In this article, we’ll discuss 10 advantages of using a full-frame mirrorless camera for street photography. There’s a lot to cover, so let’s jump right in!
1. They’re Getting Smaller and Lighter
For many seasoned street photographers, size is everything; and the smaller, the better.
A large, traditional-looking DSLR may paint you as a professional. This is something that many street photographers want to avoid. Tipping off potential subjects and having them change their behavior is not the preferred outcome. In rare instances, this could even create confrontation.
Mirrorless camera bodies, as well as their lenses, also tend to be smaller than their DSLR counterparts, sometimes drastically so. Two stand-out examples from the mirrorless world are the Sony A7C and the Sigma FP, the latter being the smallest full-frame camera currently on the market.
Regardless of the brand, reduced size and a less intrusive look are two great reasons full-frame mirrorless systems are great contenders for street photographers looking to upgrade their gear.
2. Better Dynamic Range
Dynamic range is the amount of pixel detail available from the shadows to the highlights in an exposure (measured in stops). By size, full-frame cameras have larger pixels and larger sensors compared to the various digital point-and-shoots and APS-C systems.
This means that difficult lighting situations where exposures are too dark or too bright will generally be handled much better by full-frame cameras than their smaller sensor counterparts. Below is a chart showing the relative size difference between sensors.
It’s not uncommon for full-frame mirrorless cameras to have 14 to 15 stops of dynamic range. Compared to crop sensor cameras and smartphones, which can max out at around 10 stops, you’re going to capture a lot more detail without noise in the shadows or clipping of the highlights with full-frame mirrorless systems.
3. Higher Frame Rates and Faster Shutter Speeds
If you’ve ever used a compact point-and-shoot camera then you may have experienced a system with a limited frame rate and a low shutter speed.
Most non-mirrorless full-frame cameras will average from between 2 to 5 fps (frames per second). If you’re photographing sports or fast-moving subjects like birds or cars, there’s a good chance that you won’t be able to capture the perfect frame.
With full-frame mirrorless systems, it’s not uncommon to see 10 to even 30 fps. For street photography, this means that you’ll rarely miss the action.
Shutter speed capabilities can also dramatically influence the shot. Top point-and-shoot cameras usually max out at around 1/2,000 or 1/3,000 of a second. With full-frame mirrorless systems, you top out at 1/6,000 to 1/8,000 of a second using the mechanical shutter, and up to 1/32,000 of a second using the electronic shutter feature in higher-end models.
For street photography, this is more than enough power to freeze the action, as well as shooting subjects in bright sunshine.
4. Higher Quality Images
Many of the full-frame mirrorless systems from Sony, Canon, and Nikon have a 50-megapixel resolution or larger; these are capable of capturing incredibly detailed images.
For street photographers who may be packing only one lens in the 28mm to 35mm range, a high resolution means they can crop images during editing without losing much quality. In effect, it’s like carrying two lenses, one for close-up subjects and one for subjects at a distance.
5. Full-Frame Mirrorless Cameras Can Use Adapted Lenses
Like their APS-C mirrorless counterparts, full-frame mirrorless systems can use adapted glass, enabling photographers to use just about any SLR and DSLR lens provided there’s an adaptor. The key difference is that with full-frame mirrorless systems, you’re able to capture images at the intended field of view without cropping.
So while there’s nothing wrong with adapting lenses on mirrorless APS-C cameras, there will be a crop factor. For most of the big brands, like Canon and Nikon, there’s a 1.6 crop factor. For Sony, it’s 1.5.
This means is that you’ll need to multiply the focal length by the crop factor to get the actual focal length in the 35mm format. A 50mm legacy lens would amount to 80mm on Canon and Nikon and 75mm on Sony.
This is why full-frame mirrorless systems are great for street photographers. For example, you’ll need the M42 screw mount adaptor to make a legacy portrait lens like the Pentax 50mm 1.4 Takumar work with any of the full-frame mirrorless systems. And the advantage for street photographers is that the camera would operate at the original 50mm focal length.
6. Dual Card Slots and Better Battery Life
It wasn’t always the case, but most full-frame mirrorless cameras have much better battery life compared to their APS-C and point-and-shoot counterparts. This means that full-day street photography sessions may only require a single battery.
Many full-frame mirrorless manufacturers are also offering dual card slots; camera-makers rarely offer this feature on smaller sensor systems. If you take pictures for long enough, you’ll inevitably run into a card failure. That’s why a camera with dual card slots is great for street photographers to safeguard their images.
If you’re looking for the right accessories for travel and street photography, check out our guide for the essential gear items you should take with you.
7. Fast Eye Autofocus
For performance in quick-changing urban environments, eye autofocus (Eye AF) is extremely important for street photographers because they need to quickly latch onto a subject’s eyes and get the shot.
Major camera brands know that this feature is important for their customers. They’re putting their latest and greatest Eye AF updates into their full-frame mirrorless systems to remain competitive.
8. Programmable Camera Buttons and Menu Systems
The ability to customize camera buttons and the menu system is a must for street photographers. That’s because at some point they’ll need to instantly switch to a different shooting mode or access a feature that’s buried somewhere in the menu.
Most full-frame mirrorless cameras offer a degree of customization. This allows photographers the freedom to program special function buttons with a one-touch response time.
It’s also important to be able to customize the menu. It will allow street photographers to quickly change shooting modes, autofocus settings, Eye AF subject modes (human vs. animal), and so on. All of this can be done with a tap on the screen.
9. Entry-Level Prices Are Reasonable
Entry-level full-frame mirrorless cameras like the Canon EOS RP start out at under $1,000 for the camera body. This means that street photographers are getting all the features mentioned here and more for about the same price or less as some of the high-end Sony point-and-shoot cameras, as well as iPhones!
Besides getting more bang for your buck, street photographers will be able to invest in a system that grows with them. A collection of lenses and accessories will grow over time, with lenses lasting a couple of decades with the right care.
10. Wi-Fi and NFC
Most new full-frame mirrorless cameras have Wi-Fi and NFC, which enables a quick wireless connection between your camera and smartphone. This is great for street photographers who need to edit their images quickly on their phones and then upload them to social media.
Full-Frame Mirrorless Cameras for the Win
Competition fuels innovation. Camera manufacturers are constantly stepping up their game, and there’s never been a better time to grab yourself a full-frame mirrorless camera. Hopefully, the advantages we’ve listed here are enough to swing you; your street photography will be next level.
