Beginner's Photography Guide2 Mirrorless

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to Use a Mirrorless Camera: A Beginner’s
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HOW TO USE A
MIRRORLESS
CAMERA: A
BEGINNER’S
PHOTOGRAPHY BLOG DESTINATIONS PHOTOGRAPHY PHOTO COURSE ABOUT US CONTACT
GUIDE Hi there! We're Laurence and

Jessica Norah. We've been
Last updated: July 4, 2023. Written by Laurence Norah - 8
Comments running this site since 2010 as full
So you’re the proud owner of a new time professional travel bloggers.
mirrorless camera. Awesome! We visit all the places we write
Mirrorless cameras are a wonderful bit about personally, and all our
of photography kit, with a number of content is based on our own first

hand travel experiences. We also
advantages over other types of
take all the photos you see on our
camera. They’re also one of the best
sites. So grab a drink, dive in, and
cameras with which to learn
read on! You can also find out
photography on, because you can see
more about us here. Comic
the changes you make to various
included.
settings in real time.
However, a mirrorless camera is a

complicated piece of equipment. As
such, you definitely need to spend a bit
of time learning how to use it properly
so you can unlock its full potential.
Which is where I come in. I’ve been

taking photos for over thirty years with
a wide range of cameras, from a film
SLR through to compact, mirrorless,
and DSLR cameras. I also teach an
online photography course, lead photo
workshops, and give talks on
photography around the world.
So those are my qualifications.
Today, I’m going to share with you all

the key things you need to know in
order to get the most out of your new
mirrorless camera. I’m going to tell you
all the major functions it has, the
settings you need to master, explain
how to get great photos with your new
camera, and then go over some tips for
caring and looking after your new
investment.
This guide is written on the

assumption that you have no previous
photography experience, so we will
start with the basics and work our way
forward. Of course, if you have
photography experience that’s great,
however, refreshing yourself on the
basics never hurts in my opinion.
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What is a Mirrorless Ethics for more information.
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A mirrorless camera is a type of digital from qualifying purchases.
camera. There are a number of types

of digital cameras on the market, such
as DSLR camerasBLOG
, compact cameras
DESTINATIONS PHOTOGRAPHY PHOTO COURSE ABOUT US CONTACT
and even smartphone cameras.
These cameras actually have more in

common with each other than
differences. In fact, the basic principle
of how a camera works hasn’t changed
a great deal since photography was
invented.
At its core, a camera is a device which

is used to record light information, to
create an output we call a photograph.
The medium for recording light was
initially a chemically photosensitive
piece of film, but that has been
replaced by a digital sensor in most
modern cameras.
All types of digital cameras take light

from a scene, focus it through a lens,
and record it onto a sensor.
The differences between the various

types of digital cameras are largely
around some of the components that
make up the camera. Key differences
include:
the size of theBLOG
sensor inside the
camera. Smaller cameras usually

have smaller sensors
the size of the aperture inside the

lens
the level of manual control a user

has
whether or not it supports different

lenses or not
A mirrorless camera is very similar to a

DSLR camera in most regards. Most
mirrorless cameras have relatively
large sensors, produce high quality
images, have full manual controls, and
have interchangeable lenses.
The difference is that a mirrorless

camera, as the name suggests, does
not have a mirror inside it. In a DSLR,
the mirror is used to redirect the light
passing through the lens to the optical
viewfinder. This means the
photographer sees the actual scene
when looking through the viewfinder.
A mirrorless camera
BLOGdoes not havePHOTOGRAPHY
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mirror, and as such, it does not have an

optical viewfinder. The image that the
photographer uses to compose the
shot is either displayed on the screen
on the back of the camera, or on some
mirrorless cameras, in the electronic
viewfinder.
In both of these cases, the image is the

result of the light hitting the camera
sensor, being processed by the
cameras electronics, and then output
to the screen as a digital image.
This is actually the same with

smartphones and most compact
cameras, which also do not have a
mirror inside. However, because the
mirrorless camera arose as a direct
competitor to the DSLR, and the key
difference is the lack of mirror, the
name stuck.
Mirrorless cameras have a number of

advantages over DSLR cameras. They
tend to be lighter and smaller whilst
producing similar image quality. They
are easier to use in many cases
because what youBLOG
see on the screen
DESTINATIONS is
PHOTOGRAPHY PHOTO COURSE ABOUT US CONTACT
exactly the image you get when you

press the shutter button.
Plus they have the same advantages

that a DSLR camera has, including
interchangeable lenses, support for
RAW shooting, and full manual
controls.
The main disadvantage is price, as

most mirrorless cameras tend to be a
little bit more expensive than their
equivalent DSLR product. There is also
a very slight delay between reality and
the image seen on screen due to the
processing. This isn’t noticeable or
even a factor for most photographers,
however high end sports
photographers have largely stuck with
DSLR cameras for this reason.
In addition, there is still a wider

selection of lenses for DSLR cameras
as they have been available for longer,
and battery life on a DSLR is better
than on a mirrorless camera.
Mirrorless BLOG
Camera
Controls: A Guide to
Using Your Mirrorless
Camera
When you take a mirrorless camera out
of the box, you will probably notice that
it has a lot of buttons and controls,
with a range of obscure labels and
markings.
This can be a bit overwhelming, and

you might be tempted to leave it in
auto mode as a result. This is definitely
a natural reaction. However, to get the
most out of your camera, it is definitely
worth learning what at least some of
the buttons do.
The good news is that once you have

done this with one camera, you can
transfer your knowledge to other
cameras which are all fairly similar.
I am now going to go through the

major controls, features, and buttons
that most mirrorless camera have. The
exact controls, features and naming
conventions might vary from camera
to camera, but thisBLOG
should cover most
of the key elements you should be

looking to master on your new camera.
Shutter Release
Probably the most obvious button on

your camera, the shutter release is the
button you press to take a photo. This
will usually be located at the top right
of the camera, to be operated by the
index finger on your right hand.
Left handed photographers are out of

luck, as far as I know there has never
been a left handed camera design with
the shutter button placed for left
handed use.
Mode Dial
Like DSLR cameras and some

advanced compact cameras, a
mirrorless camera has a range of
modes that you can operate it in.
These modes are generally used to
define how much degree of manual
control you want over the camera.
They will range from full Automatic

modes where the camera does
everything for you, through to a fully
manual mode where you are in charge
of everything.
To change the mode the camera is in,

you just rotate the mode dial to the
mode you want. This will instantly
change the mode the camera is in, and
the new mode is usually displayed on
screen as well when you change
operating mode.
The exact modes available will vary by

camera model, but should be similar to
the following:
Auto. This is the
BLOG default modePHOTOGRAPHY
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most cameras will come set to. In

