INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
If you're casual about your photography, then smartphones and compact cameras more than do the job
Generally though, they are limited by small sensors and fixed lenses that don't offer the kind of next-level control that you need when
taking your photography that little bit further.With that in mind, an interchangeable lens camera is the perfect upgrade
In this guide, we've picked out the best entry-level mirrorless cameras that should fit your budget, aren't too bulky and hopefully won't be
too perplexing as you learn how to use them.Many of the mirrorless cameras in this group have APS-C sensors, but some of our favourites have
slightly smaller Micro Four Thirds sensors
To find out more about sensor sizes, take a look at our sensor guide.Mirrorless cameras also offer interchangeable lenses
Once you get a little bit more into it, you might find it worth investing in telephotos, macro lenses, super-wide-angles and more
need to know about Black Friday 2019The Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals period is the ideal time to pick a great beginner mirrorless
model, there are some great offers to be had
automatically updates with the latest and best deals
Just because something is "cheap", that doesn't necessarily mean it represents value for money
If you find you quickly outgrow it and need to upgrade very soon, then you'll end up spending even more money
Some of the cameras here might seem expensive to somebody buying their first camera, but we will have recommended them as something that
should last you for many years to come.If you view your photography hobby as an investment, it will pay huge dividends if you can invest as
much as you possibly can when you first get started
Inexpensive cameras can still do a good job, but when cutting back on price inevitably means that features and controls are missing - so ask
have viewfinders, but these can be invaluable for shooting in bright light, when the screen on the back can easily suffer from glare and
more like a phone, making the transition to using a "proper" camera a little easier since you'll already be used to tapping, swiping and so
on.Finally, if you like to shoot video, you might want a camera that can shoot 4K, and not all of them can
glanceOlympus OM-D E-M10 Mark IIIFujifilm X-T100Panasonic GX9Sony Alpha A6100Canon EOS M50Fujifilm X-A7Sony Alpha A5100Canon EOS M200Olympus
PEN E-PL9Best mirrorless cameras for beginners in 20191
Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark IIIThe E-M10 III is small, powerful and beautifully designedSensor size: Micro Four Thirds | Resolution: 16.1MP |
Viewfinder: EVF, 2,360,000 dots | Monitor: 3-inch tilting touchscreen, 1,040,000 dots | Maximum continuous shooting rate: 8.6fps | Movies:
4K | User level: Beginner/IntermediatePremium finishGreat in-body stabilizationOnly 16 megapixelMinor update to Mark IIThe retro-tastic
E-M10 Mark III is styled like a DSLR, with a viewfinder mounted on the top, but this camera is so small it scarcely takes up more space than
mirrorless cameras with no viewfinder at all
It has a Micro Four Thirds sensor a little smaller than the APS-C sensors used by rival makers, and 16 megapixels rather than the usual 24,
clever shooting options in its Advanced Photo mode
Olympus offers a good range of lenses, too - as it shares the Micro Four Thirds mount with Panasonic, you can also swap lenses between
Fujifilm X-T100Filling the gap between the X-A7 and X-T20Sensor size: APS-C | Resolution: 24.2MP | Viewfinder: EVF, 2,360,000 dots |
Monitor: 3-inch 3-way tilting touchscreen, 1,040,000 dots | Maximum continuous shooting rate: 6fps | Movies: 4K | User level:
IntermediateBuilt-in viewfinder3-way tilting rear screen4K video only at 15fpsFocusing could be fasterWhile the absence of an X Trans sensor
is a little disappointing (Fujifilm's premium sensor), the reality is that this has allowed Fujifilm to price the camera a little more
It's also fair to say that for most photographers the difference will be negligible, with the X-T100 delivering some of the best results
you'll see from an entry-level mirrorless camera
4K video capture capped at 15fps is also a bit of a let down for those who do a lot of video recording, though, while focusing speeds can be
a little bit slow on occasion
Otherwise, Fujifilm's entry-level mirrorless camera doesn't generally disappoint
Lovely to look at and use, the X-T100 is a great choice if you're looking for your first mirrorless camera.(Image credit: Panasonic)3
2,764,800 dots | Monitor: 3-inch tilting touchscreen, 1,240,000 dots | Maximum continuous shooting rate: 9fps/30fps | Movies: 4K | User
level: Beginner/intermediateBuilt-in viewfinder5-axis dual ISFunctional not stylishStill only 16 megapixelsThe Lumix GX9 from Panasonic
represents excellent value for money
Its small size and weight not only make it ideal for those new to an interchangeable lens camera, but it's also well-suited for travel
The great feature set includes a built-in viewfinder, plus 5-axis dual image stabilisation
One of our favourite features of all Panasonic cameras is the 4K Video and 4K Photo Modes
You can use the latter to extract stills from a movie to in order to freeze the perfect moment
As standard, the GX9 comes with a 12-32mm lens, which is a good optic to get you started with
Further good news is that there are dozens of different lenses available in the Micro Four Thirds mount, so this is a camera you can truly
grow with.(Image credit: Sony)4
