Note: this article was first written in 2013 but has been updated following the latest camera releases and the personal experience we’ve had with them.
One year ago, I remember returning from my summer vacation feeling somewhat angry at myself and antagonistic towards the profession I had gotten into. I owned two excellent DSLR cameras and a wide range of lenses, yet my will to actually get out and photograph for pleasure was like that of a hungover college student on exam day.
The excuse seemed lame at the time but now I have no shame in saying it – all that gear was simply too heavy to be enjoyed.
With this realisation, I gradually began my switch over to mirrorless, though the decision wasn’t completely conscious at the time. I started by buying a used Olympus OM-D E-M5 for stills after selling a couple of Nikkor lenses. Feeling cautious, I used it alongside my Nikon D700 for a few months but I soon realised that the E-M5 was good enough for use on its own.
Then, I picked up a Panasonic Lumix GH3 for video, which I used with my Panasonic AF101. The Fujifilm X100s soon joined my collection when I realised I wanted something small, discreet and compact that I could carry around with me at all times. The OM-D E-M5 became my official “workhorse” and the X100s, my second body, while the D700 was restricted to a view of my closet.
One year down the road, in early 2014, I finally replaced the E-M5 with the flagship E-M1 and I haven’t looked back since.
If you have stumbled onto this article, I can assume that you are the mirror image of me two and a half years ago: a professional tired of carrying around heavy gear all the time. A professional looking for a compact high-end mirrorless body to use for some or all of your work.
As of 2015, there are a number of excellent models to choose from but I have chosen to list the eight which I consider the best.
Olympus OM-D E-M1
When we first had the opportunity to try the OM-D E-M1 in Ireland, I felt from the beginning that this camera was the one for me. Although new cameras are being released all the time, this one felt just right. I then had the chance to try it for one week and use it for my regular assignments. Following that week, I immediately ordered one and it was the best choice I’ve made since I became a photographer. It is one step above the OM-D E-M5 (the camera I was using for work up until then) and has been conceived and promoted as the ultimate DSLR substitute. While the camera body isn’t much smaller than an entry level DSLR body (especially if you use the battery grip), the compactness of Micro 4/3s lenses makes all the difference in portability.
The E-M1 has a very professional and elegant appearance so there should be no fear of looking inadequate on the job. It is extremely fast (10fps) and accurate in terms of AF/C-AF thanks to the combination of contrast and phase detection on the sensor. The image quality is on par with mid-end DSLRs and its improved 5-axis stabilisation makes taking pictures easy even in low-light conditions with slow shutter speeds. It is also completely weatherproof (dust, splash and freeze) so you need not fear taking it out on a wet and blustery day. Since the E-M1 has one of the best electronic viewfinder to date, you will rarely miss the OVF.
More in-depth reads:
- Mirrorless on the Job: One week with the Olympus OM-D E-M1
- Leave your tripod at home! – An Olympus OM-D E-M1 Gallery
Olympus OM-D E-M5 II
The original OM-D E-M5 was my workhorse in 2013. I used it for all sorts of photography including commercial events, weddings and portraiture. Now we have the new E-M5 II, and with it comes many important updates.
As MILCs go, it is extremely small and compact even with a lens attached. It features a very detailed built-in electronic viewfinder, 5-axis stabilisation which allows you to shoot with a shutter speed close to 1.5 seconds with a steady hand, a handy flip/touch screen for awkward shots, a fast continuous shooting rate of 10 fps, quick autofocus, and very good low-light performance. It is also weatherproof (dust and splash). It also incorporates a silent shooting mode, which makes the camera ideal for theatrical shows.
Two features that make the E-M5 II special are the High Res Shot mode and its improved video features. With the former, you can combine 8 frames to create a 40MP high resolution image if you steady the camera on a tripod. The latter has been updated to allow for Full HD 1080: 60p, 30p, 25p, 24p video recording with focus peaking. If you do a lot of still life shooting or video, the E-M5 II is certainly an attractive alternative to the flagship E-M1.
If you can’t afford the E-M5 II, another option could be the OM-D E-M10. While it is aimed more at the consumer market, it also includes many interesting features. However, it lacks a weather sealed body, which may put off some professional photographers.
More in-depth reads:
Panasonic Lumix GH4
In terms of video performance, last year the Panasonic Lumix GH3 outranked every other mirrorless camera on the market by a mile. In fact the quality was so good that you could even use it for commercial filming or short films. Since I am also a director by profession, the GH3 seemed like the perfect second body to use along with my Panasonic AF101 video camera, which is why I made the investment last year. When its replacement the Lumix GH4 was announced, Panasonic implemented lots of new features that probably make it the best hybrid camera (for stills and video) you can find on the market. And I wrote “probably” only because I haven’t fully tested it yet.
The most anticipated new feature is of course the ability to shoot 4K video but Panasonic also implemented many professional settings that you can find on high-end broadcast videocameras. Furthermore, an external module, which is sold separately, brings all the professional connectors a filmmaker like to use such as XLRs, SDI Timecode SYNC, etc.
The GH4 is also a great camera for still photography. It has a new generation 16MP sensor that certainly puts the camera alongside the best M/43 cameras such as the OM-D E-M1 and the Panasonic GX7. The camera also has a blazing fast AF that works with contrast detection. It works with a new functionality called DFD (Depth from Defocus) whereby the camera calculates the distance to the subject by evaluating two images with different depths of field. It is fast (12fps) and has a beautiful build and great ergonomics. The viewfinder is also a great improvement over the GH3.
