For our most recent Mirrorless Camera reviews, check out: 6 Mirrorless Cameras for Begginners.
Contents
At A Glance: Our Top 10 Mirrorless Cameras for Youtube Videos
- Sony a7S II WINNER
- Panasonic GH5 YOUTUBE WORKHORSE
- Canon EOS M50 VLOGGING
- Panasonic GX85 Under $600
- Sony alpha a6000 Best Seller
They challenge the idea that a small camera can’t offer professional video features or be as powerful as a bulky DSLR.
Recent trends in the video cameras industry suggest that more and more videographers and vloggers are opting for a mirrorless camera over the typical DSLRs.
But why?
Let’s find out below, and then walk you through the 5 best cameras that are mirrorless for video on the market.
Upper Hand of Mirrorless Cameras:
One of the best things about mirrorless cameras is that they come with DSLR-like capabilities without the bulkiness of DSLR video cameras.
They can capture videos in 4K quality, and now many of them even have the kind of advanced features matched only by high-end DSLRs.
However, something that gives mirrorless cameras quite an edge over their DSLR counterparts is that there’s no optical viewfinder.
When recording a video in a DSLR, the optical viewfinder has to be moved out of the way, and you instead have to use the rear LCD or go with an external display.
Another type of camera that is also popular is compact cameras and webcams, but mirrorless beats them in just pure quality.
Top 10 Best Mirrorless Cameras for Video:
Cameras are ranked from most expensive to cheapest.
But, each of them is the best video mirrorless camera in the price range they are.
| Image | Model | Video Resolution | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Sony a7S II WINNER | 4K Ultra HD | Check Price |
 | Panasonic GH5 YOUTUBE WORKHORSE | 4K Ultra HD | Check Price |
 | Canon EOS M50 VLOGGING | 4K | Check Price |
 | Panasonic GX85 Under $600 | 4K | Check Price |
 | Sony alpha a6000 Best Seller | 1080p | Check Price |
For example, GH5 is the best option for under $2000 and Canon EOS M50 is the best option for under $700.
WINNER
1. Sony a7S II
Quality = 99%
Affordability = 85%
Why I Like It:
- 4K Ultra HD high-resolution
- Stunning Low Light Video Performance
- Super Smooth Video
- Insane image quality in such a small body
Review:
If you’re after the most versatile video camera on the market that can produce amazing video content, then this is the mirrorless video camera you’re looking for (it’s also the #1 vlogging camera in our opinion).
Although it’s priced considerably cheaper than some of the more high-end mirrorless cameras on the market, it manages to bring just as much functionality and features to the table.
One of its most highlighting features is its ability to record perfectly clean and crisp videos even in low light.
- Incredible In Low Light: If you have ever used some other similar camera before primarily for recording videos, you know how challenging it can be to make it “work” in low light conditions.As the Sony a7S II has absolutely no troubleshooting just as high-quality videos in low light conditions (even when there’s a significant amount of noise) as it does during the day or in bright light conditions.
- 4K Ultra HD: It also supports 4K recording right in the body, which is crucial for professional videography. You would easily be able to crop your videos the way you want, and even if you convert your videos to the standard 1080p quality, they would still look much sharper than the videos recorded directly in 1080p quality.
- Image Sensor and Stabilization: If you used to have troubleshooting quality videos when standing still, the a7S II would have you covered with its in-body stabilization. It greatly improves the quality of videos you can take when standing still, besides being tremendously useful when taking images as well.
- Frame Rates: It’s also surprising that the a7S II lets you shoot videos at very high frame rates at this price point.
- Insane Value For The Money: Furthermore, the videos it records have pretty much no grading at all, which is again something hard to come by in this price range. Boasting an interchangeable lens and a full-frame sensor, the a7S II easily gives some of its much more expensive competitors a run for their money.
- Customization: It’s also one of the few cameras that let you customize pretty much everything; ranging from changing most settings to installing new apps on the camera, there’s nothing you wouldn’t be able to do on this beast.
- Microphone input: The same goes for the internal microphone that the a7S II comes with; it’s really good so you should be fine with it, but it’s always recommended to get a separate mic.
- Body: The ergonomic design of the a7S II doesn’t leave anything to be desired as well. It’s compact yet very durable, and to our surprise, manages to sport 3 physical dials that are for the shutter, aperture, and ISO.
