askST: Which mirrorless compact camera has good night photography capabilities?

Reader Ivan Yong wrote to askST: "Which mirrorless camera for beginners would you recommend to buy that has the capacity for good night photography?"

He added that he would like a "point-and-shoot model, nothing too complicated".

Deputy tech editor Trevor Tan answered the question.

In photography, point-and-shoot cameras usually refer to compact cameras with fixed lenses.

Mirrorless cameras are interchangeable lens cameras that do not have a pentaprism with a mirror shutter mechanism found in DSLR. Users use an electronic viewfinder, if there is one, or live view on their displays to compose pictures instead of an optical viewfinder in DSLR.

The main advantage of mirrorless cameras is its speed in autofocusing (AF) during video recording due to the lack of mirror shutter mechanism. In addition, they tend to be smaller compared with DSLR cameras.

Sony Cyber-shot RX100 IV camera. PHOTO: SONY

In the past, mirrorless cameras tended to use smaller image sensors, such as 1-inch or Micro Four Thirds. But recently, many camera makers like Sony have packed in APS-C full-frame image sensors - usually found in DSLR cameras - into their mirrorless cameras. Bigger image sensors provide more details, better image quality and smoother high ISO performance.

For night photography, a long exposure is usually needed in order to capture all the details. However, you would need to use a tripod to avoid camera shake.

If you are thinking of just grabbing a quick shot at night, you will need a camera with good high ISO performance. The higher the ISO, the higher the sensitivity of the image sensor, the faster shutter speed you can use to prevent camera camera shake. For the same reason, you need a lens with a big aperture for more light to enter the image sensor.

On the other hand, the higher ISO you use, the more grains the picture will have. At times, the grains are so prevalent that details are lost. So, it is always a balancing act.

If you are a beginner looking for a good point-and-shoot night photography compact camera, you might want to check out high-end compact cameras, such as the Panasonic LX100 and the Sony Cyber-shot RX100 IV. These cameras have lens with big apertures and big image sensors as well. Plus, they are not as expensive as those full-frame point-and-shoot cameras.

However, if you want to future-proof yourself, you might want to get mirrorless cameras that you can buy new lenses for. Mirrorless cameras that are ideal for beginners, and require not too much initial investment, include the Olympus Pen E-PL7, Fujifilm X-T10 and the Sony A5100.

But remember, you need to take into account the lens the camera uses. Different camera makers use different lens mount. Once you are stuck with the lens and eco-system of a certain brand, you will find it hard to switch.

Finally, a camera is a personal choice. Other factors when choosing a camera include the camera's handling, weight, design and, ultimately, price.

I will recommend going down to camera stores to touch and feel the cameras before making any purchase.

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