Jayne Augoye writes on cameras whose auto mode helps amateur photographers take great pictures.What started out three years ago as a niche design is now one of the hottest digital cameras in the market.Since 2008 when they first appeared in the market, Mirrorless cameras continue to tickle the fancy of photography enthusiasts.With its interchangeable camera lens as its major characteristic, the manufacturers boast that their Mirrorless cameras will usher in an era of no-compromise cameras. Now manufactured by six major companies, the device is said to bridge the gap between the regular consumer point-and-shoot models and the professional ones.One basic thing these devices also have in common is that they replace the through-the-lens optical view with a large digital screen. All have interchangeable lenses ranging from extreme wide angle to powerful telephoto zoom lenses, as well as sophisticated attachments.From the start, Mirrorless cameras are built to deliver better and faster digital technology, shoot the best quality video and have more powerful and smart shooting features for better picture taking. However, what separates one model from the other is size of the image sensor, that is akin to digital film. Experts say because the quality of a digital picture is not the cameras megapixel number but the size of its image sensor (a bigger sensor results in superior image quality and less digital noise), Mirrorless cameras are a great option.The gadgets also help amateur photographers take great pictures because they have a simple auto mode which allows those who simply point and shoot learn the more sophisticated features. All these models shoot professional format as well as JPEG images.The Olympus PEN E-P1 launched in late 2008 is a pioneer in this regard. But the Olympus PEN series has recently expanded to simple and affordable models such as the E-PM1, a 12.3-megapixel camera with wide-angle zoom lens and removable flash. The device has onscreen explanations of all the settings and unique features such as eye-candy art filters and multiple exposures, even after shooting. Because the focal-length multiplier is 2, one has to double the focal length to get the equivalent to a 35 mm film camera. Next is the Panasonic Lumix. It uses the Micro Four Thirds system - a standard of high picture quality as well as six body designs and 14 lenses to choose from. The 16-megapixel DMC-G3K model has a zoom wide-angle lens, a sharp full-angle swing-touch LCD and digital viewfinder. GF1, on the other hand, has a rock-hard composite body that is weighty and compact,14 buttons, two dials and a four-setting switch for plenty of options in quick navigation. Sonys 16.2-megapixel NEXC3, 16.1 MP 5N and NEX-7 series come in compact body design and big lenses. They have a few buttons, relying instead on bright and effective touch screen controls. The new 24.3-megapixel NEX-7 provides a good balance of quick-change button and wheel controls for making minor adjustments on the go. The one-direction swing viewfinder is handy, as is the optical viewfinder. The 10.1-megapixel Nikon1 System is also in the news as a result of its quality craftsmanship and smart features. The affordable J1 is packed with top-end features such as the ability to shoot 10 frames per second, accurate 73-point autofocus and simultaneous full HD 1080p movie and photo capture. The Smart Photo Selector mode captures dozens of frames in an instant.Another related brand is 12.4-megapixel Pentax Q with 8.5mm lens, which is incredibly small but can keep up with the rest of the pack with smart design. Its sensor, the smallest in this group, uses backlit/backwired CMOS technology, similar to the new iPhone 4S, maximising the light intake and yielding high-quality photos even in dark scenes.Its features include professional HDR image enhancement, standard hot shoe, image stabilisation, HD 1080p video and more. It is also suited for lightweight travel with a selection of lenses.The NX100 is Samsungs second-generation mirrorless camera. It has a smooth, curvy body nine buttons, three dials and a unique iFunction button on some lenses, which let you use the focus ring to navigate settings on screen. The focus ring allows users to easily flip through settings without taking their hands out of shooting position. The NX 100 also has an active-matrix LED screen, which could improve power efficiency and make for easier viewing. On a final note, Nikon has also unveiled its first mirrorless cameras beating its arch rival Canon to the market for small, interchangeable-lens cameras - where other manufacturers have met with mixed success.At present, Nikon and Canon dominate the market for the hefty single-lens reflex cameras used by professional photographers and enthusiasts, and mirrorless cameras pack many of the benefits of those high-end models into smaller bodies.They have large sensors, giving good picture quality, but no optical viewfinders, enabling manufacturers to keep the camera body smaller and lighter by leaving the mirror out of the structure.
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