Here Are the Best High-End, Full-Frame Mirrorless Cameras for Artists
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If you want to shoot high-end, pro-level images or video, consider purchasing a full-frame mirrorless camera. These are loaded with large, full-frame sensors, which provides a field of view equivalent to that of a standard 35-millimeter film camera—in other words, they don’t crop the frame. These sensors also offer higher resolution, better performance in low-light or high-contrast settings, and a greater depth of field. Some models even have features powered by artificial intelligence, such as Sony’s Real-Time tracking and subject-recognition algorithm, which follows your subjects and keeps them in focus, even if they disappear behind another object. While you can still buy a full-frame DSLR, we like the mirrorless ones; they tend to be more compact, and they also rely on electronic viewfinders, which allow you to preview your eventual image in real time as you alter your settings. Moreover, camera companies are phasing out their DSLR lines. To find the best mirrorless full-frame camera for you, check out our recommendations below.
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ARTnews RECOMMENDS
Sony a7R V
Sony a7R V Mirrorless Camera (Body Only)
Replacing our former top pick, the Sony Alpha 1 (a.k.a. the a1), Sony’s fifth-generation a7R model has the same 61.0-megapixel image sensor as its predecessor, the Sony a7R IV, making both models Sony’s highest resolution cameras currently on the market. But what really sets the a7R V camera apart is its stellar autofocusing system, which uses a new AI-powered processing unit (the BIONZ XR image processing engine) dedicated to image recognition, a first in any Sony Alpha camera. This processor allows the auto focus to automatically track faces and eyes not only of humans but of animals too. It can even track insects and vehicles. To do this, you choose the AF tracking mode for a person, animal or vehicle. This ensures you’re always getting sharp shots, no matter who or what is in motion. The a7R V includes other upgrades as well, like a better image-stabilization system, which now offers 8 steps of compensation, instead of 6. Moreover, it has a new 4-axis multi-angle LCD monitor, which fold outs and swivels in a more intuitive way, allowing you to more easily capture hard-to-get shots. The electronic viewfinder has also been improved, so it’s sharper—it now has 9.44 million dots. It also has the ability to capture 8K-resolution video. And for sharing your images, the a7R, like the A1, boasts the industry’s fastest Wi-Fi connection. The a7R V does fall short of matching the Sony a1 in a few areas: For example, the a1 can shoot 8K video at 30 fps and the a7R V captures 8K at just 24fps. And although the mechanical shutter burst is the same on both models (10 fps), the electronic burst mode on the a1 (30 fps) is faster than on the a7R (just 8fps). However, the a1 is close to double the price of the a7R V, which is why we think the Sony a7R V is the better buy.
WE ALSO LIKE
Nikon Z9
Nikon Z9 Mirrorless Camera (Body Only)
Although Nikon’s name has for decades been synonymous with professional cameras for photojournalists, the company’s recent full-frame mirrorless cameras have received mixed reviews. That all changed with the Nikon Z9. Designed with a tough, weather-resistant dual-grip body that lets you easily hold the camera horizontally in landscape mode or vertically in portrait mode, the Z9 offers a little bit of everything for the artist who wants the very best in camera gear. With a newly designed, 45.7MP image sensor that’s extremely sensitive to light, the Z9 will help you shoot crisp images even in dim conditions. It’s also extremely fast, with the ability to capture 30 frames per second (fps) for JPEG images and 20 fps for RAW image files with a 1,000+ image buffer. This basically means you can continuously shoot images with copious amounts of detail without the Z9 freezing up. Other premium features include a silent, fully electronic shutter that offers blackout-free shooting in the camera’s electronic viewfinder, so you never lose track of your subject. There’s also Eye AF (autofocus) for locking in on people and animals, and vehicle detection AF, which is great for motorsport photography. Video shooters will like that the Z9 can capture 8K video for up to two hours consecutively—the world’s longest recording time for a mirrorless camera. Another cool feature is a four-axis, 3.2-inch touchscreen LCD on the back of the camera that allows the monitor to tilt both horizontally and vertically, which is great when switching the camera from landscape mode to portrait mode.
