65
votes
Why are SLR mechanisms still prevalent among high-end digital cameras?
Is there any significant benefit to having an SLR mechanism in a
digital camera? Particularly in terms of a benefit that's large enough
to make up for the liability of adding a mechanical part ...
- 49.2k
56
votes
Accepted
Why are SLR mechanisms still prevalent among high-end digital cameras?
And with a digital camera, you don't need a hinged mirror as you can show the user exactly what light will be captured by just routing the sensor output to an LCD display.
This is the reason for the ...
- 31.2k
45
votes
How can I use my dSLR or mirrorless camera as a webcam?
What you need
A camera that can stream using one of the methods described below.
Software to set up a virtual camera for your video conferencing platform; or if you are using HDMI, an HDMI capture ...
- 49.2k
37
votes
Why do mirrorless cameras have shorter battery life?
Using an electronic viewfinder or LCD screen to compose the image uses more battery life than a standard viewfinder
Using an LCD screen for the majority of device settings uses more battery life than ...
- 45.7k
32
votes
Accepted
How to spot dust in images quickly while doing a shoot outdoors?
The dust isn't on the lens — it's on the sensor. Dust on the lens will not resolve so clearly.
To check for it quickly, set your aperture to the smallest your lens can support. (Small apertures have ...
- 140k
29
votes
Why are SLR mechanisms still prevalent among high-end digital cameras?
Don't forget a major drawback that EVF's require power to compose, and are much harder on batteries if you spend a lot of time with the screen on.
Also, as previously mentioned, because of delays, it ...
- 449
25
votes
Accepted
What do I need to consider to choose between dSLR, mirrorless, or a compact as my first "serious" camera?
Essentials
I think that all three of the camera types (dSLR, mirrorless, and fixed-lens compact) can be used to seriously learn photography if all you've been using up to now is a phone camera. ...
- 49.2k
24
votes
My mentor says to set image to Fine instead of RAW — how is this different from JPG?
you don't have to reproduce the algorithms that the camera is running to render your photo on the small display on the camera.
This all depends on how much you value what is shown on the camera's LCD ...
- 19.9k
22
votes
Why do mirrorless cameras have shorter battery life?
The main reason is because the batteries for MILCs are almost universally smaller than DSLR batteries.
Some mirrorless batteries:
The LP-E17 battery for the Canon EOS M5 has a 1050 mAh (milliamp-...
- 31k
18
votes
Why are SLR mechanisms still prevalent among high-end digital cameras?
Another disadvantage of using the sensor to generate a near real time preview in lieu of an optical viewfinder is the requirement to keep the sensor energized continuously. In addition to the ...
- 168k
18
votes
Is it possible to make a photo's EXIF look like it was taken with a DSLR?
Yes, it is possible. But you should not do this. Being dishonest with your teacher is never a good move. If you have a mirrorless interchangeable lens camera with a large sensor, you may be able to ...
- 140k
18
votes
Accepted
DSLR or Mirrorless for Helicopters with doors off?
Mirrorless or DSLR doesn't really matter. Use whichever lens-body combination gives you the best reduction of vibrations that are relatively slow in frequency but very deep in amplitude. Smaller ...
- 168k
16
votes
Why do mirrorless cameras have shorter battery life?
A mirrorless camera consumes more power mostly because the circuitry is constantly running. Both the sensor and EVF or LCD have to be powered continuously in order to maintain the Live-View which is ...
- 101k
15
votes
Do mirrorless cameras have more sensor noise because they are constantly exposed to light?
DSLR camera sensors are only exposed to light when the picture is taken, so the sensor presumably produces less noise than if it was always exposed to the light. I find support for this in the way ...
- 168k
14
votes
Accepted
My mentor says to set image to Fine instead of RAW — how is this different from JPG?
JPEG, as you know, is a lossy compression format. One feature of the format is different quality levels, which correspond to greater or lesser amounts of information discarded to save space.
See Is ...
- 140k
13
votes
What is the reason of "banded" bokeh on Sony a7?
