Best Mirrorless Cameras

If you want to start taking great photos,

but you don't want all the weight,

and bulk that a DSLR comes with it, you're in luck.

Buying a mirrorless camera

might just be the answer you're looking for.

[joyful music plays]

Mirrorless cameras aren't new.

This is a film rangefinder from the 1970s.

But they're especially well suited to digital photography,

because they can add an electronic viewfinder,

which is much easier to use

than the traditional rangefinders.

That allows the body design to be thinner,

lighter, and more compact.

I've spent the past year testing

dozens of mirrorless cameras in all kinds of environments

to come up with the best choices

for all different types of photographers.

My top pick for most everybody is the Sony A7R3.

It's 47 megapixel, full frame sensor delivers

incredibly sharp images with excellent dynamic range,

and enough shooting speed for most of us.

It's compact and lightweight enough

to carry it all day without back strain,

and the grip is comfortable in your hand.

5 axis image stabilization means you can use it handheld

with lower light,

and the 4K video is very nearly full frame,

thanks to oversampling.

All the out of focus modes work well,

even with adaptive lenses,

which gives the A7R3 an edge over competitors

when it comes to lens selection.

You can invest not only in Sony's lenses,

but any Canon, Minolta, Nikon,

or other lenses you might have.

It can be adapted as well.

One thing I don't like about it,

or any other Sony for that matter,

is its convoluted menu system.

Luckily, there are enough customizable buttons

that it's not too difficult to set things up

the way you want,

and then you never have to dive into the menus again.

The price is pretty steep, at $2,800,

but for what you're getting with picture quality,

this is the best all around camera for every situation.

If the Sony A7R3 is just too expensive,

then the best cameras for photographers on a budget

is the Fujifilm XT4.

Fujifilm uses APSC sensors,

which are smaller than the full frame sensors

and the rest of the cameras in this guide.

But the images are every bit as sharp.

The main difference will be if you want to shoot

very shallow depth of field.

That's more challenging with a smaller sensor.

The XT4 has in body image stabilization,

and significant auto focus improvements,

compared to its predecessor.

One thing I really like about this camera

is the clear division between photo and video modes.

You can switch back and forth,

and keep all the settings you need for photo,

all the settings you need for video,

and you never have to get into the menus.

The camera's body design is reminiscent to film cameras,

and the best thing about it is that

you don't need to use the digital controls very often.

ISO, shutter speed, exposure compensation.

They're all accessible, physical dials.

The camera body is on the small side

for a camera in this class, which isn't my favorite part,

but if you have small hands, or like a smaller camera,

this will work well for you.

I really like Fujifilm line of lenses,

and they're surprisingly affordable,

relative to some of the others on the list.

If you're looking for a camera mostly to shoot video,

then the Panasonic Lumix DCS5 is the one for you.

The S5 is a compact, full frame mirrorless camera,

with very sharp, 24 megapixel sensor.

It mostly holds its own against

the rest of the full frame cameras in this list,

but where it really shines is the video features

you won't find anywhere else.

Support for V log recording, anamorphic 4K support,

and uncropped 4K at 30 frames per second top the list.

The S5 uses the L mount lens system,

an effort to create a unified lens mount standard.

Panasonic and Sigma use the L mount,

which means there's no shortage of lenses for this camera.

The biggest shortcoming is the autofocus.

This camera relies on a contrast based detection system,

which is slower and less accurate.

But I do still recommend this camera,

because it's perfect for hybrid video and photo shooters.

The last camera I recommend

is one that's great for traveling,

and it's the Fujifilm XE4.

The extremely compact XE4 is going

to be very nice to travel with,

whenever we all get back to traveling again.

It features the same sensor found in the XT4,

and many of the same features, but in a more compact body.

The big thing to remember here is

there's no such thing as the perfect camera.

Each has its own limitations,

and a part of the magic of photography

is learning how to get around those limitations.

What you want to find is the camera that's best suited

to the type of photos you want to make.

Once you get comfortable with the camera you choose,

the gear fades into the background,

and you can focus on making the images

you've always dreamed of creating.

[music fades out]