I recently analysed more than 2,000 cameras to answer the question: “How much does an average camera weigh?”.
I considered cameras developed after 2010 from every major camera brand.
This post contains (to my knowledge) the most comprehensive data collection of camera weights.
Summary of My Findings
- Cameras weigh 386.9 g (0.85 lbs) on average.
- DSLR cameras weigh 675.3 g (1.49 lbs) on average.
- Mirrorless cameras weigh 476.9 g (1.05 lbs) on average
- Compact cameras weigh 292.9 g (0.65 lbs) on average.
On average, DSLRs are the heaviest among the cameras, which comes as no surprise. After all, they consist of more parts and have to be bulkier. On average, mirrorless cameras are 29.4% lighter than DSLRs. Mirrorless cameras don’t have a mirror in comparison to DSLRs. Therefore, mirrorless cameras are significantly leaner and more lightweight than DSLRs.
DSLR vs Mirrorless vs Compact Weight Comparison
| Brand | DSLR | Mirrorless | Compact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canon | 685.8 g (1.51 lbs) | 434.1 g (0.96 lbs) | 240.6 g (0.53 lbs) |
| Nikon | 788.4 g (1.74 lbs) | 320.2 g (0.71 lbs) | 260.4 g (0.57 lbs) |
| Sony | / | 471.5 g (1.04 lbs) | 351.2 g (0.77 lbs) |
| Pentax | 753.4 g (1.66 lbs) | 268.8 g (0.59 lbs) | 177.6 g (0.39 lbs) |
| Olympus | 559.8 g (1.23 lbs) | / | / |
| Leica | / | 6458 g (1.42 lbs) | 403.0 g (0.89 lbs) |
As you can see from the table above, some numbers are missing. That is because some camera brands haven’t created any certain camera types since 2010. For example, Sony hasn’t made any DSLRs since 2010.
Popular Camera Weights Tables
| Camera model | Weight | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Sony A9 | 676g | Mirrorless |
| Sony A9 II | 678g | Mirrorless |
| Sony A7r IV | 665 g | Mirrorless |
| Sony A7r III | 657 g | Mirrorless |
| Sony A7 III | 650 g | Mirrorless |
| Sony A6600 | 503 g | Mirrorless |
| Canon EOS R | 660 g | Mirrorless |
| Canon R5 | 738 g | Mirrorless |
| Canon R6 | 680 g | Mirrorless |
| Canon EOS 90D | 701 g | DSLR |
| Canon EOS 80D | 730 g | DSLR |
| Canon 5D IV | 800 g | DSLR |
| Canon 6D II | 765 g | DSLR |
| Nikon Z7 II | 705 g | Mirrorless |
| Nikon Z7 | 585 g | Mirrorless |
| Nikon Z6 II | 705 g | Mirrorless |
| Nikon Z6 | 675 g | Mirrorless |
Are Light Cameras Better Than Heavy?
Generally, light cameras are better for types of photography where you need mobility and a lot of hand-holding, such as wedding and portrait photography. Heavy cameras are better for people who prefer to use bulkier cameras as they fit better into their hands. Also, the heavier cameras might be beneficial for astro and long exposure photography.
Conclusion
Camera weights have a wide range, from the lightest Samsung ST30 that weighs only 87 g up to Canon EOS-1D weighs 1585 g.
While camera weight is more important in some types of photography than others, no camera is exceptionally heavy; at least not to a point where it would be difficult to hold it.
