If you’re wondering which budget mirrorless cameras are worth your money, stick around! After we run through each product, I’ll give you my personal take—Would I buy it, or would I skip it? No fluff, just my honest opinion. Let’s get into it!
Watch the video version: The BEST Budget Mirrorless Camera Of 2024 - And It's Under 0!
Sony NEX-6
The NEX-6 was groundbreaking when it launched, but it’s seriously showing its age now with outdated autofocus technology and limited lens compatibility. While it offered good image quality for its time, modern cameras have far surpassed its 16MP sensor capabilities and low-light performance. The electronic viewfinder feels ancient compared to current models, and the menu system is clunky and unintuitive. The lack of modern features like 4K video, touchscreen, and advanced AF tracking makes it hard to recommend in today’s market.
Would I buy it?
No – This camera is too dated to compete with modern options, and you can get much better value and features from current entry-level mirrorless cameras.
Canon EOS M3
The EOS M3 suffers from painfully slow autofocus that makes capturing moving subjects nearly impossible. The limited native lens selection for the EF-M mount is a major drawback, forcing you to rely on adapters for better glass. Battery life is disappointingly short, often requiring multiple batteries for a day of shooting. Video features are basic with no 4K, and the lack of a built-in viewfinder is a serious omission at this price point.
Would I buy it?
No – With sluggish performance and a limited lens ecosystem, there are far better options available in this price range.
Sony A6100
The autofocus system on this camera is absolutely incredible, with 425 phase-detection points and real-time tracking for both humans and animals. Image quality is outstanding with its 24.2MP APS-C sensor, delivering clean shots up to ISO 6400 and great dynamic range. While the 4K video looks sharp, it does suffer from noticeable rolling shutter, and the lack of in-body stabilization can be limiting. The build quality feels a bit plasticky, and the menu system can be frustrating to navigate, especially for beginners.
Would I buy it?
Maybe – While the autofocus and image quality are class-leading, the ergonomic quirks and video limitations hold it back from being a perfect choice.
Fujifilm X-T30 II
The image quality from this camera is simply stunning, with Fujifilm’s renowned color science producing beautiful JPEGs straight out of camera. The classic dial-based controls make shooting a joy, giving you direct access to all important settings without diving into menus. The compact metal body feels premium and durable, while still maintaining excellent portability. The excellent selection of native X-mount lenses gives you plenty of room to grow as a photographer.
Would I buy it?
Yes – The combination of excellent image quality, intuitive controls, and robust build quality makes this the standout choice in the budget mirrorless category.
Sony ZV-E10
The 24MP APS-C sensor delivers incredible image quality with great dynamic range and impressive low-light performance up to ISO 6400. The autofocus system is absolutely fantastic, especially for vlogging, with excellent face and eye tracking that rarely misses a beat. While it lacks a viewfinder, the fully articulating screen makes it super easy to frame your shots, and the handgrip has a flat design that’s perfect for holding in selfie position. The build quality is surprisingly good for the price point, though you’ll want to be careful since there’s no weather sealing.
Would I buy it?
Yes – The ZV-E10 offers incredible value with its excellent video capabilities and image quality, plus that Sony autofocus system is hard to beat at this price point.
Nikon Z30
The Z30 packs the same 20.2MP sensor as the Z50 and produces sharp, detailed images with impressive low-light performance. While there’s no viewfinder, the fully articulating touchscreen is great for vlogging, and the camera includes helpful features like a tally light to show when you’re recording. The autofocus system has been improved over previous models with better face and eye detection, though it can occasionally get tripped up. The biggest downsides are the lack of in-body stabilization and limited native lens selection.
Would I buy it?
Maybe – While it’s a capable camera with good image quality, the lack of IBIS and limited lens ecosystem make it harder to recommend over some competitors.
Canon M50 Mark II
The 24.1MP sensor paired with the DIGIC 8 processor delivers excellent image quality that can handle prints up to 24×36 inches without quality loss. The dual-pixel autofocus system is wildly improved over its predecessor, making it much easier to track moving subjects, especially with the new eye AF capabilities. The fully articulating screen and compact size make it perfect for vlogging, while the improved battery life keeps you shooting longer. The camera also offers vertical video recording and excellent low-light performance with good noise control up to ISO 6400.
Would I buy it?
Yes – The M50 Mark II hits the sweet spot of features, performance, and price, making it an excellent choice for both photo and video creators.
