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20 VIDEOMAKER >>> MAY 2019

mentarily exposing the image sensor. When

shooting video, the mirror remains down, and

the video can be seen on the LCD screen in the

same way as on a mirrorless camera.

Because of the mirror mechanism, DSLRs

tend to be larger and heavier than mirrorless

cameras. DSLRs, at their smallest, weigh around

a pound and a half and can fit in a small bag.

Mirrorless cameras can weigh as little as half

a pound and can be pocket-sized with a small

lens. If you’re shooting on a tripod or a shoulder

rig, the difference in size can be insignificant.

Another common difference is in monitoring

options. Some mirrorless cameras lack view-

finders, instead relying on rear display panels;

those that have them necessarily use electronic

viewfinders, or EVFs, which have a reputation

for making it difficult to see detail. Fortunately,

many come with the advantage of being able to

digitally zoom from within the EVF for focus as-

sist. When a DSLR is in video mode, the optical

viewfinder is disabled, and the video is viewable

on the LCD screen making it function much like

a mirrorless camera.

Lens compatibility

When buying an interchangeable-lens camera,

lens mount is also important — especially if

you already have a collection of glass in your

kit. This is typically tied to the sensor size. The

larger the sensor, the larger the glass in the

lens needs to be. The lens needs to be able to

cover the whole sensor with light. That’s why a

full-frame lens can work with an adapter on a

smaller sensor, but a small sensor lens will not

work on a full-frame camera regardless of the

adapter; it won’t cast enough light to cover the

whole sensor. If you already have a substantial

lens collection, consider lens-mount compat-

ibility before you have to put your old lenses

on Craigslist.

DSLRs have the broadest selection of lenses

from macro lenses to super-telephoto to fully

manual cinema lenses. You can find a lens for

almost any application to fit your DSLR’s mount.

While the selection of lenses for mirrorless cam-

eras is limited, the lenses are smaller and lighter

than comparable DSLR lenses. You can often find

adapters for mounting DSLR lenses on mirrorless

cameras, but these adapters vary in quality, and

some lens functions such as autofocus and iris

control (aperture control) may not work.

What’s your style?

Do you need a camera that’s super compact

and lightweight? If so, then a small, mirrorless

camera might be right for you. Do you want an

affordable camera with a huge variety of lenses

and accessories? A larger DSLR might be the

solution you’re looking for.

Many of the newer models of mirrorless and

DSLR cameras share similar features, making the

difference between these two types of cameras

minimal. Besides the mirror, the biggest differ-

ence is weight and size. On a tripod, that doesn’t

mean much. With the camera handheld, a little

more weight and a larger body can make the

camera easier to keep steady.

Focus on the features that are important to

you. Think about what you’ll be shooting and

the environment you’ll be working in. Finding a

camera that has the right features for the types of

shoots you do is the first step in selecting the best

gear for your productions.

Contributors to this article include Jason Miller, Odin Lindb-

lom and the Videomaker Editorial Staff.

Most cinematic - Panasonic GH5s

Best run-and-gun - Sony a7S II

You can comment on this article by going online:

http://www.videomaker.com/?p=72007487

384 B02 DSLR & mirrorless cameras .indd 20 3/19/19 2:11 PM

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