Professional and casual photographers alike have come to love the unique aesthetic of mirrorless cameras. A mirrorless camera lacks a reflex mirror and is lighter to carry, making it more compact compared with other types of cameras. The images they produce appear more stable due to the absence of a mirror mechanism.
What’s more, a mirrorless camera boasts video capabilities. It can shoot at higher frame rates, as well as a 4k video. So, you’ll be able to create those romantic slo-mos that you usually see in movies and TV shows.
Another great feature is silent shooting. Some mirrorless cameras have an electronic shutter that works to get rid of the sound. Since there’s no sound when you press the shutter button, you won’t have to worry about attracting attention. This is why a mirrorless camera is ideal for wedding and street photography.
You’ll also have a lot of control with this camera, as you can preview images in real-time and monitor settings like contrast and light exposure. All modern cameras have an LCD screen that casual photographers tend to use for composing images. But a mirrorless camera has a traditional viewfinder as well. You can use this feature while shooting instead of relying on the LCD screen. As you put your eye to the viewfinder, you’ll find yourself fully immersed in the act of shooting.
To get the most out of your mirrorless camera and have a successful shoot, follow these helpful tips.
1. Personalize Your Camera Controls
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Most cameras these days come with pre-programmed camera controls. However, you still have the option to customize the controls to suit your preference. Several stores have them in stock if you’re in the market for a new functional mirrorless camera. You can find various mirrorless cameras on websites like cameraworld.co.uk.
Once you get your camera, you can personalize the controls to your liking. To customize the controls, decide what images you primarily take. Do you shoot portraits or landscapes? No matter what kind of images you capture, you’ll be able to customize each button to a relevant function.
If you take portraits, you may need easy access to eye correction and detection features that will put the subject’s face in focus. On the other hand, shooting landscapes will require making quick adjustments to the ISO and white balance to bring out the natural colors of nature. By personalizing the camera control panel, you’ll be able to save time on shots and get the images you desire.
2. Learn More About Your Camera’s Live Histogram
The electronic display on your mirrorless camera can show you important information about your shoot, including the ISO, shutter speed, and histogram. A histogram is a graph that can show you how bright an image is. With this information, you’ll be able to adjust the brightness of an image.
If you want a dark photo, you need to adjust the graph further to the left side. To get a brighter image, all you have to do is adjust the graph further to the right side. Once you have mastered manipulating your camera’s histogram, you’ll be able to take amazing images that suit your preference and style.
3. Limit Camera Functions To Save Battery Life
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One of the few disadvantages of having a mirrorless camera is that it quickly runs out of power. Luckily, you can try a few tricks to get the most out of its battery life before your camera dies.
While shooting, turn off any functions you don’t need. As long as those functions are on, they’ll continue draining the battery in the background. You can also turn off any Wi-Fi or Bluetooth capabilities while shooting and turn them on only when you need them. This way, you’ll have extra battery time to continue your shoot without hassle.
4. Stock Up On Extra Batteries
Since mirrorless cameras have batteries that drain fairly quickly, make it a point to always carry spare batteries that are fully charged, so your camera won’t suddenly die mid-shoot. Having backup batteries is particularly helpful if you’re a professional photographer or a cinematographer.
Aside from bringing extra batteries, see to it that batteries that aren’t currently in use are fully charged or are still charging.
5. Personalize Your Camera’s Viewfinder
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Customizing your viewfinder allows you to move information around to read relevant data in real-time, like the histogram. Like customizing the camera controls, you’ll have to think about what information you need during your shoot. You can turn certain functions on or off, depending on whether you’ll need them to be displayed in the viewfinder.
You can even choose different display options, such as a dual display. Turn off the information panel completely if you don’t need viewing information.
6. Try Silent Shooting When Possible
As mentioned earlier, mirrorless cameras let you shoot in silent mode. If you’re a casual photographer, you’ll be able to take more candid photographs. You can shoot during special occasions, like birthday parties, or in locations where a shutter sound may sound awkward, such as a church. Hence, a mirrorless camera is perfect for both landscape and wildlife photography.
To access this function in your mirrorless camera, turn on the electronic shutter.
7. Make Use Of Your Camera’s Zebra Stripes
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Zebra stripes are a feature that allows you to highlight areas in the image that are overly exposed. You can adjust sensitivity to balance the overall exposure in the image. In addition, you can even out the skin tone exposure of your subject, which will make them appear more natural in images.
You can use this function to grade your images for a more cinematic appeal as well. Feel free to get creative with the different lenses you can use for silent shooting. Using zebra stripes will elevate the type of images you capture, even if you’re a beginner.
You can use zebra stripes for filming videos too. The end result will be of great quality, and the grading will add some charm to your photo.
Conclusion
Mirrorless cameras are suitable for everyone. You can snap candid photos of your friends, family, people on the street, or rare wildlife. Following all these tips will make taking photos with your mirrorless camera even more enjoyable.