ANOTHER GOOD OPTION
Canon EOS R5
Canon EOS R5 Mirrorless Camera (Body Only)
The Canon EOS R5 is an outstanding all-around interchangeable-lens camera suitable for a wide range of styles and subject matter. Fitted with an impressive, high-density 45-megapixel sensor, it’s capable of delivering super-crisp images with rich color depth in a variety of environments, even low-light spaces. Since the sensor can capture still photos with so much resolution, it provides you with a lot of flexibility when you need to crop the image in postproduction. But the EOS R5 just doesn’t have a high-resolution image sensor. Its electronic viewfinder is a 5.76-million dot OLED EVF, which is very clear and sharp, crucial when you’re composing your shots. It’s packed with other competitive features, too, but the R5 shines for its exceptional autofocus. The system is equipped with smart tracking that continuously trains itself to follow the bodies and faces of both people and animals; this technology excels because the R5 has close to 6,000 autofocus points that cover 100 percent of the frame. Pair this with an in-body image stabilization system that offers up to eight stops of correction and high-speed shooting of up to 20 frames per second, and catching even the liveliest of action shots (think birding!) is a breeze. The camera also excels in shooting video, capturing 8K video clips, which means it’s capturing a whopping 8129 x 4320 pixels at 30 frames per second! But you’ll need to buy a new type of memory card: One of its two card slots is a CFexpress memory card slot to handle the high data processing of shooting 8K video
ALSO CONSIDER
Panasonic Lumix S5 II
Panasonic Lumix S5 II (Body Only)
If you’re an artist on a tight budget but you still want an excellent quality hybrid full-frame mirrorless camera that shoots both still photos and very good video, this Panasonic full-frame mirrorless model should fit the bill. This new version of the S5, along with the more expensive Lumix S5 IIX, includes phase-detection technology on its 24-megapixel BSI CMOS sensor. This means both cameras are better at autofocusing and tracking subjects. The S5 II also has a faster burst mode than the previous model: 9 fps with mechanical shutter and 30 fps in electronic shutter mode. And it has 6.5 stops of compensation in its image-stabilization system. If you are looking for pro-level video capabilities, you might consider upgrading to the S5 IIX, which is $200 more than the S5 II. Either, though, are great value for the money.
TOP OF THE LINE
Leica M11
Leica M11 Digital Rangefinder Camera
For 60 years, Leica’s M-series rangefinders have been some of the most expensive on the market, and the M11, the latest digital version of this classic camera, is no exception. Those who love “M”s will like that M11 retains much of the series’ classic design and appearance. However, you’ll need to manually focus it, and it can’t capture video. But the company has updated it in other ways to make it competitive as a still-image camera. For instance, it has a new 60-megapixel back-side illuminated (BSI) CMOS sensor, which is a lot of resolution, more than previous models. It also lets you choose to shoot in one of three resolutions: 60MP (L), 36MP (M) and 18MP (S) in either RAW or JPEG. And it includes a powerful battery that allows you to shoot a long time with needing to recharge. Plus, it has a USB-C port to transfer images from your SD card (it has a UHS-II SD card slot) and is equipped with 64 GBs of internal storage for storing photos.
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Brought to you by the oldest and most widely circulated art magazine in the world, ARTnews Recommends helps you make the choice that suits you best from products in hundreds of art and craft supply categories. Our offerings are based on intensive research, interviews with artists and craftspeople, and the accumulated experience of the site’s editors and writers. We provide trustworthy and helpful advice about materials to artists ranging from beginner to professional.
1. Sony Alpha 1
The top dog in mirrorless cameras right now is the Sony Alpha 1, aka the A1. Incredibly fast and impressively full featured, the A1 is a versatile artistic tool for capturing both photos and video. It can shoot 50-megapixel full-frame images with rich detail at a blazing 30 frames per second, which is great for photographing action such as dance or sports. The camera shoots so quickly, there’s no blackout time between each recorded picture, so you’ll never miss your shot. To help you lock in on fast-moving subjects, the A1’s autofocus (AF) system automatically tracks the faces and eyes of not only humans but animals too, even offering a new Bird Eye AF mode for getting sharp shots of our feathered friends. Meanwhile, a silent shooting mode with a vibration-free electronic shutter lets you avoid disturbing shy subjects. For video, the camera shoots 8K at 30p for smooth, lifelike footage. You can also record 4K at 120p for high-resolution slow-motion video. We like the camera’s bright and large high-resolution electronic viewfinder, which features a speedy refresh rate of 240 frames per second to produce a truly live view of the subjects you’re aiming at. And for sharing your images after they’re captured, the A1 boasts the industry’s fastest Wi-Fi connection.
