Mirrorless Camera Limitations
We’ve gone over the many advantages of mirrorless cameras over DSLRs. Now let’s talk about some of their current limitations.
When I first wrote this article, the list of mirrorless disadvantages was longer, but with the most recent update of the article, I had to delete some of them. Mirrorless technology has already gotten much better, and I expect mirrorless cameras to continue improving within the next few years.
DSLRs no longer compete with mirrorless cameras since aside from Pentax, camera companies have stopped designing new ones. Although many people will still use and even buy DSLRs for many years to come, the majority of new camera sales are now mirrorless.
NIKON Z 6 II mirrorless camera + NIKKOR Z 14-30mm f/4 S @ 14mm, ISO 100, 1/10, f/11.0
We’ve gone over the many advantages of mirrorless cameras over DSLRs. Now let’s talk about some of their current limitations.
- EVF lag: Some early or lower-end mirrorless cameras have low-quality EVFs that are not very responsive and have some lag. By comparison, an OVF on a DSLR is instantaneous. While this is certainly a nuisance if you have one of those cameras, more recent EVFs are quite good, and most people aren’t bothered by them.
- Red dot patterns: Due to the very short flange distance on a mirrorless camera, most of them suffer from a “red dot pattern” issue, which becomes clearly visible when shot with the sun in the frame at small apertures. Basically, light rays bounce back and forth between the sensor and the rear lens element, creating grid patterns of red (and sometimes other colors) in images. Unfortunately, there is no easy way around this limitation on mirrorless cameras, as discussed here.
- Flash head autofocus-assist beam: The AF-assist beam on most flash heads projects infrared light onto your subject, and then uses it to focus. This works fine on DSLRs with their phase-detect focusing systems, which are sensitive to infrared light. Unfortunately, it doesn’t work for mirrorless cameras. In low-light situations, if you’re used to using a flash, you may find that focusing gets more difficult if you switch to mirrorless. (On most flashes, mirrorless cameras refuse to even fire the AF assist light at all.)
- Price: In theory, producing mirrorless cameras can be cheaper than producing DSLRs, thanks to fewer moving parts. Occasionally this translates into less expensive mirrorless cameras, like the Nikon Z9 compared to its DSLR counterpart, the Nikon D6. However, most mirrorless cameras sell for a premium over their DSLR counterparts, precisely because of all the R&D dollars that camera companies are pouring into them. Over time, mirrorless camera prices will come down, but for now, DSLRs usually win in price. Used DSLRs are perhaps the best value of any segment of the camera market today.
- Battery life: Most mirrorless cameras still use more power than their DSLR counterparts, largely because of their electronic viewfinders. The result is that mirrorless cameras are rated for fewer photos per charge than most DSLRs. Although mirrorless cameras are getting better in this department, it can still be a problem for someone who travels and has very little access to power. The good news is that today’s mirrorless cameras can usually last a full day without recharging, which was a major threshold. Still, you can see the differences here:
Canon 5D Mark IV | 900 | Canon R5 | 320 |
Canon 7DII | 670 | Canon R7 | 660 |
Nikon D850 | 1840 | Nikon Z7 | 420 |
Nikon D6 | 3580 | Nikon Z9 | 740 |
DSLRs no longer compete with mirrorless cameras since aside from Pentax, camera companies have stopped designing new ones. Although many people will still use and even buy DSLRs for many years to come, the majority of new camera sales are now mirrorless.
NIKON Z 6 II mirrorless camera + NIKKOR Z 14-30mm f/4 S @ 14mm, ISO 100, 1/10, f/11.0
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