In a nutshell
- DSLR cameras have a mirror built in — mirrorless cameras don’t, which makes them smaller and lighter.
- In DSLRs, the mirror directs light to an optical viewfinder; mirrorless cameras use a small electronic display in the viewfinder so you see exactly how the final shot will look.
- We compare both systems across nine categories — weight, size, autofocus, battery life, video, and more — so you can decide which is right for you.
- Hardly any new DSLRs are being made today — all major manufacturers have shifted to mirrorless, making it the smarter long-term investment.
Mirrorless vs. DSLR: What Does That Actually Mean?
Before we dive into the pros and cons, let’s quickly define what the difference between a DSLR and a mirrorless camera actually is — and run through the various terms you’ll come across.
DSLR vs. DSLM
You may have come across the abbreviations DSLR and DSLM during your search for the perfect camera. Here’s a quick breakdown of both:
- DSLR = digital single lens reflex camera
- DSLM = digital single lens mirrorless camera
So DSLR is simply the abbreviation for a digital single lens reflex camera, and DSLM stands for digital single lens mirrorless camera.
Mirrorless cameras are often called “system cameras” — which is actually not entirely accurate. A system camera is simply a camera built from interchangeable components, like swappable lenses or attachable flash units. That applies to DSLRs too.
That said, “system camera” is most commonly used to refer to mirrorless cameras, and we’ll use it that way throughout this article.
The Mechanical Difference Between DSLRs and Mirrorless Cameras: The Mirror
The core difference between the two camera types is pretty straightforward. A DSLR has a mirror mechanism inside; a mirrorless camera does not.
What exactly does that mean?
Let’s start with the DSLR. Directly in front of the sensor there is — as the name suggests — an actual mirror. This mirror redirects light entering through the lens up toward the viewfinder.
When you look through the viewfinder, you see exactly what the camera “sees.” Only at the moment you press the shutter does the mirror flip up, allowing light to hit the sensor and the photo to be taken.
In mirrorless cameras, there’s no mirror at all. Light hits the sensor directly and continuously. The data is read from the sensor and sent either to the display on the back of the camera or to a tiny display inside the electronic viewfinder.
The presence or absence of a mirror system affects the camera — and the act of photography — in many ways. Let’s walk through the key differences between mirrorless and DSLR cameras and what advantages and disadvantages each brings.
Differences Between DSLRs and Mirrorless Cameras
Weight
Because mirrorless cameras have no mirror, they’re smaller and lighter than DSLRs. That’s the basic idea.
And it’s broadly true — the absence of the mirror mechanism alone saves a meaningful amount of weight. In the early days, mirrorless cameras were built to be very small and light in order to fully capitalize on that advantage.
You can of course find heavier and lighter models in both camera worlds. Still, the general trend holds: mirrorless cameras are lighter than DSLRs.
That’s a real plus when traveling or on day trips. A mirrorless camera is simply easier and more comfortable to carry for long stretches, while a DSLR can start to feel heavy after a while.
Believe it or not, low weight can also be a drawback. If you shoot a lot with telephoto lenses — which are almost always far heavier than a mirrorless body — the combination of a light camera and a large lens can feel unbalanced and less stable.
That’s why the most expensive high-end mirrorless cameras are sometimes nearly as heavy as their DSLR counterparts.
But what do “heavy” and “light” actually mean in practice? Two examples: the mirrorless Sony Alpha 6000 weighs 344 grams. The Nikon D5600 is a comparable entry-level DSLR and weighs 463 grams.
The same pattern holds at the higher end. The Sony Alpha 7 III weighs 658 grams, while the comparable Nikon D780 weighs 840 grams — nearly 200 grams more.
Our take: When it comes to weight, mirrorless cameras come out ahead. 
Size
Without a mirror mechanism, a mirrorless camera can be built more compactly than a DSLR. In terms of width and height, the difference between camera bodies is often minor. But in terms of depth, DSLRs are frequently much bulkier.
As a result, a mirrorless camera takes up less space in your camera bag, leaving more room for other gear.
On top of that, a smaller camera draws less attention — letting you capture your subjects without being noticed. That’s a real plus for street photography, where staying inconspicuous matters.
