If you speak to top photographers these days, most of them will tell you that mirrorless cameras are the cameras of the future. The advance in technology and futuristic design of these cameras allows light to pass through the lens directly onto the image sensor without the need for a reflective mirror.

This design facilitates faster speeds, better auto-focus, and overall improved performance. The size of the camera is also reduced significantly when compared to a DSLR since the mirror is no longer needed.

As a professional photographers based in Hong Kong using Nikon cameras for my shootings: from weddings, portraits, headshots, street photography to sports and motion photography. I am impressed with the development of the Nikon mirrorless cameras.

 

Best Nikon Mirrorless Cameras – Quick Summary

Best Nikon mirrorless camera for beginner: Nikon Z50

Best Nikon Mirrorless Camera For Professionals – Nikon Z6 II

Best Overall Nikon Mirrorless Camera – Nikon Z7

 

Why Nikon Mirrorless Cameras?

In today’s market, ace camera maker Nikon offers some of the best mirrorless cameras with their Z series. This series has cameras that suit all requirements, budgets and fit all pocket sizes.

From their entry-level Z50 to the high-end Z7, these cameras can boast of high-speed, best image quality, and unmatched overall performance.

 

Best Nikon Mirrorless Camera – What to Consider?

So, you’ve decided to take the plunge and get yourself a mirrorless camera. But wait! Before you swipe your card, here are a few things you must consider:

Sensor size

The main reason why we buy professional cameras is for the high image quality they offer. So, naturally, the first thing you should look out for is the sensor size. When the sensor in your camera is large enough, it can capture a great amount of light and process more information.

The more information the camera can process, the better will be its dynamic range. This will ultimately result in better picture quality. 

Nikon offers large enough sensors even for their entry-level mirrorless cameras. 

Ease of use

If you are just starting in photography, then you need this. Ideally, your camera should have a single dial that lets you switch between various modes or a touch screen that has a quick drop-down menu. This will let you operate the camera with ease. 

All the cameras in the Nikon Z series come with smart controls. The dials and buttons on the camera are strategically placed to help to navigate through modes and operating the camera much easy even for beginners. 

Image Stabilization

Image stabilization or Vibration reduction (VR) is a mechanical technique that reduces the blur caused by camera shake. It is particularly important if you do not use a tripod and like to take hand-held shots. This way, you get sharper, more clear images even if the camera itself is shaking and even in low-light conditions. Now, there are two types of image stabilization:

In-camera stabilization

The in-camera or in-body image stabilization is a feature where the sensor itself moves along with the camera to compensate for the shake. This will give you clear images without any blur. An advantage of this is that it applies to all the lenses that you might use with the camera.

Lens Stabilization

The lens uses a floating element that moves in the opposite direction to stabilize the image in case of a shake. Because the stabilization is not in the body of the camera but the lens, you can get stable images and videos even if the camera itself does not have stabilization. 

View-finder 

Mirrorless cameras typically have bigger and better viewfinders than DSLR cameras. A high-resolution viewfinder will make your images more lively and attractive. Look for a camera that has 3.69 million dot units and if you are a beginner a 2.36 million dot unit resolution will be a great start already.  

Video quality

Some cameras are great for photography but not so much for videography. If you shoot a lot of videos then this is something you should consider. A good camera will offer Full HD at 120 fps or 4K at 30 or 60fps. 

 

Best Nikon Mirrorless Camera – Our Picks 

Best Beginner-Friendly Nikon Mirrorless Camera – Nikon Z50 

The Nikon Z50 is a tiny package that packs a big punch. The camera can easily fit into the palm of your hand and yet has the widest lens mount of any camera in this range. This means more light, more contrast, better low-light performance, and amazing image quality.

What’s more? The camera is easy to use and does not cost you a fortune. A beginner’s dream comes true. Want to learn more about the best mirrorless cameras for beginners? Do check this article out.  