It's called "Nisen Bokeh" and is mainly due to the lens design (though the background plays a part, it's possible to "provoke" this effect with any lens with the right background).
Overcorrected ...
- 117k
13
votes
What should I look for when shopping for my first mirrorless camera?
A mirrorless is a system camera and you must therefore carefully consider the system. There 2 major differenciators between systems:
Sensor-size: This affects image quality and particularly low-light ...
- 101k
11
votes
How can I use my dSLR or mirrorless camera as a webcam?
inkista has an excellent answer above.
My Panasonic GX-80 doesn't support 'Lumix tether for streaming' - but it does have a Wifi function allowing you to watch a live preview from a smartphone.
Over ...
- 211
10
votes
Why is DSLR autofocus much faster than Mirrorless autofocus?
To answer your question directly, I think that your base assumption that Mirrorless AF is slower than DSLR AF is somewhat dated and also unfairly groups cameras that vary a great deal into a single ...
- 45.7k
10
votes
Why do lenses for larger sensors tend to have shallower angles?
This is simply where the market is converging to at the moment. The typical kit lens is still 18-55mm on an APS-C sensor but most people find wider angle more useful, so some manufacturers made a few ...
- 101k
9
votes
Accepted
Autofocus points in Mirrorless Cameras
As with many things, the marketers have tried to convince us that bigger, more, or higher priced is always "better". Most of the time in photography quality trumps quantity.
Regardless of how many ...
- 168k
9
votes
Is there any compact full-frame mirrorless camera?
I don't think you'll find what you're looking for, because: bigger things are bigger than small things. Full-frame cameras are bigger than APS-C cameras Medium format cameras are bigger than full-...
- 140k
9
votes
Black smudges during long exposure shots? What are these called and why are they there?
Not a problem with your equipment. They are reflections of the clouds. Non-smooth water will cause vertical smears. The effect is subtle here, but it is more obvious when the sun is reflected.
Why ...
- 1,157
8
votes
Dull and grainy photos
This is my quick edit of your jpeg. Lightroom 4. I stretched out the histogram by increasing exposure and darkening the blacks. I pulled down the highlights, increased the shadows, increased the ...
- 413
8
votes
What should I look for when shopping for my first mirrorless camera?
Usual Basics
Just as with dSLRs, you will want to consider the following "main" features of a camera system in addition to any gee-whiz features you find sexy:
Sensor size and resolution (affects ...
- 49.2k
8
votes
Accepted
Turning camera ON/OFF to preserve battery?
A lot can depend on the settings you have on the camera. Most cameras, when not used for a certain amount of time, will go into powersave mode to save battery for you. Yes this will still use a ...
- 349
8
votes
What are the advantages and disadvantages of an electronic viewfinder vs. a DSLR's optical finder?
Electronic viewfinder Pros:
Potentially smaller and lighter camera bodies and lenses (particularly wide angle lenses)
Can zoom in to verify precise focus and depth of field
Can see (almost) exactly ...
- 2,135
8
votes
Accepted
What enables the Canon RF 70-200 f/2.8 to be much smaller than the EF version?
They are two totally different designs.
One is a non-extending lens that does all of the "zooming" internally.
The other is an extending zoom lens that is considerably shorter at 70mm than at 200mm.
...
- 168k
7
votes
Accepted
Can the sun damage the sensor on a mirrorless camera?
My Sony Alpha 6000 experienced extensive burn in from photographing the sun. The burn in happened either during experimentation prior to the eclipse, or during the August 21 eclipse. The burn in areas ...
7
votes
Accepted
What's the advantage of a DSLR's "previewer" viewfinder, since I have observed that mirrorless cameras appear to have the same thing?
DSLRs have a direct, optical path through the lens. (Well, a reflected direct path.) You are seeing the scene with your eyes.
Mirrorless cameras with a viewfinder actually use a small LCD screen — ...
- 140k
Only top scored, non community-wiki answers of a minimum length are eligible