📸 The Best Mirrorless Cameras of 2023: Our Top Picks 👌

The photography.video team presents the best mirrorless cameras of 2023, providing expert insight into the top performers in the market. With a variety of options catering to diverse photographic needs and styles, photographers can make informed decisions when selecting the ideal camera to capture their creative visions. Find the perfect mirrorless camera for your photographic style or ability.

1. Canon EOS R5 – The Best Mirrorless Camera 2023

The Canon EOS R5 emerges as the best mirrorless camera of 2023, offering unparalleled resolution, speed, and functionality. This professional-grade camera boasts exceptional image quality, advanced autofocus capabilities, and robust video features, making it a top choice for photographers seeking superior performance.

The April 2023 firmware update further refines the EOS R5 by enhancing high-resolution image capture, streamlining network settings transfer between cameras, and improving FTP transfer efficiency with image cropping and resizing. Additionally, the update focuses on security enhancements and bug fixes for a seamless user experience. In essence, the Canon EOS R5 dominates the 2023 mirrorless camera market as a powerful and versatile tool, with its latest firmware update solidifying its position for both professionals and enthusiasts. See our Canon EOS R5 Review.

2. Canon EOS R10 – Best Mirrorless Camera For Beginners

Canon’s new APS-C mirrorless camera, the EOS R10, is a great choice for photographers and videographers looking to upgrade or explore new creative avenues. With its guided user interface and customisable controls, the camera is perfect for beginners. It boasts a 24.2-megapixel sensor, high-speed continuous shooting at up to 15 fps, and a high-quality 4K/30p video mode. The deep-learning Dual Pixel CMOS AF II focusing system ensures everything is in sharp focus, while built-in Wi-Fi makes sharing easy.

3. Fujifilm X-T5 – Best Mirrorless Camera For Enthusiasts

Fujifilm’s X-T5 is a highly capable camera with a wealth of features for photographers and videographers. It has a lightweight, weather-resistant body and a back-illuminated 40.2MP sensor that delivers advanced resolution and low noise. It can shoot video at 6.2K/30P or 4K/60P and still images at 15 fps with its mechanical shutter. The tilting LCD and 3.69-million-dot EVF make it easy to shoot from various angles, and the improved autofocus system provides accurate and stable focusing.

One of the X-T5’s major advantages is its 5-axis in-body image stabilisation, which offers up to 7.0 stops of stabilisation for handheld shooting in low light conditions. It also features a Pixel Shift Multi-Shot function that uses the IBIS mechanism to shift the camera’s image sensor in high precision.

4. Sony A7 IV – Best Mirrorless Camera For Professionals

The Sony A7 IV is an excellent camera for professional photographers and videographers. Its 33-megapixel full-frame sensor and advanced autofocus system deliver superb image quality, while its ability to shoot at up to 10 fps with autofocus tracking makes it ideal for capturing fast-moving subjects. The camera’s 4K video recording capabilities and advanced features give professionals maximum creative control over their footage.

Its improved ergonomics and usability, with a larger grip and intuitive menu system, make it easy to use even in demanding shooting situations. Its built-in Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and NFC connectivity allow for easy sharing and remote control, while its dual UHS-II SD card slots provide fast and reliable storage. For professionals, the A7 IV’s high-performance capabilities, advanced features, and improved usability make it an excellent choice for a wide range of shooting situations. See our Sony A7 IV Review.

5. Sony A6400 – Best Mirrorless Camera Under $1000

The Sony A6400 is a highly capable mirrorless camera that offers advanced features and excellent image quality at an affordable price point, making it the best mirrorless camera for under $1000. It boasts a 24.2-megapixel APS-C sensor and an advanced autofocus system with 425 phase detection autofocus points that cover 84% of the image area, delivering fast and accurate focus tracking. The camera can shoot at up to 11 fps with continuous autofocus and can capture 4K video with full pixel readout and no pixel binning.

The A6400 is also designed with usability in mind, featuring a 180-degree tilting touchscreen LCD and built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity for easy sharing and remote control. Its compact and lightweight body makes it perfect for on-the-go shooting.

6. Nikon Z9 – Best Mirrorless Camera Money Can Buy

The Nikon Z9 is the best mirrorless camera money can buy, offering unparalleled performance and advanced features for professional photographers. It features a 45-megapixel full-frame sensor, an advanced autofocus system with 1053 phase detection autofocus points, and the ability to shoot at up to 20 fps with autofocus tracking. The camera also boasts 8K video recording capabilities and advanced video features, making it a versatile tool for both stills and video.

The Z9 also features a durable, weather-sealed body with improved ergonomics and usability, including a new vertical grip and intuitive menu system. Its dual CFexpress card slots provide fast and reliable storage, while its built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity allows for easy sharing and remote control.

7. Panasonic S5II – Best Mirrorless Hybrid Camera

The Lumix S5II is a great hybrid camera that offers advanced features such as PDAF and I.S. (Image Stabilisation) for both photography and videography. It can capture high-quality photos and videos with unlimited recording, making it an ideal choice for content creators. The camera is compact, full-frame and mirrorless, which provides enhanced mobility and versatility. Its advanced autofocus system, including Phase Hybrid AF, makes it easy to capture fast-moving subjects accurately, and its heat management system ensures unlimited recording time.