Standout Specs:

• 20.9 MP DX Sensor – for crisp and clear images
• Shooting speeds of up to 11 fps – easily capture moving subjects. 
• High-Quality 4K video recording at 30 FPS (without crop) – tell wonderful stories
• Eye Detection Autofocus System – focuses on the subject’s eye for better portraits. 
• 2.36 Million Dot Unit electronic viewfinder – for better color balance and brightness. 
• Compatible with Z and F lenses (with FTZ mount adapter)
• Vlogger View LCD – take self-portraits, selfie videos and is great for creators.

Cons:

• Lack of options for DX lenses
• No in-body image stabilization. But, with the help of an external lens with stabilization, you still can pretty stable images and videos. 

>> Check out more about Nikon Z50 on amazon <<

 

Best Nikon Mirrorless Camera For Professionals – Nikon Z6 II

The Nikon Z6 II is hands-down one of the most powerful mirrorless cameras available in the market today. It is a full-frame mirrorless camera that is powered by not just one but two processors. This means more speed, better image processing, and much better buffer capacity. The camera has an amazing autofocus system that functions accurately even in low-light conditions. 

For the vloggers out there, the camera lets you shoot 4K UHD videos at 60FPS. The build quality is unmatched and the camera itself is surprisingly easy to use. For all the pro photographers/videographers this is the best pick. 

Some wedding photographers are using the Nikon Z6 and Nikon Z6 II for their professional work, which makes this a great camera for wedding photography too.

Standout Specs:

• Full-frame 24.5 MP BSI CMOS sensor – for top-notch image quality
• Dual Exceed 6 processors – unmatched speed
• Ultra-fast shooting speed of 14fps
• 4K at 60fps, Full HD at 120fps – make your own short films
• Dual card slots – for instant backup and security
• 3.69 Million Dot Units OLED viewfinder – better color balance and manual brightness controls. 
• Compatible with Z and F lenses (with FTZ mount adapter)

Cons:

• Auto-focus is a little slower than competitors like Sony. 

>> Check out more about Nikon Z6 II on amazon <<

 

Best Overall Nikon Mirrorless Camera – Nikon Z7 

Your hunt for the best mirrorless camera ends here. Touted as one of the best high-end mirrorless cameras in today’s market, the Nikon Z7 speaks of perfection in every spec. Built around Nikon’s brand new Z mount, the camera is full-frame mirrorless and features a smaller and lighter body that is easy to grip and balance. 

The camera comes with in-body VR stabilization that is automatically applied to whatever Z lens you’re using. And, for the first time, even the F lenses can benefit from VR stabilization. Your images and videos will be steady like never before. 

With a 45.7 MP sensor, hybrid phase-detection Auto Focus system, and a shooting speed of 9fps, it is needless to say that the photo and video quality of this camera is top-notch. This is probably the best video + still photography camera for those looking for perfection in everything they shoot. 

Standout Specs

• 45.7 MP full-frame BSI-CMOS sensor – the images are nothing short of majestic. 
• Full-resolution continuous shooting speed of 9 fps.
• Full-frame 4K UHD at 30 fps – capture cinematic video footage.
• 8K Time-lapse – for the most dramatic star trail videos. 
• Hybrid Autofocus system with subject tracking- your subject is never out of focus. 
• 3.69 Million Dot Units OLED viewfinder – better color balance and manual brightness controls. 
• Compatible with Z and F lenses (with FTZ mount adapter)

Cons:

• Shorter battery life

>> Check out more about Nikon Z7 on amazon <<

 

Best Nikon Mirrorless Camera – Final Words

In this article, we have listed out our picks for the best Nikon mirrorless cameras available in today’s market. Whether you are a beginner or a pro-photographer, you can be assured that these cameras won’t disappoint you.

If you have any other recommendations, make sure you reach out to me on my social media handles mentioned below.  

 

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Ali G Studios   IG: @aligphoto   Youtube: @AliGStudios 

A big thanks to Phottix for the professional lighting equipment provided to Ali G Studios. 

All photos are © Ali Ghorbani and Ali G Studios

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