Automatic mode, the camera will
handle everything for you,
including setting the shutter
speed, aperture, and ISO. It will
also often pick the focus point,
and may fire the flash if you have
one. Auto is designed so you just
have to point the camera at your
subject and press the shutter
button.
Additional Auto modes. As well as

the default auto mode, the camera
may also come with a number of
additional auto modes, which are
usually referred to as “scene”
modes. For example, there may be
a landscape auto mode, a portrait
auto mode, a night scene mode,
and a macro auto mode. These
modes exist to give the camera a
clue as to what you are taking a
picture of, so it can adjust the
settings for you.
P mode. “P” mode stands for

Program Auto. This is basically a
slightly advanced
BLOG version of
automatic mode, where the

camera lets you make some
adjustments to the shot. These
include increasing and decreasing
the brightness of the image with
exposure compensation, adjusting
the ISO, and changing the white
balance. It’s a stepping stone to
the more manual controls, but I’d
suggest ignoring it and moving to
one of the modes below instead.
“A” or “AV” mode. This is aperture

priority mode. Aperture priority lets
you set the aperture, and then the
camera will evaluate the light in
the scene, and set the appropriate
shutter. You can also adjust the
ISO in this mode, as well as adjust
the brightness using exposure
compensation. Aperture allows
you to control depth of field, and
this mode works well for both
portrait shots and landscapes.
“S”, “T”, or “TV” mode. This is the

shutter priority mode. Shutter
priority lets you set the shutter,
and then the camera will evaluate
the light in the scene and set the

appropriate aperture. You can also
adjust the ISO. This mode is
essentially the same as aperture
priority, except you control the
shutter. You can also adjust the
brightness using exposure
compensation. Shutter priority is
great for when you want to control
motion in the shot, such as
freezing a fast moving subject.
“M”. This is full manual mode. In

this mode you control the
aperture, shutter speed, and ISO.
The camera will use the exposure
meter to tell you if you are under or
over exposing the image, but it
won’t stop you from doing either.
You can’t use exposure
compensation in this mode
because you have full control over
the exposure. You can also adjust
ISO in this mode.
Although out of the box, you may want

to start just shooting in Auto to get a
feel for the camera, I would
recommend that you
BLOG aim to eventually
shoot in aperture priority, shutter

priority or manual modes. These
modes give you the most control over
the final look of the image and the
composition.
Aperture priority lets you control the

aperture, which adjusts the depth of
field of the shot. This works well for
portraits and landscapes, or any shot
where the depth of field is a key part of
the composition.
Shutter priority for me is all about

controlling how motion appears in your
shot. If you want to show some motion
blur, you’d use a slow shutter speed. If
you want to freeze the action of a fast
moving subject, you’d use a high
shutter speed.
Exactly how aperture, shutter speed,

and ISO work together to create a
correctly exposed final image is a
concept known as the exposure
triangle. This is a bit beyond the scope
of this post, but I have written a
detailed guide to the
BLOGexposure triangle
which I think you will find useful.
Finally, don’t worry too much about

jumping all the way to manual mode.
Whilst manual mode is useful for
specific photography situations like
long exposure photography or
astrophotography, I generally find that
for my photography needs, I work 90%
of the time in either aperture priority or
shutter priority mode.
These modes let me control a specific

compositional element of the scene,
like depth of field or motion, whilst not
having to worry too much about the
other settings at the risk of missing the
shot.
Control Wheel
Depending on the camera you have,

you will have one or more control
wheels to play with. These may be
located in different places on the
camera. A common place for a control
wheel is near the shutter button, so it
can be easily adjusted with your index
finger.
Control wheels can also often be found

on the back of the camera or on the
top of the camera. For example, on my
Lumix GX8 mirrorless camera, there’s a
control wheel around the shutter
button, and a control wheel on the top
of the camera behind the shutter
button.
Usually, a control wheel is used to

adjust a specific setting. What it
changes will vary depending on the
mode the camera is in.
In aperture priority mode for example,

the control wheel can usually be used
to increase or decrease the aperture. In
shutter priority mode, the control wheel
will usually increase
BLOGor DESTINATIONS
decrease the PHOTOGRAPHY PHOTO COURSE ABOUT US CONTACT
shutter speed.
If your camera has multiple control

wheels, then in manual mode one
wheel will adjust the aperture, and the
other will adjust shutter speed.
Depending on your camera, you might

be able to change exactly what each
control wheel changes. For example,
you might be able to set it up to
manage exposure compensation, ISO
settings, white balance settings, and so
on.
The default settings will usually be fine,

but every photographer is different, so
do feel free to adjust these to your
needs as you progress on your
photography journey.
ISO Button
Nearly every mirrorless camera should

have a dedicated ISO button on the
back or top of the camera. Pressing
this button will take you directly to the
ISO settings. Often, pressing the ISO
button will also mean the control wheel
adjusts ISO.
ISO is one of the three sides of the

exposure triangle. If you put the
camera into manual mode and leave
the aperture and shutter speed as they
are, when you increase or decrease the
ISO you will see the image getting
brighter and darker on the screen.
A side effect of increasing the ISO is

that your images will get more noisy.
Most modern mirrorless cameras
perform admirably at an ISO range of
100 – 800 (for daily use I recommend
100-400 range), and noise will start to
creep in from ISO 1600 and higher.
Noise appears as blotches of grain or

color on your images. It can be hard to
see on the camera’s
BLOGscreen, but when
you look at your images on a computer

screen at 100%, it will be very obvious.
Because of the noise issue, ISO is

often the last control we want to use to
adjust the brightness of an image.
Ideally, you will be able to get the
correct exposure by adjusting the
aperture and shutter speed, and using
a nice low ISO.
Of course, this isn’t always possible.

