What’s the best mirrorless camera under $1000? Will a camera at that price point even deliver the high quality you’re looking for? Taking great pictures is as much about artistry as it is about gear. But you don’t need to break the bank on your camera, and there are plenty of mirrorless models under $1000 that can take your photography to the next level.
What Is A Mirrorless Camera?
A mirrorless camera is designed without an internal mirror and prism mechanics. To fully understand what this means, you must first understand how its predecessor, the DSLR camera, works.
A DSLR camera is designed with an internal mirror and prism. When light enters the camera lens, it gets reflected off the mirror, and onto the prism. The prism then bounces the image to the viewfinder, which is what you look through when composing your images. When you press the shutter release button to take a picture, the mirror flips up, and the light lands on a digital sensor where the image is captured.
A mirrorless camera removes the mirror and prism from its design. Light passes straight through the camera lens and onto a digital sensor where it’s captured. The viewfinder on a mirrorless camera is electronic. It reads and replicates the image on the sensor for you to compose your photos.
Pros and Cons of Mirrorless Cameras
Mirrorless cameras have a lot of upsides and are very popular these days. However, they also have their downsides that need to be considered.
Pros
Mirrorless cameras are physically smaller than DSLR cameras due to the lack of mirror and prism in the design of their body. This smaller size makes them ideal for travel photographers, street photographers, or anyone that’s looking for a camera that doesn’t take up a lot of space. Less internal components also reduce the weight of the camera, which is important if you’re planning on shooting/holding the camera for extended periods.
As far as lenses are concerned, they can be swapped out on mirrorless cameras. This allows you to select any focal length you want to use for your photos. The lenses are also smaller in size than those used on a DSLR camera. This is due to the mirrorless camera’s crop sensor being physically smaller. DSLR cameras have large, heavy lenses due to their larger full-frame sensors, which capture more of a scene.
Finally, for those shooting in environments where you want to blend in (ie. street photography), a mirrorless camera is less intrusive. It’s also less intimidating if you’re shooting people, as they won’t be staring at a massive camera and lens while posing.
Cons
The first disadvantage of a mirrorless camera is that it uses a lot more battery power compared to a DSLR. This is because the mirrorless viewfinder is powered by the battery. Some models have a setting to only power the viewfinder when you look into it, which is great for conserving battery life. Purchasing extra batteries is a must for any camera, and they aren’t too expensive. The mirrorless viewfinder can also underperform if you’re shooting in low-light environments. This can be especially frustrating for night photography, as you may have a tough time seeing what exactly you’re capturing.
Some photographers find mirrorless cameras uncomfortable to use. If you’re using a large lens on a mirrorless body, the camera becomes very nose-heavy. This is strictly a feel issue, but it can throw off some photographers who prefer a balanced camera when shooting with larger lenses. The overall feel of a smaller camera system can also be frustrating for photographers with larger hands. Finally, mirrorless cameras have fewer choices when it comes to lenses. This is because their lenses must be compatible with the camera’s crop sensor.
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Are Cameras Under $1000 Any Good?
In a word, absolutely. Current technology is such that even the cheapest digital cameras are of decent quality.
Are they as good as professional-grade cameras? Not quite. But a camera close to the $1000 range is of excellent quality.
It’s a sweet spot that’s a drastic step up from entry-level models, but only a slight downgrade from professional ones. The next closest price point lands anywhere between $1800 and $4000, which is obviously a lot more expensive. It can also be argued that the lens you attach to your camera is just as important (if not more) than the camera body.
You can further save money on a high-end camera by purchasing a clearance model from the previous year. There‘s likely little difference in overall photo quality and minimal changes to things such as the camera design, features, and functions.
2021’s Best Mirrorless Cameras Under $1000
Let’s dive into the best mirrorless cameras you can buy for under $1000. Keep in mind these are for the camera body only. If this is your first camera, you’ll be able to bundle a kit lens with the body to save a bit of money.
Fujifilm X-S10 ($999 USD)
The Fujifilm X-S10 comes in just shy of $1000 USD. It’s a small body with a large grip, and lightweight at only 465 g (1.02 lbs.). Despite this, the X-S10 is built very solid, ditching the plastic polycarbonate body material for magnesium alloy. This makes its construction closer to high-end, pro-grade cameras. Capturing the action is a 26MP X-Trans IV sensor, which is the same one you’ll find on Fuji’s high-end models, the X-T4 and X-Pro3. The camera also comes with 4K video @ 30 fps. Unfortunately, 60 fps is reserved for the high-end cameras in Fuji’s lineup. Having said that, 30 fps is in line with competing cameras at this price point.
Fuji is known for their old-school controls, but the X-S10 actually ditches them in favor of the more broadly familiar PASM controls. This will most likely infuriate dedicated Fuji shooters but is more user-friendly for those making the switch from a competing brand.
The back of the X-S10 is a treat to use, with a 3-inch articulating touchscreen panel making it easy for getting any shot you want. The response time of the screen is very good and can be used to autofocus on any number of points around your image. Fuji’s also included IBIS (in-body image stabilization). This is one of the X-S10’s main selling points, making it excellent for reducing camera shake and shooting handheld video. Other features include a 2.36 million-dot OLED viewfinder, 30 fps burst shooting, and an average of 325 shots per battery charge.
