If you want the best gear for photography and video, then mirrorless cameras are where it's at. The best in the business have all focused attention here, with the likes of Sony, Canon, Nikon and Fujifilm regularly launching new cameras with cutting-edge tech. We're lucky to get privileged access of the latest and best mirrorless models for in-depth testing, to assess each camera's image quality, performance and design in real world situations.
From our comprehensive tests, the one camera we'd choose for ourselves would be the Nikon Z6 III. With its 6K video specs, reliable subject detection autofocus and excellent handling, it’s one of the best Nikon cameras we’ve tried. However, we also know that it won’t be right for everyone. Your needs, skill level and budget could be served better by another model.
In the guide below, you’ll find the results of our real-world tests distilled into digestible summaries, picking out the key benefits and drawbacks of each mirrorless option. We’ve divided our list by use-case, to make it easier for you to zoom in on the best fit for your preferences. Narrowing down to a small selection was no mean task, and so we've included an additional shortlist in an Also consider section at the end, together with our general buying tips.
Top 3 picks
The summary below will give you an instant overview of the best mirrorless camera options for every photographer. When you find one that ticks the right boxes, you can follow the links beneath each entry to jump down to our full write-ups.
The best full-frame for most people
A superb blend of power and reliability for both photo and video creatives, the Z6 III excels in almost every situation.
The best choice for beginners
With modern autofocus and good handling, the EOS R10 is a versatile mirrorless powerhouse that's perfectly suited for beginners.
The best for pros
A versatile, full-frame professional mirrorless camera with 45MP stills, 8K video and incredible autofocus skills.
Best by use-case
The best for video
Billed as a hybrid, the Lumix S5 II excels at video, producing rich and detailed 6K/30p footage while offering excellent bang for buck.
The best crop-sensor
The Canon EOS R7 is a solid rival, but Sony's best crop-sensor mirrorless hybrid has compact dimensions, excellent handling and clever AI autofocus features, plus it enjoys a solid choice of lenses.
The best retro hybrid
A lovely retro hybrid, the Nikon Z fc is a great choice for casual shooters who want a fun camera for travel and everyday shooting. Got more in the wallet? Nikon's full-frame Zf is a better pick.
The best value for beginners
The E-M10 Mark IV might lack advanced features such as phase-detection autofocus, but is still a great value option for stills.
The best hybrid for pros
A smaller, cheaper version of the excellent Z9, the Nikon Z8 is one of the most capable hybrid cameras on the market right now.
The best medium format
Very much a camera for purists, the X2D 100C is also the most versatile and accessible medium format Hasselblad made to date.
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The best hybrid for beginners
Taking all that made the X-S10 great, the X-S20 adds beginner-friendly features while still satisfying more advanced users.
The best for action enthusiasts
An innovative camera for high-speed photography, the A9 III delivers blistering stills pace with unbeatable burst speeds.
Tim is TechRadar's Cameras Editor. With more than 15 years' experience as a photographer and tech journalist, Tim has shot with many of the best mirrorless cameras. As a result, he has a deep knowledge of what to look for when selecting a mirrorless camera. He notes, "with new models coming from Canon, Sony, Nikon, Fujifilm, Panasonic and more, the mirrorless camera market has never been healthier. From entry-level hybrids to high-res workhorses, competition is fierce across all categories. When putting together this list, we've tried to cater to every kind of photographer."
The best mirrorless cameras for 2025
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Below you'll find full write-ups for each of the best mirrorless cameras in our list. We've tested each one extensively, so you can be sure that our recommendations can be trusted.
The best mirrorless camera overall
Nikon Z6 III sample images
✅ You shoot a lot of video: The Z6 III is a true all-rounder, however, many of its upgrades are video focused, including 6K up to 60fps and excellent color profiles.
✅ You photograph moving subjects: The Z6 III has much better subject detection autofocus than the Z6 II, and fast frame rates.
❌ You want the best detail: Nikon's 45MP cameras have almost twice the number of pixels as the Z6 III, giving you finer detail and better cropping capabilities.
❌ You want the best budget full-frame Nikon: Since the Z6 III launch, the Z6 II has gone down in price and is considerably cheaper.