When you are shooting in low light, you
might need to increase the ISO.
However, it is really important to
remember to reduce this back to a
normal range of 100 – 400, which
should work in most photography
situations. If you leave the ISO too high,
you run the risk of all your images
turning out noisy, which is not
something you want.
Exposure Compensation
Button (+/-)
Exposure compensation is a common

feature across the majority of cameras,
including smartphones and compact
cameras. It’s basically a quick override
button that lets you brighten or darken
an image without having to play
around with any settings.
The technical term for capturing an

image in photography is actually an
exposure. This is because you are
exposing the camera’s sensor to the
light for a defined period of time (the
shutter speed), with the exposure being
the end result.
In most situationsBLOG
you want a correctly
exposed image, which is not too bright

and not too dark. Camera’s use a
variety of methods for calculating the
correct settings for this correct
exposure, but they don’t always get it
right.
For this reason, you can quickly tell the

camera to increase or decrease the
brightness of the image using the
exposure compensation button.
Usually this will be marked with a +/-
HOW TO USE A MIRRORLESS CAMERA:
button.
A BEGINNER’S PHOTOGRAPHY GUIDE

When you press the button, you will be
able to increase the exposure
compensation, or decrease it. This
might be done on screen, or by using
the control wheel when exposure
compensation is selected.
Some cameras have a dedicated

exposure compensation wheel rather
than a button. This achieves the same
effect, it’s just a little faster to do.
On a mirrorless camera, the change to

your image should be immediately
apparent on screen, as DESTINATIONS
BLOG it brightensPHOTOGRAPHY
and PHOTO COURSE ABOUT US CONTACT
darkens the shot.
When you make changes to the

exposure compensation setting, you
should see the camera making
adjustments to the aperture, shutter
speed, or ISO in order to actually make
the image brighter or darker. The
numbers for these settings will appear
on screen.
As with ISO, it’s really important to

remember to put your exposure
compensation back to zero after you
have finished using it. I have spoken
with folks learning photography who
have accidentally set their exposure
compensation to a high number at
some point, and then they can’t figure
out why all their images end up being
way too bright. This is a common
photography mistake, so try to avoid it
if you can.
Flash Button
Many of the mirrorless cameras on the

market today feature some sort of
built-in flash. We’ve written a couple of
guides to flash in photography,
specifically around how to turn off
flash on your camera, and reasons to
turn off flash on your camera.
Suffice to say, we aren’t huge fans of

the built-in flash on most cameras as
the results are sub optimal. In addition,
there are many locations where flash
photography isn’t allowed.
Still, folks are used to having a flash

and manufacturers are used to putting
them into cameras, and flash does
come in handy at BLOG
times.DESTINATIONS
The good PHOTOGRAPHY PHOTO COURSE ABOUT US CONTACT
news is that it’s quick and easy to

adjust the flash settings on your
camera, as most mirrorless cameras
feature a dedicated flash button
(assuming they have a flash built-in).
My mirrorless camera doesn’t have a

flash built in, but as the flash button is
pretty universal, this image of a
compact camera flash button should
do! The flash button is the little icon on
the right side of the back of the
camera.
Pressing this button will take you to the

flash settings menu, where you can
enable or disable your auto flash
settings. We’d recommend disabling it
for most situations unless you really
want to use it. This will DESTINATIONS
BLOG stop it fromPHOTOGRAPHY PHOTO COURSE ABOUT US CONTACT
going off when you don’t want it to.
If you have an external flash unit, this

will normally be controlled via it’s own
menu system and buttons, although
you will need to configure the camera
via the menu as well.
Focus Mode
When we take a picture, we want our

subject to be nice and sharp. This
sharpness is achieved by adjusting the
focus. An in focus image will be sharp,
whilst an out of focus image will be
blurry.
Most mirrorless cameras on the

market today ship with a variety of
focus modes, which allow you to
adjust how the camera focuses. The
focus mode button on the camera,
which may also be a dial or toggle, lets
you quickly switch between some of
these modes.
If you are looking for
BLOGthe button onPHOTOGRAPHY
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your camera, it will usually be labelled

something like “AF”, which stands for
Autofocus. If it’s not accessible via a
button, you might have to go into your
camera’s settings menu, where it will
be called something like “focus mode”.
The exact modes your camera has will

depend on your manufacturer, but
usually there are at least three modes
you can access quickly.
The first of these will be the standard

focus mode, perhaps called auto focus
single. This is the focus mode you
would use for subjects that are not
likely to move. In this mode, the
camera will focus on the subject, and
then lock the focus.
The next mode will be called

something like auto focus continuous.
In this mode, once you have a subject,
the camera will do it’s best to track
focus on the subject even if it’s moving.
This means you will get sharp shots of
your subject even if it moves as you
take one or more shots of it.
Continuous focusBLOG
is good for any
moving subject, including photos of

wildlife, photos of sporting events, or
photos of people moving.
The third mode you should also have

access to will be a manual mode.
Manual mode means that you have
total control over the focus. Usually,
there will be a focus ring on the lens
itself, which you twist to change focus.
I should add that many cameras have

additional versions of the above
modes. For example, many cameras
offer some sort of face or eye
detection for focus, meaning the
camera will automatically detect and
track focus on a subjects face or eye.
This can be especially useful for taking
pictures of people in motion.
Zoom / Focal Length Ring
A mirrorless camera, like a DSLR

camera, lets you change the lens
depending on what you are shooting.
There are two types of lens that you
can get. These are “prime” lenses,
where there is no zoom, and “zoom”
lenses, where you can zoom in and out
on the scene.
In photography terms, this “zoom” is

known as a focal length. This is a
number in mm. The smaller the
number, the wider the shot, and the
more of the scene you will be able to
see. The larger the number, the
narrower the shot, and the larger your
subjects will be.
Most lenses have BLOG
a dedicated focal
length / zoom ring on the lens itself,

which you can twist to increase or
decrease the zoom amount. Some
lenses do not have this however, in
which case there will be some sort of
button on the camera body itself which
you can use to electronically zoom the
lens in and out.
Metering Mode
Another button that you might find on

the back of the camera will let you
quickly change the metering mode.
As previously mentioned in this guide,

before you actually take a photo your
camera calculates the correct settings
by measuring the BLOG
amount of light in
DESTINATIONS the
scene. This is so you get the correct

exposure, and the image is not too
bright or too dark.
The way the camera measures the

light is through a process known as
metering.
By default, most cameras are set up to

evaluate the whole scene that is in
frame to create a balanced exposure.
However, there are some scenarios
where this will not give the best results,
such as a scene with a very strong
contrast between the dark and bright
areas.
In order to shoot in these more

