Do Pocketable Pro Mirrorless Cameras With Dual Card Slots Even Exist?
Spoiler Alert: Professional, Pocketable Full-Frame Mirrorless Cameras with Dual Card Slots Don’t Exist.
If you're on the same quest as I am, hunting for the ultimate pocket-sized pro camera, then stick with me—we might be chasing a fantasy. Perhaps it's a technical impossibility. Perhaps we've already seen the smallest full-frame, dual card slot mirrorless camera in the Sony A7iii. I own this model and admire its relatively compact design, though it's certainly not something you'd slip into a pocket. Maybe what we really need are larger pockets! While we're on the topic, defining what's truly 'pocketable' might depend on the pockets themselves—a topic for another day. After all, identifying a pocketable camera doesn't require a tailor's expertise; most of us know one when we see one.
What Do You Mean By Professional?
"Professional" is a flexible term in photography because each photographer's needs can vary widely, depending on their focus. Personally, my work revolves primarily around "people photography," which means I seldom need the hefty zoom lenses that come into play for wildlife or landscape professionals. I typically operate within the 18-85mm range. Consequently, the bulky, rugged camera bodies and larger lenses essential for some fields just aren't necessary for me. So, what are the key features of a compact, professional-grade camera that might benefit those of us working with focal lengths under 135mm? Here's my take:
Image quality
Full frame
State-of-the-art autofocus
Dual card slots
We arrive at the crux of the matter. Primarily, dual card slots.
Why are dual card slots so important?
Almost every camera brand can produce a model that delivers "professional-looking" results. Many come equipped with solid to outstanding autofocus features. Nearly all have a full-frame option, and Fujifilm even extends into medium format territory. Yet, when you narrow it down to compact mirrorless systems, it's startling how few include dual card slots. And if we're talking about finding a camera that fits in your pocket and offers this feature? That's simply non-existent.
‘Professional’ Is Synonymous With Dual Card Slots — There’s No Getting Around It
It might not be until you start working for clients that you realize just how crucial redundancy is in photography. Let’s set aside the topic of dual card slots for a moment—many professional photographers carry at least two cameras to safeguard against the failure of one. If you’ve been in digital photography as long as I have, you’ve likely experienced at least one memory card failure. Combine even a slight risk of failure with the stakes of a professional gig, and you quickly understand why redundancy in image storage within your camera system is non-negotiable. Dual card slots become just another cost of doing business.
There are professional photographers who swear by the Q3, unconcerned by its single card slot, dazzled by its other features. And yes, those features are impressive. However, the Q3 isn’t pocketable, and relying on it as your sole camera for professional tasks is, in my view, setting yourself up for disaster. This opinion is based on my own experiences—I’ve endured two card failures, and each time, the backup card saved my work. Thankfully, these incidents didn’t occur during client jobs. But if they had, my candidness about the folly of relying on a single card slot in professional settings would have been unmistakable.
Why a Pocketable Pro Mirrorless Camera with Dual Card Slots Is My Ultimate Camera
When a client introduced me to his Leica Q3, I was initially skeptical about the fixed lens but ultimately captivated by the 28mm lens and its ability to shoot at 60 megapixels. This high resolution allows for significant digital cropping, effectively offering digital zoom levels to 35, 50, 75, and 90mm, with resulting megapixel counts of 39, 19, 8, and 6 respectively. Though the results at extreme zooms aren't stellar, the concept is promising, especially as sensor resolutions continue to climb in an unending industry race.
However, the Leica Q3 isn't exactly what I'd call pocketable. Yet, handling this compact, high-resolution camera made me reconsider the fixed lens setup. The 28mm lens is versatile enough for both scenic shots and portraits with minimal distortion, suggesting a single fixed lens could indeed suffice—if the resolution were high enough. But here's the kicker: the Leica Q3 has just one card slot.
A $5,000 camera that falls short for professional use? Not ideal, especially considering the importance of redundancy in client work and the impracticality of reshooting unique moments.
So, what would my dream camera look like? It would be pocketable, full-frame, equipped with dual card slots—essentially a miniaturized Sony A7iii or a Leica Q3 with those crucial dual slots. If it's not an interchangeable lens system, it must offer extremely high resolution—think 100 megapixels or more—to compensate for the lack of lens flexibility.