Sony A6400 ($899 USD)
Originally released in 2019, Sony’s A6400 is an older model, which means it lacks certain technology included in current models. Having said that, the A6400 is still going strong because it’s an extremely popular mirrorless camera at a reasonable $899 USD price point.
For starters, the A6400 has excellent image quality, boasting a 24 MP crop sensor. Sony has a wide range of lenses to choose from, and third-party makers such as Sigma and Tamron give additional options as well. As for battery life, it outperforms many of its competitors, averaging 410 shots per charge. It also has a reputation for being a top contender in the world of vlogging, shooting 120 fps in 1080p or 24, 25, and 30 fps in 4k. Recording time is also unlimited, which is a make-or-break feature for many vloggers.
Physically, the camera is small and a lightweight 403 g (0.89 lbs.), making it excellent for travel. On the back is a tilting touchscreen panel. The responsiveness of the screen is good but the tilting action leaves little to be desired. It basically flips up (or down) so the subject can watch the video in real-time. Again, this speaks to its vlogging crowd, but photographers will get little use from this design. Additionally, it also lacks IBIS. However, the camera is a great option if you shoot in various climates, as the body is fully weather-sealed.
Fujifilm X-T30 ($899 USD)
Not to be confused with Fuji’s newer, X-T30 II model, the X-T30 takes a lot of inspiration from Fuji’s high-end X-T3 model. Originally released in 2019 with an emphasis on affordability, Fuji elected to exclude IBIS, an articulating touchscreen, and weather sealing on the X-T30. However, it’s still a viable option for photographers.
The X-T30 makes for a great travel camera, as it’s designed with a small stature and weighs a lightweight 383 grams (0.84 lbs.). It’s available in 3 color schemes (black, silver, and charcoal) and is designed with Fuji’s high-end 26MP X-Trans IV sensor for impeccable image quality. With a pancake lens attached, the entire camera can easily slip in and out of a jacket pocket.
Fuji’s film simulation modes are also included with this camera, although it does lack some of the newer ones due to the camera’s age. The backscreen tilts but doesn’t fully flip or articulate. This means you won’t be able to see the screen if you’re a vlogger, or shooting low-angle portrait orientation. Moving through the menus is easy using the back panel’s joystick, and the camera buttons are highly customizable for your preference.
The X-T30’s video mode can shoot 4k up to 30 fps. It also supports F-Log and outputs 10-bit 4:2:2 footage to an external recorder, a feature that many cameras at this price point lack. Overall it’s an excellent mirrorless option that offers a lot of flexibility despite its 2-year-old age.
Sony a7 II ($999 USD)
Sony’s a7 II was originally released way back in 2014. Its staying power is a testament to Sony’s design ingenuity. While the majority of mirrorless cameras use an APS-C sensor, the a7 II uses a full-frame 24 MP sensor. This means it’s more like a DSLR camera, minus the bulky size and weight. Designed with a magnesium alloy body, it weighs 556 g (1.2 lbs.) with the battery and memory card. A full battery returns roughly 350 shots, a respectable number for a 7-year-old model.
Of course, being older, the a7 II doesn’t include some of the more recent technology. The first is the display screen, which only tilts up and down and isn’t a touchscreen. The second is the video resolution. 1080p is as high as it goes, but you’ll still get 24, 30, and 60 fps options. Finally, there’s no eye autofocus system (although there is subject tracking) which is a feature that many photographers want from a modern camera.
Despite its shortcomings, one of the biggest selling features of the a7 II is its 5-axis image stabilization. This makes it highly attractive to use with any lenses that are compatible with the camera. While it’s slightly heavy for a mirrorless camera, full-frame shooters that want something smaller than their bulky DSLR might find what they’re looking for in the a7 II.
Canon EOS RP ($999 USD)
Another full-frame mirrorless option is the Canon EOS RP. It’s a light body at just over 1 lb. when the battery is in and has a 26 MP sensor. Canon cameras are known for producing beautifully rendered colors and skin tones, and that hasn’t changed with this model. Another bonus on this camera is the fully articulating touchscreen, which makes it friendly for vloggers and odd-angle photography. Additionally, despite lacking IBIS, the EOS RP performs well in low light conditions, although expectations should be tempered at this price range.
The camera does have a few downfalls though. You’ll only get 250 shots per battery charge, which is considerably less than competiting models. Video can be captured in 1080p (at 24/30/60 fps), but 4k video can only shoot at 24 or 25 fps. Further limiting the 4k video is that it’s cropped to an APS-C sensor size rather than using the full-frame sensor, and dual pixel autofocus is reserved for 1080p only. The camera does a decent job with subject and eye tracking, but shooting movement isn’t its strong suit. Street photographers will also cringe that there isn’t a noiseless shutter option.
Overall, the EOS RP is an interesting camera with a mix of doing things very well, or not well at all. It’s compact, lightweight, and well-balanced while holding, and it might be a great camera for you if you want to shoot full-frame.
The Verdict?
If you’re looking for 2021’s best mirrorless camera under $1000, I’d recommend Fujifilm’s X-S10. While it’s at the top tier in terms of price, it includes their pro-grade sensor and has the widest range of features to please almost every shooter. Additionally, it’s a current model, so you’re somewhat futureproofed as technology continues to evolve in the coming years.
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