The term DSLR means a digital single lens reflex camera. The reflex part refers to the mirror that reflects light up into the viewfinder assembly. The mirror has to move out of the way for light to reach the sensor behind it, and this requires a relatively bulky mechanism, which adds to the size and weight of the camera and also introduces optical engineering complications.
In a mirrorless camera such as the Canon EOS R6 Mark III, there is no mirror mechanism, but a direct line of sight through the lens to the sensor. What you see in the electronic viewfinder (EVF) is a projection of the sensor image – which means that, unlike the optical viewfinder in a DSLR, it can preview the effect of your shooting settings, giving you the ability to see the exposure of the image before you've even taken it.
With the EOS R System including both APS-C and full-frame models, there's now a wide choice of mirrorless cameras offering new advantages to professionals and amateurs alike. But whether you want to upgrade from an older camera or step up from a compact camera to one with interchangeable lenses, you might be considering a traditional DSLR rather than a mirrorless camera.
It's true that Canon EOS DSLRs are great cameras and Canon EF lenses set the benchmark for lens design in their day. The EOS R System, however, represents a step change in both performance and creative possibilities. With an ever-expanding range of state-of-the-art RF and RF-S lenses and accessories too, this system puts unprecedented levels of quality and control in the hands of photographers, filmmakers and content creators.
Here, to help you appreciate the benefits of moving to mirrorless, we look at the differences between DSLRs and mirrorless cameras.
Mirrorless cameras such as the Canon EOS R10 offer high quality and powerful features in a more portable and lightweight design because they don’t have to accommodate the mirror mechanism of a DSLR.
An illustration of the weight and size advantage introduced by EOS R System cameras and RF lenses. The Canon RF 70-200mm F2.8L IS USM lens paired with an EOS R (right) is markedly shorter (when retracted) than its EF counterpart, the EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS III USM paired with an EOS 5D Mark IV (left). The mirrorless setup is also about 630g lighter, meaning you could pack an extra drink or an additional lens for wider perspective – such as the RF 28-70mm F2.8 IS STM, which weighs just 490g, or the 700g RF 24-105mm F4L IS USM – and be carrying about the same weight as one EF lens and DSLR.
"One of the key things about DSLRs is that they have a mirror or pentaprism to direct light through to the viewfinder," explains Tibor Szövetes, Product Marketing Specialist at Canon Europe. "But this needs room to flip out of the way to expose the sensor. Eliminating this helps reduce the size and weight of the camera."
The weight saving of a mirrorless camera and lens compared to a DSLR can be significant. A Canon EOS R8, including the battery and memory card and paired with an RF 24-105mm F4L IS USM lens, weighs approximately 1,161g. The same setup with a Canon EOS R8 Mark II weighs just 85g more, at around 1,246g. A comparable DSLR setup – a Canon EOS 6D Mark II with an EF 24-105mm f/4L IS II USM lens – weighs about 1,560g, making it more than 34% heavier than the R8 setup. To look at it another way, the difference of nearly 400g is approximately the weight of the RF 15-30mm F4.5-6.3 IS STM ultra-wide zoom lens, meaning you could pack both RF lenses in your mirrorless kit bag to enjoy extended zoom capabilities on your hike or expedition – and still be carrying no more weight than with the DSLR setup.
Lifestyle content creator Diana Millos used the EOS R10 to photograph the culture and architecture of Andalusia. She comments: "The EOS R10 almost looks like a toy when you come from a camera that's much heavier, such as the EOS 80D. I like that it's small and lightweight, yet it's so powerful."
At the heart of the mirrorless Canon EOS R System is the innovative RF Mount, with a wide throat, shorter back focus distance, and super-fast communication between lens and body.
The RF mount used on EOS R System cameras introduced many innovations. "The RF mount has been designed with an eye to the future," Tibor explains, "such as improving communication speed between camera and lens and adding extra contacts to support more functions." These include much faster autofocus performance, real-time Digital Lens Optimisation, and enhanced controls such as the dedicated, customisable control ring found on many RF lenses.
Instead of having to constantly work around a DSLR's reflex mirror between the mount and the sensor, lens designers can bring RF lenses closer to the sensor itself, enhancing optical performance. This has resulted in faster, brighter lenses with exceptional quality, as well as groundbreaking new lens designs.
The Canon RF-S 7.8mm F4 STM DUAL is an innovative dual lens designed to make high-quality 3D stills and video creation more accessible than ever before. It is particularly suited to close-up work for users with APS-C EOS R System cameras.
