Best Beginner Mirrorless Camera
The a5100 offers outsize features for its size and price. At 4.3 x 2.5 x 1.4 inches and 7.9 ounces, its body is truly tiny for a mirrorless camera, especially one with a DSLR-size APS-C sensor. (Rival tiny mirrorless cameras from Nikon and Samsung use much smaller 1-inch sensors.) We've seen that Sony APS-C sensor and its latest Bionz X image processor deliver beautiful photos and videos, even under very low light, in its big brother, the a6000 (which received our Editors' Choice award). The a5100 shoots a bit slower, at 6 fps, compared to 11 fps, but that still beats DSLRs in this price range, such as the Nikon D3300. The a5100 lacks an optical viewfinder but makes up for it with a 3-inch LCD touch screen that flips up 180 degrees for selfies. |
Best Intermediate Mirrorless Camera
The a6000 is an ideal compromise between power and portability. Its autofocus is as good as a DSLR's, and it shoots as fast as DSLRs that cost several times more: a blistering 11 frames per second with continuous autofocus and metering. Electronic viewfinders are a weak point on many mirrorless models, but the a6000's OLED eyepiece is bright and crystal-clear, and doesn't suffer from the stuttering you'll sometimes find on EVFs with lower refresh rates. A DSLR shooter would be comfortable moving over to this eyepiece. The a6000 shines in low light, and features the ability to capture clean images up to ISO 1600 sensitivity and usable shots in very dim conditions way up to ISO 12,800. On top of that, the a6000 shoots gorgeous full-HD video at up to 60 fps, as well as 24 fps for a cinema look. Clips show fine detail, rich color and buttery-smooth motion rendering, even in low light. |
Midrange Mirrorless Camera
Fujifilm wants to get in your face with the 16.3-megapixel X-A2. With a 3-inch LCD screen that flips up and slides out for easier selfie shooting, this camera is a narcissist's dream come true. When the monitor is flipped up, the X-A2 automatically activates selfie mode, which turns on face detect or a new eye detection mode for better focus and starts a timer trigger. Shipping with a Fujinon XC16-50mm II (24-76mm equivalent) F3.5-5.6 OIS lens, the X-A2 should be versatile enough to capture portraits or landscapes. During our time with the camera at CES 2015, we could barely keep our hands off the X-A2's sexy, compact body with the same handsome old-school design with a leatherette band as the rest of Fujifilm's X series cameras. The X-A2 will be available in February. |
Best Pro Mirrorless Camera
It's the world's first full-frame mirrorless camera to carry in-body 5-axis image stabilization, but there's more to the Sony A7 II than just steady shooting. This petite, sexy camera fits in most bags, and packs a bunch of customizable buttons and knobs for quick access to your favorite controls. We also loved the bright, clear pictures and relatively low amount of noise (graininess) even at high ISO light sensitivity levels. Thanks to effective wireless capability, you'll be able to beam your shots to your smartphone or computer within seconds. |