What is a mirrorless camera, and how do they work? Is it worth spending thousands of dollars on a mirrorless camera, or should one stick to their DSLRs? We explain all that here.
Mirrorless cameras are the next big thing, which happened after DSLRs, and have been able to attract a huge percentage of users shifting from old camera tech directly to the mirrorless platform. If you are new to this niche, then we will attempt to answer the question. What is a mirrorless camera, and is it still worth investing in this rather new platform in 2025 or not?
What is a Mirrorless Camera?
As the name suggests, this camera platform doesn’t feature the typical mirror-based design to reflect light to the viewfinder. Instead, this new breed of cameras totally ditches the mirror piece, letting the light pass directly through the lens onto the image sensor. In this mechanism, the light is directly allowed to display the image on an electronic viewfinder, or EVF. In newer generations of cameras, this display is on the rear LCD screen of the camera.
So why this new design? Well, there are certain advantages to this scheme; first, you get to reduce the size of the camera body, making it much more relevant for those who are looking for that convenience factor for traveling, street photography, and just everyday use in general.
Second, you get a real-time preview of the final image right on the screen, which is a big deal, as on DSLRs, you would see what the lens is seeing but would not let you see the final image before it’s taken.
Another great advantage here is that such cameras have advanced autofocus systems since they have more space to accommodate circuitry working with more focus points and faster tracking capabilities as compared to previous-generation DSLR camera systems.
What’s inside a Mirrorless Camera?
The core part of a mirrorless camera body is its sensor, which is typically a CMOS sensor in three typical sizes of full-frame, APS-C, and Micro Four Thirds. These sensors have “on-sensor autofocus points,” which help the camera to process phase detection or contrast detection. Other parts are the EVF, electronic shutter, or a mechanical shutter; manual or digital controls for the shutter button, mode dial, control dials, etc.; and a shutter curtain in advanced models.
Now you know what a mirrorless camera is and what’s inside it; the good question to ask here is whether one should upgrade to a mirrorless camera. Or, if you're someone just entering this niche, which one should you select? DSLR or mirrorless? Well, it depends on a number of things.
Mirrorless Cameras or DSLRs in 2025?
If you are someone who has already invested in the DSLR camera niche and doesn’t want to make a big investment soon, then sticking with DSLRs can still be your option, unless you still like optical viewfinders more than EVFs. Many people still love using these cameras for wildlife and sports photography, but even such people are now gradually making a switch, and it’s for a good reason.
The mirrorless cameras offer so much more in a smaller package, and the entire industry is now moving its R&D to its technology, so if you are someone planning to start your journey of photography/videography, it’s better to do it with the future-proof technology of mirrorless.
We understand that for first-time camera shoppers, the sheer volume of options in the current industry and technical jargon can be quite overwhelming. But there is no denying that mirrorless cameras are the future, as they are currently at the forefront of this evolution. Investing in a mirrorless camera.
Having said that, the lens for the mirrorless camera tech can be quite pricey; this is where you have to filter out smart options, not the ones with high price tags, just because they’re from an older brand.
The Saturn 35/50/75mm Full-frame Carbon Fiber Anamorphic Lens is one such option, which is designed to match performance with a top-tier lens but with the price of a budget lens. Featuring some of the most common focal lengths, this lens is a powerhouse on its own; the cinematic 1.6x anamorphic look elevates your footage to a professional level, and the ultra-premium lightweight package (less than 500 grams) makes it a great choice to be with your next mirrorless camera.
Wrapping up:
To conclude our topic, “what is a mirrorless camera?” and “how mirrorless cameras work,” we can reiterate that this new breed of cameras ditches the mirror design for a viewfinder and is significantly smaller than DSLRs.
