Mirrorless cameras have many of the benefits of larger DSLRs (such as great image quality) but are far more compact, making them easier for amateurs and professionals alike to carry. And, you'll find a wide selection in the models now in the market, with prices starting at less than $500. So, there's a mirrorless camera to suit almost every photographer.
After testing dozens of models, we think the best mirrorless camera for most consumers is the Sony a6100, which costs around $700 with a lens, takes great photos in low light, has a fast autofocus system, and can record video in 4K.
The best mirrorless camera for beginners is the Sony a6000, which costs just under $500 with a lens, yet shoots at a fast 11 fps, and takes great pictures in all conditions.
Having trouble deciding which Sony mirrorless camera is right for you? Check out our best Sony mirrorless cameras page.
If you prefer something not made by Sony—and something that can withstand the elements—check out Olympus' OM-D E-M5 Mark II, which has 5-axis image stabilization, a sturdy weather-resistant body, and a super high-resolution 40-MP mode. We also like that you can customize nearly all of the E-M5's buttons, making it a truly personal camera. Note that Olympus just announced its successor, the OM-D E-M5 Mark III, which has a high-resolution sensor and better image stabilization.
Make sure you see all of our top picks for DSLRs, mirrorless cameras and more on our best cameras page. And after you start shooting, be sure to check out our roundups of the best digital photo frames and best photo books to get the most out of your mirrorless camera.
1. Sony Alpha a6100
The best mirrorless camera for most people
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
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.
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.
2. Sony Alpha a6000
The best mirrorless camera for beginners
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
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.
Read our full Sony a6000 review.
MORE: DSLRs vs Mirrorless Cameras
3. Sony A6500
The best mirrorless camera for shooting video
Megapixels: 24.2 | ISO: 100- 25,600 | Shooting Speed: 11 fps | Body size/weight: 4.75 x 2.75 x 2.13 inches; 1 pound | Viewfinder: OLED | Screen: 2.95-inch LCD | Battery Life (CIPA): 310 shots
With 4K video and 5-axis image stabilization, the Sony a6500 is the best mirrorless camera for those looking to capture stable video. Detail and color are excellent in video, but you may want to use the camera's Center Lock-on AF feature to make sure focus stays on a moving subject.
Image quality is equally fine in detail and color, with excellent dynamic range (combined shadow and highlight detail). And images stay fairly clean of pixel noise up to ISO 6400. Autofocus is superb, with the camera able to shoot 11fps, adjusting focus as needed for each shot. Combined with a memory buffer holding over 300 images, you're nearly guaranteed to get a shot that captures the action perfectly.
Keep in mind that Sony is phasing out the A6500, so it may be harder to find it going forward.
Read our full Sony A6500 review.
4. Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II (M5 MII)
Weatherproof seals make this a good mirrorless camera for the outdoors.
Megapixels: 16.1 | ISO: 100 - 25,600 | Built-in Flash: No | Shooting Speed: 10 fps | Body Size/Weight: 4.9 x 3.3 x 1.8 inches /16 ounces | Viewfinder: LCD | Screen: 3-inch LCD | Battery Life (CIPA): 310
With even cellphones shooting 1080p video up to 60 fps, Olympus had to up its game for video. It certainly did, with an amazing five-axis image-stabilization system in the Olympus OM-D E-M5 MII that allows you to capture steady video even while walking around — something unthinkable until now. That video also boasts fine detail and attractive color, with one of the best auto white balance capabilities we've seen for avoiding the typical orangey look during indoor shooting. All these virtues serve the M5 MII equally well for still-photo shooting, too. Its resistance to water means you can shoot under nearly any condition. In addition, the M5 MII's truly tiny dimensions and weight, coupled with a nice selection of compact lenses, make it the most portable high-performance mirrorless camera out there. It's a joy to carry anywhere, and for an entire day.
Note that Olympus has introduced the OM-D E-M5 Mark III ($1,200; $1,800 with lens) which has a 20.4MP sensor, and can capture video at 4K resolution and 120fps slow-mo HD.
Read our full Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II review.
5. Sony Alpha a7 II
Best Pro Mirrorless Camera
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
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.
Read our full Sony A7 II review.
6. Canon EOS RP
Full-frame mirrorless at an affordable price
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
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, and a compact body, all for less than $1,000.
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. Still, these tradeoffs are worth it for the price.
Read our full Canon EOS RP review.
7. Nikon Z50
A versatile mirrorless camera at a good price
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
While it doesn't have a full-frame sensor like the Z6 and Z7, the Nikon Z 50 offers a solid feature set, great image quality and good performance — but in a smaller form factor at a more consumer-friendly price. We liked its build and deep, comfortable grip, as well as its sharp electronic viewfinder.
The 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.
Read our full Nikon Z 50 review.
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: It's the lens that most people who buy an entry-level SLR or mirrorless model as a kit know 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 to be sure 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.