The mirrorless Canon EOS R System has been designed with the needs of videographers and filmmakers in mind right from the start, and Canon's breakthrough hybrid RF lenses bring cutting-edge features for stills and video alike.
Since the introduction of the first RF lenses in 2018, Canon’s range of lenses for the mirrorless EOS R System has grown exponentially. It now includes dedicated RF-S lenses designed for mirrorless cameras with APS-C sensors such as the EOS R10 and EOS R7. It also enables creators of both stills and video content to explore exciting new lens technologies.
From the ultra-wide RF 16-28mm F2.8 IS STM zoom lens to remarkably compact and lightweight super telephoto prime lenses like the RF 600mm F11 IS STM and RF 1200mm F8L IS USM, the RF and RF-S lens line-up provides a full range of creative choice. Even the "standard" lenses are anything but ordinary, with the RF 28-70mm F2.8 IS STM and RF-S 18-45mm F4.5-6.3 IS STM offering outstanding image stabilisation and autofocus performance for sharp images and video.
There are unique stereoscopic and VR lenses that make it simple to start creating immersive 3D video and images with compatible EOS R System mirrorless cameras. Lenses such as the RF-S 3.9mm F3.5 STM DUAL FISHEYE, designed for APS-C EOS R System cameras, are at the heart of the Canon EOS VR SYSTEM, which makes creating stereoscopic 3D and VR content more accessible to more people.
Hybrid RF lenses – including zooms such as the RF 24-105mm F2.8L IS USM Z lens and primes such as the RF 85mm F1.4L VCM – combine the capabilities of stills and video lenses. They’re the perfect choice for a mix of photography and filmmaking. Highlights of these high-performance hybrid lenses include Iris Rings for manual aperture adjustments while you’re recording video, minimal focus breathing, and fast, silent focusing motors. The zoom lenses in the range also feature professional electronic parfocal focus capability while zooming, plus power zoom expandability. The range of VCM prime lenses is designed for easy swapping in a video rig, as all six lenses are similar size, shape and weight. For example, the RF 50mm F1.4L VCM is a very similar size and weight to the RF 20mm F1.4L VCM lens.
There are even lenses designed for content creators. Both the RF 20-50mm F4L IS USM PZ and RF-S 14-30mm F4-6.3 IS STM PZ have built-in power zooms for smooth zoom control when recording video, and complement video-first mirrorless cameras such as the EOS R6 V and EOS R50 V.
The electronic viewfinder (EVF) in a mirrorless camera employs a compact, high-resolution version of the same display technology as the LCD screen on the rear of the camera. One advantage of this is that it enables you to see what the camera sees, even in conditions too dark for the unaided eye to see anything.
The mirror in a DSLR reflects light up to the optical viewfinder via a pentaprism, so the image is the right way around. With an optical viewfinder, however, you can’t preview the effects of Picture Style, white balance and other image processing settings before you press the shutter release, as you can with the EVF in a mirrorless camera.
DSLRs have optical viewfinders, which provide a clear view of a scene in good light. But the electronic viewfinders (EVFs) used on mirrorless cameras have significant advantages.
In particular, if you're using an EOS R System mirrorless camera, Exposure Simulation makes it possible to preview the image with your exposure, Picture Style and other settings applied, both in the viewfinder and on the rear LCD screen. On a DSLR, Exposure Simulation works when you use the rear screen in Live View mode, but not in the viewfinder. With an EVF, you can also compose your shot and focus in low-light conditions too dark to see with the naked eye through an optical viewfinder. EVFs can display digital aids or overlays, supporting a range of real-time assistive features such as focus peaking and zebra patterns. When you're shooting video, for example, the EVF in EOS R System cameras offers the same manual focus assist display as Canon's professional Cinema EOS cameras.
An EVF also enables a more detailed level of shooting information to be displayed, as well as allowing you to navigate and change settings in the camera menus. With an EVF, you can also review images and movies that you’ve shot, even when conditions may be too bright to see clearly on the camera's LCD screen.
The EVFs in Canon EOS R System cameras continue to evolve, with the EOS R1 and EOS R5 Mark II featuring a high-refresh-rate, blackout-free viewfinder, giving you a seamless shooting experience compared to a DSLR, with fewer interruptions in critical moments when shooting continuously.
Wildlife photographer Dani Connor, who used the EOS R7 on a trip in search of the endangered Iberian lynx, found that working with an electronic viewfinder completely transformed her photography.