The a7S II’s compact size makes it very portable, without compromising on the durability at all.
The battery life isn’t the best you can get, but it’s decent and shouldn’t turn out to be much of a problem even when traveling.
Features:
- Camera Type: Mirrorless
- Internal 4K quality recording
- Superior in-body image stabilization features
- Can record videos at high frame rates
- Full-frame sensor
- Compact and lightweight
Drawbacks:
- No Flip Screen
- Battery Life not the best
- Settings are hard to get used to
The Verdict:
It’s not that there are no flaws with the Sony a7S II, but they are certainly nothing major when compared to the value it offers as a mirrorless camera that would work perfectly for professional videography, vlogging, and other types of video production.
Although arguably a7 iii is close to quality for a slightly cheaper price.
YOUTUBE WORKHORSE
2. Panasonic GH5
Quality = 96%
Affordability = 88%
Why I Like It:
- Superior Image Stabilization
- 4K recording backed by impressive FPS rates and the internal 4:2:2 10-bit performance
- Absolutely no loss of details, even when watching the videos in slow motion
- Complete Camera (has everything you need for YouTube)
Review:
First thing first, there’s a reason the Panasonic GH5 has managed to get almost universally positive reviews.
This is actually something pretty rare with professional cameras, as customers do expect a lot at these prices and aren’t pleased easily.
But how can one not be pleased with this video powerhouse, especially given its surprisingly modest price tag of under $2000 (by professional video cameras’ standards, that is).
As a customer says in their review, the GH5 gives cameras that are four times more expensive a run for their money.
And they are right on the money with their assessment here.
- Video Quality: The GH5 comes packed with 4K video performance, with the 4K internal recording being at an impressive at 60p.
The variable frame rates for video are at 60 fps and for FHD, up to 180 fps.
The 4K recording performance is coupled with the internal 4:2:2 10-bit means that there will be no banding that’s commonly associated with the 8-bit performance. - Focus Peaking: Then you would also have focus peaking, which is again something we wouldn’t really expect at this price point, especially with the kind of technical features the GH5 brings to the table.
This feature would make taking amazing videos a breeze as it would allow you to change the focus without having to worry about the video quality takes a hit when shooting at f1.4 to f0.95. - Details Retained: You would be surprised at how the video manages to not lose any details when it has many fast-moving subjects.
- Slow Motion: The same goes for the slow down footage feature, which allows you to watch your videos in slow motion.
However, even in slow motion, you would notice no loss of details, which is really quite impressive at this price point. - Battery: The Panasonic GH5 is fairly compact as well, and comes with great battery life.
Its long battery life, slow motion feature, and superior image stabilization make it a great choice for anyone into action or travel videos. - Ease of Use: And while the technical features are great, there’s also the fact that the GH5 offers the kind of user experience matched by few mirrorless cameras.
There are custom buttons that will make the user experience so much custom-tailored to your needs and preferences.
A customer that films weddings and action sports mentioned in their review how impressed they were with the Dual I.S. 2.0 image stabilization, means that the videos have absolutely no shakiness, which is often super hard to achieve when shooting action videos with a camera they didn’t spend at least 5 grandsons.
They also added that while the image stabilization and slow-motion feature is why they got this camera, they actually ended up getting so much more.
On the downside, the low light performance isn’t exactly stunning, although it’s considerably better than with the Panasonic GH4.
Features:
- Camera Type: Mirrorless
- Huge amount of customization and other useful features like focus peaking and slow motion footage
- Great image stabilization ensures that there will be no shaky videos
- Very good battery life
Drawbacks:
- The low light performance isn’t the best you can get
- Small sensor
The Verdict:
For about 600 bucks cheaper than a7S II, this camera is a complete camera for YouTube that excels where a7s II falls short.
VLOGGER’S CHOICE
3. Canon EOS M50
Quality = 89%
Affordability = 96%
Why I Like It:
- Dual pixel auto focus that would help vloggers record extremely high quality videos easily
- Vari-angle LCD, mic input and the slow motion video mode would be very useful for vloggers
- Clear video quality combined with ease of use, M50 is great for beginners
- Under $700!