That said, the compact size can also be a drawback when it comes to ergonomics. Photographers with large hands may find it difficult to handle a particularly small mirrorless body.
The numbers tell the story here. The Nikon D5600 is a full 3 cm taller and 2.5 cm deeper than the comparable Sony Alpha 6000. That’s quite a significant difference.
At the premium level, the gap is a bit smaller — but the Nikon D780 is still 2 cm wider and 2 cm taller overall than the Sony Alpha 7 III.
Our take: When it comes to size, mirrorless cameras are superior to DSLRs as well.
Viewfinder
One of the biggest differences between a mirrorless camera and a DSLR is the viewfinder. DSLRs have an optical viewfinder (OVF), while mirrorless cameras have an electronic viewfinder (EVF). But what does that actually mean in practice?
The Electronic Viewfinder on Mirrorless Cameras
As mentioned above, in a mirrorless camera the image hits the sensor directly. The sensor immediately displays the image digitally on the rear screen or in the viewfinder, which also contains a small display.
This has real advantages. The image shown in the viewfinder reflects exactly how you’ve configured your camera settings and how the photo will look on your computer later. If the image is too bright or too dark, you can adjust it before pressing the shutter.
You can also overlay additional tools in the electronic viewfinder — like a grid for the rule of thirds, or camera settings like shutter speed or aperture.
The Optical Viewfinder on DSLRs
With a DSLR, you look through an optical viewfinder. Via the mirror’s reflection, you see through the lens exactly as you would with the naked eye.
Whether your photo will be too bright or too dark is something you can only tell after you’ve pressed the shutter and the finished image appears on the screen. In challenging lighting conditions, that’s a genuine disadvantage.
Modern DSLRs often also have a Live View mode, which makes the DSLR work similarly to a mirrorless camera. However, DSLRs are designed so that Live View is only used occasionally, since the internal mirror must flip up for it to work. This makes shooting and focusing in Live View mode on a DSLR much slower — and therefore not a practical long-term solution.
Many photographers who’ve been shooting with DSLRs for years still prefer the optical viewfinder and find the electronic viewfinder on a mirrorless camera unnatural at first. But it’s all a matter of getting used to it. We made the switch ourselves and consider the electronic viewfinder a genuine improvement.
One more thing: the image in an optical viewfinder arrives in real time. With electronic viewfinders, the image first has to be transmitted from the sensor to the display. Nowadays that happens so fast you can barely notice a difference. If you do notice it, it’ll most likely be with very fast-moving subjects — if a bird flies past, it may appear slightly blurred through an EVF. Honestly though, that’s never been an issue for us.
The absence of the mirror mechanism also means a mirrorless camera can shoot completely silently — no mirror slap. That’s perfect for not startling wildlife or avoiding unwanted attention in a crowded street scene.
Our take: Even if purists see it differently, the electronic viewfinder is, for us, a clear argument in favor of a mirrorless camera.
Image Quality
When it comes to image quality, there’s no meaningful difference between mirrorless cameras and DSLRs. The presence or absence of a mirror system has no effect on image quality.
What actually matters is the camera settings and the lens. Looking at a great photo, you simply can’t tell whether it was taken with a DSLR or a mirrorless camera.
Our take: There are no differences in image quality. A mirrorless camera in a similar price range as a comparable DSLR will produce equally good photos.
Autofocus
The first mirrorless cameras had very slow autofocus and were far behind DSLRs in that regard.
That’s changed. A good mirrorless camera can now focus just as fast as a good DSLR.
In the end, it’s no longer about the mirror system — it comes down to the specific camera model.
That said, many mirrorless cameras, even in lower price ranges, now offer more autofocus points than DSLRs at the same price. This gives you a larger area of the frame to focus on.
Our take: There’s no clear winner here — autofocus quality varies by model for both mirrorless cameras and DSLRs.
Video
Video has become increasingly important in recent years, and mirrorless cameras generally have the edge here.
For video recording on a DSLR, the mirror has to be flipped up permanently. As a result, a different, slower focusing method kicks in.
On mirrorless cameras, the focusing technology is already designed to work with light hitting the sensor continuously. That’s why mirrorless cameras focus faster and more accurately in video mode too.
