Best mirrorless cameras in 2023

A man holding the Sony a6100, our top pick of the best mirrorless cameras
(Image credit: Sony)

Knowing the best mirrorless cameras on the market is incredibly important if you’re looking for a new camera. After all, gone are the days when DSLR reigned supreme, and manufacturers are now devoting most of their attention to mirrorless. If you want the most choice, you've got to be looking at mirrorless.

Mirrorless cameras essentially strip out the mirror from a DSLR, hence the name. For the most part, they offer all of the benefits of DSLR cameras with few downsides. Plus they even have some advantages, such as decreased size and lower weight. Up until now, going mirrorless offered restricted lens choice, as it was new technology. These days, however, with manufacturers taking mirrorless seriously, that’s changed. If you’re not sure which is right for you, read our DSLR vs mirrorless guide.

When choosing the best mirrorless camera for you, obviously you’ll need to consider price, but also the features that you’ll use. Why spend thousands of dollars on a mirrorless camera but not use most of its features? Thankfully, we’ve reviewed and rounded up all of the best ones and listed their important features below to help you decide which is best for you. 

After testing dozens of models, we think the best mirrorless camera for most consumers is the Sony Alpha a6100. This camera costs around $850 with a lens, takes great photos in low light, has a fast autofocus system, and can record video in 4K. The a6100 has a similar design to other cameras in Sony's mirrorless camera lineup, which means a compact design that's easy to hold, a nice large touchscreen, and an electronic viewfinder. 

That doesn’t mean it’s necessarily right for you though, so read on to see our pick of the best mirrorless cameras.

The best mirrorless cameras you can buy today

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A man holding the Sony Alpha a6100, number 1 in our list of the best mirrorless cameras

Sony Alpha a6100 (Image credit: Sony)
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The best mirrorless camera for most people

Specifications

Megapixels: 24.2
ISO: 100-51,200
Built-in Flash: Yes
Shooting Speed: 11 fps
Body Size/Weight: 4.7 x 2.6 x 1.9 inches/14.25 ounces
Viewfinder: Yes
Screen: 3 inch touchscreen LCD
Battery Life (CIPA): 420 shots

Reasons to buy

+
Superfast, AI-driven autofocus system
+
Up to 11-fps shooting for action shots
+
Bright, clear OLED viewfinder

Reasons to avoid

-
Sprawling menu system
-
Poorly placed video-record button

We think most consumers will find the Sony a6100 to be the best mirrorless camera for their needs. Selling for around $700 with a kit lens, it's not overly expensive, but has many of the modern features you'll want, including an excellent autofocus system, a fast 11fps shooting speed, a bright electronic viewfinder, and sharp 4K video. (The camera even has a microphone jack for better audio.) Plus, the a6100 has an excellent design with a good hand grip, as well as an articulating 3-inch touchscreen, which makes it easy to hold the camera above or below eye level and still get the shot you want.

What you don't get at this price are features such as in-body image stabilization, and the A6100's viewfinder is a lower resolution than higher-end models. But these tradeoffs are more than acceptable.

Read our full Sony a6100 review.

A pair of hands holding the Sony a6000, another of the best mirrorless cameras

Sony a6000 (Image credit: Future)
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The best mirrorless camera for beginners

Specifications

Megapixels: 24.3
ISO: 100-25,600
Built-in Flash: Yes
Shooting Speed: 11 fps
Body Size/Weight: 4.8 x 2.9 x 1.9 inches; 12 ounces
Viewfinder: OLED
Screen: 3 inch LCD
Battery Life (CIPA): 360 shots

Reasons to buy

+
Fast continuous shooting and autofocus
+
Compact body
+
Multiple custom control options

Reasons to avoid

-
Vast array of camera settings may be overwhelming
-
Noise reduction can be excessive

The Sony a6000 is the best mirrorless camera for beginners, in that it's an ideal compromise between power and portability. Its autofocus is as good as a DSLRs, and it shoots at a blistering 11 frames per second with continuous autofocus and metering. Electronic viewfinders are a weak point on many mirrorless models, but the a6000's OLED eyepiece is bright and crystal-clear, and doesn't suffer from the stuttering you'll sometimes find on EVFs with lower refresh rates. A DSLR shooter would be comfortable moving over to this eyepiece.

