10 Best Mid-Range Cameras in 2021 [Expert Picks]

Mid-range cameras are excellent for both beginners or those who are trying to move on from their budget rookie-level camera or maybe even from a smartphone. Since you’re here looking for the best mid-range digital camera, it’s safe to assume that you probably fall in one of those categories. And even if you don’t, this article is the most comprehensive guide anyone will ever need to find the camera that’s perfect for them.

Now, if you already own some sort of basic camera or a good smartphone, you’re probably wondering how much more a professional option is going to change that experience. Well, mid-budget cameras these days go toe to toe with the flagships which means you get way better photos and videos alongside more comprehensive features which any basic or amateur level camera can’t give you.

Going through all those features, types of sensors to consider, setting your preferences straight, and putting all that together to fit in your budget, can create a lot of confusion. So, to clear that confusion out and make sure that you find the perfect camera for your workflow, I have created the most comprehensive collection of the best mid-priced cameras available right now.

Note: DSLRs are fading away and most of the popular camera brands are no longer making them, that’s why when it comes to the mid-range camera market, you would either get a dated DSLR or would have to spend higher, that’s why I have not included any DSLR in this list.

10 Best Mid-Range Cameras in 2021

Now mid-range might mean different budgets to different people. For the vast majority of you, this means a good camera anywhere from $600/$700 to about $1000. However, for some of you, it is roughly under $1500. Keeping that in mind, I have also included a couple of cameras that are best at their game in that $1000-$1500 segment.

For the evaluation process, I have made sure that all of the important aspects have been thoroughly inspected. Based on how the cameras performed in photography and videography, availability of modern features, price to performance ratio, and sheer overall value, these are the top 10 mid range cameras you can get right now.

1. Best Overall: Canon EOS RP

The first camera that comes to mind when thinking about mid-range cameras is the Canon EOS RP. Not only does it cost less than $1000, but it is also a full-frame mirrorless camera that rivals some way more expensive counterparts from the competition. If your budget is somewhere around that price point, this is definitely the best camera you can buy.

Design & Build

As this is a camera from the company‘s full-frame range, there have been no compromises In design or build quality. The device has some resemblance to the more expensive EOS R, but you can definitely tell them apart by looking from a distance. The design still looks pretty premium though and it’s compact considering it’s a full-frame.

The build quality is great as you may expect. It feels solid in the hand and has a premium vibe to it. The weight is around 1.06 lbs which makes this a great full-frame to shoot handheld with. Canon has really tried to make sure this doesn’t feel like a mid-range device and I have to appreciate that.

There is a 3-inch vari-angle display that helps to navigate through menus, tap to focus, and for filming yourself when flipped towards the front. The OLED viewfinder is also very high-quality. You can use either of these when clicking photos or recording videos. However, the OLED viewfinder does sip more battery compared to the display.

Sensor & Capabilities

Canon is using a 26.2MP full-frame sensor which is excellent as far as pure image and video quality go. It also means you don’t get a crop with lenses and you can use their exact focal range. Paired with Canon’s Digic 8 processor, the EOS RP can produce some excellent results.

The photos come out looking great with a lot of detail, great dynamic range, vivid colors, and good separation between highlights and shadows. Canon’s color science comes to play here and if you want you can also tune in the manual mode.

The shutter speed ranges from 1/4000 seconds to 30 seconds and the current temperature can be set manually as well. The ISO ranges from 100 to 40000 in auto mode and can be extended up to 102400. The moonlight performance is pretty impressive as well.

Video

Excellent video recording capabilities are another strong suit for this camera. You can record 4K videos up to 25 frames per second and they have also added 24FPS recently. 1080P footage can go up to 60 FPS, but you don’t get the option to shoot FHD at 24 FPS. ISO in video ranges from 100 to 12800 in 4K.

The overall quality of the videos is excellent though. The 4K footage looks amazing and if you’re shooting indoors, it can look almost inseparable from the EOS R while shot with the same lens. Unlike that camera, you do miss out on raw video recording though. The PDAF on the other hand is super fast and keeps moving subjects in focus.

Inputs & Connectivity

Thankfully, there are no major compromises in the inputs department. You get HDMI out Type-C, USB 2.0 type C, 3.5 mm microphone jack, 3.5 mm headphone jack, E3 jack for remote control, and a single SD card slot. For connectivity, there is 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.2.

