Micro System camera hire

The Micro System market has many names - mirrorless interchangeable lens camera, electronic viewfinder interchangeable lens, micro or digital interchangeable lens system.  It was kicked off by Panasonic and Olympus with the introduction of their Micro 4/3rds system in 2008. The main purpose of these cameras is to provide the kind of picture quality associated with SLR cameras in a body far smaller. 

So how do they differ from an SLR?

SLR stands for Single Lens Reflex. That simpy means the camera uses a moving mirror system to allow you to see on the viewfinder exactly what the sensor sees through the lens.  Micro cameras dispense with these mechanisms.  Because there is no mirror, the size of the camera can be dramatically reduced.  Instead of using an optical viewfinder, these cameras use their digital back screens to frame the photo.

The Pros

They really can offer a 'best of both worlds' solution for those that need the best quality possible but not at the cost of portability.

Because of their mirrorless nature, they tend to lend themselves to video shooting very well and with their larger sensors, they can achieve a quite effective depth of field, something more often required by filmmakers.

When fitted with a pancake lens, some of them are truly pocketable.

By eliminating the mirror and light box set up of an SLR, the sensor can be brought closer to the lens, allowing high quality lenses to be made smaller, cheaper and lighter.

Compatibility with existing lenses - We now stock adaptors to take Nikon F lenses for both E mount and Micro 4/3rds. Fitting Canon lenses isn't a problem for NEX users with the Metabones adaptor that will allow electronic iris control from the camera itself. We also stock adaptors for each manufacturer's larger lens format. The Sony A Mount adaptor will fit the NEX5, allowing one touch focus on most lenses. A full Four Thirds adaptor for the Panasonics allows use of some incredible lenses such as the Olympus Zuiko 14-35mm f/2.0 SWD. Lastly for those who enjoy manual lenses, we also have adaptors for Leica M and R Mounts.

The Cons (not as bad as it would seem and getting better)

So far the range of lenses is still quite limited but this will continue changing as we head towards 2013, firstly because the manufacturers have themselves committed to increasing their own ranges but also because third party manufacturers such as Sigma and Tamron are also now making lenses for both Micro 4/3rds and the Sony E Mount which can only make lenses more affordable in the future.

Lack of optical viewfinder - the loss of the mirror means no you cannot have an optical viewfinder however some of the micro cameras do have an electronic viewfinder. To be fair, the OLED viewfinder on the NEX-7 is absolutely brilliant and once you have got used to it, you won't find it too much of a hardship to use. Fuji brings a hybrid viewfinder to the game, which whilst being a little oversaturated, it does work extremely well