The Best Mirrorless Cameras for Advanced Photo Enthusiasts

To replace the much-loved Fujifilm X-T30 camera, the second edition of the model was released in 2021. It slightly upgraded the characteristics of the image sensor and processor, and increased the display resolution. However, in general, the mirrorless camera has retained the vintage appearance features of its predecessor.

From now on, the camera is equipped with a proprietary X-Trans CMOS 4 matrix with a resolution of 26.1 MP. The image processing here is handled by the X-Processor 4 processor. It provides continuous photo shooting speeds of up to 8 fps with a mechanical shutter and up to 30 fps when using an electronic shutter. The camera does not provide matrix stabilization; instead, you can use stabilized optics for the Fujifilm X system.

The model has a fast and tenacious phase detection autofocus system with coverage of almost 100% of the frame field. The camera achieves sharpness in literally 0.02 seconds, and autofocus works reliably in tracking mode. When recording video, the Fujifilm X-T30 II uses a data volume equivalent to the 6K frame format. Shooting video on an SD card is possible in a maximum resolution of 4K at 30 fps in 8 bit 4:2:0, and the picture in 10-bit color representation with 4:2:2 subsampling is supposed to be output to an external recorder via an HDMI connector. Videos in Full HD format are recorded on a camera with a high frame rate of up to 240 fps, which allows you to “freeze” movements in the frame.

Photographers will appreciate the model's 18 preset film simulation modes. Separate shutter speed and exposure compensation wheels are also kindly provided to the user. The weak point of the camera is its relatively modest battery life. However, one or more spare NP-W126s batteries solve this problem. After all, in all other points of the program, the mirrorless camera turned out to be a very balanced solution for comfortable photo and video shooting.

In the spring of 2022, there was an addition to the shelf of Canon mirrorless cameras with RF bayonet mount - the full-frame family of cameras was diluted with two new models with an APS-C format image sensor. They were the EOS R10 and EOS R7 mirrorless cameras.

The R7 model acquired a sensor with a resolution of 32.5 MP, which was installed on a movable stabilizing platform. The matrix stabilization system provides compensation for camera displacement along 5 axes and allows you to gain up to 7 - 8 stops of exposure or shutter speed, depending on the lens used. As for the speed characteristics of the camera, in continuous shooting mode with a mechanical shutter you can reach a speed of up to 15 fps, and with an electronic shutter - up to 30 fps.

The signature highlight of the mirrorless camera is the home-grown Dual Pixel CMOS AF II autofocus system with tracking functions for animals, vehicles and people (including tracking by faces and eyes). Also, the model does not herd the rear in terms of video shooting. It records videos in the maximum frame resolution of 4K at 30 fps, if the data is read from the entire plane of the image sensor. With a 1.81x crop image, you can shoot at an increased frame rate - at 60 fps. At the same time, the Canon EOS R7 supports 10-bit video recording with C-Log3 and HDR PQ. The data is supposed to be saved on one of two SD cards of class UHS-II - there is a double slot for storage devices in the camera.

For ease of viewing from atypical angles, the mirrorless camera was equipped with a touch screen on a rotating hinge. By tapping on it, focus zones are set and shooting settings are quickly changed. It is also supposed to frame the frame through the eye of an OLED viewfinder with a high resolution of 2.36 million pixels. In addition, the model boasts a dust- and moisture-proof design. It will be appreciated by dedicated amateur photographers and video production enthusiasts.

In 2020, Olympus announced the sale of its camera division. And already in 2022, the first sign from the successor of this business was announced - the OM System OM-5 model.

The camera is positioned as a replacement for the popular Olympus OM-D E-M5 III camera. Externally, it is practically indistinguishable from its predecessor - the only thing that gives the new model away is the inscription “OM System” on the front panel of the case. The model received a 20-megapixel Micro 4/3 format image sensor with a 2x crop factor. A huge number of optics from Olympus, Panasonic and hordes of third-party manufacturers have been produced for this system, so choosing suitable lenses for the camera will not be the slightest difficulty.

