The Best Entry Level Mirrorless Cameras for 2025

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You can do a lot with a smartphone camera these days, but as wildly advanced as they’ve become, there are still plenty of things that mirrorless cameras just do better. The wide array of interchangeable lenses, significantly larger sensor sizes, and incredible low-light performance ensures that mirrorless cameras are the future of photography. Trying to decide which mirrorless camera to buy can be a daunting task, since they come in all different price ranges that fit every budget and offer a dizzying array of features that can make comparison shopping tricky. 

Before you take out a loan to buy the most expensive camera gear on the market in 2025, consider the fact that whether you’re a beginner to mirrorless photography or simply on a budget and looking to save money, you really don’t need to spend a fortune to get great results. If you’ve got only a modest amount of money to spend on affordable camera gear, your #1 investment should be purchasing a few quality lenses that will continue to help you take amazing photos for years to come, long after your first mirrorless camera has been replaced. In fact, good lenses are so important to good photography that you should research the lenses each camera brand offers before deciding to buy into a particular camera system. Even if the features of that camera are out of this world, if there are no lenses available for it in your budget that are suited for the kind of photography you want to do, it’s probably not the right camera for you.

The most affordable mirrorless cameras on the market are often known as entry-level mirrorless cameras or beginner mirrorless cameras. The terms “entry-level” and “beginner” are somewhat unfortunate because many buyers associate these phrases with subpar quality. Would you want to go to an “entry level” surgeon or buy a car with “beginner” safety features? Probably not! When it comes to digital cameras, though, entry-level and beginner don’t mean that your photos will suffer; they just mean that the camera is designed with new photographers in mind, with features that make it easy to take good photos regardless of your experience level. Paired with a good lens, every single entry-level mirrorless camera on the market in 2025 is capable of taking great photos. Even the most affordable mirrorless cameras from Canon, Nikon, Sony, Fujifilm, and OM System (formerly Olympus) allow photographers of any experience level to take impressive photos that will wow viewers.

With beginners in mind, entry-level mirrorless cameras typically include several convenient presets and automatic modes to help new photographers explore the world of photography as soon as they open the box and charge the battery. Learning the ins and outs of exposure and figuring out how to operate your camera using manual mode is very rewarding, but an entry-level mirrorless camera allows you to keep taking great photos while you learn.

Below is a list of some of the best and most popular entry-level mirrorless cameras for 2025. Priced under $1000 for the camera body, you’ll find this list arranged in alphabetical order by manufacturer. While they vary in price, every one of these cameras will allow beginners and budget conscious photographers to take their work to new heights without breaking the bank. Be sure to scroll down below the camera recommendations for more thoughts on features, specs, and what to really pay attention to when camera shopping!

Which Brand is Right for Me?

This is a tough question, and one that every photographer has found themselves asking at some point. With dozens of camera models to choose from and a dizzying array of brands, each touting standout features, it can feel pretty overwhelming to make a decision. In reality, there is no “best camera brand” — it all comes down to your specific preferences, needs, and of course budget.

A primary consideration is whether you’ll primarily be shooting photos, videos, or a combination of both. While every mirrorless camera can shoot both photos and videos, some may have features which make them more specialized. Beyond just technical specs, the look and feel of a camera system is also important. You’ll want to select a mirrorless camera which is well-suited for you and doesn’t feel uncomfortable or awkward to hold and use. Some things to consider include the layout of the buttons, how easily you can access important settings, and how the menu system is designed. Ideally, you want a camera that is intuitive to use and makes capturing the photos and videos you envision as simple as possible. 

Megapixels – How much do they matter?

Camera manufacturers LOVE to brag about how many megapixels their latest cameras have, and new photographers end up spending a lot more money than they really need to when focusing on these specs, thanks to very effective marketing that highlights the latest advances in technology. The truth is that virtually every mirrorless camera manufactured within the past decade offers plenty of resolution to allow photographers to print sharp images at 20×30 inches or larger. Realistically, very few photographers even print large images like this, with most of our photos used for social media and websites, where an ultra-high megapixel image isn’t critical.

Digital camera sensor technology continues to advance (low-light performance in newer cameras is incredible), but in 2025, you’re not going to go wrong whether your mirrorless camera has a 24-megapixel sensor or a 45 megapixel sensor. There are some real advantages to having more megapixels, like being able to crop an image more heavily which can be great for wildlife photographers, but most new photographers will be very satisfied even with mirrorless cameras with a lower megapixel count. Remember, more megapixels mean bigger files, which can quickly fill up your hard drive or take longer to back up to cloud storage services.  

