Is the Best Mirrorless Camera Under 600 Worthless?

As suggested by the name, a mirrorless camera is one that does not require a reflex mirror. The term mirrorless is for any camera which is not a DSLR. Basically, all DSLR’s are mirrored cameras. The only reason DSLR’s are not called mirrored cameras is simply that of the fact that it came before its mirrorless counterparts.

Also, the word mirrorless is used for interchangeable lens cameras (ILCs)
A reflex mirror is an optical viewfinder which is a bulky piece of equipment that is placed behind the lens.

The light which passes through the lens gets reflected by this mirror onto a focusing screen, which typically is ground glass. This reflex mirror is one of the main components of the DSLR cameras.

As for mirrorless cameras, this optical viewfinder is not present, and instead, the image sensor is exposed to light at all times. This gives the user a digital preview of the image on the LCD screen, or the electric viewfinder which is located on the rear side of the camera.

It is not necessary that the mirrored cameras are better than the mirrorless ones as there are several factors that should first be considered. Factors such as the cost, professionality, compromise are a few which decide which is preferable for what kind of use.

One reason why people would decide to go for a mirrorless camera is the size. Mirrorless cameras are relatively lighter and more compact than the DSLRs. Since the reflex lens takes quite some space, some people find it uncomfortable to use.
Autofocus

When it came to the autofocus adjusting speed, the DSLRs trumped the mirrorless cameras. However, with newer technology, that gap is being filled. Although the autofocus speeds for mirrorless cameras are improving with time, the DSLR still remains unmatched. This makes DSLRs of more use for intense captures such as when taking pictures of sports, wildlife, or anything fast-paced.

Lighting:

In DSLRs, the optical viewfinder displays exactly how the image will appear once it is clicked. As for mirrorless cameras, this preview is displayed on the LCD screen. In some models, this screen imitates the exact functioning of the optical viewpoint as that of DSLRs, and when shooting in good lighting, the previewed image on the LCD is significantly close to the final picture.

but when times call for bad lighting, the preview on the mirrorless cameras will be slightly imperfect. This is not the case for DSLRs, making them the better choice when bad lighting or other such demanding conditions are often dealt with.

Video Shooting:

When it comes to shooting video, DSLRs cannot use their phase-detection while the mirror is up, making them use the less accurate, slower, contrast-detection focus method.

This focused method often causes the blur which is sometimes visible in the middle of a video. Here, mirrorless cameras come out victorious since they do not contain the reflex mirror, allowing them to shoot 4k or Ultra HD videos. This high-quality autofocus makes mirrorless cameras the better choice for filmmakers.

Battery:

DSLRs offer longer durations of battery life simple because LCD screen which requires power is not present in the mirrored cameras. This should however not really affect the purchasing decision as both the types are capable of housing spare batteries.

Shot Speed:

The lack of the mirror in the mirrorless cameras makes it possible for the camera to take picture after picture, allowing them to shoot more photos per second. The high-end DSLRs are not taken into consideration for this comparison.

Accessories:

It used to be that DSLRs gave access to a greater number of lenses and accessories to choose from a wide number of manufacturers. However, this gap is steadily being filled. Where once mirrorless models were only limited to the accessories from their original manufacturer, they are now being exposed to a wider selection of the same thanks to third parties.

In conclusion, depending on the usage of the camera, the best mirrorless camera under 600 is not exactly worthless. If the lighting is good most of the time and video shooting is what is required, the mirrorless cameras can prove more useful than the DSLRs.

Although, if the work requires the camera to mostly take pictures swiftly and in bad lighting conditions, the DSLR would be the better choice, making the mirrorless camera worthless especially if it is purchased at a budget.