Which is better - a DSLR camera or a mirrorless camera? What about bridge cameras?
Well let's jump in to unpacking what each of those terms mean. In this post we will go over various camera types.
DSLR (and SLR) cameras
Mirrorless cameras
Bridge cameras
Crop sensor vs Full Frame
What is a DSLR Camera?
Sometimes there is confusion regarding DSLR cameras. Some people just think that DSLR somehow stands for professional camera. Yes they are noticeably larger than point and shoot cameras but that does not make them professional. Are they more versatile? Do they require more photography knowledge? Certainly, but like everything else there is a spectrum. You will find professionals using high end DSLR and mirrorless cameras for sure (more on mirrorless later).
DSLR (and SLR) references a key mechanism of how those cameras work.
SLR = Single Lens Reflex
DSLR = Digital Single Lens Reflex
DSLR (and SLR) references a key mechanism of how those cameras work.
SLR = Single Lens Reflex
DSLR = Digital Single Lens Reflex
It gets the name from the fact that there is only one lens on the camera and any given time. That same lens is used for previewing the photo in the viewfinder and for actually taking the photo. Other point and shoot cameras, often don't have a viewfinder and if they did have a view finder, it was not a true preview of what the camera was seeing. It would be a separate small piece of glass serving as a very small lens (second lens) that would give you a rough idea of where the camera was pointing at instead of being a true preview. If you zoomed in with your lens, your view finder preview would stay the same.
The SLR camera changed that. The viewfinder was a real preview of what your camera saw. When you zoom in with a lens, what you see in the viewfinder also zooms in. It all uses the same "Single Lens". The way it works is that there's a little mirror in-between the lens and the sensor. The mirror is angled just right so that the light that comes in from the lens gets reflected up into the view finder. Obviously that little mirror is blocking the camera sensor, so when you press down the shutter release button on your camera to take the photo, the mirror flips out of the way so that the film strip (in SLR cameras) or the digital sensor in (DSLRs) is exposed to the light coming from the lens and therefore creating your image. The mirror mechanism in this process is where the term "Reflex" comes from.
There you have it. (Digital) Single Lens Reflex.
Aside from that key defining feature, DSLRs (and SLRs) are all camera systems with interchangeable lens. This is why professionals use DSLRS. Different lens have different features, pros, and cons for various types of scenarios. A wedding for an example is a very dynamic day that warrants lens with different focal lengths used through out the day. A DSLR gives you that ability - especially if you have different zoom lens. With the ability to buy multiple lens also comes the ability to buy lenses with different maximum apertures. For a situation where you want maximum bokeh (background/foreground blur) and maximum light hitting your camera sensor, you'll most likely use a lens with a fixed focal point. Like an 85mm f/1.4 considering variable zoom lenses often have small maximum apertures. Understanding how lens work in different settings and how lens aperture works with ISO and shutter speed are necessary for anyone operating a DSLR camera in manual mode.
It's exactly this high level of manual adjustments that made DSLR cameras the industry standard for professional photographers everywhere. It's also why DSLR cameras can seem intimidating. Failure to understand the technical side of photography and failure to understand composition fundaments is also why beginners using a DSLR don't immediately start taking better photos which can leave many frustrated. The tool itself doesn't automatically lead to better photos. It's all about the person wielding the tool. But don't be discouraged - with practice you too can get the hang of it!
What is a mirrorless camera?
I know the DSLR explanation was long. Good news - with the DSLR explanation out of the way, mirrorless should be a breeze!
So when you hear the term mirrorless camera - it's actually specifically talking about mirrorless cameras with INTERCHANGEABLE lenses - just like DSLR cameras!
Technically there are several kind of cameras that don't have mirrors but have lenses that are permanently attached to the camera body. Like many point and shoot cameras and smart phone cameras. But we aren't talking about those mainly because it was always understood that those kinds of cameras didn't use mirrors.
The term Mirrorless is actually shorthand for Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens Camera (MILC). So just because a camera doesn't have a mirror mechanism, it does not mean it should be called a mirrorless camera! Phones, or compact, or bridge cameras. While those don't have mirrors, they are cameras WITHOUT the ability to swap out lenses and therefore it's not appropriate to call those cameras "Mirrorless".
So think of a mirrorless camera as a DSLR camera (interchangeable lens cameras) WITHOUT the "Reflex" aka a mirror. The light just goes straight to the sensors. Without the need to house the "Reflex" mirror, this also means that mirrorless camera bodies are noticeably smaller and lighter than their DSLR counterparts.
So wait, how does a mirrorless camera also provide an accurate preview of the image with a viewfinder? Wasn't the "Reflex" mirror essential to have an accurate preview?