Sony Alpha 1
2. Nikon Z9
Although Nikon’s name has for decades been synonymous with professional cameras for photojournalists, the company’s recent full-frame mirrorless cameras have received mixed reviews. That’s all changed with the Nikon Z9, introduced late last year. Designed with a tough, weather-resistant dual-grip body that lets you easily hold the camera horizontally in landscape mode or vertically in portrait mode, the Z9 offers a little bit of everything for the artist who wants the very best in camera gear. With a newly designed, 45.7MP image sensor that’s extremely sensitive to light, the Z9 will help you shoot crisp images even in dim conditions. It’s also extremely fast, with the ability to capture 30 frames per second (fps) for JPEG images and 20 fps for RAW image files with a 1,000+ image buffer. This basically means you can continuously shoot images with copious amounts of detail without the Z9 freezing up. Other premium features include a silent, fully electronic shutter that offers blackout-free shooting in the camera’s electronic viewfinder, so you never lose track of your subject. There’s also Eye AF (autofocus) for locking in on people and animals, and vehicle detection AF, which is great for motorsport photography. Video shooters will like that the Z9 can capture 8K video for up to two hours consecutively—the world’s longest record time for a mirrorless camera. Another cool feature is a four-axis, 3.2-inch touchscreen LCD on the back of the camera that allows the monitor to tilt both horizontally and vertically, which is great when switching the camera from landscape mode to portrait mode.
Nikon Z9
3. Canon EOS R5
The Canon EOS R5 is an outstanding all-around camera suitable for a wide range of styles and subject matter. Fitted with an impressive, high-density 45-megapixel sensor, it’s capable of delivering super-crisp images with rich color depth in a variety of environments, even low-light spaces. You can also crop the results in postproduction without encountering grain as you zoom in. Packed with competitive features, the R5 shines for its exceptional autofocus. The system is equipped with smart tracking that continuously trains itself to follow the bodies and faces of both people and animals; this technology excels because the R5 has close to 6,000 autofocus points that cover 100 percent of the frame. Pair this with an in-body image stabilization system that offers up to eight stops of correction (most cameras offer four or five) and high-speed shooting of up to 20 frames per second, and catching even the liveliest of action shots (think birding!) is a breeze. The camera also offers 8K video recording so you can capture the clearest motion imagery.
Canon EOS R5
4. Panasonic Lumix S1H
While not our top pick for still photography, the Lumix S1H is likely one of the best mirrorless video cameras you can get. The full-frame mirrorless beast can record 6K/24p footage and features a 24.2-megapixel camera to deliver beautifully colored frames with little noise in low-light settings. It’s equipped with excellent in-body image stabilization for handheld shoots, and the weather-sealed body means you can take it outdoors and not worry about rain or other moisture. On the downside, the continuous autofocus is quite poor. Videographers probably won’t find this a problem, however, if they prefer to manually focus in order to have greater creative control over the final product.
Panasonic Lumix S1H
5. Leica SL2
Minimal and aesthetically alluring, the Leica SL2 delivers on every front you’d expect from the legendary German manufacturer. It boasts a 47-megapixel sensor, is equipped with 5K video, and features unparalleled in-body stabilization. Of course, you have to use it with Leica glass, which will help you achieve unbelievably crisp and exquisitely saturated images. The interface is also attractive: There are few buttons and knobs on the super-robust metal body, and those that exist are customizable. The only detail some photographers might find awkward is the lack of a pivot or swivel touch screen, which prevents you from seeing what you’re shooting if you hold the body in an unconventional position.
