The 5 Best Mirrorless Cameras For Beginners - Spring 2024 Reviews

The Canon EOS R10 is one of the best entry-level mirrorless cameras we've tested. Though it isn't exactly cheap, it's an excellent choice for beginners if you can afford it, with excellent ergonomics and a highly intuitive user interface. Image quality is great thanks to its high-res APS-C sensor, and the camera is versatile enough for video work and vlogs. With 4k recording at up to 60 fps, you can record video in a wide range of styles. The R10 also has a great battery life and one of the most reliable autofocus systems on the market.

That said, lens selection is still somewhat limited for Canon's RF-mount, but you can also adapt older EF and EF-S lenses if you buy an EF-EOS R adapter. If you'd prefer a more established mirrorless system, the Fujifilm X-S10 is another great choice at a similar price point, and it features in-body image stabilization (IBIS) to help you get smoother handheld shots. However, if you want to upgrade to full-frame one day, Canon's RF system features both APS-C and full-frame models, so you can more easily switch to a full-frame body if you need to.

If the Canon EOS R10 is out of your price range, a Sony APS-C Alpha camera like the Sony α6400 represents a good middle ground for price and performance. It's showing its age now, with an outdated user interface and ergonomics that leave something to be desired. However, its sensor can capture excellent-quality images, and the camera's autofocus system remains one of the best in its class, even today.

For those who want to save even more money, the Sony α6100 uses the same sensor but has a lower-resolution EVF and a slightly cheaper build. On the flip side, the pricier Sony α6600 also takes that same sensor but puts it in a sturdier body with a bigger battery and IBIS. Overall, the differences between these three cameras are minor, and they can all capture beautiful images, so each one can be a good choice, depending on your budget.

Those on a tighter budget will love the Canon EOS R50, which is one of the best-value options on the market. It's portable enough to take on the go and features a high-resolution APS-C sensor that captures great image quality for its class. It's also incredibly intuitive to use for those who've only ever used a smartphone camera, thanks to a robust auto mode that takes most of the guesswork out of photography. Plus, it's a good choice for vlogs, with 4k video recording at up to 30 fps and a fully articulated screen to help you monitor yourself while recording.

The Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark IV is another great budget camera, and it's part of the Micro Four Thirds system, so compatible lenses will be more compact. It's also one of the very few cameras at this price point that has IBIS. However, its autofocus system isn't nearly as reliable as the AF on the Canon.

If you want to get started in video, look no further than the Sony ZV-E10. This budget vlogging camera is the perfect video camera for beginners. It's similar to Sony Alpha cameras like the Sony α6100 mentioned above but is geared more toward vloggers and video shooters. To that end, it has an updated internal microphone, a detachable windscreen to reduce ambient noise, and a fully articulated screen that makes it easy to monitor yourself while recording.

Unfortunately, you don't get a viewfinder here, but the camera is super portable and feels relatively well-built. Its battery life is also impressive for a mirrorless camera. Plus, its autofocus system is reliable and accurate, and it even has specialized focus modes, like 'Product Showcase,' which automatically switches focus to any object held up in the frame for, say, product reviews or makeup tutorials. Overall, if you're looking for a beginner video camera that won't break the bank, this one's hard to beat.

"Cheap" isn't really a word that comes to mind when we think of cameras, but there are options out there that won't cost you a fortune. If you don't want to risk buying a camera from the used market, the Canon EOS R100 is a good choice for beginners who want to keep costs down as much as possible.

It's as basic as they come, with no tilt screen, minimal controls, and limited video features. What it does have, though, is a high-resolution APS-C sensor that can capture great images. It's also chock-full of useful auto modes to help beginners get started. More importantly, if you've never used a camera before and this is the only one within your budget that gets you out there shooting, it will have given you something that transcends having the latest and greatest camera tech—an entryway into the art of photography.