The mirrorless revolution is in full swing. However, just because you’re a beginner that lacks the budget to fork over $1,000 to get your first camera.
That doesn’t mean you are forced to take the short stick and start your journey at a disadvantage. Thankfully, there are plenty of excellent offerings that deliver a punch, without an accompanying punch to your bank account.
Here’s the list of the The best beginner mirrorless camera 2022 to get you started with confidence.
Best Canon: Canon EOS M6 II
Why it made the cut: This affordable camera is very compact, but feature-rich.
Specs:
- Resolution: 32.5MP
- Sensor size: 22.3 x 14.9 mm (APS-C) CMOS
- Lens mount: EF-M mount
- Weight: 14.3 oz
Pros:
- Good value for the features
- Excellent image quality and color
- Reliable Eye AF performance
- 14 fps burst shooting
- Built-in flash
- Well-built, comfortable controls
- Great (relatively affordable) primes available: 22mm, 32mm, 28mm…plus a variety of zooms and an adapter that allows compatibility with EF and EF-S lenses
Cons:
- Poor 4K video quality
- Battery life is lacking
- No viewfinder. Lens converter is expensive.
The Canon EOS M6 II has the best resolution at 32.5MP and produces excellent JPEGs with accurate autofocus and 5,481 focus points. While it’s not as customizable as some of its high-end counterparts like the Canon R5 it offers a very solid selection for its pricepoint. It can shoot up to 14fps but lacks a viewfinder for those who prefer one, though, you can purchase an accessory finder that plugs into the camera’s accessory shoe for eye-level shooting. For video shooters, it can capture 4K footage, but the overall video image quality isn’t very impressive compared to some of its competitors.
Best overall: Fujifilm X-T30 II
Why it made the cut: It borrows lots of features from its more-expensive siblings, which leads to overachieving in both shooting experience and image quality.
Specs:
- Resolution: 26.1MP
- Sensor size: 23.5 x 15.6 mm (APS-C) CMOS
- Lens mount: Fujifilm X
- Weight: 12.8 ounces
Pros:
- Excellent image quality and color
- Lens + body for under $1k
- 20 fps burst shooting
- Good quality 4K video
- Retro design and film simulation modes.
- Lots of controls and dials, menu easy to navigate via touchscreen or joystick, and plenty of custom menu options
- Well-built
- 20+ lenses to choose from
Cons:
- Screen only tilts & awkward tripod mount. So not really a videographer’s camera.
- 10-minute record limit on 4K capture
- Face detect not always reliable
At 26.1MP, this camera is the highest-resolution option that comes with a lens for under $1,000. The retro, DSLR-style design is a fun touch that offers plenty of tactile controls in the form of customizable buttons. It produces great JPEGS and offers film simulation modes for flair. Fujifilm’s X-series lenses work seamlessly with the rest of its X-series cameras, so upgrading your camera down the line will still give you native access to all your glass. It shoots solid video and offers weather sealing and ruggedness that are both better than you might expect for a model at this price.
If you want to save a little money, however, do note that there are no life-changing upgrades from the X-T30 so that camera remains a solid option, too.
Best for Youtube videos: Nikon Z50
Specs:
- Resolution: 20.9-megapixels
- Sensor size: APS-C
- Lens mount: Nikon Z
- Weight: 13.93 oz
Pros:
- Excellent image quality and color
- Good low light performance
- Built-in flash (but it is small), all dials on right side for easy access w/ 1 hand.
- 11 fps burst shooting
- Small, light, well-built, good ergonomics
- Good 4K video quality (no crop, 30 min recording)
Cons:
- AF tracking occasionally gets confused
- Not many lenses when compared w/ Sony a6400 and X-T30. Though it takes the Z mount, all but three are made for full-frame.
- 180º screen – the tripod mount goes right thru it
The Nikon Z50’s touchscreen display flips around to face the front of the camera, which comes in very handy when you’re trying to shoot vlogs or walk-and-talk videos. The camera captures 4K video at up to 30 fps and it can shoot 1080p video in up to 120 fps slow-motion.
Those solid video chops accompany 20.9 megapixels of still shooting firepower. The DSLR-style design has a built-in eye-level viewfinder, so it doesn’t require an accessory finder if that’s your desired shooting setup. Overall, it’s a very solid camera for hybrid shooters and you can get a lens, too, for under $1,000 total.
