Tech News: Buying Guide: 10 best mirrorless cameras of 2015

Buying Guide: 10 best mirrorless cameras of 2015 Best mirrorless compact system camera

In the old days, if you were serious about photography you bought a digital SLR. But now CSCs (compact system cameras) offer the advantages of a DSLR, including a big sensor, interchangeable lenses and advanced controls, but in a smaller, lighter body without the mirror mechanism – hency why they're also called mirrorless cameras.

But mirrorless cameras (compact system cameras) come in all kinds of shapes and sizes. Some look like DSLRs, some look like supersized compact cameras. Some have viewfinders and some don't. The fact is that we're all looking for slightly different things, so we've ranked the 10 best compact system cameras you can buy right now based not just on specs, handling and performance, but size, simplicity and value for money too.

Olympus OM-D E-M10 II

1. Olympus OM-D E-M10 II

The brilliant E-M10 II ticks boxes you probably didn't even know about

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Compact size, lenses too Excellent viewfinder Smaller sensor than some Pricier than original E-M10

We loved the original E-M10 for its size, versatility and value for money, but the E-M10 II adds features that take it to another level. The old camera's 3-axis image stabilization system has been uprated to the 5-axis system in Olympus's more advanced OM-D cameras, the viewfinder resolution has been practically doubled and the continuous shooting speed, already impressive at 8fps, creeps up to 8.5fps. Some will criticise the smaller Micro Four Thirds sensor format (roughly half the area of APS-C) but the effect on image quality is minor and it means that the lenses are as compact and lightweight as the camera itself. It's small, but it's no toy – the E-M10 II is a properly powerful camera.

Read the full review: Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark II

Sony A7 II

2. Sony A7 II

Full-frame DSLR-style stunner with 5-axis stabilization built in

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Full frame image quality Size and handling Lenses can be bulky Upstaged somewhat by new A7R II

The A7 II doesn't have the highest-resolution sensor in the A7 range – that's the 42.5Mp A7R II – but its full-frame sensor still has 24 million pixels and, now, built-in stabilization. It's more expensive than the A7 it replaces, but although our lab tests show it has no clear performance advantage over its best APS-C rivals, the Fuji X-T1 and Samsung NX1, the A7 II's full-frame sensor brings a shallower depth of field and a pictorial 'depth' to stills and video that's harder to achieve in a smaller format. The A7 II is an important step in the evolution of full-frame compact system cameras and is supported by a growing collection of pro-quality lenses.

Read the full review: Sony Alpha A7 II

Fuji X-T10

3. Fuji X-T10

The X-T10 upstages the X-T1 with a small drop in features but a big drop in price

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Excellent build and design Value for money High ISOs are JPEG only Lacks X-T1's weatherproofing

At first sight the X-T10 looks like a lower-cost alternative to the X-T1, and you might be expecting a whole bunch of compromises as a result. In fact, though, the X-T10 uses the same sensor and Fuji's latest AF technology, which the X-T1 needs a firmware update to match. The X-T10 has a slightly smaller viewfinder image and simplified external controls which don't match the retro appeal of the X-T1's, but apart from that it's hard to see any major benefit to the X-T1 that could justify the big price difference. We love the compact DSLR-style body, the superb Fuji image quality and film simulation modes, and Fuji's growing range of premium lenses.

Read the full review: Fuji X-T10

Fuji X-T1

4. Fuji X-T1

Classic handling, beautiful images – the X-T1 doesn't put a foot wrong

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Classic controls Rugged build Advanced filters JPEG only Expensive compared to X-T10

Not so long back the X-T1 was our favourite compact system camera, but things change quickly in the world of cameras, and it's been pushed out of the top spot. Price has proved the X-T1's main enemy – it's a great camera, but the newer Fuji X-T10 is almost as great and much cheaper. The Olympus E-M10 II has come along with its brilliant blend of size, features and value, and competitive pricing means the Sony A7 II is now very good value for those who value performance above all else. The X-T1's external manual controls for shutter speed, lens aperture and ISO setting are still a joy to use and we love the results from its X-Trans sensor, but its rivals are just getting stronger.

Read the full review: Fuji X-T1

Olympus OM-D E-M5 II

5. Olympus OM-D E-M5 II

Amazing features, impressive results, inspired thinking… but not cheap

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Innovative 40M high-res mode Effective 5-axis stabilization Some fiddly and complex controls Holding its price a bit too well

The E-M5 II is another technological tour-de-force from Olympus, with a 40Mp High Res mode that produces detail far beyond the sensor's native resolution (though only with static subjects), 5-axis image stabilization for both stills and movies (so it's great for 'run-and-gun' style videography), a fully-articulating touch-screen display and some clever and exciting low-light exposure modes. It's also small and perfectly formed – yet, for an enthusiasts' camera it's not cheap, and the controls can be baffling. It's a similar price to the Fuji X-T1 and faces a similar problem – it's desirable enough, but there's a newer, much cheaper camera in the range (the OM-D E-M10 II) that makes you question the price.

