Easy Basic Photography
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Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens Cameras
Interchangeable Lens type cameras are the newest entry into the digital camera market. They have features
that are similar to those of a Digital Single Lens Reflex camera (also referred to as a DSLR or a Digital
SLR), however their size is closer to that of a compact digital camera. Interchangeable Lens cameras are
also often referred to as simply Mirrorless cameras.
Interchangeable Lens cameras are geared toward photographers who want the better image quality that is
associated with Digital Single Lens Reflex cameras without the bulky size of a DSLR. They are also built to
appeal to those who like the smaller size of a compact digital camera but also want the option of being able
to change the camera lens to adapt to different picture taking situations.
Many of the Interchangeable Lens cameras like the Samsung NX100 have the same basic camera body
shape of a typical compact camera. Others like the Panasonic DMC-G2 have a camera body shape similar
to a Digital SLR but are much smaller and more compact.
Currently Interchangeable Lens cameras are marketed by Olympus, Sony, Panasonic and Samsung. The
two largest camera distributors in the U.S., Canon and Nikon, haven't entered the Interchangeable Lens
camera market yet.
The following are some of the main features of Mirrorless Interchangeable lens cameras.
Smaller Camera Body Size: The reason that mirrorless cameras are smaller than Digital SLR cameras is
that they do not have optical eye level viewfinders that are part of Digital SLR cameras. Optical viewfinders
require a system that uses mirrors and a pentaprism to view a scene before taking a picture.
Interchangeable lens cameras are equipped with an LCD screen for composing and viewing scenes before
the picture is taken. The elimination of the mirrors and pentaprism greatly reduces the size of the camera
body.
Larger Image Sensor/Higher Image Quality: Larger sensors have larger pixels and are able to process
information about light in a scene more accurately which results in better image quality. The image sensors
in Mirrorless cameras are much larger than the sensors found in compact cameras and some are the size
of the sensors found in entry level Digital SLR cameras. For instance the Sony Alpha NEX-5 camera has an
APS-C size sensor which is the same size image sensor found in many Digital SLR cameras such as the
Nikon D5000. Check the article, Image Sensors for more details about sensors.
Interchangeable Lenses: The option to change the camera lens is another advantage that
Interchangeable Lens cameras have over Compact cameras and Advanced Digital cameras. This is a great
feature because some photographers prefer to use certain types of lenses to fit a particular picture taking
situation and the lens that comes with the camera might not always be the best choice.
The lenses on the Interchangeable Lens cameras are smaller and lighter than the lenses made for Digital
SLR cameras. Interchangeable Lens cameras are pretty new to the camera market and there are not nearly
as many lens choices available for them as there are for Digital SLR cameras.
However, there are lens adapters on the market which make it possible for a manufacturers DSLR lenses to
fit the Interchangeable Lens camera. (but some features of DSLR lenses, like autofocus, might not work
properly with the adapter on the mirrorless camera. Its going to depend on the particular lens and adapter.)
Also, using a larger lens on the mirrorless camera takes a little something away from the "compactness" of
the camera.
Electronic Viewfinder: Many Interchangeable Lens cameras come equipped with eye level electronic
viewfinders in addition to the LCD screen. Electronic viewfinders allow you to view the a scene prior to taking
the picture when bright light conditions might make it difficult to clearly see the image on the LCD screen.
Information about the scene such as exposure values and histograms may also be shown in the electronic
viewfinder.
A drawback of the electronic view finder is that if the display has a low resolution, it might be difficult to
manually focus accurately. Also, there might be a slight lag in focusing when trying to photograph fast
moving subjects.
Exposure Controls: All of the Interchangeable Lens cameras have settings so that you can have more
control over the look of your images, the same as with a Digital SLR. These settings include Full Manual
Mode, Automatic Mode, Aperture Priority, Shutter Priority, and Program Modes. Please check the Digital
Single Lens Reflex Camera or Camera Exposure Basics tutorials if you are not sure what those setting are
for.
Flash/Hotshoe Attachment: Most of the Interchangeable Lens cameras have a built in pop up flash to use
when there is not enough light to get the proper exposure for a picture. Also, many of the Interchangeable
Lens cameras have a hotshoe attachment which allows you to attach an external flash. Some of the
cameras like the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2 have a hotshoe attachment as well as a built in pop up flash
so you can have a choice of which one you prefer to use.
Of course Interchangeable Lens cameras have many of the same features as Digital Single Lens Reflex and
Compact cameras such as scene modes, Panoramic Sweep, and HD movie shooting to name a few. Every
camera maker has additional "bells and whistles" features added to their cameras for marketing purposes
and the list is too long to include in this article.
So to summarize, the Interchangeable Lens camera performs the same basic functions as a Digital Single
Lens Reflex camera. The main difference between them is their size. You get the convenience of a camera
that is easy to carry around or travel with, along with DSLR camera image quality.
If you think the Interchangeable Lens camera is a little more than you need in a camera, maybe a Compact
Digital Camera or an Advanced Compact Camera might be better for you. If you like the qualities of the
Interchangeable lens camera, and compact size doesn't matter much to you, then a Digital Single Lens
Reflex camera with more lens choices and more cameras with larger sensors might work for you.