challenging situations and still get
good result, you can set your camera
to different metering modes. This will
help the camera zero in on the part of
the scene you want to expose correctly
for.
Different cameras have different

metering modes. Most cameras will
have have a spot metering mode,
which only uses the light
BLOG information
DESTINATIONS in
the very centre of the image. For other

cameras, you might be able to set the
metering point to be the focal point,
which is also a good option in many
cases.
The camera I am using to demonstrate

does not have a metering mode button,
but this function has to be accessed
via the menu system.
Shooting Mode
Next up, the shooting mode.
If you’ve ever wanted to take a picture

of yourself, this is the mode you want
to adjust.
Shooting mode tells the camera how to

take the picture. Most cameras will
have a single shot mode, a continuous
shooting mode, and a timer mode.
The single shot mode will take one

photo when you depress the shutter
button. To take another photo, you
have to raise yourBLOG
fingerDESTINATIONS
off the shutter
button and then depress it again.
Continuous shooting mode will have

the camera continue to take photos
while you hold the shutter button
down. As long as you depress the
shutter button, it will keep taking
photos. This is good for capturing
action shots of something happening
over time. Note you will need to use
this in conjunction with a continuous
focus mode in order for all your shots
to be sharp and in focus.
Finally, most cameras on the market

today come with some form of timer
mode. This lets you press the shutter
button, and the camera will take an
image after a period of time, often 10
seconds. This is useful for capturing
self portraits and group shots.
Video
This article is primarily about

photography rather than video,
however these days all the mirrorless
cameras on the market also have the
capability to shoot video.
As such, there are usually buttons

dedicated to video on the camera as
well. These normally let you quickly
toggle the camera between photo
mode and video mode, and there may
also be a dedicated button to stop and
start video recording as well.
When in video mode, most the other

buttons on the back of the camera will
work in the same way (video is after all
very similar to photography), but it PHOTOGRAPHY
BLOG DESTINATIONS is PHOTO COURSE ABOUT US CONTACT
definitely worth checking your specific

camera manual for any differences if
you do intend to use your mirrorless
camera for video.
What The On-Screen Display

Tells You
Lastly, your mirrorless camera will have

a screen. This may or may not be a
touchscreen. If it is a touchscreen, you
will likely be able to access many of the
above controls and settings through
the touchscreen interface as well as
the buttons.
In addition, the display will overlay a lot

of information on the image. This
information will relate to various
camera settings, and it’s important to
understand what is being displayed so
you can be sure the camera is set up
correctly.
Exactly what is displayed will vary from

camera to camera, and also depending
on how you have your camera set up.
Usually there’s a “display” or “disp.” PHOTOGRAPHY
BLOG DESTINATIONS PHOTO COURSE ABOUT US CONTACT
button to toggle different levels of

information.
However, here are some of the key

pieces of information you will likely find
on the screen of your mirrorless
camera. This information will usually
also display on the electronic
viewfinder if your camera has one.
Current mode the mode dial is set

to
Aperture
Shutter speed
ISO
Remaining battery
Remaining images
Focus mode
Flash status
Whether you are shooting in RAW,

JPG, or RAW+JPG
Exposure compensation
WiFi / Bluetooth
BLOG/ GPS status PHOTOGRAPHY
Current focus point
White balance
If image stabilization is active
Of all the above, the most important

readouts to keep an eye on are the
current ISO, aperture, and shutter
speed.
Some cameras can also overlay a

horizon levelling tool so you can see if
you are holding the camera level, as
well as a grid that follows a
compositional rule like the rule of
thirds.
You can see both of these features

enabled in the image below on my
mirrorless camera example.
How to Get Better

Photos With A
Mirrorless Camera
In this part of the guide I am going to
go through some tips for using your
mirrorless camera, to help you start
getting better photos right away. I’m
also going to include some areas you
should focus on in your photography
generally, which are camera agnostic,
but still important.
Hold Your Mirrorless

Camera Properly
The first thing you need to do when

using your mirrorless camera is to
learn how to hold BLOG
it properly for taking
photos.
This advice applies to all types of

camera. Holding your camera properly
will make it more stable and will result
in fewer blurry pictures as a result of
camera motion whilst you take the
shot.
To hold your mirrorless camera, your

right hand should grip it around the
right side of the camera, with your right
index finger over the shutter button.
Most mirrorless cameras have a grip in
this position which makes positioning
your right hand quite easy.
A common mistake at this point is to

shoot one handed. You definitely don’t
want to do this. Holding the camera
with both hands will hugely increase
the stability and result is less lost
shots. This is particularly important
when shooting indoors or in any
situation where there is limited light
available, as the camera will use lower
shutter speeds.
When taking a picture,
BLOG your left hand
should be supporting the camera lens.

Usually this will be in a palm up
manner. You might need to rotate your
hand to adjust focus or zoom, but
when you are ready to shoot you will
ideally return to the palm up position.
For maximum hand held stability, tuck

your elbows tight to your body. This
reduces how much your arms can
move during shooting.
If you find yourself struggling to hold

your camera steady even following the
above steps, then you should consider
investing in a travel tripod which will let
you keep the camera totally still in
every situation. This will guarantee
sharp photos.
Understand the Settings and

Modes
In the first part of this guide I went

through a variety of the controls,
modes, and settings that you have
available to you onBLOG
yourDESTINATIONS
new mirrorless
camera.
Really, I just want to reiterate that it is

important to learn what these modes,
settings and controls do.
It is true that as the technology inside a

camera gets better, many cameras
work very well in automatic mode.
They are great at figuring out the light,
figuring out what you are taking a
picture of, and identifying and even
tracking your subjects.
So for many photographers, you will

find that in automatic your camera will
get good to great shots at least eighty
percent of the time.
However, you don’t want to miss a shot

because the camera accidentally picks
the wrong subject, or misjudges the
lighting conditions, or just gets the
settings wrong. It is for this reason that
you want to take full control of your
camera, or at least know how to do
this.
A mirrorless camera
BLOGis DESTINATIONS
after all an PHOTOGRAPHY PHOTO COURSE ABOUT US CONTACT
expensive and capable bit of

equipment, and the best way to get the
most out of it is to full understand how
to use it.
I would add also that you should read

the instructions’ manual – it often
comes in paper form with the camera
or you can look it up online. Each
camera is a bit different and its
important to know how to use your
particular camera and get the most of
its functionality. The best way to do
that is to check out the instruction
manual.
Learn About the Exposure

