The best mirrorless cameras of 2024

As a brand familiar to many 35mm aficionados, Nikon is a welcome presence in the full-frame mirrorless market. The Z6 II features many significant upgrades over its predecessor, the Z6. It features a 24.5MP BSI CMOS sensor. It's that sensor that gives this a step up against the competition, as it delivers seriously impressive low-light performance. Inside there are two EXPEED 6 image processors to accelerate the camera's abilities. And speaking of speed, it can shoot continuously at up to 14 fps - amazing for fast action like sports or wildlife. A 3.2-inch tilting touchscreen will also make for convenient and comfortable shooting.

Autofocus is up to the task as well, with a 273-point phase-detect AF system. To top off the feature list, it can record 4K video at up to 30fps too. One excellent and often overlooked feature is the dual SD card slots - they're both Ultra High Speed, perfect for saving all that detail as fast as the camera can capture it. Showing how well Nikon understands the potential buyers of this camera, it also has a 3.69-million-dot OLED electronic viewfinder - ideal for anyone from a DSLR or film camera background. All in all, the Nikon Z6 II is brilliant for professionals and enthusiasts alike, delivering excellent image quality and performance. This bundle deal comes with a versatile 24-200mm zoom lens too.

Sony left quite a gap between the A6500, its flagship APS-C mirrorless, and the A6400, but it was well worth the wait. This latest mirrorless boasts a 24.2MP APS-C sensor and also includes the recent AF firmware update to give real-time tracking and improved eye and animal AF - a boast only rivalled by the full-frame A9. Beyond a class-leading AF system, you also get a compact body with a maximum of 11fps continuous shooting, ISO 100-32,000 and time-lapse movies - a new addition to the Alpha range. The 425-point phase-detection AF system is stunning, and the tracking abilities are world-class, despite costing under £1000 with a kit lens.

It also boasts some very respectable video specs, such as 4K video at 30fps, or 1080p Full HD at 120fps. You can shoot in V-Log, increasing the dynamic range and allowing for colour grading, as well as using an external mic jack for superior audio. It also features a front-facing flip-up touchscreen. However, when raised, it makes the hotshot unusable, so mounting a shotgun mic may prove a bit tough without a premed cage. That small issue aside, and the fact that it lacks the in-built image stabilisation of the A6500, the A6400 is a brilliant choice for budget-seeking stills and video shooters.

Although you could spend an awful lot more on a mirrorless Canon camera, this mid-range DSLR is almost too good for the price. Not only does it boast a brand new 32.5MP APS-C sensor - one of the biggest resolutions offered by Canon - it also delivers a decent ISO range of 100-25,600. All of this, plus a 10fps continuous shooting speed, is excellent on a camera that costs less than £1,500.

Thankfully, Canon's wide range of lenses for this camera suits all budgets too. For anyone looking to shoot video, you have 4K, and that's supported by the brilliant Dual-Pixel AF system. This gives you a traditional focus system using the viewfinder or a mirrorless experience through the LCD. You can't go wrong with a camera as well-specced as this, especially at this price point.

The A7 III has earned several camera of the year awards since launch and it's easy to see why. The spec makes it possibly the most well-rounded camera in existence. In fact, the only reason it doesn't take our top-spot here is a very slightly lower pixel count - but only just. You'll get a 24.2MP full-frame BSI sensor with a 100-51,200 ISO range - nothing short of amazing for low-light performance. There's also a 693-point phase-detect AF system lifted straight from the flagship A9.

In terms of features, the camera's eye-tracking autofocus, and real-time animal Eye AF, are just indispensable. As well as glorious-looking photos, you can also shoot 4K video at 30fps, or 1080p Full HD at 120fps. As with the Z6, you can record 4:2:2 10-bit externally and shoot with S-Log 2, S-Log 3 and even HLG for an instant HDR workflow. You even have a 5-axis in-body image stabilisation system. Sure, the EVF may be a touch lower than the best in class, and the 3in 921k-dot touchscreen isn't something to write home about, but it does boast dual SD card slots and 10fps continuous shooting speed. The amount of Sony tech packed inside the A7 III means it's more than worth the investment.

