Evolution of cameras to mirrorless revolution

A lot of us remained present during the transition from film to digital as innovations in camera technology. For two decades, we saw growth in the right direction. Meanwhile, companies have seen setbacks in the megapixel race. Others have also contributed more than their fair share of new advancements. As a way to show you the evolution of cameras, let’s go on a reminiscing journey that allowed the mirrorless revolution. 

Evolution of cameras to mirrorless revolution

Olympus E-510 (EVOLT E-510) introduces the new feature of stabilization.

On March 5, 2007, Olympus unveiled the new E-510 (EVOLT E-510). It offers rather more traditional styling than some of the past EVOLT lines. However, the two don’t share identical bodies. The E-510 has a few millimeters wider and offers a significant deeper handgrip, adding to the camera’s thickness. It also offers a more comfortable hand-holding. 

The E-510 uses a fixed eye-level pentamirror with a 95% field of viLCD diLCDns a high-resolution 2.5” wide-view LCD with a 230,000-pixel resolution. Back then, digital camera technology jumps in leaps and bounds as each manufacturer would try and outdo the other. With the megapixel race, this camera made a new feature of stabilization that caught the photography industry. 

The camera couples its ten effective megapixels N-MOS image sensor with the same Four Thirds lens mount used in previous E-series digital SLRs. It also has two modes that basically act as the camera’s metering system for predominantly or dark subjects. It also housed a new processor, offering a one-stop reduction in image noise over past variants at higher ISO sensitivities. Today’s new EVOLTs remain the first cameras to include the technology. 

Kodak LS443 introduces OLED rear LCD for a high-quality screen. 

Boasting a handful of manual controls and a 4.0-megapixel CCD, the Kodak EasyShare LS442 expands the capabilities of the brand’s line of exceptionally user-friendly digital cameras. It remains quite compact as the metal and plastic body keeps it durable and rugged. A retractable lens keeps the front panel relatively flat and has the protection of a shutter-like lens cover that automatically protects the lens when the user turns off the camera. The camera captures high-resolution and print-quality images. 

The camera’s autofocus mechanism also uses a Multi-Zone mode, brackets highlight the AF area in the LCD LCDanwhile, Center-Zone simply focuses on the center of the frame. A Landscape shooting mode fixes focus at infinity, for distant subjects and scenery. For composing images, the LS443 offers a real image optical viewfinder, as well as a 1.8-inch color LCD monitor. Framing with the optical viewfinder was a little tight, but the LCD monitor was about 99 percent accurate, which well meets my expectations.

This camera also introduces an OLED rear LCD. This technology finds its way into other industries, bringing the tech to its consumer-grade 4MP camera. The flexibility becomes a self-emitting light source rather than relying on a separate external light source to display the image. Meanwhile, it never catches on rear screens due to high costs. The innovation also shaped the way we can see through electronic viewfinders in current models. 

Nikon’s Coolpix 5700 introduces the race in optical zoom. 

One of the most prominent features of the Coolpix 5700 is its 8X zoom lens. It provides a hefty zoom range of 35mm to 205mm. Relatively fast with a maximum aperture of 2.8, the lens stops down to only f/8.0. Although it doesn’t come as unusual for digital cameras, people would love to see the range extended to f/11. The lens also becomes the first one on a Coolpix model to employ extra-low dispersion glass elements for improved photo quality and sharpness. 

The optical zoom has also become a determining factor for consumers, wishing to buy a compact or SLR-like camera. The 10x to 15x optical zoom, then, became the norm for most higher-end cameras in the following years. However, as time passes by, we have seen further development with another of Nikon’s releases. With 125x optical zoom under its hood, the technology also seems to know no boundaries making it a winning combination in the eyes of sports and wildlife enthusiasts. 

Canon EOS 5D becomes a credible way to gain cinematic footage. 

The Canon EOS 5D’s Mark IV has a new 30MP image sensor. It also became the first time that this particular resolution in a full-frame camera, delivering on the promise to balance resolution and high ISO performance. The native ISO ranges from 100 through 32000, with ISO 51200 and ISO 102400 available as extended settings. With this camera, video can be recorded up to 4K quality at 24 or 30fps. This, on the other hand, comes with speeds up to 60fps available at 1080p, and a dedicated 120fps mode for 720p footage. 

Cinematographers love this camera as the video quality remains quite strong, especially with 4K offering more resolution than 1080p. Aside from that, some rolling shutter becomes evident when shooting at 4K. However, the effect becomes lessened when using the higher frame rates available at 1080p. The internal camera mic is as good as you’d expect it to be. Then, it picks up voices that remain inclose the camera. However, it also picks up a lot of background noise. So, for any serious video work, anyone can use an external microphone. 

Fujifilm X100 brings back the fun with the mirrorless viewfinder.

Digital and analog cameras offer vastly different experiences. Although digital remains closely associated with automation and speed, it also offers a more engaging and thoughtful experience. The first thing that photographers like about the Fujifilm X100 revolves around the optical viewfinder.

Not only does it provide the camera information but it also displays captured images. Being able to look at captured images in an enclosed space has become a godsend to photographers. With normal DSLRs, you either have to block the light hitting the rear LCD or you have to use third-party tools to do so. 

The X100 became a game-changer for the photography industry because, at the time of its release, nothing like it resisted on the market. It helped push the mirrorless movement forward. It demonstrated that it became possible to fit substantial sensors in compact cameras. The fixed 28mm focal length challenges photographers to think about composition and timing. The technology, then, continued across Fujifilm’s flagship mirrorless viewfinder models. 

Although many other camera models raised innovations such as sensor cleaning, wireless control, memory card technology, and a few others, a key takeaway for the industry revolves around the level of growth that it had shown throughout the past decade. Let’s hope that the next number of decades further develop beyond the level of manufacturing design that we have seen.