Battery Life

One of the weaker areas of this camera is its LP-E17 battery. It can take up to 250 photos or up to an hour of 4K video on a single charge and most of the time even less. This is because the battery is made for smaller cameras and for a full-frame device like the EOS R, it’s simply not enough. So, if you are getting the camera, keep a couple of extra batteries around.

Should you get this Camera?

Anyone who needs a full-frame camera that won’t break their banks and will provide semi-professional level photography and videography experience will benefit from the EOS RP. Of course, if you need a single charge to last longer, then you will have to pick up something else.

2. Best for Creators: Sony ZV-E10

Sony has surprised everyone with the new creator-focused ZV lineup, and the ZV-E10 is the latest addition to that. It is a huge upgrade over its predecessor, the ZV-1, with a detachable lens system and an APS-C sensor inside a super-compact body. It also has flagship-grade features built-in and all of this comes at a super attractive price.

Design & Build

The ZV-E10 takes design inspiration from both its predecessor and the recently released A7C compact full-frame mirrorless camera. Sony has even given this camera an Alpha branding, and that is pretty appropriate in this scenario. Even the grip is proper and the overall size of the camera hasn’t increased much either, so that’s really impressive.

When it comes to the build quality, it is more of a mixed bag. On one hand, it has improved a lot compared to the last generation ZV-1 but it is still not as good as the mainstream Alpha cameras. So, it is still an improvement for the ZV lineup, but The company could have done better. The weight is also pretty low at 0.75 lbs.

There is a 3-inch full-flip touchscreen that supports Tap-to-Focus and Tap-to-Track. It has enough brightness for outdoor use and you’ll be using it all the time because there is no Electronic ViewFinder (EVF) on this camera. This is something they also did on the ZV-1 to save some money.

Sensor & Capabilities

This is the area where the biggest improvement came in. Instead of that 1-inch sensor from last year, Sony has used a 24.2MP APS-C sensor instead. Having that sensor in a body that compact is impressive and it also allows for a lesser 1.52x crop. This is a huge advantage over that smaller sensor.

The quality of the photos has massively improved as well. This new sensor allows way better light input and handling of dynamic range. Photos come out sharp, vibrant, true to life, and because you can change The Lenses now, you have better control over the field of view and the depth of field. This was restricted a lot in the previous model.

As far as the capabilities are concerned, you get shutter speeds ranging from 1/4000-30 seconds, an ISO range of 100-32000 which can be expanded to 51200, and you can even tune the current temperature yourself in the manual controls. This is undoubtedly a better camera to use manual mode on.

Video

There is a massive improvement in video as well. Of course, you get 4K 30FPS video recording with support for HDR, but the fake bokeh effect has been replaced with proper shallow depth of field produced by the lens. This allows videos to look more professional and high-quality. It’s also very fast to focus thanks to the Hybrid (PDAF+Contrast) autofocus.

The product showcase and beautification features are still here. You can even shoot RAW video in S-Log3 and color grade in post if you’re into that. There is also a huge improvement in low-light videos where the colors no longer get washed out and the noise levels are way better controlled.

Inputs & Connectivity

The inputs are comprehensive on this one. You have Micro HDMI, USB Type-C, 3.5mm Headphone Jack, 3.5mm Microphone Jack, Multi-accessory shoe, and an SD card slot with support for faster UHS speeds. For connectivity, there is 802.11 b/g/n W-Fi and Bluetooth 4.1.

Battery Life

If you know anything about the NP-FW50 battery, you know that it doesn’t perform well in bigger cameras. However, Because of the smaller size of this camera, the battery life is actually pretty good. You get up to 440 photos or 80 minutes of 4K video (125 minutes with continuous shooting). If you want, you can keep an extra battery around just in case.

Should you get this Camera?

If you are looking for a compact camera that has all the modern features like 4K HDR and RAW video, a bigger APS-C sensor, good battery life, and the missing EVF that doesn’t really bother you, then you can definitely go for the Sony ZV-E10. It is extremely affordable and feature-rich compared to anything you can buy at this price.

3. Best for Photography: Fujifilm X-S10

Coming back to cameras that are more mainstream, Fujifilm's X-S10 is one of the best cameras they are making under that $1000 price point. It has a great stabilization system, an APS-C sensor, and is great for both photos and videos. If you like what Fujifilm does with the color, this is one of the best mid-range options you can get from them.

