While crop sensor cameras can provide excellent results, full-frame cameras offer greater bokeh (background blur), are easier to use in low light, and typically produce cleaner, more vivid photographs.
It’s important to note that while many hobbyists and amateurs may not necessarily require a full-frame camera, these benefits make them a compelling choice for those deeply committed to photography.
It’s worth keeping in mind that full-frame cameras are typically less portable than their crop-sensor counterparts and often come with a higher price tag, with larger and more expensive lenses to match. Nevertheless, the good news is that the cost of entry is gradually decreasing, thanks to the availability of increasingly affordable models catering to various budgets.
If you’re in search of the most cutting-edge cameras available, the best full-frame mirrorless cameras are where you want to focus your attention. Currently, mirrorless technology represents the forefront of professional imaging, offering the highest resolutions, fastest burst speeds, advanced autofocus systems, and state-of-the-art video capabilities.
In this article you will find a list of best full frame mirrorless cameras available in 2024.
The Best Full Frame Mirrorless Cameras in 2024
Nikon Z5
- User level: Enthusiast
- Resolution: 24.3 MP
- Photo Sensor Size: Full Frame (35mm)
The Nikon Z5 is a modern and well-featured full-frame mirrorless camera that serves as an excellent entry point into the world of full-frame photography. Borrowing design elements from the original Z6, the Z5 features a beginner-friendly mode dial and a sensor similar to the Z6 but without the back-illuminated technology. Nevertheless, it delivers impressive results, especially at lower ISOs. The Z5 is a strong contender among entry-level mirrorless cameras, though its price may be slightly higher than some budget rivals.
Canon EOS RP
- User level: Enthusiast
- Resolution: 26.2 MP
- Photo Sensor Size: Full Frame (35mm)
- Image Stabilization: Digital, 5-Axis (Video Only)
The Canon EOS RP offers a compact, affordable, and user-friendly entry into the world of full-frame mirrorless photography. It produces clear and sharp images, and its vari-angle touchscreen facilitates versatile compositions. However, it may feel a bit unbalanced when used with larger lenses. The 4K video mode comes with a 1.6x crop factor and lacks Canon’s Dual Pixel CMOS AF in 4K. Nonetheless, the inclusion of an EF lens adapter enables the use of existing Canon DSLR lenses alongside the RF lens system, making it a great choice for users who can work within its limitations.
Sony A7 II
- User level: Enthusiast/professional
- Resolution: 24.7 MP
- Photo Sensor Size: Full Frame (35mm)
- Image Stabilization: Sensor-shift
The Sony A7 II is the successor to the original A7, and it offers significant improvements. Notably, it features built-in optical stabilization, enhancing stability and image quality across different lighting conditions. It has a fast autofocus system with a combination of phase-detect and contrast-detect AF points. Additionally, this full-frame mirrorless camera is relatively compact, making it a suitable choice for those seeking affordability and portability.
Sony A7R Mark IV/IVA3
- User level: Professional
- Resolution: 62.5 MP
- Photo Sensor Size: Full Frame (35mm)
- Image Stabilization: Sensor-shift
- Connectivity Technology: USB
The Sony A7R Mark IV tops the list in terms of resolution, featuring a remarkable 61-megapixel sensor. While this camera is primarily designed for achieving high resolution, it offers various other impressive features. Notably, it has 10fps continuous shooting, advanced Eye AF, and 4K video capabilities. The A7R Mark IV, however, is not a sports camera due to its frame rate limitations, and its 4K video features may not match the advancements of rival manufacturers. This camera excels in delivering high-resolution images and is a top choice for professional photographers.
Leica M11
- User level: Enthusiast/Professional
- Type: Digital rangefinder
- Megapixels: 60.3MP
- Continuous shooting speed: 4.5fps
The Leica M11 stands out with its 60.3MP sensor but offers a unique ‘triple-resolution’ feature that allows you to reduce it to 36MP or 18MP when needed. This helps save card space without compromising on quality. As an M-series rangefinder camera, focusing through its direct vision viewfinder is a distinct experience. It involves aligning a “ghost” image in the viewfinder with your subject, creating sharp photos when the viewfinder image is sharp.
While it might seem challenging initially, it becomes intuitive and highly accurate once mastered. The Leica M11 incorporates modern features like a 15-stop dynamic range, a wide ISO range from 64 to 50,000, and a combination of mechanical and electronic shutters. It does come at a premium price due to the Leica brand, but it represents a unique blend of old and new in the camera world.
Nikon Z7 II
- User level: Enthusiast/Professional
- Resolution: 16 MP
- Photo Sensor Size: Full Frame (35mm)
- Image Stabilization: Sensor-shift
- Exposure Control Type: Manual, Automatic
The Nikon Z7 II is Nikon’s flagship full-frame mirrorless camera, building upon the original Z7. It delivers across various aspects, with excellent image quality, superb handling, a 5-axis IS system, and impressive build quality. However, it falls short in terms of EVF resolution compared to rivals, and its display is a tilting touchscreen rather than a vari-angle screen. While this camera brings welcomed updates, it might not pose a significant threat to competitors with standout features.
Sigma fp L
- User level: Enthusiast/Professional
- Resolution: 61 MP
- Photo Sensor Size: 1-inch
- Image Stabilization: Digital
- Min Shutter Speed: 30 seconds
The Sigma fp L is featured due to its impressive 61MP resolution, though it may not match rivals in terms of features and responsiveness. It’s an intriguing hybrid stills and video camera with a compact form factor. The camera offers 61MP stills and the ability to capture 8-bit CinemaDNG format internally or up to 12-bit CinemaDNG when connected to an external SSD via USB.
