Mirrorless cameras (hybrid cameras) have become the gold standard in photography. Today, they even offer performance and characteristics capable of meeting the requirements of the professional world. If you want to equip yourself to start photography, this article will explain why the mirrorless camera is the right choice.
First of all, the concept: a hybrid camera is not equipped with a mobile mirror to project the image in the optical viewfinder as on Reflex cameras. It uses a more or less large image sensor to provide an image to the electronic viewfinder. The quality of this is, of course, a function of the product range.
1: Size and weight
As soon as they arrived on the market, mirrorless cameras, which are more compact and lighter, won over the general public. The Panasonic brand, with its Lumix range, as well as Olympus, very quickly offered products for the general public with boxes barely larger than compacts while offering the possibility of changing the lenses as on the Reflex. A real revolution at the time!
Today, we find models like the Panasonic Lumix GX9, a case weighing only 450g offering 5-axis stabilization and a Micro 4:3 sensor.
2: Performance
The first mirrorless cameras certainly appealed to the general public, but the need for even more sophisticated devices was quickly felt by the professional public, which was necessarily more demanding. Sony, with the Alpha series, was the first brand to offer a mirrorless camera with a full-frame sensor. The case being larger, still light, and offering a very good grip, has been a great success.
Big progress on sensors
The quality of a camera is often linked to the size of its sensor. The larger the sensor, the more sensitive it is to light and can therefore reveal details that the human eye cannot see. A large sensor is more efficient because it transcribes contrasting images more faithfully but costs more to manufacture. It needs bigger lenses, which impacts the bulk and the apparent shot to SLRs. Mirrorless camera sensors can range from 16 to 50 mpx. The main formats are micro 4:3, APS-C, and Full-Format.
Controlled stabilization
There are three types of stabilization on mirrorless cameras for a sharp image in all circumstances.
- The first is mechanical stabilization, whose sensor moves to compensate for movements on 5 axes in general.
- The second, digital, is less frequent on hybrids, the principle of which is software processing of the movements of the captured image.
- Optical stabilization, on the other hand, uses a floating lens that moves according to movements picked up by accelerometers.
This stabilization is now more and more mastered, knowing that hybrid cameras are high-quality video cameras that can be in constant motion.
A revolutionary autofocus
Autofocus is an automatic focusing system. You select an area of ​​sharpness and shoot. Mirrorless cameras have brought subject, face, and eye tracking. This system is now in all high-end hybrid boxes.
3: The video
If they shine in photography, the performance of these hybrid cameras is also amazing in videography. The brands do not hesitate to diversify their offer according to your use:
- A Sony Alpha 7 C is thus more video oriented, but you can be perfectly satisfied with an Alpha 7 III.
- The stabilized 24.2MP full-frame Panasonic S1 delivers excellent performance even in low light.
- Mirrorless cameras designed for bloggers, like the Sony ZVE-10, offer ease of use with high-performance autofocus quality. You can film in 4K at a very competitive price.
As a result of the advantages of hybrids in terms of diversity, compactness, versatility, and simplicity, the camcorder market has become almost non-existent.
4: Comfort and ease of use
Hybrids make it easier for you to shoot with their large screens. They are more pleasant for navigating through the menus and viewing the photos taken. Depending on the range, these screens often offer a very good resolution, good contrast, and a touch screen. This will allow you to scroll through the photos with a simple gesture of your finger. We also advise you to choose a multidirectional screen, you will gain in framing quality, and you will be able to multiply the angles of view.
Mirrorless cameras are also hyper-connected (Wifi, Bluetooth). Thanks to these wireless link protocols, they can send photos to social networks via an application. You can also trigger the camera from your smartphone and change settings remotely. Be careful, not all models offer all of these features.
5: Optics, storage, autonomy: the big game
A large choice of optics
You’ll generally find the same operation as with a Reflex.
Sony has a very developed range called the G range, but the brand also partnered with the famous manufacturer ZEISS for very high-end optics. Panasonic Lumix does the same with Leica. Canon, Nikon, Fuji, or Olympus all offer various ranges depending on the manufacturing quality, the diaphragm opening, and the type of stabilization.
Cards and batteries
The SD card remains the most common storage medium for photos and digital video.
The autonomy of a mirrorless camera is between 200 and 300 images per battery, depending on the use and the models. The boxes use much more energy. Stabilizers, touch screens, electronic viewfinders, wifi, Bluetooth, and geolocation make the batteries particularly demanding.
High-end hybrids face the same problems, but larger and more efficient batteries allow a greater number of shots of 610 to 710 shots, for example.
The world of photography has evolved and is moving towards a passionate or professional clientele. Mirrorless cameras are generally well-designed, and each brand demonstrates its know-how. Moreover, Nikon and Canon, historical manufacturers, have developed their cameras with total compatibility with their Reflex lenses. Sony was a pioneer in sensors and autofocus. The future is indeed hybrids. Pay attention to ergonomics and choose your mirrorless camera according to your use.
