The least we can say is that mirrorless cameras (or hybrid cameras) are on the rise in 2020 and 2021. It’s not surprising because these cameras can offer large sensors (4/3, APS-C up to Full Frame) in much smaller bodies than DSLRs (since they do not have mirrors) while keeping the advantage of interchangeable lenses. In addition, this family of cameras has made huge progress in recent years and Hybrid cameras now easily compete with DSLR cameras in terms of performance (it is no coincidence that Nikon and Canon started to launch Full Frame mirrorless cameras in 2018). And if you want to take pictures while traveling, these cameras are particularly interesting because they are an excellent compromise between weight / size and performance.
Afterwards, as with DSLR’s, it is sometimes a question of finding a compromise between budget, performance and size. So even if Full Frame mirrorless cameras have become more affordable (and remain smaller than their DSLR equivalents), they are not exactly “cheap” and the lenses that take full advantage of these sensors are not lightweight and cheap either.
In the comparison table below, I have therefore deliberately chosen to exclude high-end mirrorless cameras (such as the Sony A9, Sony A7iii, Nikon Z6 ii and Z7 ii, the Canon EOS R or even the crazy Sony A1) which are aimed more at professional photographers than at the general public. You will find below all the hybrid cameras that I think are the best and still affordable for most people.
Last update : 22/04/2021
Which mirrorless camera (hybrid camera) to choose? the Important criteria
I will not go over all the important criteria to choose the right camera, but I will just focus on the points that deserve particular attention in the case of mirrorless cameras.
Sensor size: In the mirrorless camera family, you will find micro 4/3 sensors, APS-C and Full Frame sensors. In general, the larger the sensor size, the better the performance in low light and high light contrasts conditions. But it’s important to rememeber that the bodies with Full Frame sensors are a little larger / heavier and especially that the lenses for Full Frame sensors are larger than those specially designed for micro 4/3 and APS-C formats. In short, it is always a question of finding a good balance according to your needs and your budget. There is no answer better than the other and everything is a question of compromises- The lenses selection: It is important to look at whether the range of lenses available for a camera (depending on its sensor size) is large enough for your needs. This was one of the arguments in favour of DSLR because Canon and Nikon have very extensive lens lineups for DSLR. But in 2021 all manufacturers have embraced mirrorless cameras and the range of lenses is now well supplied (Nikon and Canon also have their adapter ring for their range of lenses that worked with their DSLR).
Without further delay, here is the comparison table of the best mirrorless cameras in 2021. I will try to keep this table up to date as best as I can, but your suggestions for cameras that I may have forgotten are more than welcome (and as I said, I didn’t put the super high-end models on purpose).
The comparative table below is interactive. You can choose the cameras you want to compare, remove the lines that do not interest you… and to reset the table, simply reload the page. For a better reading experience, do not compare more than 2-3 models on mobile and 6-7 on computer.
| Criteria |  Sony A 6000 |  Canon EOS M50 |  Olympus EM10 M4 |  Fujifilm X-T30 |  Nikon Z50 |  Sony A7 II |  Canon EOS RP |  Sony A6400 |  Sony A6600 |  Fujifilm X T3 |  Fujifilm X T4 |  Nikon Z5 |  Panasonic GH5 |  Panasonic S5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Criteria | Sony A 6000 | Canon EOS M50 | Olympus EM10 M4 | Fujifilm X-T30 | Nikon Z50 | Sony A7 II | Canon EOS RP | Sony A6400 | Sony A6600 | Fujifilm X T3 | Fujifilm X T4 | Nikon Z5 | Panasonic GH5 | Panasonic S5 |
| Characteristics of the device | ||||||||||||||
 Price | 500-600$ | 600-700$ | 650-800$ | 800-1100$ | 900-1100$ | 1300-1500$ | 1000-1200$ | 900-1100$ | 1500-1650$ | 1500-1900$ | 1700-2100$ | 1000-1500$ | 1500-1800$ | 1700-2000$ |
| Weight (body + kit lens) | 344gr + 124gr | 387gr + 100gr | 383gr + 91gr | 383gr + 320gr | 402gr + 131gr | 556gr | 485gr | 403gr | 503gr | 539gr + 330gr | 607gr + 330gr | 675gr | 725gr | 714gr |
| Size | 120 x 67 x 45 mm | 116 x 88 x 59 mm | 122 x 84 x 49 mm | 118 x 83 x 47 mm | 127 x 94 x 60 mm | 127 x 96 x 60 mm | 133 x 85 x 70 mm | 120 x 67 x 60 mm | 120 x 67 x 69 mm | 133 x 93 x 59 mm | 135 x 93 x 64 mm | 134 x 101 x 70 mm | 139 x 98 x 87 mm | 133 x 97 x 82 mm |
