Mirrorless Interchangeable lens cameras, what are they?
There is a certain charm associated with having a camera where one changes lenses to refine and fine-tune the photographs and videos one captures. Often the symbolic gesture an amateur photographer makes when one transitions to professional photography is to change over to an interchangeable lens camera. So what should you choose? A DSLR or a Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens Camera?
To begin with it is important to understand what an Interchangeable Lens System is. An Interchangeable Lens camera is a camera that functions with interchangeable lenses. An interchangeable lens camera is renowned for capturing extraordinary images. Many argue that by this definition a DSLR camera should also fall under this category. Therefore to avoid any confusion on the matter, the term Mirrorless interchangeable lens camera was coined.
The first in the range of Mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras (MILCs) was launched as recently as 2004. Therefore it is safe to say that the technology relatively nascent. Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens Cameras has mount, much like a DSLR camera. Lenses are “interchanged” to leverage different optics from the same system. The actual mount provides the link between the lens and the camera. Most MILCs have mounts designed specifically for the camera system. The best example is the micro four-thirds mount from the Panasonic Mirrorless camera range.
A Mirrorless interchangeable lens camera is created to be diminutive. The primary reason for this is the absence of a primary reflex mirror, a mainstay of the DSLR camera system. The Panasonic Lumix GH4 from the Panasonic Mirrorless camera range is a prime example of how much a MILC can be condensed in terms of size without compromising on quality.
The sheer convenience of MILCs makes them an exciting prospect for photographers in transition. Especially DSLM cameras with their exceptional capabilities have given an extraordinary challenge to the traditional DSLR system of cameras. Panasonic Lumix has been the pioneer in this regard, with cameras like the Panasonic Lumix GH4, and the more recent Panasonic Lumix GH5s. The exceptional capabilities of these cameras stand testament to the age-old-adage – size doesn’t matter.
One of the places where a MILC massively lacked was the availability of a host of lenses. DSLRs had a clear advantage in this section. Or at least perceived one. The advent of adapters to bridge these gaps came in almost concurrently with the creation of MILCs.
The domination of the DSLR as far as the perceptions of professionalism is concerned remains. There are few pseudo-purists who believe that a DSLR has no alternative, but DSLMs truly are here to stay. The announcement of the S series by Lumix further ups the ante as far as the serious challenge to the perceived dominance of the DSLRs is concerned. The Lumix S series is truly a camera launched for this very segment, the professional photographer. And while the entire world waits, with bated breath, for the launch of the first full-frame camera by Lumix, you can rest assured that MILCs are here to stay. So go ahead change the way you capture life.
