Full-Frame Mirrorless: The Lens Collection Advantage

When it comes to full-frame mirrorless cameras, the one with the most lenses is the Sony A7 IV. This camera is a great choice for those looking to take their photography skills to the next level, as it offers a range of features that can help capture stunning images. With its 33-megapixel full-frame sensor, 10 frames per second burst shooting speed, 7K oversampled 4K/30 fps video capability, and dual SD and Express card slots, the Sony A7 IV provides both professional and amateur photographers with a versatile tool to capture their desired shots.

Best full-frame mirrorless camera for beginners: Canon EOS R8

The Canon EOS R8 is a great choice for beginners looking to get into full-frame mirrorless photography. It's an upgrade from the EOS RP, offering the same portability but with improved video capabilities.

The EOS R8 is a full-frame mirrorless camera that delivers sublime images straight out of the camera, thanks to Canon's well-judged in-camera processing. It features the same fantastic subject-detect autofocus system as the high-end Canon EOS R6 Mark II, which can recognise and track focus on specific subjects like humans, animals, and vehicles. This is a feature that sets the EOS R8 apart from other cameras in its price range.

The EOS R8's compromises mostly concern build and handling. The camera has very few physical controls, necessitating some menu fiddling to adjust settings. It also has only one card slot, and the battery is unusually small for a camera in this class, rated for just 220 shots. Additionally, there is no in-body stabilisation, so you'll need to rely on the systems built into the lenses.

Overall, the Canon EOS R8 is an excellent choice for beginners looking to upgrade to a full-frame mirrorless camera. It offers superb autofocus capabilities and delivers sublime images straight out of the camera, making it a great option for those who want to focus on capturing stunning photos without worrying about complex technical adjustments.

Best full-frame mirrorless camera for video: Panasonic Lumix S5 II

The Panasonic Lumix S5 II is a fantastic full-frame mirrorless camera for video. It's a hybrid camera, but it really shines because of its video features, especially at its price point. It has internal 10-bit 4:2:2 colour and 4k 60 fps recording (with an APS-C crop), along with nice touches for videographers like vectorscope functionality and a full-size HDMI port.

The Lumix S5 II is the first Panasonic Lumix camera to feature a phase-detection autofocus system, which, while not quite on par with competitors like Sony or Canon, is a step in the right direction. It offers a lot of value for its price, but if you need more advanced features like internal ProRes codecs and external RAW video output, you might want to opt for the more video-centric Panasonic Lumix S5 IIx, which is a bit pricier.

The Lumix S5 II uses the L-mount lens system, which is also used by Leica and Sigma, so there's no shortage of lenses for this camera. If your primary focus is video, the Lumix S5 II is a powerful option.

Best full-frame mirrorless camera for street photography: Leica Q3

The Leica Q3 is a powerful full-frame mirrorless camera, packing a 60-megapixel sensor and a Maestro IV processor, which combine to produce stunning images. The autofocus on the Q3 is also impressive, though it's not designed for sports photography. The fixed 28mm lens is great in both manual and autofocus modes, and the bright, sharp viewfinder is a pleasure to use.

The Leica Q3 is a simple camera to use, and its compact size makes it a great choice for street photography. The Q3 is not a cheap camera, but for a certain type of photographer, it is an absolutely perfect fit.

Best full-frame mirrorless camera for travel: Sony A7C II

The Sony A7C II is a compact full-frame mirrorless camera that is a great choice for high-quality travel photography and street photos. It uses the same sensor as the Sony A7 IV, which means it captures excellent image quality and has a fantastic autofocus system. However, the small viewfinder and cramped ergonomics are trade-offs for the more portable camera. If you're on a tighter budget, the original Sony A7C is a great deal, although its internal video recording specs aren't as advanced as the A7C II's.

Best hybrid full-frame mirrorless camera: Canon EOS R6 Mark II

The Canon EOS R6 Mark II is a fantastic hybrid full-frame mirrorless camera. It is a great all-in-one camera, offering 24.4MP full-frame stills and 4K video. It has an impressive autofocus system, with AI modes that will ensure your images are as sharp as possible. The R6 Mark II also has a fast burst shooting speed of 12fps with the mechanical shutter, and 40fps with the electronic shutter.

The R6 Mark II is a great choice for solo shooters, as its autofocus recognizes and sticks to virtually any subject you point the lens at. This is particularly useful for video, and for those shooting both video and stills. The R6 Mark II also has a pre-capture feature for both stills and video, which will save footage from the moments before you hit the shutter button.

The Canon EOS R6 Mark II is a highly versatile camera, with impressive specs for both stills and video. It is a great choice for those looking for a hybrid full-frame mirrorless camera.

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