INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
If you're casual about your photography, then smartphones and compact cameras more than do the job
Generally though, they are limited by small sensors and fixed lenses that don't offer the kind of next-level control that you need when
taking your photography that little bit further.With that in mind, an interchangeable lens camera is the perfect upgrade
In this guide, we've picked out the best entry-level mirrorless cameras that should fit your budget, aren't too bulky and hopefully won't be
too perplexing as you learn how to use them.Many of the mirrorless cameras in this group have APS-C sensors, but some of our favourites have
slightly smaller Micro Four Thirds sensors
Both offer such a big improvement over smartphones and compacts that really there’s little to choose between them
To find out more about sensor sizes, take a look at our sensor guide.Mirrorless cameras also offer interchangeable lenses
They will often come with a general-purpose 3x ‘kit’ zoom lens which are great to get you started with
Once you get a little bit more into it, you might find it worth investing in telephotos, macro lenses, super-wide-angles and more
It’s worth checking the lens ranges on offer, particularly if you might want to upgrade to a better camera in the range later on.What you
need to know about Black Friday 2019The Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals period is the ideal time to pick a great beginner mirrorless
This sector of the market is often where you’ll find the best discounts and deals, as retailers try to lure in that all-important
It’s also great for bargains if you’re not already tied to an ecosystem - when you can be a little less picky about brand or particular
model, there are some great offers to be had
If you like the look of something you see in our listing here, you don’t necessarily have to wait until Black Friday as our widget
automatically updates with the latest and best deals
Make sure you keep an eye on our Black Friday camera deals page as that’s where we’ll be highlighting all the latest deals.Value for
moneyLastly, there’s value for money
Just because something is "cheap", that doesn't necessarily mean it represents value for money
If you find you quickly outgrow it and need to upgrade very soon, then you'll end up spending even more money
Some of the cameras here might seem expensive to somebody buying their first camera, but we will have recommended them as something that
should last you for many years to come.If you view your photography hobby as an investment, it will pay huge dividends if you can invest as
much as you possibly can when you first get started
Inexpensive cameras can still do a good job, but when cutting back on price inevitably means that features and controls are missing - so ask
yourself if the saving is worth missing out on something you think you'll need.For example, the cheapest mirrorless cameras don’t usually
have viewfinders, but these can be invaluable for shooting in bright light, when the screen on the back can easily suffer from glare and
reflections, so we’d always recommend stretching to a camera with a viewfinder if you can.Check out the specs of the rear screens, too
The size and resolution are not so important since they’re all quite similar these days, but a touchscreen display will make the camera
feel more like a phone, making the transition to using a "proper" camera a little easier since you'll already be used to tapping, swiping
and so on.Finally, if you like to shoot video, you might want a camera that can shoot 4K, and not all of them can
Although it's becoming more common, it's still a somewhat new area for entry-level mirrorless cameras, and they don’t all do it (though
they do all offer regular 1920 x 1080 Full HD).All the mirrorless cameras we’ve chosen for this list are well suited to beginners because
of their price, size, ease of use, features or all of those things. You can also take a look at our other buying guides below if you're
Otherwise, read on to see the 10 best entry-level mirrorless cameras you can buy right now. Best entry-level mirrorless cameras 2019 at a
glanceOlympus OM-D E-M10 Mark IIIFujifilm X-T100Panasonic GX9Sony Alpha A6100Canon EOS M50Fujifilm X-A7Sony Alpha A5100Canon EOS M200Olympus
PEN E-PL9Best mirrorless cameras for beginners in 20191
Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark IIIThe E-M10 III is small, powerful and beautifully designedSensor size: Micro Four Thirds | Resolution: 16.1MP |
Viewfinder: EVF, 2,360,000 dots | Monitor: 3-inch tilting touchscreen, 1,040,000 dots | Maximum continuous shooting rate: 8.6fps | Movies:
4K | User level: Beginner/IntermediatePremium finishGreat in-body stabilizationOnly 16 megapixelMinor update to Mark IIThe retro-tastic
E-M10 Mark III is styled like a DSLR, with a viewfinder mounted on the top, but this camera is so small it scarcely takes up more space than
mirrorless cameras with no viewfinder at all
