What is the best mirrorless camera under $500 for beginners?

Question

Im heading to Japan next month and really want a decent mirrorless camera that wont break my $500 budget. I keep seeing the Sony a6000 and Lumix G7 pop up in searches but the Sony is super old and the Lumix looks kinda huge for travel. Whats actually the best mirrorless option for a total beginner under 500 right now?

DoodleDizzy · Accepted Answer

Stumbled on this today and honestly finding a decent mirrorless for under five hundred bucks is getting harder and harder lately. Most of the stuff in this price range is either ancient tech or has some major annoying catch that makes it hard to recommend. I really had high hopes for the Canon EOS M50 Mark II with 15-45mm Lens since its so beginner friendly but Canon basically abandoned the EF-M mount. It feels super disappointing to buy into a system that has no future ya know? The Panasonic Lumix G7 with 14-42mm Lens was something I tried for a while and you are totally right... it feels like a plastic brick in your bag. Not exactly what you want when you are hiking through Kyoto. Here is what I would actually look at:Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark III with 14-42mm EZ Lens. This thing is tiny and has built-in stabilization which is huge for travel shots. The menu system is a bit of a nightmare tho.Fujifilm X-T200 with 15-45mm Lens. Looks beautiful but the autofocus is honestly pretty sluggish compared to modern stuff. If I were you Id hunt for a used Olympus. The stabilization helps so much when you are taking quick snaps on the move. Just keep in mind that smaller sensors struggle a bit when the sun goes down... kinda just the trade off for the price point. Good luck in Japan, you are gonna love it.

Cvety_znen · Answer

I once lugged an older kit to Osaka and the slow autofocus totally ruined my night street shots. Honestly, the a6000 is a bit dated now. I would suggest looking for a used Sony Alpha a6100 with 16-50mm Lens. It has way better real-time eye tracking and 4K. Just be careful with high shutter counts if you buy used, and make sure to check the sensor for dust.