The Third Best Thing About MILCs

Devil's Tower, Wyoming
Olympus E-M5

Previously, I had posted my opinion as to what my favorite and second favorite things were about photographing using mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras (MILC).  The aspect about them which I liked most was the dead-on focus, which you can read here.. Second, was the EVF and how it brought the ability to exactly preview an image before you press the shutter. I like the idea of "what you see is what you get", which you can find and read here.

In this post, I want to tell you about my third favorite attribute of mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras. It is the size and weight of the camera bodies and lenses and how the small size relegates the camera to being somewhat inconspicuous when photographing. They are also easier to carry for traveling by airline as well as long days of photographing. Small, lightweight, stealthy and unobtrusive is good, in my opinion, for all types of photography, not just street or similar type photography.

Because the mirror box, mirror and prism have been removed, that allows the engineers to design cameras which are much smaller.  The various format MILC cameras, whether full frame (Sony A7, A7R), APS-C (Fujifilm X-Pro 1, XE-2, or Sony NEX7) or M4/3 (Olympus and Panasonic cameras) all can be or are about the same physical size.  Nice and small. (I'm not including the Nikon 1 system on purpose for this discussion.)

But there is a discernible difference when considering the camera and lens combination. The M4/3 format cameras have the smallest lenses as the lens' image circles are the smallest having to cover a smaller sized sensor.  The APS-C lenses are a bit larger, but still can be relatively small but the full frame mirrorless lenses are just as big as those on SLRs.  So the real advantage of using a mirrorless camera is not the camera itself, but the combination of small camera body with smaller lenses.  That is why I prefer the M4/3 or APS-C mirrorless cameras or MILCs which are full frame, such as the Sonys.  When I want to use FF, I use my big Nikons.

I have noticed of a period of years that, if I attend an event or practice some street photography, the size of my large SLR and the large lenses does not go unnoticed.  I have even been questioned about what I was doing because of my large camera and lens combination was so noticeable.  But if I go out and use my Olympus E-M5 or a point-and-shoot camera, almost no one notices.  I become relatively invisible as everyone has a small camera.

Recently, I had one individual come up to me and ask if my camera was one of the new Olympus E-M cameras, but he was a photographer and would have the proclivity to notice other cameras more than the average person. Other than that, no one says a thing when I am out photographing with a small MILC camera system.  That is a good thing.

Another reason I like smaller and lighter is that as I age, it becomes more burdensome to carry 20 lbs. (9 K) of gear with me as I trek around the countryside.  I have done that for many years.  I carried a Pentax 6X7 with 4 lenses for about 20 years, then my large Nikon digital SLRs since then.  Now, in my 60s, I really appreciate being able to have the same quality but at a much lower weight.

So, another advantage of mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras besides dead on, directly off the sensor focusing and having an EVF which allows you to exactly preview (pre-chimp?) your images, is that the small form factor of MILCs also works in your favor.

Thanks for looking.  Enjoy!

Dennis Mook

Many of my images can be found at www.dennismook.com.  Please pay it a visit.  I add new images regularly.  Thank you.


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