The Lumix S5II also offers superior image quality with true-to-life colours, a natural three-dimensional effect, and Dual Native ISO technology to suppress noise. With the ability to record LUT-applied photos and videos internally, it makes colour grading easy and intuitive. All these features make the Lumix S5II an excellent hybrid camera for professionals and enthusiasts alike.

8. Panasonic Lumix GH6 – Best Mirrorless Camera For Video

The Panasonic Lumix GH6 is a hybrid mirrorless camera with advanced video capabilities, making it the best mirrorless camera for video. Its features include a new 25.2-megapixel Live MOS sensor, 4:2:2 10-bit C4K/4K 60p/50p video and unlimited recording time. The firmware version 2.2 also enables direct recording to USB-SSD and Apple ProRes codec video, which reduces the load on the computer during post-production.

The GH6 also offers 5.7K 10-bit 60p/50p recording and unlimited 4:2:2 10-bit C4K/4K 60p/50p internal recording. The camera has 7.5-stop Dual I.S. 2 image stabilizer and a new Venus Engine, which delivers improved processing power and higher-resolution, higher-bit-rate video. The GH6 is also capable of high-frame-rate and slow-motion recording. The cons include its high price and that it lacks a full-frame sensor.

9. Fujifilm XT30 II – Best Mirrorless Camera For Travel

The Fujifilm X-T30 II is a compact mirrorless camera with powerful features, making it ideal for travel photography. It features a 26.1-megapixel X-Trans CMOS 4 sensor, X-Processor 4 image processing engine, and 4K/30p video capabilities, allowing you to capture stunning photos and videos on the go.

One of the major advantages of the X-T30 II is its lightweight and compact design, which makes it easy to carry around while travelling. Additionally, the camera has a fast and accurate autofocus system, making it easy to capture subjects in motion. The camera also offers a variety of film simulations and creative modes for added artistic control.

10. Canon EOS R6 II – Best Mirrorless Camera For Wedding Photography

The Canon R6 Mark II’s high-speed continuous shooting, advanced subject detection and acquisition, and optimized video recording capabilities make it an excellent choice for wedding photography. The camera’s fast electronic shutter speeds of up to 40 fps at 20MP allow for capturing dynamic action shots and spontaneous moments during the event, while the enhanced subject acquisition with head, face, and eye detection ensures fast and accurate focusing on the subjects. The option to detect and track animals can also come in handy for capturing shots of pets or other animals present at the wedding.

In addition, the camera’s ability to record up to 6 hours of continuous Full-HD video and oversampled uncropped 4K movies up to 60 fps or Full-HD high-frame-rate movie recording at up to 180 fps without overheating provides the photographer with the versatility to capture both photos and videos seamlessly. The built-in 5GHz Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 5 technology also allow for easy and quick sharing of photos and videos with clients and social networks using the Canon Camera Connect app.

11. Canon EOS R3 – Best Mirrorless Camera For Sports Photography

The Canon EOS R3 is a great mirrorless camera for sports photography due to its fast burst shooting at up to 30 fps with full AF and AE tracking, Eye Controlled AF for instinctive subject selection, deep-learning AI for tracking and focusing on moving subjects, and In-Body Image Stabilizer (IBIS) with up to 8-stops of protection when using specific RF lenses. It also features a revolutionary 24-megapixel back-illuminated stacked CMOS sensor, an electronic viewfinder with high resolution and refresh rate and advanced connectivity options for instant image delivery.

12. Canon EOS R7 – Best Mirrorless Camera For Wildlife Photography

The newly developed high image quality 32.5 megapixels APS-C sized CMOS sensor, DIGIC X Image Processor with a native ISO range of 100-32000, expandable to 51200, and Dual Pixel CMOS AF II covering approximately 100% width and height with up to 651 zones down to EV -5.0, make it a great camera for wildlife photography. Its subject-tracking capabilities, inherited from the R3, include people, animals, and vehicle detection, making it easier to capture fast-moving wildlife in action.

Additionally, the high-speed shooting of 15fps mechanical and 30fps high-speed electronic shutter, as well as the RAW Burst Mode with ½ second pre-shooting, allow for capturing multiple shots of wildlife with minimal delay.

13. OM SYSTEM OM-1 – Best Mirrorless Camera For Macro Photography

The OM System OM-1 is a rugged, image-stabilized Micro Four Thirds mirrorless camera capable of high-speed shooting and computational photography, with a quad-pixel AF Stacked CMOS sensor, environmental sealing rated to IP53, and recognition-based subject tracking. Its Micro Four Thirds sensor makes it a great choice for macro photography due to the increased depth of field and smaller size of the lenses, which allow for greater magnification and easier manoeuvrability in tight spaces.