Design & Build

The design is one of the most interesting areas of this camera. Although this is an APS-C camera, it looks like one of those Micro 4/3 cameras because of the smaller size. Now, it’s not ZV-E10 small, but still really compact. It keeps the signature controls and looks of a Fujifilm camera.

As far as build quality is concerned, the camera is made out of good quality materials. It’s no flagship quality, but it’s great for the price. It weighs just around 1.02 lbs and that’s really good for those who want to vlog on it.

That’s also being helped with the fact that it has a vari-angle flip LCD display which is essential for vlogging and the built-in IBIS helps to compensate for camera shake when you’re moving around. There is even a good quality EVF which will suck a little more battery compared to the display.

Sensor & Capabilities

The company is using a 26.1-megapixel APS-C sensor for the camera. This is way better compared to using a smaller Micro 4/3 sensor, as the bigger sensor provides better low-light performance and the amount of crop is less.

The photos come out great by the way. The colors have that classic Fujifilm Vibe to them, there is a lot of detail, the dynamic range is great, and you can also shoot in 14-bit RAW. Having so much data to work with makes post-processing a delight. Even low-light photos turned out to be great with good color rendering and controlled noise levels.

Coming to the specifics, if you are shooting in manual mode, you have access to a shutter speed of 1/4000-30 seconds, ISO range of 100-12800 which is extendable to 51200, and you can also set custom white balance anywhere from 2500K to 10000K

Video

The X-S10 can shoot 4K video at 30 frames per second or 1080P video at 60 frames per second. Although there is no 4K 60 FPS, you can actually shoot raw video in Fujifilm F-log format. That means you can color grade according to your preference without losing highlight and shadow details.

As far as the quality goes, the videos come out looking nice with nice colors, great dynamic range, will retain details, and good low light performance. The in-body image stabilization comes into play while shooting handheld and it does a really good job of keeping your video stable when your camera is not on a tripod.

Inputs & Connectivity

There are a decent number of inputs including USB 3.2 Type-C, Micro HDMI Type-D, 3.5 mm microphone jack, and a Multi-accessory Shoe. Sadly there is no headphone jack in this one. Four connectivity, you get Bluetooth 4.2 and 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi. This department is not fully backed up, but for the price, it seems fine.

Battery Life

The NP-W126S battery can hold up to 325 shots or 40 minutes of 4K 30 FPS video or 40 minutes of Full HD 60 FPS video. That is not impressive battery life, so if you are getting this camera, you should keep a couple of extra batteries around. Fujifilm definitely didn’t give much thought to battery life for this camera.

Should you get this Camera?

After a very long time, Fujifilm has built an all-rounder Mirrorless Camera under the $1000 price point. Other than the below-average battery life, The X-S10 has really impressed me with its performance in both photography and video recording and the featured set is really comprehensive as well. If you like Fujifilm‘s approach to photography, you will also like this camera.

4. Best for Fast Moving Subjects: Canon EOS M6 Mark II

Canon also makes a great APS-C mirrorless camera that is slightly cheaper, also has a great photo and video quality, has a better battery life, but the EOS M6 Mark II skips on some of the fancy stuff. If you need a compact canon camera, this is one of the best options you have just under that thousand-dollar price point.

Design & Build

Both budget and mid-range compact mirrorless Cameras from Canon come with APSC sensors so they kinda look alike. But, because of the price difference between the M50 Mark II and the M60 Mark II, the design on the M60 Looks a lot more premium. It has a slightly more professional vibe going for it, and it looks ever so slightly more professional as well.

The build quality is also better. It feels more premium in the hand and it has a nice heft to it without making the camera feel heavy. The weight is around 0.9 lbs which is right in that lightweight category.

There is a 3 inch LCD display that is touch-capable, and it can also flip around to the front and become a great vlogging setup. Of course, you have an electronic viewfinder as well, but as you may have guessed, it drains more battery compared to using the display as a viewfinder. The display does support tap to focus and it is fairly visible outdoors.

Sensor & Capabilities

The camera is using a 32.5 MP sensor and although high-res sensors don’t necessarily mean better image quality, this one is actually pretty impressive. It also lets you shoot 14-bit RAW and it handles various types of situations really well.

The photos turned out to be great. The colors are excellent, the dynamic range is very good, there is a proper amount of sharpness, and low-light performance is also really good. In the daytime, subjects standing in front of bright backgrounds have a good exposure on the face and at night The noise levels are very well controlled.

