If you’re an everyday photographer, or documentarian who wants to travel light, these incredibly affordable, compact cameras might be for you.
What is an everyday photographer you might be asking? Simply put it’s someone who likes to capture the world around them on a daily basis. Perhaps a mom who likes to document their time spent with her children who are growing up before her eyes. It’s someone who wants to go on photo walks to capture the ever evolving world around them, or a person who just likes to document moments in their life. After the break see which compact, highly affordable Mirrorless cameras we recommend to capture fleeting moments.
The everyday photographer needs a camera that’s lightweight, can easily be slipped into a pocket or a small bag, can deliver great results, and that won’t break the bank. The cameras we have listed below will produce images that are magnitudes better than any smartphone, they’re easy to use, and they are priced just right. If you’re an everyday photographer, and you’re in the market for a compact Mirrorless camera, take a look at the five cameras we have picked out below.
Ricoh GR II
A lightweight camera (0.48lbs) that has a fixed 28mm f2.8 equivalent prime lens, and a 16.2 Megapixel sensor, the GR II is a seriously capable shooter. Image quality is amazing. You can expect sharp photos with gorgeous colors, and nice bokeh in the right situations. The JPEGS are so good right out of camera you won’t have to worry about editing RAW files. The Autofocus is snappy, you can fire off four frames per second, the battery is rated for 320 shots per charge, you can shoot video in 1080p at 30 frames per second, and it has Wi-Fi and NFC capabilities so you can beam your images to your phone or tablet. This camera is perfect for the everyday photographer, street photographer, and documentarian who wants to be able to slip a camera in their bag and go.
In our review we said:
“Itâs an absolute honor to give the Ricoh GR II the Editorâs Choice award. This camera is fantastic for the street photographer, travel photographer or even for a blogger that doesnât want to or care to shoot a whole lot of video. Its compact size, great image quality, fairly reliable autofocus, and fantastic lens make it a must for many photographers.”
Buy now ($496.95): Amazon
Pro Tip:Â You just never know when inspiration may strike so the last thing you want to do is run out of storage space on your SD card. On top of that, SD cards do fail from time to time so it’s wise to carry extras in your bag, or on your person at all times. Make sure you get one that’s fast enough to keep up with your cameras burst rate and you’ll be good to go.
Sony A6000
The Sony a6000 is a portable powerhouse that is also wallet friendly. This little camera features a great performing 24.3 Megapixel sensor, a 3-inch tilting screen, Wi-Fi and NFC for easy image sharing, 179 autofocus points, and a 11 frames per second burst mode. If you shoot lots of fast moving subjects these features will make it easy to capture great shots. Image quality from this small compact camera is really great. You’re going to get sharp images, great colors, and very versatile RAW files. Pair this camera with a fast prime like the Sony 20mm F2.8 (a 35mm equivalent lens), customize the buttons layout as you see fit, you’ll have a small camera that can capture daily life with ease.
In our review we said:
“Sonyâs A6000 is built pretty solid overall. It feels great in the hand and there are lots of buttons where you need them.”
Buy now ($498): Amazon
Pro Tip:Â Small Mirrorless cameras are fantastic, but the small size means that they come with small batteries. The great thing is that most new cameras can be charged via USB. That means you can carry around a small power bank that will be able to top off your battery while you’re on the go. This one fits in the palm of your hands, and has a rating of 10,000 mAh. You’ll be able to charge your camera battery a few times with this life saver.
Canon Powershot G7x
Another compact, lightweight (but still very powerful) point and shoot camera. The Canon G7X features a 20.2 Megapixel sensor that is capable of delivering excellent results. The lens on this camera has the equivalent focal range of 24-100mm which makes it very versatile, it has a variable aperture from f1.8 to f2.8, and it’s image stabilized. Images are crisp, clean and sharp, and have little to no distortion. The autofocus system is incredibly fast, and the 31 focus points, and 6.5 frames per second burst mode will help you nail your shots. The multi-angle display, and the well thought out menu system make this camera a joy to use. It’s lightweight, versatile zoom lens, and its overall build quality make the G7X perfect for the everyday photographer.
In our review we said:
“The really nice thing about Canonâs Powershot lineup of cameras is that their menu system hasnât changed much over the years. And to be honest it doesnât need to. Everything that you need is right where you can access it and working with the cameraâs settings are every bit as simple as they were many years ago.”
Buy now ($528): Amazon
Pro Tip:Â It really doesn’t matter what type of camera you have, they all need to be cleaned. Taking care of your camera and lenses will help ensure that they will be in working order for years to come. Dirt, grease, and grime can build up and can wreck havoc on electronics, and mechanical parts. A simple camera cleaning kit contains everything you need to keep your camera looking like new. It’s also very affordable.
Olympus EPL9
The Olympus EPL9 is a super fun, lightweight Micro Four Thirds camera that delivers on all fronts. This compact camera is powered by a 16MP Micro Four Thirds sensor that is capable of producing fantastic images with colors that pop. There is no fixed lens on this camera so you have full freedom to buy whatever Micro Four Thirds lenses you choose. We recommend small, fast primes like the Panasonic 25mm f1.7 (50mm equivalent). In terms of features you’ll get a 3-inch tilting touchscreen, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, 4K video, 3 axis image stabilization, 8.6 frames per second in continuous mode, and great battery life. If you’re an everyday photographer who wants a camera with a little style, and tons of features, the Olympus EPL9 could be the one for you.
In our review we said:
“The Olympus EPL9 is a fine camera for the consumer or the hobbyist. Itâs packed filled with lots of features, and is small, lightweight and looks good.”
Buy now ($549): Amazon
Pro Tip:Â As an everyday photographer you’ll likely find yourself in all kinds of situations when it comes to the weather. Keep in mind that not all cameras and lenses are weather sealed. If your camera and lens fall into that category you should keep some inexpensive, yet highly protective camera and lens weatherproof covers with you. When you use these covers your gear will be kept nice and dry. You can just keep on shooting without having to worry. These small weatherproof covers are perfect for compact cameras.
Fujifilm XT100
The Fujfiilm XT100 is the company’s most entry level interchangeable lens camera. While it may lack some of the features from other Fujifilm cameras, this one is well suited to the everyday photographer who just wants to capture fleeting moments. This is an interchangeable lens camera, and you’ll have access to Fujifilm’s selection of fast prime lenses, like the Fujifilm 23mm f2. Feature wise this camera has a 24.2 Megapixel APS-C sensor, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, 430 shots per charge, 4k video capabilities, a 3-inch tilting touchscreen, a 15 frame per second burst mode, and film simulations for extra creativity. With this camera you’ll get great images, beautiful color rendition, good autofocus performance, and JPEGS that look great right off the bat. The price below also includes a 15-45mm lens. What a bargain.
In our review we said:
“The Fujifilm XT100 isnât at all a bad camera. Perhaps it is the most JPEG friendly in the Fujifilm lineup. Itâs small and has a great feel in the hand.”
Buy now ($599): Amazon
