Mirrorless interchangeable-lens camera

EVIL redirects here, as an acronym for Electronic Viewfinder Interchangeable Lens.
Leica M9 digital mirrorless full frame system camera with a rangefinder
Sony A7R digital mirrorless full frame system camera with an EVF
Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II digital mirrorless micro 4/3 system camera with an EVF
Hasselblad X1D digital mirrorless medium format system camera with an EVF
Fujifilm GFX 50S digital mirrorless medium format system camera with an EVF

A mirrorless interchangeable lens camera is a digital camera with an interchangeable lens. Unlike a single lens reflex (SLR) camera for analog film, or a digital single lens reflex (DSLR) camera, a mirrorless camera does not have a movable mirror in the optical path, or an optical viewfinder (OVF) but uses the digital image sensor to provide an image to an electronic viewfinder (EVF) of what the lens sees.

Mirrorless cameras are simpler, smaller and lighter than DSLRs because they do not need a mirrorhousing, a movable mirror, or a viewing prism with reticle making up the optical viewfinder. Neither do they need a secondary autofocus mirror, an autofocus sensor array and a separate light metering sensor. Yet, a mirrorless camera provides real time preview of what the camera lens sees.

Since mobile phones with cameras, point and shoot cameras, compact cameras, superzoom cameras, compact system cameras and mirrorless system cameras today all are mirrorless cameras, it is essentially only the DSLR cameras, with emphasis on the R (Reflex) which are cameras with movable mirrors.

Mirrorless cameras have until recently had two challenges keeping them from competing with top of the line DSLRs. The initial challenge was to provide an EVF with the resolution, clarity and response of direct optical viewing. The second challenge has been that the contrast detect autofocus (CDAF) initially used in mirrorless cameras requires about twice the time to acquire focus compared to that of phase detect autofocus (PDAF). Professional photographers covering sports and news events have therefore been among the last to embrace the mirrorless cameras. The latest generation mirrorless cameras, however, have PDAF pixels built into the image sensor offering fully competitive and accurate autofocus and many times faster continuous shooting with continuous autofocus than DSLRs.

Mirrorless system cameras are available with a variety of image sensor sizes including 1", Micro 4/3, APS-C, full frame and medium format.[1]

With high quality images being available even from smaller sensors a new distinction other than camera price is available to photographers. As a rule, to professionally photograph studio objects, landscapes or architecture requiring rich and realistic images, a camera with a full frame or a medium format sensor is preferred. Lenses required and used for this is typically in the 20 to 200 mm focal range. With the same requirement for image quality, sports and wildlife photography then requires focal lengths from 600 to 800 mm or more. Mirrorless system cameras with smaller, high resolution sensors can here offer the advantage of the same final image coverage using shorter focal length, lighter lenses because of the so-called "crop factor" of the smaller sensor. This of course requires that the smaller sensor has a high enough pixel density to offer a final resolution equal to or better than what can be cropped out of the image from a larger sensor using the same, shorter focal length lens.

As of 2016, several mirrorless system cameras were available. In chronological order by introduction, and referring to the adopted lens-mount type, they are: Epson R-D1 using Leica M mount in 2004; Leica itself with its M-mount in 2006; Micro Four Thirds mount for Olympus and Panasonic; Samsung NX-mount; Sony E-mount; Nikon 1-mount; Pentax Q mount for Pentax small-sensor Mirrorless (Pentax Q); K-mount for both Pentax DSLRs and Pentax large-sensor mirrorless; Fujifilm X-mount; Canon EF-M mount; Leica with its L-mount (originally known as T-mount) initially for APS-C mirrorless and later for full-frame mirrorless as well; and Hasselblad XCD mount for medium format mirrorless. Sony's full-frame mirrorless cameras, introduced in late 2013, use the same E-mount as the company's APS-C mirrorless cameras, but attain full-frame coverage with the use of "FE" lenses.

