What is the best mirrorless camera for under $500?

Question

I've been staring at eBay and MPB for three days straight and I’m honestly about to just give up and use my phone. I need a mirrorless setup for under $500 total—and that includes a lens—for a hiking trip to Zion I have coming up in three weeks and everything is so confusing. My logic was to look for something older but solid like the Sony a6000 because everyone says it’s the goat for beginners but then I go on these subreddits and people are saying it’s 'ancient' and the autofocus is trash compared to new stuff. So then I look at the Lumix G7 which fits the price but then I read that the sensor is too small for good low light? Im just trying to get some decent landscape shots and maybe some street photography stuff without carrying a massive DSLR around like a tourist. I also saw the Canon M50 mentioned a lot but then I read some stuff about Canon killing off the M-mount line entirely so is that just a waste of money now? I’m stuck between wanting something 'future proof' and actually staying under my budget which is hard when every 'budget' recommendation list starts at like $800 these days. Is there actually anything worth buying for five hundred bucks anymore or am I just chasing ghosts...

urist_tfmn · Accepted Answer

Re: "Just saw this thread..."Seriously, dont worry about the dead mount thing if you just want a great trip camera! Grab a used Canon EOS M50 Mark II with EF-M 15-45mm f/3.5-6.3 IS STM and youll love it. The colors are amazing for landscapes and its so tiny for hiking! You can totally find this setup under $500 on MPB right now. It is such a fun little beast!

Riley Green · Answer

Listen, you are totally overthinking this because the internet is full of gear snobs! You are absolutely not chasing ghosts and $500 is plenty if you shop smart on MPB or KEH. Forget the dead Canon M50 and forget the G7 if you are worried about low light. Honestly, the Sony Alpha a6000 with 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS Lens is still an absolute beast for hiking. I took mine to Glacier a few years back and the photos are still some of my favorites. People calling it ancient are crazy... 24 megapixels is more than enough for huge prints and the autofocus is plenty fast for landscapes and street stuff. It fits in a jacket pocket which is huge when you are climbing around Zion! If you want something that feels more pro and has amazing stabilization for those sunset shots, look at the Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark III with 14-42mm EZ Lens. The Micro Four Thirds sensor is smaller, sure, but the colors are fantastic and the lenses are tiny. Plus, that in-body image stabilization (IBIS) means you can take sharp handheld shots at slow shutter speeds without a tripod. Seriously, just grab an a6000 or the E-M10 and stop stressing. Youll have a blast and the jump from a phone is gonna blow your mind! Go get it!

Maximilian Cross · Answer

Just saw this thread. Ive been using the Sony Alpha a6000 with 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS Power Zoom for ages and honestly, im super satisfied with the results. People call it ancient but the APS-C sensor is still way better than a phone for landscape depth... especially in those Zion canyons. TL;DR: Grab a used a6000. Its light for hiking and well under your $500 limit with the kit lens.