Review:
As a particular customer mentioned in their review, the Canon EOS M50 is secretly one of the best mirrorless cameras on the market.
It packs a lot of tech in a surprisingly small body, while also being very lightweight and having interchangeable lenses.
It supports 4K recording but it’s a bit disappointing that when shooting in 4K, the video is cropped to 1.6. This makes the 4K recording not as impressive as it would otherwise be in this price range. It’s also a great camera for live streaming.
With that out of the way, you would love pretty much everything else about the M50.
- Auto Focus: One of its most highlighting features is the dual pixel autofocus, which is one of the best autofocus systems you may have ever come across.
It allows the M50 to cover as much as 80% of the autofocus area, which is certainly something going to come in handy for vloggers. - Video Quality: While the 4K recording has a major flaw that we mentioned above, the kind of 1080p recording the M50 offers would be just perfect for most vloggers and videographers.
It records 1080p at a rate of up to 60fps – and coupled with the OLED electronic viewfinder – you can expect a stunning video quality all the same. - Flip Screen: There’s also the fully articulated LCD, which would turn out to be extremely useful for vloggers and videographers in general.
- Mic Jack: You also have a mic input, meaning that the audio quality wouldn’t be a problem, which is quite a rarity for vlogging or video cameras at this price point.
- Slow Motion: The 120fps slow-motion video mode is also very impressive and vloggers or videographers that shoot different types of videos would be glad to have such a feature.
The touchscreen is also very responsive, and the camera is overall pretty easy to use.
Features:
- Camera Type: Mirrorless
- 24.1 Megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor
- 4K
- Flip Screen
- DIGIC 8 Image Processor
- Very responsive touchscreen that makes it very easy to set the autofocus
- The OLED electronic viewfinder is better than anything you will find in this price range
Drawbacks:
- The 4K recording is very limited in the sense that the 4K videos are cropped
- The lens options are fairly limited
- The battery life isn’t the best you can get
The Verdict:
If you don’t mind not using the 4K recording performance, you will likely have nothing to complain about what seems to be a fairly underrated mirrorless camera for vlogging.
UNDER $600
4. PANASONIC LUMIX GX85
Quality = 86%
Affordability = 97%
Why I Like It:
- Great video quality; very less shakiness even when shooting on the go without any equipment
- Very fast, shooting 4K videos at 100 Mb/s
- Compact, Lightweight and Portable
- Combination of 4K Video and 5-axis stabilizer is as good as it can get at this price point
Review:
The Panasonic Lumix GX85 is a feature-packed camera at an unbelievable price.
It’s probably as fast a 4K mirrorless camera for video as it can get at this price point.
To talk some numbers, the GX85 records 4K videos at an impressive 100 Mb/s. And to your surprise, there’s no time limit for the recordings. You will be able to record for as long as your card or battery allows.
That being said, if you only want to shoot at 1080P or lower quality, just switch to AVCHD and you will need not worry about any time limits.
Coming to handheld footage – which is usually a challenge with most video cameras in this price range – the GX85 turns out to be a winner here as well, thanks to its exceptional IBIS.
While combining IBIS with 4K was believed to be an impossible feat to achieve (especially at this price point), Panasonic managed to pull it off with the GX85.
And that too in a surprisingly compact, lightweight body.
Before you mention overheating issues, let us tell you that there are absolutely none even when shooting continuously for an hour and a half.
If some of you are not a fan of internal codecs, you will be glad to know that this little beauty comes with a clean HDMI output as well, allowing you to use external recorders.
These all translate to excellent video quality and a great, convenient recording experience.
While the videos are not perfect or super smooth, there’s little to no shakiness or blur, which is not bad at all when you’re using such a budget video camera without a stabilizer.
Of course, using a stabilizer or gimbal would improve its video quality even further.
Features:
- Camera Type: Mirrorless
- 5-axis stabilizer IBIS
- 4K
- Comes with HDMI for external recorders
Drawbacks:
- The electronic viewfinder is disappointingly small
- The audio isn’t bad but a microphone jack would have been great
The Verdict:
For sure the best affordable mirrorless camera for video. Yes, there are a couple of flaws as well, but you’re getting a really good digital camera for YouTube at this price.
