What are the best small mirrorless cameras?
Can good cameras really come in small packages? We think so. We reveal our best small mirrorless cameras for fantastic image quality.
The best small mirrorless cameras are a lot more portable than a DSLR. Yes, the top-line mirrorless cameras are literally expanding to the point of negligible difference in size between the two formats; but there are still plenty of mirrorless options that are of great quality in a small package.
Smaller mirrorless cameras have practical advantages, of course. They can be used more easily one-handed, which is ideal for spontaneous street photography, for a start. We’ve drawn on the expertise of our review team to come up with a quick list of smaller mirrorless cameras that have impressed us, with options from across the major manufacturers.
Note that, in general, we’ll be looking at smaller sensor sizes as these allow for smaller bodies, though we have included full-frame options for those who want a large-sensor option.
You can scroll to the bottom of this page for a quick explainer section on how to choose a small mirrorless camera. For more affordable choices, check out our guides to the best cheap full-frame cameras, as well as the best cameras under £500 / $500. And, if you’re looking for a small camera because you’re interested in vlogging, take a look at our guide to the best cameras for vlogging and how to get started.
The best small mirrorless cameras: our quick list
Want to cut right to it? Here’s a quick list of the small mirrorless cameras we’ve included on this list, along with links to get the best prices for each one:
- Lightest Fujifilm: Fujifilm X-T30 Mark II – Buy Now
- Smallest new Fujifilm: Fujifilm X-M5 – Buy Now
- Best small Sony camera: Sony A6700 – Buy Now
- Best small full-frame camera: Sony Alpha A7C II – Buy Now
- Lightest Olympus: Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark IV – Buy Now
- Smallest weather-sealed mirrorless: OM System OM-5 Mark II – Buy Now
- Panasonic’s smallest mirrorless camera (still available): Panasonic Lumix G100/D – Buy Now
- Lightest Nikon mirrorless camera: Nikon Z30 – Buy Now
- Canon’s best small mirrorless camera: Canon EOS R10 – Buy Now
- Panasonic’s smallest used camera: Panasonic Lumix GX880 (GF10)* – Buy Now
Read on to learn more about why we picked each of these cameras, as well as key specs and how they perform…
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Lightest Fujifilm: Fujifilm X-T30 Mark II
Amateur Photographer verdict
This camera is effectively a slight upgrade to the original Fujifilm X-T30 – which was already fantastic – and yet is cheaper. We love this camera, despite some quirks in its design.
- Great JPEG results straight from camera
- Wonderful colours
- Terrific value for money
- 20fps – 30fps continuous shooting
- Metal build quality
- Lacks in-body image stabilisation
- Exposure compensation dial gets in the way
- 2.5mm microphone socket
| Sensor | 26.1MP APS-C X-Trans CMOS 4 |
| Lens mount | Fujifilm X-Mount |
| ISO | 160-12,800 (80-51,200 extended) |
| Video resolution | 4K |
| Viewfinder | 2.36M-dot |
| Display | 3in, 1.62M-dot two-way tilting LCD |
| Dimensions | 118.4×82.8×46.8mm, 378g (with battery and memory card) |
The Fujifilm X-T30 Mark II is basically a smaller, lighter and more affordable alternative to the X-T4 as it features the same 26.1MP 4th generation X-Trans CMOS sensor and processor. There are also 2.16M phase detection pixels covering 100% of the frame and up to 425 user-selectable AF points.
Shutter speed and exposure compensation dials help give the X-T30 II old-school looks and handling designed to appeal to traditionalists who will love the Fujifilm’s range of X-Mount lenses that feature an aperture ring.
Along with that traditional appearance, the X-T30 II has some great modern technology, including a responsive tilting touch-screen, fast autofocusing and an excellent 0.39-inch 2.36M-dot OLED viewfinder.
Although it’s not weather-sealed, its magnesium alloy construction gives the X-T30 II a solid feel, and its handling is generally very good aside from the location of the Q button, which means it’s a bit too easy to accidentally activate the quick menu.
You’ll also find it delivers excellent image quality with Fujifilm’s well loved colour reproduction. For video use, the lack of in-body image stabilisation may be an issue, so be sure have a look at the next model in the list.
The X-T30 II is being sold with a variety of kit lenses. The XF 18-55mm f/2.8-4 is perhaps the best, but the XC 15-45mm is smaller, cheaper and lighter.
Read our full Fujifilm X-T30 II review.
Smallest new Fujifilm: Fujifilm X-M5
Amateur Photographer verdict
A lovely little camera capable of delivering some excellent results. If you like using a viewfinder, it’s not for you, but for hybrid shooters and smartphone upgraders, it’s a well-priced winner.
- Small and lightweight
- Stylish
- Fully articulating touchscreen
- 6.2K / 4K video
- Relatively low price
- No viewfinder
- Awkward with bigger lenses
| Sensor | 26.1MP APS-C X-Trans CMOS 4 |
| Lens mount | Fujifilm X-Mount |
| ISO | 160-12,800, 25,600 (extended) |
| Video resolution | 6.2K 3:2 30fps; 4K 60fps |
| Viewfinder | None |
| Display | 3in, 1.04M-dot vari-angle LCD |
| Dimensions | 111.9 x 66.6 x 38mm, 355g (with battery and memory card) |
The Fujifilm X-M5 is Fujifilm’s latest APS-C format compact camera aimed at those who want to upgrade from their smartphones and shoot both stills and video. At £799 body-only it it is one of the most affordable Fujifilm cameras.
