Timeline: The Rise of the Mirrorless Camera

Mirrorless has overtaken DSLR. How & why did this happen?

Data shows mirrorless cameras have finally overtaken DSLRs across the new and used markets. Driven by innovation, and a demand for more versatile and compact camera solutions, a significant shift has occurred in the visual storytelling industry over the past two decades.

Let’s take a look at the key milestones for mirrorless tech. 

2004–2006: The first digital rangefinders, like the Epson R-D1 and the Leica M8 Black, paved the way for mirrorless.

2008–2012: Panasonic DMC-G1, the commercially available interchangeable-lens mirrorless, is quickly joined by the Olympus Pen E-P1, Fujifilm X-Pro 1 and others.

2013: Sony astonishes the industry with the Sony A7 and Sony A7R, the first mirrorless with full-frame sensors.

2014: Panasonic DMC-GH4 and Sony A7S, the first mirrorless cameras capable of 4K video, open up opportunities for videographers.

2016–2017: Fujifilm X-T2, Sony A9 and Hasselblad X1D-50c are among the first mirrorless cameras to compete with pro DSLRs from Canon and Nikon, who are caught off-guard.

2018: Canon & Nikon finally enter the full-frame mirrorless market with the Canon EOS R and Nikon Z7.

2019–2021: All major camera manufacturers are now focussed fully on the mirrorless system. With each tech breakthrough, mirrorless uptake continues to rise.

By 2020, Canon & Nikon announce their last DSLRs.

2021–2022: Mirrorless overtakes DSLR as the dominant camera system.

The MPB Used Camera Gear Price Index is an interactive visualisation of used camera and lens pricing trends. The index is powered by MPB, the leading authority on used camera prices, and largest global platform to buy, sell and trade used camera equipment.

View price trends over 3 to 36 months for the 100 most popular products. Delve further into the data to see trends by camera brand and product type. MPB's index shows trends individually across the United States, the European Union and the United Kingdom.

MPB is sharing its market-leading used camera gear expertise to open up the world of visual storytelling in a way that's good for people and the planet. Alongside the index, MPB publishes insightful stories on the latest pricing trends. MPB has made its index free for the public and press to use.