Mirrorless cameras are the way of the future, or so that's what we're told every time Sony, Canon, Nikon, or Fujifilm release a new model of DSLM camera. Whether you're a photography or filmmaker, if you have looked at purchasing a new camera, chances are you have looked at a mirrorless camera. But what makes these sleeker cameras increasingly more popular than traditional DSLR photography cameras, and even becoming a choice for filmmakers over traditional Cinema Cameras?
Let's start out with a bit of defining these types of cameras. DSLR (digital single-lens reflex) cameras have an image sensor, which captures light information and translates it into a viewable image. In front of this sensor is a mirror, angling up from the sensor into another mirror, which is positioned in front the camera viewfinder (the eyepiece where the photographer looks into to see through the lens. When the photographer presses the shutter button to take a photo, the lower mirror quickly flips up out of the way of the sensor. The shutter closes, taking a photo, and the mirror flips back down so that the photographer can see through the lens once again. Essentially, DSLRs allow the photographer to see straight through the lens while preparing and taking a photo, which is arguably the most accurate way to capture an image. This path of mirrors takes up space inside of the camera's body, making DSLRs larger than their mirrorless counterparts.
DSLM (digital single-lens mirrorless) cameras share many properties with DSLRs. The image sensors are very similar, and even often the same between the same company's DSLR and mirrorless cameras. The key differences surround the viewfinders, and how the user sees the image they are about to take/taking. Mirrorless cameras, rather than having a couple of mirrors to see out of the lens, utilize using a magnified LED screen inside of the camera body. When a photographer/videographer is capturing an image on a mirrorless camera, they are looking through the viewfinder at a screen rather than the lens directly. There is debate on whether or not this is the best interpretation of the image, but as fully digital workflows are being more heavily adopted, it makes sense to view the camera image digitally as well.
Cinema cameras are similar to the others in the sense that they all share image sensors, image processors, and interchangeable lenses. The differences stop between Mirrorless and cinema cameras when you look at their image processing capabilities. Cinema cameras are often made with the same image sensors, but have processing capabilities far greater than DSLMs. Cinema cameras essentially have computers inside of them which can record and process much more color and light information being seen by the image sensor. Due to this vast increase in performance, cinema cameras are much larger than mirrorless cameras, also providing space for necessary cooling.
Mirrorless and DSLR cameras often feature artificial-intelligence driven features that cinema cameras do not. Cinema cameras are quite complicated, and demand a keen understanding of how the machine works. Mirrorless and DSLR cameras have many automatic and computer-driven software features that make them far more approachable and efficient than cinema cameras. Many indie/run-and-gun videographers prefer these cameras for this reason.
Overall, DSLR, DSLM, and cinema cameras all have their own place in the visual creative space. Despite the fact that mirrorless cameras appear to be "catching up" to cinema cameras in regards to resolution, frame rates, and features - it is clear that they both have a place for different types of workflows.