirrorless cameras cannot replace professional SLR cameras, but for advanced amateurs they are quite suitable.

Pros and cons of mirrorless cameras

The first and most obvious argument of system (mirrorless) cameras is case size and weight. Still, the mirror unit takes up quite a bit of space in a DSLR camera.
Large ASP-C matrix gives a big advantage to mirrorless cameras over compact cameras and does not allow them to be much inferior to full-format SLR cameras in this parameter.
Having gotten rid of the mirror, the time for shooting has now been reduced. The shooting speed now depends only on the time of reading information from the matrix, which makes it possible to implement a shutter speed of 1/2000 sec. or less. The absence of a block of mirrors also eliminated the vibration of the body from the mechanical operation of this mirror.
Using the screen as a viewfinder now allows you to fully appreciate the depth of field and brightness of the entire frame. But in some situations, when very precise focusing is needed, a screen with a limited resolution may not provide desired result. At the same time, in bright external lighting (bright sun), the LCD screen may lose its contrast and aiming will become difficult. This is where the optical viewfinder of a DSLR would have an advantage.
Constant operation of the matrix, processor, screen leads to faster battery discharge and matrix overheating. This is not the case in DSLRs, because they aim through the optical viewfinder.
In SLR cameras autofocus occurs according to the phase method, which uses the flow of light from the mirror in its work. System cameras do not have a mirror, so focusing is based on contrast analysis. But it is slower and less accurate.
Another advantage of mirrorless cameras is that they are smaller lens flange distance. This is the distance from the last lens element to the matrix. This design allows telephoto lenses to be made smaller and lighter than for DSLRs. But at the same time production wide angle lenses becomes more difficult.

Examples of models

As an example of mirrorless cameras with interchangeable lenses, we present camera models that have been recognized as the best in recent years according to EISA.

Fujifilm X-Pro1 was recognized as the best professional system camera of 2012–2013. This camera uses a new X-Trans CMOS sensor equipped with a special color filter. A hybrid viewfinder and Fujinon optics are used.

Fujifilm X-Pro1 mirrorless camera

The approximate price of Fujifilm X-Pro1 is about $1000.

The Olympus OM-D E-M5 is recognized as a European compact system camera. Very fast autofocus and electronic viewfinder. There is a five-axis optical stabilization system. Matrix 17x13 mm with a resolution of 16 megapixels.

Olympus OM-D E-M5

The approximate price of the Olympus OM-D E-M5 is about $1000.

Sony Alpha 7R is the best professional system camera of 2014. Matrix Full Frame, 36 MP.
Sony Alpha 7R

The approximate price of Sony Alpha 7R is about $2000.

Read more about the best cameras 2014.

Those who would like to buy a digital camera have repeatedly asked us the same question: “?” Today there is such a range of different photographic equipment on the market that resolving a dispute is only half the battle. There are also ultra-compact superzoom cameras with fixed optics, which can also intervene in this debate. But even if we don’t consider advanced compacts, then after searching, the buyer will have to plunge into the problems of choosing a specific model, and there are its own characteristics. In general, this is a difficult and ambiguous question. To understand Which is better, mirrorless or DSLR cameras?, let's look at their main differences.

What is a mirrorless camera? Mirrorless, like a SLR camera, has a fairly large number of terms that are used to name them. And, unfortunately, there is no single standard. Such devices may be called mirrorless camera, single lens system camera, MILC camera, EVIL camera, ILC, ACIL. All English abbreviations essentially describe the same thing - the absence of a mirror, interchangeable lenses, the presence of an electronic viewfinder. Let’s not add confusion to an already complex dispute and will use the most common one - mirrorless.

How does it work? mirrorless? Yes, very simple. Let many people say that a mirrorless camera and a regular digital compact point-and-shoot camera are different cameras, but the principle of operation (and only the principle) is the same. Light, passing through the lens system in the lens, hits the light-sensitive element (in digital cameras - the matrix). In a mirrorless camera, there is a pentaprism in the path of the light flux, which redirects the flux to the optical viewfinder for parallax-free viewing of the frame.

