The main benefit of a mirrorless camera is its smaller size and lighter weight. This makes them more portable and easier to carry around, making them ideal for travel, street photography, and everyday use.
Here's a breakdown of how mirrorless cameras achieve this:
- No mirror: Unlike DSLR cameras, mirrorless cameras don't have a mirror that reflects light to the optical viewfinder. This eliminates the bulk and weight associated with the mirror system, making the camera body significantly smaller and lighter.
- Electronic viewfinder (EVF): Mirrorless cameras use an electronic viewfinder that displays the image captured by the sensor. This allows for real-time image preview, exposure adjustments, and other settings without the need for a mechanical mirror.
- Smaller lens mounts: Mirrorless cameras typically have smaller lens mounts compared to DSLRs, which allows for smaller and lighter lenses. This further contributes to the overall compactness of the system.
While smaller size and lighter weight are the primary benefits, mirrorless cameras also offer other advantages, such as:
- Faster autofocus: The lack of a mirror allows for faster and more accurate autofocus systems.
- Silent shooting: Since there's no mirror to move, mirrorless cameras can shoot silently, making them perfect for discreet photography.
- Live view shooting: Mirrorless cameras offer live view shooting, which allows you to see the exact image that will be captured on the camera's LCD screen.
- Advanced features: Mirrorless cameras often feature advanced features like in-body image stabilization, high-resolution sensors, and 4K video recording.
Overall, mirrorless cameras offer a compelling combination of portability, performance, and features, making them a popular choice for photographers of all levels.