Professional photographers usually prefer 35mm or full frame cameras to their crop sensor counterparts—and with good reason. A full frame sensor offers higher image quality and better low light capability, which are of course extremely important factors for consideration to those who use their cameras for professional applications and require superior quality output.
Five years ago, there were no choices for full frame users who wanted to make the switch from their bulky DSLRs to the more lightweight mirrorless cameras. But these days, there are quite a few options to choose from—thanks in large part to the expansive Sony full frame mirrorless camera line.
Currently, the full frame mirrorless market is being dominated by Sony and Leica, although it has been rumored that other camera brands like Nikon and Canon may soon launch their own full frame mirrorless cameras as well.
But in the meantime, we’ve put together a list of the best mirrorless cameras with full frame sensors that you can find on the market right now.
Best Full Frame Mirrorless Cameras
- Sony Alpha a7R II
- Sony Alpha a7S II
- Sony Alpha a7 II
- Sony Alpha a9
- Leica M-D (Typ 262)
- Leica M (Typ 240)
- Leica M-P (Typ 40)
- Leica SL
Sony Alpha a7R II
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Sony has a sizeable collection of full frame mirrorless cameras, but the a7R II is arguably one of the brand’s most popular. With its 42MP full frame sensor, a powerful BIONZ X image processor, UHD 4K video recording capability, 5-axis SteadyShot INSIDE image stabilization, and a handful of other impressive features, the Sony a7R II is a high-performance workhorse in a compact package.
For a more budget-friendly option, the Sony Alpha a7R is almost similar in specs and features and will save you about $800. However, it does not come with in-camera stabilization, has a lower maximum sensor resolution, and has a video resolution of up to 1080p instead of UHD 4K.
Key Features & Specs:
- Full Frame Sensor: 42MP 36x24mm Exmor R BSI CMOS
- Video Capture: UHD 4K at up to 30fps
- Image Stabilization: 5-Axis SteadyShot INSIDE
- Continuous Shooting: Up to 5fps at 42MP
- ISO Sensitivity: 100 to 102,400
- Shutter Speed: 1/8000 to 30 seconds
- Autofocus Points: 399 Phase-Detection / 25 Contrast Detection
- Viewfinder: 0.5-inch 2.36M-Dot XGA OLED Tru-Finder (Electronic)
- Display: 3.0-inch 1,228.8k-Dot Tilting LCD Screen
- Built-In Connectivity: WiFi, NFC
Sony Alpha a7S II
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Much like the rest of the Sony full frame mirrorless family, the a7S II is an exemplary camera that offers ultra-fast performance and amazing low-light capability. Apart from the 12.2MP sensor, it shares a lot of features and specifications with the a7R II, although it is slightly faster and allows Silent Shutter Mode even with continuous shooting.
If you don’t need built-in image stabilization, or if you aren’t too concerned about the number of AF points, you can also go with the a7S II’s slightly more affordable predecessor the—Sony Alpha a7S.
Key Features & Specs:
- Full Frame Sensor: 12.2MP 35.8×23.9mm Exmor CMOS
- Video Capture: UHD 4K at up to 30fps
- Image Stabilization: 5-Axis SteadyShot INSIDE
- Continuous Shooting: Up to 5fps at 12.2MP
- ISO Sensitivity: 100 to 40,9600
- Shutter Speed: 1/8000 to 30 seconds
- Autofocus Points: 169 Contrast Detection
- Viewfinder: 0.5-inch 2.36m-Dot XGA OLED Tru-Finder (Electronic)
- Display: 3-inch 1,228,800-Dot Tilting LCD Screen
- Built-In Connectivity: WiFi, NFC
Sony Alpha a7 II
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Despite among the earliest models from the Sony full frame mirrorless camera line, the a7 II is packed with a lot of great features for both casual users and professional photographers. Though it can only record videos at a maximum resolution of 1080p, it has built-in image stabilization, an abundant number of AF points, and impressive low-light capability thanks to a standard ISO sensitivity range of 100 to 25,600.
Again, if image stabilization is not important to you, the Sony a7 is a viable option. It’s a good choice for those who want something cheaper, but with near-similar specifications. The most notable differences are battery life and ISO sensitivity range, which are both slightly higher in the Sony a7 II.
Key Features & Specs:
- Full Frame Sensor: 24.3MP 35.8×23.9mm Exmor CMOS
- Video Capture: Full HD 1080p at up to 60fps
- Image Stabilization: 5-Axis SteadyShot INSIDE
- Continuous Shooting: Up to 5fps at 24MP
- ISO Sensitivity: 100 to 25,600
- Shutter Speed: 1/8000 to 30 seconds
- Autofocus Points: 117 Phase Detection / 25 Contrast Detection
- Viewfinder: 0.5-inch XGA 2.36M-Dot OLED (Electronic)
- Display: 3-inch 1,228.8k-Dot Tilting LCD Screen
- Built-In Connectivity: WiFi, NFC
Sony Alpha a9
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Thanks to its monstrous specs, the Sony Alpha a9 is arguably one of the best full frame mirrorless cameras to date. It has ultra-fast continuous shooting capabilities at 20fps, an impressive ISO sensitivity of up to 204,800 (with reduced noise) for optimum image quality even in the trickiest lighting conditions, and a whopping number of AF points (693 phase-detection) that cover 93% of the image area for ultra-precise focusing.
