Top mirrorless camera recommendations for a $1500 budget?

^ This. I've spent years swapping between systems. Street photography is all about reaction time and Sony wins every time so you dont miss the shot.

• Sony Alpha a6700 26.1MP APS-C: AI tracking is basically cheating. Sticks to eyes like glue.
• Fujifilm X-T50 40.2MP APS-C: Gorgeous colors, but the ergos get crampy after walking Tokyo. The Sony Alpha a6400 24.2MP APS-C is a solid fallback if you need extra cash for lenses.

Adding my two cents here since everyone always gets hung up on the Sony vs Fuji war. I've been shooting street for a decade and honestly, you should check out the Canon EOS R7 32.5MP Mirrorless Camera or the Panasonic Lumix S5II 24.2MP Full Frame Mirrorless. The R7 is a total beast for ergonomics. It feels like a proper tool in your hand, way more comfortable than those cramped Fuji bodies if you're walking around Tokyo all day. Its IBIS is incredible for handheld night shots in Shinjuku where you want to keep the ISO low. If you want full-frame, the S5II is finally competitive because they fixed the autofocus with phase detect. It handles high contrast street scenes beautifully. Personally, the R7 is probably the better travel companion since the lenses are lighter, leaving more room in your bag for snacks or souvenirs. Just grab an extra battery tho because Japan is way too pretty to stop shooting.

Honestly, after traveling for years, the safest bet is always going with the better autofocus. In my experience, missing a shot because the camera hunted for focus is way worse than having to tweak colors in post. If youre hitting Japan in two weeks, you want something that works every single time. Heres how I see it:

• Sony Alpha a6700 with 18-135mm Lens is basically a cheat code for street photography. The AI tracking is rock solid.
• Fujifilm X-T50 with 15-45mm Lens has those vibes people love, but it can be finicky in crowded streets.
• Consider the Sigma 18-50mm f2.8 DC DN Contemporary for Sony E for a faster lens combo. Sony is the reliable pick for me. I've tried many systems over the years and the a6700 just stays out of the way so you can actually enjoy the trip... nothing worse than a camera thats a headache.

Tbh I'm kinda disappointed by the options being tossed around here. I brought one of those trendy setups to Japan last fall and unfortunately the build quality just didnt hold up. Had issues with the dial getting stuck after a bit of rain and the touch screen was super laggy. Its not as good as the specs suggest when youre actually out there in the humidity.

• Build feels way too plastic
• Menus are a total mess
• Overheating was a real problem Honestly, if you want something thats actually reliable, just go with a Nikon. You cant really go wrong with any of their newer mirrorless bodies. They feel like actual cameras instead of gadgets, and you wont have to worry about it dying on you in the middle of Shinjuku. Just get a Nikon and call it a day.