what is a mirrorless camera

A mirrorless camera is a type of digital camera that does not have a mirror, unlike DSLR cameras. In DSLR cameras, light from the lens is directed to either the image sensor or the viewfinder using a mechanical movable mirror which sits behind the lens. By contrast, in a mirrorless camera, the lens always shines light onto the image sensor, and what the camera sees is displayed on a screen for the photographer. Some mirrorless cameras also simulate a traditional viewfinder using a small screen, known as an electronic viewfinder. Mirrorless cameras are sometimes referred to as mirrorless interchangeable-lens cameras (MILC), digital single-lens mirrorless (DSLM) cameras, electronic viewfinder interchangeable lens (EVIL) cameras, or compact system cameras (CSCs) . Mirrorless cameras are thinner than DSLRs because there is no mechanical mirror, and they support multiple lenses like a single-lens reflex camera. They have become popular with amateur photographers migrating from point-and-shoot cameras and are giving DSLRs a run for their money as sensor size increases and more high-end features are added.