MILCs

MILC, short for Mirrorless Interchangeable-Lens Camera, refers to a digital camera that lacks a traditional reflex mirror. Instead, light passes directly to the sensor, and exposure and focus are provided through electronic viewfinders or LCD screens. Like DSLRs, MILCs use interchangeable lenses, enabling a range of optics for different genres.

The term was used to distinguish these cameras from DSLRs and fixed-lens compact cameras. They entered the mainstream in the late 2000s, with the Micro Four Thirds alliance formed by Olympus and Panasonic in 2008, and later adoption by Sony's NEX line and others. By the mid-2010s, numerous brands offered extensive mirrorless lineups, and the category grew to rival DSLRs in image quality and video capabilities.

Key design advantages include a shorter flange focal distance, which allows smaller and lighter bodies and enables compact lenses. An electronic viewfinder provides real-time exposure and focus information. Autofocus systems evolved from contrast-detect to hybrid AF with phase-detect sensors, improving continuous and low-light performance. Video capture has become a major strength for many MILCs.

Sensor sizes vary, including Micro Four Thirds, APS-C, and full-frame. Lenses and adapters exist to use various optics; many brands maintain dedicated lens ecosystems, while third-party lenses are also common. Battery life and lens availability were historically concerns, though modern models have improved.

In the market, brands such as Sony, Fujifilm, Canon, Nikon, Panasonic, and Olympus/OM System have been prominent. The term MILC has gradually given way to the broader "mirrorless camera" label, though it remains in use to describe this subclass of interchangeable-lens cameras.