Stunning Images with the 7 Best Mirrorless Cameras from Sony
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In the past several years, Sony has been booming the market with many outstanding cameras - so much that now it's hard to pick one that suits you best.
That's why we love the "best cameras" lists - with this one, we will help you choose the next Sony camera to join your kit!
Knowing which camera equipment is essential for any creator is imperative - explore this complete guide to photography gear to ensure you have everything you need.
7 of the best sony mirrorless cameras
1. Sony α7 IV
The Sony A7 IV is a fantastic hybrid camera for beginners and enthusiasts in photography and videography.
It is well-built, has an updated, user-friendly menu system, and has decent battery life.
The A7 is equipped with a 33-megapixel full-frame sensor with outstanding noise handing performance and wide dynamic range, which allows the camera to capture images in great detail.
Key features:
- 33MP BSI CMOS full-frame sensor
- Up to 10 fps shooting in lossy Raw with extensive buffer
- In-body stabilization rated up to 5.5EV
- Full-width oversampled 4K from 7K, up to 30p
- 4K/60p in Super35 / APS-C mode
- 10-bit video or HEIF stills capture
- 3.69M dot OLED viewfinder
User level: Beginner, enthusiast
Pros:
- Excellent image quality
- 4K 60p video
- Super-responsive AF
- Extensive external controls
Cons:
- Relatively slow shooting speeds
- 6fps burst shooting at the highest quality settings
- Omits Pixel Shift multi-shot mode
2. Sony α6400
The Sony a6400 is an entry-level mirrorless camera that offers a good choice for users looking for an APS-C model.
The camera has a portable design and is especially good for travel photography. In addition, its tilting screen allows you to shoot from lower angles or flip it up for selfies and vlogs.
Key features:
- 24MP APS-C sensor
- 425-pt phase-detection AF system with Real-Time Tracking
- Tilting screen, 180° up, 90° down
- 2.36M-dot electronic viewfinder
- New Bionz X processor
- ISO range from 100-32000
- 11fps burst shooting
- 4K/30p video capture
- Mic input, no headphone output
- 410 shots per battery charge (per CIPA)
- Wi-Fi with NFC and Bluetooth
User level: enthusiast, professional
Pros:
- Versatile autofocus system
- Great image quality
- Compact body
- Quick, accurate autofocus
- 11fps continuous drive
- Large, sharp EVF
Cons:
- Omits in-body image stabilization
- Short battery life
3. Sony ZV-1
The Sony ZV-1 is arguably the best compact vlogging camera, with video capabilities being its strongest suit.
The camera's real-time tracking and eye autofocus make it a reliable gear for shooting high-quality footage. YouTubers and travel photographers will definitely love this Sony camera.
Key features:
- 20 megapixel 1" BSI CMOS sensor
- Fully articulating, 921K dot, 3" touchscreen display
- 4K/30p, 1080p/120p and high-speed modes up to 960fps
- Directional 3-capsule microphone with windscreen
- Excellent autofocus in stills and video
- Bluetooth and Wi-Fi for image and video transfer
User level: enthusiast
Pros:
- Class-leading autofocus
- Hotshoe and 3.5mm mic port
- The side-flipping screen is ideal for video
- Compact size
- 4K video capture
Cons:
- Average video stabilization
- Limited touchscreen
- Micro USB rather than USB-C
- No in-camera flash
4. Sony A6100
Are you looking for a compact, beginner-friendly camera for photography and videography?
Then you've likely found your new gear - the a6100.
This gear is one of the best on the market for its features and price, excellent image quality, good battery life, and great autofocus. In addition, the a610- will suit both beginner photographers and those who just want to take pics for fun.
Key features:
- 24MP APS-C CMOS sensor
- Advanced AF system with highlight dependable subject tracking
- 1.44M dot OLED electronic viewfinder
- 0.9M dot LCD tilting rear touchscreen
- Wi-Fi for image transfer to smart devices (with NFC for quick connection)
- 4K video capture
- USB charging
User level: Beginner
Pros:
- Light and compact
- Built-in EVF
- Tilting touch LCD
- Superlative autofocus
- Big choice of lens
- 4K video
Cons:
- The charging port isn't USB-C
5. Sony A7R IV
The Sony a7R Mark IV is undeniably a beast of a mirrorless camera.
Its high-resolution 61-megapixel full-frame sensor makes it an excellent choice for landscape photography, portraiture, and other types of photography that require high image detail.