New technologies in mirrorless cameras

IBIS

Whereas image stabilizing techniques (IS), also called vibration reduction (VR), have been available in long focal length lenses for DSLRs for some time, recent mirrorless cameras are offering in body image stabilization (IBIS) where the image sensor moves inside the camera to keep the image steady on the image sensor, counteracting any undesirable vibration or shaking of the camera during handheld exposures. The manufacturer Olympus combines this with vibration reduction in the lens to achieve five axis of total vibration reduction including two axis of rotation. The result is claimed to enable sharp and shake free handheld exposures as long as several seconds.

SILENT SHUTTER

Electronic first and second curtain shutters for a totally quiet, electronic exposure is also becoming common. With sensor scan times down to 1/60 of a second, totally quiet electronic shutters are now useful even during short exposures of subjects in some motion without distorting the image.

CONTINUOUS AUTOFOCUS

The ability of a camera with autofocus to re-focus between rapid shots in a series of continuous exposures (CAF) has up until recently been possible only with high end DSLRs, and even then, because of the limited speed of the mirror mechanism, the continuous shooting speed has been limited to around half a dozen shots per second. Although autofocus speed has been the Achilles heal of the mirrorless camera, several manufacturers today boost continuous shooting with continuous refocusing between exposures at rates up to 18 frames per second with silent, electronic shutter and up to 10 frames per second with mechanical shutter.

HDR

In camera automation of high dynamic range photography (HDR) is being offered. The camera takes a series of shots under varying exposures and combines them in the camera into one high dynamic range image.

HIGH RESOLUTION IMAGE

Though the resolution of any digital image sensor is limited, the IBIS mechanism in the camera allows the camera to move the image sensor in steps smaller than the image sensor pixel size to produce a multi exposure image with a resolution higher than the image sensor itself. Both high dynamic range (HDR) and high resolution images are best captured while the camera is mounted an a tripod and triggered remotely.

FOCUS STACKING

Many mirrorless cameras are also capable of producing an image with seemingly infinite depth of focus. The technique involves several exposures executed at varies focal planes and combined in the camera to an image with seemingly infinite depth of focus.

TOUCH SCREEN

Touch screen technology has finally been adopted by the camera industry. It is now easier to maneuver within menus and between commands thanks to intuitive touch screen technology being applied to mirrorless camera LCD displays.

Market

Because of advances made in digital image sensor technology and electronic viewfinders, electronics are replacing most of the mechanics that once were necessary in film SLRs for framing an image through either an optical rangefinder or an optical viewfinder based on the single lens reflex mirror concept. It is likely that this evolution will continue offering even smaller and more capable mirrorless cameras in the future.

One of the pioneers in the field has been Sony Corporation who supplies a large number of other camera manufacturers with image sensors. Sony also sells cameras of their own, especially to show off advancements in their sensor and processing technology, often releasing improved designs at a rapid rate while simultaneously carefully limiting how they can and want to compete with their sensor customers.

Both Canon and Nikon, the two biggest camera manufacturers, have been struggling financially with the loss of sales of simpler and less expensive cameras to the manufacturers of camera enabled mobile phones. As a result, both Canon and Nikon have been slow in picking up on the trend toward mirrorless system cameras. However, once the market shows them where it is going we are likely to see mirrorless system cameras from both Canon and Nikon as well.

Other early players in the mirrorless system camera market are shown in the Systems Comparison below.

Whereas mobile phones with cameras, point and shoot cameras, compact cameras, superzoom cameras, compact mirrorless system cameras and mirrorless system cameras today all exist in the marketplace a trend toward elimination of the less successful categories is noticeable. While mobile phones with cameras have taken over the lion's share of the point and shoot and compact camera market, more advanced mirrorless cameras with a non-interchangeable prime lens are still being marketed. However, even more useful and common are today mirrorless cameras with a non-interchangeable zoom lens, whereas the big category is likely to become mirrorless system cameras with interchangeable lenses. An interesting trend toward the difference between the categories compact mirrorless system cameras and professional mirrorless system cameras is that while casual users may prefer a pocket size camera, sometimes with a collapsible or pancake lens, professional users demand a more substantial camera grip with good balance and comfortable ergonomics plus a battery for all day use, making new, professional mirrorless system cameras slightly larger than their compact siblings.