Read the full review: Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II

Panasonic GH4

6. Panasonic GH4

Is it a stills camera or a 4K video camera? The GH4 is brilliant but conflicted

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4K video and 14fps continuous shooting Metal chassis Some fiddly and complex controls Pro build quality and 200,000-shot shutter life

The GH4 is a terrific, ground-breaking camera and its 4K video capabilities are becoming legendary amongst professional film-makers. It's also a very good stills camera capable of shooting top-quality 16Mp images at up to 12 frames per second. You can even extract really good 8MP stills from 4K video shot at 30fps. But all this processing power makes the GH4 expensive, so unless shooting high-speed action stills and video is your speciality, you could be paying for power you won't use. It's a firm favourite amongst 4K film-makers and early adopters, however, and while prices have fallen since its launch in 2014, its reputation just seems to keep on growing.

Read the full review: Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH4

Panasonic G7

7. Panasonic G7

If you like the GH4's tech but not its price, try the new G7

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Excellent OLED viewfinder 4K video and stills mode Two-year-old sensor Plasticky build

Panasonic's D-SLR-style G-series cameras are easily overlooked, as the company tends to put its latest technology in its smaller, rectangular GX-series cameras – the new GX8 is the first to use Panasonic's new 20Mp Micro Four Thirds sensor. Nevertheless, they offer a good blend of features, technology, practicality and value. Indeed, the G7 is a pretty good stills camera for the money, but it goes a whole step further, adding in Panasonic's 4K movie capability and the option of grabbing 8Mp stills at a rate of 30fps. Interestingly, though, Panasonic has kept to its 'old' 16Mp sensor for this model, reserving its latest 20Mp sensor for the GX8. And while the G7 looks great on paper, its plasticky construction is a disappointment.

Read the full review: Panasonic Lumix DMC-G7

Sony Alpha A6000

8. Sony A6000

Sony's top box-shape CSC has an electronic viewfinder and super-fast AF

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Great electronic viewfinder Fast and sophisticated AF Frustrating AF set process No touchscreen

The A6000 is Sony's top APC-S compact system camera and has a 'box' design rather than the D-SLR style of the E-M10 and other enthusiast-orientated compact system cameras. It has an electronic viewfinder, though, mounted in the top corner and some very impressive specs, including a hybrid AF system claimed by Sony to be the fastest in the world when it was launched (February 2014), a 24-megapixel sensor and 11fps continuous shooting. But although the body is compact, the Sony E-mount lenses can be bulky, which affects the overall balance. On the other hand, the A6000 is now on sale at super-competitive prices – this is a high-end compact system camera at an entry-level price and that guarantees it a place in our list.

Read the full review: Sony Alpha 6000

Panasonic GX8

9. Panasonic GX8

Panasonic's flagship CSC has a brand new sensor, but it's pricey

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New 20Mp sensor Mag-alloy build, dust and splash-proof Larger than the old GX7 Expensive at launch

Panasonic's compact system camera range is pretty confusing. You might expect its DSLR-style G-series cameras to get the best and latest tech, but actually it's the the box-shaped GX8 that's the first to benefit from Panasonic's new 20Mp Micro Four Thirds sensor – this has performed really well in our lab tests, putting it on the same level as a good DSLR. The GX8 also comes with 4K video and the ability to grab 8Mp stills from it (it's like continuous shooting at 30fsp). The rear screen is tilting and so, unusually, is the electronic viewfinder eyepiece. It's a very good camera, but the price is a sticking point, and the Sony A6000 (above) gives you more for your money.

Read the full review: Panasonic GX8

Fuji X-M1

10. Fuji X-M1

Decent entry-level CSC made more attractive by falling prices

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Excellent X-Trans sensor Smart retro styling No viewfinder Limited digital filters

This is the only camera on our list without a viewfinder, and that's because we think they are a near-necessity on any serious camera. However, you can't ignore the XM-1's current rock-bottom price, and you do get a lot for your money. This is the cheapest route into Fuji's X-mount camera system and it uses the same 16Mp X-Trans sensor as the Fuji X-T1 and X-T10. It's also rather neat, with appealing retro styling. The bundled 16-50mm kit lens isn't the best and adds a lot of bulk, but at this price you can forgive a lot. It's quite possible that a Fuji X-M1 replacement is on the way, which could explain the falling prices, so if you like the price it might be wise to get one while you can.

Read the full review: Fuji X-M1

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