The a6000 shines in low light, and features the ability to capture clean images up to ISO 1600 sensitivity and usable shots in very dim conditions way up to ISO 12,800. On top of that, the a6000 shoots gorgeous full-HD video at up to 60 fps, as well as 24 fps for a cinema look. Clips show fine detail, rich color and buttery-smooth motion rendering, even in low light. It's rather old now, though, so can be difficult to find.

Read our full Sony a6000 review.

Fujifilm X-T5 on tripod

(Image credit: Tom's Guide)

3. Fujifilm X-T5

The best camera for enthusiast photographers

Specifications

Type: Mirrorless
Sensor: APS-C
Megapixels: 40.2
Max shooting speed: 20 fps (electronic)15 fps (mechanical)
Max video resolution: 6.2k @ 30p
Viewfinder: OLED EVF, 3.69 million dots
Screen: 3.0-inch Tilt-Type, 1.84 million dots
Size/weight: 5.1 x 3.6 x 2.5 inches; 19.6 ounces

Reasons to buy

+
High-res 40.2-megapixel image sensor
+
Tenacious autofocus system
+
Super-fast shutter speed and drive rates
+
Intuitive controls
+
Beautiful design

Reasons to avoid

-
Rear touchscreen not fully articulated
-
No top panel info display
-
Mediocre high-ISO image quality
-
Shallow buffers

The Fujifilm X-T5 is the best mirrorless camera for enthusiast photographers. It may look and feel retro, but under the hood it boasts Fujifilm’s latest 40.2 MP X-Trans CMOS 5 image sensor and X-Processor 5 pairing. The high resolution sensor delivers outstanding image quality and leaves plenty of flexibility for cropping or large-format printing.

With so many megapixels to play with, a manual shutter speed of 15 fps and electric shutter speed of 20 fps is impressive. However, in testing, the X-T5's buffers filled very quickly due to the lack of CFExpress ports, so you wont be able to utilize those faster shooting rates for long. Nevertheless, with a deep-learned AI autofocus system, the X-T5 will be able to keep up with even fast-moving subjects.

The ISO range is expandable to 51,200, and while its noise suppression is effective (it has to be when packing this many pixels onto an APS-C sensor), it does lead to an artificial smoothing effect and a loss of detail in images shot at higher sensitivity. Still, we came away with usable images even at ISO 12,800.

Strong light metering and a range of Fujifilm’s beautiful color simulation profiles helps the X-T5 offer users a quality result without the need to be a post-production master, while its compact and lightweight design and 5-axis IBIS make it an excellent option for on-the-move shooting.

Video performance is decent, offering up to 6K at 30p and 4K at 60p, but this camera is primarily designed for demanding enthusiasts and professional photographers — and there it excels.

Read our full Fujifilm X-T5 review

The Canon EOS R6 full-frame mirrorless camera. This shot shows it from the front, with the 27-70mm lens attached

(Image credit: Tom's Guide)
A superb full-frame mirrorless camera

Specifications

Type: Mirrorless
Sensor: Full-frame CMOS
Megapixels: 20.1
Max shooting speed: 20 fps (electronic) / 12 fps (mechanical)
Max video resolution: 4K @ 60 fps
Viewfinder: 0.5 inch; 3.69m dots OLED
Screen: 3-inch articulating touchscreen
Size/weight: 5.4 x 3.8 x 3.5 inches; 21 ounces

Reasons to buy

+
Magical autofocus
+
Class-leading image stabilization
+
Superior low-light abilities
+
Crisp and detailed stills
+
Handles well

Reasons to avoid

-
Overheats for 4K video
-
Resolution lower than rivals

The Canon EOS R6 is the most expensive camera on this list, but it's also the best overall. That high price means it won't be the best camera for everyone — hence why it's not number one — but if you can afford it, it's an easy recommendation.

A mirrorless camera with a 20MP full-frame sensor, the R6 excels when it comes to autofocus. In our testing, we found it to be unerringly accurate when tracking subjects including fast-moving pets; it can even lock on to a dog's eye as it runs and stick with it, and we have the photos to prove it. Its built-in image stabilization is almost as special; with the right Canon lens on it, it can give you 8 extra stops and even without it's good for 5. In our testing, we regularly got sharp shots handheld at 2- or even 4-second shutter speeds. Plus, it's brilliant in low light, with images shot at ISO 6400 showing hardly any noise; we took perfectly acceptable images at 102,400.