History

In 2013 Mirrorless system cameras constituted about five percent of total camera shipments.[2] In 2015, they accounted for 26 percent of system camera sales outside the Americas, and 16 percent in the U.S.[3]

2004-2008. The category started with Epson R-D1 (released in 2004), followed by Leica M8 (released September 2006, which isn't actually a "mirrorless" but a rangefinder camera, a system of focussing dating back to 1933 and the release of the Leica III, itself a development of the 1932 Leica II) and then the Micro Four Thirds system, whose first camera was the Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1, released in Japan in October 2008.[4]

2009-2010. A more radical design is the Ricoh GXR (November 2009), which features, not interchangeable lenses, but interchangeable lens units – a sealed unit of a lens and sensor.[5][6][7] This design is comparable but distinct to MILCs, and has so far received mixed reviews, primarily due to cost; As of 2012 the design has not been copied.

Following the introduction of the Micro Four Thirds, several other cameras were released in the system by Panasonic and Olympus, with the Olympus PEN E-P1 (announced June 2009) being the first in a compact size (pocketable with a small lens). The Samsung NX10 (announced January 2010) was the first camera in this class not using the Micro Four Thirds system – rather a new, proprietary lens mount (Samsung NX-mount). The Sony Alpha NEX-3 and NEX-5 (announced May 14, 2010, for release July 2010) saw the entry of Sony into the market, again with a new, proprietary lens mount (the Sony E-mount), though with LA-EA1 and LA-EA2 adapters for the legacy Minolta A-mount.

2011. In June 2011, Pentax announced the 'Q' mirrorless interchangeable lens camera and the 'Q-mount' lens system. The original Q series featured a smaller 1/2.3 inch 12.4 megapixel CMOS sensor.[8] The Q7, introduced in 2013, has a slightly larger 1/1.7 inch CMOS sensor with the same megapixel count.[9]

In September 2011, Nikon announced their Nikon 1 system which consists of the Nikon 1 J1 and Nikon 1 V1 cameras and lenses. The V1 features an electronic viewfinder.[10]

2012. The Fujifilm X-Pro1, announced in January 2012, was the first non-rangefinder mirrorless with a built-in optical viewfinder. Its hybrid viewfinder overlays electronic information, including shifting framelines to compensate for parallax. Its 2016 successor, the X-Pro2, features an updated version of this viewfinder.

Beyond the interest to consumers, mirrorless has created significant interest in camera manufacturers, having potential to be an alternative in the high-end camera market. Significantly, mirrorless has fewer moving parts than DSLRs, and are more electronic, which plays to the strengths of electronic manufacturers (such as Panasonic, Samsung and Sony), while undermining the advantage that existing camera makers have in precision mechanical engineering. Sony's entry level full frame mirrorless α7 II camera has a 24MP 5 axis stabilised sensor yet is more compact and lower in cost than any full frame sensor DSLR.

Nikon announced the Nikon 1 series with a 1" sensor on September 21, 2011. It was a high-speed mirrorless which according to Nikon featured world's fastest autofocus and world's fastest continuous shooting speed (60 fps) among all cameras with interchangeable lenses including DSLRs.[11] Canon was the last of the major makers of DSLRs, announcing the Canon EOS M in 2012 with APS-C sensor and 18 mm registration distance similar to the one used by NEX.