Sony Alpha A6100Sony's popular beginner-friendly model gets an updateSensor size: APS-C | Resolution: 24.2MP | Viewfinder: EVF, 1,440,000
dots | Monitor: 3-inch tilting, 921,600 dots | Maximum continuous shooting rate: 11fps | Movies: 4K | User level: Beginner/IntermediateGreat
past few years, and while you can still buy it, the brand has recently refreshed it in the shape of the A6100
That brings a whole set of new features to Sony's entry-level offering, including improved video features which now include 4K
You also now get a touch-sensitive screen and advanced autofocus options which include the very well-performing Eye AF (for both humans and
An extensive range of different lenses are available for Sony's mount, so it's also a system you can be confident when investing in
As it stands, the A6100 is one of the most expensive models on this list - but the good news is that if you're happy with older tech, the
A6000 is still very much available, and right now is a veritable bargain.5
Canon EOS M50An affordable Canon mirrorless EOS M with a viewfinderSensor size: APS-C | Resolution: 24.1MP | Viewfinder: EVF, 2,360,000 dots
| Monitor: 3-inch vari-angle, 1,040,000 dots | Maximum continuous shooting rate: 10fps | Movies: 4K | User level: Beginner/IntermediateGreat
viewfinderEasy to useHeavy crop on 4K videoPlasticky feelThis great little all-rounder is the only budget-friendly EOS M series camera with
Otherwise, you're doing your composing via the screen - not such a big deal if you're coming up from a smartphone, but viewfinders are great
when bright light makes the screen a bit awkward to use
Plus there's the fact that shooting through a viewfinder just feels a bit more "authentic"
Panasonic Lumix GX800 / GX850This little mirrorless camera is cheap, compact and built for bloggingSensor size: Micro Four Thirds |
Resolution: 16MP | Viewfinder: No | Monitor: 3-inch tilting touchscreen, 1,040,000 dots | Maximum continuous shooting rate: 5.8fps | Movies:
4K | User level: BeginnerCompact 12-32mm lensVery good value16MP only average these daysNo viewfinderOlympus is not the only company to make
Micro Four Thirds mirrorless cameras
Where Olympus cameras are all about style and creativity, Panasonic cameras are at least as technically capable but a little more down to
features and exceptional value
little 12-32mm retracting kit lens.7
Monitor: 3-inch tilting touchscreen, 1,040,000 dots | Maximum continuous shooting rate: 6fps | Movies: 4K | User level: BeginnerNew 15-45mm
retracting kit lensConsistently sharp shotsNo viewfinder4K video is only 15fpsFujifilm has made its reputation with its high-end X-mount
mirrorless cameras, but it also makes a series of simpler X-A cameras for novices
The X-A5 sports a retracting 15-45mm kit lens which makes the camera far easier to cram into a bag
only works at 15fps, which is a let-down
Note that Fujifilm recently announced the X-A7, which includes a huge 3.5-inch touchscreen, a new 24.5 megapixel sensor and a boost to the
4K video recording, which now offers 30fps
It seems likely that we'll love the X-A7 once we get a chance to review it, but for now, the X-A5 remains on the list.8
Sony Alpha A5100An older model, but it's cheaper and designed for novicesSensor size: APS-C | Resolution: 24.3MP | Viewfinder: No | Monitor:
3-inch tilting, 921,600 dots | Maximum continuous shooting rate: 6fps | Movies: Full HD | User level: BeginnerSophisticated autofocusFlip-up
selfie screenNo viewfinderNow four years oldLaunched in the same year as the A6000, the A5100 is also a highly competent camera whose price
has dropped to bargain basement prices thanks to its age
Of course there's always a trade-off to be made for saving cash
Here the compromises are the lack of an electronic viewfinder, while the external controls are a lot more basic
Sony has done a great job to make a camera this small but it does leave it feeling slightly dwarfed by the 16-50mm kit lens
On the plus side, the A5100 does, however, have a 180-degree selfie screen
Now that we've seen some new APS-C mirrorless models - and lenses - from the company, we can also feel pretty confident that Sony is keen to
keep investing in this format, too.9
Monitor: 3-inch tilting touchscreen, 1,040,000 dots | Maximum continuous shooting rate: 6.1fps | Movies: Full HD | User level:
competitively priced and offers an easy introduction to interchangeable lens cameras for smartphone or compact camera upgraders
The plain rectangular body is also a little awkward to hold and shoot with
The EOS M100 is small, simple and affordable nonetheless
Recently, Canon has updated this model in the form of the EOS M200, with a new sensor, new image processor and 4K video recording
Until we've tested it though, the M100 stays on the list.10
Olympus PEN E-PL9A stylish entry-level mirrorless cameraSensor size: Micro Four Thirds | Resolution: 16.1MP | Viewfinder: No | Monitor:
3-inch tilting touchscreen, 1,037,000 dots | Maximum continuous shooting rate: 8.6fps | Movies: 4K | User level: BeginnerStylish, premium
designPerfectly pocketableNo viewfinderOnly 16 megapixelsThe Olympus PEN series is aimed squarely at beginners and smartphone upgraders,
catering specifically for fashion-conscious bloggers and Instagramers
the PEN takes up little space in your bag
The latest of these is the E-PL9, which brings 4K video and better image stabilisation over the older model
That said, the E-PL8 is almost as good and that bit cheaper than the newer camera, this is still worth consideration as well
We think the older design looks better too!GpMYSYS29o7tf9DgT95UeX.jpg?#
