Best mirrorless cameras for less than $1,000
Frustrated by the sluggishness and photo quality of your point-and-shoot but not thrilled about toting something the size of a dSLR? These cameras were designed with you in mind.
Editors' note: This story was originally published in January 2012. The latest update reflects the addition of the Sony Alpha NEX-F3 review as an alternative option for best step-up model.
The category of interchangeable-lens cameras subsumes a variety of capabilities and designs. There's the familiar dSLRs, large-bodied models which use a reflex mirror to enable the use of a through-the-lens optical viewfinder. Then there are Sony's SLT (Single Lens Translucent) models, which incorporate the same phase-detection autofocus system as dSLRs, but whose fixed mirror requires the use of an electronic viewfinder (EVF) rather than an optical one. And then there are the mirrorless models, which generally use contrast-detection autofocus and, if they have a viewfinder, it's an EVF. Though they're sometimes referred to as "compact system cameras," they're not all compact; in fact, only a handful could really be classified as such.
The mirrorless models cover a lot of ground. For instance, there are compact models designed for people dissatisfied with the image quality and performance of point-and-shoot models looking for more. Then there are the models for advanced shooters who want the speed and photo quality of a dSLR without the bulk. And there are a host of models that slide along the continuum between the two.
This isn't to say that the rest of the ILC crowd doesn't measure up; though some have weak aspects, such as slow performance or overly large bodies, there doesn't seem to be any real losers among the entire field. You can find them on our list of best interchangeable-lens cameras. There are always some mainstream models I haven't yet reviewed, like the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5 and Pentax's tiny Q, and the field is heating up for the more expensive models, such as Fujifilm's X-Pro1, Sony's Alpha NEX-7 and the Olympus OM-D E-M5.
So with that distinction in mind, here are some of my favorite sub-$1,000 -- with lens -- mirrorless models:
Olympus E-PL3
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Olympus E-PL3
If you want the best overall step-up from a point-and-shoot, the E-PL3 is a great choice. It's not really the best in any one particular aspect, but it delivers a combination of photo quality, performance, features and design that should please a lot of shooters looking for something better than their current snapshot camera or camera phone. The Sony Alpha NEX-F3 comes in an extremely close second; equipped with a zoom lens it's bigger than the E-PL3 and the selection of E-mount compatible lenses is smaller than that for Micro Four Thirds.
Read the full review.
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3
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Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3
For the least expensive model that will still give you the performance and photo-quality boost of a worthwhile upgrade from a point-and-shoot, my favorite is the GF3. You give up the tiltable LCD and add-on EVF option of models like the E-PL3 and NEX-5N, but the touch-screen interface comes closest that of a typical point-and-shoot, and it's one of the smallest cameras of its ilk (without resorting to really tiny sensors, like Nikon and Pentax's systems) when equipped with a lens.
Read the full review.
Pentax K-01
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Pentax K-01
Though this model isn't for everyone, the Pentax K-01 delivers the best photo quality under $1,000, thanks to an excellent low-noise Sony sensor and uncommonly intelligent JPEG processing. Plus it can take any standard-size Pentax K-mount lens without an adapter. Unfortunately, it falls short in some other respects, such as a quirky design and slow performance, so you may also want to consider the runner-up for this category, the Samsung NX200. The NX200's photo quality is almost as good -- in fact, I'd just been about to write that it was best-in-class minutes before looking at my K-01 photos -- but it's faster and more compact than the K-01.
Read the full review.
Sony Alpha NEX-5N
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Sony Alpha NEX-5N
For the model most suited for shooting video at a reasonable price, the NEX-5N gets my vote. That's not to say it isn't good for stills--it delivers especially nice high ISO sensitivity shots for its class--but when equipped with a zoom lens it can get bulkier than the equivalent Micro Four Thirds models, and it's not the fastest shooter in the bunch. Those lenses deliver silent autofocus during video shooting, though, and Sony's sensor displays fewer video artifacts.
Read the full review.
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2
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Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2
For the model most suited for shooting video, though it's not nearly as cheap or compact as the NEX-5N, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2 is the go-to model for video enthusiasts. It delivers nice stills and video straight out of the box, but part of its attraction stems from the video hacks that extend its dynamic range and improve its compression quality, helping to turn it into a pro powerhouse.
Read the full review.