On top of that, mirrorless cameras generally offer more video settings and options than DSLRs.
Our take: The mirrorless camera is the clear winner here.
Battery Life
Because mirrorless cameras have no mirror system and everything runs electronically, they consume more power than DSLRs.
This is mainly down to the displays. Both the larger screen on the back of the camera and the small display in the electronic viewfinder are serious battery drains, since they’re typically on continuously.
As a result, DSLRs have a much longer battery life. On longer photo outings, that’s a clear advantage over mirrorless cameras — for which you should always bring at least one spare battery.
Battery performance is improving with each new generation of cameras, but you’ll still need to carry multiple batteries with a mirrorless camera.
Our take: This point goes clearly to DSLRs, which offer significantly better battery life.
Burst Rate
The burst rate determines how many photos your camera can shoot per second.
Entry-level cameras can manage five frames per second; expensive professional cameras can handle 12 or more. A high burst rate is super useful in sports or wildlife photography, when you want to freeze fast movement and pick the best shot afterward.
With DSLRs, the mirror has to flip up before each shot can be taken. Because of this, DSLRs in the same price range are generally a little slower than mirrorless cameras.
There are professional DSLRs that can shoot at blazing speeds, of course. But they tend to be more expensive than a mirrorless camera with the same performance.
Our take: Mirrorless cameras generally have the edge when it comes to burst rate.
Lens Selection
Mirrorless cameras have only been around since 2008, and it took a few more years before they were widely adopted. DSLRs and their compatible accessories have been in production for much longer, and the selection reflects that.
Mirrorless cameras are catching up here too, though. Third-party manufacturers like Sigma and Tamron have long been offering lenses for both DSLRs and mirrorless systems.
For Sony, for example, there’s already a very large selection of lenses and accessories. Nikon and Canon entered the mirrorless market late, so the lens selection for their systems isn’t quite as large — though it is sufficient.
If you want to learn more about lenses for Nikon mirrorless cameras, we recommend our buying guide for Nikon Z lenses.
If you’re switching from a DSLR to a mirrorless camera, you don’t have to replace all your lenses. Most manufacturers have developed adapters that let you mount your DSLR lenses on a mirrorless body.
Our take: For brands that have been offering mirrorless cameras for a long time (Sony, Panasonic, Olympus, Fujifilm), there’s now a very wide selection of lenses and accessories. For Canon and Nikon mirrorless systems, the selection isn’t quite as large yet. So a slight advantage still goes to DSLRs here.
Cost: Are Mirrorless Cameras More Expensive Than DSLRs?
Whether a mirrorless camera is more expensive than a DSLR isn’t something you can answer with a simple yes or no — it really depends on what you’re looking to buy.
Let’s look at two popular cameras for beginners: the mirrorless Sony Alpha 6000 costs around 600 euros, which is nearly the same as the Nikon D5600 — one of the most popular entry-level DSLRs.
At the upper end of the price scale, it’s a similar story. The mirrorless Sony Alpha 7 III costs around 2,000 euros, roughly the same as the Nikon D780 with its mirror.
So there’s no real price difference when it comes to camera bodies — but there is a difference with lenses. Lenses for mirrorless cameras are, on average, somewhat more expensive than those for DSLRs. This means the long-term cost of going mirrorless is slightly higher.
Our take: Since lenses for mirrorless cameras tend to be a bit pricier, this point goes to DSLRs.
Future-Proofing
One important factor that often gets overlooked is how future-proof each system is. Some manufacturers have already discontinued their DSLR lines entirely. Olympus and Fujifilm have stopped production altogether. Sony barely has any models with a mirror left in its lineup.
This also means that no new lenses are being developed for these cameras. So it’s worth asking whether investing in a DSLR today still makes sense.
If you’re just getting started in photography, we’d recommend going with a mirrorless camera — these models are clearly the future.
Our take: This point clearly goes to mirrorless cameras. Even if that stings for traditionalists: DSLRs are likely a dying breed, sooner or later.
DSLR vs. Mirrorless: Pros and Cons
That was a lot of information, so let’s summarize the pros and cons one more time.