The Sigma fp L makes switching between stills and cine modes easy and is relatively user-friendly. However, it has limitations, such as slower video autofocus and an electronic shutter, which may affect fast-moving subjects. Despite some drawbacks, it has potential in both stills and video if you take time to get used to it.
Nikon Z9
- User level: Professional
- Resolution: 45.7 MP
- Photo Sensor Size: Full Frame (35mm)
- Image Stabilization: Dual
Setting the competition aside and focusing solely on its remarkable speed, the Nikon Z9 is poised to establish itself as the new professional benchmark for full-frame sports photography. It offers an astonishing burst shooting rate of 120 frames per second. Admittedly, this speed comes at the cost of reduced resolution, dropping to 11 megapixels from a maximum of 45.7 megapixels. However, when producing such a high volume of images, working with smaller file sizes is often preferred.
Nikon Z9 is more affordable than the Sony A1 and Canon EOS R3, but in terms of speed, it outperforms both of them by a wide margin. It’s important to note that the Sony A1 and Canon EOS R3 excel in other areas, such as resolution and high-ISO performance, respectively. Furthermore, Nikon’s autofocus system has finally caught up with its competitors, solidifying the Z9’s position as a genuine sports photography powerhouse.
Canon EOS R5
- User level: Professional
- Resolution: 45 MP
- Photo Sensor Size: Full Frame (35mm)
- Image Stabilization: Sensor-shift
The Canon EOS R5 is a versatile and powerful camera, but it ranks lower due to its slightly lower resolution compared to some rivals. This camera shines with its 45MP sensor, excellent image quality, and remarkable autofocus system with an extensive AF point coverage.
It offers 12fps continuous shooting and exceptional video capabilities, including uncropped 8K Raw video. While it’s an all-around camera, it’s not the best for pure resolution but excels in many other aspects.
Sony A9 Mark II
- User level: Professional
- Resolution: 24.2 MP
- Photo Sensor Size: Full Frame (35mm)
- Image Stabilization: Sensor-shift
The Sony A9 Mark II is known for being an incredibly fast and powerful full-frame sports camera. It boasts a blazing 20fps continuous shooting speed and an exceptional autofocus system. This camera is highly appreciated by professional photographers due to its unrivaled speed and connectivity. However, there’s room for improvement in areas such as menu intuitiveness and video capabilities. Despite its minor drawbacks, it’s a top choice for professional sports and action photographers.
Canon EOS R3
- User level: Professional
- Resolution: 24.1 MP
- Photo Sensor Size: Full Frame (35mm)
- Image Stabilization: Sensor-shift
The Canon EOS R3 is a technical masterpiece designed for sports shooters who prioritize speed and responsiveness. With 24.1MP resolution and advanced features, it’s tailored for professionals who need efficient workflow. One of its standout features is Eye Control AF, which allows focus adjustments based on the position of your eye, offering an integrated shooting experience. While it might not have the highest resolution or 8K video, it excels in speed and is a strong choice for sports photographers and action enthusiasts.
Sony A1
- User level: Professional
- Resolution: 50 MP
- Photo Sensor Size: Full Frame (35mm)
- Image Stabilization: Sensor-shift
The Sony A1 is an exceptional camera with a price tag to match its capabilities. It offers a remarkable 50.1MP resolution, 8K video recording, and a fast 30fps continuous shooting speed. It excels in various aspects, making it a versatile powerhouse, though the price may limit its appeal to photographers who need all its features. The Sony A1 is among the best cameras available today, combining high resolution, speed, and video capabilities.
Sony A7 IV
- User level: Enthusiast/expert
- Resolution: 33 MP
- Photo Sensor Size: Full Frame (35mm)
- Image Stabilization: Sensor-shift
The Sony A7 IV is a versatile camera that combines speed, resolution, and 4K video capabilities. It signifies a significant step up from the A7 III, targeting a more advanced audience. With 33MP resolution and a 10fps burst mode with an unlimited raw buffer capacity, it offers excellent performance for both enthusiasts and experts. The A7 IV is a powerful all-rounder, offering impressive autofocus performance and is suitable for a wide range of photography styles.
Panasonic Lumix S5
- User level: Intermediate/expert
- Photo Sensor Size: Full Frame (35mm)
- Image Stabilization: 5-Axis, Hybrid
- Effective Still Resolution: 96 MP
- Connectivity: Wi-Fi
- Shooting Modes: Shutter Priority
The Panasonic Lumix S5 is a compact full-frame mirrorless camera that excels in both stills and video. While it performs well for entry-level stills photography, its standout features are related to video. With 4K video recording and class-leading dynamic range, it’s an excellent choice for video content creators.
The S5 offers a weather-resistant body, dual SD card slots, and 96MP high-resolution RAW+JPEG capture. Its contrast-based autofocus may not match phase-detect systems, but Panasonic has improved its speed and algorithm. The S5 offers a remarkable blend of performance and affordability.
Sony A7S III
- User level: Professional
- Resolution: 12 MP
- Photo Sensor Size: Full Frame (35mm)
- Image Stabilization: Sensor-shift
The Sony A7S III is designed for professionals and enthusiasts focused on video recording. With its 12.1MP resolution, it may not excel in still photography, but it stands out for 4K video performance. The A7S III offers 4K at 60p in full frame with no crop, 10-bit 4:2:2, and an unlimited recording time. It also features remarkable low-light performance, advanced autofocus, and an impressive 1,000-shot raw buffer. While its still image capabilities are limited, it’s a top choice for video content creators.