If we talk about core capabilities the shutter speed ranges from 1/4000-30 seconds, with ISO ranging from 100 to 25600, and it even supports 14 FPS continuous shooting with 30FPS in RAW burst mode. You can also use the custom white balance setting in manual mode and the change in color temperature is 100K for increment.

Video

Canon has targeted the M6 Mark II to consumers who want to shoot videos regularly. The device can shoot 4K video up to 30 FPS and 1080P video up to 60 FPS. It even supports 120 FPS slow-motion videos at Full HD and 30 FPS Timelapse videos in 4K.

The quality of the footage is actually great. Canon has one of the most pleasing color palettes for videos and that makes auto mode footage look really nice. There is just the right amount of sharpness, good dynamic range, true to life colors, and even the low light performance is very impressive.

Inputs & Connectivity

It even has a good selection of inputs including USB 2.0 Type-C, micro HDMI Type-D with 4K output, 3.5mm microphone jack, multi accessory shoe, and an SD card slot with support for up to UHS-I speeds. Sadly there is no headphone jack like the EOS R. For connectivity, you get 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.1.

Battery Life

This camera is also using an LP-E17 battery and as you may expect the battery life isn’t necessarily the best in class. Still, if you are using the display as a viewfinder, you can get up to 305 shots or up to 410 shots in eco-mode on a single charge. For video, you get around 80 minutes of recording time with somewhere around 120-130 minutes with continuous recording.

Should you get this Camera?

Canon has done an excellent job with the M60 Mark II, And if you are someone who needs a compact at high-quality vlogging camera, or something to shoot YouTube videos with, and you don’t need the fancy features like HDR or raw video recording, then this is an excellent choice of camera for you.

5. Best for HDR Video: Sony A6400

Speaking of compact yet highly capable cameras, Sony's A6400 is also an excellent mid-range Mirrorless Camera and it does not skip on the fancy features either. Unless you need that Canon color science, you can definitely have a look at this one as well and then make a decision.

Design & Build

The APS-C lineup of the Alpha cameras has a very recognizable signature look. Sony tries to fit in as much as they can in a small yet elegant body while keeping a touch of professionalism. The A6400 follows that same design language and it looks really good.

There is no compromise in build quality either. The camera is made out of good quality materials and it feels solid & premium in the hand. It weighs around witches still comparatively light so if you want to Vlog with it you can.

The 3 inch LCD touchscreen is however a little bit of a different story. Yes, it’s a good quality display and it is also fairly visible outdoors, but it only comes with a 180° top flip system. That means if you are using an external mic while recording video, the mic can easily cover that center portion of the display. So, keep that in mind.

Sensor & Capabilities

The company is using a 24.2MP APS-C sensor on the A6400. This is a really capable sensor with super-fast autofocus, real-time tracking, and great performance during harsh lighting and low indoor lighting. It also shoots 14-bit RAW, and that’s great news for those who are going to edit the photo in Lightroom anyway.

The photos come out looking true to life with a lot of detail, excellent dynamic range, and sharpness is on point. Sony has a major advantage on Photos when it comes to the overall quality. The color science, however, is a personal preference thing.

As you may expect the capabilities of the sensor are excellent. The shutter speed ranges from 1/4000-30 seconds, ISO Ranges from 100 to 32000, and can be extended to a whopping 102400. It also supports 11 FPS burst shooting and manual white balance ranging from 2500K-9900K.

Video

When it comes to video recording The A6400 is super capable. Not only can record 4K 30 FPS and 1080P 60 FPS videos, but it can also record in 4K HDR and 1080P slow-mo 120 FPS video. Because of the better sensor and also because of the fact that this is a higher-priced device, The video is more superior compared to the ZV-E10.

As far as the pure quality goes it is borderline excellent for this price. In HDR you get true to life colors, good dynamic range, and if you’re recording in HDR, these become even more prominent with a massive improvement on the dynamic range. The Focusing system is also super fast for videos.

Inputs & Connectivity

For a consumer-level camera, Sony hasn’t skipped on any important inputs. You get USB type C, micro HDMI, 3.5 mm headphone jack, 3.5 mm microphone jack, multi accessory shoe, and dual SD card slots with support for faster UHS speeds. For connectivity, you get 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.2, and NFC.

Battery Life

The performance of the NP-FW50 battery is actually not bad with up to 360 shots with the electronic viewfinder, or up to 410 shots with the display. For video, you get up to 75 minutes of 4K video or up to 125 minutes of 4K video with continuous recording.

