The best mirrorless camera in 2024: get the right camera at the right price!

Panasonic Lumix S5 IIX being held by DCW reviewer Jon Devo
(Image credit: Jon Devo)

The ‘best’ mirrorless camera can be different things to different people. Obviously it means one thing if I want to take holiday snaps, and another if I want to film a documentary. So the best tool for the job really depends on the job – which is why this guide is divided into different use cases.

I own and use a lot of different cameras but, for my money, the best mirrorless camera overall might well be the Canon EOS R7 – an APS-C powerhouse with all the punch of a full-frame camera, combined with all the advantages of a cropped sensor. Again it has particular pros and cons depending on what you use it for, but it's the most adaptable camera on this list in the overlapping Venn diagram of price, performance and portability.

A mirrorless user since day one!
James Artaius
A mirrorless user since day one!
James Artaius

As a proud owner of the Panasonic G1, the first ever mirrorless camera (launched in 2008), I was an early adopter of the technology. I switched to the trailblazing Olympus cameras in the mid-2010s, and in 2018 I sold my Canon DSLR to join the EOS R system as well. I've been a mirrorless convert since day one, when the tech was still a little primitive, through to today where it's now the industry standard.

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Lab resultsScoreRating
Resolution (ISO 200)28/60★★★
Dynamic range (ISO 200)12.27 EV★★★★★
Noise (ISO 200)39.6 decibels★★★★
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Resolution (ISO 200)38/60★★★★
Dynamic range (ISO 200)11.9 EV★★★★
Noise (ISO 200)36.12 decibels★★★★
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Resolution (ISO 200)26/60★★★
Dynamic range (ISO 200)12.76 EV★★★★★
Noise (ISO 200)37.68 decibels★★★
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Resolution (ISO 200)18/60★★
Dynamic range (ISO 200)12.37 EV★★★★★
Noise (ISO 200)40.23 decibels★★★★
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Resolution (ISO 200)24/60★★★
Dynamic range (ISO 200)12.49 EV★★★★★
Noise (ISO 200)41.93 decibels★★★★
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Resolution (ISO 200)24/60★★★
Dynamic range (ISO 200)12.34 EV★★★★★
Noise (ISO 200)40.55 decibels★★★★
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Resolution (ISO 200)36/60★★★★
Dynamic range (ISO 200)11.97 EV★★★★
Noise (ISO 200)38.1 decibels★★★★
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Lab resultsScoreRating
Resolution (ISO 200)26/60★★★
Dynamic range (ISO 200)12.51 EV★★★★★
Noise (ISO 200)36.42 decibels★★★
James Artaius
Editor

James has 22 years experience as a journalist, serving as editor of Digital Camera World for 6 of them. He started working in the photography industry in 2014, product testing and shooting ad campaigns for Olympus, as well as clients like Aston Martin Racing, Elinchrom and L'Oréal. An Olympus / OM System, Canon and Hasselblad shooter, he has a wealth of knowledge on cameras of all makes – and he loves instant cameras, too.