Sony ZV-1
The autofocus system struggles with tracking moving subjects compared to its mirrorless siblings like the ZV-E10. While it can shoot at an impressive 24 fps, this is only possible with the electronic shutter, which can cause significant distortion with fast-moving subjects. The battery life is poor, and the camera takes a long time to clear its buffer after continuous shooting. The built-in lens’s maximum focal length isn’t very long, severely limiting your shooting options.
Would I buy it?
No – With its limited versatility, tracking issues, and poor battery life, there are better options available in this price range, like the ZV-E10 or M50 Mark II.
Sony ZV-1 Mark II
The 18-50mm f/1.8-4 lens is perfect for vlogging, finally fixing the narrow field of view issue from the original model. The new touchscreen controls are massively improved, making it feel more like using a smartphone, which is exactly what we need in 2024. The three-capsule microphone setup is fantastic, automatically detecting and switching between front and rear audio, and the included deadcat does wonders for wind noise. While the image quality isn’t revolutionary compared to modern phones, the 4K video is sharp and clear, and the natural depth of field blows away any phone’s cinematic mode.
Would I buy it?
Yes – The compact size, improved lens, and stellar microphone make it the perfect pocket vlogging camera for content creators who want something better than their phone.
Panasonic Lumix G100
The 20.3MP Four Thirds sensor delivers impressive dynamic range and good image quality, though there’s slightly more noise compared to APS-C competitors. The Nokia OZO audio system is a standout feature, intelligently focusing on the subject’s voice while reducing background noise. Unfortunately, the crop when shooting stabilized 4K footage is pretty severe, and the 10-minute recording limit in 4K is frustrating. The battery life is disappointing at just 45-75 minutes of video recording, which means you’ll definitely need spare batteries.
Would I buy it?
Maybe – While the audio features and image quality are solid, the heavy 4K crop and limited battery life make it hard to fully recommend.
Canon PowerShot SX740 HS
Despite having a massive 40x optical zoom lens, the images are often soft and lack detail. The noise processing is aggressive and tends to smear away fine details, and there’s no RAW shooting capability. While it does offer 4K video recording, the quality isn’t particularly impressive, and the lack of a touch screen feels dated. The battery life is mediocre at just 265 shots, and you’ll need multiple batteries for any serious shooting.
Would I buy it?
No – The soft images, aggressive noise reduction, and lack of RAW support make this hard to recommend when there are better options available.
Canon EOS R50
The 24MP APS-C sensor delivers excellent JPEG image quality and impressive autofocus performance with great subject tracking. The compact body is surprisingly comfortable to hold despite its small size, and it works wonderfully with adapted EF-mount DSLR lenses. The 4K video quality is sharp and clean, and you get up to 12fps burst shooting with mechanical shutter. The only real downsides are the limited RF-S lens selection and the somewhat dim, small viewfinder.
Would I buy it?
Yes – Despite the limited native lens selection, the excellent image quality, autofocus, and versatility make it a fantastic entry into the RF system.
Panasonic Lumix GX85
The 16-megapixel sensor without a low-pass filter delivers incredibly sharp images with excellent color reproduction, and I’ve noticed about 10% better resolving power compared to previous models. The autofocus system is blazingly fast with impressive low-light performance down to -4EV, and when combined with the 5-axis dual image stabilization, I could literally walk and shoot while still getting sharp images. The build quality is outstanding for its price point, with a compact yet sturdy body weighing just 426g, and all the dials have a perfect amount of resistance that prevents accidental setting changes. While the EVF shows some noticeable lag and color tearing, and the battery life is below average, these are minor compromises considering everything else you get.
Would I buy it?
Yes – The GX85 offers incredible value with its compact size, excellent image quality, and robust feature set including 4K capabilities, making it a perfect choice for both beginners and enthusiasts.
Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark IV
The 20MP Four Thirds sensor in this camera feels quite limiting compared to modern APS-C competitors, and the image quality noticeably lags behind peers in its price range. While it does offer 5-axis in-body stabilization, the implementation isn’t as powerful as higher-end models, and the lack of a microphone socket severely limits its video capabilities. The contrast-detect autofocus system with 121 points struggles with fast-moving subjects, and you’ll notice significant hunting in low-light conditions. The battery life is disappointingly short, and there’s no weather sealing to protect your investment when shooting in challenging conditions.
Would I buy it?
No. The dated sensor technology and limited autofocus capabilities make it hard to recommend when there are more capable options in the same price range.
Thanks for watching, I hope this video helped you pick the budget mirrorless cameras for you. If you have any questions, drop a comment below. Links to all of these products mentioned in this video will be in the description.