HWM+HardwareZone.com Tech Awards 2014: Editor's Choice - Part 1

Best Mirrorless Camera

Best Mirrorless Camera

Mirrorless system cameras are getting better and better each year. If you want to take great photos without being weighed down by a big and heavy camera, mirrorless cameras provide a great option; with their large sensor sizes and ability to swap lenses. Our focus this year is on middle-range rangefinder-style mirrorless cameras which provide power without sacrificing portability.

Nominees:

• Fujifilm X-E2
• Olympus Pen E-P5
• Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX7

And the Winner Is...

The GX7 is almost like playing catch-up for Panasonic, with the inclusion of built-in optical image stabilization and Wi-Fi. The 16MP sensor inside performs beautifully but doesn’t outclass the Olympus. But the company’s strength has always been in its user-friendliness, and when you pair that together with the specs the GX7 becomes something else. The fat grip is exceptionally comfortable, the camera handles smoothly with easy access to controls, the on-screen UI is smartly designed and opens up the camera to you.

When reviewed together with the Olympus E-P5, the contrast was even starker. While the E-P5 sounds like a more impressive camera on spec, the GX7 is a better camera to use. Together with the lush images it produces, we feel the GX7 is a final product that has genius beyond the sum of its parts, and therefore it wins our category award. 

For more details on how we selected our winners, check out the full reviews and articles listed at the References section at the end.