On the minus side, 20 megapixels may not be enough for everyone. Video is also a slight negative: it shoots 4K at up to 60 fps, but overheating issues mean it can only do that for 30 minutes or so. If you favor stills over video, though, and can afford the $2,500 body-only price, it's hard to beat.

Read our full Canon EOS R6 review

A pair of hands holding the Sony Alpha a7 II mirrorless cam and pointing it towards the viewer

Sony Alpha a7 II (Image credit: Sony)
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Best affordable pro mirrorless camera

Specifications

Megapixels: 24.7
ISO: 100-25600
Built-in Flash: No
Shooting Speed: 5 fps
Body Size/Weight: 5 x 3.87 x 2.37 inches, 1 pound 3.6 ounces
Viewfinder: Yes
Screen: 3-inch LCD
Battery Life (CIPA): 340 with LCD on

Reasons to buy

+
Effective 5-axis image stabilization
+
Bright, clear pictures
+
Surprisingly small for a full-frame camera

Reasons to avoid

-
Slow writing to memory card
-
Quirky autofocus
-
Motion distortion from shutter roll in action video

It's the world's first full-frame mirrorless camera to carry in-body 5-axis image stabilization, but there's more to the Sony a7 II than just steady shooting. This petite, sexy camera fits in most bags, and packs a bunch of customizable buttons and knobs for quick access to your favorite controls. We also loved the bright, clear pictures and relatively low amount of noise (graininess) even at high ISO light sensitivity levels. Thanks to effective wireless capability, you'll be able to beam your shots to your smartphone or computer within seconds.

The Sony a7 II is a few years old at this point — it's been succeeded by the Sony a7 III, which offers full frame HDR 4K video and better battery life, and by the a7 IV, which has a new 33MP sensor among many other things. But the a7 II is still a powerful camera, and it's a lot cheaper than the more recent models, making it a better bargain.

Read our full Sony A7 II review.

The Sony Alpha a6600 mirrorless camera resting on a metal railings with a bush behind

Sony a6600 (Image credit: Tom's Guide)
An excellent mirrorless camera for video

Specifications

Megapixels: 24.2 APS-C CMOS
ISO Range: 100- 32000 optical (50 – 102400 with boost)
Image Stabilization: 5-axis in-body
Video (Max Resolution): 4K/60 fps
Shooting Speed: 11 fps
Display: Articulating 3-inch touchscreen
Wi-Fi: Yes
Battery Life: 720 shots
Size/Weight: 4.7 x 2.7 x 2.3 inches; 1.1 pounds

Reasons to buy

+
Real-time autofocus tracking
+
Extended eye autofocus
+
5-axis image stabilization
+
High-capacity battery

Reasons to avoid

-
Only one memory card slot

The Sony Alpha a6600 is the successor to the older, but still great a6500, and brings with it such features as 5-axis in-body image stabilization, 4K video recording at 60 frames per second, and a compact but sturdy magnesium-alloy body that's protected against dust and mist. 

The a6600 has the same 24.2-MP sensor as its predecessor, but now, with a faster processor, it has a wider ISO range (100-32,000), and AI-enabled eye autofocusing in both still and video. And, the a6600's rated battery life of 720 shots is double that of the a6500; while we still recommend you pick up a spare battery, it's good to know the a6600's will hold out for a lot longer.

Read our full Sony Alpha a6600 review.

Fujifilm X-T30ii on desk

Fujifilm X-T30 II (Image credit: Tom's Guide)
Fantastic retro-styled mirrorless camera

Specifications

Type: Mirrorless
Sensor: APS-C
Megapixels: 26.1
Max shooting speed: 30fps (electronic) / 8fps (mechanical)
Max video resolution: Oversampled 4K @ 30p
Viewfinder: OLED EVF, 2.36m dots
Screen: 3.0-inch Tilt-Type, 1.62m dots
Size/weight: 4.66 x 3.25 x 1.25 inches; 11.6 ounces

Reasons to buy

+
Beautiful image quality
+
Even more beautiful design
+
Lightweight but premium build
+
Creative film simulation modes
+
Good AF detection

Reasons to avoid

-
Awful Q button placement
-
No IBIS
-
Not the best in low light
-
AF tracking not great
-
Mediocre video features

The Fujifilm X-T30 II is one of the best mirrorless cameras you can pick up for under $1,000. We loved the original Fujifilm X-T30, as it offered many of the same features as higher end cameras in the Fuji lineup. Given the formula was such a good one, we can forgive the X-T30 II for not being too much changed from its predecessor. 

