The best mirrorless camera for 2024: top picks for every budget

PRICE
VERDICT
REASONS TO BUY
REASONS TO AVOID
VERDICT
REASONS TO BUY
REASONS TO AVOID
Nikon Z6 III on a blue background
(Image credit: Nikon)

Beginner or professional: the best mirrorless cameras are the future of photography. Because we’ve reviewed hundreds of mirrorless cameras, we know how to tell the great from the good. Below, you’ll find a hand-picked selection of our favorites, covering everything from entry-level models, to mid-range hybrids, to full-frame flagships.

Based on our in-depth tests, the mirrorless camera we’d personally choose to shoot with is the Nikon Z6 III. Its build and abilities seriously impressed us in testing, including its assured handling, 6K video specs and precise subject detection autofocus. It’s one of the best Nikon cameras we’ve reviewed. That said, we know not everyone will need or be able to afford its features.

We've put together this guide to make it easy for you to find honest answers when choosing which mirrorless camera to buy. We’ve shot extensively with each model, to get a genuine, first-hand understanding of how it performs in real scenarios. We’ve summarized the results here, so that you know exactly why we’ve recommended each camera.

Top 3 picks

The summary below will give you an instant overview of the best mirrorless camera options for every photographer. When you find one that ticks the right boxes, you can follow the links beneath each entry to jump down to our full write-ups.

Best by use-case

Written by
Tim Coleman
Written by
Timothy Coleman

Tim is TechRadar's Cameras Editor. With more than 15 years' experience as a photographer and tech journalist, Tim has shot with many of the best mirrorless cameras. As a result, he has a deep knowledge of what to look for when selecting a mirrorless camera. He notes, "with new models coming from Canon, Sony, Nikon, Fujifilm, Panasonic and more, the mirrorless camera market has never been healthier. From entry-level hybrids to high-res workhorses, competition is fierce across all categories. When putting together this list, we've tried to cater to every kind of photographer."

The best mirrorless cameras for 2024

Why you can trust TechRadar We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Find out more about how we test.

Below you'll find full write-ups for each of the best mirrorless cameras in our list. We've tested each one extensively, so you can be sure that our recommendations can be trusted.

The best mirrorless camera overall

The best mirrorless camera for enthusiasts

Specifications

Sensor size: Full-frame
Resolution: 24MP
Viewfinder: 5,760K dots
Monitor: 3.2-inch vari-angle touchscreen, 2,100K dots
Autofocus: Hybrid AF
Maximum continuous shooting rate: 20fps no restriction, up to 120fps in APS-C crop
Movies: 6K at 60p
User level: Intermediate

Reasons to buy

+
Excellent autofocus
+
Great handling
+
Particularly fast frame rates
+
Impressive video specs
+
New MP4 Lite file format is smaller and quicker to process

Reasons to avoid

-
No improvement in resolution
-
Somewhat expensive
-
Battery charger not supplied

Nikon Z6 III sample images

Buy it if:

✅ You shoot a lot of video: The Z6 III is a true all-rounder, however, many of its upgrades are video focused, including 6K up to 60fps and excellent color profiles.

✅ You photograph moving subjects: The Z6 III has much better subject detection autofocus than the Z6 II, and fast frame rates.

Don't buy it if:

You want the best detail: Nikon's 45MP cameras have almost twice the number of pixels as the Z6 III, giving you finer detail and better cropping capabilities.

❌ You want the best budget full-frame Nikon: Since the Z6 III launch, the Z6 II has gone down in price and is considerably cheaper.

Nikon's third-gen Z6 III is a significant upgrade from the Z6 II, giving it the edge over rivals like the Canon EOS R6 II. It's a mid-range all-rounder that ticked a lot of boxes in testing: you don't get best-in-class detail from its 24.5MP full-frame sensor, but we did appreciate the view through its best-ever EVF (a 5.76m-dot number). Burst speeds are rapid too, with up to 60fps at full resolution for JPEG. But it's the autofocus that really shone in our review: it's just about the best system in low light, while the latest subject detection modes proved suitably sticky.

The Z6 III's video specification also stands out. You get 6K video up to 60fps in-camera, and oversampled 4K raw, plus regular 4K at 120fps and 10x slow motion up to 240fps in Full HD. Record times are impressive too, at 120 minutes even without a cooling fan. If you don't shoot a lot of video or action photography, there's an argument that the now-cheaper Z6 II could serve you well for less. But strong performance across the board makes the Z6 III a compelling hybrid.

Read our in-depth Nikon Z6 III review


The best mirrorless camera for beginners

The best mirrorless camera for most beginners

Specifications

Sensor size: APS-C
Resolution: 24.2MP
Viewfinder: 2,360K dots
Monitor: 2.95-inch articulated touchscreen, 1,040K dots
Autofocus: 651-area AF
Max continuous shooting rate: 15fps (mechanical), 25fps (electronic)
Video: 4K at 60p
User level: Beginner

Reasons to buy

+
Compact and lightweight
+
Impressive autofocus smarts
+
Speedy burst mode
+
Good value

Reasons to avoid

-
No in-body image stabilization
-
Cropped 4K/60p video
-
Single card slot
-
Small viewfinder

Canon EOS R10 sample images

Buy it if:

✅ You're shopping for your first proper camera: From its versatility to its handling, the EOS R10 ticks all the right boxes for beginners buying their first serious camera.

