You’ve mastered the
art of Instagram, and
you’re ready to swap
your smartphone camera
for something more seri-
ous. Five years ago, that
meant choosing between
the quality of a digital
single lens reflex (DSLR)
camera or the low cost
of a point-and-shoot. But
that’s no longer the case.
Mirrorless cameras, which have been around since the digital camera boom of the early 2000s, are catching up to DSLRs in terms of quality. Their smaller bodies formerly meant grainier photos.
and it’s available for a
reasonable price.
Mirrorless cameras, which have been around since the digital camera boom of the early 2000s, are catching up to DSLRs in terms of quality. Their smaller bodies formerly meant grainier photos.
That’s because they re-
quired the use of smaller
image sensors, which
receive less light than
the full-frame sensors used in DSLRs. In recent years, camera-makers have found ways to place larger sensors in mirror- less cameras, pairing them with high-powered image processors. To boot, many mirrorless cameras now include interchangeable lenses for shooting in different environments. That means a pro-grade camera in
a point-and-shoot body is finally a reality—
the full-frame sensors used in DSLRs. In recent years, camera-makers have found ways to place larger sensors in mirror- less cameras, pairing them with high-powered image processors. To boot, many mirrorless cameras now include interchangeable lenses for shooting in different environments. That means a pro-grade camera in
a point-and-shoot body is finally a reality—
01 Sony α5100 The camera’s full HD video support puts it in a class above most other mid-tier mirrorless cameras. Megapixels 24.3 Max resolution 6,000 x 4,000 ISO range 100–25,600 Price $699 Weight 283g
02 Panasonic GX7A Micro Four Thirds (MFT) system accepts DSLR lenses when fitted with an adapter—a nice perk if you have them. Megapixels 16 Max resolution 4,592 x 3,448
ISO range 200–25,600 Price $1,099 Weight 402g
03 Olympus OM-D E-M10 Wi-Fi connectivity and touchscreen controls make this MFT camera best suited for Internet dwellers. Megapixels 16 Max Resolution 4,608 x 3,456 ISO range 100–25,600 Price $699.99 Weight 396g
