The best mirrorless cameras for beginners in Australia
The best first mirrorless cameras from Canon, Sony, Nikon and Fujifilm at Australian stores today, whether to buy a kit lens, and what a beginner camera does better than a phone.
Phones take great photos, so why buy a camera? Because a camera with a bigger sensor and interchangeable lenses does things a phone can't: real background blur, sharp photos of fast-moving kids and sport, low light without the "smeared" look, and zoom without losing detail.
The good news is that you don't need an expensive camera to get those things. Entry-level mirrorless cameras from all the big brands are excellent.
Our beginner picks
These are the beginner-friendly bodies we'd shortlist, with today's lowest price for the cheapest listing of each (body only or kit, see each row):
- 1
Canon EOS R50 V Body4 stores · cheapest at Harvey Normanfrom$869 - 2
Sony ZV-E10 Body2 stores · cheapest at digiDirectfrom$929 - 3
Canon EOS R50 Single Kit Camera with RF-S 18-45mm1 stores · cheapest at Harvey Normanfrom$997 - 4
Canon EOS R50 Mirrorless Camera with RF-S 18-45mm IS STM f/4.5-6.3 Lens Kit1 stores · cheapest at Camera Electronicfrom$1,078.99 - 5
Canon EOS R100 Mirrorless Camera with RF-S 18-45mm Lens Kit1 stores · cheapest at Harvey Normanfrom$1,098 - 6
Sony ZV-E10 Mirrorless Vlog Camera (Black) [Body Only]1 stores · cheapest at JB Hi-Fifrom$1,099 - 7
Canon EOS R100 Single Kit with RF-S 18-45mm1 stores · cheapest at The Good Guysfrom$1,099 - 8
Fujifilm X-M5 Body2 stores · cheapest at digiDirectfrom$1,139.38 - 9
Sony A6400 Body1 stores · cheapest at digiDirectfrom$1,183.27 - 10
Canon EOS R50 Mirrorless Camera with RFS 18-45mm Lens Kit1 stores · cheapest at JB Hi-Fifrom$1,198 - 11
Panasonic Lumix TZ3001 stores · cheapest at Ted's Camerasfrom$1,199.95 - 12
Canon EOS R100 Mirrorless Camera with RF-S 18-45mm IS STM and RF-S 55-210mm IS STM Lens Kit1 stores · cheapest at Camera Electronicfrom$1,249
Brand by brand
- Canon EOS R50 and R100: simple menus, great colour straight out of the camera, and a guided mode that explains settings. The R50 is the better camera; the R100 is the cheapest way in.
- Sony a6400 and ZV-E10 II: fast autofocus and a huge range of lenses (Sony's E-mount is very popular). The ZV models are aimed at video and vlogging.
- Nikon Z50 II and Z30: comfortable grips and good image quality, on Nikon's Z mount.
- Fujifilm X-M5, X-S20 and X-T50: loved for their colour "film simulations" and dials. Fujifilm stock can be hard to find, so availability varies.
Kit lens or body only?
A kit usually includes a basic zoom lens (often 18–45mm or 16–50mm) and costs a little more than the body. For a first camera, a kit is the sensible start. A twin-lens kit adds a telephoto zoom (like 55–210mm), good for sport and wildlife.
The cheapest upgrade after that is a prime lens like a 50mm f/1.8, which gives the background blur people buy cameras for, for not much money.
What to check
- Australian stock. Grey-import camera bodies are common online and may not carry the local warranty. More on grey imports.
- Cashback offers. Canon, Sony, Nikon and Fujifilm run seasonal cashback through Australian retailers, which can change which store is cheapest.
- Video needs. If you mainly film, look at the "V" and "ZV" models, which have flip screens and better microphones.
Where to buy
Cameras are cheapest most often at digiDirect and Harvey Norman in our data. See where to buy a camera, and every camera is on the cameras page.
