There are quite a few camera types to choose from these days. There are action cameras, compact, the smartphone cameras we all have, instant, polaroid, videocams, etc. But when it comes to getting a “serious” piece of equipment, most end up choosing between mirrorless VS DSLR.
The two of them share a lot of similarities. And while mirrorless cameras are no doubt more technologically advanced, DSLRs have their own benefits, too.
Mirrorless VS DSLR: What’s the Difference?
As the name suggests, a mirrorless camera is a camera without a mirror. Thank you for reading.
See, a DSLR camera (Digital Single-Lens Reflex) has a mirror that reflects light straight back to the optical viewfinder. This means you get to look directly through your lens, no processing required.
When you take a picture, the mirror moves out of the way so that light can hit the sensor, and back down again when the photo is taken. This is in part what creates the legendary shutter sound that comes from SLR cameras.
A mirrorless camera, on the other hand, allows light to hit the sensor and displays what’s going on via a digital image on an electronic viewfinder.
So the basic design difference is that:
- DSLR cameras provide an optical view
- Mirrorless cameras offer a digital view
And while this looks mostly like a minor design difference, it introduces changes to other aspects, most of which are not immediately apparent to the naked eye.
Here are what those aspects are along with the advantages and disadvantages of each implementation.
1. Size and Weight
Mirrorless cameras are smaller and lighter. After all, they don’t need a mirror or old-school phase autofocus, more on that later.
Some beginner-friendly models take it one step further by removing almost all buttons and relying more on the touchscreen. Thus, the end result is you get a camera that is super portable, yet can take some killer shots.
2. Viewfinder
All DSLR cameras and most mirrorless options offer a viewfinder that you can use to look through your camera’s lens.
The main difference is that DSLRs do this optically, meaning you see directly through your lens. Mirrorless cameras, on the other hand, do this electronically, meaning you are looking through a display with a digital image.
Both have their own pros and cons.
These are the advantages of an optical viewfinder over an electronic one:
| Advantages of DSLR | Optical Viewfinder | Digital Viewfinder |
| Power efficiency | Zero battery consumption | Needs power |
| Display | Full clarity | Screen resolution affects clarity |
| Lag | Zero lag | Depends on the camera |
| Motion | Fully smooth motion | Smoothness depends on refresh rate |
For context, since optical viewfinders don’t require any digital processing whatsoever, you don’t need power to produce an image. And since you don’t produce a digital image, there is also no lag between what is happening in the world and when you are seeing it through the lens.
That said, digital viewfinders also have their own strengths:
| Advantages of Mirrorless | Digital Viewfinder | Optical Viewfinder |
| Image preview | See the picture before you take it | Get an exposure estimation |
| Low light | Raise EV/ISO to get a better view | You can only see the lighting as is |
| Focusing | Easier to gauge sharpness through a digital image | You can only get a “feel” for it |
The electronic viewfinder basically replicates how the picture is going to look like before you take it. And because you are looking at a display, it’s often also easier to determine whether you are in focus or not, which is a massive benefit when you are shooting in manual.
At the end of the day, no option is perfect. It all comes down to what works best for you.
3. Battery Life
This is the only part where DSLRs get a strong, solid win. There is simply no comparison.
Some DSLR cameras can get you thousands of shots, while even the best mirrorless options typically stay somewhere in the hundreds.
And it’s no surprise. A mirrorless camera relies a lot more on power due to its electronic viewfinder and advanced features.
Granted, you can get around this by taking an extra battery or two with you. But, in an apples to apples comparison, DSLRs are superior hands-down.
4. Autofocus and Features
When it comes to autofocus, the biggest technical difference between a DSLR camera and a mirrorless one is that DSLRs use two autofocus systems, while mirrorless cameras only need one. More about that here.
Long story short, DSLRs used to only come with viewfinders, for which they use an autofocus system that relies on the mirror.
