The Best Beginner Cameras for 2022 (Part I)

Camera phones may be responsible for most digital photographs today, but in the last 10 years, advances in camera technology have made several mirrorless cameras more user-friendly and affordable. Here we'll discuss a few of these options from Fujifilm, Sony and Nikon. The Fujifilm X-T30 II, Sony Alpha a6400 and Nikon Z50 all offer compelling reasons for beginner photographers to explore the world of interchangeable lens mirrorless cameras.

Fujifilm X-T30 II

The Fujifilm X-T30 II is a minor update on the already popular X-T30. The base camera was already such a great camera that Fujifilm added improved autofocus, new film simulations, and a new touch-screen LCD to make the X-T30 II even better. Below are the some of the specs of the Fujifilm X-T30 II:

• 26.1MP APS-C sensor
• 3.0 inch Tilt-Type Touch Screen Color LCD Monitor
• 8fps drive speed with mechanical shutter
• 20 frames-per-second Electronic Shutter
• Control Mode and Auto Mode
• Low light autofocus
• DCI4K(17:9) 4096 x 2160
• 29.97p/25p/24p/23.98p 200Mbps/100Mbps up to approx. 30min

The Fujifilm X-T30 II also has a retro look with manual shutter speed and exposure compensation dials, which are great for learning photography for beginners, but is also has a full AUTO mode for users to enjoy using the camera without too much hassle. The original version Fujifilm X-T30 is also still available for a lesser price, and for those who prefer a rangefinder style camera, Fujifilm also offers the X-A7 beginner camera as well.

• Get the Fujifilm X-T30 II here
• Get the Fujifilm X-T30 (original version) here
• Get the Fujifim X-A7 here

Sony Alpha a6400

The Sony Alpha a6400 is a good introduction into Sony's E-mount system. Photographers coming from the older Sony A6000 will enjoy autofocus, especially Sony's eye AF as well as its real time tracking. The a6400 also has a touch screen to make it easier to transition from camera phones to mirrorless cameras. Below are the Sony Alpha a6400's specs:

• APSC CMOS 24.2MP Sensor
• BIONZ X image processor
• 425 AF points
• Advanced Real-time Eye-AF, Real-time Tracking AF
• 11 FPS continuous shooting speed
• 3.0″ Tilting, +180°/-90° LCD Screen
• UHD 4K up to 30 fps, Full HD up to 120 fps
• S-Log video recording 

The Sony Alpha a6400 can be purchased with different lens combinations, but the 16-50mm lens is good enough to start for beginner photographers. For those on a budget, the Sony Alpha a6100 is available with a lower EVF resolution, but still retains a lot of the a6400's features. The original Sony Alpha a6000 is also still available at half the price of the other two models.

• Get the Sony Alpha a6400 here
• Get the Sony Alpha a6100 here
• Get the Sony Alpha a6000 here

Nikon Z50

The Nikon Z50 is Nikon's first entry in its mirrorless Z mount, and it's succeeded in attracting beginner photographers into the world of mirrorless camera photography. It's compact SLR style body makes it easier to handle, and has a dedicated "M" Manual mode to allow beginners to explore the camera's manual controls. Below are the Nikon Z50's specs:

• 20.9MP APSC sensor
• 0.39-in. approx. 2360k-dot (XGA) OLED electronic viewfinder
• 11 frames per second top continuous shooting speed at Full Resolution
• Tilting TFT, Touch-Sensitive LCD
• 4K UHD 3,840x2,160 / 30 fps
• Human and animal detection AF
• 20 Creative Picture Controls and 10 Special Effects
• Smartphone connection with Snapbridge App

The Nikon Z50 is offered with the Nikkor Z DX 16-50mm f/3.5-6.3 VR lens. Nikon also offers a retro-styled body in the Nikon Z fc. The Nikon D3500 is Nikon's DSLR for beginners who prefer the SLR body over mirrorless.

• Get the Nikon Z50 here
• Get the Nikon Z fc here
• Get the Nikon D3500 here

To see related articles on camera gear, check out these posts:

• The Best Camera Phones of 2022
• The Best Compact Cameras of 2022
• The Best Beginner Cameras of 2022

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