Parallax-free sighting - this is a property of the camera that allows the photographer to preview exactly what will be recorded by the matrix, without any distortion. Previously, when cameras were still film, the axis of the viewfinder and the axis of the lens did not coincide slightly and there were certain distortions. To avoid this, a pentaprism with a mirror was invented, redirecting the exact image to the optical viewfinder. But with the development of digital cameras, it became possible to solve the problem of parallax by previewing the image directly from the matrix.

And now important point, related to how the transition from film photographic equipment to digital was carried out. There were both compact film cameras (with parallax due to the offset of the viewfinder) and SLR (without parallax) film cameras. They put a matrix here and there, just different in technical specifications. After all, compacts should be smaller and cheaper, why do they need more powerful and expensive matrices. If today a digital camera was immediately invented, then the pentaprism and mirror might not exist at all. This is due to the gradual development of technical evolution of technology.

In compact point-and-shoot cameras and mirrorless cameras, viewing occurs using an electronic viewfinder, which, in essence, is the display on back wall cameras. In a DSLR - using optical viewfinder or the same display in LiveView mode. By the way, according to statistics, those who use budget and semi-professional DSLRs shoot in LiveView mode up to 80% of the time, i.e. don't use a mirror at all.

An optical viewfinder is used in three cases. When shooting when viewing the screen is difficult, for example, in sunny weather due to glare; when using DSLRs that simply do not have a mode LiveView(until 2006 all DSLRs were like this); and out of habit. There is also the practice of using the optical viewfinder and disabling LiveView in order to save battery power and focus faster. And here, of course, the DSLR wins over its counterpart.

The display quality on the electronic viewfinder (more precisely, the display) is slightly worse than that of the optics. Resolution of any display haven't reached it yet maximum limits accessible to the human eye. Optics don't have this problem, because... there the eye sees exactly that picture, as if a person was looking at the object directly. There is also a certain delay when displaying movement on the electronic display. But these problems will be technically solved in the near future.

It is worth mentioning one more important point, which is that when comparison of DSLR and mirrorless, gives a certain advantage to the first type. These are different principles for implementing automatic focusing. There are two of them. In a DSLR, when shooting using a pentaprism, special focusing system sensors receive light directly from the subject. This autofocus is called phase.

Mirrorless cameras (as well as any compact cameras) do not have the ability to use their own sensors for autofocus (you can’t put them in front of the matrix). Therefore, focusing is done programmatically, analyzing the image falling on the matrix. This autofocus system is called contrasting. So, phase detection autofocus is much faster and slightly more accurate than contrast detection. Therefore, in this parameter the DSLR wins.

Now the camera dimensions and weight. The pentaprism and mirror system itself makes the camera larger in size and heavier in weight. This is both good and bad. A larger body can accommodate more controls, the grip is more comfortable, and more powerful components and batteries can be placed inside. Mirrorless cameras Because of their compactness, they are forced to use a software control interface, fighting for every gram and millimeter inside. Even the transition to touch screens is still inferior to the traditional buttons and wheels of DSLRs. True, a lot depends on habit. On the other hand, carrying a large and heavy camera, especially when traveling, is also inconvenient. Compactness is a huge advantage that you can’t argue with.

The next thing you should pay attention to when conducting comparison of DSLR and mirrorless, this is the moment of shooting itself. When the DSLR is operating, at the moment the shutter is released, the pentaprism with the mirror mechanically rises, and this means additional vibration and banal noise. Of course, it's not the worst thing that can happen, but sometimes it causes problems. Mirrorless cameras do not have such problems. True, some people love DSLRs precisely for this sound. But this is more of a psychological question than a technical one.

Next is the matrix itself. The more powerful it is and the larger its physical size, the higher the quality of the image. Everything is simple and clear. You can, of course, start a philosophical discussion about where this race for megapixels will lead us, but we’ll leave that for other articles. Today, matrices used in DSLRs and matrices in mirrorless cameras are almost equal in characteristics . Yes, mirrorless cameras do not yet have full-format matrices or full frames. Nobody argues here. Professional shooting of the highest image quality is possible only with DSLRs. But these are top-end cameras costing thousands of dollars, which are very necessary a small number professional photographers. The rest is all the same. And some brands have started talking about plans to release a full-length mirrorless camera soon.