In a longer-term Olympus decided that mirrorless may replace DSLRs entirely in some categories with Olympus America's DSLR product manager speculating that by 2012, Olympus DSLRs (the Olympus E system) may be mirrorless, though still using the Four Thirds System (not Micro Four Thirds).[12]

Panasonic UK's Lumix G product manager John Mitchell while speaking to the Press at the 2011 "Focus on Imaging" show in Birmingham, reported that Panasonic "G" camera market share was almost doubling each year, and that UK Panasonic "G" captured over 11% of all interchangeable camera sales in the UK in 2010, and that UK "CSC" sales made up 23% of the Interchaneable lens market in the UK, and 40% in Japan.[13]

As of May 2010, interchangeable-lens camera pricing is comparable to and somewhat higher than entry-level DSLRs, at US$550 to $800, and significantly higher than high-end compact cameras. As of May 2011, interchangeable-lens camera pricing for entry mirrorless appears to be lower than entry-level DSLRs in some markets e.g. the U.S.

Sony announced 2011 sales statistics in September 2012, which showed that mirrorless had 50% of the interchangeable lens market in Japan, 18% in Europe, and 23% worldwide. Since that time Nikon has entered the mirrorless market, amongst other new entries.

2013. In a down-trend world camera market, mirrorless also suffered, but not much and can be compensated with increase by about 12 percent of 2013 sales in popular mirrorless domestic (Japan) market.[14] However, mirrorless has taken longer catch on in Europe and North America—according to Japanese photo industry sources, mirrorless made up only 11.2% of interchangeable-lens cameras shipped to Europe in the first nine months of 2013, and 10.5% in the U.S. in the same period.[15] Also, an industry researcher determined that Mirrorless sales in the U.S. fell by about 20% in the three weeks leading up to December 14, 2013—which included the key Black Friday shopping week; in the same period, DSLR sales went up 1%.[15] In 2015, mirrorless is gaining market share in North America, while DSLR is falling, showing 16.5% $ value growth rates for mirrorless while DSLR is falling by 17% in $ value sales. In Japan, mirrorless at times outsells DSLR. Despite lowering DSLR prices 2015 sales figures due in January 2015 will show further increases of mirrorless compared to DLSRs in the ILC market. In 2015, mirrorless-cameras accounted for 26 percent of interchangeable-lens camera sales outside the Americas, although a lesser share of 16 percent in the U.S., but still [2] a huge increase in interchangeable lens camera market share in only two years.[16]

2015. 2015 statistics show that overall camera sales have fallen to one third of those of 2010, due to compact cameras being substituted by camera capable mobile phones. This means that overall share of camera sales is seeing ILC market share increasing, with world volumes showing ILC having 30% for overall camera sales, of which DSLR had 77% and mirrorless 23%.[17] In the Americas in 2015, DSLR annual sales in dollars are now falling by 16% per annum, while mirrorless sales over the same 12-month period have increased by 17%.[18] Hence the Mirrorless market share of interchangeable lens cameras has more than doubled in two years.

2016. Late 2016 Olympus corporation announced the introduction of their OM-D E-M1 Mark II, a long-awaited successor to the earlier and successful Mark I. The Mark II model retains a micro 4/3 image sensor of 17.3x13 mm featuring 20.4 MP resolution and represents a new generation of mirrorless cameras competitive with and in many respects superior to DSLR cameras. It is likely that this development will be continued by other camera manufacturers into larger APS-C, full format and medium format mirrorless system cameras.