The X-T30 II offers stunning image quality to match its beautiful retro looks, performing well in most lighting conditions, thanks to its brilliant X-Trans CMOS 4 sensor and X-Processor 4 combo.

The X-T30 II is an ideal mid-range choice for enthusiast photographers wanting beautiful, artistic imagery, as it comes packaged with 18 of Fuji's legendary film simulation profiles. It's lightweight, built extremely well and offers a respectable 1.62m dot LCD (upgraded from the 1.04m dots screen in the original) and decent 3.62m dot EVF. 

There's an awfully annoying Q button on the back, though, and video performance is limited thanks to a lack of IBIS, and a cap of 30p and 30-minutes when shooting in 4K. If your main purpose is video, check out the Sony a6600 instead, as the X-T30 II is first and foremost a camera for photography.

Read our full Fujifilm X-T30 II review.

A side-on shot of a pair of hands holding the Canon EOS RP, with the lens pointing to the left

Canon EOS RP (Image credit: Tom's Guide)
Full-frame mirrorless at an affordable price

Specifications

Megapixels: 26
ISO: 100-25600
Built-in Flash: No
Shooting Speed: 5 fps
Body Size/Weight: 5.2 x 3.4 x 2.8 inches, 1.7 pounds
Viewfinder: Yes
Screen: 3-inch articulated touchscreen
Battery Life (CIPA): 250 shots

Reasons to buy

+
Good image quality
+
Easy to use
+
Compact and lightweight

Reasons to avoid

-
Slow continuous shooting speed
-
Short battery life
-
No in-body stabilization

Until recently, most full-frame mirrorless cameras cost at least $2,000 just for the camera body. The Canon EOS RP is part of a trend of less-expensive models, bringing higher image quality at a lower price. The EOS RP has a 26 megapixel sensor, user-friendly controls, a fully articulated touch screen, and a compact body, all for less than $1,000. Not surprisingly for Canon, the EOS RP also takes great pictures, and can shoot video at resolutions up to 4K. 

However, there are some compromises: The EOS RP lacks in-body image stabilization, it has a comparatively short battery life, and a slower shooting speed than other mirrorless cameras. Also, because Canon is relatively new to mirrorless cameras, there are fewer lenses available when compared to models from Sony.

Read our full Canon EOS RP review.

The Nikon Z5 mirrorless camera sat on a white table

(Image credit: Tom's Guide)
A reasonably priced mirrorless camera with a full-frame sensor

Specifications

Megapixels: 24
ISO: 100-51200
Built-in Flash: No
Shooting Speed: 4.5 fps
Body Size/Weight: 5.3 x 4.0 x 2.8 inches, 20.9 ounces
Viewfinder: Yes
Screen: 3.2-inch tilting touchscreen
Battery Life (CIPA): 250 shots

Reasons to buy

+
Comfortable Grip
+
Double SD card slots
+
Weather sealed
+
In-body image stabilization

Reasons to avoid

-
Tilt screen, but no flip screen
-
Cropped 4K video

The Nikon Z5 is an excellent midrange mirrorless camera with a full-frame sensor, letting you get large and luscious images. Though larger than the Canon EOS RP, we liked the way it handled, allowing us to keep a firm grip. It's weather-sealed against the elements, too. 

The Z5 took excellent pictures in low light, thanks to in-body image stabilization and an ISO range up to 51200. It can shoot 4K Ultra HD/30p video, but the image is cropped, but the camera has a mic and a headphone jack. Last, the 3.2-inch touchscreen is large and bright, but only tilts up and down, and not to the side. Overall, though, this is a great option for those who don't want to spend more than $1,500 on a full-frame mirrorless camera.

Read our full Nikon Z5 review.

