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Mirrorless Vs Full Frame
There’s no question that full-frame cameras are getting more popular among pros and enthusiasts, but do you actually need one?
If you’re in the market for a new camera or an upgrade, why would you pick one over the other?
As you’ll see in our comparison below, the answers aren’t always obvious. But it helps to know exactly what you get from both.
What is A Mirrorless Camera
Mirrorless cameras are modern digital interchangeable lens cameras that don’t use manual viewfinders or mirrors to produce images.
Instead, a mirrorless camera uses an electronic viewfinder to interpret and display the image captured by the camera’s sensor while you shoot.
How A Mirrorless Camera Works
In terms of how they operate, a mirrorless camera’s lens captures light, passes it through a sensor for processing, and projects the image to the electronic viewfinder, camera display, or monitor.
No mirrors are involved in capturing and producing the image, which is where the name “mirrorless” comes from.
These cameras can create an image instantly without bouncing it across a series of mirrors first.
What Is A Full Frame Camera
A modern digital full-frame camera has an image sensor the same size as the 35mm film used in traditional SLR cameras.
If you want to go deeper, we have a separate guide on Canon fisheye lens.
A full-frame camera can be mirrorless or a standard DSLR. So technically, you can’t just say a full-frame camera is better than a mirrorless one without looking at details like sensor size, lenses, depth of field, and resolution.
You may also want to check Mirrorless vs DSLR Cameras
Without getting too deep into sensor formats, the 35mm sensor in a full-frame camera gives it an edge for depth of field and cropping.
This sensor format is currently the largest available for mass-produced pro and enthusiast DSLR and mirrorless cameras.
So the key difference between a full-frame camera and ordinary micro four-thirds or APS-C cameras is the sensor size, which is expected to be larger in full-frame models.
For related tips, check out our full guide on DSLR camera for beginners.
Of course, this also means that full-frame cameras are noticeably larger and heavier than their non-full-frame counterparts, even for mirrorless types like the Sony A7.
The larger 35mm sensor on a full-frame camera lets you capture a wider, non-cropped image without needing a wide-angle lens, especially when your subjects are close.
You can still get similar results with a wide-angle lens on a normal APS-C or micro four-thirds sensor, though.
You don’t necessarily need a full frame in every situation because it’s essentially a different shooting format that matches what older SLRs with 35mm film had in size.
That said, professional shooters do appreciate the better control over depth of field that full frames provide.
Full-frame camera technology isn’t new. It’s been used in expensive pro-level cameras for years. It was only when manufacturers like Sony, with their flagship A7 series of mirrorless cameras, popularized the format that full-frame shooting gained real traction among a broader audience.
Mirrorless Vs. Full Frame: Advantages and Disadvantages
Since there are full-frame mirrorless cameras on the market today, this comparison focuses on cropped-sensor mirrorless versus full-frame cameras.
Advantages of Mirrorless Cameras
- Cropped sensor cameras are more compact than full-frame
- They’re usually more affordable than full frames
- Normal mirrorless cameras can use a variety of lenses, even those designed for full frames and DSLR cameras
Disadvantages of Non-full frame mirrorless cameras
- They offer less control over depth of field, making it slightly harder to focus on subjects while blurring backgrounds
- They need an extra lens when capturing wide images to avoid cropping
Advantages of Full-frame cameras
- They can capture clear, rich, wide-angle images with their large sensor
- They offer professionals and enthusiasts better control over depth of field
- You can create images with sharp focus more easily using full frames
- They don’t require many lenses to capture different types of images. Most full frames can do with a single lens for pretty much everything.
Disadvantages of Full Frame Cameras
- They’re usually larger and bulkier than regular cropped sensor cameras. Even mirrorless full frames are noticeably big.
- They’re more expensive than cropped sensor cameras
- You’ll spend more if you need additional lenses because full-frame lenses aren’t cheap.
- Using a lens made for a cropped sensor on a full-frame camera cancels out the benefit of having the larger 35mm sensor.
Verdict: Should You Buy Full Frame or Ordinary Mirrorless
Choosing between full-frame and cropped sensor mirrorless comes down to personal preference, shooting style, budget, and goals.
In most cases, having both would be ideal if you’re a professional or serious enthusiast.
