WHAT’S SO GREAT ABOUT MIRRORLESS?Photographers get tired of lugging around heavy gear. They also want to be more discreet. So, smaller and lighter they go. But, is that all there is to mirrorless? Buckle-in. Mirrorless systems provide QUALITY advantages. With no mirror in the way, the rear lens element sits closer to the sensor (shorter flange distance), which minimizes stray light interference. It also allows more light to hit the sensor due to a wider angle of incidence. Imagine you’re in a cave. More light hits you if you’re standing close to the entrance than if you’re further back in the cave. This advantage is compounded when lenses are optimized for it. Larger lens elements can be positioned toward the rear (camera side) so they can be faster (wider max aperture), lighter, better weight balance, and less expensive than any similar DSLR lens would be. In fact, some lenses (i.e., 28-70 f/2.0) are available for mirrorless that would be impractical for DSLRs due to cost, size and weight. Another advantage for mirrorless is the electronic viewfinder. It’s live view in your viewfinder. No more test shots and chimping for the right exposure. Just dial it in right in the viewfinder before the shot. Fewer missed shots and less junk to delete. Mirrorless product development is at a fevered pitch. I love my DSLR. But, the future is mirrorless.

Written by: Steven Hoagland