The Sony A7C on a small white pedestal next to a can of Coke. The camera is about half the height of the can

(Image credit: Terry Sullivan/Tom's Guide)
The best compact full-frame mirrorless camera

Specifications

Megapixels: 24.2MP
Lens type: Interchangeable
ISO range: 100-51,200 (expandable to 50 and 204,000)
Image stabilization: 5-axis in-body image stabilization
Video (Max Resolution): 4K @ 30 fps
Shooting speed: 10 fps
Display: 3in LCD
Wi-Fi: Yes
Battery life: 740 shots (CIPA)
Size/weight: 4.9 x 2.8 x 2.2 inches; 18 ounces

Reasons to buy

+
Tiny and lightweight body
+
Powerful 5-axis in-body image stabilization
+
Excellent battery life
+
Versatile AF modes
+
Flexible LCD

Reasons to avoid

-
Small EVF
-
Lacks front dial and other controls
-
Single memory-card slot

The Sony A7C is the smallest and lightest lens-swapping full-frame camera, making it a great alternative to a hefty full-frame DSLR — or even a larger mirrorless option such as the Sony A7 II or Nikon Z5 in this list. That size does come with a few drawbacks, mainly around the absence of certain controls you might expect on a nearly $2000 camera, but it does have a built-in viewfinder and we still found it to handle well in daily use. There's certainly no doubts around its image quality: it shoots stellar 24MP stills and 4K video, though the latter is limited to 30 fps. Buy it in a kit with the similarly diminutive 28-60mm lens and you have a great option for traveling light.

Read our full Sony A7C review

The Fujifilm X-E4 camera showing its front

(Image credit: Theano Nikitas/Tom’s Guide)
A small rangefinder-style camera with great image quality

Specifications

Megapixels: 26
ISO: 160-12,800
Built-in Flash: No
Shooting Speed: 8 fps (mechanical) / 20fps (electronic)
Body Size/Weight: 4.77 x 2.87 x 1.28 inches, 12.84 ounces
Viewfinder: Yes
Screen: 3-inch LCD
Battery Life (CIPA): 460

Reasons to buy

+
Excellent image quality
+
Compact size
+
USB charging

Reasons to avoid

-
No in-body image stabilization
-
Minimal external controls

If street photography is your thing, then the Fujifilm X-E4 could be just what you're after. The latest entry in Fuji's excellent X series of mirrorless cameras packs a lot into a small, rangefinder-style retro body, including a 3-inch touch-screen LCD that flips out by 180-degrees, a bright EVF and 4K video. But it's the 26-megapixel stills that really shine here, digging up masses of detail and handling exposure and dynamic range well. Noise is also well controlled, while Fuji's superb film simulations ensure that every shot looks just like you want it to.

The relative lack of manual controls won't be to everyone's taste, and there's no built-in image stabilization, but the price is reasonable for the feature set and Fuji's ever-growing lens range offers something for every situation and budget.

Read our full Fujifilm X-E4 review.

The Nikon Z50 on a tiled floor with a floral pattern

Nikon Z50 (Image credit: Tom's Guide)
A versatile mirrorless camera at a great price

Specifications

Megapixels: 20.9
ISO: 100-51,200
Built-in Flash: Yes
Shooting Speed: 11 fps
Body Size/Weight: 5 x 3.7 x 2.4 inches, 14 ounces
Viewfinder: Yes
Screen: 3-inch flip-down touchscreen
Battery Life (CIPA): 300 shots

Reasons to buy

+
Great image quality
+
Solid build
+
Excellent feature set
+
Slow-motion 4K video

Reasons to avoid

-
Flip-down LCD blocks tripod mount
-
No in-body image stabilization

Nikon was a bit late to the mirrorless camera category, but it's making up for lost time. Following the launch of the full-frame Z6 and Z7 mirrorless cameras, Nikon introduced the Z 50, which doesn't have a full-frame sensor, but offers a solid feature set, great image quality and good performance —  in a smaller form factor at a more consumer-friendly price. 

The Nikon Z 50 is a great mirrorless camera for Nikon enthusiasts; we liked its build and deep, comfortable grip, as well as its sharp electronic viewfinder. Its 3.2-inch touchscreen flips down for selfies, but is obscured if you have the camera on a tripod. The Z 50 has intuitive controls, in-camera retouching, and good performance in low light. However, there's no in-body image stabilization, and the single card slot only supports lower-end SD cards. 

Also look out soon for our review of the Nikon Z fc — a new mirrorless camera that has the same specs as the Z 50 but in an attractive retro body.  

Read our full Nikon Z 50 review.

