The best beginner mirrorless camera 2022: budget stars for new photographers

The best beginner mirrorless camera 2022: budget stars for new photographers

The best beginner mirrorless cameras you can buy right now

The best beginner mirrorless cameras can take your creativity to the next level. While it is hard to ignore the camera technology on smartphones these days, they still haven’t caught up to entry-level mirrorless cameras in terms of shooting performance, features, and image quality.

To put it simply, these beginner-friendly cameras offer skills superior to any mobile or point-and-shoot, feature large sensors, manual controls and the option of switching lenses to suit different styles of photography. And, because they are mirrorless cameras, they’re typically compact cameras as well.

So, what’s the best beginner mirrorless camera you can buy right now? That honor still goes to Fujifilm X-T200, which comes with an electronic viewfinder, intuitive touchscreen operation, a large APS-C sensor, and a fine range of lenses for dabbling with new shooting styles. Those should cover everything that a learner photographer needs to boost their skills.

That doesn’t mean that it’s the best for everyone, however. We’ve tested the very best entry-level cameras on the market and picked out our top choices in the list below. This buying guide might not include the absolute best cameras on the market right now, but will help you find the best beginner mirrorless camera to get started, whether you’re totally new to photography or in the process of sharpening your skills and going from novice to experienced.

A pared-back version of the Fujifilm X-T30, the X-T200 makes for a much better entry-level camera than its predecessor. In fact, it’s better than the X-T100 in almost every way: it has more processing power, a substantially improved autofocus system and a larger, sharper 3.5-inch rear touchscreen. It’s also much nicer to hold while retaining that attractive and distinctive retro DSLR styling.

Essentially a Fujifilm X-A7 (see below) with a viewfinder, we found that it’s actually easier to use the X-T200’s screen for framing and focusing thanks to an awkwardly placed joystick. The only other downsides are that subject tracking is a bit hit and miss during continuous shooting and isn’t available for video.