Blog post
Budget-Friendly Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens Cameras ($100 or less) 2023 Edition
James Warner - April 20th, 2023
It's a wonderful time to be a photographer.
Never before has there been more affordable options out on the market today. As mirrorless technology gets older, there are several older mirrorless camera options that can save you a ton of money. And while I'm a huge fan of cheap DSLRs, there are some advantages to mirrorless cameras that can't be ignored.
Benefits of mirrorless over DSLR
The first is being able to adapt almost any vintage SLR lens (and other types as well!) This can lead to great affordable lenses and lots of creativity.
Tip: If you want to know what lenses can be adapted to what camera mount, I've listed adaptable lens mounts on each camera page on this website.
Second is the compact size. Who doesn't love a nice compact camera? For some people, it's a game-changer.
Third is the ability to see your exposure preview through a viewfinder/rear screen. Depending who you are this may be extremely desirable.
Cameras $100 and under
Okay, here's the complete list of mirrorless cameras you can buy for under $100 today:
| Camera | Sensor size | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Sony NEX-3 | APS-C | $50 |
| Sony NEX-5 | APS-C | $100 |
| Sony NEX-6 | APS-C | $100 |
| Sony A3000 | APS-C | $100 |
| Sony A3500 | APS-C | $100 |
| Samsung NX10 | APS-C | $100+ |
| Samsung NX100 | APS-C | $100+ |
| Canon EOS M | APS-C | $100+ |
| Olympus E-P1/E-PL1 | M4/3 | $80 |
| Olympus E-P2/E-PL2 | M4/3 | $100 |
| Olympus E-PL3 | M4/3 | $100 |
| Panasonic G1 | M4/3 | $100 |
| Panasonic G2 | M4/3 | $100 |
| Panasonic GH1 | M4/3 | $100 |
| Panasonic GF1 | M4/3 | $80 |
| Nikon 1 J1 | 1" | $60 |
| Nikon 1 J2 | 1" | $70 |
| Nikon 1 J3 | 1" | $90 |
| Nikon 1 J4 | 1" | $100 |
| Nikon 1 V1 | 1" | $100+ |
| Pentax Q/Q7/Q-10/Q-S1 | 1/2.3" - 1/1.7" | $100 |
Check current prices
These are my favorite places to buy used cameras. They are from legit companies that offer free returns and warranties. These are affiliate links, and purchases made through them will provide me compensation.
These will jump you to each of their mirrorless camera category pages with lowest price first.
How to get crazy good deals
People tell me there aren't any good deals to be had anymore. Or, they see a price I bought a camera for and say, "no way you got it that cheap."
Turns out good deals are happening all the time, and tools like eBay's completed listing search proves that. Also my bank account transactions, but let's not talk about how many cameras I buy :)
To help you I've written a free eBook that gives you all my tips and tricks for getting amazing deals on cameras. With a little help and preparation, you could be getting great deals as well.
Download the book for free here
Hope this helps! -james