Triangle
When it comes to photography, one of

the most important concepts to
understand is the exposure triangle. I
have touched on this in this guide a
few times already.
The exposure triangle can be a

complicated seeming concept that
takes a while to grasp.
BLOG It’s also a fairly
large topic, and I’ve put together a

detailed guide to the exposure triangle
here, which is worth reading.
However, as a summary, the exposure

triangle simply refers to the three
controls that all mirrorless cameras
offer you to control the exposure of the
image. It’s called a triangle because
there are three controls, like the three
sides of a triangle.
These three controls are aperture,

shutter speed, and ISO. These are
terms that I have touched on already in
this post, and are three of the most
important photography concepts to get
to grips with.
Changing any of these three controls

will result in a change to how bright the
image you capture is – the exposure.
In addition, changing each of them will

also change how the image looks in a
different way.
If you change the shutter speed, you

change how motion appears in your
image. A very fastBLOG
shutter speed for
example, like 1/2000th of a second,

can be used to freeze fast action
motion like a race car. However, a fast
shutter speed lets less light in, and can
result in a darker image.
Changing the aperture changes the

depth of field of your image. Again, this
is an important concept to get to grips
with, and I’ve written a guide to depth
of field in photography to help. I also
expand on this a little further on in the
post. However, put simply, depth of
field controls how sharp the
foreground, midground, and
background of your image are.
Finally, the last control you have over

exposure is ISO. Increasing the ISO
from say 200 to 600 will increase the
exposure of your image. It will also
make the image grainier.
As a general rule, ISO is the last side of

the exposure triangle that you want to
change. However, if you can’t achieve
what you want by adjusting the shutter
speed or aperture,BLOG
thenDESTINATIONS
it is definitely a
handy option to have.
Learn the Basics of

Composition
This post has largely been about the

more technical side of photography,
covering how your camera works, and
the various settings you have available
to you.
However, obviously photography is

about much more than understanding
how your camera works. Generally, I
believe there are three main
components to becoming a
photographer. These are:
Understanding how your camera

works
Learning what makes a great

photo
Mastering photo editing

This post has focused
BLOG on the first of
these three, but the other two are just

as important in my opinion.
The second point is all about learning

how to put together, or compose, a
great shot. Composition covers a great
many things, but in summary you need
to:
consider where your subject is

placed relative to other elements
in the shot
get to grips with concepts like the

rule of thirds
understand how colors work with

each other
learn how the eye searches out

patterns like leading lines and
symmetrical subjects
start to think about how you can

frame subjects
think about how to balance your

composition
There are of course more
compositional concepts that you can

get to grips with. By learning some of
these tips and techniques, you can
effectively shortcut your way to
developing what many refer to as a
photographer’s eye. I’d advise reading
through my more detailed guide to
composition in photography for more
tips.
Finally, whilst I’m not going to cover

photo editing in this post, it is
important. See my guide to
the best photo editing software which
will give you some pointers as to what
options are on the market for photo
editing.
Master DepthBLOG
of Field
Getting to grips with depth of field is

another great way to start taking better
pictures.
You have no doubt seen depth of field

in photos, even if you weren’t aware
what it was. If you think of a portrait of
a person, very often the person will be
sharpy in focus, whilst other elements
of the shot like the background and
even the foreground, will be pleasingly
blurry.
Modern smartphones can even

achieve this affect with special
“portrait” modes, where the effect is
usually simulated through clever
software.
However, traditionally this effect has

been achieved through changing the
settings on your camera. Specifically,
as mentioned in the section on the
exposure triangle in this guide, by
adjusting the aperture on your camera,
you can control the depth of field.
If you set an aperture
BLOG number of
between f/1.2 and f/4 for example, you

will get a shallow depth of field. This
means only your subject will be in
focus, whilst the parts of the image
between the camera and your subject,
and behind your subject, will be out of
focus.
You would use this effect primarily for

portraits, or when you want to isolate
your subject from the background.
If you set the aperture to a higher

number, like f/8 – f/16, then more of
the scene will be in focus. You would
typically do this for landscape shots, or
any shot where you want as much of
the image to be sharply focused as
possible.
To practice your depth of field, I

recommend putting your camera in
aperture priority mode, and shooting
the same scene and subject at
different aperture settings to see the
difference.
I also have a complete
BLOG guide to depth
of field in photography here for more

information and tips.
Understand Light
As I’ve mentioned throughout the post,

a camera is just a device for recording
an image, which it does by capturing
light information.
As you would imagine, light is therefore

quite an important part of
photography. However, not all lighting
conditions are the same, and
understanding different types of light
and lighting conditions is key to taking
better photos.
To start with, there are DESTINATIONS
BLOG different PHOTOGRAPHY PHOTO COURSE ABOUT US CONTACT
sources of light out there. The sun is

generally the first light source you will
think of, but there are other light
source, from indoor lights to stadium
lights to camera flashes. Even at night,
the moon and stars, or even the
Northern Lights, can be a light source.
Different light sources have different

qualities, and can result in different
images. This may be due to their
relative strength or weakness, due to
the color of light they emit, or simply as
a result of the angle you are shooting
them.
Shooting a photo towards the sun will

give very different results to shooting
the same photo with the sun behind
you for example.
In addition, our primary light source,

the sun, gives different lighting results
at different times of day and in
different weather conditions, as the
light is affected by the earth’s
atmosphere.
I’m not expecting BLOG
you toDESTINATIONS
become aPHOTOGRAPHY PHOTO COURSE ABOUT US CONTACT
meteorologist of course! There are

however some simple rules of thumb
around light that can help you get
better photos. These are:
Generally, shooting with the sun

somewhere behind your shoulder
rather than in front of you will get
better photos
If it’s a partly cloudy day, if you can

be patient and wait for the sun to
come out, you will usually get
better photos with more colour
and contrast
Shooting with the sun directly

overhead results in flat looking
images, so try to avoid this if
possible
Shooting at sunset and sunrise,

when the light is a more golden
tone, often results in the best
images. This is known as the
“golden hour” in photography,
although how long it lasts will
depend on where
BLOG you are in the
world
Hopefully these tips on light give you

