If you're keen to level-up from your smartphone with a dedicated camera, then you're best bet is one of the best mirrorless cameras. That's because almost all of the leading camera brands are focusing their efforts in this space, and it's where the cutting edge camera tech is at.
We've conducted in-depth tests of the latest and greatest models from Sony, Canon, Nikon, Fujifilm and more, covering every budget and every type of photographer and movie-maker, and hand selected our top picks below, from entry-level stills cameras to flagship hybrids.
Our personal favorite overall is the Nikon Z6 III. Its performance and features seriously impressed us, including its assured handling and bright viewfinder, powerful 6K specs and precise subject detection autofocus, which also makes it one of the best Nikon cameras. However, not everyone can afford it or even need its sophisticated features
We've compiled this guide to make it easy for you to get honest answers when deciding which mirrorless camera to buy. We've shot with each model to get a genuine understanding of how they feel and perform in a range of photography scenarios. You'll find the results summarized here, explaining exactly what makes these mirrorless cameras worthy of a recommendation.
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.
The best full-frame for most people
A superb blend of power and reliability for both photo and video creatives, the Z6 III excels in almost every situation.
For
- Useful new tilting touchscreen
- Improved sensor and autofocus
- Higher-resolution EVF than before
- Lens produces good sharpness
- Now shoots 4K video
Against
- Needs filter for full weather-sealing
- Pricey for a fixed lens camera
The best choice for beginners
With modern autofocus and good handling, the EOS R10 is a versatile mirrorless powerhouse that's perfectly suited for beginners.
For
- Compact and lightweight
- Impressive autofocus smarts
- Speedy burst mode
- Good value
Against
- No in-body image stabilization
- Cropped 4K/60p video
- Single card slot
- Small viewfinder
The best for pros
The A7R V has the same resolution as the A7R IV, but a new sensor and processing engine make it a better camera overall for pros.
For
- Properly dinky dimensions
- Point-and-shoot simplicity
- Rechargeable battery
Against
- Fixed focus can be troublesome
- No dedicated close-up mode
- Film more expensive than rivals
Best by use-case
The best for video
Billed as a hybrid, the Lumix S5 II excels at video, producing rich and detailed 6K/30p footage while offering excellent bang for buck.
For
- Large sensor pocket power
- Intuitive handling
- Quick start up
- Sharp raw DNG stills
Against
- No tilt-screen
- Poor battery life
- Jittery autofocus
The best crop-sensor
The EOS R7 is like one of Canon's full-frame EOS R cameras, but with a smaller APS-C sensor. Impressively powerful for the price.
For
- Fast, sticky face detection
- High level of user control
- Impressive AF speeds and adherence
- Low noise at moderate ISOs
- Solid build and pocketable form
- Decent zoom range for a 1-inch sensor
Against
- Lacks a built-in ND filter
- Touch functionality still lacking
- Still no in-camera raw processing
- Corner softness at 24mm and 200mm
- Expensive
- Average battery life
- Body not ergonomically designed
The best retro hybrid
A lovely retro hybrid, the Nikon Z fc is a great choice for casual shooters who want a fun camera for travel and everyday shooting.
For
- Speedy AF and and face detection
- Very responsive touchscreen
- Great UI and comprehensive menus
- Very good build quality
- Very pleasing 4K video footage
Against
- Only a minor update over the ZS70
- Softness at wide-angle settings
- Noise reduction robs images of details
- Slightly sluggish start-up and shutdown
- EVF far from perfect
The best value for beginners
The E-M10 Mark IV might lack advanced features such as phase-detection autofocus, but is still a great value option for stills.
For
- Excellent image quality
- Responsive autofocus
- Innovative multi-aspect sensor
- Good body-mounted controls
Against
- Sluggish zooming
- Fixed rear screen
- Somewhat fiddly digital interface
The best hybrid for pros
A smaller, cheaper version of the excellent Z9, the Nikon Z8 is one of the most capable hybrid cameras on the market right now.
For
- Properly dinky dimensions
- Point-and-shoot simplicity
- Rechargeable battery
Against
- Fixed focus can be troublesome
- No dedicated close-up mode
- Film more expensive than rivals
The best medium format
Very much a camera for purists, the X2D 100C is also the most versatile and accessible medium format Hasselblad made to date.
For
- Properly dinky dimensions
- Point-and-shoot simplicity
- Rechargeable battery
Against
- Fixed focus can be troublesome
- No dedicated close-up mode
- Film more expensive than rivals
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The best hybrid for beginners
Taking all that made the X-S10 great, the X-S20 adds beginner-friendly features while still satisfying more advanced users.
For
- Class-leading autofocus
- Bright lens for lovely video bokeh
- Hotshoe and 3.5mm mic port
- Side-flipping screen ideal for video
- Fits in your pocket
Against
- Average video stabilization
- Touchscreen still very limited
- Micro USB rather than USB-C
The best for action enthusiasts
An innovative camera for high-speed photography, the A9 III delivers blistering stills pace with unbeatable burst speeds.
For
- Unbeatable burst shooting
- More versatile than ever for flash photography
- Sony’s best design
Against
- Limited ISO range
- Pricy
- Only 4K video
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
Nikon Z6 III sample images
✅ 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.
❌ 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
Canon EOS R10 sample images
✅ 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.
❌ 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
Sony A7R V sample images
✅ 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.
❌ 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
Panasonic Lumix S5 II sample image
✅ You want to accelerate your video prowess: The S5 II is feature-packed for video, with open gate 6K 30p recording, a range of codecs, and superb image stabilization.
✅ You make video for social, too: The S5 II's uncropped video is perfect for multi-aspect videos for social.
❌ You love slow-motion video: The S5 II's 4k / 60p video incurs a 1.5x crop, which is a little restricting for wide angle slow motion video.
❌ You love a good-looking camera: Design aesthetics are subjective, but we think the S5 II’s DSLR style is dated.
The Panasonic Lumix S5 II is a worthy successor to one of our favorite video cameras, the S5. Like the S5, the S5 II is ticketed as a hybrid, but video is where it excels. In our tests, we found its 6K/30p footage rich and detailed, with wide dynamic range. Its video chops are bolstered by 10-bit recording across almost all resolutions, plus the ability to record uncropped footage using the sensor’s full 3:2 aspect ratio – useful for cropping content. We also found it sturdy yet comfortable to handle during testing. Happily, its compact design doesn’t compromise the physical controls.
The S5 II is Panasonic’s first mirrorless camera with phase detection AF for video. Combined with effective image stabilization, we found it produces sharp, stable video even when shooting handheld, although the 1.5x crop on 4K/60p video is a shame. The Panasonic Lumix GH6 is a more travel-friendly video powerhouse with a Micro Four Thirds sensor, while serious videographers will be drawn by the Lumix S5 IIX. Nevertheless, the S5 II is a fantastic full-frame hybrid for high-quality video.
- Read our in-depth Panasonic Lumix S5 II review