Nikon's third-gen Z6 III is a significant upgrade from the Z6 II, giving it the edge over rivals like the Canon EOS R6 II. It's a mid-range all-rounder that ticked a lot of boxes in testing: you don't get best-in-class detail from its 24.5MP full-frame sensor, but we did appreciate the view through its best-ever EVF (a 5.76m-dot number). Burst speeds are rapid too, with up to 60fps at full resolution for JPEG. But it's the autofocus that really shone in our review: it's just about the best system in low light, while the latest subject detection modes proved suitably sticky.
The Z6 III's video specification also stands out. You get 6K video up to 60fps in-camera, and oversampled 4K raw, plus regular 4K at 120fps and 10x slow motion up to 240fps in Full HD. Record times are impressive too, at 120 minutes even without a cooling fan. If you don't shoot a lot of video or action photography, there's an argument that the now-cheaper Z6 II could serve you well for less. But strong performance across the board makes the Z6 III a compelling hybrid.
Read our in-depth Nikon Z6 III review
The best mirrorless camera for beginners
Canon EOS R10 sample images
✅ You're shopping for your first proper camera: From its versatility to its handling, the EOS R10 ticks all the right boxes for beginners buying their first serious camera.
✅ You want an affordable camera for action stills: Despite its mid-range price, the EOS R10 benefits from top-tier autofocus performance and burst shooting speeds.
❌ You want a wide choice of native glass: One of the major drawbacks of the EOS R10 right now is the lack of native lenses for Canon's RF mount.
❌ You mainly record video: Though the R10 can produce nice uncropped 4K/30p video, the lack of audio port and image stabilization mean this isn't a vlogging camera.
There are cheaper mirrorless camera for beginners, but none that can match the versatility of the Canon EOS R10. From our tests, two features set the Canon EOS R10 apart for learners: its 15fps burst shooting rate and powerful subject-tracking autofocus, which operates across 651 AF points. These two features combine to make the R10 a fantastic performer in a range of scenarios, particularly when subjects are fast moving. We found it particularly good at tracking the eyes of subjects.
It’s not a perfect camera for beginners: we found the EVF a little small and also noted the lack of image stabilization, a feature which is offered on rivals like the Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark IV (below). Then again, we also found that the R10’s low weight and deep grip make it a forgiving camera for novices to use. We also noted positively in our review the helpful presence of an AF joystick. The only major drawback is the lack of native lenses currently available for Canon’s RF mount. In all other respects, the R10 is a versatile option for photographers getting started.
Read our in-depth Canon EOS R10 review
The best mirrorless camera for pros
Canon EOS R5 Mark II sample images
✅ You want Canon's best-ever mirrorless camera: With new 45MP stacked sensor and extra processor, the EOS R5 Mark II is as capable as it is shooting stills as it is video, and represents a big update of the EOS R5.
✅ You want cutting edge autofocus: Canon's new autofocus skills are designed for various sports especially, while eye-control AF is a treat.
❌ You’re on a tight budget: The EOS R5 Mark II’s body-only cost is slightly more than rivals and a lot more than the now discounted EOS R5, and that's before you get to Canon's pricey lenses.
❌ You shoot mainly stationary subjects: Many of the EOS R5 Mark II improvements impact high-speed performance for high-speed subjects. If you're a landscape photographer, the EOS R5 could be a better option.
Voted 2024 Camera of the Year both by our expert team and TechRadar readers, the EOS R5 Mark II is Canon's most versatile camera ever. It builds on the stellar 45MP and 8K video-toting EOS R5 by incorporating a new a stacked sensor, which virtually eliminates the adverse effect of rolling shutter, while a second processor improves the camera's overall speed, meaning this a much faster camera for action photography.
Not only is the EOS R5 Mark II a much quicker camera, but it totes new autofocus modes, some of which are able to detect specific sports, such soccer and basketball, and intelligently select where to focus based on the subjects posture and the position of the ball, including for one of up to 10 stored faces. Canon's eye control AF is also a revelation – tracking where you're looking in the viewfinder to know which subject you'd like to focus on.
There's more: in-camera image upscaling can increase the size of your photos by 400% – that's 180MP – with super-impressive results. Overall, testing the EOS R5 Mark II was a highlight of 2024 – the camera regularly blew us away and there was a sense we werte only scratching the surface despite a lengthy test period. For out-and-out sports pros, the pricier EOS R1 is the camera to pick. But for practically every other professional, the EOS R5 Mark II is the smart choice. The fact that it's much cheaper than Sony's A1 II sweetens matters further.
Read our in-depth Canon EOS R5 Mark II review