Now about the lenses. The camera has such a parameter as working distance . This is the distance between the outer lens of the lens and the matrix. For mirrorless cameras it is smaller, therefore, the size of the lenses and their weight are also less than for DSLRs. But there are simply very few lenses designed for mirrorless cameras for one or another mount or matrix form factor. The choice of lenses for DSLRs is much wider. True, this issue can be resolved by using various adapters. This is not to say that it is simple and convenient, but it is possible. In addition, the line of lenses for mirrorless cameras is constantly expanding and over time the problem will go away.

We have carried out a brief analysis of those points that are the main differences and which are important to keep in mind when deciding Which is better - a mirrorless camera or a DSLR?. But that's not all. Conducting comparison of DSLR and mirrorless It’s better to talk about some specific models. This makes it much easier to determine the advantages or disadvantages that are more important to YOURSELF. Don’t forget about such a parameter as the prices of mirrorless and DSLR cameras. There is also complete “anarchy” here. Today you can buy a DSLR camera that costs no more than an advanced ultrasonic compact, and the price of a mirrorless camera can be higher than a semi-professional DSLR camera. Again, it is better to compare specific models.

Conclusions. Whatever one may say, Fotix readers are still waiting for an answer to the question, Which is better - a mirrorless camera or a DSLR? or who won the fight. Let us express our purely subjective opinion. We will be grateful if you join the discussion in the comments and express your opinion in defense of your favorite technique.

There is no clear winner for all occasions. It all depends on what tasks and conditions the camera is needed for;
From the point of view of professional photography with obtaining images of maximum quality, for reportage shooting, for maximum control over the process of using precise manual settings, and obtaining artistic effects, it would be better to buy a SLR camera;
To solve 90% of the tasks facing advanced and novice amateur photographers, as well as those who use photographic equipment for commercial purposes, but are not photojournalists for Reuters, both cameras are suitable. Ideally, have both. This is the case when the price will ultimately decide a lot;
If compactness and weight are important, especially when shooting outside the studio and relatively stationary objects, it is of course better to buy a mirrorless camera;
To get good pictures for your home photo archive, don’t delve too deeply into the technical intricacies of photography or creating artwork, in general, it’s worth paying attention to compact pseudo-mirror cameras or simply compact cameras with a fixed lens.

And the most important thing. Don't try to buy a camera that will last forever. It's impossible to predict. Choose based solely on your current tasks and opportunities. Progress does not stand still, and tomorrow the camera may change beyond recognition. But, whatever your choice, you will find any sample of photographic equipment on our website.

Buying a DSLR camera does not guarantee high quality pictures simply because not everything depends on the camera: without the appropriate knowledge How And What When taking photographs under certain conditions, the picture may come out clumsy. That is, shooting with Auto with Flash against the sun and expecting the candy to come out is very reckless. This way you end up with bulky and often expensive photographic equipment that is inconvenient to carry around not only because of the weight, but also the fear of damaging it or accidentally “messing up the settings.”

Secondly, look not expensive or compact You don’t even have to start with a SLR camera. DSLRs, due to their design (size of the mirror, pentaprism, location of the optical viewfinder), simply cannot fit into a jacket pocket. This technique only exists relatively compact And relatively inexpensive, because simple cameras like Nikon D5100 will cost from 12 thousand rubles for a “carcass” (a camera without a lens).

Why not a SLR camera?

Firstly, because dimensions And design housing. SLR cameras have, have and will have massive bodies. There is simply no other way: since it is impossible to reduce the space for the reflex system (mirrors and pentaprisms), it is impossible to make cameras of this class smaller. Plus, the identical location of the optical viewfinder in all cameras makes devices of the same type look similar to each other (at least for the average user). Perhaps the only thing that can be distinguished is the presence of a rotating display and the location of some physical control buttons, the shape and coating of the body in the grip area. Otherwise, the body is like a body for 90% of SLR cameras with similar functionality.

Secondly, due to weight. In the case of SLR cameras, larger dimensions also mean more weight. Inexpensive models will weigh less than professional cameras, because... For the production of the housing and their controls, plastic of medium quality and strength was used. However light It will still be difficult to name them.

So, for example, the Canon EOS 1200D weighs 480 grams (without battery and lens) with body dimensions of 130x100x78 mm.

