Say goodbye to your DSLR camera equipment because mirrorless cameras are now the future of photography.
Canon’s Chairman and Chief Executive, Fujio Mitarai, stated that the shift toward mirrorless cameras is accelerating, which is why the company will stop making its flagship DSLRs in a few years. Instead, the company will focus more on its strong line-up of mirrorless cameras and its growing family of compatible lenses.
However, Canon isn’t the only company that plans to stop making DSLR cameras. In fact, Sony already ditched DSLR cameras in 2021 and now focuses on creating mirrorless cameras like the a5100 and a6000. These mirrorless cameras may be compact and lightweight, but they deliver better image resolution than DSLRs.
As such, it’s easy to see why companies and photographers are replacing their DSLR equipment with mirrorless cameras and compatible lenses. So if you’re also switching to mirrorless cameras, you can grow your equipment and capture better images by investing in these top must-have lenses:
Table Of Contents
Prime lenses
Prime lenses have fixed focal lengths. This may seem like a disadvantage for people who like to zoom in and out, but their fixed focal lengths and wider maximum aperture allow them to let more light into your camera. As a result, you get sharper images and a more shallow depth of field.
When it comes to mirrorless prime lenses, the NIKKOR Z 40mm f/2 (SE) can definitely be considered a must-have. Nikon released this special edition mirrorless lens that combines the cool vintage design of NIKKOR lenses with contemporary optical technologies made for Z series mirrorless cameras. Though this product is super small and lightweight, it can help you capture sharp street photos and candid portraits through its 9-blade electronic diaphragm and fast f/2 aperture.
Wide-angle lenses
Do you enjoy taking close-up shots? You might want to invest in a wide-angle lens for mirrorless cameras. These are typically used for landscapes, cityscapes, and architectural subjects because they allow subjects to look much closer than they really are to the camera.
Fortunately, there are many must-have mirrorless camera lenses that have a wide-angle effect, such as the Leica Summicron-SL 35mm f/2 ASPH lens and the Sigma 16mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary lens. The former provides seamless autofocus functions, allowing your subject to be viewed properly even as you do close-ups of up to 0.24 m. Meanwhile, the latter is an interchangeable lens with a unique lens structure and a remarkable F1.4 brightness, so you can get superb image resolution, no matter how much you zoom in or out.
Telephoto lenses
Telephoto lenses are your best bet if you want the exact opposite of wide-angle ones. These have long focal lengths and narrow apertures, which can be useful when shooting subjects at a distance. It’s not surprising that these lenses are a staple for people who use mirrorless cameras for wildlife, sports, or wedding photography.
One of the must-have telephoto lenses is Canon’s game-changing RF100-300mm F2.8 L IS USM lens. This telephoto lens meets the industry standard of having a 300mm focal length and f/2.8 aperture but provides more reach and potential by providing a wider focal length range of 100-300mm. If you want even more, this lens has optional RF1.4x and 2x extenders that allow you to zoom in closer and reach up to 600mm.
Portrait lenses
Do you simply want to take good portraits using your mirrorless camera? You’ll need to look for lenses with a lower aperture and focal lengths between 50 and 85mm to capture the vivid colors from your subject and have a more flattering perspective of the subject.
A must-have mirrorless lens that meets these criteria is Canon’s RF 85mm F1.2 L USM. This portrait lens has a low aperture for that perfect macro portrait effect, plus it also comes with extra features like shock resistance, weather sealing, and a customizable control ring. When it comes to the Nikon mirrorless camera, the Nikon X 85mm f1.8S lens is a must-have product that captures stunning portraits through its Eye Detection Autofocus features. This portrait lens also has technologies that correct optical color defects and eliminate flares for greater accuracy.
Mirrorless cameras are a significant upgrade from DSLRs, so it’s not surprising that the lenses for mirrorless cameras also offer new technologies. You can enjoy these innovative features and improve the quality of your photographs, especially once you invest in these must-have lenses.