Choosing the Best Camera for Product Photography
Among the booming industries in this century, product marketing tends to appear in the top ten. For you to market presentable and eye-catching product then you need to have a good photograph. The picture has to speak for itself for you to win customers‘ interest. Therefore, when we analyze the best cameras for product photography, DSLR and mirrorless camera are the most widely used today. Before you make a purchase, you have to understand the difference between the two since they offer different but vital techniques. Before we go deep, let us first understand what is a DSLR and a mirror-less camera.
DSLR Camera
This is s camera that combines digital imaging sensor with the optics and mechanism of single-lens reflex. The main difference with other digital cameras is that DSLR has a reflex design scheme. The camera has an interchangeable lens. It is through this lens that light travels to the mirror, the light is then reflected and sends an image to an optical viewfinder. You can, therefore, compose your image precisely due to this method as it will help you see what you are shooting.
Mirrorless Camera
Even though most of the benefits in the mirrorless camera are similar to DSLR, you will notice that this one has less weight and size. Another difference is that when using mirrorless you will not see what you are shooting in a viewfinder but instead, you will set up the shoot on a digital screen.
To help you decide on what camera to go for in your product photography, differentiating different parts and performance of DSLR and mirrorless camera is important.
- Battery life
From a general point of view, the DSLR will have longer battery life. This is because DSLR does not use EVR or LCD screen to shoot. The screen uses a lot of power hence lowering the battery in a mirrorless camera. This should not discourage you from buying a mirrorless camera since the battery life can be made similar to that of DSLR if the LCD screen is used to view and preview captured images. To add on this, both cameras come with a removable battery so you can always carry a spare. It is advisable to always have a backup battery so that you can prolong working hours.
- Low Light Performance
In this case, it will depend on where you often do your shooting. Do you shoot in low light and some challenging conditions? If so, then you better go for a DSLR for it will make your work much easier. When using mirrorless in situations such as low light or when the object is moving fast then the preview will have issues hence capturing dull and grainy images. DSLR is of advantage in low light since it has a viewfinder and it will show you exactly what the camera will capture. But if you do your shootings in good light or outside then both types of the camera will perform perfectly. In good light, preview in a mirrorless camera takes a close look at the final image of what you are shooting hence a perfect capture.
- Autofocus
Ever heard of phase detection and contrast detection? When it comes to autofocus, the mirrorless camera uses contrast detection while DSLR uses phase detection. Phase detection in DSLR is very fast. it uses the mirror in the camera to divide the incoming light into images and after comparing them, it focuses the lens on the object quickly. On the other hand, contrast detection in a mirrorless camera will measure the contrast between pixels on the sensor and after finding enough contrast it will focus on the image. Contrast detection takes more time than phase-detection especially if the object to focus on is moving.
- Sensor
The amount of light used to create an image is determined by the size of a sensor in the camera. With logical reasoning, then it means the larger sensors gain more information compared to smaller ones hence producing better images. Different mirrorless cameras will come with sensors in various sizes so you can choose one that perfectly suits you. But if you choose a full-frame DSLR camera you will get the largest-sized sensor. The problem with large sensors makes the camera bigger hence bulky. The mirrorless camera has medium-sized sensors hence they are small in size and never bulky.
- Processors
In cameras, the processors determine the speed in which the camera can process light data and give images that fulfill the demand of the photographer. Therefore, a faster shutter-burst will be determined by a fast processor. In terms of speed, the mirrorless camera is very fast compared to a DSLR camera. Even though the two types come with the same size of the sensor, the mirrorless camera will give more clear videos and images because the way they shoot outdo how DSLR shoots. The DSLR will favor a person shooting in low lights as compared to a mirrorless camera. So once again decision on where you are going to take your shoots matters a lot.
Which one to buy
In both cases, at the end of the day, whichever the camera you choose to buy you will still get high-quality images. The key difference at the end of it will be the price, size, and the availability of lenses. For sure, the mirrorless camera is still new in the market and therefore its lens options are limited but that does not mean there are no lenses to use. On the other hand, the DSLR has been in the industry for a longer period and therefore different companies have invested in their lenses, and therefore finding one will not be an issue. The size of the camera you need will be determined with your shooting activities and your line of interest. Some people prefer the portable mirrorless camera while others prefer to go for the bulky DSLR. So go to the nearest store and take a look and choose a camera that you can afford. Buying an expensive camera does not mean you got the best camera so choose wisely.