Well that's a trade off of the mirrorless camera. You no longer have an optical viewfinder. Instead you have an electronic view finder (EVF) which really is just a tiny screen located inside of the camera's eye piece and on entry level mirrorless cameras, they only have the display screen, not a EVF. So the light from the lens goes to the sensor which then generates a small preview for you in the EVF and/or display screen. No mirrors needed. As an added bonus, you can also see live previews of your photos that take into account shutter speed, iso, and aperture adjustments. The optical viewfinder of the DSLR was unable to show a preview of shutter speed or ISO adjustments.
As far as the interchangeable lens stuff - all of that stayed consistent so I won't repeat that section here. But with the rise of mirrorless cameras you can see that the professional photography landscape is currently well mixed between those shooting with DSLRs and mirrorless... for now. DSLRs are still VERY capable cameras but the future is definitely shifting towards mirrorless. But the rise of mirrorless means that you will be able to find incredible deals on used DSLR cameras (if that's what you want) and if that's what feels best in your hand. Check out our article on Deciding what Camera to Buy for more information.
Technically there are several kind of cameras that don't have mirrors but have lenses that are permanently attached to the camera body. Like many point and shoot cameras and smart phone cameras. But we aren't talking about those mainly because it was always understood that those kinds of cameras didn't use mirrors.
The term Mirrorless is actually shorthand for Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens Camera (MILC). So just because a camera doesn't have a mirror mechanism, it does not mean it should be called a mirrorless camera! Phones, or compact, or bridge cameras. While those don't have mirrors, they are cameras WITHOUT the ability to swap out lenses and therefore it's not appropriate to call those cameras "Mirrorless".
So think of a mirrorless camera as a DSLR camera (interchangeable lens cameras) WITHOUT the "Reflex" aka a mirror. The light just goes straight to the sensors. Without the need to house the "Reflex" mirror, this also means that mirrorless camera bodies are noticeably smaller and lighter than their DSLR counterparts.
So wait, how does a mirrorless camera also provide an accurate preview of the image with a viewfinder? Wasn't the "Reflex" mirror essential to have an accurate preview?
Well that's a trade off of the mirrorless camera. You no longer have an optical viewfinder. Instead you have an electronic view finder (EVF) which really is just a tiny screen located inside of the camera's eye piece and on entry level mirrorless cameras, they only have the display screen, not a EVF. So the light from the lens goes to the sensor which then generates a small preview for you in the EVF and/or display screen. No mirrors needed. As an added bonus, you can also see live previews of your photos that take into account shutter speed, iso, and aperture adjustments. The optical viewfinder of the DSLR was unable to show a preview of shutter speed or ISO adjustments.
As far as the interchangeable lens stuff - all of that stayed consistent so I won't repeat that section here. But with the rise of mirrorless cameras you can see that the professional photography landscape is currently well mixed between those shooting with DSLRs and mirrorless... for now. DSLRs are still VERY capable cameras but the future is definitely shifting towards mirrorless. But the rise of mirrorless means that you will be able to find incredible deals on used DSLR cameras (if that's what you want) and if that's what feels best in your hand. Check out our article on Deciding what Camera to Buy for more information.
What is a Bridge Camera?
The last camera we'll cover is the bridge camera! And now that we've covered DSLRs and Mirrorless, bridge cameras should be incredibly easy to describe.
Bridge cameras today serve as a "bridge" between point and shoot type cameras with fixed lens, and the more advanced DSLR/mirrorless cameras. Where as point and shoot cameras don't offer much in terms of manual operation, Bridge cameras offer similar levels of manual control offered by DSLR/mirrorless cameras. Bridge cameras also feature one lens that is permanently attached to the body of the camera. However, Bridge cameras often feature lens with an INCREDIBLE focal range with ridiculous maximum zoom range. The philosophy behind a modern Bridge camera is to permanently equip a camera body with one lens that is extremely versatile.
Look at the Nikon COOLPIX P950 for an example. It was released in 2020 and has really good reviews. We've never personally had the opportunity to try it out, but if we were to recommend a Bridge camera - this would definitely be a worthy contender. (Note this is not an official recommendation since we've never tested it out). But what strikes our interest in the P950 is the fact that the lens has a range equivalent to 24mm - 2000mm on a full frame DSLR/mirrorless.
To put that into perspective: We consider 24mm a wide focal length. Good for taking photos inside smaller rooms and of larger groups of people. 200mm on the other hand is a really long focal length for a camera. 300mm is a really really long focal length. 600mm is really really really long (useful for natural/wildlife photography). 2000mm is downright ridiculous. You could take some impressive photos of a full moon with that kind of zoom ability.
This camera goes from 24mm to 2000mm. Thats not a typo. All of that for under $800. Mind. Blown.
Bridge cameras today serve as a "bridge" between point and shoot type cameras with fixed lens, and the more advanced DSLR/mirrorless cameras. Where as point and shoot cameras don't offer much in terms of manual operation, Bridge cameras offer similar levels of manual control offered by DSLR/mirrorless cameras. Bridge cameras also feature one lens that is permanently attached to the body of the camera. However, Bridge cameras often feature lens with an INCREDIBLE focal range with ridiculous maximum zoom range. The philosophy behind a modern Bridge camera is to permanently equip a camera body with one lens that is extremely versatile.
