The Battle of the Affordable Mirrorless Cameras

Everyone loves a good Sony mirrorless camera, but what if you need an affordable alternative? Our Deals of the Week pits competition against competition. 

It feels like, with every Sony release, the competition is just playing catch-up. The new Canon EOS R5 C was the answer to the FX3, while the Nikon Z 9 was an answer to the A7 lineup. But there are cheaper alternatives that still pack a punch.

So what are they? I'm glad you asked. 

Nikon Z7 II Mirrorless Camera

Nikon has a pedigree that makes you stop and listen. With the new Z line of cameras, the Japanese company made a big push into the mirrorless world.

With the Nikon Z7 II, everything that was great about the original is made even more capable. Sporting a high-resolution 45.7MP FX-format BSI CMOS sensor and dual EXPEED 6 image processors, the Z7 II is clearly aimed at the detail-obsessed image-maker. The sensor's design omits the optical low-pass filter for greater detail recording capability and the sensor supports a native sensitivity range down to ISO 64 for lush, rich capture. Eligible for an optional ProRes RAW upgrade, the camera can output ProRes RAW footage to a compatible Atomos external recorder and provides greater color grading flexibility with the ability to output uncompressed 12-bit raw footage over HDMI. 

Support for HDR (HLG) mode when recording externally also gives instant HDR-suitable video files for immediate playback while N-Log is also available for enhanced control during post-production and grading. 

Canon EOS R Mirrorless Camera

The first step in Canon's mirrorless evolution, the EOS R pairs a redeveloped lens mount and updated full-frame image sensor for a unique and sophisticated multimedia camera system. EOS R features a high-resolution 30.3MP full-frame CMOS sensor along with a DIGIC 8 image processor. 

Designed for a multimedia creator, the EOS R supports UHD 4K (3840 x 2160) resolution recording at up to 30 fps at 480 Mb/s, along with Full HD 1080p shooting at 60 fps and HD 720p at 120 fps for slow-motion playback. When recording in-camera, 4K video has 4:2:2 sampling and 8-bit color depth, and a 4:2:2 10-bit clean output in ITU-R CT.2020 is possible when using an external recorder.

Panasonic Lumix S5 Mirrorless Camera

The Panasonic Lumix S5 meshes capable video and photo capabilities with a portable body design. Featuring a full-frame 24.2MP CMOS sensor, the S5 is distinguished by its UHD 4K60 10-bit internal recording, Dual Native ISO, and wide 14+-stop dynamic range. Optimizing your recording for post-production color adjustment, the S5 also features a pair of gamma settings suited to capturing a wide dynamic range. V-Log has been pre-installed on this camera and is used to capture a flat, neutral gamma curve and an equivalent 14+ stops of dynamic range, making it well-suited for grading.

Additionally, a High Dynamic Range mode, and Hybrid Log Gamma, can be used to record greater detail in both the shadow and highlight regions of a scene.