some pointers for improving your
photos.
Take Workshops or Courses

to Improve your Skills
Another great way to improve your

photography and take better photos is
to take part in some form of leaning
program.
There are a range of different options,

from in person workshops, to photo
walks, to local seminars. Some
universities and colleges offer courses
you can sign up for.
If you’ve found this post useful and

found my style of explaining
photography concepts works for you,
you might also be interested in my
online photography course. I’ve taught
thousands of students how to improve
their photography in this course, and I’d
love to help you out as well. I think that
for what it includes, it’s also incredible
value.
You can read all about that and buy it

for yourself, here.
Take Lots of Photos!
Last but not least on my list of ways to

start getting better photos is, well, to
practice! One of the joys of mirrorless
cameras, and digital cameras in
particular, is that once you have
invested in the equipment, you don’t
have to worry about the costs of
getting film developed.
This means you can
BLOGtake as many PHOTOGRAPHY
photos as you want, try different

settings, and really see how they
change the look of a shot.
A mirrorless camera is particularly

good for learning on because as you
change settings on the camera, you
will see the results in real time on the
screen or through the electronic
viewfinder. So you can tell quickly
what’s in or out of focus, and if the
image is too bright or too dark.
If you are struggling to find subjects or

topics to photograph, then I can
recommend trying to set yourself
challenges around different subjects or
themes, like wildlife, portraits, moving
objects, landscapes and so on. Getting
used to taking your camera with you
everywhere you go will also help you
on your photography journey.
How to Care For and

Protect Your New
Mirrorless Camera
A mirrorless camera
BLOGis DESTINATIONS
a serious PHOTOGRAPHY PHOTO COURSE ABOUT US CONTACT
investment, so you will want to keep it

in good condition so you can take
photos for years to come. Based on
our years of international travel with a
whole assortment of photography
gear, I wanted to share some tips for
keeping your gear in tip top condition.
How to Protect your

Mirrorless Camera
Whilst mirrorless cameras are

generally fairly well built bits of
equipment, they are still ultimately an
electronic device which has, amongst
other things, components made of
glass.
As a result, they can of course be

damaged.
There are a number of options you

have for protecting your mirrorless
camera.
The first two products we use on all of

our cameras are a lens hood and a UV
filter. These are two inexpensive
products that will help protect the lens

on your mirrorless camera.
A lens hood, also known as a sun hood,

sits over the end of your lens and is
primarily designed to reduce lens flare
from the sun. However, in my
experience, it also works very well to
protect the end of your lens from
bumps and scrapes when you have the
camera slung over your shoulder, and I
never go anywhere without my lens
hood on my camera.
A UV filter is a screw in filter that

attaches directly onto your lens. On a
digital camera, the only function these
serve is to protect the glass element
on the end of your lens. However, as
lenses can be expensive to replace,
and UV filters run around $15 – $40, a
scratched lens filter is a lot cheaper to
replace than your whole lens.
I have literally dropped a camera from

a few feet in the air onto concrete, and
shattered both my sun hood and UV
filter. However, the camera and lens
have been fine, because the impactPHOTOGRAPHY
was cushioned and absorbed by these

components.
I’m not saying a UV filter and lens hood

mean you can go around dropping your
camera onto concrete, but they are
definitely a worthwhile investment in
my opinion.
Another must-have accessory in our

mind is a camera strap. Whilst most
cameras come with the manufacturer’s
strap, we think a third party strap is
often more comfortable and
functional. My favorite straps are the
Peak Design ones, and we use both a
sling strap and a hand strap.
Jess likes personalized straps such as

those available on Etsy and the
colorful camera straps by iMo.
I can also recommend investing in a

decent camera bag for your mirrorless
camera, which I go into a little bit more
in the section below on travelling with
your mirrorless camera.
Finally, it might beBLOG
worth purchasing
DESTINATIONS a
specific warranty or accidental

damage cover for your camera when
you buy it, or even shortly afterwards if
possible. This will cover your camera
against a variety of mishaps, and is
usually a worthwhile investment. You
can see some options here.
How to Clean your

Mirrorless Camera
To be honest, I don’t do much cleaning

with my camera beyond keeping the
lens clean and trying to ensure there’s
not too much dirt or dust on the
outside of the camera.
To achieve that, I use an air blower like

this,and micro fibre cloths like this.
It is true that the sensors in mirrorless

cameras are particularly prone to
getting dust on them, which can
become apparent in your images.
Sometimes I will use my air blower to
try and dislodge the dust, which will
work to a point.
However, for moreBLOG
thorough cleaning
DESTINATIONS I
personally use a professional. See the

section below on camera servicing for
more tips on that. I’d also advise
checking your manual, which will likely
have advice on any cleaning and care
steps that manufacturer recommends
for your particular camera model.
Tips for Travelling with a

Mirrorless Camera
For many people, a camera is most

commonly used when travelling, and
as travel bloggers, this is definitely true
for us as well!
If you are planning on taking your

camera travelling, then I can highly
recommend picking up a proper
camera bag to put it in. Unlike a normal
bag, a camera bag has lots of nice soft
padding to keep your gear safe and
protected from the various bumps and
knocks that are par for the course
when on the road.
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There’s a wide range of camera bags

on the market. When looking for a bag,
I’d suggest finding one that will fit your
camera as well as a few accessories,
so you have plenty of room. Of course,
the ultimate decision on the right bag
for you lies with you.
Personally, I use and travel with

Vanguard bags. They make a wide
range of camera bags, as well as other
photography accessories, and I’ve
always found their equipment to be
well made and durable.
For example, they have this relatively

compact camera bag, this shoulder
bag, and this backpack, all of which
would work well for a mirrorless
camera system.
Make sure if travelling by air that you

check the airline regulations. As we
often discover, weight can be an issue
with cabin luggage, especially if you
have a lot of photography gear. As
such, you may need to check certain
items like tripods although most
airlines will let you fly with them as
carry-on. Also you should be aware
that some items, particularly batteries,
are not permitted in checked luggage.
Finally, I can also suggest ensuring that

your insurance policy covers your
cameras. Many travel insurance
policies have relatively low single item
limits, meaning that loss, damage or
theft of your equipment might not
result in you getting the full value of
your item back.
Instead, you might find that your home

insurance policy can be upgraded to
include more expensive items away
from the home. This is how we cover
our camera equipment.
Should you Service your