The Olympus OM-D EM-10 Mark IV on a wooden table

Olympus OM-D EM-10 Mark IV (Image credit: Tom's Guide)
A handsome, compact mirrorless camera that delivers great image quality

Specifications

Megapixels: 20.3MP APS-C CMOS sensor
ISO: 100-51,200
Built-in Flash: Yes
Shooting Speed: 14 fps
Body Size/Weight: 4.8 x 2.6 x 3.3 inches, 17 ounces
Viewfinder: Yes
Screen: 3.0-inch tilt touchscreen
Battery Life (CIPA): 300 shots

Reasons to buy

+
Handsome retro design
+
5-axis image stabilization
+
Sharp details and accurate colors

Reasons to avoid

-
No mic jack

With excellent image quality, 5-axis in-body image stabilization, and a price well under $1,000, the Olympus OM-D EM-10 Mark IV provides a great entry point into the Olympus family. With its touch screen that rotates forward for selfie mode and 31 built-in image filters, the camera offers an easy upgrade from cellphone photography. And its compact design makes the Mark IV pretty easy to carry around. 

But the Mark IV is not dumbed-down in any way. The bright OLED viewfinder offers a generous resolution of 2.36 million dots, and the camera also has a bright, colorful 3-inch LCD touchscreen with about a million dots of resolution. The screen tilts up about 90 degrees and down 180 degrees to face you when shooting selfies. Video (4K/30 fps) is good, but held back by the lack of a microphone jack. 

In-body 5-axis image stabilization is the OM-D E-M10 IV's standout feature. It's not common in mirrorless cameras, and the capability is especially rare at this price.

Read our full Olympus OM-D EM-10 Mark IV review.

The Canon EOS M6 Mark II resting on a wooden beam in a garden

(Image credit: Tom's Guide)
Viewfinder not included

Specifications

Megapixels: 32.5MP APS-C CMOS sensor
ISO: 100-51,200
Built-in Flash: Yes
Shooting Speed: 14 fps
Body Size/Weight: 4.71 x 2.76 x 1.94 inches, 14.4 ounces
Viewfinder: No (optional add-on)
Screen: 3.0-inch tilt touchscreen; 1.04 million dots
Battery Life (CIPA): 300 shots

Reasons to buy

+
Good image quality
+
Speedy performance
+
Easy to use

Reasons to avoid

-
No built-in electronic viewfinder
-
No in-body image stabilization

Canon's second-generation EOS M6 Mark II mirrorless camera has a lot to like: It has a 32MP APS-C size sensor, the highest resolution in its class, and shares a number of features with the Canon EOS 90D, its DSLR sibling, such as the image processor, 4K video and Dual Pixel CMOS AF. And, it comes in a much more compact package, weighing in at 14.4 ounces with the battery.

However, Canon sacrificed a built-in viewfinder, and while the M6 Mark II has an excellent 3-inch touchscreen, you'll want to purchase this camera as part of a kit, or be prepared to shell out an extra $200 for the optional electronic viewfinder that slides into the camera's hot shoe. If you can live with this compromise, though, you'll be rewarded with crisp photos and fast shooting speeds.

Read our full Canon EOS M6 Mark II review.

How to pick the best mirrorless camera for you

The criteria when shopping for a mirrorless camera are pretty much the same as when you're looking for any sort of camera. 

First, what is your budget? While our picks of the best mirrorless cameras all fall under $1,500, you can find models that are twice as expensive, and their features are very tempting. 

Next, what is your experience level? If you're new to mirrorless cameras or photography in general, it's worth getting a lower-priced model with more beginner-friendly features, such as in-camera guides that explain various settings.

Last, consider what you want to do with the camera. If you're shooting sports or wildlife, you'll want a camera that can take a lot of pictures quickly, as well as one with in-camera stabilization. And, while mirrorless cameras are known for their smaller size relative to DSLRs, you'll want one that's more compact if you're planning to take it traveling. 

How to choose a lens for your mirrorless camera

One of the most important qualities that mirrorless and DSLRs share is that they accept interchangeable lenses, which can dramatically improve image quality and bring your photography to a new level. But there are scores of lenses to choose from, which can be confusing. To help you get better acquainted with this important camera accessory, here's a quick rundown of types of interchangeable lenses that are available for your mirrorless camera:

Standard zoom lenses: This is the lens that most people who buy an entry-level DSLR or mirrorless model as a kit use first. Mirrorless kits generally come with a 14-42mm lens. They typically include a small amount of zoom (3x), and are often inexpensive, but not the highest quality. However, in the past several years, the quality of these kit lenses has improved.