Should you get this Camera?

If features like 4K HDR and RAW video recording are important to you, then the Sony A6400 is definitely a better option compared to the Canon M60 Mark II. However do keep in mind that if you are not going to use these features anyway, then it’s probably better to get the Canon instead.

6. Best with 240 FPS Slo-Mo: Fujifilm X-E4

Fujifilm is still making some good cameras under their mirrorless E lineup and the X-E4 Is the best one they are currently making. This is actually a photo camera first, but it also has some interesting video capabilities. If you wanted a Fujifilm camera for clicking photos, this is the best midrange option you can get right now.

Design & Build

The design really hasn’t changed much compared to the previous generation E3. This one still has that somewhat point-and-shoot look with a detachable lens system of course. The footprint is compact and the size really makes it easy to carry around. There are some subtle differences here and there, but the overall design philosophy remains the same.

Build quality is also very good with a solid feel in the hand, a weight of just 0.8 lbs, and a seamless finish. Considering its predecessor also had good build quality, this is no surprise and that premium feel for the mid-range price is something I have to give Fujifilm props for.

The 3-inch LCD touchscreen is of good quality and it has good outdoor visibility as well. However, it is still a 180° flip-up display so if you are going to connect an external microphone, it will cover a portion of the screen. As far as the EVF goes,

Sensor & Capabilities

The 26.1MP sensor is an APS-C type so you get that same 1.52 times crop in photos and videos. Combined with the Fujifilm X4 Processor, this sensor is really capable. It is still a photography first and video recording second focused piece of silicon but the improvements across-the-board are truly remarkable for the company.

When it comes to photos, you get the same familiar Fujifilm look and color science so if you have used a Fujifilm camera before, this will feel right at home. There is a lot of detail, the right amount of sharpness, good dynamic range, there is nice separation between highlights and shadows, and even the low-light performance is better with controlled noise levels.

Coming to the rock capabilities, the camera has a shutter speed range of 1/4000–30 seconds, ISO range of 100–25600 that can be extended to 51200, 8 FPS burst shooting (up to 30 FPS with electronic shutter), and custom white balance. So, if you are willing to dig into the manual mode, you can get some really amazing shots on this camera.

Video

Although this is not a video-focused camera, you can still get 4K video up to 30 FPS even in DCI and 10 FPS video up to 60 FPS. Surprisingly the camera even supports up to 240 FPS slow motion at FHD but if you want, you can also record the same in 120 FPS. 240 FPS slow motion is something you generally don’t see in mid-range digital cameras.

As far as the quality of the video is concerned, this is definitely not Sony Alpha competing video quality but if you are going to shoot casual videos, this is still very good. The colors look nice, there is a good amount of dynamic range, and the low light performance is actually better than what I was expecting. The only complaint I can do is that the autofocus could have been a little bit faster.

Inputs & Connectivity

Now the inputs are also fairly modern with Micro HDMI, USB Type-C, 3.5 mm Microphone jack, multi accessory shoe, and a single microSD slot that supports the faster UHS-I speeds. As far as connectivity is concerned, you get 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.1. There is no headphone jack, but there is a headphone adapter in the box.

Battery Life

The battery life on this device is kinda weird. For photos, you get up to 460 shots with the display on a single charge. But when it comes to video, You only get 45 minutes of 4K video recording time or 60 minutes with continuous shooting. So, although the battery life is somewhat good for photos, when it comes to video it doesn’t do that well.

Should you get this Camera?

If you need a Camera mainly for photography purposes and the occasional video, The Fujifilm X-E4 is a great choice. It has some really interesting features and the price is also very reasonable. If your main purpose is video though, then the shot recording time and the slow autofocus might be a dealbreaker for you.

7. Best for Affordability: Panasonic LUMIX G100

Panasonic has also released a bunch of new cameras under their G line-up and the LUMIX G100 is the best refinement of the bunch. It’s is a great replacement for the popular G85 and for less money. This is in fact also a significant upgrade over the G7. So, if you needed a lower-midrange camera that has modern features, the G100 is a great option.

Design & Build

The design kinda resembles their older compact mirrorless cameras and if you have seen one of those before, you’ll feel right at home. It’s still a Micro 4/3 camera and this is the only one of its kind that made it to the list. The design is nice though and it doesn’t have that budget camera look to it.