BANG FOR THE BUCK
5. Sony Alpha a6000
Quality = 84%
Affordability = 98%
Why I Like It:
- Over 1,000 5-Star Reviews on Amazon!
- Full 1080P HD recording with micro HDMI output
- Beginner-Friendly
- Compact, lightweight but comes in a very durable body
Review:
Let us tell you right off the bat that the Sony Alpha a6000 is not for professionals.
That said, however, it’s certainly a great choice for anyone looking to just get started as a YouTuber.
That’s because it is super compact but comes packed with great features.
It would also make a pretty good camera for new travel vloggers that don’t want to spend a couple of grand on their camera just yet or go for one of those bulky DSLRs.
While the biggest flaw in the a6000 is that it lacks the 4K recording that the Panasonic Lumix GX85 offers, but if you can live with that, you would be pleased with the overall user experience.
You get a full 1080P HD recording with clean HDMI output.
But something that makes it much better than it might sound is its surprisingly fast continuous shooting.
The 1080P HD quality, when coupled with the fast continuous shooting, ensures a great video-capturing experience when traveling.
It shoots at 11fps while allowing you to use the autoexposure and autofocus at the same time.
This kind of video recording functionality is definitely hard to beat in this price range unless you’re willing to go for one of those Nikon cameras that come with a much poorer resolution and a mere 1-inch sensor.
The APS-C CMOS sensor however is very impressive at this price, and the viewfinder is super functional and responsive as well.
Features:
- Camera Type: Mirrorless
- Long Battery Life
- Fast Auto Focus
- 24MP APS-C sensor
Drawbacks:
- No 4K, but it’s fine because of all the other features it gives at this price point
The Verdict:
All in all an amazing mirrorless camera for photo and video, if you’re on a tight budget and the 4K recording quality isn’t very important for you, then the Sony a6000 would be right up your alley.
6. Fujifilm X-S10
Review:
Coming with an exceptionally robust and sturdy built, this camera is not considered to be the most premium mirrorless camera to prevail in society right now.
The X-S10 is considered to be the ideal fit for a user that’s looking forward to getting his hands on a lightweight imaging solution that comes in handy with optimum professional features.
What counts as the best feature of this mirrorless camera is that it comes equipped with Auto scene position mode that automatically adjusts the setting of the camera according to the environment it’s being used in.
Having said that, the advanced and exceptional video capability of this mirrorless camera is strong enough to produce 4K visuals to provide users with realistic and productive results.
Moreover, if you have always desired your vlog to be shot at high speed, then this camera can be your ultimate solution as it provides users with a 240 fps high speed.
The various angle flip LCD screen comes within the package, which allows users to flip it up to 180 degrees with ease.
The advantage of this feature is that it allows professional vloggers or photographers to shoot their vlogs in an area that can’t be reached by a human hand.
For the price it’s worth, it provides good value for your money!
Features:
- This mirrorless camera comes within a compact size and features an excellent build quality.
- Comes in handy with a touch screen that can be operated from different angles.
- This model comes equipped with in-body image stabilization technology.
Drawbacks:
- Users don’t find this device’s conventional model to be effective.
7. Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III
Review:
Being textured and designed with utmost precision, this mirrorless camera by Olympus can prove to be your viable pick.
Though the company has gone through some torrid headlines recently, in terms of its sale however it doesn’t affect the reputation of the company and the sales are still being generated as usual.
The reason behind this is that the premium lenses this company provides to users are rare to be found on the other models.
Having said that, this mirrorless camera comes in handy with the latest 20.4 megapixels micro four-thirds sensor to provide users with a profound experience.
Though the size of this sensor is less than what you get on APS-C, you’ll witness that the standard of the sensor remains the same.
The abilities of this camera are really exceptional, this mirrorless gear comes equipped with 5.5 EV body stabilization along with 30 fps pro capture mode to allow users to produce realistic and productive results.
Moreover, being composed of C4K and 4K UHD modes, in terms of features, performance, and compactness, this product is absolutely phenomenal.
Features:
- Facilitate users with its stunning pro capture mode.
- Comes in handy with an excellent 152 RAW file buffer
- This mirrorless camera comes in handy with compact size and allows users to handle this effectively.
Drawbacks:
- The MFT sensor this camera features is a lot smaller than what you receive in APS-C.