✅ You want an affordable camera for action stills: Despite its mid-range price, the EOS R10 benefits from top-tier autofocus performance and burst shooting speeds.

Don't buy it if:

You want a wide choice of native glass: One of the major drawbacks of the EOS R10 right now is the lack of native lenses for Canon's RF mount.

❌ You mainly record video: Though the R10 can produce nice uncropped 4K/30p video, the lack of audio port and image stabilization mean this isn't a vlogging camera.

There are cheaper mirrorless camera for beginners, but none that can match the versatility of the Canon EOS R10. From our tests, two features set the Canon EOS R10 apart for learners: its 15fps burst shooting rate and powerful subject-tracking autofocus, which operates across 651 AF points. These two features combine to make the R10 a fantastic performer in a range of scenarios, particularly when subjects are fast moving. We found it particularly good at tracking the eyes of subjects.

It’s not a perfect camera for beginners: we found the EVF a little small and also noted the lack of image stabilization, a feature which is offered on rivals like the Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark IV (below). Then again, we also found that the R10’s low weight and deep grip make it a forgiving camera for novices to use. We also noted positively in our review the helpful presence of an AF joystick. The only major drawback is the lack of native lenses currently available for Canon’s RF mount. In all other respects, the R10 is a versatile option for photographers getting started.

Read our in-depth Canon EOS R10 review


The best mirrorless camera for pros

The best high-resolution workhorse for professionals

Specifications

Sensor size: Full-frame
Resolution: 61MP
Viewfinder: 5,760K dots
Monitor: 3-inch tilt-angle touchscreen, 21,400K dots
Autofocus: 567 PDAF + 425 CDAF
Maximum continuous shooting rate: 1fps
Movies: 4K at 30p
User level: Expert
Sensor size: Full-frame
Resolution: 61MP
Viewfinder: 9,440K dots
Monitor: 3.2-inch articulating touchscreen, 2,100K dots
Autofocus: 693-point AF
Maximum continuous shooting rate: 10fps
Movies: 8K at 24p
User level: Advanced

Reasons to buy

+
Excellent autofocus
+
Impressive ISO handling
+
Versatile 4-axis touchscreen

Reasons to avoid

-
It’s expensive
-
Requires high-quality optics
-
4K video only up to 60fps

Sony A7R V sample images

Buy it if:

✅ You're a landscape, portraits or studio photographer: With class-leading full-frame sensor resolution, image quality is excellent.

✅ You need Sony's best autofocus: AI subject detection AF provides more reliable autofocus for more subjects in more scenarios.

Don't buy it if:

You don’t own the best lenses: A 61MP sensor is unforgiving of any lens deficiencies, so you'll also need expensive high-end pro lenses.

❌ You don’t need 61MP: Do you need 61MP? If not, you'll save a packet by opting for the A7 IV instead.

At 61MP, the Sony A7R V has the same class-leading resolution as the A7R IV before it. But thanks to a new sensor and powerful Bionz XR processing engine, our review found that the A7R V is a better camera overall. Paired with high-quality optics and up to eight stops of image stabilization, we found it capable of capturing outstanding detail. We found image quality to be excellent when shooting detailed subjects, making the A7R V a fantastic choice for landscape or studio pros.

In our tests, its AI-powered Real-time Recognition AF wasn’t foolproof, but it could reliably lock onto a range of subjects, working particularly well with people – even in wider scenes. Its articulating touchscreen provides useful flexibility when it comes to framing, while the EVF is as sharp here as on the A7S III. If you want a high-spec full-frame powerhouse and don’t mind paying for it, the A7R V is a serious step up from its predecessor. But if you can’t afford the best glass, want to shoot slow-mo 4K video or simply don’t need such high resolution, you might find better value in the A7 IV.

Read our in-depth Sony A7R V review


The best mirrorless camera for video

The best compact full-frame hybrid for video

Specifications

Sensor size: Full-frame
Resolution: 24.2MP
Viewfinder: 2,360K dots
Monitor: 3.0-inch vari-angle touchscreen, 1,840K dots
Autofocus: 225-area AF
Maximum continuous shooting rate: 7fps
Movies: 6K at 30p
User level: Enthusiast

Reasons to buy

+
Uncropped video is versatile for social
+
Super-effective image stabilization for handheld work
+
Phase detection AF completes the video package

Reasons to avoid

-
Slow-motion, wide-angle 4K video hampered by 1.5x crop
-
No tally light
-
AF subject detection simpler than rivals

Panasonic Lumix S5 II sample image