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Best Rated Mirrorless & 4K Compact Interchangeable Lens Cameras | Comparison and Reviews 2020

January 2, 2020 by  
Filed under Digital SLR, Featured SLR



Best Compact Interchangeable Mirrorless Lens System Cameras- This is a roundup of the Top-Rated Compact Mirrorless System Cameras (CSC). These cameras have a much smaller footprint than the larger regular sized SLR cameras (half the size and weight) and are easier to use than standard SLRs. A smaller camera is more likely to be taken with you. As with regular SLRs these CSC cameras have interchangeable lenses and are mirrorless. The imaging sensor size and features of some of these sub-compact SLRs compare favorably to a full size digital SLR without the size or weight. The imaging sensor of these compact cameras are much larger than the typical point and shoot camera. Image stabilization is either in the lenses, or the body of these compact cameras. The newest models have 4K Ultra HD Video capability. Below is a comparison of the these top rated compact cameras by price, features and reviews. A glossary of terms is available at the bottom of the page.

Best Rated Compact Mirrorless Lens System Cameras
(Sony Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens Cameras Comparison & Reviews)

Sony Alpha
Mirrorless
a6000 Camera
Sony Alpha
Mirrorless
a5100 Camera
Sony Alpha
Mirrorless
a6300 4K Camera
Sony Alpha
Mirrorless
a6500 4K Camera

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APS-C Imager
Mirrorless Camera
24.3 Megapixels
1080/24/60P HD
– – –
ISO 100-25,600
179 AF Points
3.0-inch TFT LCD with 921,000 dots
– – –
OLED EVF
Tilting Screen
Built-in flash
30 – 1/4000 sec
Burst Mode: 11 fps
4.7″ x 2.6″ x 1.8″
Weight: 12.1 ounces
BIONZ X Processor
E-mount Lens
– – –
Accessory Shoe
Crop factor 1.5x
WiFi & NFC
APS-C Imager
Mirrorless Camera
24.3 Megapixels
1080/24/60P HD
– – –
ISO 100-25,600
179 AF Points
3.0-inch TFT LCD with 921,000 dots
Touchscreen
– – –
Flip Up Screen
Built-in flash
30 – 1/4000 sec
Burst Mode: 6 fps
4.33″ x 2.48″ x 1.42″
Weight: 10 ounces
BIONZ X Processor
E-mount Lens
– – –
– – –
Crop factor 1.5x
WiFi & NFC
APS-C Imager
Mirrorless Camera
24.2 Megapixels
1080/24/60P HD
UHD/24/30P 4K
ISO 100-25,600
425 AF Points
3.0-inch TFT LCD with 921,000 dots
– – –
XGA OLED EVF
Tilting Screen
Built-in flash
30 – 1/4000 sec
Burst Mode: 11 fps
4.7″ x 2.6″ x 1.9″
Weight: 14.2 ounces
BIONZ X Processor
E-mount Lens
External Mic Jack
Accessory Shoe
Crop factor 1.5x
WiFi & NFC
APS-C Imager
Mirrorless Camera
24.2 Megapixels
1080/24/60P HD
UHD/24/30P 4K
ISO 100-25,600
425 AF Points
3.0-inch TFT LCD with 921,000 dots
Touchscreen
XGA OLED EVF
Tilting Screen
Built-in flash
30 – 1/4000 sec
Burst Mode: 11 fps
4.7″ x 2.6″ x 2.1″
Weight: 16 ounces
BIONZ X Processor
E-mount Lens
External Mic Jack
Accessory Shoe
Crop factor 1.5x
WiFi & NFC
In Body Stabilization


Best Rated Compact Mirrorless Lens System Cameras
(Panasonic Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens Cameras Comparison & Reviews)

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH5
Mirrorless
4K Camera
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH4
Mirrorless
4K Camera
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G7KK
Mirrorless
4K Camera
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX85
Mirrorless
4K Camera

