The 6 Best Mirrorless Cameras Under $1,000 - Spring 2024 Reviews

The Canon EOS R10 is one of the best mirrorless cameras you can get for under $1,000. Though it's on the pricier end, with a kit lens tipping the cost over $1,000, it's also one of the most well-rounded cameras you can get at this price point. With an excellent autofocus system, quick burst shooting, and a great APS-C sensor, it's fit for a wide range of photography styles. Its video features are nothing to sneeze at, either, with 4k 60 fps recording (albeit with a significant crop) and internal 10-bit capture for those who need it.

That said, lens options are still pretty limited for Canon's RF-mount. Unlike the Fujifilm X-S10, it doesn't have in-body image stabilization (IBIS), which can help reduce camera shake when recording or taking handheld photos. The X-S10 is one of the few cameras at this price point to feature IBIS, so it's a great alternative if you need the added stability, with the bonus of having a more established lens lineup. Despite that, the Canon has a much better autofocus system and slightly better video specs, making it our top pick overall.

On top of being one of the best budget cameras we've tested, the Canon EOS R50 is also a fantastic choice for those just getting started in photography or content creation. The simple controls and intuitive auto-shooting modes take much of the guesswork out of photography for those who don't know their way around a camera yet. It has similar ergonomics and the same intuitive user interface as the Canon EOS R10, but it's more portable, making it easy to take anywhere. Image quality is also great for its class, and it uses Canon's highly reliable Dual Pixel Autofocus.

Lens options are still somewhat limited for Canon's RF mount, though. So, if you're looking for something with a more established lens lineup, a Micro Four Thirds (M4/3) camera like the Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark IV is a great alternative. It also makes for a more portable overall kit since M4/3 lenses are generally more compact. That said, its autofocus system isn't nearly as effective as the Canon.

If you want your pick of the litter when it comes to lenses, the Sony α6400 is the best mirrorless option under $1,000. Sony's E mount has one of the most well-established lens ecosystems among mirrorless cameras, offering a wide array of both native and third-party options. The camera itself may have been superseded by the significantly improved Sony α6700. However, there's still life to the α6400 yet, especially if you don't need more advanced video features like 10-bit 4:2:2 recording—and it's significantly cheaper.

The camera is portable and well-built, and its AF system is still one of the best of its class, providing snappy autofocusing for faster subjects. That said, the camera's ergonomics and user interface aren't very intuitive. If that's important to you, the Nikon Z 50 is a good alternative at this price point. The Z mount lens ecosystem has been slow-growing, so there aren't nearly as many lenses available, but with more and more third-party options in the mix, you'll still have some excellent glass to choose from.

If you need something more portable, the Fujifilm X-T30 II is a great APS-C option that you can find for under $1,000 without a lens. It uses the same sensor as the Fujifilm X-S10, so image and video quality are similar. The biggest difference is its body design. Though it sacrifices a roomier handgrip, the X-T30 II is remarkably portable for an interchangeable lens camera, making it a great option for travel or street photography.

Unlike the other picks on this list, this camera features old-school manual control dials, which can take some getting used to but make it easy to adjust your settings on the fly. Beyond that, the camera captures excellent image quality straight out of the camera, has a nice tilting screen for waist-level shooting, and even boasts some decent video specs if you like to record some video on the side.

You don't need to spend a fortune to get a great vlogging camera, especially with the slew of affordable mirrorless options designed specifically for vlogging. Among those, the Sony ZV-E10 is the best we've tested under $1,000. It's lightweight and portable, and though it doesn't have a viewfinder, it does have a vari-angle screen that makes it easy to monitor yourself while shooting. It also has specialized autofocus modes, like 'Product Showcase,' which automatically prioritizes objects held up in the frame without you having to cover your face. Add that all up, and you've got one of the most capable vlogging cams at this price point.

Unfortunately, it doesn't have IBIS, and its e-stabilization feature isn't the most effective. However, you can still pair the ZV-E10 with optically stabilized lenses for smoother footage. It's also quite portable for on-the-go vlogging. Ultimately, this is one of the best options for aspiring content creators who don't want to spend a fortune on a video camera.

Before the Canon EOS RP rolled out, you would have been hard-pressed to find a brand-new full-frame camera for under $1,000. At just under $1,000 for the body, it's one of the cheapest full-frame cameras on the market. Of course, just like the Canon EOS R10 above, you'll have to stretch your budget to buy lenses, but it's still a great entryway into full-frame photography for those who can't afford a higher-end camera body.

There's a lot to love about the RP, from its relatively portable size to its accessible controls and user interface. There is a trade-off, though. Build quality leaves a little to be desired, and it has a disappointingly short battery life. Unlike pricier alternatives like the Nikon Z 5, it doesn't have built-in stabilization and only shoots heavily cropped 4k video, so it isn't the best choice for hybrid or video shooters. Still, the boost in low-light capability and the ability to use full-frame lenses might be worth the trade-off for portrait and landscape photographers.