Compare and contrast
Nikon makes some tempting compact cameras with fixed lenses, but the smart money is on ‘system cameras’. With interchangeable lenses, you can literally fit the best tool for the job in hand, from extreme close-up macro photography, through portraiture and still life, to action sports, wildlife, landscape photography and beyond. But while you can mix and match lenses, adding to your collection or maybe hiring something for a special occasion, it all starts with the camera body, so it pays to pick the right one for your needs.
Nikon’s current range of interchangeable-lens camera bodies has something for everyone, from beginners to seasoned pros. But that’s not the whole story. With mirrorless models in the ascendancy, your choice of a ‘proper’ camera definitely isn’t limited to a conventional DSLR. So what are the main differences?
All DSLRs have a reflex mirror that directs the image circle produced by the lens up into an optical viewfinder. The mirror assembly is quite sizeable, as it needs to hold the mirror at an angle for viewfinder-viewing and flip it up to redirect the image to the shutter and image sensor during the exposure. The viewfinder itself is also quite large, so both components result in a relatively big and bulky build.
By definition, mirrorless system cameras have no reflex mirror assembly, and the camera body can be much slimmer. The larger lens flange and its closer proximity to the image sensor enables much greater freedom in lens design. As such, these cameras come with a spectacular supporting cast of Z-mount lenses. Moreover, you can mount your favourite F-mount lenses (originally designed for DSLRs) on a Z series camera, via Nikon’s FTZ or FTZ II Mount Adapter.
Getting back to DSLRs, the inclusion of an optical viewfinder has always been one of the main attractions, with a crystal-clear ‘through the lens’ view of what you’re shooting. Traditionally, electronic viewfinders have been a poor substitute, but the EVFs built into Nikon’s current mirrorless cameras are super-detailed and easy