- This mirrorless camera only offers users 20.4-megapixel picture quality.
8. Nikon Z5
Review:
Coming in handy with a design that ensures users hassle-free usage along with going easy on maintenance, this product can prove to be your viable pick.
If you are seeking a getaway that comes with nice styling within an affordable budget, then this device can be the solution to your problem.
While manufacturing this masterpiece, the Nikon has done a solid job. The very upper end of this Z range comprises a full-frame mirrorless body with the flagship of Z7 II.
Not only this, but they also found room for a cheeky APS-C chipset too that comes within the package.
By getting your hands on this Nikon Z5, you will witness what this little stylish shooter is worth.
This model comes equipped with twin card slots and 4K UHD video to provide users with a profound experience.
Though that you won’t be burst shooting at an fps more than 4.5, however providing users with full weatherproof sealing, five-stop image stabilization technology, and a premium electronic viewfinder makes up for this drawback.
For the price this product is worth, you will receive an absolute value for your money!
Features:
- For the price this camera comes with, this camera provides users with an optimum full frame.
- Comes in handy with twin card slots.
Drawbacks:
- This mirrorless camera only provides users with a burst of 4.5 fps.
- The 4K resolution this camera comes with, crops the original video.
9. Panasonic Lumix S5
Review:
This Lumix S5 by Panasonic comes in handy with a full hybrid mirrorless frame that is best known to provide users with excellent photo and video performance.
Moreover being compact in size, this model proves to be best for aspirational content creators.
At the heart of the camera, this model consists of a 24.2 megapixel 35 mm CMOS sensor that condenses the light and facilitates users with a high sensitivity performance.
Moreover, with the accommodation of the Dual Native ISO technology, this camera offers users to produce crystal clear content in the best top-notch quality available.
Moving on with its premium specifications, this mirrorless camera features a 96-megapixel high-resolution mode along with a Jpeg format, that allows users to save the photos of this camera directly in JPEG format without hindering the image quality.
Comprising a 6.5 dual image stabilization feature, this camera ensures that the video of the user remains cleared and unblurred while shooting on the go.
In addition to this, the mirrorless camera features high speed and top-notch autofocus precision.
This mode can easily detect the head, eyes, face, and body of the subject with precision.
For the price this mirrorless camera is worth, it provides you with absolute value for your money!
Features:
- This camera is comparatively light in weight and compact in size than the other models.
- Is best known to provide users with the exceptionally best video output.
Drawbacks:
- The user doesn’t find the S and Q models of this camera to be effective.
- This camera only features AF contrast.
10. Canon EOS RP
Review:
Well, most people are looking forward to upgrading their average cameras with something that is unique and enriches them with the best possible specifications.
Having said that, upgrading yourself up to a full-frame has never been easier when you get your hands on this EOS RP by Canon.
Coming with a light and compact design, the Canon EOS mirrorless camera offers users a 26.2 megapixel CMOS sensor in the package, that provides users with quick and accurate autofocus while enabling you to record your video at 4K resolution.
Moreover, a powerful and impressive DIGIC 8 processor is included in this mirrorless camera to produce productive results even when you operate this camera in low light.
What counts as the best feature of his camera is that this camera uses EOS utility webcam beta software that allows users to turn their canon camera to operate like a high-quality webcam by delivering the same HDMI output.
Providing users with ultimate battery life, this camera is simply worth it!
Features:
- This mirrorless camera comes in handy with a compact size.
- This mirrorless camera is light in weight and allows users to carry it for a prolonged time.
- Comes in handy with a fully operational articulating screen.
Drawbacks:
- The user finds this camera to be too compact for the lenses it comes with.
What You Need to Look For:
This might seem obvious, but it really isn’t all that obvious when it actually comes to finding the right camera.
The thing is, you may not be aware of how much money you can save if you stick to getting something that offers what you need, instead of most of the advanced features a mirrorless camera can come with.
For instance, the 4K recording may not be a necessity for many vloggers, and going for a good mirrorless camera that doesn’t offer 4K recording but all the other useful features would cost you far less than something that also supports 4K recording.
The interchangeable lens option is going to be important for videos though, and also the ability to use a variety of lenses instead of just a few.