Thirdly, due to mirrors And shutter. Each shot involves movement of these elements. The fact is that the mirror does not rotate silently - a soft click will accompany every frame you take. Nikon cameras, for example, have a silent mode, but it would be more correct to call it quiet. In some shooting conditions, noise is more than undesirable. Plus, with the movement of the mirror, the air in the camera body also moves, so it is easier to dust the matrix in a DSLR camera than in a mirrorless one.

No matter how hard manufacturers try, the mechanics of an SLR camera still lead to camera shake, even if only slightly. During daytime photography this does not affect the clarity of the photographs, but at long exposures it shakes - a critical drawback.

The mechanics significantly limit the frame rate. Nikon D7100, for example, in standard mode shoots 7 frames per second, and Nikon D4 – as much as 11! But to better understand, What must happen to shoot these 11 frames in 1 second, watch the video.

By the way, every SLR camera has a “shelf life”, measured not in years and months of service, but in the number of frames it takes. So, for example, a maximum run of 150-200 thousand frames is already an excellent indicator. If you think that you won’t be able to do that much in your entire life, you are mistaken. On average, 40-50 thousand pictures can be taken in a year of active use.

Please note that this limitation only applies to shutter operation - other elements of a DSLR camera can withstand longer. But after reaching a critical number of shutter clicks, it will probably start to act up. So be prepared for this.

And finally, mechanics are an expensive pleasure when it comes to maintenance and repairs.

We also add that purchasing a SLR camera also includes purchasing replacement lenses. Most cameras in the entry-level and mid-price segments are equipped with a kit lens (18-55 mm), the shooting quality of which leaves much to be desired. If you want to shoot portraits with beautiful blurry backgrounds and stunning close-up detail, you'll have to buy a portrait lens because... You won't get this kind of picture quality on Kit.

This is not to say that DSLRs are complete crap and there are some cool mirrorless cameras on the market - better buy them. But simply to the fact that when purchasing equipment, it is better to know as much as possible about it.

Why a mirrorless camera?

In the last 5-6 years, the market has been actively filled with mirrorless cameras: it’s not to say that the best mirrorless cameras are much cheaper than equivalent DSLR models. Often we can talk about the same price rating. Therefore, you shouldn’t expect that a mirrorless camera will be cheap either. By the way, do not confuse mirrorless cameras and point-and-shoot cameras: the absence of a mirror does not make this technology low-grade.

The choice of a mirrorless camera can be justified by:

less weight and size;
lack of mechanics with a mirror;
the presence of a hybrid automatic focusing system;
presence of an electronic viewfinder;
cost.

Sales of “pocket” cameras went down when smartphone manufacturers changed their approach to positioning mobile equipment. Now, when you buy a good expensive smartphone, you also buy a good camera - models with 13 megapixels, 20.1 megapixels, an optical stabilization system and other “tenacious” characteristics are no longer new. In this case, the combination of fairly compact dimensions and high quality photographs speaks in favor of a mirrorless (system) camera.

The absence of a mirror and pentaprism allows the camera to be smaller: the compact mirrorless camera Sony Alpha A6000 has dimensions of 120x67x45 mm and weighs only 344 grams (with a charged battery).

Without moving mechanism this technique is less subject to wear and tear, makes less noise when shooting, there is no shaking that occurs when the mirror is working, the camera is able to shoot more frames per second (11 frames is average, and not the maximum, as among DSLRs), and it’s also easier to clean a mirrorless :-)

What does a hybrid autofocus system provide? Greater accuracy and speed of focusing on an object. The hybrid system is also found in some SLR cameras, by the way.

Not every SLR camera has a live view mode, that is, using not an optical viewfinder, but the ability to adjust the frame by viewing the shooting scene directly on the display. Mirrorless cameras do not have an optical viewfinder and you need to navigate by the image on the display or by the picture in the EVF (electronic viewfinder). But this has a number of advantages.

So, for example, all the involved settings will be displayed on the screen and EVF at the time of shooting (in SLR cameras, some of the settings can be seen in the optical viewfinder, mainly these are autofocus points, aperture, shutter speed and ISO settings). In addition, in bright sunlight, when most displays simply go blind, the EVF will help you view the footage without having to look for a shadow or cover the display with your palm in the hope of seeing something.