But for a live view display to work, you need to move the mirror out of the way. Without the mirror, you need another autofocus system, and that’s why DSLRs have two autofocus systems.
Mirrorless cameras, on the other hand, since they don’t have a mirror anyway, only need a single AF system. And due to technological advancements, the autofocus of mirrorless cameras is often faster and more accurate with significantly more phase AF points (Areas where you can use fast autofocus).
Furthermore, most mirrorless cameras give you features like:
- Eye detection
- Subject detection (human, pet, vehicle, etc)
- World-class tracking
And it’s not that DSLRs can’t have such features. Some of them do, but it is most often at the higher-end and you’d have to make your research. While nowadays, you can get eye detection with pretty much any mirrorless camera at a smaller, often cheaper package.
5. Noise (Mechanical VS Electronic Shutter)
All DSLR cameras come with that iconic, mechanical shutter sound all photographers know and love. But, unfortunately, not everyone feels the same way about it.
There are many occasions where the shutter sound of a DSLR can be unwelcome, such as during a speech, a play, a museum, library, and other locations where you may want to take a picture without disturbing the peace.
But, frankly, for most of us with a DSLR, the wonderful noise of the mechanical shutter makes it impossible to take a silent shot.
Mirrorless cameras, on the other hand, typically come with a silent, electronic shutter. And many of them also give you the option of using a mechanical shutter, so you get the best of both worlds.
In simpler terms, almost all mirrorless cameras can be silent, but the same doesn’t apply to DSLRs.
That said, it’s worth noting that electronic shutters are not all around superior to the mechanical counterpart. They are faster, silent, and more durable, but they can also introduce the rolling shutter effect.
More about that at the mechanical shutter vs electronic shutter comparison.
6. Durability
There is no competition here. Mirrorless cameras have fewer moving parts, and fewer moving parts means less points of failure. Less points of failure = more durability.
To be more specific, we are talking about the mirror and mechanical shutter that DSLRs have.
Mechanical shutters have an expected shutter count before they fail, typically in the 100,000 range. That said, I’ve seen shutters with more than 500,000 actuations still going strong, while others died below the 70,000 mark. So, it’s definitely not like you have a fixed number before the shutter dies.
An electronic shutter, on the other hand, is theoretically immortal.
Sure, most mirrorless cameras come with a mechanical shutter as well, but it is an additional option. And if it breaks, you can just keep on using the electronic shutter. But if your DSLR shutter breaks, it won’t work until you fix it, and it can be a costly fix.
DSLRs arguably have one tiny benefit in terms of durability, and that’s the mirror in front of the sensor.
The sensor is no doubt the most sensitive part of a camera. So, it’s a good thing DSLRs come with a mirror that stands between the sensor and the rest of the world.
In fact, the mirror once saved my Canon 2000D when I dropped it, rushed to grab it before it hit the ground, and one of my fingers ended up touching the mirror. If the mirror wasn’t there I would’ve absolutely ruined the sensor.
That’s not to say DSLRs get a point for durability because of their mirror, but it is certainly something worth mentioning.
7. Lenses
DSLRs have been around for more than 2 decades. Thus, you can pick from an endless supply of lenses, often for relatively cheap.
The only downside is that since DSLR cameras and their lenses are discontinued, many lenses you will only be able to find on the used market.
That said, mirrorless cameras can also often take lenses that were originally made for DSLRs with adapters, depending on the body you are using and its mount. But when it comes to native lenses, your choices are often limited.
The good thing about these native mirrorless lenses is that they are often naturally sharper with faster autofocus, better contrast, and better stabilization, due to technological advancements. But they are also significantly pricier.
So it really comes down to whether you prefer numerous cheaper options on the used market or fewer, pricier, but more advanced lenses.
8. Pricing
If you are willing to look on the used market, there is no competition. There are tons of great and affordable DSLR cameras to choose from.