Mirrorless Camera?
If you want to keep your camera in

great condition for a long period of
time, then I would definitely
recommend you consider getting it
serviced from time to time, perhaps
every couple of years at least.
In particular, you will want to get the

sensor on your camera professionally
cleaned. This shouldn’t cost too much
(around $30 – $70 most likely), and will
ensure your images are free of any
imperfections.
I try to get my cameras cleaned by a

camera servicing professional at least
once a year since BLOG
they are used soPHOTOGRAPHY
regularly and endure quiet a bit with all

our travelling. You should be able to
find a service either online, or with your
local camera shop.
Best Mirrorless Camera

for Beginners
If you don’t actually own a mirrorless
camera yet, but this post has inspired
you to get out there and get one, I
wanted to provide a couple of tips for
the best mirrorless cameras for
beginners.
We also have a more detailed guide to

the best mirrorless cameras which I
recommend you check out, but here
are two options that would make a
great starter mirrorless camera at a
reasonable price point.
1. Canon EOS R100
I’ve been a Canon user since I was 13

years old, and I think they produce an
incredible range of great cameras. The
EOS R100 is no exception – it’s a
wonderful bit of kit that is available at a

great price point.
For your investment you get an 18-

45mm lens, and APS-C sized 24.2MP
sensor (the same as you’d find in a
larger Canon DSLR), as well as WiFi
and bluetooth support. It has a nice
electronic viewfinder and screen on the
back, and supports 4k video, but is
lacking a touchscreen interface.
It is also missing in-body image

stabilization, however this is rare at this
price point in either a mirrorless
camera or DSLR. You can see the
latest prices and buy it online on
Amazon here and on B&H here.
2. Sony A6600
I’ve been recommending a cameraPHOTOGRAPHY
from the Sony A6xxx as a great

beginner’s camera for years. There are
a number of these at difference price
points, from the original a6000
(discontinued but can still be found), to
the high end a6600.
We would recommend the a6600 if

your budget allows it. For your money
you get super fast autofocus, a 24.2MP
APS-C sized sensor, a flip out
touchscreen, in body image
stabilization, an electronic viewfinder,
and up to 11fps shooting speeds. It
also has WiFi.
If we had to find fault, it would be that

we find the menu system to be a bit of
a challenge, but that might be because
we are so used to the Canon interface!
You can see the latest
BLOG prices and buy
DESTINATIONS it
online here.
Further Reading
Well, that was quite a lot on the topic of
mirrorless cameras! Before you go
though, I did want to share some more
guides we’ve written on the subject of
photography which I think will help you
on your photography journey.
Whether you’re a beginner or

intermediate photographer, I’m sure
you’ll find something in these guides
that will help you.
We have a similar guide for how to

use a DSLR and how to use a
compact camera. We also have a
guide to how a DSLR works
Knowing how to compose a great

photo is a key photography skill.
See our guide to composition in
photography for lots of tips on this
subject
Once you’ve mastered aperture,
you can control depth of field.

Read more about what depth of
field is and when you would want
to use it.
If you have a lens with a zoom

feature, you can take advantage of
something called lens
compression to make objects
seem closer together than they
are.
We are big fans of getting the

most out of your digital photo files,
and do to that you will need to
shoot in RAW. See our guide
to RAW in photography to
understand what RAW is, and why
you should switch to RAW as soon
as you can.
You’re going to need some way of

editing your photos. See our guide
to the best photo editing software,
as well our our guide to the
best laptops for photo editing. We
also have a guide to getting
the best performance out of
Adobe Lightroom
BLOG , DESTINATIONS
our preferredPHOTOGRAPHY PHOTO COURSE ABOUT US CONTACT
editing software.
If you’re looking for advice on

specific tips for different
scenarios, we also have you
covered. See our guide to Northern
Lights photography, long
exposure photography, fireworks
photography,
tips for taking photos of stars,

and cold weather photography.
You may hear photographers

talking about a concept called
back button focus. If you’ve ever
wondered what that is, and want
to know how to start using it, see
our guide to back button focus.
For landscape photography, you

might find you need filters to
achieve the look you want. See our
guide to ND filters for more on
that.
If you’re looking for a great gift for

a photography loving friend or
family member (or yourself!), take
a look at our photography gift PHOTOGRAPHY
guide,
If you’re in the market for a new

camera, we have a detailed guide
to the best travel cameras, as well
as specific guides for the best
cameras for hiking and
backpacking, the best compact
camera, best mirrorless
camera and best DSLR camera.
We also have a guide to the best
camera lenses.
If you want a camera or lens, but

the prices are a bit high, see our
guide to where to buy used
cameras and camera gear for
some budget savings options.
We have a guide to why you need

a tripod, and a guide to choosing a
travel tripod
Ever wondered how to easily

replace the sky in an image?
Check out our guide to sky
replacement in photography for an
easy process anyone can do.
Finally, if you want to improve PHOTOGRAPHY
BLOG DESTINATIONS your PHOTO COURSE ABOUT US CONTACT
photography overall, you can join

over 2,000 students on my travel
photography course. I’ve been
running this since 2016, and it has
helped lots of people take their
photography to the next level.
And that’s it for our detailed guide to

getting the most out of your new
mirrorless camera. As always, we’re
happy to take feedback and answer
your questions – just pop them in the
comments below and we’ll get back to
you as soon as we can.
Enjoyed this post? Why not share it!
Home » Photography » Photography tips » How

to Use a Mirrorless Camera: A Beginner’s
Photography Guide
About the
BLOG authors
Laurence and
Jessica Norah are
the British-
American travel
blogging couple
behind
photography & adventure travel blog
Finding the Universe and luxury / couples
travel blog Independent Travel Cats.
We've been running this site since 2010.