My ideal camera would allow me to blend into the streets, unobtrusive and inconspicuous, perfect for both candid street photography and client assignments. It should be easy to travel with, not drawing unwanted attention from police, potential thieves, or my subjects.
And while you might suggest an APS-C sensor camera as a viable alternative for its compactness and professional capabilities, there's a snag—none offer dual card slots, reinforcing the rarity of finding that perfect balance in a professional-grade, pocketable camera.
The Sad State of Affairs for Dual Card Slot Options — None of These Are Pocketable
At the time of writing, to the best of my knowledge, the Sony A7iii holds the title as the smallest and lightest full-frame mirrorless camera equipped with dual card slots. I personally use and highly appreciate this camera, but let's be clear—it's not something you'd slip into your pocket.
In compiling a list of current mirrorless cameras with dual card slots, primarily full-frame, I've included the Fujifilm X-T4 for a bit of context. It's indeed smaller and lighter than its full-frame peers, but it's not pocketable, and I wouldn't typically choose it for professional tasks—without stirring up any controversy among Fujifilm enthusiasts, I'll leave the reasons to their imagination. It's worth noting that while Sony does an excellent job with their APS-C cameras—many of which are quite pocketable—none feature dual card slots. It's a significant letdown because if it weren’t technologically feasible to craft a full-frame pocketable mirrorless system with dual card slots, a high-resolution APS-C model from Sony might be a suitable alternative. This, however, is a topic for another day. Below is the list I've prepared to demonstrate how far my dream is from reality.
1. Fujifilm X-T4 (APS-C)
Weight: 607 g (1.34 lb)
Dimensions: 134.6 x 92.8 x 63.8 mm (5.3 x 3.7 x 2.5 in)
2. Sony A7 III (Full Frame)
Weight: 650 g (1.43 lb)
Dimensions: 126.9 x 95.6 x 73.7 mm (5 x 3.8 x 2.9 in)
3. Sony A7 IV (Full Frame)
Weight: 658 g (1.45 lb)
Dimensions: 131.3 x 96.4 x 79.8 mm (5.2 x 3.8 x 3.1 in)
4. Nikon Z5 (Full Frame)
Weight: 675 g (1.49 lb)
Dimensions: 134 x 101 x 70 mm (5.28 x 3.98 x 2.76 in)
5. Canon EOS R6 (Full Frame)
Weight: 680 g (1.5 lb)
Dimensions: 138 x 98 x 88 mm (5.4 x 3.9 x 3.5 in)
6. Nikon Z6 II (Full Frame)
Weight: 705 g (1.55 lb)
Dimensions: 134 x 100.5 x 69.5 mm (5.28 x 3.96 x 2.74 in)
7. Nikon Z7 II (Full Frame)
Weight: 705 g (1.55 lb)
Dimensions: 134 x 100.5 x 69.5 mm (5.28 x 3.96 x 2.74 in)
8. Panasonic Lumix S5 (Full Frame)
Weight: 714 g (1.57 lb)
Dimensions: 133 x 97 x 82 mm (5.2 x 3.8 x 3.2 in)
9. Canon EOS R5 (Full Frame)
Weight: 738 g (1.63 lb)
Dimensions: 138 x 98 x 88 mm (5.4 x 3.9 x 3.5 in)
10. Panasonic Lumix S1 (Full Frame)
Weight: 1020 g (2.25 lb)
Dimensions: 149 x 110 x 97 mm (5.9 x 4.3 x 3.8 in)
As you might have surmised, none of the cameras on this list come close to being pocketable, but they do represent some of the smaller full-frame and APS-C options equipped with dual card slots. It seems the dream of having such a compact yet capable camera remains just that—a dream, currently out of reach!
Wait and See Is the Name of the All-Pro Pocketable Game!
I'm not exactly holding my breath for my dream camera. While it might not materialize anytime soon, the rapid advancements in AI and other technological innovations within the camera industry keep my hopes up for significant improvements and new features in the near future. Until those dreams are realized, I'll stick with the cameras I currently own and perhaps expand my lens collection a bit. Ultimately, it's the art of photography that counts more than the equipment—though that's the politically correct thing to say, isn't it?