We live in an age where the need for good images is paramount. When you share an image online, the world’s watching, and judging. The pictures that you share on Flickr, Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook or Twitter speak volumes about your life.

So how do you get a good picture? Sure, by framing it properly or doing some brilliant post-production. But even for that the original image itself needs to be of good quality. So when you think of a camera that delivers superior image quality, and can utilise multiple lenses for different kinds of photographic needs, the first thing that pops up inside your head is a DSLR.

And for good reason too – the single lens reflex platform, whether in film or digital, has been the last stop for professional imaging since forever.

Choosing the right one

The DSLR market is growing too, as compact cameras are losing their relevance to superior smartphone cameras, such as HTC’s UltraPixel or Nokia’s unbelievable 41-megapixel PureView cameras. Users are willing to spend more than ₹30,000 for a decent camera. So in an interchangeable-lens (ILC) market, where the DSLR reigns supreme, who buys the mirrorless ILC (MILC), and why?

According to Rohit Pandit, Executive Vice President of Fujifilm India, it’s mainly the pros who opt for an MILC. “Professionals or advanced amateurs, who have spent a lot of time with ILCs and want to experiment more with a smaller form factor are mostly seen opting for the mirrorless cameras,” adds Pandit.

The compact form factor and the lightweight body of a MILC convinces many users to opt for one. Sajjan Kumar, Vice President – Imaging, Nikon India, says, “We’ve seen a lot of advanced users go for MILCs as their second cameras.”

Advantages

The small, lightweight form is not the only reason why many advanced users go for an MILC. These cameras have achieved a degree of optical refinement and advanced features such as superior image stabilisation, fast hybrid auto-focus systems and good low-light performance, as pointed out by Jaswant Vaghela, National Head – Technology, Olympus Imaging India. “MILCs are now coming with the same sensors and image processors as DSLRs, sometimes even better. Moreover, you get access to all the controls, as in a DSLR, for creativity, so there’s no compromise with quality at all,” says Vaghela.

Choice of lens

The other concern that needs to be looked at is the size of an MILC’s lens ecosystem as opposed to a DSLR. But manufacturers claim that their lens ecosystems are big enough to keep most users happy, and that more lenses are being added as per user feedback and as the market grows. Nikon, Canon and Sony, who also make DSLRs, have the advantage of having a vast lens ecosystem already, which can be used on the MILCs by using a simple adaptor.

Money talk

The current stock of MILCs (all brands included) ranges from ₹24,999 to more than a lakh, and most of this stock hovers between ₹50,000-₹80,000. So is the price a deterrent? Jaswant Vaghela disagrees, “Agreed that the MILC market is in a nascent phase, but users who want DSLR-like performance in a compact body are willing to spend more.” However, he does agree that the India sees a lot of piggy-back approach for buying gadgets.

Indian market

Despite the rise of mirrorless technology, most consumers still seem to opt for a DSLR first. “The Indian camera market is still witnessing the transition from the point-and-shoot camera to the DSLR. It would take some time for users to move to premium compact cameras and MILCs,” says Alok Bharadwaj, Executive Vice President, Canon India. He adds that it would take at least five years for MILCs to hold a big slice of the pie.

Extra Box

What are mirrorless cameras?

In a regular DSLR, light, after entering through the lens, reaches your eye via the viewfinder after being reflected off a mirror array that’s placed right behind the lens. When you release the shutter, the mirror lifts and allows the image to fall on the sensor, thereby completing the process of taking one picture. In an MILC, this mirror is absent. Light (and hence the image), simply falls on the sensor directly and you can see the frame in an electronic viewfinder or the LCD display. Without the mirror array, MILCs can attain a very small and light form factor. They also use hybrid autofocus systems, which can help you capture pictures very quickly. Also, the lack of a flip-up mirror array allows some MILCs to take more shots per second as compared to DSLRs.

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