For those who prefer manual focus, the Sony a9 features a Peaking MF function, which highlights sharp edges of contrast to provide a more objective means of acquiring extremely sharp focus while using manual focus control.
If you’re looking for the best mirrorless camera for professionals, the Sony Alpha a9 is definitely the camera for you.
Key Features & Specs:
- Full Frame Sensor: 24.2MP 35.6×23.8mm Stacked CMOS
- Video Capture: UHD 4K at up to 30fps
- Image Stabilization: 5-Axis SteadyShot INSIDE
- Continuous Shooting: Up to 20fps at 24.2MP
- ISO Sensitivity: 100 to 204,800
- Shutter Speed: 1/32000 to 30 seconds
- Autofocus Points: 693 Phase Detection / 25 Contrast Detection
- Viewfinder: 0.5-inch Blackout-Free Quad-VGA 3.7m-Dot OLED (Electronic)
- Display: 3-inch 1.44m-Dot Tilting LCD Touchscreen
- Built-In Connectivity: WiFi, Bluetooth
Leica M-D (Typ 262)
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Leica is known for making premium cameras housed in a beautiful retro design, but there is a certain audience for these types of cameras, as they don’t offer some of the features we’ve come to expect from most mirrorless cameras, such as image stabilization, WiFi connectivity, or an LCD screen. The Leica mirrorless range is best suited for film shooters who want a seamless transition to the digital format, or photography enthusiasts who want to enjoy the amazing optics and sleek design of a Leica camera.
The Leica M-D is a stylish digital rangefinder camera that retains the simplicity of a film camera by doing away with screens, complicated buttons and menus, and pretty much all automatic features. Instead, this full frame mirrorless camera offers a more organic photography experience, with a high emphasis on manual control.
Key Features & Specs:
- Full Frame Sensor: 24MP 35.8×23.9mm Leica MAX CMOS
- Continuous Shooting: Up to 3fps at 24MP
- ISO Sensitivity: 200 to 6,400
- Shutter Speed: 1/4000 to 60 seconds
- Focus: Manual Rangefinder
- Viewfinder: 0.68x Optical Viewfinder
Leica M (Typ 240)
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Featuring Leica’s traditional rangefinder design, the Leica M is a highly advanced digital camera in an analog camera’s body. Its features include a fast and powerful image processor, a high-resolution 24MP sensor, live view and live view focusing, a variety of convenient and precise focusing options, and a durable, ergonomically-designed body.
Key Features & Specs:
- Full Frame Sensor: 24MP 36x24mm Leica Max CMOS
- Video Capture: Full HD 1080p at up to 25fps
- Continuous Shooting: Up to 3fps at 24MP
- ISO Sensitivity: 200 to 6,400
- Shutter Speed: 1/4000 to 60 seconds
- Focus: Manual Rangefinder and Live View Focusing
- Viewfinder: 0.68x Optical Viewfinder
- Display: 3-inch 920,000-Dot Rear Screen LCD Screen
Leica M-P (Typ 240)
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Recommended for users who value the much-praised image quality and beautiful minimalistic design of Leica cameras, the M-P is the perfect combination of simplicity and functionality. Similar to the M-D, this camera places a lot of focus on manual operation, but adds the convenience of a large, Sapphire Glass LCD screen and the versatility of being able to shoot 1080p video.
Key Features & Specs:
- Full Frame Sensor: 24MP 36x24mm Leica MAX CMOS
- Video Capture: Full HD 1080p at up to 25fps
- Continuous Shooting: Up to 3fps at 24MP
- ISO Sensitivity: 100 to 6,400
- Shutter Speed: 1/4000 to 60 seconds
- Focus: Manual Rangefinder
- Viewfinder: 0.68x Optical Viewfinder
- Display: 3-inch 920k-Dot LCD with Sapphire Glass
Leica SL (Typ 601)
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If you need a high-performance camera with impressive specifications, the Leica SL is without a doubt one of the best full frame mirrorless cameras in the brand’s arsenal. It offers internal DCI 4K video recording at 24fps for true cinema quality, continuous shooting at 11fps with a 2GB internal buffer, an ultra-fast Contrast AF system with 49 contrast detection points, a large touchscreen LED display, and even built-in WiFi and GPS.
Key Features & Specs:
- Full Frame Sensor: 24MP 36x24mm Full-Frame CMOS
- Video Capture: DCI 4K at up to 24fps
- Continuous Shooting: Up to 11fps at 24MP
- ISO Sensitivity: 50 to 50,000
- Shutter Speed: 1/8000 to 60 seconds (30 minutes in Time Mode)
- Autofocus Points: 49 Contrast Detection
- Viewfinder: 0.66-inch 4.4MP 0.8x (Electronic)
- Display: 2.95-inch 1.04M-Dot LED-Backlit Touchscreen
- Built-In Connectivity: WiFi, GPS