Improvements in the mirrorless camera include a more powerful TruePic IX image processor and an upgraded IBIS stabilization unit, which allows compensation of up to 7.5 stops of shutter speed or exposure. The camera also boasts fast auto-focus with face detection and Starry Sky autofocus mode for shooting the starry night sky. Video recording on a mirrorless camera is possible in the Cinema 4K frame format (4096x2160 at 24 fps) and traditional 4K resolution (3840x2160 pixels), and the recording duration limit has been removed.

To keep the camera compact in size, it contains a small BLS-50 battery for approximately 310 frames per full charge. A slot for fast class UHS-II SD cards is located on one of the side faces of the camera body. The model is equipped with a 3-inch touch screen on a rotating hinge, an electronic viewfinder, and a full range of wireless communications for connecting with mobile gadgets. The icing on the cake in its design is the dust and moisture protection of the case from all sorts of external adversities.

The 6,000th series of Sony cameras has become a cult favorite among advanced amateur mirrorless cameras. However, it has not been updated since 2019. Only almost four years after the release of the A6600 camera, a new model in the line was announced, which received the index A6700.

The camera was equipped with an Exmor R sensor in APS-C format with a resolution of 26 MP. The matrix's own sensitivity range covers from 100 to 102400 ISO for photo shooting and up to 32000 ISO for video recording. Moreover, the model has a 5-axis matrix image stabilization system. Paired with the image sensor, the camera is equipped with an advanced Bionz XR processor, supported by a separate computing module based on artificial intelligence algorithms, which is responsible for image processing and autofocus.

Autofocus on the Sony A6700 has 759 points. It does an excellent job in tracking mode, recognizing objects in the frame, and when shooting video, the camera can automatically crop the frame area, keeping the main object in the spotlight as it moves. Video footage for a mirrorless camera is recorded with oversampling from 6K. The maximum shooting resolution reaches 3840x2160 pixels at 60 fps or even 120 fps. The model supports 4:2:2 and 10 bits along with proprietary gamma curve profiles S-Cinetone and S-Log3. To control sound recording, the camera has a 3.5 mm microphone input and a headphone output.

The Sony A6700 fits comfortably in the hand and impresses with its well-developed ergonomics. The camera design has a touch screen on a rotating hinge, an electronic viewfinder with a resolution of 2.36 million pixels, and a single slot for fast UHS-II class SD cards. The autonomy of the model also does not disappoint - on one battery charge the mirrorless camera is capable of “snapping” about 570 shots. It can be safely recommended to both advanced amateur photographers and videographers - the camera copes with a solid “A” when it comes to photography and filming videos.

When developing the Nikon Z6 II, Japanese engineers eliminated the main weak points of the original Z6 mirrorless camera. From now on, the camera is better suited for dynamic filming, both photographs and video.

The camera platform remains the same as its predecessor. In its “inside” there is a 26 MP image sensor with a 5-axis matrix stabilization system. However, the models were equipped with two EXPEED 6 processors at once, which made it possible to significantly overclock the camera’s performance. Thus, in burst photography mode with a mechanical shutter, the Nikon Z6 II provides a rate of fire of up to 14 fps. The camera's memory buffer holds about 124 RAW files. By the way, the model has a double slot for memory cards: one slot for CFexpress / XQD cards, the second for UHS-II SD flash drives.

The camera records video in frame resolution up to 3840x2160 pixels at 60 fps. However, in 4K/60fps shooting mode, you need to be content with cropping the image to APS-C size. When using an external recorder, the operator will have access to HLG, N-Log and 10 bit. And to record RAW video via an HDMI port, the camera must be additionally flashed at a service center. When shooting video, autofocus based on people's eyes in real time and animal recognition are supported.

The Nikon Z6 II impresses with its comfortable ergonomics and thoughtful controls with quick access to the main camera settings. The model’s assets also include a high-resolution OLED viewfinder (3.69 million dots), a rotating screen with touch controls, and an additional info screen on the top end of the body for visualizing key shooting parameters. The “carcass” of the model is dust- and moisture-proof, thereby ensuring the ability to operate the camera even in harsh weather conditions.