"If I need to react quickly when photographing wildlife, or maybe the light is constantly changing, with a mirrorless camera I can quickly adjust my ISO or my shutter speed and I can see what my photo will look like, without having to take my eye from the viewfinder."
DSLR vs mirrorless camera for video: modern mirrorless cameras such as the EOS R8 (shown here) and EOS R8 Mark II include advanced features for content creators like 4K 60p video with intelligent subject tracking – something that isn't offered in DSLRs.
When the EOS R System first came out, capturing images using DSLR or mirrorless cameras wasn't radically different when it came to the actual image quality. But with the newest technology developments, the EOS R System mirrorless cameras lift performance to the next level.
In-camera lens corrections
"For example, one benefit of the RF mount is its high-speed communication between the lens and camera, which allows us to apply in-camera lens corrections in real-time," says Tibor. "This instant processing means you're getting better image quality straight out of the mirrorless cameras. Not only that, but RF lenses can be designed with digital lens corrections in mind. Rather than trying to correct issues such as distortion entirely through optical design, which can introduce compromises in other areas and make lenses larger and heavier, it's possible to prioritise features such as lens size and affordability while still maintaining the quality of the final image."
Continuous shooting speed
Similarly, in some situations, mirrorless cameras, such as the EOS R7 with its continuous shooting speed of up to 15fps using the mechanical shutter and 30fps using the electronic shutter with full autofocus tracking, are more likely to produce consistently usable images than DSLRs such as the EOS 7D Mark II or the EOS 90D, both of which have a maximum continuous shooting speed of 10fps.
The RAW burst mode that’s available on some mirrorless cameras, including the EOS R8, EOS R7 and EOS R10, further improves your chances of capturing the perfect moment. Not only does it record RAW files at up to 30fps, it packs a pre-shooting option that captures images for half a second before you fully press the shutter release. Pre-shooting gives you the power to essentially rewind time and go back half a second to save the moments you might have missed.
The EOS R8 Mark II, EOS R6 Mark III, EOS R5 Mark II, and EOS R1 take this a step further with a pre-continuous shooting feature. With the camera set to continuous shooting and AF on, you can half-press the shutter button and aim where you expect the action to be taking place. The camera begins buffering images, with full AE and AF tracking. When you fully press the button, the camera doesn't just start taking photos, it also saves the 15 frames (EOS R5 Mark II) or 20 frames (EOS R8 Mark II, EOS R6 Mark III, EOS R1) just before the full-press. This ensures you capture the moment the action happens, and it works when you're shooting JPEG or HEIF images as well as RAW. It's also more straightforward than RAW burst mode – it saves individual RAW files, whereas RAW burst mode captures shots as a single RAW file (roll) from which individual images have to be extracted. There's nothing like this on any DSLR.
The Canon EOS R8 Mark II features a 5-axis In-body Image Stabilizer (IBIS), giving you the freedom to capture sharp shots without a tripod. IBIS provides stabilisation when using lenses without an optical Image Stabilizer (IS) and can work in combination with IS lenses for even more effective results. The EOS R8 Mark II also features an Enhanced+ version of Movie Digital IS, helping you capture smoother video footage even on the move.
Image stabilisation
Many lenses include image stabilisation that counteracts the effects of camera shake. But RF and RF-S lenses equipped with an Optical Image Stabilizer have an improved level of stabilisation compared to the equivalent EF and EF-S lenses.
Several EOS R System mirrorless cameras are equipped with a 5-axis In-body Image Stabilizer (IBIS). If you use an IS-equipped lens on a camera with IBIS, the two work together to produce even greater levels of stabilisation – up to 8.5-stops at the centre of the frame and 7.5-stops at the periphery, depending on the camera and the lens used. This means you can shoot handheld at a slower shutter speed and still capture sharp shots.
The advanced IBIS and lens image stabilisation technology is also effective when shooting video. EOS R System cameras have a dedicated Movie Digital IS option which can be combined with IBIS and Optical IS to improve the steadiness of footage, making EOS R System mirrorless cameras a better choice for shooting video compared to DSLR cameras.
The fast electronic shutter and animal eye tracking autofocus found in mirrorless cameras such as the EOS R7 and EOS R10 are ideal for all levels of photographers. "For a wildlife photographer it’s pretty cool to be able to track an animal's eye," says wildlife specialist Dani Connor. "It's opened up new opportunities for me that weren't available as a DSLR user."
