Digital technology has resulted in the development of a new type of camera, the compact system camera (CSC), also known as the mirrorless interchangeable lens camera.
CSCs are becoming increasingly popular and there are models available to suit every level of photographer from the novice to the professional. They are putting up some fierce competition for the DSLR, the traditional camera of choice for enthusiast photographers and it can be hard to decide which type of camera to opt for.
However, there are three key points that are important to understand about the two camera types when trying to choose between a DSLR vs CSC.
DSLR vs CSC: 01 Size
DSLR vs CSC: 03 Focusing
Much of the development in DSLRs and compact system cameras has centred around the speed and accuracy of their autofocus (AF) systems.
For SLRs the challenge is to produce faster, smoother focusing in live view and video mode as the phase detection AF systems that they use when the image is composed in the viewfinder are generally fast and efficient.
Most compact system cameras use contrast detection autofocusing (the same as many SLRs in live view mode) and this is generally slower than phase detection – especially in low light.
Some manufacturers, however, have managed to produce AF systems for their CSCs which challenge those of similarly priced SLRs.
On the whole, an SLR’s live view and video AF system is much slower than a CSC’s, but SLR manufacturers are starting to make improvements by developing hybrid systems and even sensor-based phase detection systems.
Although you can shoot sport and action with a compact system camera, as a rule DSLRs are more suited to doing so because the focusing system when using the viewfinder is usually more versatile, faster and more sensitive.
CSCs are becoming increasingly popular and there are models available to suit every level of photographer from the novice to the professional. They are putting up some fierce competition for the DSLR, the traditional camera of choice for enthusiast photographers and it can be hard to decide which type of camera to opt for.
However, there are three key points that are important to understand about the two camera types when trying to choose between a DSLR vs CSC.
DSLR vs CSC: 01 Size
One of the primary reasons for introducing the CSC genre was to create smaller cameras that can accept different lenses.
Compact system cameras can be made smaller than SLRs because they don’t have a mirror or pentaprism/pentamirror.
As well as the obvious space saving that omitting these components makes, the mirrorless design of a CSC also enables the lens to be mounted closer to the sensor – again shrinking the camera, and in some cases the lenses.
DSLR vs CSC: 02 Viewfinder
DSLRs have an optical viewfinder which shows the scene as it is seen through the lens.
Compact system cameras can’t have an optical through-the-lens (TTL) viewfinder because they don’t have a mirror to reflect light into the pentaprism/mirror.
In many cases the image is composed on the screen of a CSC, just as it is with many compact cameras.
However, in some cases there is an electronic viewfinder (EVF), which is made from a small screen (often an LCD).
Some cameras are even compatible with an optional external EVF.
These allow the image to be composed with the camera held to the eye, which is useful in very bright conditions or with moving subjects.
Crucially, an EVF shows the image that is formed on the imaging sensor.
The first EVFs were low-quality affairs and this has given them a bad name that has been hard to shake-off.
The image in the EVFs in most modern compact system cameras may not be quite as smooth as the one in an SLR’s viewfinder, but it has the advantage of being able to show how the image will look when it is captured, taking into account the exposure, colour and white balance settings.
Compact system cameras can’t have an optical through-the-lens (TTL) viewfinder because they don’t have a mirror to reflect light into the pentaprism/mirror.
In many cases the image is composed on the screen of a CSC, just as it is with many compact cameras.
However, in some cases there is an electronic viewfinder (EVF), which is made from a small screen (often an LCD).
Some cameras are even compatible with an optional external EVF.
These allow the image to be composed with the camera held to the eye, which is useful in very bright conditions or with moving subjects.
Crucially, an EVF shows the image that is formed on the imaging sensor.
The first EVFs were low-quality affairs and this has given them a bad name that has been hard to shake-off.
The image in the EVFs in most modern compact system cameras may not be quite as smooth as the one in an SLR’s viewfinder, but it has the advantage of being able to show how the image will look when it is captured, taking into account the exposure, colour and white balance settings.
DSLR vs CSC: 03 Focusing
For SLRs the challenge is to produce faster, smoother focusing in live view and video mode as the phase detection AF systems that they use when the image is composed in the viewfinder are generally fast and efficient.
Most compact system cameras use contrast detection autofocusing (the same as many SLRs in live view mode) and this is generally slower than phase detection – especially in low light.
Some manufacturers, however, have managed to produce AF systems for their CSCs which challenge those of similarly priced SLRs.
On the whole, an SLR’s live view and video AF system is much slower than a CSC’s, but SLR manufacturers are starting to make improvements by developing hybrid systems and even sensor-based phase detection systems.
Although you can shoot sport and action with a compact system camera, as a rule DSLRs are more suited to doing so because the focusing system when using the viewfinder is usually more versatile, faster and more sensitive.
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