What is the best mirrorless camera for under $500 right now?

Honestly, $500 is a bit of a squeeze for a brand new mirrorless kit these days, but its definitely doable if you look at the right places. Dont worry about the a6000 being old. For landscapes in Maine, you arent tracking fast-moving birds, so the autofocus is still totally fine for stills. I still think the Sony a6000 with 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS Lens is a decent option because that sensor holds up well for the price. If you want something smaller for the trails, look at the Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark II with 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 II R Lens. Micro Four Thirds basically just means the sensor is slightly smaller than the Sony ones, which allows the camera and lenses to be tiny. To avoid getting scammed on eBay, just buy from sites like MPB or KEH. They inspect everything and give a warranty, so you wont have to stress about mold or broken parts. Its a much safer bet for a first timer.

Re: "Quick reply while I have a sec. I..."

• Grab a Canon EOS M50 Mark II with 15-45mm lens.
• MPB has warranties
• Tiny for hiking I took mine up Cadillac Mountain once.

To add to the point above: I actually have to disagree a bit on the Canon M50. Its a fine camera for vlogging but the build quality always felt a bit like a toy to me, especially if you are hitting the trails. In my experience, those Maine coastal winds and humidity require something that feels a bit more solid in your hands. I've tried many systems over the years and for a $500 budget, I usually point people toward older Fujifilm bodies. I remember my first trip out there; those physical dials made it so much easier to adjust my settings when my fingers were cold. Plus, the colors are just gorgeous for those forest greens and ocean blues. To avoid the scams you mentioned, just buy from a used specialist like MPB or KEH. They inspect everything and give a warranty so you dont have to worry. Here is what I would look for:

• Fujifilm X-T10 with XC 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 OIS II
• Fujifilm X-E2 with XC 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 OIS II Ngl, the peace of mind you get with a real warranty is worth it when you are just starting out. You dont want to be halfway up a mountain and realize your sensor has a scratch or the lens is full of dust. Trust me, it happens...

Building on the earlier suggestion, I think we're overcomplicating this for someone who just wants better photos than an iPhone. In my experience, you're gonna spend way too much money if you follow the big brand hype. I've tried many systems over the years and honestly, I think you should just look at Panasonic. Here is my take:

• Sony and Canon are cool but you're paying a premium just for the name on the box.
• Any of the older Lumix cameras will be way more solid for hiking because they aren't made of cheap-feeling plastic.
• The lenses for that mount are cheap and tiny, which is perfect for Maine. Just grab any mid-range Panasonic body and you'll be golden. They are super easy to learn and the touchscreens are actually good. If you're worried about getting ripped off on the price, I always use this free price tracker to make sure I'm not overpaying. Honestly tho, just pick one and go have fun, don't let the tech snobs scare you off.

Quick reply while I have a sec. I went through this exact same headache when I started hiking more. I used to carry a huge setup until my neck started killing me... basically lugging a heavy brick around for miles. If you want something reliable that wont blow the budget, check out the Canon M line. Tech snobs say it is dead because Canon shifted to a newer mount, but that just makes it a total bargain for beginners right now.

• Snag a used Canon EOS M50 Mark II with EF-M 15-45mm f/3.5-6.3 IS STM. It is tiny, has a great flip screen, and usually lands right around $450 for a clean used copy.
• The original Canon EOS M50 is even cheaper and does 90% of the same stuff for landscape photography.
• Use specialized sites like MPB or KEH instead of FB Marketplace. They actually inspect the sensors and glass and give you a warranty so you wont get scammed with a moldy lens. Regarding the sensor stuff, APS-C (like in the Sony and Canon) is way bigger than your <a href=" https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?Ntt= iPhone+sensor&BI=8941&KBID=10361&SID=12345&DFF=d50" target="_blank" rel="nofollow sponsored">iPhone sensor. It means you get actual depth and much better dynamic range for those Maine sunrise shots. I took an M50 on a trail trip last year and it was honestly refreshing how light it felt. It is a solid middle ground between a phone and a massive pro rig. Just grab an extra battery tho... small cameras have small batteries and they die faster than youd think.