The build quality feels really similar to the G7 and to be honest, this is good build quality at this price point. With a weight of around 0.66 lbs, it is also easy to shoot handheld and that doesn’t even counter match with the build quality. So, good job there Panasonic.

There is even a 3.0-inch vari-angle LCD touchscreen that flips around to the front. This is really helpful for those filming themselves. The outdoor visibility is really good and unless you’re shooting the display directly flat under the sun you’re good. The EVF is also great for the money.

Sensor & Capabilities

The 20.3MP Micro 4/3 sensor is a nice upgrade over the 16MP unit Panasonic was previously using. It still has a two times crop because of that smaller sensor so when you are attaching lenses, the photos and videos will be significantly zoomed in. So, do keep that in mind.

The photos have received some major improvements compared to how the quality was on the G7. The colors look true to life, the dynamic range is surprisingly good, there is a good amount of detail, and the low light performance is also slightly better. It’s not a massive improvement but it’s significant compared to the previous generation.

Now as far as the capabilities are concerned, you get a shutter speed range of 1/4000–30 seconds, an ISO range of 100-12800, it supports 7 FPS burst shooting, and you can also use custom color temperature. The ISO can be extended higher but this sensor doesn’t really do great with high ISO, so I’ll suggest keeping it within 3200.

Video

The video recording capabilities haven’t really seen any major upgrades. You can still record 4K videos up to 30 FPS and 1080P up to 60 FPS. There is no fancy slow motion or HDR video recording, but considering the price, that is kinda expected.

As far as the quality of the footage goes, it has actually improved. The video looks sharper, the colors look a tad nicer, and the noise levels in low light are a bit more controlled. Overall, this is better video quality than what I expected from Panasonic at this price.

Inputs & Connectivity

When it comes to inputs, you get micro HDMI, micro USB, 3.5 mm microphone input, multi accessory shoe, and an SD card slot. For connectivity, there is 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth 4.2. It is weird that most companies are still using older-gen Bluetooth and Wi-Fi and this definitely needs to change now.

Battery Life

The battery is nothing to brag about either. It gives you around 270 shots with the display and around 250 with the electronic viewfinder. For video, that is about an hour of 4K video recording. So, if you are getting this camera, keep a couple of extra batteries around.

Should you get this Camera?

If you have a tight budget and you want a full-fledged camera with an EVF, there aren’t many options out there. And as far as the price to performance ratio goes, the Panasonic G100 is one of the best devices available in this price range. So, if you don’t mind the shorter battery life, you can definitely get this camera.

8. Best with 5GHz Wi-Fi: Nikon Z50

Nikon has recently jumped into the Mirrorless camera space and although they are late, like a lot, they are finally making some great mid-range cameras and the focus is no longer on just photos. The Nikon Z50 is technically a starting range device, but the improved capabilities make it one hell of an option in the mid-range.

Design & Build

The company has done a complete revamp in the design department and the new design language makes the cameras look modern. In the Z50’s case, you can still tell that it is supposed to be affordable by just looking at it but no way it looks cheap.

Build quality is also good for the price. Yes, the slightly higher-priced models do have better build quality, but this one gets pretty close. This is a good sign considering Nikon’s history. The camera weighs around lbs.

They are using a 3.2-inch LCD touchscreen that only tilts slightly towards the front and down which is okay if you’re taking photos, but flipping the display is not possible on a tripod. The OLED viewfinder does a good job and sucks more battery compared to the display. You do have a 7-level brightness control on the EVF though.

Sensor & Capabilities

The 20.9MP sensor is an APS-C type and it’s a good thing that Nikon didn’t jump into the Micro 4/3 business as those are about to be obsolete anyway. The sensor itself is really good and it does kinda remind you of the ones used in their DSLRs.

The quality of the photos has no compromises as well. If you have used any prior Nikon DSLR camera, this is very similar to that. You get that’s familiar Nikon colors with good dynamic range, proper sharpness, good separation of shadows and highlights, and pretty decent low-light performance.

Taking about the sheer capabilities, you get Shutter Speeds ranging 1/4000-30 seconds, ISO ranging from 100-51200 (expandable up to 204800), Custom White Balance ranging 2500K–10000K, 11 FPS burst shooting, and 14-bit or 12-bit RAW photos. So, that’s actually pretty comprehensive for the price.