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Micro Four Thirds
20.3 Megapixels
1080/24/60P HD
UHD/24/30P/60P 4K
ISO 200-25600
225 AF Points
3.2-inch Touchscreen with 1,620,000 dots
– – –
60 – 1/8000 sec
Up to 12 fps
5.5″ x 3.9″ x 3.4″
Weight: 1.6 lb.
Venus Engine 10
Micro Four thirds Lens
Crop factor 2.0x
Microphone Jack
Headphone Jack
Bluetooth & WiFi
Viewfinder: w/3.68M dots
5 Axis Dual IS
Internal 4:2:2 10-Bit
Dual Card Slots
V-LOG
Micro Four Thirds
16 Megapixels
1080/24/60P HD
UHD/24/30P 4K
ISO 200-25600
49 AF Points
3.0-inch Touchscreen with 1,032,000 dots
Built-in flash
60 – 1/8000 sec
Up to 12 fps
5.2″ x 3.7″ x 3.3″
Weight: 19.7 oz.
Venus Engine 9
Micro Four thirds Lens
Crop factor 2.0x
Microphone Jack
Headphone Jack
Built-in WiFi
Viewfinder: w/2.59M dots.
– – –
Micro Four Thirds
16 Megapixels
1080/24/60P HD
UHD/24/30P 4K
ISO 200-25600
49 AF Points
3.0-inch Touchscreen with 1,032,000 dots
Built-in flash
60 – 1/4000 sec
Up to 8 fps
4.9″ x 3.4″ x 3.0″
Weight: 14.6 oz.
Venus Engine 9
Micro Four thirds Lens
Crop factor 2.0x
Microphone Jack
– – –
Built-in WiFi
Viewfinder: w/2.36M dots.
– – –
Micro Four Thirds
16 Megapixels
1080/24/60P HD
UHD/24/30P 4K
ISO 200-25600
49 AF Points
3.0-inch Touchscreen
with 1,032,000 dots
Built-in flash
60 – 1/4000 sec
Up to 8 fps
4.8″ x 2.8″ x 1.7″
Weight: 15.0 oz.
Venus Engine 9
Micro Four thirds Lens
Crop factor 2.0x
– – –
– – –
Built-in WiFi
Viewfinder: w/2.76M dots
5 Axis Dual IS


Best Rated Full Frame Mirrorless Lens System Cameras
(Full Frame Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens Cameras Comparison & Reviews)

Sony Alpha
A7s II
Mirrorless
4K Camera
Sony Alpha
a7R II
Mirrorless
4K Camera
Sony Alpha
a7 II
Mirrorless
Camera
Sony Alpha
a7
Mirrorless
Camera

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Full Frame Imager
Mirrorless Camera
12.2 Megapixels
1080p/24/30/60/120 HD
UHD/24/30P 4K
ISO 100-102,400
Exp ISO to 409,600
169 AF Points
3.0-inch Tilting LCD with 1,228,000 dots
OLED 2.36M Dots
EVF
Tilting Screen
30 – 1/8000 sec
Burst Mode: 5 fps
4.6″ x 2.7″ x 1.5″
Weight: 22.12 ounces
BIONZ X Processor
E-mount Lens
Mic & Headphone
Jack