| Toughness – Waterproofing | 1/5 | 1/5 | 1/5 | 1/5 | 3/5 | 3/5 | 2/5 | 3/5 | 3/5 | 4/5 | 4/5 | 4/5 | 4/5 | 3/5 |
| Battery life | 310-360 pictures | 235 pictures | 330 pictures | 360-380 pictures | 280-320 pictures | 350 pictures | 210-250 pictures | 360-410 pictures | 720-810 pictures | 370-390 pictures | 500-600 pictures | 400-470 pictures | 400-410 pictures | 400-470 pictures |
| Speed | min exp : 1/4000 img/sec : 11.1 | min exp : 1/4000 img/sec : 10 | min exp : 1/16000 img/sec : 15 | min exp : 1/32000 img/sec : 20 | min exp : 1/4000 img/sec : 11 | min exp : 1/8000 img/sec : 5 | min exp : 1/4000 img/sec : 5 | min exp : 1/4000 img/sec : 11.1 | min exp : 1/4000 img/sec : 11 | min exp : 1/32000 img/sec : 20 | min exp : 1/32000 img/sec : 20 | exp min : 1/8000 img/sec : 4.5 | min exp : 1/16000 img/sec : 11.9 | exp min : 1/8000 img/sec : 7 |
| Sensor | ||||||||||||||
| Size | APS-C | APS-C | 4/3 | APS-C | APS-C | full frame | full frame | APS-C | APS-C | APS-C | APS-C | full frame | 4/3 | full frame |
| Resolution | 24.3mpx | 24.2mpx | 20.3mpx | 26.1mpx | 20.9mpx | 24.3mpx | 26.2mpx | 24.2mpx | 24.2mpx | 26.1mpx | 26.1mpx | 24.3mpx | 20.3mpx | 24.2mpx |
| ISO range | 100-25600 | 100-25600 | 200-25600 | 160-12800 | 100-51200 | 100-25600 | 100-40000 | 100-32000 | 100-32000 | 160-12800 | 160-12800 | 100-51200 | 200-25600 | 100-51200 |
| Kit lens | ||||||||||||||
| Focal range (full frame equivalent) | 24-75 | 24-72 | 28-84 | 27-84 | 24-75 | No kit lens | No kit lens | No kit lens | No kit lens | 27-84 | 27-84 | No kit lens | No kit lens | No kit lens |
| Max aperture | f3.5/5.6 | f3.5/6.3 | f3.5/5.6 | f2.8/4 | f3.5/6.3 | No kit lens | No kit lens | No kit lens | No kit lens | f2.8/4 | f2.8/4 | No kit lens | No kit lens | No kit lens |
| Lenses available for the brand | 3/5 | 1/5 | 4/5 | 4/5 | 2/5 | 4/5 | 4/5 | 4/5 | 4/5 | 4/5 | 4/5 | 4/5 | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| Additional functionalities | ||||||||||||||
| In Body or lens stabilization | lens stabilization | lens stabilization | in body stabilization | lens stabilization | lens stabilization | in body stabilization | lens stabilization | lens stabilization | in body stabilization | lens stabilization | in body stabilization | in body stabilization | in body stabilization | in body stabilization |
| Viewfinder | Electronic viewfinder with 1’440’000 dots | Electronic viewfinder with 2,360,000 dots | Electronic viewfinder with 2’360’000 dots | Electronic viewfinder with 2’360’000 dots | Electronic viewfinder with 2’360’000 dots | Electronic viewfinder with 2’360’000 dots | Electronic viewfinder with 2’360’000 dots | Electronic viewfinder with 2’360’000 dots | Electronic viewfinder with 2’360’000 dots | Electronic viewfinder with 3,690,000 dots | Electronic viewfinder with 3’680’000 dots | Electronic viewfinder with 3,686,400 dots | No | Electronic viewfinder with 2’360’000 dots |
| Screen | tilt screen (vertically) with 307’200 pxs | touch screen that can be rotated 180 degrees with 1,620,000 dots (540’000 pxs) | tilt and touch screen with 345’600 pxs | tilt and touch screen with 1,040,000 dots | tilt and touch screen with 1,036,800 dots (345,600 px) | tilt screen (vertically) with 307’200 pxs | tilt and touch screen (vertically + selfie) de 346’600 pxs | tilt and touch screen (vertically + selfie) with 307’200 pxs | tilt and touch screen (vertically + selfie) de 307’200 pxs | tilt screen with 1,040,000 dots | touch screen that can be rotated 180 degrees with 1,620,000 dots (540’000 pxs) | tilt screen with 1,040,000 dots | touch screen that can be rotated 180 degrees with 1,620,000 dots (405’000 pxs) | touch screen that can be rotated 180 degrees with 1,840,000 dots (613’333 pxs) |
| Video | full HD | 4k (cropped) + full HD | 4k + full HD | 4k + full HD | 4k + full HD | full HD | 4k (cropped) + full HD | 4k + full HD | 4k + full HD | 4k (60p) and Full HD | 4k (60p) and Full HD | 4k + full HD | 6k, 4k (60p, 10bit) and full HD | 4k (60p, 10bit) and full HD |
Best mirrorless camera: my opinion
Honestly if you have a tight budget, the Sony A6000 really has an incredible price/quality ratio. For 4-500$ you have an APS-C sensor, the kit lens, excellent performance in all situations (landscapes, moving subjects, low light), a light weight (less than 500gr with the kit lens). Certainly at this price you don’t have a weather sealed body or the 4k but you can’t have everything either 😉 . A light and versatile camera that will also give you great opportunities to evolve in your photography practice.