The Fujifilm X-S10 is one of those cameras that blends traditional 35mm looks with the sophisticated feature set of the most modern cameras here. Despite not being weather-sealed, the textured body and wide grip make this a reassuring camera to hold. The 26.1MP APS-C sensor is a real performer, capturing everything with clarity and is a seriously impressive resolution. Usability is well looked after too, thanks to the rasi-angle 3.0-inch 1.04-million-dot touchscreen. Once again, we see the inclusion of a high-definition electronic viewfinder - harking back to film cameras and DSLRs. It's not the first camera here to sport in-body image stabilization, but having the 5-axis version really smooths everything out without a hitch.

The 425-point hybrid AF system isn't the fastest in terms of response time, depending on your style of shooting, but good enough for most. You also have a 10fps continuous shot rate, a built-in flash, and a hot shoe for an external flash if you prefer. There is only one ultra high-speed memory card slot though, but with enough high-capacity cards in your kit, this shouldn't be an issue. Overall, the Fujifilm X-S10 is both versatile and a solidly built camera with more than enough bells and whistles to satisfy the most creative shooter.

Olympus is another camera brand that will evoke all sorts of nostalgia for old-school photographers. Despite having possibly the most unwieldy model name in history, the OM-D E-M1 Mark III combines the sort of exceptional image quality you'd expect with cutting-edge tech. And the choice to use a Micro Four-Thirds 20.4-megapixel sensor is inspired - buying room for some seriously useful upgrades. The TruePic IX processor supports a continuous shoot rate of 15 fps and although we would have preferred to see two, thankfully one of the SD card slots is UHS.

Aside from the weather-sealed magnesium alloy body, a standout feature for anyone out and about is the in-body 5-axis image stabilization. So, handheld or not, everything will be rock-solid, sharp detailed. The O-MD Mark III's Pro's focus stacking mode is essential for anyone looking to capture traditionally impossible depth-of-field shots. The icing on the feature cake is the handheld High-Res Shot Mode that will combine 8 photos into one, for a staggering 80MP single photo. If you want a traditional-looking mirrorless camera that packs some technical clout, this is it.

Continuing on the Micro Four Thirds trail, the G9 from Panasonic has built a reputation that follows in the footsteps of the Panasonic Lumix GH5 that we reviewed. This compact, yet pleasingly easy-to-hold camera contains a comprehensive feature set. Not only do you have 5-axis Dual I.S II image stabilization to keep things steady, but a 20fps continuous shooting with continuous AF is also almost unparalleled on this list. Much like the Olympus OM-D, the G9 has a photo mode for capturing 80MP stills - but this time from a 6K video. You do get an electronic viewfinder with 3.68 million dots alongside the 3-inch touchscreen. But, we think the range of focus modes is what makes this camera really special: Single AF, Continuous AF, Tracking AF, Face and Eye Detection AF. Just, wow.

The LUMIX DC-G9's 20.3-megapixel sensor is more than up to the job too, proving that Micro-Four-Thirds is becoming ever more capable and a serious compact alternative for many photographers. Lastly, and crucially for anyone looking to use this crop sensor for nature or wildlife shoots, the rugged build is weather-sealed - perfect for your outdoor adventures.

Read our full Panasonic Lumix GH5 review here

There's only one reason this stellar shooter didn't sweep the board in our rundown of the best mirrorless cameras, and that's the price. But when you find out what the Sony Alpha 7 IV can do, you'll see why it's worth it for anyone with a deep enough pocket. A true powerhouse for photographers and videographers, the astonishingly high 33-megapixel full-frame sensor delivers unsurpassed image quality and dynamic range. And that quality also extends to the 4K video capacities - recording up to an impressive 60fps.

But there's no point in capturing all that detail if things aren't sharp - as you'd expect, the auto-focus systems here are equally stunning. There are 693 phase-detection AF points and 425 contrast-detection AF points. Extended focus-related features are Real-time Eye AF and Real-time Tracking. Once you use these capabilities, you'll never go back - your shooting style will be more fluid, particularly with action photography. Thankfully, all of this photographic goodness is housed beautifully inside a dust and moisture-resistant body with plenty of customizable controls. Aside from a slightly lower continuous shooting rate compared to others here, this is an incredible camera.