All EOS R System mirrorless cameras use Canon's Dual Pixel CMOS AF autofocus system – Dual Pixel CMOS AF II in the EOS R6 Mark III, EOS R8 Mark II, EOS R7 and EOS R10, for example, and a newer version called Dual Pixel Intelligent AF in the EOS R5 Mark II. In all the iterations of this system, every pixel in the sensor is used for both focusing and imaging, compared with the specific point-based phase detection sensor focusing through the viewfinder for DSLR cameras.
One of the big advantages of these mirrorless cameras is the ability to select an AF point anywhere within the frame. "This is impossible on a DSLR," Tibor explains, "and it also allows for capabilities such as face tracking, eye tracking and animal tracking that we see in these cameras. You can, for example, pick up the eye of a bird in flight, and follow that around the frame – again something that is impossible for a DSLR."
On many EOS R System mirrorless cameras, the advanced subject detection even extends to vehicles such as cars, motorcycles, aircraft and trains, with the position of the driver, rider or pilot being tracked automatically by the intelligent autofocus system.
EOS R System mirrorless cameras are capable of focusing in darker conditions, too. The EOS R1 and EOS R8 Mark II can lock on to a subject in light as dim as -7.5EV, for example, which is roughly equivalent to a starlit landscape. This improved AF sensitivity also makes autofocus possible at smaller maximum apertures than before. Pair the compact RF 600mm F11 IS STM telephoto lens with a Canon Extender RF 2x, for example, and in practice you have a 1200mm f/22 lens – complete with effective autofocus.
Family photographer Helen Bartlett finds it invaluable to have the option of completely silent shooting on her EOS R System cameras. Because it prevents the sound of the shutter distracting her young subjects or even waking them if they're asleep, she can capture them in more natural situations. Taken on a Canon EOS R5 with a Canon RF 50mm F1.2L USM lens at 1/1000 sec, f/1.2 and ISO100. © Helen Bartlett
The majority of DSLRs have mechanical shutters, but all of Canon's EOS R System mirrorless cameras have both an electronic shutter and a mechanical one.
So, what are the advantages of an electronic shutter as compared to a mechanical shutter?
With an electronic shutter, the mechanical shutter is locked open and the imaging sensor is essentially read electronically. The biggest advantage of this is that shooting can be totally silent – not just quieter, with the shutter damped or suppressed as it is when you select the S ("soft" shooting) option available on some cameras, but completely noiseless. This can be invaluable when you're photographing nervous wildlife, slumbering babies or the quiet parts of weddings, for example.*
Electronic shutters also enable faster continuous shooting. "With mechanical shutters," Tibor says, "the fastest possible in our DSLR cameras was 16fps [frames per second] on the EOS-1D X Mark III, a high-level professional camera. With its electronic shutter, the EOS R10 can give you the option of up to 23fps for a fraction of the price, while the EOS R7 can shoot at 30fps, matching the speed of the EOS R3, another professional camera, but for a third of the price. The EOS R8 Mark II, EOS R6 Mark III and EOS R6 V go even faster, letting you capture full-frame photos at up to 40fps."
However, the phenomenon of "rolling shutter" can be a problem when you photograph action with an electronic shutter – fast-moving objects such as a swinging golf club or a rotating propeller can move in the time it takes for the whole frame to be read, leaving them distorted in the resulting image. The phenomenon is greatly reduced in the latest mirrorless cameras, though. The EOS R5 Mark II and EOS R1 are equipped with innovative full-frame back-illuminated CMOS sensors and have a DIGIC Accelerator image processor in addition to their DIGIC X image processor. This combination of high-speed processor and sensor technology minimises rolling shutter distortion – in case of the EOS R1, to the level of the fastest mechanical shutters on the market, or even beyond.
Even though it's packed with useful technology, such as an electronic viewfinder (EVF), IBIS and advanced wireless connectivity, the Canon EOS R8 Mark II delivers approximately 220 shots using the EVF or 340 with the LCD screen. It also supports USB charging and power delivery, so you can keep shooting for even longer using a power bank – ideal for long shoots and travelling. Taken on a Canon EOS R8 Mark II with a Canon RF 24-105mm F4-7.1 IS STM lens at 24mm, 1/160 sec, f/8 and ISO200.