In the category of cheap Hybrids, I also really recommend the Canon EOS M50 which has a great quality/price ratio with its APS-C sensor, a screen that can be turned 180 degrees (perfect for filming or photographing) and that films in 4k (even if it’s cropped but still). An excellent choice for aspiring bloggers/vloggers who also don’t want to break the bank
If you have a little more budget (800€ – 1100€), there is no lack of options in 2021! The market has changed dramatically in this price range in recent months. The Fujifilm X-T30 has an incredible price/performance ratio and is really perfect to get into photography more seriously (especially since the 18-55 F2.8-4 kit lens from Fuji is great!) Add to that the excellent Sony A6400 and Nikon Z50 and you have a super competitive mid-range APS-C mirrorless market.
What has also changed in 2021 is that the Full Frame hybrid market has become much more competitive and accessible. As all brands now have several models with this sensor size, some cameras are now much more affordable. For example, if you want to try a Full Frame sensor, good cameras like the Sony A7ii or the recent Canon EOS RP are to be found around 1000€!
If you don’t have a budget limit, the top APS-C hybrids in 2021 are the Sony A6600 and the brand new Fujifilm X-T4. I had a small preference for the Sony before the Fuji X-T4 came out (the X-T3 doesn’t have in-body stabilization or a tilting screen for selfie mode)… But I have to admit that the Fuji X-T4 corrected all the major flaws of its predecessor, making it the ultimate APS-C mirrorless camera in 2021!
As I told you above, on the Full Frame market, things have moved a lot in 2020 – 2021! Brands are starting to offer Full Frame bodies targeted at a wider audience which are very interesting. In 2021, 2 models have particularly caught my attention. The Nikon Z5 which is in my opinion the best entry level Full Frame camera available today. But also the superb Panasonic S5 which, even if it is a bit more expensive, has absolutely no weak points and will suit the most demanding photographers and videographers.
If you want to try a Full Frame sensor, you have to keep in mind that the lenses for this format are bigger and that your gear will be heavier (but still lighter than a Full Frame DSLR). But the image quality will be top notch, believe me! I chose this sensor format (I bought a Sony A7ii in 2016 and a Sony A7iii in 2020) and I don’t regret it for a second. If you want to know why I chose this camera format, you can read these few paragraphs. And if you want to see some photos taken with the Sony A7II and A7iii, feel free to check out our Instagram or our photo galleries.
Best Mirrorless camera in 2021 : my choice
It is an extremely difficult choice because the hybrid camera market evolved a lot in 2020-2021. There is a lot of choice and all the above-mentioned devices are of very good quality. But if I had to buy a mirrorless camera in 2021, it would be hard to ignore the excellent quality/price ratio of the Fuji brand (both for its bodies and its lenses). As a first mirrorless camera, I would choose the Fuji X-T30 which is much cheaper this year and comes with a great kit lens (the 18-55 F2.8-4). This camera is a featherweight (383gr) with the possibility to make videos in 4k. I think it’s the camera with the best quality/price ratio in 2021 and it’s really travel friendly.
P.S. This article contains affiliate links so if you buy a mirrorless camera by clicking on one of our links, we will get a small commission. Please also note that we are not sponsored by any brand and this is our sincere opinion about the best mirrorless cameras in 2021. Finally, you will not find any Amazon links in this article because we do not support the questionable ethics of this company. We recommend you to rather buy on another online shop (B&H) or to buy second hand on Ebay
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