Introduction Hi. Welcome to my 2014 Mirrorless Camera Guide! Hopefully you have seen tthe two articles on Outdoor Photo Academy called the 2014 Mirrorless Camera Guide. In part 1 of that article, I explained the advantages of mirrorless cameras and tried to help you sort out if it would be the best option. In part 2, I made recommendations of specific mirrorless cameras. This Guide is a supplement to those two articles. I will cover a little bit of the same thing here, but in more detail and with more data. What I’m going to do here is give you the charts I created that compare the features and specifications on the mirrorless cameras. I also compared the recommended mirrorless cameras with my recommended DSLRs in the same fashion, and each of those charts is in here. So this is just a little more information for you to decide if a mirrorless camera is right for you, and if so, which one to buy.

What is a “Mirrorless” Camera?

If you aren’t familiar with camera technology, then this reference to “mirrorless” cam- The only downside to SLRs is that the mechanism is bulky and there are extra costs eras might be confusing. After all, what do mirrors have to do with anything in the involved. As a result, camera manufacturers have long sought a way to avoid using the mirror and prism. first place? On this page I will explain what “mirrorless” cameras are.

SLRs Have Mirrors; Mirrorless Cameras Don’t The reason mirrorless cameras are called “mirrorless” is that they are typically compared with DSLRs, which do have mirrors inside them. So I need to take a step back and explain DSLRs for a moment. A DSLR is a “digitial single lens reflex camera” (they were just called “SLRs” before the digital era). For 50 years, the “SLR” has reigned supreme among cameras because they solved a problem for camera manufacturers. That problem that SLRs solved was how to allow the photographer to see exactly what the camera was seeing. Other camaras at the time had a viewfinder that was just an approximation of what the camera would be photographing. Prior to SLRs, the only way to see the same thing as the camera was to have a camera with two lenses with identical views (called twin reflex cameras).

The Mirrorless Difference In recent years, the camera manufacturers have created “mirrorless” cameras that have an electronic read-out of what the sensor is seeing, rather than looking through the lens as you would with a DSLR. The electronic readout not only shows exactly what you are about to photograph. It also provides a lot of information about the shot you are about to take.

The first “mirrorless” cameras came on the market in 2004. Initially, they were viewed as a “bridge” between compacts and DSLRs. Since then, the technology has advanced, Using Mirrors To See Exactly What the Camera Sees and the manufacturers have also begun using larger and larger senors. The Micro 4/3 system was introduced in 2008. Just this year (2014), the first “full frame” mirrorless The SLR was a great improvement in camera technology because it had only one lens, cameras were introduced. but it still allowed the photographer to see exactly what would be in the picture. How? By using a mirror and a prism inside the camera to reflect the image to the viewfinder. Not All Cameras Without Mirrors are “Mirrorless” When the shutter button is pressed, the mirror flips out of the way to take a picture. Let’s be clear on what is and is not a “mirrorless” camera. There have been cameras on the market that operate without using mirrors for a long time. These are typically inferior cameras referred to as “compacts” or “point-and-shoots.” When one refers to “mirrorless” cameras, they typically do not mean these. A key characteristic of what we call “mirrorless” cameras is that they have interchangeable lenses, and compacts and point-and-shoots have only fixed lenses. What I am calling “mirrorless” cameras have a lot of other names as well. They are also sometimes called electronic viewfinder with interchangeable lens (EVIL) cameras, mirrorless system cameras (MSC) or digital single lens mirrorless (DSLM). I’m just making you aware of that, and here I’ll call them “mirrorless.”

Mirrorless Cameras Compared to Smartphones

Perhaps the best thing about mirrorless cameras is that they are so small and portable. But, speaking of small and portable, we all have smartphones these days, right? Why not just take pictures with your smartphone and save yourself the money of buying a camera and the trouble of carrying it around? Good question. You will often hear people talk about how good smartphone cameras are these days. And that is true - when you compare them to the smartphone cameras of the past. But when you compare smartphone cameras to those of mirrorless cameras . . . well, there is no comparison. If this Guide does anything, I hope it will convince a few people that are taking pictures with their smartphones to step up and get a camera. And a mirrorless would be a great choice for these people that want to retain the smallness and portability but be able to take really good pictures as well.

Digital Sensors -

The #1 reason smartphones cameras are inadequate is their tiny digital sensor size. While most people start by looking at megapixels, the most important aspect of a camera is probably the digital sensor size. All photography involves enlarging images from a very small image sensor to something larger (like a print or your monitor), so it just makes sense that the larger the picture’s starting point, the better off you ultimately will be. But the size of the image sensor affects much more than resolution - it also affects how much “dynamic range” the camera can hold and how much noise is in your picture. In short, it affects everything. And the different between smartphone cameras and mirrorless cameras - any type of mirrorless - is huge.