If you are a photographer who enjoys making professional-grade videos, or a videographer looking for a second small body, the GH4 should be your first choice.
More in-depth reads:
Panasonic Lumix GX7
We owned the Panasonic Lumix GX7 for quite some time last year and we really enjoyed using it. We didn’t keep it simply because we cannot keep all the cameras we review and the E-M1 felt like more of a complete option. That said, there is not doubt that the GX7 can work as a second camera. It is on the same level as the OM-D E-M1 in terms of image quality and is the first Lumix camera to have built-in stabilisation. It also has a small yet very detailed tilting electronic viewfinder, the first on a mirrorless camera.
Being a Lumix camera, it also has the advantage of an excellent video codec – not quite as good as that on the GH3 but still one of the best. I was also extremely impressed by the silent shutter mode which is, as the name suggests, completely silent. This makes it a great option for shooting in quiet settings such as a theatre or church.
The design is also one of the most attractive out there – retro, stylish, lovely to hold and super compact.
More in-depth reads:
- Contemporary Dance in Moncalieri: Pushing the Lumix GX7′s autofocus to the limit
- The One Lumix to Rule Them All: A Panasonic GX7 Full Review
Sony A7r II
The Sony A7r II is the fifth full-frame interchangeable mirrorless camera from Sony and by far the most complete. It combines everything good about the previous models four, from the 5-axis stabilisation and phase detection points of the A7 II to the high ISO performance and 4K video capabilities of the A7s to the high resolution sensor of the A7r.
The A7r II houses a 42MP backlit sensor, making it one of the cameras with the highest resolution on the market and also the world’s first to have BSI technology combined with a full-frame sensor. It incorporates one of the largest and brightest OLED viewfinders with 0.78x magnification and works not only with its native E-mount lenses but also A-mount and third party lenses via an adapter.
Other features include 5 fps continuous shooting with tracking, internal 4K video with full pixel readout and no binning, a silent shutter mode, Wifi and NFC capabilities, and improved ergonomics over its predecessor, the A7r.
Though we have yet to try this camera over a long period of time, the specs suggest that the A7r II is a game changer.
More in-depth reads:
- Sony ‘wows’ the digital imaging world with the new Sony A7r II, RX100 IV and RX10 II
- The definitive hybrid camera? – Hands-On with the Sony A7r Mark 2
Leica Q
Up until recently, the only fixed-lens full frame premium compacts available on the market were the Sony RX1 and subsequently the almost identical RX1R. Then, nearly two years later, Leica released the first real competitor for these two cameras, the Leica Q, a camera that had long been requested by the Leica fan base.
The Leica Q houses an updated version 24MP full-frame sensor found in the Leica M-P 240 and is fixed with a 28mm Summilux lens with a fast aperture of f/1.7 and macro mode. The body resembles a traditional M but is smaller, lighter and includes a very reactive touchscreen that can also be used to focus. Speaking of autofocus, the camera is far faster than any other digital Leica, and could even be compared to the likes of the E-M5 II in terms of pure speed and reactivity.
Other features include a silent mechanical leaf shutter with a maximum shutter speed of 1/160000, Wifi capabilities, 10 fps burst shooting with tracking, great high ISO performance and a bright and crisp EVF.
Digital Leica cameras have never really convinced me, which is why the Leica Q is such a powerful addition to the line-up. It incorporates all the most modern and important features of its competitors, feels great in the hand, and even comes at a more reasonable price tag than its brethren. For anyone interested in entering the Leica world for the first time, the Q is the way to go.
More in-depth reads:
Fujifilm X-T1
The Fujifilm X-T1 is the latest entry in the X lineup and was built as a good alternative to DSLRs, much like the OM-D E-M1. I haven’t fully tested it yet but one thing is for sure: this camera certainly has the best EVF on the market. The Fuji X-T1 is perfect for portraiture, street, landscape but can also work for certain kinds of sports photography thanks to an enhanced autofocus and a blazing 12fps in continuous shooting mode and AF-C. Not to mention the gorgeous retro design, a growing range of high quality glass, and exceptional image quality thanks to its X-Trans sensor. In fact, it is the APS-C X-Trans sensor that sets Fujifilm apart from the crowd in that it creates images that almost have a film-like quality despite being digital.
More in-depth reads:
- Fujifilm Raises the Bar! – Hands-On Review of the new Fujifilm X-T1
- The first wedding shot with the Fuji X-T1 – Guest Post by X-Photographer Max De Martino
Fujifilm X100T
The Fujifilm X100T is undoubtably one of the most popular mirrorless cameras around. It has a high-quality X-Trans CMOS II sensor and Fujinon fixed 23mm lens (35mm equivalent on full frame), making it every street photographer’s dream camera, as well as a gorgeous retro design based on the rangefinder cameras of the 70s and 80s.
Like the X-Pro1, you can switch between an optical and electronic viewfinder using a small toggle on the front of the camera. It has an updated version of the magnificent APS-C X-Trans sensor as well as all the Film Simuation modes found on the X-T1 (including the brand new Classic Chrome). It performs extremely well in low-light conditions but isn’t always reliable in AF-S mode.
I personally used the previous version of this camera, the X100s, as a second body for work. It is useful for informal portraits and group photographs during events and weddings, where discretion is your goal.
More in-depth reads:
- Almost there but not quite. (But we love it anyway!) – Fujifilm X100T Full Review with X100s Comparison
- Mirrorless on the Job – Episode 2: Why the Fuji X100s is the perfect second body
Do you agree with our list? Which do you think are the best mirrorless cameras for professionals? Let us know in the comments section!