But when we are talking about brand new cameras, it’s hard to recommend a DSLR. Even at the budget forefront, something like a Canon R100, which is considered super basic by today’s standards, will outperform any rebel series and budget DSLR in terms of low light performance, autofocus, burst capabilities, etc.
Even mid-range DSLRs will struggle to compete with budget mirrorless options.
But, again, that’s if we are talking about brand new purchases. In the used market, there is a DSLR for everyone out there who is willing to put in the time and effort into finding the best fit for them in decent condition.
Because at the end of the day, it all comes down to what you personally need.
For a real life example, I recently got a used 70D, a 10 year old DSLR that used to cost $1200, for about $400, and it is at about that price point where you can now get a brand new, entry level mirrorless camera.
And in many ways, that 70D is inferior to a cheap mirrorless camera. It has no electronic sensor, no eye detection AF, it’s significantly heavier and bigger with an older processor, lower ISO range, a much older sensor, etc.
But it also has a few things that I needed and an additional plus you won’t find on a budget mirrorless camera:
- An articulating screen
- Dual Pixel Phase AF
- Weather sealing
And so a used DSLR ended up being a better pick for me than a brand new mirrorless camera for the same money. That is to say it all comes down to what you need.
9. Videography
If you want a camera primarily for capturing videos, there is no competition. Just get a mirrorless camera.
Don’t get me wrong. There are some DSLR cameras out there that are superb for capturing video footage. However, due to the very nature of their design, they come with some severe downsides:
- Viewfinder block: You can’t look through your viewfinder with a DSLR when on video mode as the mirror needs to move out of the way. The same doesn’t apply on mirrorless cameras.
- Autofocus: Most DSLRs don’t have the advanced AF tracking and features that mirrorless cameras do.
- Resolution and framerate: You may be hard pressed to find DSLRs that can shoot at 4K and upwards.
The only time where I’d recommend buying a DSLR for video is if you want a great camera for photography that can also capture decent footage without breaking the bank.
But if you are serious about videography and we are comparing the two, mirrorless options are all around a better choice.
Mirrorless VS DSLR: Which Should you Get?
When everything is said and done, there is no doubt mirrorless cameras are the future. And with DSLRs being discontinued, there is no argument about that.
They are overall more technologically advanced, albeit with the downside of being more expensive as cameras and also with lenses that are pricier and fewer in terms of options, which will change as time goes on.
That said, if you want a great camera and don’t mind digging into the used market, there has never been a better time to get a DSLR.
Let’s simplify it as much as possible.
Mirrorless
You like a brand new camera that does almost everything well out of the box and money is a secondary concern. Or you may want to leverage the electronic shutter and electronic viewfinder that are exclusively present on mirrorless cameras.
Mirrorless cameras are often also a better choice for those who care about capturing videos.
Last, but not least, a mirrorless camera is the future-proof choice, as DSLR cameras have been discontinued.
DSLR
You don’t mind looking into the used market to get what you specifically need. Or perhaps you prefer the optical viewfinder, the superior battery life, old school design, and the numerous older lenses that are out there.
Entry-level DSLR cameras can also be a superb learning tool for new photographers. Their lack of features/automation, slow burst speeds, and slow live-view autofocus will “force” you to learn how to shoot manually or with at least aperture/shutter priority.
There is a DSLR out there for everyone, but only for those willing to invest time and effort into discovering what they need.
Wrapping Up
At the end of the day, both choices have their own advantages and disadvantages.
The only case where mirrorless cameras are all around superior is if you have an unlimited budget, so you can just buy the best there is and not worry about it. But that’s not the case for most of us, and even then you’ll be missing out on the battery life of DSLRs, the optical viewfinder, and the sound of the mirror popping up, if you are into that.
Overall, we can probably all agree the choice comes down to personal preference, depending on what you need and how much you are willing to invest.
I for one don’t feel the need to upgrade from my 70D yet. But what about you? Leave your thoughts in the comments section below!