We're full time professional travel
bloggers, and we visit all the places we
write about personally. All our content is
based on our own first hand travel
experiences, and we take all the photos
you see on our sites. Read more about
us here.
You can also join our facebook group to

talk all things travel and photography
related!
Finally, if you liked the photos in this post

and want to learn how to take great
photos, check out our online travel
photography course. Since 2016 we've
helped over 2,000 people improve their
photography - you could be next! Click
here to find out more
here to find out more.
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There are 8 comments on

this post
Please scroll to the end to leave a
comment
RAVI Meladyravi says

4th November 2022 at 4:40 pm
your writing is very
BLOG nice !
Can you explain about Sony RX10

II
Reply
Laurence Norah says

7th November 2022 at
10:44 am
Hi Ravi,
Thanks very much. So

the RX10 II is similar to a
mirrorless camera, but
you can’t change the
lens. Other than that,
most of the principles
remain the same, so this
guide should mostly still
apply. Was there
something specific you
were trying to learn?
Laurence
Reply
Susan Gelber says

21st June 2022 at 5:05 pm
Laurence,
My late husband was a

universally beloved disability
rights advocate/attorney and,
privately, an amateur
photographer. Photography
brought us together 35 years ago.
He knew the whole gamut,
beginning with darkrooms,
eventually accepting and learning
(and appreciating) digital.
Down to “death cleaning” his

heartfelt possessions, I
remembered seeing a YouTube of
people with disabilities who
learned photography. So, I was in
the process of searching for an
organization to which to possibly
donate my late husband’s new
mirrorless camera and
accessories, when your gorgeous,
perfect website found me (even
its name resonates).
You’ve re-awakened
BLOG my Inner
Photographer, who learned on a

Pentax K1000 when I was a
teenager, yet never felt smart
enough to graduate beyond Auto
(I could, though, use the
exposures recommended on the
film box; those photos were
better). I thought my days of
photography were over, so my
husband offered to sell my
equipment for me (prior to his
cancer). I had defaulted to the
convenience of iPhone photos
anyway, giving up on my desire to
manually learn photography.
While smartphone quality is good,
my Pentax camera provided a
holistic, grounded experience, as
well as a unique confidence, I’ve
not since felt. I’ve had other
DSLRs, even taking live courses,
yet always used Auto.
Your introductory article on

mirrorless cameras for beginners
has inspired me to keep Eric’s
camera. I’m going to take your
course, too. Finding the Universe
has facilitated locating myself in
it again, and also provided
BLOG a veryPHOTOGRAPHY
much needed new horizon. So,

thank you, to both you and your
lovely wife. This is the first time
I’ve felt like myself again, since
losing my husband. Health,
Happiness and Strength to you
both and your business.
Reply
Laurence Norah says

21st June 2022 at 5:11
pm
Hello Susan,
It is lovely to hear from

you, and I am sorry to
hear of the loss of your
husband who sounds like
a wonderful man. I am
delighted to have been
able, even in a small way,
to help with your process
and also to ensure your
late husband’s camera
equipment will be able to
provide you with joy.
I look forward
BLOG to helping
you on that journey!

Course access comes
with all the e-mail access
to me that you want, so
do feel free to reach out
anytime as you learn. I’m
always happy to help 🙂
Happy photographing,
and thank you so much
for such a lovely heartfelt
comment.
Laurence
Reply
Kris Filon says

12th September 2020 at 10:57
pm
Thanks for the beginner

mirrorless article. I have recently
bought a Nikon Z6. I’m just
getting my feet wet with this
wonderful camera. I have limited
still photography experience but
with a spouse who
BLOG isDESTINATIONS
a great PHOTOGRAPHY PHOTO COURSE ABOUT US CONTACT
teacher. The problem is neither of

us have much video experience at
all. I am trying to find beginner
resources for video that will help
me build basic video skills. ANY
SUGGESTIONS?
Thanks,
Kris
Reply
Laurence Norah says

13th September 2020 at
4:21 pm
Hey Kris,
This is a great question.

Unfortunately, I’m not
really an expert in video
and I’ve never found the
time to master it.
Certainly I know that
some of the skills are
transferable, but there
also a lot of new stuff to
think about! My
suggestion would
probably BLOG
be to DESTINATIONS
find a PHOTOGRAPHY PHOTO COURSE ABOUT US CONTACT
group of video creators,

such as this facebook
group, and ask there.
Sorry not to be more
help. Some friends of
mine used to run a video
course but they stopped
so I’m not able to
recommend it any more!
Best
Laurence
Reply
Debora Stacker says

11th July 2020 at 3:47 pm
This is the best article and

summary I have found on getting
started. Thanks for breaking it
down in simple terms helping me
to understand my camera and the
features better. Thank you! I will
definitely be checking out some
of your other guides.
Reply BLOG DESTINATIONS PHOTOGRAPHY PHOTO COURSE ABOUT US CONTACT
Laurence Norah says

11th July 2020 at 5:51
pm
THanks very much

Debora. I hope you enjoy
learning how to get the
most from your camera
– let me know if you have
any questions!
Laurence
Reply
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Beginner's Photography Guide2 Mirrorless

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Home » Photography » Photography tips » How ABOUT US

Finding the Universe contains affiliate links,

GUIDE Hi there! We're Laurence and

So you’re the proud owner of a new time professional travel bloggers.

mirrorless camera. Awesome! We visit all the places we write

of photography kit, with a number of content is based on our own first

However, a mirrorless camera is a

Which is where I come in. I’ve been

Today, I’m going to share with you all

This guide is written on the

At this point, I would like to quickly say

can. photography giveaways!

Digital film doesn’t cost anything, and

more the various settings and features

Please don’t get too frustrated if you SIGN UP!

feel overwhelmed. Photography is

This website contains affiliate

Camera? As an Amazon Associate I earn

A mirrorless camera is a type of digital from qualifying purchases.

camera. There are a number of types

and even smartphone cameras.

These cameras actually have more in

At its core, a camera is a device which

All types of digital cameras take light

The differences between the various

camera. Smaller cameras usually

the size of the aperture inside the

the level of manual control a user

whether or not it supports different

A mirrorless camera is very similar to a

The difference is that a mirrorless

mirror, and as such, it does not have an

In both of these cases, the image is the

This is actually the same with

Mirrorless cameras have a number of

exactly the image you get when you

Plus they have the same advantages

The main disadvantage is price, as

In addition, there is still a wider

This can be a bit overwhelming, and

The good news is that once you have

I am now going to go through the

of the key elements you should be

Probably the most obvious button on

Left handed photographers are out of

Like DSLR cameras and some

They will range from full Automatic

To change the mode the camera is in,

The exact modes available will vary by

most cameras will come set to. In

Additional Auto modes. As well as

P mode. “P” mode stands for

automatic mode, where the

“A” or “AV” mode. This is aperture

“S”, “T”, or “TV” mode. This is the

the light in the scene and set the

“M”. This is full manual mode. In

Although out of the box, you may want