2017 Buying Guide: Mirrorless Cameras
Traditional DSLR cameras are still ruling supreme, but mirrorless cameras may be able to surpass that benchmark. They have developed from a simple point-and-shoot to a polished, more credible alternative to the DSLR. People were not certain on what to call them until not long ago since they are much more capable than the typical point-and-shoot.
Mirrorless cameras are technically a hybrid between a DSLR and a little point-and-shoot, where the larger sensor sizes and the interchangeable lens nature of the DSLRs stay, but as the name suggests, the mirror is chucked to produce a smaller and lighter camera. Since most photographers or cinematographers have different expectations and needs from a camera, we have ranked the seven most capable mirrorless cameras available in Bangladesh right now based on the bang they have to offer for your buck, most bang going first.
Sony A7R II
Sensor size: Full frame
Resolution: 42mp
Movies: 4K at 30p, 1080p at 60p
Max continuous shooting rate: 5fps
Pros: Very high resolution images and has in-body 5-axis image stabilization.
Cons: Battery life is somewhat poor if compared to a DSLR camera; menu system is clumsy.
Price: Body – 245,000 tk
The A7R II is currently one of the most capable mirrorless full-frame cameras in the market. While the competition from Fuji offer the truest of colours and a tactile feel in hand, the A7R II blows them out of the water when it comes to low light performance with the massive full-frame sensor. The in-body image stabilization further allows you to take much sharper photos at lower shutter speeds in poorly-lit conditions. 42 megapixels allows boatloads of detail in the images with the flexibility to crop in if needed. It's a great stills camera, but the stumbling block here is the price tag, which is higher than full-frame DSLRs like the Canon 5D MK III or the Nikon D810. If you go with either of the aforementioned DSLRs, you lose the ability to shoot 4K video and the insane pixel count, but gain access to the huge ecosystem of less expensive lenses. You win some, you lose some.
Fujifilm XT-2
Sensor size: APS-C
Resolution: 24.3mp
Movies: 4K at 30p, 1080p at 60p
Max continuous shooting rate: 14fps
Pros: Excellent ergonomics and build focused towards enthusiast photographers;
beautiful color rendition and image quality with one of the highest continuous shooting rates in the market.
Cons: Does not have a touch screen and autofocus performance marginally drops in low light.
Price: Body - 155,000 tk
The XT-2 is mostly aimed towards enthusiast photographers. If you like a lot of buttons and dials on your camera, you will love shooting with this. The price might seem like a hefty investment in your photography, but what you receive in return will not disappoint in any way. The weather-sealed body is rugged, with the whopping 325-point autofocus system and extraordinarily clean and color-accurate images even at higher ISOs setting it apart from the competition.
Sony A6300
Sensor size: APS-C
Resolution: 24.2mp
Movies: 4K at 30p, 1080p at 120p
Max continuous shooting rate: 11fps
Pros: Lightning fast autofocusing system;
weather sealed
Cons: No in-body stabilization; does not have a touch screen.
Price: Body with 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 lens – 89,900 tk
If you're in the market for a camera that's capable of shooting 4K video on a budget, the A6300 can be a great option for you. It offers excellent image and video quality with a fairly high continuous shooting rate along with a lighting fast autofocus system; and all that packed in a compact, lightweight body at an affordable price. Opt for the A6500 if you want in-body image stabilization.
Sony A7S II
Sensor size: Full frame
Resolution: 12mp
Movies: 4K at 30p, 1080p at 120p
Max continuous shooting rate: 5fps
Pros: Crowned the "King of low-light" for its outstanding low-light performance; has in-body 5-axis image stabilization.
Cons: There is only one memory card slot and photos taken are low resolution.
Price: Body – 225,000 tk
The A7S II is a camera for filmmakers on a budget, and it can see in the dark, quite literally. You could even call it a "niche" camera. The low megapixel count on the full frame sensor allows for the ability to crank up the ISO to an insane 409,600, which might sound like a gimmick, but 4K video footage is very usable even when shot at an absurd ISO of 102,400! Low light performance on this compact form factor is unrivaled in the market at the moment, performing better than DSLR cameras more than doubled the price. If you want the ability to zoom and crop in on your still pictures, you might want to consider the 42MP A7R II instead.
Fujifilm XT-20
Sensor size: APS-C
Resolution: 24.3mp
Movies: 4K at 30p
Max continuous shooting rate: 8fps
Pros: Identical color rendition and image quality of the more expensive XT-2.
Cons: Not weather sealed; autofocus suffers a bit in low light.
Price: Body with 18-55mm f/2.8-4 lens – 110,000 tk
Fujifilm cameras are famous for their incredible colour rendition, making them an excellent companion for travel and street photography. Unlike Sony's lineup of lenses, there is a wider variety of excellent and more competitively priced Fujinon glass to choose from. Not having weather sealing might be a deal-breaker for some, but there is the XT-2 for that. If you love old-school camera ergonomics, you'll love these Fuji cameras more than the competition.
Sony A7 II
Sensor size: Full frame
Resolution: 24.3mp
Movies: 1080p at 60p
Max continuous shooting rate: 5fps
Pros: Great full frame camera on a budget; has 5-axis in-body stabilization.
Cons: Battery life is poor and does not shoot 4K video.
Price: Body with 28-70mm f/3.5-5.6 lens – 155,000 tk
The A7 II is an affordable route to a full-frame mirrorless setup. Its meant for the ones who don't need the million megapixel A7R II or the capability of seeing in the dark that comes with the A7S II. What justifies the A7 II from a full-frame DSLR is the in-body stabilization allows you to get smoother handheld video and lower shutter speeds when you need to.
Sony A6000
Sensor size: APS-C
Resolution: 24.3mp
Movies: 1080p at 60p
Max continuous shooting rate: 11fps
Pros: Great value for money and comes bundled with a handy 16-50mm kit lens as well.
Cons: Does not shoot 4K video and there is no in-body image stabilization.
Price: Body with 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 lens – 49,900 tk
If you want a quality mirrorless camera on a budget, you can't go wrong with the A6000. Sure, you can get a pretty decent entry-level DSLR at a similar price, but that will surely not be as light-weight and portable or be able to shoot fast at a rate of 11fps.