There's no mistaking that digital photography is increasingly heading toward mirrorless cameras.
Now, I don't mean to imply that I think DSLRs are dead. They aren't even dying.
But there are more and more mirrorless cameras coming into the market, with increasingly incredible capabilities.
I love my Nikon D810, but I also love my Sony a7R II.
Going mirrorless means I can travel lean and mean. The smaller camera body is lighter and easier to maneuver, making it simpler for me to carry when I just want to get out in the great outdoors and snap away. There are other benefits too.
But now more than ever, the question becomes, what mirrorless camera should I go for?
Here's three models that have me (and plenty of other photographers) excited for what's happening in the mirrorless market this year.
Panasonic GH5
Essential Specs:
- 20-megapixel four-thirds sensor
- Advanced autofocus with autofocus point joystick
- In-body five-axis image stabilization
- 9fps continuous shooting
- 4K video
- Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and NFC
When it comes to stellar still images and high-resolution video, it's tough to beat Panasonic's new GH5 mirrorless camera.
The 20.3-megapixel sensor has surprisingly good resolution with details that are sharp and crisp (thanks in part to the absence of a low-pass filter). And with full 4K video capabilities at 30 or 60 frames per second in-body image stabilization that ensures incredibly smooth video, you can seamlessly expand your horizons into the realm of videography too.
See the GH5 in action in the video below from The Slanted Lens:
Unlike some mirrorless cameras that lack in the lens selection department, the GH5 is compatible with a wide range of Lumix glass as well as lenses from Leica. That means you won't be left wanting for a quality lens to pair with your new camera.
You can take the GH5 virtually anywhere, too, because it has a die cast magnesium alloy frame that's both durable and lightweight. Even better, it's freezeproof to -10 degrees Fahrenheit and has weather sealing in every joint. It's dials and buttons are dustproof and splashproof as well, making this little thing a true warrior in the field.
In other words, there's a lot to love about the Panasonic GH5, especially if you want something that'll stand up to some abuse and still get you stunning photo and video quality.
Sony a7R III
Essential Specs:
- 42-megapixel sensor
- 399 phase-detect autofocus points 99 cross-type points
- Advanced image stabilization
- 10fps continuous shooting
- 4K video up to 60fps
Rumor has it that the impeccable Sony a7R II pictured above will get an upgrade this year to the a7R III.
Of course, at this point, this is all rumors as Sony has yet to confirm that the a7R III will indeed be released anytime soon.
But from what the rumor mill is saying, this will be yet another mind-blowing product from Sony.
Not only will it have an image-stabilized 42-megapixel sensor with 6K still photo mode, but it will also have 4K video capabilities at 60fps.
Insiders agree that Sony will likely upgrade the live view capabilities on the a7R III too, offering better and faster performance.
It won't be a slouch in the low-light shooting department, either, with a rumored ISO range of 50-256000.
Whether you shoot stills or video, the 399 autofocus points will help the camera acquire and retain focus on the subject, getting you sharper images each time.
Granted, these specs have no basis on anything official, so we'll just have to see how close they are once the camera is released. But if the specs are anything close to what I've described above, I might be in line on day one to get one of my own!
Sony a9
Essential Specs:
- 24-megapixel CMOS sensor
- 693-point autofocus system
- In-body five-axis image stabilization
- Max shutter speed of 1/32,000 seconds
- 20fps continuous shooting
- Full frame 4K video
Sony has built a reputation for pushing the envelope with its mirrorless cameras, and its new flagship Sony a9 is certainly no exception.
Let's review just a few of its specs...
It has the world's first full frame stacked CMOS sensor, which at 24.2-megapixels offers excellent image resolution.
The focal plane, phase-detect autofocus system sports a whopping 693 points and is capable of making 60 AF/AE calculations per second to track moving subjects.
With in-body image stabilization, you get up to five additional stops of shutter speed, which, by the way, has a maximum speed of 1/32,000 seconds.
And that's just the start! Get more details on the Sony a9 in the video below by Tony and Chelsea Northrup:
The a9 has dual SD card slots, one of which has UHS-II card support. The battery - which, let's be honest, has not been good in previous models - has double the capacity. You can also add a battery grip to hold two of these better batteries for much longer photo shoots.
There's an AF joystick, as well as an AF mode dial that is highly customizable to suit your needs.
In other words, the Sony a9 doesn't just have incredible features for a mirrorless camera. It has incredible features that take on even top-flight DSLRs like the Canon EOS 1D X Mark II and the Nikon D5.
Bringing It All Together
Not all of us have the budget to buy a brand new mirrorless camera, especially one that's literally just come on the market.
Nevertheless, these cameras from Panasonic and Sony should get you excited for what's to come later this year and in the coming years as camera manufacturers continue to expand features and functions on their cameras. What's more, if you know where to look, you can find great deals on cameras of all types and sorts.
I remember starting out on an old 35mm film camera from the 1970s. Now I have cameras that shoot 4K video, have incredible autofocus systems, use in-body stabilization, include Wi-Fi, NFC, and a host of other crazy modern features.
If these three mirrorless cameras tell us anything, it's that we can expect cameras - mirrorless and otherwise - to continue to impress.