Systems comparison

System Notable models Lens mount Sensor size Stabilization Throat diameter Flange focal distance Focus system 35 mm equiv multiplier Release date
Canon EOS M Canon EOS M, EOS M2, EOS M3, EOS M10, EOS M5 Canon EF-M 22.3 × 14.9 mm APS-C Lens-based 47 mm 18 mm Hybrid Contrast-detection/Phase detection autofocus 1.6 October 2012[19][20]
Fujifilm XF Fujifilm X-Pro1, Fujifilm X-T1, X-A1, X-M1, X-E1, X-A2, X-E2, X-T10 Fujifilm X-mount 23.6 × 15.6 mm APS-C Lens-based 44 mm 17.7 mm Hybrid Contrast-detection/Phase detection autofocus on X-T1, X-E2; Contrast-detection autofocus on other models 1.5 January 2012
Hasselblad XCD Hasselblad X1D Hasselblad XCD mount 43.8 × 32.9 mm Medium format none ?? ?? Contrast-detection autofocus 0.79 June 2016
Leica L Leica T, SL Leica L-mount 35.8×23.9 mm full-frame (SL)
23.6 × 15.7 mm APS-C (T)		 Lens-based ?? ?? Contrast-detection autofocus 1.0 (SL), 1.5 (T) April 2014[21]
Leica M (rangefinder camera) Leica M8, M9, M9-P, M Monochrom, M-E, M; Epson R-D1, R-D1s, R-D1x, R-D1xG Leica M-mount 35.8×23.9 mm full-frame (M9, M9-P, M Monochrom, M-E, and M), 27×18 mm half-frame (M8), 23.7×15.6 mm pseudo–APS-C (R-D1) none 44 mm 27.80 mm Rangefinder 1.0 March 2004 (R-D1)
Micro Four Thirds system Panasonic Lumix DMC-G1, G10, G2, G3, GH1, GH2, GH3, GF1, GF2, GF3, GX1, GX7

Olympus PEN E-P1, E-P2, E-P3, E-PL1, E-PL2, E-PL3, E-PM1, OM-D E-M5, E-PL5, OM-D E-M1

 Micro Four Thirds 17.3×12.98 mm 4/3 Lens-based (Panasonic); In body (Olympus)

Olympus EM-5 1st 5 axis stability system versus traditional 2 axis

 ~38 mm 20 mm Contrast-detection autofocus on most bodies; hybrid contrast-detection/phase detection autofocus on Olympus OM-D E-M1 2.0 October 2008 (G1)
Nikon 1[10] Nikon 1 J1, V1, J2, V2, J4, V3, J5 Nikon 1 mount 13.2 × 8.8 mm 1" Nikon CX Lens-based 17 mm Hybrid Contrast-detection/Phase detection autofocus 2.7 October 2011
Pentax K Pentax K-01 Pentax K mount 23.6 × 15.6 mm APS-C Sensor-based 45.46 mm Contrast-detection autofocus 1.53 February 2012
Pentax Q Pentax Q, Q10, Q7, Q-S1 Q-mount 6.17×4.55 mm (1/2.3") for Q and Q10
7.44×5.58 mm (1/1.7") for Q7 and Q-S1		 Sensor-based 38 mm[22] 9.2 mm[23] Contrast-detection autofocus 5.5 (appx), Q and Q10
4.6 (appx), Q7 and Q-S1		 June 2011
Ricoh GXR Ricoh GXR Sealed interchangeable sensor lens unit system, and Leica M-mount Depends on each sealed interchangeable sensor lens unit: APS-C, 1/1.7", 1/2.3" depends — — Contrast-detection autofocus for sealed camera units, manual focus (display-assisted) for Leica M mount unit 1.5 November 2009
Samsung NX Samsung NX10, NX100, NX200, NX20, NX300, NX30, NX500, NX1 Samsung NX-mount 23.4 × 15.6 mm APS-C Lens-based 42 mm 25.5 mm Hybrid Contrast-detection/Phase detection autofocus 1.53 January 2010
Sony α NEX NEX-3, NEX-5, NEX-5N, NEX-6, NEX-7 (still cameras), NEX-VG10 (video camera) Sony E-mount 23.4 × 15.6 mm APS-C Lens-based 46.1 mm (1.815 inch) 18 mm Contrast-detection autofocus (earlier models), Phase and Contrast (newer models) 1.5 June 2010
Sony α ILCE α7, α7R, α7S, α7 II, α7R II, α7S II, α6300, α6000, α5100, α5000, α3000 Sony FE-mount (full-frame)
Sony E-mount (cropped)		 35.8×23.9 mm full-frame (α7, α7R, α7S, α7 II, α7R II and α7S II)
23.4 × 15.6 mm APS-C (αxx00)		 Depends (Lens based although α7 II, α7R II and α7S II have 5 axis IBIS and can utilise lens and IBIS at same time) 46.1 mm (1.815 inch) 18 mm Contrast-detection autofocus, Phase & Contrast (α7, α7 II, α6000, α6300) 1.0 (α7x), 1.5 (αx000) October 2013

