Why the future's bright for DSLRs

The rapid development of mirrorless cameras has brought a range of game-changing technical innovations, and the Canon EOS R5 demonstrates that mirrorless cameras of the future will also see significant leaps forward. Features in Canon's groundbreaking EOS R System cameras such as silent shooting and enhanced low-light performance, plus a range of faster, lighter and brighter RF lenses made possible by new-generation design, have highlighted the advantages of the full-frame mirrorless system. These have led some to declare that the DSLR is dead – or at least on borrowed time.

But the truth is more complicated. Although photographers working in genres such as wedding, portrait or documentary photography are welcoming mirrorless cameras with open arms, the supremacy of DSLRs remains undiminished for photographers shooting sport, wildlife or other genres involving fast action. Despite the growth of the mirrorless market, DSLRs still make up more than 53% of today's camera sales (according to CIPA's figures for total worldwide shipments of digital cameras with interchangeable lenses, January to December 2019). The DSLR is still very much alive and kicking.

What's more, mirrorless cameras aren't the only ones with cutting-edge innovations. The Canon EOS-1D X Mark III represents a whole new level of pro DSLRs. Its features include deep learning technology for greater autofocus accuracy, up to 16fps with full AF/AE tracking (or 20fps in Live View), 5.5K RAW video shooting and a completely new design of CMOS imaging sensor with increased dynamic range. It demonstrates Canon's commitment to keeping its flagship DSLR at the forefront of technological innovation and shooting subjects where milliseconds matter. So, what makes DSLRs special?

The DSLR advantage

The difference between DSLRs and mirrorless cameras is more than just a personal preference, though. Mike Burnhill, European Technical Support Manager at Canon Europe, explains that DSLRs have inherent design features that will always give them an edge in particular scenarios.

"Electronic viewfinders [EVFs] work well in some situations, but they also have their disadvantages," says Mike. "The viewfinder is the most important thing in a camera because it's how you see and frame the image. EVFs are great if you're shooting in black-and-white, for instance, because you can see the image as a monochrome shot before you take it. You can also see and review the image you've just taken, which is a really useful feature."

However, EVFs have downsides in certain situations too. For example, when photographers are shooting sports action, they commonly shoot with one eye to the viewfinder while the other eye is open and watching what's going on in the wider scene. So when shooting a football match they can see a player, tightly-cropped through a long lens, but also see where the ball is and exactly when it's coming into the frame. It's a skill equally applicable to capturing fast wildlife action such as a cheetah going in for the kill – and it's not easy to do with an EVF.

Dedicated AF chip

The other major difference between a DSLR and a mirrorless camera is the AF system. "A DSLR has a separate chip for focusing, rather than doing this via the sensor," Mike explains. "These chips have one sole purpose – focus – and as with any technology, something that has just one job tends to be better than something that has to do multiple jobs.

"With a DSLR, a dedicated AF chip has some advantages. One of the biggest is that it can detect more defocusing – so if an object is heavily out of focus, a DSLR will be able to lock on to it quicker than a mirrorless camera would. If the images seen through those cameras are both slightly out of focus, the difference in focusing speed is marginal. But if there's a big difference, a DSLR is faster because its AF chip can get into sharp focus quicker. Put simply, a DSLR will go from totally-out-of-focus to in-focus much quicker."

DSLRs and mirrorless: the future

Aside from the inherent differences in the viewfinders and AF systems on DSLR and mirrorless cameras, Mike says the two systems will share more and more of the same technologies as they develop in the future. "The viewfinder interface is the real difference between a mirrorless and non-mirrorless camera," he says. "Everything else, including the sensor and mechanics, can be moved from one type of camera to another."

Mike believes both DSLR and mirrorless cameras are going to be around for some time to come, partly because of photographers simply preferring particular systems. "I think the next generation, who grow up with mirrorless cameras, will consider them the norm – but many established photographers will stick with what they know," he continues. "When the new technology can do something the old technology can't, it will be a reason to swap.

"However, if your technique depends on an optical viewfinder, the benefit of using it will outweigh any negatives. I anticipate that many enthusiasts will go mirrorless in the near future as products are released that match their needs or requirements, but professionals in specialist fields will stay with DSLRs such as the Canon EOS-1 series for a longer period of time."