Megapixels-

Megapixels

The mirrorless camera will typically have a higher megapixel count than the smartphone. For example, most mirrorless models have between 16 and 24 megapixels, while the current iPhone has just 8 megapixels. But that does not tell the whole story. Even where you Lowest Mirrorless see a smartphone with a high mega pixel count, the image quality will still be poor because of the small sensor size. In other words, just cramming a bunch of megapixels on a small sensor helps nobody but the marketers. So be careful, not all megapixels are created equal!

Lenses -

16

Current iPhone

8

The mirrorless camera will typically come with a “kit lens” with moderate quality and a zoom range something like 18 - 55 mm. You will also have the ability to change lenses and upgrade if you want. On the other hand, the smartphone lens is one fixed focal length and it cannot be changed. Taking pictures of anything or anybody that is further than 10 feet away is typically a waste of time with a smartphone.

Focus -

Mirrorless cameras focus quickly and take multiple shots per second. Smartphones take one picture at a time and do everything slowly. There is no comparison here.

Size -

Here’s a comparison of the sizes of a mirrorless camera (Sony NEX-6) and a smartphone (iPhone 5c). Not much difference, is there? Granted, if I had a side view, it would show a very slim smart phone and a much wider mirror list camera. But the camer is still a very portable option.

Comparison of Inexpensive Mirrorless Cameras Canon EOS-M

Sony NEX-6

Olympus E-PL5

APS-C 18

APS-C 16

Micro 4/3 16

4 6,400 1/4000

10 3,200 1/4000

8 1,600 1/4000

Contrast Detection 31

Contrast & Phase Detection 99

Contrast Detection 35

109x67x32 262g

122x71x28 286g

111x64x38 325g

3” touchscreen

3” tilting

3” tilting

1920 x 1080 Wifi

1920 x 1080 Wifi

1920 x 1080 Wifi

18 - 55 mm (27 - 82 mm) f/3.5-5.6

16 - 50 mm (24 - 75 mm) f/3.5-5.6

14 - 42 mm (28 - 84 mm) f/3.5 - 5.6

$300 $325

$400 $500

$450 $600

Core

I want to give you all the infromation you might need to choose a mirrorless camera. Therefore, for each of the price categories (inexpensive, mid-range, and high-end) I have charts comparing the features and specifications of the cameras within that range. I start here with the inexpensive models, which are all between $300 and $450 for just the camera, or between $325 and $600 with the kit lenses included.

Sensor Mega-Pixels

Shooting Frames per Second Highest ISO Fast Shutter Speed

Focus Auto-Focus A.F Points

Size Dimensions Weight

Display LCD size LCD type

Other Features Video Wireless Capability

Kit Lens Focal Length (35 mm equivalent) Aperture

Price Body Only w/ Kit Lens

Inexpensive Mirrorless Cameras: My Recommendation

Sony NEX-6 After doing all the research for this guide, I offered the Sony NEX-6 the highest praise possible. I bought one. No, I’m not dumping my DSLR. I’m going to use this when I can’t (or don’t want to) carry my camera bag. This camera makes a ton of sense. It is an APS-C sensor with 16 mexapixels. It shoots up to 10 frames per second and at up to 3200 ISO. It has HD video and Wifi. In fact, the features and specifications for this camera are comparable with the mid-range options I evaluated, but at a much, much lower price. I only paid $500 on Amazon for the camera and lens. I want to be sure to point out, however, that this camera has been discontinued (replaced by the Sony A6000). So this deal might not be available when you check. I have only played with this camera for a few days, but so far I am very happy with it. It is so tiny, and the electronic view finder is so terrible, that I keep getting surprised by the quality of picture that comes out of it. I recommend this camera highly, especially if you are just starting out.

Comparison of Mid-Range Mirrorless Cameras Sony A6000

Olympus OM-D E-M5

Samsung NX300M

Fujifilm X-E2

Panasonic GX7

APS-C 24

Micro 4/3 16

APS-C 20

APS-C 16

Micro 4/3 16

11 25,600 1/4000

9 25,600 1/4000

9 25,600 1/6000

7 6,400 1/4000

5 25,600 1/8000

Contrast & Phase Detection 25 & 179

Contrast Detection 35

Contrast & Phase Detection 105 & 247

Contrast Detection 49

Contrast Detection

120x67x45 344g

122x89x43 430g

122x63x43 198g

129x75x37 350g

122x71x55 402g

3” tilting

3” tilting

3.31” tilting touchscr.