With an EVF, what you see through the viewfinder and what you end up shooting are identical images, while the optical viewfinder basically covers 95% of the frame, which sometimes results in unwanted elements appearing in the photo. you simply didn’t see it in OVF.

DSLR cameras have a limited number of focus points (for example, the Canon EOS-1D Mark III has 19 focus points, while for most average cameras the norm is 11 points). In mirrorless cameras, the phase tracking sensor is placed directly on the sensor, so there is no restriction on what exactly you want to focus on.

To better understand what we are talking about: the focus points in DSLR cameras are mainly concentrated around the center of the frame, so focusing on objects in the corners of the frame without ruining the composition can sometimes be very difficult.

A mirrorless camera also “follows” a dynamic subject better. In DSLRs this function so far implemented only in top models.

In the mirrorless class there are both prime models and mirrorless cameras with interchangeable lenses, and the quality of the latter is in no way inferior to lenses for DSLR models. True, everything here is also relative: the optics for Samsung mirrorless cameras are produced by the South Korean company itself, whose products have never been seen in the hands of professionals until this moment. This is thought provoking. But there is no doubt about the quality of lenses for Sony cameras, for example.

By the way, you can also come across full-frame mirrorless cameras in stores. What does it mean? Full frame produces higher-quality images (especially at high ISO values), gives images an effect of depth and expands the frame area by almost 30%. In other words, a lot more image fits into the frame on the so-called full frame.

Full-frame SLR cameras are the ultimate dream of almost everyone interested in photography, and for professionals, having a full-frame is almost a prerequisite for quality work. Professional mirrorless cameras are still an emerging segment of the market and few people are switching to full-frame mirrorless cameras like the Sony Alpha 7 or Sony Alpha 7R. If only because the image quality of the “mirror” is still noticeably better. And there are much more professional optics, without which it would be stupid to shoot full-frame, for DSLRs.

Why not a mirrorless camera?

Perhaps the main disadvantage of mirrorless cameras today is limited time operation on a single battery charge. While DSLR cameras are capable of taking both 1,000 and 5,000 frames, mirrorless cameras generally do not last longer than 300-400 frames.

And so, you need to look at it in the context of each specific model: for some, few interchangeable lenses have been released so far, for others, the EVF has a slow response, for others, the electronic viewfinder is too contrasty, which also makes working with the camera very difficult.

If you are not an advanced photographer, but are simply interested in high-quality photography with small camera dimensions, you can safely buy a mirrorless camera instead of a DSLR.

Well, or put the question of choice differently: definitely buy a mirrorless camera instead of a compact point-and-shoot camera. Here a mirrorless camera is definitely a hundred times better. Yes, it will cost more, but the image quality is noticeably high compared to compacts, comfortable Dimensions, as well as advanced settings (such as the presence of a touch screen and built-in Wi-Fi module) more than justify this.

Let's summarize

Why is a DSLR camera better than a mirrorless camera? If we talk about the middle and higher price segments, then the image quality, first of all. No matter how hard the manufacturer tries, the mirrorless camera still does not reach the level of a DSLR camera. But it comes as close as possible to it. The second main advantage is the insufficient number of interchangeable optics for mirrorless cameras, while for DSLR cameras with lenses there are no problems at all (by the way, you will not be able to install the optics from a DSLR on a mirrorless camera).

The differences between a DSLR and a mirrorless camera that speak in favor of the latter are its compact dimensions with high quality Pictures. Entry-level mirrorless cameras also take good photos, but it would be more logical to compare them with the quality of photos taken with regular compacts. Plus, the lack of a rotating mirror mechanism can extend the life of the camera before the first repair or cleaning.

As for prices, the same full-frame mirrorless digital cameras and entry-level full-frame DSLRs cost almost the same - for the Sony Alpha 7 you will have to pay, on average, 56 thousand rubles, while the Nikon D600 costs 57 thousand (which replaced it Nikon D650 – 64 thousand).

The initial price level is also proportionate: approximately 11-12 thousand rubles.

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Elizabeth

Without a twinge of conscience, I ask for “phone numbers” from guys and girls I don’t know well. To check whether the lock button fits comfortably under your finger and whether the autofocus works quickly :) I would like to visit MWC and conduct a live blog from the thick of things.