The Best Mirrorless Cameras for Beginner Photographers

Panasonic Lumix DC-G90 is an amateur mirrorless camera of the middle level, which will suit photographers of different skill levels. The model can also be recommended as a first camera.

A distinctive feature of amateur cameras Panasonic and Olympus is the proprietary matrix of the Micro 4/3 format. Exactly such a 20 MP sensor is installed "under the hood" of the model in question. The camera matrix does not have an AA smoothing filter in its design, which ensures high detail shooting. Moreover, the camera uses a 5-axis matrix image stabilization system, working together with optical stabilizers of the corresponding lenses (Dual IS 2).

A huge variety of interchangeable optics have been released for the Micro 4/3 system - absolutely for any needs and for the most varied wallet thickness. The mirrorless camera is equipped with a Panasonic Lumix G Vario 12-60mm f/3.5-5.6 ASPH Power OIS kit zoom, which covers the popular range of equivalent focal lengths from 24 to 120 mm.

It is mostly designed for leisurely creative shooting - in the reportage genre of photography, the camera's autofocus does not always keep up with dynamic movements in the frame. Also, the mirrorless camera does not give the best results when photographing at ISO over 3200 units - the image can be spoiled by noise. The reason for this is the small physical size of the sensor.

Panasonic cameras have always been famous for their advanced video recording capabilities. In this case, video shooting is possible in 4K resolution at 30 fps or in Full HD format at up to 120 fps. The model has acquired support for recording with the V-Log L profile (4:2:0), on-board connectors for connecting an external microphone and headphones. An electronic viewfinder or a rotating touch screen will serve for viewing during shooting. The autonomy of the mirrorless camera is mediocre (about 290 shots on a full battery charge), but the camera received a weather-proof design - when traveling and everyday photo walks, you will not have to worry about it if the weather conditions worsen.

The Olympus OM-D E-M10 IV is an amateur-grade model with an elegant retro design and is a great purchase for beginner photographers. Here's why.

Inside the camera is a 20-megapixel Micro 4/3 sensor - this format was invented and implemented in the hardware of Olympus and Panasonic. By the way, at one time it became the founder of the mirrorless genre. The camera's image sensor is mounted on a movable stabilizing platform, allowing you to gain up to 4.5 stops of shutter speed or exposure when shooting handheld and in low-light conditions.

The TruePic VIII processor is in charge of image processing. The mirrorless camera is capable of taking continuous photos at up to 15 fps, and video recording is possible at a maximum frame resolution of 4K (3840x2160 pixels at 30 fps). In video shooting mode, you have to make do with the camera's standard tools, since there are no ports for connecting an external microphone or headphones in its design.

The mirrorless camera is equipped with a movable touch screen that can be folded into a "selfie" position. It also has an OLED viewfinder and wireless Wi-Fi connection - you can control the camera remotely from your smartphone. In the factory configuration, the model comes with a zoom lens M.Zuiko Digital 14-42mm f / 3.5-5.6 EZ - the aperture of the "whale" is small, but it will come in handy for shooting a variety of subjects. And among the wide range of optics for the Micro 4/3 system, everyone will find a suitable option for absolutely any need.

In 2022, Nikon's Z mirrorless league is being expanded with the relatively inexpensive Z30 camera, which is positioned as a practical tool "for content creators."

The model is assembled in a compact case with basic protection from negative environmental factors. The camera fits comfortably in the palm of a medium-sized hand. The mirrorless camera is easy to grip thanks to the protruding battery handle, but in order to save space, the camera does not have a viewfinder. The frame is supposed to be constructed based on the image on the 3-inch touch screen, which is fixed on a swivel hinge.