It's often said that DSLRs have longer battery life than mirrorless cameras, mainly because a mirrorless camera's electronic viewfinder requires power while a DSLR's optical viewfinder uses none. In practice, however, battery life depends a lot on how you use the camera – using flash, for example, will consume more power on both types of camera, while using the LCD screen on a DSLR typically consumes more power than using the LCD screen on a mirrorless camera. A mid-range DSLR such as the EOS 90D offers 1,200 shots or more with the viewfinder and 450 with the LCD, while the mirrorless EOS R6 Mark III delivers 390 shots with electronic viewfinder or 620 with the LCD.
Power consumption has been further optimised in Canon mirrorless EOS R System cameras with the introduction of new high-performance batteries. Additionally, various power-saving functions such as screen dimming and optimised processing, along with the possibility of charging via USB and power banks, can extend camera operation time even further. For instance, despite having more power-intensive features compared than the EOS R8 – including IBIS and enhanced stabilisation modes – the EOS R8 Mark II has a comparable battery life using the same compact Battery Pack LP-E17.
The Canon EOS R8 Mark II is about the same size and weight as an APS-C DSLR, yet features a full-frame sensor, image stabilisation and Canon's latest imaging technology, including continuous bursts up to 40fps. Pair it with lightweight RF lenses and you have a highly capable kit for creative travel photography. Full-frame cameras were once perceived as heavy and cumbersome, but mirrorless models like the EOS R8 Mark II have changed that.
DSLRs have their strengths, but EOS R System mirrorless cameras paired with RF and RF-S lenses offer a wealth of innovative technology and advanced features that unlock new creative possibilities for photography and video.
If you want a lightweight camera with fast frame rates and image stabilisation for travel photography, then a mirrorless camera such as the EOS R8 Mark II may be ideal. It enables you to explore all the benefits of full-frame photography in a camera that's comparable in size and weight to an APS-C DSLR. For wildlife and action photography, high-speed mirrorless cameras like the EOS R7 and EOS R6 Mark III will give you the step up in performance you need. If you’re looking to move up to full-frame photography and video, then the mirrorless EOS R8 and EOS R8 Mark II are packed with creative tools to help you achieve your artistic aims. And, of course, the range extends to leading mirrorless cameras with cutting-edge features to meet the needs of the most demanding professional photographers, including the EOS R3 and EOS R1.
The newer technology of EOS R System cameras delivers a breakthrough in performance while offering lighter, more compact designs than their DSLR counterparts. As a result, the EOS R System isn't simply a mirrorless version of the EOS DSLR range. Advances in autofocus intelligence, processing power and image quality mean that the series numbering doesn’t tell the whole story, opening up more options when moving from an EOS DSLR to an EOS R System camera.
If you use a high-end APS-C DSLR such as the EOS 80D or EOS 90D for wildlife photography, then you could choose a high-end APS-C mirrorless camera such as the EOS R7. If you wanted to upgrade to a full-frame mirrorless camera, however, then the EOS R8 Mark II offers intelligent subject detection, up to 40fps silent shooting and a 1.6x crop for extra reach when you need it.
Rather than looking for the direct mirrorless equivalent of your DSLR, it's worth considering the capabilities you actually need. If you're an EOS 6D Mark II full-frame DSLR user, for example, then you might consider the EOS R6 Mark III mirrorless camera as the logical next step. But the EOS R8 or EOS R8 Mark II gives you substantial improvements in autofocus, speed and image quality in a more portable body.
Although it's part of the EOS 6-series, the EOS R6 Mark III is a more natural successor to the professional EOS 5D Mark IV DSLR than its series number might suggest. The two cameras have full-frame sensors, similar resolutions and dual card slots, but the mirrorless camera gives you autofocus enhanced by deep learning, faster shooting, better video and powerful image stabilisation. Alternatively, EOS 5D Mark IV users could choose to step up to the EOS R5 Mark II if they want 45MP stills and 8K video capabilities. Both mirrorless cameras offer an all-round improvement in performance, versatility and image quality.
From ergonomics to autofocus, shutter type to shutter speed, try out the camera you're interested in, if you can – there's no substitute for actually feeling how it suits you. Once you’ve decided which mirrorless camera is for you, ask your local camera store about part-exchange opportunities, or consider donating your old camera gear to a local camera club or school so that someone else can begin their photography journey.
*Sounds other than the shutter (aperture, focus lens drive sound, electronic sound, etc.) may be generated.
Canon EOS R cameras and lenses have been elevating the work of photographers for five years. Discover firsthand why professionals have made the switch.
Want to upgrade from a smartphone to a camera? Our photography guide for beginners has everything you need to get started.
All you need to know about lenses, from lens types to features to look for.