Video

Nikon’s lifelong obsession of not providing 4K video support in affordable camera models has finally been corrected with the new mirrorless line-up. The Z50 can shoot 4K Video at 30 FPS and 1080P video at 60 FPS. That is a huge relief as previously they only used to give 1080P 60 FPS at this price and it even has 120 FPS slow-mo.

Inputs & Connectivity

When it comes to inputs, you get a Micro HDMI, USB Type-C, multi accessory shoe, and an SD card slot with support for UHS-I speeds. For connectivity, you have 802.11 b/g/n/ac Dual-Band Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.2. This is one of the only cameras in this price range to have dual-band Wi-Fi.

Battery Life

The battery life with the EN-EL25 cell is somewhat average with up to 300 shots or up to 75 minutes of 4K video. That’s not terrible but I wish it was a bit better. I’d recommend that you keep a couple of batteries around anyway.

Should you get this Camera?

If you liked Nikon’s camera in the past and you also need that specific color science, then the Nikon Z50 is a great choice. It has modern features packed in and it’s also relatively affordable. That’s something you never had from Nikon and finally, the autofocus is better in both photos and videos.

9. Best with 4K 60 FPS: Sony Alpha A6600

Getting into that sub $1500 price point now, the Sony A6600 is your best choice. It is way better than some of those sub $1000 cameras and for those willing to spend that extra money, you get a Super capable device for both clicking photos and recording professional-quality videos.

Design & Build

The design of the A6600 looks very similar to the A6400 but there are a few subtle changes here and there. There aren’t many notable differences and that seems to be working in Sony‘s favor as they were still able to keep the size pretty small and compact.

The build quality is slightly better and that’s a good thing as this is a more premium camera. The device feels solid in the hand with a nice heft to it but with the weight of just 1.1 lbs, it is still pretty light and easy to use handheld.

The display is a 3-inch LCD touchscreen and it is still a flip-up style unit which means you can still cover it with your external microphone. The EVF is excellent in quality and Sony has nailed its design as something targeted towards professionals. This is definitely one of the most compact yet professional-looking mirrorless cameras out there.

Sensor & Capabilities

You are still getting a 24.2 MP APS-C sensor in this camera but it does perform a lot better compared to its younger sibling. I don’t know if this is the same sensor as the A6400 but even if it is, Sony is doing an excellent job in the processing department for both photos and videos. The sensor also moves around and provides a 5-axis IBIS system.

If your sole purpose is photography, you are going to be extremely happy with the fancy colors, excellent contrast, superb dynamic range, excellent low light performance, and 14-bit RAW photos. Even if you don’t want to get in manual mode, you can get some of the best auto mouth shots in this price range.

As far as the core capabilities go, you get a shutter speed range of 1/4000–30 seconds, an ESO range of 100–32000, 11 seconds burst shooting, and a white balance range of 2200–9900. The ISO is extendable up to 102000.

Video

It also changes the game when it comes to video recording. Not only it supports 4K HDR video recording, it even supports 4K at 60 FPS. Of course, it also shoots 60 FPS in 1080P, but there is even 120 FPS slow motion and 60 FPS time lapse which is applicable to both 4K and FHD.

The video quality itself is also better than the A6400 and honestly, I feel like this is one of the best devices to record video in this price range. The colors, the sharpness, the dynamic range, all are in point. Even the low-light video looks gorgeous. The focusing system is super fast and combined with the IBIS, it creates super stable and always in-focus handheld videos.

Inputs & Connectivity

Now coming to be available in parts, you get micro HDMI, USB 3.1 Type-C, 3.5 mm microphone jack, 3.5 mm headphone jack, 2.5 mm remote Jack, multi accessory shoe, and dual SD card slots that support UHS-II speeds. For connectivity, you get 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.2, and NFC. That is actually a lot for a compact camera.

Battery Life

Another thing that has been upgraded is the battery. This one using the bigger NP-FZ100 cell and that combined with the compact form factor, you get up to 810 shots with the display and up to 720 shots. For video, you get up to 150 minutes of 4K recording or 250 minutes in the continuous shooting mode. That’s one of the best battery lives in compact cameras.

Should you get this Camera?

If you are someone who doesn’t mind spending the extra money on the A6600, then I will say go for it. This is literally the best overall camera on this list and it does video just as well as it does photos. The quality and the features do make spending the extra money worth it. The only thing that may keep you from considering this one is the APS-C sensor if you want a full-frame anyway.

