DSLR vs. Mirrorless vs. point & shoot: What's the Difference?

If you’ve ever bought a “nice camera” hoping to take better photographs, only to discover a collection of buttons, dials, settings, and numbers you don’t understand, you’re definitely not alone.Modern cameras can do an incredible amount — but you don’t need to understand everything they can do before you start taking control of your photography.
Let’s start with the basics.

What Is a DSLR Camera?
A DSLR is a digital camera that uses a mirror inside the camera to let you see through the actual lens when you look through the viewfinder.
For many years, DSLRs were the standard camera used by professional and serious amateur photographers. Canon and Nikon made many of the most popular models, and there are still a tremendous number of excellent DSLRs in use today.
One of their biggest advantages is control.
Instead of asking the camera to make every decision for you, a DSLR allows you to get off auto and into manual, allowing you to control things like:

• How bright or dark the photograph is
• Whether movement is frozen or blurred
• How much of the photograph is in focus
• How soft or blurry the background appears
• How the camera responds to different lighting situations

And, unlike most point-and-shoot cameras, DSLR cameras allow you to change lenses depending on what and how you want to photograph.

What Is a Mirrorless Camera?
A mirrorless camera gives you much of the same creative control as a DSLR, but it works a little differently.
As the name suggests, it doesn't have the internal mirror found inside a DSLR. Instead, the image coming through the lens is displayed electronically on the screen or through an electronic viewfinder.
Mirrorless cameras are newer technology and have become increasingly popular with both professional and hobby photographers.
For a beginner, though, the most important thing to understand is simple:
Both DSLR and mirrorless cameras give you the ability to move beyond automatic mode and actually control how your photograph is created.

DSLR vs. Mirrorless: Which Is Better?
You can take beautiful photographs with either.
Mirrorless cameras generally offer newer technology, while DSLRs have been around longer and have an enormous selection of cameras and lenses available — including many on the used market.
If you already own either type, you have a very capable tool for learning photography.
Learning how to control your camera will make a much bigger difference than simply owning the newest one.

What About Point-and-Shoot Cameras?
A point-and-shoot camera is designed primarily for convenience.
You point it at your subject, press the shutter button, and the camera handles most of the decisions for you.
That's useful when your goal is simply to capture the moment. But it becomes limiting when you want to decide how the photograph should look.
For example, perhaps you want to photograph a child running and completely freeze the movement. Or maybe you intentionally want movement to blur.
Maybe you want your subject sharp against a beautifully soft background.
Those choices require more control over the camera.
That ability to make creative decisions is one of the biggest advantages of learning to use a DSLR or mirrorless camera manually.

What About Lenses?

If your camera came with a lens, it probably came with what is commonly called a kit lens. A typical example is an 18–55mm zoom lens.
A zoom lens allows you to change your view without changing lenses. At 18mm you can capture a wider scene, and as you zoom toward 55mm your view becomes tighter.
Zoom lenses are convenient, but there is one thing beginners should understand about many inexpensive zoom and kit lenses.

Why Does My Exposure Change When I Zoom?
You may see numbers printed on a kit lens that look something like:
18–55mm f/3.5–5.6
Don't worry if those numbers mean absolutely nothing to you yet!
The important part is that many kit lenses cannot use the same widest aperture throughout the entire zoom range.
For example, your lens may allow you to use f/3.5 when you're zoomed out, but as you zoom in, the widest available aperture may change to f/5.6.
That means you can carefully set your exposure, zoom your lens to reframe the photograph, and suddenly discover that one of your settings has changed.
There is nothing wrong with the camera or the lens. That's simply how that particular lens is designed.
But when you're first learning how aperture, shutter speed and ISO work together, having another number change while you're trying to understand everything else can be confusing.

Why I Like a Prime Lens for Beginners
A prime lens has one focal length and doesn't zoom. A 50mm lens, for example, is always 50mm.
At first, not being able to zoom may sound like a disadvantage. When you're learning photography, however, I actually think it can be an advantage.
You have fewer variables to think about.
Instead of zooming the lens, you move yourself. Step closer. Step farther away. Look at your subject from another angle. Decide what belongs inside the frame.
A prime lens also typically allows for a much wider aperture than an inexpensive kit lens. A common 50mm f/1.8 lens, for example, gives you more flexibility in lower light and makes it much easier to experiment with shallow depth of field and those soft backgrounds everyone loves.
Most importantly for a beginner, the lens stays consistent while you're learning what your camera settings actually do.
Do I Need a Prime Lens?
Absolutely not.
If you already have a kit or zoom lens, you can learn photography with it. There is no reason to think you have the “wrong” lens.
But if you're just beginning and would like to add an inexpensive lens to your camera bag, a 50mm prime is one of my favorite lenses for learning photography.
Basic 50mm lenses can be surprisingly affordable — some are available for around $150.
Before purchasing one, make sure you choose a lens that is compatible with your specific camera body. Canon, Nikon, Sony and other manufacturers use different lens mounts, and even cameras from the same manufacturer don't necessarily use the same lenses.
[Amazon link: this is the prime lens I use with my Canon Beginner 50mm Prime Lens Options]
If you're unsure which lens fits your camera, check your exact camera model before ordering.
And if you already own a zoom lens?
Keep it. As you learn more, you'll begin to appreciate the flexibility of a zoom lens and understand when you might choose it instead.
The goal isn't to decide that one type of lens is “better.”
It's to understand what each lens does so you can choose the right tool for the photograph you want to make.

The most important tip.
Keep your book! It has very valuable advice on how your particular camera works.