If you need a cheap mirrorless camera you’ve come to the right place.
For casual photographers, a basic compact camera or smartphone will suffice for their needs. The main issue with these cameras is that photographers are limited by the fixed lenses and comparatively smaller sensors that don’t give you the kind of control that you need.
Interchangeable-lens mirrorless cameras are well-known for their versatility and ease-of-use. They are lightweight, noise-free, and more compact than classic DSLRs, making them perfect for novice photographers and travelers. The icing on the cake is that – if you know what to look for, mirrorless cameras can also cheaper then their DSLR counterparts.
If you are planning to buy the best and cheapest mirrorless camera, this list is what you’re looking for!
Cheapest Mirrorless Camera: Our Top Three
How to Buy the Best Cheapest Mirrorless Camera
There are a few features that you must look for while buying a budget mirrorless camera. They are detailed below.
High-Resolution Viewfinders: Mirrorless cameras do not have optical viewfinders since there are no mirrors to redirect light. The imaging sensor is instead exposed to light at all times. An electronic viewfinder is present and gives a preview of the image. Electronic viewfinders were originally looked at in bad light by professional photographers. As mirrorless cameras began to gain popularity, however, higher resolution panels and refresh rates made their way to these cheaper alternatives as well. Electronic viewfinders are superior to optical ones since they give an exact idea of how the image will turn out. You can then change your settings as needed, rather than guessing and checking like with optical viewfinders.
Multiple-Axis Tilting Screens: Numerous modern cameras allow the LCD screen to be twisted in multiple directions. A complete 180-degree spin is also possible with certain models, allowing you to view selfies and vlogs easily. Certain camera screens, such as on the Fujifilm X-T3 can also be pulled sideways, making it easy to use in portrait orientation.
Auto Focus: Auto Focus systems form an integral part of modern cameras. They are particularly useful for shooting videos since you don’t have to keep adjusting the focus. Many of these Auto Focus systems use the latest technology for more accurate and faster tracking. Features such as Eye Detection and intelligent tracking are some very useful features. Some cameras can also track different subjects separately, which may be very useful in certain scenarios such as action-based photography or sports.
Battery Life: Mirrorless cameras struggle with battery life, as compared to DSLRs. Due to the presence of an electronic viewfinder and LCD screen, they burn through batteries much faster than their traditional counterparts. Look for a larger battery when choosing a mirrorless camera, so that you can go closer to the full-day battery life offered by DSLRs.
Cheapest Mirrorless Camera: Top 10
Canon EOS M50
The Canon EOS M50 is also the winner of our Best Camera for Beginners
- 24.1 MP APS-C CMOS Sensor and DIGIC 8 Image Processor
- High-Resolution Viewfinder with 2,360,000 dots
- Touchscreen LCD with Variable Tilt Range
- Dual Pixel CMOS Auto Focus with Eye Detection
Sony Alpha a6000
- 24 MP APS-C CMOS Sensor
- ISO 100 to 25600, which is expandable up to 51200
- 3-inch tilting LCD with 912,000 Dots
- Hybrid Auto Focus with 25 Contrast Detect Points and Focal Plane Detection
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G7
- 16 MP Sensor
- High-resolution 2,360,000-dot OLED Live Viewfinder
- High-Speed Auto Focus with Depth From Defocus technology
- 4EV Low Light/ Starlight Auto Focus
Sony a5100
- 24.3 MP APS-C Sensor
- Ultra-Fast Auto Focus with 179 Focus Points
- BIONZ X Engine for Noise Reduction and Improved Detail
- Flip over 180-degree Tilt LCD Screen
Canon EOS M100
- 24.2 MP APS-C CMOS Sensor
- Built-in Bluetooth, NFC and Wi-Fi connectivity
- 3 inch intuitive and tiltable LCD touchscreen
- Up to 49 points Auto Focus
Fujifilm X-A7
- 24.2 APS-C CMOS Sensor
- 3.5 inch 16:9 ratio LCD Touchscreen with 180-degree flip
- Advanced Phase Detection based Auto Focus
- 8 FPS Shots
Fujifilm X-T100
- 24.2 APS-C Sensor with Color Reproduction Tech
- Superfast Auto Focus with Subject Recognition
- 3-way Tiltable LCD
- High Resolution and High Magnification Electronic Viewfinder
Canon EOS M200
- 24.1 MP CMOS APS-C Sensor
- 3-inch 180-degree Tiltable Touchscreen LCD
- Patented Dual Pixel CMOS Auto Focus with Eye Detection
- Built-in Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity
Sony Alpha A6100
- 24.2 MP Exmor APS-C Sensor
- 3-inch 180-degrees Tiltable Touchscreen LCD
- 11 FPS Continuous Shooting
- Wide 425-Phase Detection Auto Focus with Real-Time Tracking
Fujifilm X-T30
- 26.1 MP BSI APS-C X-Trans CMOS 4 Sensor
- 4-core X-Processor For Accurate Face Detection and Auto Focus Tracking
- 3-inch 2-way Tiltable Touchscreen
- Advanced SR Auto Mode that chooses from 58 Presets
Best Budget Mirrorless Camera: Summary Table
Conclusion
Now that you have a better understanding of mirrorless cameras and some of the best choices among the cheapest ones, you can make an easy decision! If you are someone who moves around a lot, these lightweight cameras are an excellent choice.