Prime lenses: You can save money by choosing a prime or non-zoom lens. They offer excellent quality, and are often much more affordable. If you need to zoom, just use your feet and walk closer to your subject!

Telephoto zoom lenses: If you shoot a lot of sports or other types of events, consider these powerful zooms, which can bring you closer to the action and provide features to capture images with shallow depth-of-field. They can be a bit heavy and bulky, but most manufacturers have been inventing new lenses that are smaller and more compact, but are still high quality. The 70mm-200mm is a good example of this type of lens.

Wide-angle lenses: If you're traveling, this type of lens, such as a 16-35mm zoom, can be very valuable, since it allows you to capture different types of wide-angle shots. Want to shoot a group portrait? Set the zoom lens towards the 35mm end of the range, which will avoid distortion at the edges of the image. Or if you want to capture a broad, sweeping landscape, use the lower end of the zoom, nearer to the 16mm end. However, these lenses can be pricey.

Macro or Close-up lenses: If you're looking to capture close-up shots of small objects, you'll want a good quality macro lens, which come in a variety of focal lengths, such as 50mm and 100mm. Be sure to do your research so you know that the lens you want has macro capabilities. 

Specialty lenses: One of the most notable specialty lenses in this category is the ultra-wide fisheye lens, which some photographers love for the exceptionally distorted point of view. Other types include tilt-shift and soft-focus lenses.

What are the different sensor sizes in mirrorless cameras?

You've probably seen references to full-frame, APS-C and Micro Four Thirds sensors — but how do they differ?

Well, full-frame is the biggest sensor you'll find on most mirrorless cameras. And we say most, because Medium Format cameras are bigger still — but also way out of most people's price range, so we'll skip them here.

Full-frame is actually an old term and refers to a sensor the size of that in a 35mm film camera (roughly 36 x 24mm). The Sony A7 range, Nikon Z5 and Canon RP are all full-frame mirrorless cameras.  

APS-C is the next size down (approx 22 x 15mm) and is found in most mirrorless cams including Sony's A6000 range, most of Fujifilm's X series and some Canon and Nikon models. It has around 2.5 times less surface area than full-frame.

Below that is Micro Four Thirds, a sensor size developed by Olympus and Panasonic specifically for mirrorless cameras; you'll only find it on models by those two manufacturers. This is almost a quarter the size of full-frame.

So, what does it matter? Well, in general, the bigger the sensor, the better the image quality. Larger sensors can gather more light and will generally have less noise than smaller formats. But obviously other factors also come into play here; this is a guide rather than a hard rule. Against that, a smaller sensor can allow for smaller cameras and — just as importantly — smaller lenses. 

What are the differences between mirrorless cameras and DSLRs?

Mirrorless cameras have come a long way in the past decade, and now rival — and often beat — the best DSLR cameras in most regards. 

Our comprehensive mirrorless vs DSLR guide gives you the full lowdown, but briefly, the key differences are:

  1. Size and weight
    Mirrorless cameras don't have a mirror (the name gives that away) and as a result are usually a lot smaller and lighter than DSLRs.
  2. Viewfinders
    DSLRs have an optical viewfinder, which shows you the scene as it really is. Mirrorless cameras use an electronic viewfinder (EVF), which is a small screen showing you a video feed of the scene. Also note that some cheaper mirrorless cameras don't have any kind of viewfinder, leaving you reliant on the rear screen as on a smartphone.
  3. Speed
    Mirrorless cams are almost always faster, once price is taken into account, offering burst speeds that exceed that found in many DSLRS. They can also use an electronic shutter that can shoot faster still, though this usually reduces image quality. 
  4. Battery life
    DSLRs have the edge here: by not needing to power an EVF or in some cases an LCD screen, they can usually go for a lot longer. 
  5. Choice
    Very few DSLRs are being made now, with only Canon, Nikon and Pentax releasing new models (and even then, not that often). Canon and Nikon also make mirrorless cams, as do Fujifilm, Sony, Panasonic, Olympus and others.
  6. Lenses
    Because DSLRs have been around for much longer, they have a richer range of lenses to choose from. Plus, second-hand lenses are readily available — often for a low price.