It has a Micro Four Thirds sensor a little smaller than the APS-C sensors used by rival makers, and 16 megapixels rather than the usual 24,
but the smaller sensor means smaller, faster-focusing lenses, and you’re not likely to notice the difference in megapixels in real-world
What you will notice is this camera’s great build quality and finish, its responsiveness, its excellent built in Art Filters and the
rather clever shooting options in its Advanced Photo mode
Olympus offers a good range of lenses, too - as it shares the Micro Four Thirds mount with Panasonic, you can also swap lenses between
Fujifilm X-T100Filling the gap between the X-A7 and X-T20Sensor size: APS-C | Resolution: 24.2MP | Viewfinder: EVF, 2,360,000 dots |
Monitor: 3-inch 3-way tilting touchscreen, 1,040,000 dots | Maximum continuous shooting rate: 6fps | Movies: 4K | User level:
IntermediateBuilt-in viewfinder3-way tilting rear screen4K video only at 15fpsFocusing could be fasterWhile the absence of an X Trans sensor
is a little disappointing (Fujifilm's premium sensor), the reality is that this has allowed Fujifilm to price the camera a little more
It's also fair to say that for most photographers the difference will be negligible, with the X-T100 delivering some of the best results
you'll see from an entry-level mirrorless camera
4K video capture capped at 15fps is also a bit of a let down for those who do a lot of video recording, though, while focusing speeds can be
a little bit slow on occasion
Otherwise, Fujifilm's entry-level mirrorless camera doesn't generally disappoint
Lovely to look at and use, the X-T100 is a great choice if you're looking for your first mirrorless camera.(Image credit: Panasonic)3
Panasonic GX9An ideal beginner camera that’s also travel-friendly Sensor size: Micro Four Thirds | Resolution: 20.3MP | Viewfinder: EVF,
2,764,800 dots | Monitor: 3-inch tilting touchscreen, 1,240,000 dots | Maximum continuous shooting rate: 9fps/30fps | Movies: 4K | User
level: Beginner/intermediateBuilt-in viewfinder5-axis dual ISFunctional not stylishStill only 16 megapixelsThe Lumix GX9 from Panasonic
represents excellent value for money
Its small size and weight not only make it ideal for those new to an interchangeable lens camera, but it's also well-suited for travel
The great feature set includes a built-in viewfinder, plus 5-axis dual image stabilisation
One of our favourite features of all Panasonic cameras is the 4K Video and 4K Photo Modes
You can use the latter to extract stills from a movie to in order to freeze the perfect moment
As standard, the GX9 comes with a 12-32mm lens, which is a good optic to get you started with
Further good news is that there are dozens of different lenses available in the Micro Four Thirds mount, so this is a camera you can truly
grow with.(Image credit: Sony)4
Sony Alpha A6100Sony's popular beginner-friendly model gets an updateSensor size: APS-C | Resolution: 24.2MP | Viewfinder: EVF, 1,440,000
dots | Monitor: 3-inch tilting, 921,600 dots | Maximum continuous shooting rate: 11fps | Movies: 4K | User level: Beginner/IntermediateGreat
range of specsValue for moneyFiddly buttons Small viewfinder Fairly pricey Sony's A6000 was one of the most popular mirrorless models of
the past few years, and while you can still buy it, the brand has recently refreshed it in the shape of the A6100
That brings a whole set of new features to Sony's entry-level offering, including improved video features which now include 4K
You also now get a touch-sensitive screen and advanced autofocus options which include the very well-performing Eye AF (for both humans and
An extensive range of different lenses are available for Sony's mount, so it's also a system you can be confident when investing in
As it stands, the A6100 is one of the most expensive models on this list - but the good news is that if you're happy with older tech, the
A6000 is still very much available, and right now is a veritable bargain.5
Canon EOS M50An affordable Canon mirrorless EOS M with a viewfinderSensor size: APS-C | Resolution: 24.1MP | Viewfinder: EVF, 2,360,000 dots
| Monitor: 3-inch vari-angle, 1,040,000 dots | Maximum continuous shooting rate: 10fps | Movies: 4K | User level: Beginner/IntermediateGreat
viewfinderEasy to useHeavy crop on 4K videoPlasticky feelThis great little all-rounder is the only budget-friendly EOS M series camera with
Otherwise, you're doing your composing via the screen - not such a big deal if you're coming up from a smartphone, but viewfinders are great
when bright light makes the screen a bit awkward to use
Plus there's the fact that shooting through a viewfinder just feels a bit more "authentic"
Other tempting features include 4K video (just note that it's cropped), great autofocusing and an easy-to-use interface. 6
Panasonic Lumix GX800 / GX850This little mirrorless camera is cheap, compact and built for bloggingSensor size: Micro Four Thirds |
Resolution: 16MP | Viewfinder: No | Monitor: 3-inch tilting touchscreen, 1,040,000 dots | Maximum continuous shooting rate: 5.8fps | Movies:
4K | User level: BeginnerCompact 12-32mm lensVery good value16MP only average these daysNo viewfinderOlympus is not the only company to make
Micro Four Thirds mirrorless cameras
They’re also made by Panasonic and, in fact, the lenses are interchangeable
Where Olympus cameras are all about style and creativity, Panasonic cameras are at least as technically capable but a little more down to
And they don’t come much more down to earth than the Lumix GX800 (known as the GX850 in the US), which combines small size with powerful
features and exceptional value
You don’t get a viewfinder, but you do get 4K video and Panasonic’s 4K Photo modes, a 180-degree selfie screen, touch control and a
terrific little 12-32mm retracting kit lens.7
Fujifilm X-A5Fujifilm’s beginner-friendly CSC brings great looks and great photosSensor size: APS-C | Resolution: 24.2MP | Viewfinder: No
| Monitor: 3-inch tilting touchscreen, 1,040,000 dots | Maximum continuous shooting rate: 6fps | Movies: 4K | User level: BeginnerNew
15-45mm retracting kit lensConsistently sharp shotsNo viewfinder4K video is only 15fpsFujifilm has made its reputation with its high-end
X-mount mirrorless cameras, but it also makes a series of simpler X-A cameras for novices
The X-A5 sports a retracting 15-45mm kit lens which makes the camera far easier to cram into a bag
There’s no viewfinder, but the touch-screen display works very well and flips through 180 degrees for selfies
The image quality is terrific, even though its regular CMOS sensor rather than Fujifilm’s special X-Trans sensor, though the 4K video mode
only works at 15fps, which is a let-down
Note that Fujifilm recently announced the X-A7, which includes a huge 3.5-inch touchscreen, a new 24.5 megapixel sensor and a boost to the
4K video recording, which now offers 30fps
It seems likely that we'll love the X-A7 once we get a chance to review it, but for now, the X-A5 remains on the list.8
Sony Alpha A5100An older model, but it's cheaper and designed for novicesSensor size: APS-C | Resolution: 24.3MP | Viewfinder: No | Monitor:
3-inch tilting, 921,600 dots | Maximum continuous shooting rate: 6fps | Movies: Full HD | User level: BeginnerSophisticated autofocusFlip-up
selfie screenNo viewfinderNow four years oldLaunched in the same year as the A6000, the A5100 is also a highly competent camera whose price
has dropped to bargain basement prices thanks to its age
Of course there's always a trade-off to be made for saving cash
Here the compromises are the lack of an electronic viewfinder, while the external controls are a lot more basic
Sony has done a great job to make a camera this small but it does leave it feeling slightly dwarfed by the 16-50mm kit lens
On the plus side, the A5100 does, however, have a 180-degree selfie screen
Now that we've seen some new APS-C mirrorless models - and lenses - from the company, we can also feel pretty confident that Sony is keen to
keep investing in this format, too.9
Canon EOS M100Canon’s cheapest mirrorless camera offers value and simplicitySensor size: APS-C | Resolution: 24.2MP | Viewfinder: No |
Monitor: 3-inch tilting touchscreen, 1,040,000 dots | Maximum continuous shooting rate: 6.1fps | Movies: Full HD | User level:
Beginner180-degree selfie screenResponsive touchscreen controlFew external controlsAwkward handlingCanon’s cheapest EOS M model is very
competitively priced and offers an easy introduction to interchangeable lens cameras for smartphone or compact camera upgraders
But to make it ‘simple’, Canon has taken away a lot of the external controls, which means you spend more time in the menus and
The plain rectangular body is also a little awkward to hold and shoot with
It doesn’t always capture sharp shots in low light, either, when rival cameras manage this perfectly well
The EOS M100 is small, simple and affordable nonetheless
Recently, Canon has updated this model in the form of the EOS M200, with a new sensor, new image processor and 4K video recording
Until we've tested it though, the M100 stays on the list.10
Olympus PEN E-PL9A stylish entry-level mirrorless cameraSensor size: Micro Four Thirds | Resolution: 16.1MP | Viewfinder: No | Monitor:
3-inch tilting touchscreen, 1,037,000 dots | Maximum continuous shooting rate: 8.6fps | Movies: 4K | User level: BeginnerStylish, premium
designPerfectly pocketableNo viewfinderOnly 16 megapixelsThe Olympus PEN series is aimed squarely at beginners and smartphone upgraders,
catering specifically for fashion-conscious bloggers and Instagramers
It does this with a blend of style, responsiveness and image quality that’s instantly endearing
Olympus’s ‘EZ’ pancake lens is a must-have companion for this camera, offering a 3x zoom range in a super-slim retracting design that
means the PEN takes up little space in your bag
The latest of these is the E-PL9, which brings 4K video and better image stabilisation over the older model
That said, the E-PL8 is almost as good and that bit cheaper than the newer camera, this is still worth consideration as well
We think the older design looks better too!GpMYSYS29o7tf9DgT95UeX.jpg?#