The table below gives you a quick overview of the differences and which camera type comes out ahead in each category. We’ve awarded one point per characteristic, with both types receiving a point in the event of a tie.
| Assessment | DSLR vs. Mirrorless Camera | |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | Mirrorless cameras are lighter | 0:1 |
| Size | Mirrorless cameras are smaller | 0:2 |
| Viewfinder | Electronic viewfinder is better | 0:3 |
| Image Quality | Image quality is equal | 1:4 |
| Autofocus | Autofocus depends on the model | 2:5 |
| Video | Mirrorless cameras are better for video | 2:6 |
| Battery Life | Battery lasts longer on DSLRs | 3:6 |
| Burst Rate | Burst rate is higher on mirrorless cameras | 3:7 |
| Accessories | Currently slightly more available for DSLRs | 4:7 |
| Cost | Lenses for mirrorless cameras are slightly more expensive | 5:7 |
| Future-Proofing | Mirrorless cameras are the future | 5:8 |
| Final Score | 5:8 |
DSLRs come out ahead in three categories, while mirrorless cameras win in six. Two categories are tied, putting mirrorless cameras ahead overall at 8:5.
Some of these points — such as accessory availability and lens prices — are, in our estimation, likely to continue shifting in favor of mirrorless systems in the coming years, so we expect mirrorless cameras to extend their lead even further.
Our Experience Switching from DSLR to Mirrorless
A few years ago, we switched from DSLRs to mirrorless cameras ourselves and haven’t regretted it for a single moment.
Since we’re on the go with our cameras a lot, the reduced weight and smaller size are an absolute blessing. Especially for carry-on luggage on flights, that’s a hugely important factor.
In terms of quality, we’ve been really happy with every mirrorless camera we’ve used and actually feel that mirrorless models have a slight edge in image quality. Although that might partly be because we’ve grown as photographers ourselves over the years — so we’ll leave that out as an objective criterion.
A huge plus for us is the electronic viewfinder. Making the switch was no problem at all, and especially in low-light conditions, when shooting at night, or doing long exposures, the EVF is so much better than the optical viewfinder on a DSLR. Every now and then we pick up a DSLR and find it completely strange to shoot with an optical viewfinder these days.
We’re often asked whether the poor battery life bothers us — and honestly: no! We know the batteries don’t last as long, so we always carry two or three spares. We never use the manufacturers’ original batteries either; we always go with affordable third-party batteries. That keeps it financially manageable too.
As you can see, we’re seriously big fans of mirrorless cameras and wouldn’t want to use anything else. Even if not everyone feels quite as enthusiastic, we think the objective criteria now clearly speak in favor of mirrorless cameras as well.
Buying Guide: Which Camera Should I Buy?
And finally, the question of all questions: which camera should you actually buy? After reading this article, you should hopefully have a clearer sense of which type is right for you.
We have concrete buying recommendations for you, of course. We’ve written several in-depth articles on the topic:
- Camera Buying Guide: We walk you through the different types of cameras (DSLR, mirrorless, bridge cameras, compact cameras) and introduce you to specific models across various price ranges.
- The Best Camera for Beginners: We show you the best models for under 600 euros.
If you don’t feel like reading through all those articles and just want a quick recommendation, we’ve got you covered.
Our Recommendation for Beginners
Our top pick for beginners on a tight budget is the Sony Alpha 6000. The camera has been around for several years now, but it’s still a bestseller — and for good reason.
If you have a bit more money to spend, we recommend the Sony Alpha 6400. Among the various successor models to the Alpha 6000, this one currently offers the best value for the money.
For the best lenses for the Sony Alpha 6000 series, we’ve put together a guide to the best Sony Alpha 6000 lenses.
Our Premium Recommendation
If you’re ready to spend more and want a truly outstanding camera, we recommend the Sony Alpha 7 III.
The Alpha 7 III is a genuinely well-rounded, exceptional camera with outstanding image quality. We use the previous model ourselves and are extremely happy with it.
There’s also a great selection of lenses available for the Sony Alpha 7 III. Our guide to the best lenses for the Sony Alpha 7 series has all the details.
Why do we only recommend Sony mirrorless cameras? Simple: because we’ve been using them for years and are completely satisfied. Other manufacturers like Nikon, Canon, and Fujifilm also make great cameras, of course — but this is a personal recommendation.