How we test mirrorless cameras

To determine which models make our list of the best mirrorless cameras, we first put each through a battery of tests, and evaluate them for such things as image and video quality, battery life, design, and usability. How fast can the camera shoot? Is its autofocus quick to lock on to subjects in the frame? When recording video, does it use the full sensor, and at what resolution can it record?

We also look at things such as button placement, how easy it is to navigate in-camera menus, if its touchscreen can fold outwards, and if you can access all the camera's settings using the display.

Finally, we consider such things as what features the camera has, and what competitors are offering in cameras that cost around the same price. 

Be sure to check out all of our camera picks:

Best cameras | Best DSLR cameras | Best action cameras | Best waterproof cameras | Best point-and-shoot cameras | Best instant cameras  | Best cheap cameras | Best GoPro camera | Best GoPro accessories | Best drones | Best 360 cameras | Best iPhone lenses | Best iPhone tripods |DSLR vs. mirrorless | Best Nikon accessories | Best Sony a6000 accessories


The best apps and software for editing, managing, and sharing your photos:
Best photo organizer apps | Best photo storage sites | Best photo editing software | Best photo editing apps | Best photo collage apps

Marc McLaren

Formerly Editor in Chief (U.K.) on Tom’s Guide, Marc oversaw all gaming, streaming, audio, TV, entertainment, how-to and cameras coverage, and was also responsible for the site’s U.K.-focused output. He is now U.K. Editor in Chief on TechRadar. Marc previously edited the tech website Stuff and has tested and written about phones, tablets, wearables, streaming boxes, smart home devices, Bluetooth speakers, headphones, games, TVs, cameras and much more. He also spent years on a music magazine, where his duties mainly involved spoiling other people’s fun, and on a car magazine. An avid photographer, he likes nothing better than taking pictures of very small things (bugs, his daughters) or very big things (distant galaxies). When he gets time, he also enjoys gaming (console and mobile), cycling and attempting to watch as much sport as any human can. He's also fallen in love with Wordle over the past six months and is the author of our today's Wordle answer column, in which he supplies hints and strategy tips for the mega-popular word game. Given he's completed every single Wordle so far and only lost once, and analyzed every Wordle answer in search of patterns, he's well qualified to help you safeguard your streak.

  • seoguy
    Archived comments are found here: http://www.tomsguide.com/forum/id-2196095/mirrorless-camera-2014.html
    Reply
  • Rui Soares
    I´m sorry but the olympus camera is far from being the best camera for video from that lot, a camera like the samsung nx1 or the sony a7rII or the best mirrorless camera for video is prob the sony a7IIs but certainly not the olympus.
    Reply
  • Leroy_kthx
    The nx is Lister for 2017 But that camera system is completely dead. While the fujifilm x-t2 gets no mention (even with all the love its been getting from the photography world), not does the sony a7RII ( probably the most loved pro mirrorless camera in the wild right now )
    Reply
  • professionalcamerastore
    up with their amazing autofocus and interchangeable lenses, really give the usual dominance of DSLR cameras a run for their money. Today we wanted to take the time to review, compare and contrast the best
    Reply
  • pauldiamond
    Sam!
    You've decided that "mirrorless SLR" is the answer to any question. A reviewer must overcome personal bias. Doing so means that what the camera is used for and the output quality for that use is the #1 issue. If you review cars that can drive to the grocery store for apples, every one can suffice. If you want top quality handling in the curves and a 0-60 mph in less than 5 seconds, the field narrows considerably.

    For me, the sharpest and best lenses used with a higher 36 MP sensor in my Nikon gives better "pro" quality pictures of landscapes, product photography, weddings/portraits, action, etc. My Nikon D800E/D810 can take pictures comparable to my old 35 mm film cameras and medium format size too.
    Reply
  • Hrunga_Zmuda
    That is far from the best Olympus camera. That would be the OMD E-M1 Mark II which does 4K. Panasonic's GH5 is about the same. The Olympus for is you lean towards stills overall, or the GH5 if you lean towards video. The cool thing is, both cameras can use any MFT lens.

    Sony's A9 or A7S mark II would also be good choices. Any mirrorless from Canon? Do not even consider it.

    You did say 'high end" cameras. The E M-5 Mark II is old, there's a Mark III now. Plus, the M1 Mark II is the best MFT camera in existence.
    Reply
  • Saga Lout
    The last post is removed as Spam and this thread is overdue for closure.
    Reply