Camera Build & Ruggedness

There is an obvious price difference between entry-level and professional cameras, but much of this cost is related to the construction of the camera body itself and the inclusion of additional features that are beyond what most newer photographers (and in full honesty, even many pros) will need. In 2025, every new entry-level mirrorless camera from one of the major brands is built to a high standard, but most aren’t intended to be used in harsh environments where they will be exposed to ultra high heat, extreme cold, and bad weather. 

Professional photographers who need their camera to keep working whether they’re stuck in a sandstorm, snowstorm, or rainstorm will find a weather-sealed professional level mirrorless camera to be more suited to their line of work. These pro-level bodies often offer higher ISO ranges, faster burst speeds, and typically have full-frame sensors, larger viewfinders, the most advanced subject tracking, and the most autofocus points. All of these features sound pretty great, but they’re not essential for most people. Until you find yourself needing a specific feature, save your money and learn all you can about photography using a more affordable camera. When you’re eventually ready for those pro features, there will be even more camera options to choose from!

Autofocus Performance

When choosing a mirrorless camera, especially as a beginner or someone new to interchangeable lens cameras, autofocus is a critical feature to consider. When you’re trying to capture sharp, in-focus images, especially of subjects like kids, pets, and wildlife, a camera’s autofocus system and how quickly and accurately it can lock onto and track these subjects makes a big difference.

Most modern entry level mirrorless cameras offer reliable autofocus systems which can detect a subject’s face and eyes, locking onto these as the point of focus and making it easier to get crisp photos of people. Many cameras also include subject tracking autofocus, perfect for capturing action shots. If you know that you’ll be photographing lots of fast-paced movement, like sports games or playing kids, look for a camera which has a higher number of autofocus points and more advanced tracking capabilities. 

Autofocus is one of the most critical features to consider when choosing a mirrorless camera, especially for beginners. The speed, accuracy, and tracking ability of a camera’s autofocus system can make a big difference in how easy it is to capture sharp, in-focus shots—whether you’re photographing fast-moving subjects like pets and kids or shooting in low-light conditions. Keep in mind that while today’s modern cameras are very advanced, you’ll still want to prioritize learning more about photography and how your camera system works to ensure you get the most out of your investment. 

Sensor Size and Image Quality

Most entry level mirrorless cameras which are designed with price in mind will typically feature an APS-C or Micro Four Thirds sensor, with full frame sensors usually found on more expensive mirrorless cameras designed with professionals in mind. Because one of the main factors that influences a camera’s performance is the sensor, it’s helpful to understand what these different sensor sizes mean, however in 2025 after decades of advances in digital photography technology, you’re going to get great results from any of these cameras.

Although full-frame sensors offer the best image quality, they also come with higher costs and larger, heavier bodies—making APS-C and Micro Four Thirds cameras great choices for new photographers, those who want to save money, and those who don’t have a specialized need for a full frame camera. 

Larger sensors typically provide better low-light performance, a greater dynamic range, and shallower depth of field, which allows for more control over background blur in portraits. APS-C sensors, which are slightly larger than Micro Four Thirds, tend to offer better image quality in low light and a bit more flexibility when cropping images. However, Micro Four Thirds cameras are often more compact and lightweight, making them well-suited for travel and easy carrying.

A lot of photographers get bogged down debating the image-quality differences from different sensor sizes, but keep this in mind before you get lost in the confusing details: Even the micro four thirds sensors found on cameras like the Panasonic Lumix G100 and OM System OM-5 shown above are still more than three times as large as the sensors used in some of the latest and greatest phone models like the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra or iPhone 16 Pro Max, and we know that these phones take great photos. 

Final Thoughts

At the end of the day, although things like megapixel counts and sensor sizes are helpful technical specs to know about the camera you’re considering, they’re just part of the equation when it comes to great photos. Your own photography skill, understanding of composition, lighting knowledge, and the lenses you use will all play a part in ensuring your photos look great. Whichever mirrorless camera best fits your budget and needs, what matters most is getting out, practicing, and learning how to fully use your new camera. Use the menu at the top of the page to find tons of helpful content right here on ItsJustLight.com that will help you learn everything you need to about using your camera and developing as a photographer – we’ve even got a comprehensive FREE photography course that will explain all of the basics and have you using manual mode in no time. Happy shooting!