Similarly, if you tend to shoot videos with a lot of fast-moving subjects, the in-body image stabilization (IBIS) can make a great deal of difference to the overall quality of your videos.
Many bloggers and videographers also shoot most of their videos outdoor, especially the ones that shoot travel videos.
For them, the size and weight of the camera would be just as important as any other factor.
However, the bottom line is that you should have a good idea of your needs before choosing a camera in order to avoid overspending.
Lens:
Another great advantage of going with a mirrorless over a DSLR is lens adaptability.
Mirrorless cameras use interchangeable lenses, and if you don’t know what it is, you will be pleasantly surprised when you actually get to use this feature.
Simply put, you will be able to use different types of lenses depending on your needs and preferences, which will make a great deal of difference to your photography.
The thing is, mirrorless cameras have a much shorter flange-focal distance than DSLRs, meaning that you can use a much wider variety of lenses with them than with a typical DSLR camera.
And of course, as a mirrorless camera weighs significantly less than the bulky DSLR, it’s also very portable, making it a much better choice for travel vloggers or for those that plan to record videos while on the go.
Sensor Size:
Things tend to get confusing when you go in the market to opt for your favorite mirrorless camera but you witness that the sensor of this camera comes in handy with a wide range of sizes.
In order to make things less complicated for you, a comprehensive comparison between large and small lenses is being provided to you. You should opt for one that goes best with your taste.
if you opt for a sensor that comes with wide dimensions, then the large sensor tends to perform way better than the small sensor when used in dark situations.
If you are looking forward to performing low light photography then it’s advised to go with a full-frame mirrorless camera, or at least go for a camera that comes in handy with an APS-C sized sensor.
Moreover, a large sensor produces a much lesser shutter sound when being operated than a small sensor.
Having said that, if you are more concerned about the size of your mirrorless camera, then you need to sacrifice the low light performance, however, the Micro Four-thirds camera might suit best with your taste.
Video Recording Capability:
While talking about the video recording of these mirrorless cameras, it is believed that they tend to have a premium advantage over DSLRs.
A mirrorless camera comes in handy with more precise and consistent autofocus when operated in live view mode.
Lately, only the expensive DSLRs have the ability to shoot videos at the 4k resolution, whereas you will find numerous mirrorless cameras providing you with this facility.
And allowing videos to be shot at 4k resolution means that by opting for a mirrorless camera, you will have faster processing and realistic image output.
Having said that, it’s necessary for you to consider what capability your mirrorless camera comes with, in order to avoid any type of inconvenience in the future.
Wireless Connectivity:
Who wants to be seated beside their camera for prolonged hours to transfer files? Absolutely no one.
Wireless connectivity offers users to transfer the recorded video or images in no time with ease.
Having said that, most mirrorless cameras don’t provide you, users, with this feature.
Hence you need to do some extra hard work to ensure that the pick you have opted for yourself suits best with your taste.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Final Verdict:
As you can see, the mirrorless video cameras we reviewed above are all great cameras (and there are plenty more great digital cameras we haven’t covered, like Fujifilm and Olympus cameras), but the one you should be picking would depend on your needs, preferences, and of course the budget.
If the budget isn’t a problem for you, then the Sony a7S II is going to be your best bet.
However, if you don’t want to spend that kind of money but still want a professional 4K recording experience and produce great travel videos or videos with a lot of movements without losing any detail, then the Panasonic GH5 makes a lot of sense for you.
For those that are on a very tight budget but still want an uncompromised 4K recording experience, the Canon EOS M50 is what you’re looking for.
And finally, if you want to spend even less and the 4K recording isn’t going to help you to get a lot of views, then you can pick one of the last two options on our list.
Just make sure you’re aware of what exactly your needs are so that you can choose accordingly, and get the best balance of features you can. If you are looking for other action cameras, check out GoPro or GoPro hero7.
3 Comments on “Best Mirrorless Camera for Video”
Hi Zach,
I looked over many websites, but your top 5 actually did give me the picture I was looking for. Thank you so much!
Thank you, Fernando!
What do you guys think about the BMPC 4k? I was reading about it being a pretty good 4k slow motion camera in this article https://photographyimproved.com/best-cameras-for-slow-motion/ but honestly I am not quite sure if they were praising the image quality too much.