3”

3” tilting

1920 x 1080 Wifi

1920 x 1080 Wifi

1920 x 1080 Wifi

1920 x 1080 Wifi

1920 x 1080 Wifi

16 - 50 mm (25 - 75 mm) f/3.5 - 5.6

14 - 42 mm (28 - 84 mm) f/3.5 - 5.6

18 - 55 mm (27 - 82 mm) f/3.5 - 5.6

18 - 55 mm (27 - 82 mm) f/2.8 - 4.0

14 - 42 mm (28 - 84 mm) f/3.5 - 5.6

$650 $800

$800 $900

$800

$800 $1,200

$1,000 $1,100

Core Sensor Mega-Pixels

Shooting Frames per Second Highest ISO Fast Shutter Speed

Focus Auto-Focus A.F Points

Size Dimensions Weight

Display LCD size LCD type

Other Features Video Wireless Capability

Kit Lens Focal Length (35 mm equivalent) Aperture

Price Body Only w/ Kit Lens

Mid-Range Mirrorless Cameras: My Recommendation

Sony A6000 This camera is actually the cheapest of the mid-range offerings at only $650 (or $800 with the kit lens). Despite the fact that it is the cheapest in this range, it has an APS-C sensor and 24 megapixels, the most of any of the cameras in this range. It is the fastest-shooting camera of the mid-range options, shooting at up to 11 frames a second. It will reach 25,600 ISO. Plus it shoots HD video and it has Wifi. The Samsung and the Fuji both have APS-C sensors, which I like, along with comparable features to the Sony. But they have lower resolution. In additin, the Fuji costs a lot more. As a result, I think that the Sony A6000 is the clear choice in the mid-range mirrorless options. I almost bought one, and would have bought one if the NEX-6 had not been available and marked down.

Comparison of High-End Mirrorless Cameras Samsung Galaxy NX

Fujifilm X-T1

Olympus OM-D E-M1

Sony a7

Panasonic GH4

Sony a7R

APS-C 20

APS-C 16

Micro 4/3 16

Full-frame 24

Micro 4/3 16

Full-frame 36

8 25,600 1/6000

8 6,400 1/4000

10 25,600 1/8000

5 25,600 1/8000

40 25,600 1/6000

4 25,600 1/8000

Contrast & Phase Detection 105 & 247

Contrast Detection 49

Contrast Detection 49

Contrast Detection 25

136x101x26 495g

129x90x47 440g

130x94x63 497g

127x94x48 416g

133x93x84 560g

127x94x48 407g

4.7” touchscreen

3” tilting

3” tilting

3” tilting

3” swivel touch.

3” tilting

1920 x 1080 3G, 4G, & Wifi

1920 x 1080 Wifi

1920 x 1080 Wifi

1920 x 1080 Wifi

4k Wifi

1920 x 1080 Wifi

18 - 55 mm (27 - 82 mm) f/2.8 - 4.0

18 - 55 mm (27 - 82 mm) f/2.8 - 4.0

12 - 40 mm (24 - 80 mm) f/2.8

28 - 70 mm (28 - 70 mm) f/3.5 - 5.6

-

-

$1,000 $1,400

$1,300 $1,700

$1,400 $1,770

$1,500 $1,800

$1,700 -

$2,100 -

Core Sensor Mega-Pixels

Shooting Frames per Second Highest ISO Fast Shutter Speed

Focus Auto-Focus A.F Points

Contrast & Contrast & Phase Detection Phase Detection 37 & 81 25 & 117

Size Dimensions Weight

Display LCD size LCD type

Other Features Video Wireless Capability

Kit Lens Focal Length (35 mm equivalent) Aperture

Price Body Only w/ Kit Lens

High-End Mirrorless Cameras: My Recommendation

Sony A7 or A7r

The Sony a7 and its turbo-charged cousin the a7r are the only full-frame mirrorless options available. These are the cameras that really put mirrorless on the map for a lot of photographers. With their full-frame sensors, high resolution, and excellent features, no longer was mirrorless inferior to the top DSLRs. Either of these cameras is great, but I recommend the a7. Did I mention this camera has a full-frame sensor? It does. It also has 24 megapixels. It has a max ISO of 25,600. As you would expect, it has capability for Wifi and HD video. This is a top-notch camera in a small package. Perhaps the bigger decision is really between the a7 and the a7R. These two cameras are virtually identical except that the a7 shoots at 24 megapixels while the a7R shoots at 36 megapixels. So the question is whether you should spend $600 more for an extra 11 megapixels. On paper, I say no, just get the a7. The reason is that 24 megapixels is plenty unless you are going to be making billboards. But, on the other hand, I could see myself getting talked into reaching for the best camera and getting the a7r. So I officially advise you to get the a7 and save your money, but I will understand completely if you end up with the a7r.