References

  1. ↑ Richard Lawler (March 12, 2014). "Nikon 1 V3 camera unveiled: $1,200, 120fps slow motion, 20fps continuous shooting".
  2. ↑ "Camera shipments continue to fall". Retrieved August 12, 2013.
  3. ↑ DPReview June 3, 2015 http://www.dpreview.com/articles/6223902518/sony-rides-wave-of-us-mirrorless-sales-surge
  4. ↑ "Panasonic Lumix G1 reviewed". Digital Photography Review.
  5. ↑ Joinson, Simon (October 2009), Ricoh GXR Preview, DPReview.
  6. ↑ Rehm, Lars; Joinson, Simon; Westlake, Andy (March 2010), Ricoh GXR/A12 50mm Review, DPReview.
  7. ↑ Rehm, Lars; Joinson, Simon (March 2010), Ricoh GXR/S10 24-72mm F2.5–4.4 VC Review, DPReview.
  8. ↑ Pentax Q small-sensor mirrorless camera announced and previewed, DPReview, June 23, 2011
  9. ↑ Johnson, Allison (August 2013). "Pentax Q7 Review". Digital Photography Review. Retrieved October 8, 2013.
  10. 1 2 Nikon announces Nikon 1 system with V1 small sensor mirrorless camera, DPReview, September 21, 2011.
  11. ↑ Nikon announces Nikon 1 system with V1 small sensor mirrorless camera Dpreview
  12. ↑ Olympus E system mirrorless in two years. Probably., Monday February 22, 2010, Damien Demolder
  13. ↑ "Panasonic primed for Canon and Nikon fight news". Amateur Photographer. March 9, 2011. Retrieved October 30, 2011.
  14. ↑ "Mirrorless cameras offer glimmer of hope to makers". Retrieved December 31, 2013.
  15. 1 2 Knight, Sophie; Murai, Reiji (December 31, 2013). "The Last, Best Hope For A Digital Camera Rebound Is Failing". Business Insider. Reuters. Retrieved March 16, 2014.
  16. ↑ http://www.slideshare.net/arancaresearch/digital-camera-44303531
  17. ↑ Global Market Share Digital Cameras http://www.slideshare.net/arancaresearch/digital-camera-44303531
  18. ↑ Sony Rides Wave of Mirrorless US Sales Sales Surge http://www.dpreview.com/articles/6223902518/sony-rides-wave-of-us-mirrorless-sales-surge
  19. ↑ "Put Your Creativity Into Motion With The New EOS M Digital Camera" (Press release). Canon U.S.A., Inc. July 23, 2012. Retrieved July 24, 2012.
  20. ↑ Westlake, Andy (July 23, 2012). "Canon EOS M hands-on preview". Digital Photography Review. Retrieved July 24, 2012.
  21. ↑ Westlake, Andy (April 24, 2014). "Leica T (Typ 701) specifications". Leica T (Typ 701) First Impressions Review. Digital Photography Review. Retrieved September 10, 2016.
  22. ↑ admin, on June 23, 2011 (June 23, 2011). "Pentax Q". Photoclubalpha. Retrieved October 30, 2011.
  23. ↑ "Pentax Q Compact System Camera – Initial Test". Imaging-resource.com. Retrieved October 30, 2011.
This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 11/24/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.