Sony mirrorless cameras are some of the best available and they easily contend with Nikon and Canon. Sony has a solid range of mirrorless cameras that are mainly compatible with its E Mount lenses. Also, it has a mix of 35mm full-frame and APS-C sensor mirrorless cameras, which provides greater flexibility.
Typically, Sony mirrorless cameras offer great image quality with Exmor sensors and usually have excellent autofocus capabilities. In recent times, they have released advanced autofocus systems that can automatically track objects, for example.
In the guide below, you can find five top Sony mirrorless cameras. We have included top-range models for professionals and budget options for those starting in the world of photography.
1. Sony a7 III
The Sony a7 III is the latest iteration of this top-quality camera and one of the best Sony mirrorless cameras. It has an advanced 24.2MP full-frame sensor and an excellent ISO range of between 100 and 204,800. It is capable of shooting burst mode up to 10 fps in silent operation.
It is compatible with Sony E Mount lenses and also has great connectivity with both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. The a7 III also has a three-inch LCD screen that can be tilted outwards to make recording video from a top-down position easier.
In terms of design, it is a robust camera with an ergonomic shape. The right-hand side has a textured grip that is similar to traditional DSLR finger grips. There is a stylish metallic band on the lens mount. The EVF is centrally positioned but still allows for an aesthetic positioning of the camera dials and shutter button.
The a7 III has a solid autofocus system with 693 phase-detection points and 425 contrast points. This amounts to 93 percent coverage. It also uses the Exmor R CMOS sensor. Get the rest of the specs in our Sony a7 III review.
2. Sony a6600
Another contender among Sony mirrorless cameras is the powerful a6600. This mirrorless camera benefits from an exceptional autofocus system that is dubbed as one of the fastest in the world and is capable of real-time object tracking.
For quality and resolution, the a6600 has a 24.2MP APS-C sensor and uses Sony’s Exmor R image processor. Its ISO range is 100 to 102,400, which gives it great flexibility for low-light compositions. It is also capable of shooting in continuous burst mode up to 11 fps.
We like that the Sony a6600 has five-axis, in-body image stabilization. When combined with Sony lenses that have image stabilization, this camera is a breeze to use handheld in virtually any situation. It has an external mic jack which means you can get quality audio when recording video.
The design of this camera is simple but effective. It has an EVF that is positioned on the left-hand side. The button layout is simple and complements the two control dials on the top panel. The three-inch LCD screen can be fully tilted outwards and extended, although it cannot be rotated or flipped. Our full review of the Sony a6600 shares the rest of our findings.
3. Sony a6000
If you can’t afford one of the above Sony mirrorless cameras, the a6000 represents an older and cheaper model. It still has excellent quality but lacks some of the features of newer models. It has a 24.2MP CMOS full-frame sensor and a capable ISO range of 100-25,600.
The a6000 uses a slightly older hybrid autofocus system, but is still effective. You can use the 179-point focal plane phase-detection and 25 contrast points to focus on objects quickly and accurately. It does not feature real-time tracking, however.
The battery life is decent and one full charge should last up to 360 shots. It is capable of shooting up to 11 fps in continuous shooting mode. The LCD screen is three inches and has a resolution of 921,000 dots. It can also be tilted outwards.
It is compatible with Sony E Mount lenses, and it has an anti-dust feature that helps protect the lens and sensor when changing lenses. Our review of the Sony a6000 found it to be an excellent mirrorless camera and a cheaper option for beginner photographers.
4. Sony a6400
The Sony a6400 is one of the top Sony mirrorless cameras and sits somewhere between the a6600 and the a6000 in terms of quality. It is capable of shooting 4K video and has a slightly older 24.2MP CMOS sensor.
We like that the a6400 features an LCD touchscreen that can be tilted 180 degrees. The screen has a resolution of 921,000 dots and gives you greater control when recording video or taking selfies. The touchscreen also means that you can compose photos using either the EVF or the screen, whichever you are comfortable with.
Sony has made sure that the touchscreen operation is simple. You can easily change image settings and alter settings like aperture and exposure using single touches. This is a user-friendly camera that could be a great choice for beginners.
This camera also has a solid autofocus system that has some brilliant features, including advanced real-time Eye-AF. This means that you can track the movement of people via their eyes. Find out more about the Sony a6400 in our review.
5. Sony a5100 (Budget Winner)
One of the best budget Sony mirrorless cameras is the a5100. This mirrorless camera is considerably cheaper than the other models on this list, and you can purchase the camera with a high-quality kit lens for a reasonable price.
The a5100 isn’t lacking in features or quality, however, and has a 24MP APS-C sensor. It also has a solid autofocus system that has 179 AF points. For connectivity, the camera has Wi-Fi and NFC1 which means you can download photos directly to your smartphone.
The Sony a5100 also has decent recording capabilities and can record video at 1080p HD at 60p. It uses the BIONZ X image processor, which means that images and video will have excellent quality and minimal noise. If you want a budget mirrorless camera that still offers great quality, this is a solid choice. We talk more about it in our Sony a5100 review.
Sony Mirrorless Cameras Offer Excellent Quality
As you can see, there is a solid range of Sony mirrorless cameras to choose from. Regardless of your level of photography or purpose, one of the above cameras should make a brilliant option.
If you want all of the bells and whistles, go for our top pick and try out the a7 III. If you want good quality on a budget, though, the Sony a5100 may very well have everything you need.
