Modern digital cameras have multiple benefits for wildlife photographers. And there is a plethora to select from. The undisputed type is a single lens camera that focuses, composes, and meters the exposure through the lens. The ability to interchange a variety of lenses is of ultimate importance. That provides the ability to change the optic dependent upon need from ultra closeups or macro, to long telephoto lenses for distant wildlife.
Types
There are two basic types to select from: the Digital Single Lens Reflex or DSLR, or the Mirrorless Single Lens camera. Both types make exceptional images. Most manufacturers like Nikon, Canon, Sony, Pentax, and Fuji make both types and in several price points. Let’s look at the features of each type.
Digital Single Lens Reflex Camera or DSLR
This camera type derives its name because it has one lens to do everything. Viewing, composition, focusing and metering the exposure through the lens is accomplished with the use of a mirror that reflects the image to the eye through a prism that projects the image into the viewfinder. During the actual exposure, the mirror folds up out of the image path to the photosensitive sensor.
The camera accommodates the changing of lenses to suit the task at hand. Many different lenses are available.
This type of camera has been around for about seventy years, with refinements made by every manufacturer each year.
Digital Mirrorless Single Lens Camera
Unlike the DSLR, this camera has no mirror in the image path, hence the name. Instead, the image is focused on the sensor which, in turn, provides an image to a small electronic monitor within the eyepiece. Therefore, most of the camera’s operation is electronic, rather than mechanical.
This concept has advantages for the nature photographer as the electronic shutter can capture images at a greater frame rate than its mechanical cousin.
Which Type is Better?
There are many features of every camera make and model that are too numerous to mention. While every modern digital camera can make excellent images, there are some features that may make a difference to the buyer and their needs.
Full-Frame vs. Crop Sensor
A full-frame camera has a sensor size that closely compares in physical dimensions with the standard 35mm fill frame. That is about 24 x 36 mm. A crop sensor is physically sized slightly smaller (about 18 x 24 mm) than the full-frame sensor. That provides approximately 50 percent more capture area behind the lens. That means that with any given lens, the area of capture, or field of view, is reduced from that of a full-frame sensor. That is not a deficiency by any means, it simply means that to capture the same area of landscape, one simply must step back. There is no change in image magnification unless the lens or attachments are changed.
The noticeable difference is that new crop sensor cameras may be less expensive.
Image Resolution
The ability of a lens and sensor to resolve small details is of great importance in comparing cameras. Taking the lens and it quality from the equation, leaves the resolution of the sensor. This is measured in two ways, the number of photo sensitive pixels of the sensor and the pixel size.
Cameras and their sensors are measured in MegaPixels, or how many are on the sensor. Pixel size is just that-the physical size of each pixel. As a general rule, more megapixel sensors may produce images with greater resolution. However, some crop sensors may have more pixels per square millimeter, providing greater resolution.
Pixel size affects resolution in signal to noise ratio, image detail. and dynamic range. Generally speaking, larger pixels provide improvement in each of these three categories.
Frame Rate
Because mirrorless cameras may have no mechanical shutter, they are able to capture images at a greatly increased frame rate. Modern DSLRs can operate with fresh batteries at a frame rate of 10-15 frames per second. Mirrorless cameras may operate at 200 frames per second. This is a major advantage to the wildlife photographer capturing images of subjects in motion.
Battery Power
Battery technology has improved dramatically in the recent past providing longer operating life, fewer issues with charging “memory”, and cost.
Needless to say, a fully electronic camera may draw more power during use than mechanical cameras, therefore shorter battery life. The competitive tradeoff between cameras has to be measured in other characteristics.
Lenses
Because DSLRs have been around much longer, the variety of available lenses ai freat. Mirrorless camera manufacturers are rapidly catching up. Additionally, adapters are available for mounting older lenses on new mirrorless camera bodies.
One characteristic of newer mirrorless lenses is that with many manufacturers, the maximum diameter of the class is increased providing the ability to manufacture a lens with a much grater maximum aperture. It is not within the realm of possibility to make lenses with apertures of F1.1 or greater.
Bottom Line
The answer for most photographers comes to cost. Mirrorless cameras are a new breed and may be more expensive in comparison. There are more lenses and accessories available to DSLR owners.
However, the trend is definitely shifting to mirrorless. Some favorite DSLRs are no longer manufactured. But the used market is huge.
If I were to make a recommendation, it would be this: If you have a large investment in DSLR cameras, lenses and accessories and it performs to your needs, stay with the DSLR and make your investment in newer, and better glass.
If, however, you are young in photography and your investment is nil or small, then the idea of a mirrorless system is probably a good idea. Start with a more inexpensive body and make your largest investment in the best glass you can afford.
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Brian Loflin - Natural Science Photography 