The mirrorless camera is equipped with an APS-C sensor with a resolution of 21 MP. The Expeed 6 processor is in charge of image processing. In continuous shooting mode, the camera develops a shooting rate of up to 11 fps. Video on the Nikon Z30 is recorded in a maximum resolution of 4K (3840x2160 pixels, 30 fps) without cropping and without restrictions on the duration of shooting. Due to the lack of a matrix stabilizer, the user will have to be content with the services of stabilized optics for the Nikon Z system or use electronic image stabilization E-VR, which provides cropping at a level of about 1.3x.

The hybrid autofocus system on board the camera consists of 209 points. It has an animal recognition mode, automatic focusing on faces and eyes. The detection area covers about 90% of the sensor horizontally and vertically. The model is additionally equipped with a stereo microphone, a Wi-Fi wireless adapter, and an HDMI interface. To complete the picture, the camera lacks only a headphone jack to control the sound when shooting video. In the whale kit, the mirrorless camera comes with a Nikon Nikkor Z DX 16-50mm f/3.5-6.3 VR motorized zoom lens. The camera will serve as an excellent purchase for both photography and video recording.

In the hierarchy of Sony crop-sensor mirrorless cameras, the A6400 model is positioned right in the middle between the previously released A6300 and A6500 cameras. Externally, the camera is almost indistinguishable from its brothers in the “six thousandth” league, but the devil, as we know, is in the details.

Of the visible innovations, the main changes affected the mirrorless camera screen. From now on, the display can be folded into a selfie position, and it has finally been given full-fledged touch control. Instead of the screen, the user is asked to press his eye to the electronic viewfinder window, which has a resolution of 921 thousand pixels.

On the inside, the model has acquired a well-proven 24 MP APS-C matrix without a stabilizing platform. The prerogative of image stabilization with a sensor shift was left to the older Sony A6500. At the same time, the 425-point automatic focusing system has undergone radical improvements. Japanese engineers taught it to work in a tracking mode for the face and eyes, and also significantly "pumped up" the autofocus speed - the subject of the shooting falls into the tenacious clutches of the system in a record 0.02 sec.

When shooting in series, the camera accelerates to 11 fps, while the buffer can hold 46 RAW files and over a hundred JPEG photos. The model also does not lag behind in terms of video shooting - 4K video recording is possible using the entire width of the matrix at a frequency of up to 30 fps. The operator has additional S-Log2, S-Log3 and HLG profiles (for creating HDR video). The only thing that holds the camera back from full-fledged professional use is the lack of a headphone output. The Sony A6400 has enough potential to solve the most ambitious creative tasks, and most importantly, the camera has a good reserve for the prospect of qualitative growth.

At first, the Canon EOS R family of mirrorless cameras consisted entirely of full-frame models, and the Japanese brand's cropped cameras were defined in the Canon EOS M line. But in 2022, mirrorless cameras with an APS-C image sensor also appeared in the flagship league. One of the first such cameras was the Canon EOS R10.

The camera's 24.2 MP sensor has a 1.6x crop factor. Its natural light sensitivity range is measured in wide limits from 100 to 32,000 ISO units. The camera is equipped with a powerful Digic X processor, responsible for the high rate of fire of the mirrorless camera in continuous photo shooting mode (15 fps with a mechanical shutter and 24 fps with an electronic one), as well as for shooting 4K video from the entire plane of the matrix.

Video recording in 4K format without image cropping is carried out on a camera with a frame rate of 30 fps. If you want to see a frame rate of 60 fps, you will have to be content with shooting an image from the 1.56x area. In video shooting mode, 10-bit color representation and HDR PQ are supported. The image is supposed to be stabilized by using interchangeable lenses with optical stabilization, since the model does not have its own matrix stabilization suspension.

A distinctive feature of Canon cameras is the proprietary automatic focusing system. Dual Pixel CMOS AF II autofocus supports tracking of subjects in the frame by faces and eyes. In total, the system has 651 focusing points. Add to this the camera's advanced ergonomics, the ability to aim via the touch screen on a swivel joint or through the viewfinder peephole, a full set of wireless communications - Canon EOS R10 is "charged" to the fullest.