10. Best for Stills: Nikon Z5

Nikon is also going all the way in that sub $1500 price segment. It doesn’t necessarily compete with Sony as far as modern features are concerned, but for people who need a Nikon camera in that segment, the Nikon Z5 is a huge upgrade compared to even their latest DSLRs.

Design & Build

Although this is an entry-level full-frame mirrorless camera from the company, they sure tried to not make it appear that way. The design looks really nice and has a hint of professionalism to it. It looks a little bit different from the offerings from Sony and Canon, but that seems to be done on purpose.

As far as the build quality is concerned, the device is built with good quality materials and although this isn’t flagship quality, it’s great for the price. It’s also pretty lightweight at just around 1.3 lbs. So if you want to shoot handheld, this is a great full-frame camera to do that with.

There is a 3.2-inch LCD touchscreen and for some weird reason, the company decided to make it a down-flip system. That means if you have the camera mounted on a tripod you cannot flip your display without detaching the camera first and then reattaching. Not sure why Nikon decided on such a design decision, but even a top flip display would have made more sense. The EVF is bigger and of excellent quality though.

Sensor & Capabilities

The 24.3MP sensor is actually a great step compared to the one on the Z50. It’s a full-frame sensor and that means, you don’t get any crop while using different lenses. It also has better low-light sensitivity and the overall capabilities across the board are superior.

The photos come out great with that familiar Nikon look to them. They have great dynamic range, just the right amount of sharpness, and even the low light performance is better. Auto mode clearly focuses on retaining that signature Nikon look, but if you’re not happy with those you can do some real customization in the manual mode.

Speaking of the capabilities at the core, the shutter speed ranges at 1/4000-30 seconds with the ISO ranging from 100-51200 (expandable up to 204800), Custom White Balance ranges from 2500K-10000K. In video, the max ISO still reaches an impressive 25600.

Video

The company has definitely decided to focus on video on their mid-range devices since they jumped into mirrorless cameras and that seems to have great effects on the Z5. Alongside having the capability to shoot 4K at 60 FPS, it also shoots 1080P videos at 60 FPS and even at 120 FPS for slow motion.

The video quality itself is pretty great. It’s got better colors and improved dynamic range compared to the Z50 and the low light performance is a major improvement as well. The fact that you don’t get a crop in videos is also great and this helps a lot with lenses that have a narrower field of view.

Inputs & Connectivity

This one even has a more comprehensive input selection. You get USB Type-C, Micro HDMI, 3.5 mm microphone jack, 3.5 mm headphone jack, Multi accessory shoe, and an SD card slot with support for UHS-II speeds. For connectivity, there is 802.11 b/g/n/ac dual-band Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.2. That’s pretty good considering how previous midrange Nikon cameras handled this department.

Battery Life

Thankfully, there is a bigger EN-EL15c battery and it can do up to 470 shots or 120 minutes of 4K video recording. This is an area where paying that extra money over the Z50 makes a huge difference. It is still not Sony A6600 good, But at least it is well above average.

Should you get this Camera?

You should only consider the Nikon Z5 over the Sony A6600 if you are already a fan of how Nikon handles photos and you wanted to make the jump to mirrorless cameras. Otherwise, at this price point, I will consider the Sony to be the better option.

Frequently Asked Questions

Verdict

The ever-expanding world of cameras has seen some brilliant innovations over recent years, and mid-range category is now better than ever. Considering that you have made it till the end of this article, you probably already found the perfect mid-range camera for yourself. If you did, congratulations on the path of your new photography journey.

However, in case you’re still not 100% sure about your decision or looking for a simpler recommendation for your purchase, here is the easier version:

• If you need a full-frame camera the Canon EOS RP is your overall best option. For longer battery life, you can get the Nikon Z5.
• For and 4K HDR recording, get the Sony ZV-E10 or the Sony A6600 if you need 60 FPS.
• In case you need a good APS-C mirrorless camera, get the Sony Alpha A6600 or the Canon EOS M6 Mark II.
• If you are looking for something less mainstream, get the Fujifilm X-S10 or the Nikon Z50.
• If you need a Micro 4/3 camera, the Panasonic LUMIX G100 is your best option.
• For those whose main priority is photos, the Fujifilm X-E4 is a great choice.

I hope that was enough for you to make an informed purchase decision. If you found this article helpful, maybe share it with someone else who is still looking for the best camera for themselves or maybe with someone who is just interested. That would be wrong for this article and I hope that I was able to help.