Mirrorless versus DSLR: Which to Pick? Ok, so we have talked about how mirrorless cameras stack up against smartphones and compacts. We have also taken a look at the specific models of mirrorless camera and made some recommendations. And we have talked about the advantages and disadvantages of mirrorless cameras versus DSLRs. But what if you are torn between a specific mirrorless camera and a specific DSLR? How do you evaluate between specific models in different price ranges? What I have done here is compared the features and specifications of my recommended mirrorless cameras against those of my recommended DSLRs. The charts on the next two pages show those comparisons. I have not listed any specific conclusions - I jus want to give you the informtion to help you do that on your own.

Comparison of Features and Specifications Recommended Mirrorless Cameras vs. Recommended DSLRs

Inexpensive Models Sony NEX-6 Canon T5i Core Sensor Mega-Pixels

Core APS-C 16

APS-C 18

Shooting Frames per Second Highest ISO Fast Shutter Speed

10 3,200 1/4000

5 12,800 1/4000

Contrast & Phase Detection 99

9

122x71x28 286g

132x99x79 525g

3” tilting

3” tilting

1920 x 1080 Wifi

1920 x 1080 None

12,800 1/4000

Contrast & Phase Detection 25 & 179

Phase Detection 39

Auto-Focus A.F Points Dimensions Weight

120x67x45 344g

125x98x76 480g

LCD size LCD type

3” tilting

3.2” swivel

Video Wireless Capability

1920 x 1080 Wifi

1920 x 1080 Wifi

16 - 50 mm (25 - 75 mm) f/3.5 - 5.6

18 - 55 mm (27 - 82 mm) f/3.5-5.6

$650 $800

$750 $850

Kit Lens 16 - 50 mm (24 - 75 mm) f/3.5-5.6

18 - 55 mm (27 - 82 mm) f/3.5-5.6

Price Body Only w/ Kit Lens

11 25,600 1/4000

Other Features

Kit Lens Focal Length (35 mm equivalent) Aperture

Frames per Second Highest ISO Fast Shutter Speed

Display

Other Features Video Wireless Capability

APS-C 24

Size

Display LCD size LCD type

APS-C 24

Focus

Size Dimensions Weight

Sensor Mega-Pixels

Shooting

Focus Auto-Focus A.F Points

Mid-Range Models Sony A6000 Nikon D5300

Focal Length (35 mm equivalent) Aperture

Price $400 $500

$600 $750

Body Only w/ Kit Lens

Comparison of Features and Specifications Recommended Mirrorless Cameras vs. Recommended DSLRs High-End Models Sony a7 Canon 6D Core Sensor Mega-Pixels

Core Full-frame 24

Full Frame 20

Shooting Frames per Second Highest ISO Fast Shutter Speed

5 25,600 1/8000

5 25,600 1/4000

Contrast & Phase Detection 25 & 117

11

127x94x48 416g

145x112x71 770g

3” tilting

3”

1920 x 1080 Wifi

1920 x 1080 Wifi

5 12,800 1/8000

Contrast Detection 25

Auto-Focus A.F Points

51

Dimensions Weight

127x94x48 407g

146x123x81 880g

LCD size LCD type

3” tilting

3.2”

Video 1920 x 1080 1920 x 1080 Wireless Capability Wifi Optional

Kit Lens 28 - 70 mm (28 - 70 mm) f/3.5 - 5.6

24 - 105 mm (24 - 105 mm) f/4

Price Body Only w/ Kit Lens

4 25,600 1/8000

Other Features

Kit Lens Focal Length (35 mm equivalent) Aperture

Frames per Second Highest ISO Fast Shutter Speed

Display

Other Features Video Wireless Capability

Full Frame 36

Size

Display LCD size LCD type

Full-frame 36

Focus

Size Dimensions Weight

Sensor Mega-Pixels

Shooting

Focus Auto-Focus A.F Points

Beasts Sony a7R Nikon D810

Focal Length (35 mm equivalent) Aperture

-

-

$2,100 -

$3,296 -

Price $1,500 $1,800

$1,900 $2,500

Body Only w/ Kit Lens

Conclusion and Additional Resources In 2014, mirrorless officially came of age. They are now generally acknowledged as being a viable alternative to the DSLR. But is one right for you? Hopefully the information in here helped you decide that. And I also hope that this helps you pick one out if you decide to go that route. If you still haven’t decided, or you want even more information about these cameras, there are a few places you can go. I know I am biased, but I actually do not think you will find much more thorough or timely information than what is in this guide. At the same time, I do not conduct lab tests or anything like that. But if you want that sort of data, I recommend you head over to DP Review, where they will have tests on most cameras. But my real hope is that you will not get bogged down in camera details for too long. It can be interesting and fun to pick out your new camera, but I hope you won’t live there forever. Just get the camera, and then head on over to Outdoor Photo Academy and let’s start having fun with it.