Key features:
- 61.2MP BSI CMOS full-frame sensor
- Powerful AF tracking system
- 10 fps burst shooting
- 5.76M dot OLED viewfinder
- 4K video from full sensor width
- 4 or 16-shot high-resolution modes
- S-Log 2, S-Log 3, and 'HLG' video modes
User level: professional
Pros:
- Real-Time Tracking autofocus
- 5-axis image stabilization
- Crisp EVF
- Tilting touch LCD
- Dual UHS-II slots
Cons:
- Lower-pixel cameras are better for video capture
- Phase detection doesn't extend to the edge of the frame
6. Sony A7S III
The Sony a7S III is another excellent choice for video makers.
This camera handles the video capture beautifully thanks to the articulating screen, a touch display, its native 4K sensor, exceptional low-light performance, and compact size.
The camera will suit not only videographers, though - photographers will also find it more than suitable for stills.
Key features:
- 12MP BSI CMOS sensor
- On-sensor phase detection
- ISO 80-102,400 (expandable to 40-409,600)
- 9.44M-dot EVF with 0.91x magnification
- 4K video at up to 120p, 60p for 'at least an hour.'
- 16-bit Raw video output at up to 60p
- Fully articulating LCD
- 5-axis in-body stabilization with SteadyShot active mode
User level: Intermediate, Professional
Pros:
- Class-leading low-light video
- Fully articulating touchscreen
- Impressive battery life
- Face and eye detection autofocus
Cons:
- CFExpress cards are required for the best quality slow-motion video
- Video autofocus doesn't work with SLR lens adapters
7. Sony A1
The Sony A1 is an excellent camera that can cover almost all photographic needs.
Its high-resolution sensor, quick autofocus, super fast burst shooting, and 8K raw video capabilities make this camera equally capable in a studio and outside, be it a sports event, a concert, or wildlife shooting.
Key features:
- 50MP full-frame CMOS sensor
- 30 fps burst shooting with an electronic shutter
- 8K/30p video recording with Log and 4K Raw video out over HDMI
- 9.44M-dot OLED electronic viewfinder with 0.9x magnification
- 3.0" tilting touchscreen with 1.44M-dot resolution
- Full-size HDMI port, headphone/mic ports, USB-C port with 10 Gb/s transfer speeds, ethernet port
- Weather-sealed body
- 737g (1.62 lb)
User level: Expert
Pros:
- Captures incredible detail
- Fast AF
- Super-speedy burst shooting
- 5-axis stabilization
- High-magnification viewfinder
Cons:
- The rear display could be better
- 8K video chews through battery
Is Sony the best brand for mirrorless cameras?
In recent years, the photography gear market was wowed by multiple long-waited Sony cameras, like A7S III, the entry-level A7 series camera, the Sony A7C, and the popular vlogging choice, the Sony ZV-1.
Early 2021 was also marked by the introduction of Sony's most exciting camera in a long while: the A1.
Whether Sony is the best camera on the market or not can only be decided by your individual photographic and videomaking needs and how well a range of different
Sony cameras was performing and ticking the boxes compared to other camera producers.
However, it is still evident that Sony is undeniably one of the strongest mirrorless camera brands - their cameras are known for snappy and effective autofocus systems and compact, portable bodies.
Sony is also one of the few brands to release the specifications for its lens mount, which gives users a great range of third-party lenses to choose from for the brand's E-mount mirrorless system.
Sony mirrorless cameras: Pros and cons
Pros:
- Electronic viewfinder
- Great image stabilization
- Continuous eye autofocus
- The compact size of most cameras
- Outstanding image quality
Cons:
- Questionable battery life
- Only one SD card slot
- Startup lag
- Low light autofocus
- Lack of budget lenses
Rent or subscribe to a Sony mirrorless camera
Ready to continue your creative journey with one of the Sony cameras from our list above?
Rent or subscribe to it through Wedio today!
Which brand is best for mirrorless cameras?
Depending on your needs as a photographer or videographer, the best brand would be decided individually. However, Sony, Canon, and Fujifilm are the three top camera producers on the market.
Which Sony mirrorless camera has the best image quality?
Among Sony mirrorless cameras, the Sony α7 IV has arguably the best image quality.
Is Sony A7 III the best mirrorless camera?
The Sony A7 III can be considered one of the best entry-level mirrorless camera on the market.