There's been resistance from many landscape photographers over the years for switching to mirrorless systems.
I understand that point of view. Change is hard!
But just like the change from film to digital ended up being a boon for photographers of all kinds, switching from a DSLR system to a mirrorless one for your landscape photography pursuits has many benefits.
With that in mind, here's three reasons why mirrorless cameras are the best cameras for landscapes.
Best Cameras for Landscapes: Mirrorless Cameras are Small and Light
Let's start with the most obvious benefit of mirrorless cameras - they're small and light.
I have a Nikon D850 and I absolutely love it. It's the best camera I've ever owned.
Unfortunately, being a big, full frame DSLR, it has a big, heavy body weighing in at over two pounds.
Additionally, the body is chunky with dimensions that measure 5.7 x 4.9 x 3.1 in.
Compare those specs with my Sony a6300...
The Sony weighs in at just 1.14 pounds and measures 4.7 x 2.6 x 1.9 in.
Clearly, the Sony is far smaller and lighter, and when I'm exploring places like Joshua Tree or Yosemite and I have to carry my gear around, the size and weight of my gear matters a lot.
Sure, the a6300 isn't a full frame camera and doesn't have the same sensor resolution as the Nikon, nor does it have the laundry list of incredible features that the Nikon has.
However, the a6300 is a more than capable camera with a better autofocus system than the Nikon, better continuous shooting, and a price that's less than a third of the Nikon.
Learn More:
- Top Budget-Friendly Mirrorless Cameras for 2018
- What I've Learned About the Nikon D850 After Using It For 6 Months
Electronic Viewfinders are Handy for Landscapes
Don't get me wrong - there are tons of advantages to using an optical viewfinder like the one in my Nikon D850.
However, landscape photographers stand to gain a few things by using a mirrorless camera that as an electronic viewfinder (EVF).
For starters, an electronic viewfinder allows you to see the image you're capturing in its exact form. That means less guesswork about what will and won't be included in the frame.
Furthermore, EVFs give you all the data you need in the viewfinder to get a better shot. That includes having exposure adjustments appearing in the EVF for quicker and easier changes to aperture, shutter speed, and ISO.
EVFs also shows you highlight warnings and histograms, meaning you don't have to step back from the camera and view those all-important features on the LCD, as you do with DSLRs.
There are a lot of factors involved in getting a high-quality shot, but one of the most important is having the necessary information to determine things like exposure settings. Mirrorless cameras simply give that information to you in a way that's more accessible.
Learn More:
- This is the Single Biggest Photography Mistake Beginners Make
- Why an APS-C Camera is Ideal for Beginner Photographers
You Can Find Great Deals on Used Mirrorless Cameras
As we all know, photography gear is expensive, so the fact that there are so many great deals on high-quality used mirrorless cameras is a great benefit for photographers.
This isn't to say that you can't find great deals on DSLRs, but it just seems to me that there are better deals to be had on used mirrorless cameras.
For example, a used Sony a6300 like the one I use in excellent condition can be found at the time of this writing for scarcely more than $600.
The newer Sony a6500 in like new condition can be purchased for well under $1,000.
These are just two examples, but there are plenty of other great deals to be had on used mirrorless systems from Sony, Fujifilm, Panasonic, and others.
Not only that, there are great deals on used lenses for these mirrorless systems, which means you can get a basic kit going with a camera and lens and save a ton of money while doing it.
My Sony a6300 isn't a replacement for my Nikon D850. But as I've discussed here, there are plenty of advantages of my a6300 that makes it one of the top landscape photography cameras out there. Try one, you'll see!
Learn More:
- The Best Photography Gear for Traveling Light
- These Bargain Mirrorless Cameras Will Have You Ditching Your Old DSLR