Mirrorless cameras, (also known as MILCs: Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens Cameras), offer a great compromise between size, features, image quality, and price. Amateur photographers looking to up their game from a point and shoot can get the hang of them quickly, and prosumers looking for portability without sacrificing options love them too. So which are the best? We asked you, and here are five of the best, based on your nominations.
Earlier in the week, we asked you which mirrorless cameras were the best of breed. We've mentioned before how to pick a camera based on your needs, but we wanted your nominations. You responded, and now we're back to look at the top five models.
Sony NEX-5N/NEX-5R/NEX-6
The Sony NEX line of cameras are some of the most popular MILCs on the market, and for good reason. They have broad lens selection, adapters for other lens types, unparalleled image quality, tons of settings and options, and more. All of the NEX models earned high praise from many of you for their price point, portability, and image quality. The NEX-5N is no longer available from Sony (although you can still find them on Amazon, $599 body only/$699 with an 18-55mm lens), replaced now by the NEX-5R ($649 body only/$749 with an 18-55mm lens, both models much cheaper at Amazon), both of which many of you said hit the sweet spot of price to performance in the NEX line. One step up is the higher-end NEX-6 ($849 body only/$999 with a 16-50mm lens, also available at Amazon.) All of the models bring a Sony 16.1 megapixel alpha sensor to a smaller, portable frame. They shoot full HD video, sport a live-view LCD on the back that's also a touch-screen, and feature tons of options and the corresponding physical controls to manage them. The 5R and 6 even pack built-in Wi-Fi for geotagging and automatic photo uploads. For more info, check out DPReview's review of the NEX-5N, preview of the NEX-5R, and preview of the NEX-6.
Fujifilm X-Pro 1/X-E1
Fujifilm's X-series is another great-looking, highly-featured series of MILCs that take great photos while appealing to photographers who appreciate a little retro design in their camera bodies. Those of you who nominated it noted that you put down full-on DSLRs and picked up your X-Pro 1s and X-E1s instead, partially for portability. The X-Pro 1 is the high end of the X line, retailing for $1400 body only (a bit less at Amazon) and the X-E1 is its more affordable (but sporting the same sensor) cousin at $999 body only/$1400 with an 18-55mm lens (also available at Amazon.) Each model packs a 16.3 megapixel sensor, a LCD on the back, a slim form factor, and some pretty hefty and detailed options and features. Some people report the X-Pro 1 and the X-E1 have a steeper learning curve than others, but it's worth learning. For more information, check out DPReview's review of the X-Pro1 and of the X-E1.
Olympus OM-D E-M5
The Olympus OM-D E-M5 is a MILC that earned enough stand-alone nominations from the rest of the PEN series from you to be noted on its own. Olympus tries to lump it in with the rest of the PEN models, but it's a very different beast, and that's a good thing. Those of you who nominated it called it out for being a really special camera with a huge lens selection and features that put even full-frame DSLRs to shame. It's easy to use, hides power user features behind a simple and elegant interface, offers incredible image stabilization, and more. It retails for $999 body only, and $1299 with an 18-55mm lens, $1099 with a 14-42mm lens (all three are a little cheaper at Amazon,) a fair price point for a powerful camera. It, like the others in the roundup, offer a slim and compact frame that's portable on its own, a 16 megapixel sensor, an LCD display in the back as well as a viewfinder and flash, and rugged styling that's easy to hold on to. As a side note, I don't think I've ever seen more level-headed glowing comments about a camera than I saw in the call for contenders. You're not alone either, check out DPReview's review of the OM-D E-M5 for more.
Panasonic Lumix GH3
The Panasonic Lumix GH3 is a bit more under the radar than some of its competition, but what it lacks in marketing it makes up for in features and customizability. Its body is shaped and its controls are laid out a bit more like a DSLR than a MILC, and while it does sacrifice a little in the portability department for that shape and size, it's easy to grip, its controls are logically laid out, and it even packs Wi-Fi for automatic image uploads and remote flash control. The GH3 also has quite the modding community around it. Its predecessor, the GH2, was an incredibly hackable camera, and the GH3 is no exception. Reports of an updated firmware for the GH3 are all over the place, but some of you noted you've seen it?my own searches turn up empty, so if anyone has links to it, share them in the discussions. The only down-side is that the GH3 retails for $1299 body only (a touch less at Amazon) and the lenses?what few there are?are also quite expensive (although you can use the lenses for many other 4/3s cameras with the GH3.) Still, it's a 16 megapixel camera with a full LCD display in the back. Head over to DPReview's preview for more info.
Olympus PEN Series/E-PL1
The Olympus E-PL1 was one of the company's first PEN series MILCs, and while it's since been replaced by the rest of the PEN line, like the E-PM2, its still easily available. Most of you who didn't just call out the PEN line called out the E-PL1 specifically, even though the camera made its appearance back in 2010. Those of you who nominated it praised its compact size and portability, its modest lens selection, and perhaps most importantly, its modest and budget-friendly price point compared to others MILCs in the lineup. Price does matter, as the E-PL1 will set you back $500 retail with a 14-42mm lens (less than $300 at Amazon), while the E-PM2 retails for the same price, recently cut down from $599 ($499 at Amazon). It's by far the most affordable of the five, but the price comes with some drawbacks. The E-PL1 is a 12 megapixel model, older than most of the others here, and lacking some advanced features that the others have. Still, it's money well spent and a great upgrasde from a point-and-shoot (or replacement for ever having bought one in the first place, honestly.) The E-PM2 brings some of the OM-D E-M5's features down to the budget model, bumps the sensor up to 16 megapixels, and improves the camera's speed. If you have more money to spend, there's plenty of room to move up in the PEN line as well. The PEN line has had a long and storied history with multiple models, so while we're noting the E-PL1 (which wasn't even the absolute first, that honor goes to the E-P1) because you nominated it, there's probably a model for you in the lineup. For more, check out DPReview's review of the E-P1, E-PL1, and the E-PM2.
Now that you've seen the top five, it's time to put them to an all out vote to determine the Lifehacker community favorite!
No honorable mentions this week, except perhaps to the tongue-in-cheek mentioned Leica M9, which is definitely a powerhouse MILC, offering high end photography features at an equally high-end price. Good luck with that!
Have something to say about one of the contenders? Want to make the case for your personal favorite, even if it wasn't included in the list? Remember, the top five are based on your most popular nominations from the call for contenders thread from earlier in the week. Don't just complain about the top five, let us know what your preferred alternative is?and make your case for it?in the discussions below.
The Hive Five is based on reader nominations. As with most Hive Five posts, if your favorite was left out, it's not because we hate it?it's because it didn't get the nominations required in the call for contenders post to make the top five. We understand it's a bit of a popularity contest, but if you have a favorite, we want to hear about it. Have a suggestion for the Hive Five? Send us an email at tips+hivefive@lifehacker.com!
Title photo by kuujinbo01.
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