Crop factor: None
WiFi & NFC
5-Axis SteadyShot
S-Log2 & 3 Gamma
Magnesium Alloy Body
clean HDMI output
Full Frame Imager
Mirrorless Camera
42.4 Megapixels
1080p/24/30/60 HD
UHD/24/30P 4K
ISO 100-25,600
Exp ISO to 102,400
399 AF Points
3.0-inch Tilting LCD with 1,228,000 dots
OLED 2.36M Dots EVF
Tilting Screen
30 – 1/8000 sec
Burst Mode: 5 fps
5.0″ x 3.8″ x 2.4″
Weight: 22.05 ounces
BIONZ X Processor
E-mount Lens
Mic & Headphone Jack
Crop factor: None
WiFi & NFC
5-Axis SteadyShot
S-Log2 Gamma
Magnesium Alloy Body
clean HDMI output
Full Frame Imager
Mirrorless Camera
24.3 Megapixels
1080p/24/30/60 HD
– – –
ISO 100-25,600
Exp ISO to 25,600
117 AF Points
3.0-inch Tilting LCD with 1,228,000 dots
OLED 2.36M Dots EVF
Tilting Screen
30 – 1/8000 sec
Burst Mode: 5 fps
5.0″ x 3.8″ x 2.4″
Weight: 19.6 ounces
BIONZ X Processor
E-mount Lens
Mic & Headphone Jack
Crop factor: None
WiFi & NFC
5-Axis SteadyShot
S-Log2 Gamma
Magnesium Alloy Body
clean HDMI output
Full Frame Imager
Mirrorless Camera
24.3 Megapixels
1080p/24/60 HD
– – –
ISO 100-25,600
Exp ISO to 25,600
117 AF Points
3.0-inch Tilting LCD with 1,228,000 dots
OLED 2.36M Dots EVF
Tilting Screen
30 – 1/8000 sec
Burst Mode: 5 fps
5.0″ x 3.7″ x 1.9″
Weight: 16.7 ounces
BIONZ X Processor
E-mount Lens
Mic & Headphone Jack
Crop factor: None
WiFi & NFC
– – –
– – –
– – –
clean HDMI output


Glossary of Terms

APS-C Imager = This imager is smaller than a Full Frame imager, but bigger than a Four Thirds Imager. Lenses used on SLRs with APS-C imagers have a focal length about 1.5x that of full frame imagers (crop factor 1.5). This means that the telephoto end of the lens will be greater. New digital lenses have been developed for these type of mirrorless cameras.
Four Thirds Imager = This imager is smaller than a Full Frame imager. Lenses used on SLRs with Micro Four Thirds imagers have a focal length 2.0x that of full frame imagers (crop factor of 2). This means that the telephoto end of the lens will be greater. New digital lenses have been developed for these type of mirrorless cameras.
Crop Factor = This refers to how the focal length of the lens will behave compared to the same lens on a camera with a full frame 35mm sized imager. A crop factor of 2.0 means that a 16mm lens will behave like a 32mm lens. The higher the crop factor, the larger the focal length and also the telephoto end of the lens.
ISO = This refers to how sensitive the image sensor is to the amount of light present. The higher the ISO, the more sensitive the image sensor and ability to take pictures in low-light situations. EXT ISO is the extended mode.
Live View = Allows you to preview your picture on the LCD screen instead of only through the viewfinder. All current models have this feature.
Movie Frame Rates = This is how many pictures (or frames) can be taken rapid fire per second at maximum resolution for video. So, 1080/24/60P HD will shoot 24 and 60 progressive frames/second at full HD 1080p.
HD Movie Mode = These sub-compact cameras can operate as an HD camcorder as well as an SLR. We also list the resolution (4K Ultra HD, 1080p, 1080i and 720p) that each camera is capable of recording.
In Body and 5 Axis Stabilization = Select Sony models (a6500, a7s II, a7r II, a7 II) and Panasonic Models (GH5 & GX85) have In Body stabilization. This is also referred to 5 axis stabilization if used with an image stabilized lens. If you use a non IS lens, you still will benefit from the Image stabilization in the body of the camera.
S-Log2 Gamma and S-Log3 Gamma = Users can adjust the gamma, black level, color level, and more dynamic range. Allows you to capture a much wider brightness range.
Compact E-mount = This refers to the lens mount that the Sony Alpha cameras use for their mirrorless interchangeable lens system cameras.
Micro Four Thirds mount = This refers to the lens mount that the mirrorless cameras that Panasonic Lumix and Olympus Pen cameras use.
LCD = This refers to the LCD screen in the back of the camera. A tiltable screen allows you to take pictures above your head or down low. A flip up screen or fully articulating screen will also allow you to do selfies.
Detachable Flash = On some Sony Cameras, the flash is not built-in (such as the full frame Sony alpha models), but clips on to the accessory shoe when you need it.
Weight and Dimensions = The weight and dimensions listed are for the camera body only.


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