Some of the newest camera models available today are interchangeable lens cameras (ILCs). The market has expanded with variants from all the leading camera manufacturers since the first Interchangeable Lens Camera, the Epson R-D1, was released in 2004. But what exactly is an ILC, and how does it compare to other camera types like compact point-and-shoot cameras and DSLRs?

What are Interchangeable Lens Cameras?

As its name implies, an Interchangeable Lens Camera is a kind of camera system that takes interchangeable lenses. The crucial difference between a DSLR and an Interchangeable Lens Camera is that a DSLR contains an internal mirror for the viewfinder, but what we typically refer to as ILCs are camera systems that don't. DSLRs accept interchangeable lenses, therefore it may be argued that they fall within the Interchangeable Lens Camera category. Because of this, they are occasionally referred to as MILCs (mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras).

Just like a DSLR, an Interchangeable Lens Camera has a lens mount. You can use various optics on the same camera because the lenses can be added to and removed from it. The actual mount itself makes it easier for the lens and camera body to connect and communicate. Today's Interchangeable Lens Cameras typically have lens mounts designed specifically for ILCs. These mounts include the micro four-thirds mount made by Olympus as well as Panasonic, the NX mount made by Samsung, the E mount made by Sony, the 1 mount made by Nikon, the Q mount made by Pentax, the X mount made by Fuji, and the EF-M mount made by Canon.

The Interchangeable Lens camera bodies are made to be compact. ILCs can be produced in smaller sizes than DSLRs since they don't have a primary reflex mirror. That also means that the camera body's prominent pentaprism hump will be gone, as well as the optical viewfinder. Although certain models have an eye-level electronic viewfinder, Interchangeable Lens cameras use their rear screens as viewfinders.

Interchangeable Lens Camera sensors are available in various sizes. While some, like the Pentax Q system, feature full-frame sensors, Sony's A7 and Sony A7R have small point-and-shoot-sized sensors. Making smaller cameras is made possible by using a smaller sensor.

DSLR or Interchangeable Lens Camera?

ILCs have a variety of advantages. Their modest size is the main advantage. An Interchangeable Lens Camera can fit in a pocket and provide picture quality that's equivalent to a DSLR with the appropriate sort of lens. Test it with a Nikon D7100 or Canon 70D.

Despite their small size, most ILCs have sensors that are bigger than those of compact point-and-shoot cameras. Compared to the tiny sensors on a point-and-shoot, a larger sensor will provide the photographer with higher image clarity and less noise.

ILCs have interchangeable lenses, making them more adaptable than point-and-shoot cameras. Any lenses a photographer could require for the shots they'll be taking can be carried. A point-and-shoot camera's glass is usually of lower quality than the glass of an Interchangeable Lens Camera-system lens.

The absence of a mirror allows for a smaller camera body. As a result, lenses for Interchangeable Lens Cameras may be more compact and less expensive than equivalent lenses for DSLR Camera.

ILCs also provide you more options for lenses beyond those that are exclusive to your system. As there is no mirror, using an adapter ring to convert lenses to another lens mount is simple. Have you got a bunch of outdated Canon FD glass? You can purchase an adapter ring for your Sony NEX and use it indefinitely by connecting your previous lenses to it. There are restrictions when using lenses for many other mounts on an Interchangeable Lens Camera, though. The older lenses must be used in full manual mode, which means no autofocus and no automatic aperture control.