Look at the Nikon COOLPIX P950 for an example. It was released in 2020 and has really good reviews. We've never personally had the opportunity to try it out, but if we were to recommend a Bridge camera - this would definitely be a worthy contender. (Note this is not an official recommendation since we've never tested it out). But what strikes our interest in the P950 is the fact that the lens has a range equivalent to 24mm - 2000mm on a full frame DSLR/mirrorless.
To put that into perspective: We consider 24mm a wide focal length. Good for taking photos inside smaller rooms and of larger groups of people. 200mm on the other hand is a really long focal length for a camera. 300mm is a really really long focal length. 600mm is really really really long (useful for natural/wildlife photography). 2000mm is downright ridiculous. You could take some impressive photos of a full moon with that kind of zoom ability.
This camera goes from 24mm to 2000mm. Thats not a typo. All of that for under $800. Mind. Blown.
Crop Sensor vs Full Frame
The very last thing we'll cover is Crop Sensor vs Full Frame.
We mentioned it above. You may have heard it referenced other places online. What exactly does it mean. Is on better than the other?
Traditionally, cameras used 35mm film strips. This sizing is what became industry standard. We don't fully know why or how, but 35mm was the standard. As a result all cameras and lens focal lengths were built and measured relative to the 35mm standard.
In today's digital world with cameras using digital sensors instead of film, the 35mm standard is still preserved. A sensor that is built to be the size of one frame of 35mm film is referred to as a Full Frame Sensor. They are more expensive and the larger size means they can't be easily equipped onto smaller cameras and devices. Entry level DSLR/mirrorless cameras are often equipped with smaller which are a portion of the size of a Full Frame 35mm sensor. You'll also find them under more specific and technical names with slightly varied size differences (APS-C sensor, APS-C Canon sensor, four thirds sensor). The smaller size does bring up one additional important bit of information regarding smaller sensors. They will have a "crop" factor.
Since 35mm is the industry standard, all lenses are sized relative to 35mm - even for cameras with crop sensors. So that means a lens will always want to project onto a sensor that is 35mm in size. A smaller sensor obviously isn't as big so part of the image from the lens doesn't even touch any part of the sensor. That part of the image gets "cropped" away and you never see it. This is called the "crop factor" and this is why smaller sensors are called "crop sensors". It's also why you'll see terms like "full frame equivalent to xyz mm" or "angle of view equivalent to that xyz mm lens in 35mm format". It's also why you might notice that entry level DSLR/mirrorless crop sensor cameras come with an 18 - 55mm lens and entry level DSLR/mirrorless full frame sensor cameras come with a 28-70mm lens.
We know it's confusing... we thought about making some diagrams to explain all this but we figured we would just be re-inventing the wheel. So instead of attempting a great explanation for those that are interested, we went onto Youtube and found an incredible video that explains crop factor beautifully.
We mentioned it above. You may have heard it referenced other places online. What exactly does it mean. Is on better than the other?
Traditionally, cameras used 35mm film strips. This sizing is what became industry standard. We don't fully know why or how, but 35mm was the standard. As a result all cameras and lens focal lengths were built and measured relative to the 35mm standard.
In today's digital world with cameras using digital sensors instead of film, the 35mm standard is still preserved. A sensor that is built to be the size of one frame of 35mm film is referred to as a Full Frame Sensor. They are more expensive and the larger size means they can't be easily equipped onto smaller cameras and devices. Entry level DSLR/mirrorless cameras are often equipped with smaller which are a portion of the size of a Full Frame 35mm sensor. You'll also find them under more specific and technical names with slightly varied size differences (APS-C sensor, APS-C Canon sensor, four thirds sensor). The smaller size does bring up one additional important bit of information regarding smaller sensors. They will have a "crop" factor.
Since 35mm is the industry standard, all lenses are sized relative to 35mm - even for cameras with crop sensors. So that means a lens will always want to project onto a sensor that is 35mm in size. A smaller sensor obviously isn't as big so part of the image from the lens doesn't even touch any part of the sensor. That part of the image gets "cropped" away and you never see it. This is called the "crop factor" and this is why smaller sensors are called "crop sensors". It's also why you'll see terms like "full frame equivalent to xyz mm" or "angle of view equivalent to that xyz mm lens in 35mm format". It's also why you might notice that entry level DSLR/mirrorless crop sensor cameras come with an 18 - 55mm lens and entry level DSLR/mirrorless full frame sensor cameras come with a 28-70mm lens.
We know it's confusing... we thought about making some diagrams to explain all this but we figured we would just be re-inventing the wheel. So instead of attempting a great explanation for those that are interested, we went onto Youtube and found an incredible video that explains crop factor beautifully.