It shares a similar, boxed body design as the older X-M1 version, and has no viewfinder at all, instead it employs a vari-angle touchscreen that is great for videographers. As an X-series camera, the X-M5 benefits from Fujifilm’s superb colour science and there’s an extensive collection of Film Simulation modes that can be accessed via the Film Simulation dial on the top plate.
Thanks to the latest X-Processor 5 it uses subject-detection autofocus seen in more expensive hybrid models, like The X-S20. Autofocus performs well for non-human subjects and locks on to eyes for portraits with ease too.
The X-M5 is capable of 6.2K 30p ‘open gate’ recording, in this mode the camera uses all the pixels in the sensor, so you can crop later to different aspect ratios. There is also a unique vertical Full HD video recording option that will appeal to content creators.
However without in-body stabilisation, the camera relies on in-lens optical stabilisation for stills, which can be further enhanced by the electronic stabilisation for video, but keep in mind this applies a 1.32x crop.
If you are keen on having a viewfinder and in-body image stabilisation the Fujifilm X-S10 and X-S20 are great hybrid options
Read our full Fujifilm X-M5 review.
Best small Sony camera: Sony A6700
Amateur Photographer verdict
The Alpha 6700 is Sony’s best APS-C camera to date. Great image quality and features – but the user experience lags behind.
- 3:2 fully articulated screen
- Improved colour output
- 4K video recording
- No dedicated AF-area controller
- Some awkward usability aspects
| Sensor | 26MP APS-C |
| Lens mount | Sony E |
| ISO | 100-32,000 standard, 50-102,400 (extended) |
| Video resolution | 4K |
| Viewfinder | 2.36M-dot |
| Display | 3in, 1.04M-dot vari-angle LCD |
| Dimensions | 122 x 69 x 75.1mm, 493g (with battery and memory card) |
The Sony A6700 is the latest and most powerful model in the Sony APS-C mirrorless line-up. It succeeds the previous flagship A6600 and brings vastly improved video features, a new 26MP sensor first seen in the Sony FX30 cinema camera, and a slightly thicker body.
Its rectangular rangefinder-style design means that there’s no protruding viewfinder housing on the top, so it’s still a pretty compact and pocketable camera, especially when used with the Sony 16-50mm power zoom kit lens. It’s not the best optically, but for a small camera-lens combination, it’s terrific. The A6700 can, of course, take the full range of Sony E and FE lenses.
The 26MP sensor might only be a small increase over the previous model’s 24MP, but photographers do get Sony’s latest and most advanced subject recognition AI autofocus, and it even incorporates the dedicated AI processor first seen in the Sony A7R V.
The headline news with this camera, though, is its 4K 30p, 60p and 120p (cropped) video recording capability, together with improved file format and compression options. This is the ideal camera for hybrid content creators who need to shoot both stills and video, and for whom the cheaper Sony ZV-E10 or more expensive ZV-E1 are just too video-focused.
Read our full Sony A6700 review.
Best small full-frame camera: Sony A7C II
Amateur Photographer verdict
A compact full-frame mirrorless camera that performs extremely well in image quality and autofocus. Its overall value compared to the A7 IV is dubious, however.
- Impressive image quality
- Excellent subject-detection autofocus
- Impressive image quality
- Highly effective image stabilisation
- Only one SD card slot
- Awkward rear control layout
- No dedicated AF point controller / joystick
- 4K 60p video requires 1.5x crop
| Sensor | 33MP full-frame Exmor R CMOS |
| Lens mount | Sony FE |
| ISO | 50-204,800 |
| Video resolution | 4K |
| Viewfinder | 2.36M-dot |
| Display | 3in, 1.04M-dot fully articulating LCD |
| Dimensions | 124 x 71.1 x 63.4mm, 525g (with battery and memory card) |
Sony’s penchant for making small and powerful cameras includes some attractive full-frame models for those looking for lightweight mirrorless cameras. The Sony A7C II is a refinement of the original A7C, which met some criticism from reviewers and punters alike due to its awkward handling. Does the A7C II do enough to right the ship?
It’s definitely an improvement. The Sony A7C II brings the gorgeous image quality of the A7 IV in a commendably tiny package. It also comes with the latest autofocus advancements for unparalleled focusing speed and accuracy. A new front control dial improves handling – giving the A7C II one more dial than the A6700, featured above, though the APS-C models benefit from a larger handgrip. It’s not entirely clear why – the same handgrip could have been used for both cameras – but that’s Sony!
How the Sony A7C II compares to the A7CR
Something else to note is that the A7C II was released at the same time as the A7CR, which has essentially the same camera body with an ultra-high resolution 60MP sensor packed in. We’ve picked the A7C II for this compilation, being a more affordable all-rounder that renders it a viable option for most people. But the A7CR is the one for greater resolution.
Small full-frame mirrorless cameras are a funny old thing. While the technical achievement here is undeniable, we’re less convinced by the user benefit of the A7C II, particularly as the weight of full-frame E-mount lenses is likely to negate the weight saving of the smaller camera. Still, for a small full-frame mirrorless camera, this is one of the most capable you can buy right now.
Read our full Sony A7C II review.