14. Sony A7R V – Best Mirrorless Camera For Landscape Photography

The Sony A7R V is one of the best mirrorless cameras for landscape photography due to its advanced features and exceptional image quality. The camera’s 61.0-megapixel back-illuminated sensor and BIONZ XR image processing engine deliver incredible resolution and fine detail, making it perfect for capturing the intricate details of landscapes. The advanced optical 5-axis image stabilization ensures sharp and stable images, even in challenging shooting conditions.

The Pixel Shift Multi Shooting feature allows for outstanding resolution in a single image, while the Selectable RAW image sizes and quality provide flexibility in post-processing. The camera’s Real-time Tracking for movies and S-Log3 gamma curve with 14+ stops of latitude provide even more options for capturing stunning landscapes. Additionally, the camera’s durable magnesium alloy chassis and reliable mechanical shutter make it well-suited for outdoor shooting.

15. Sony A1 – Best Mirrorless Camera For Studio/Portrait Photography

The Sony A1 is a flagship mirrorless camera designed for professional photographers, featuring a 50.1-megapixel full-frame Exmor RS CMOS sensor and an advanced BIONZ XR processor. The camera can shoot up to 30 frames per second with full AF/AE tracking, making it suitable for capturing fast-moving subjects. The A1 also features a 759-point phase-detection autofocus system and 5-axis in-body image stabilization, providing accurate focus and stability even in low-light conditions.

For studio photography, the A1 offers high resolution and excellent dynamic range, making it perfect for capturing fine details and subtle nuances in lighting. The camera also supports tethered shooting and has a large, high-resolution electronic viewfinder for precise framing and focus. Its fast and reliable autofocus system and high-speed continuous shooting make it an excellent choice for capturing fast-moving subjects, such as models or dancers.

Factors to Consider when Choosing a Mirrorless Camera

When choosing a mirrorless camera, there are several factors to consider, including sensor size, autofocus, image stabilisation, continuous shooting speed, video capabilities, and ergonomics. The sensor size determines the image quality and low-light performance of the camera, with full-frame sensors offering the best image quality. Autofocus and image stabilization are also crucial for sharp and accurate photos and videos. Continuous shooting speed is essential for action photography, while video capabilities are essential for videographers. Ergonomics, including the size, weight, and button layout of the camera, are also important to ensure a comfortable and efficient shooting experience.

Sensor Size

The sensor size is one of the most critical factors when choosing a mirrorless camera. Full-frame sensors offer the best image quality and low-light performance, but they are also more expensive and larger in size. APS-C sensors are smaller and more affordable, but they also offer lower image quality and low-light performance. Micro Four Thirds sensors are even smaller but are ideal for compact and lightweight camera bodies.

Autofocus

Autofocus is essential for sharp and accurate photos and videos. The number and type of autofocus points, as well as the speed and accuracy of the autofocus system, are critical factors to consider. Hybrid autofocus systems that combine both phase-detection and contrast-detection autofocus are generally the most effective.

Image Stabilization

Image stabilization is essential for shooting in low light conditions or when using slow shutter speeds. In-body image stabilization systems are becoming increasingly popular and offer several advantages over lens-based image stabilization systems. In-body image stabilization systems also work with any lens attached to the camera, making them more versatile.

Continuous Shooting Speed

Continuous shooting speed is crucial for action photography. Mirrorless cameras can shoot at much faster rates than traditional DSLRs due to their lack of a mechanical mirror. Look for cameras that can shoot at least 10 frames per second, and even faster for sports and wildlife photography.

Video Capabilities

Video capabilities are essential for videographers. Look for cameras that can record at least 4K video at 30 frames per second, with higher frame rates being even better. Look for cameras with advanced features such as in-body image stabilization, high-bitrate recording, and log shooting for maximum flexibility in post-production.

Ergonomics

Ergonomics, including the size, weight, and button layout of the camera, are critical for ensuring a comfortable and efficient shooting experience. Look for cameras that fit comfortably in your hand, have a well-designed button layout, and offer customizable controls to fit your shooting style.

Conclusion

After extensively researching and testing numerous mirrorless cameras on the market, it’s clear that the world of photography is rapidly advancing, and mirrorless cameras are at the forefront of that change. The technology and features of these cameras have reached new heights, making them the ideal choice for all kinds of photography, including portrait, sports, landscape, and studio. As a result, it’s difficult to name a single “best” mirrorless camera for all purposes, as each camera has its strengths and weaknesses.

However, we can confidently recommend the top models available today, including the Sony A1 and A7R V, the Canon EOS R5, and the Nikon Z9. These cameras offer the latest and most advanced technology, exceptional image quality, and outstanding performance, making them ideal for any photography project.

If you’re looking for more options beyond mirrorless cameras, you might want to check out our article, “21 Best Digital Cameras of 2023.” It covers a wide range of cameras, from compact point-and-shoots to full-frame DSLRs & the best action cameras. No matter what your needs and budget are, you’ll find a camera that suits you in that list. At photography.video, we strive to provide comprehensive and unbiased reviews and recommendations to help you make informed decisions on your photography gear.

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