Interchangeable Lens type cameras are the newest entry into the digital camera market. They have features
that are similar to those of a Digital Single Lens Reflex camera (also referred to as a DSLR or a Digital
SLR), however their size is closer to that of a compact digital camera. Interchangeable Lens cameras are
also often referred to as simply Mirrorless cameras.
Interchangeable Lens cameras are geared toward photographers who want the better image quality that is
associated with Digital Single Lens Reflex cameras without the bulky size of a DSLR. They are also built to
appeal to those who like the smaller size of a compact digital camera but also want the option of being able
to change the camera lens to adapt to different picture taking situations.
Many of the Interchangeable Lens cameras like the Samsung NX100 have the same basic camera body
shape of a typical compact camera. Others like the Panasonic DMC-G2 have a camera body shape similar
to a Digital SLR but are much smaller and more compact.
Currently Interchangeable Lens cameras are marketed by Olympus, Sony, Panasonic and Samsung. The
two largest camera distributors in the U.S., Canon and Nikon, haven't entered the Interchangeable Lens
camera market yet.
The following are some of the main features of Mirrorless Interchangeable lens cameras.
Smaller Camera Body Size: The reason that mirrorless cameras are smaller than Digital SLR cameras is
that they do not have optical eye level viewfinders that are part of Digital SLR cameras. Optical viewfinders
require a system that uses mirrors and a pentaprism to view a scene before taking a picture.
Interchangeable lens cameras are equipped with an LCD screen for composing and viewing scenes before
the picture is taken. The elimination of the mirrors and pentaprism greatly reduces the size of the camera
body.
Larger Image Sensor/Higher Image Quality: Larger sensors have larger pixels and are able to process
information about light in a scene more accurately which results in better image quality. The image sensors
in Mirrorless cameras are much larger than the sensors found in compact cameras and some are the size
of the sensors found in entry level Digital SLR cameras. For instance the Sony Alpha NEX-5 camera has an
APS-C size sensor which is the same size image sensor found in many Digital SLR cameras such as the
Nikon D5000. Check the article, Image Sensors for more details about sensors.
Interchangeable Lenses: The option to change the camera lens is another advantage that
Interchangeable Lens cameras have over Compact cameras and Advanced Digital cameras. This is a great
feature because some photographers prefer to use certain types of lenses to fit a particular picture taking
situation and the lens that comes with the camera might not always be the best choice.
The lenses on the Interchangeable Lens cameras are smaller and lighter than the lenses made for Digital
SLR cameras. Interchangeable Lens cameras are pretty new to the camera market and there are not nearly
as many lens choices available for them as there are for Digital SLR cameras.
However, there are lens adapters on the market which make it possible for a manufacturers DSLR lenses to
fit the Interchangeable Lens camera. (but some features of DSLR lenses, like autofocus, might not work
properly with the adapter on the mirrorless camera. Its going to depend on the particular lens and adapter.)
Also, using a larger lens on the mirrorless camera takes a little something away from the "compactness" of
the camera.
Electronic Viewfinder: Many Interchangeable Lens cameras come equipped with eye level electronic
viewfinders in addition to the LCD screen. Electronic viewfinders allow you to view the a scene prior to taking
the picture when bright light conditions might make it difficult to clearly see the image on the LCD screen.
Information about the scene such as exposure values and histograms may also be shown in the electronic
viewfinder.
A drawback of the electronic view finder is that if the display has a low resolution, it might be difficult to
manually focus accurately. Also, there might be a slight lag in focusing when trying to photograph fast
moving subjects.
Exposure Controls: All of the Interchangeable Lens cameras have settings so that you can have more
control over the look of your images, the same as with a Digital SLR. These settings include Full Manual
Mode, Automatic Mode, Aperture Priority, Shutter Priority, and Program Modes. Please check the Digital
Single Lens Reflex Camera or Camera Exposure Basics tutorials if you are not sure what those setting are
for.
Flash/Hotshoe Attachment: Most of the Interchangeable Lens cameras have a built in pop up flash to use
when there is not enough light to get the proper exposure for a picture. Also, many of the Interchangeable
Lens cameras have a hotshoe attachment which allows you to attach an external flash. Some of the
cameras like the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2 have a hotshoe attachment as well as a built in pop up flash
so you can have a choice of which one you prefer to use.
Of course Interchangeable Lens cameras have many of the same features as Digital Single Lens Reflex and
Compact cameras such as scene modes, Panoramic Sweep, and HD movie shooting to name a few. Every
camera maker has additional "bells and whistles" features added to their cameras for marketing purposes
and the list is too long to include in this article.
So to summarize, the Interchangeable Lens camera performs the same basic functions as a Digital Single
Lens Reflex camera. The main difference between them is their size. You get the convenience of a camera
that is easy to carry around or travel with, along with DSLR camera image quality.
If you think the Interchangeable Lens camera is a little more than you need in a camera, maybe a Compact
Digital Camera or an Advanced Compact Camera might be better for you. If you like the qualities of the
Interchangeable lens camera, and compact size doesn't matter much to you, then a Digital Single Lens
Reflex camera with more lens choices and more cameras with larger sensors might work for you.