As passionate photographers it’s essential that we have the tools we need to make our visions and ideas a reality. Of course, capturing a stunning image requires knowledge, skills, and expertise, but having quality equipment can make all the difference.

When it comes to cameras, and really all photography gear, there are seemingly countless options out there and it can often feel very overwhelming when trying to decide what is right for you and your photography. One of the first decisions you’ll have to make is what type of sensor you need. Some of the most popular options for most photographers are full frame, crop sensor or APS-C, and micro four thirds. If you’d like to learn more about the difference between these then check out this article!

In today’s article we’re going to focus specifically on some of the smaller sensor styles including both crop sensor and micro four thirds. We will specifically be diving into our curated list of some of the very best cameras featuring these types of sensors as we enter into 2025. As usual, this is a subjective list containing our favorite cameras that have received praise as well as positive reviews and ratings. There are of course plenty of other great options out there, these are simply the cameras we’re the most excited about here at Backcountry Journeys. Be sure to check out our article covering the Best Full Frame Cameras Going into 2025.

With that being said, let’s get right into it and dive into our comprehensive list of the very best crop sensor & micro four thirds mirrorless cameras going into 2025!

Fujifilm X-T5

Price: $1,699
Specs:

• 40MP APS-C X-Trans CMOS 5 HR BSI Sensor

• 4K 60p, 6.2K 30p 4:2:2 10-Bit Video

• 7-Stop In-Body Image Stabilization

• 425-Point Intelligent Hybrid AF System

• 3.69m-Dot OLED Electronic Viewfinder

• 3” 1.84m-Dot Tilting Touchscreen LCD

• 20 fps E. Shutter, 15 fps Mech. Shutter

• 160MP Pixel Shift Multi-Shot

• Bluetooth and Wi-Fi Connectivity

• ProRes & Blackmagic RAW via HDMI

The first camera on today’s list is the incredibly popular and successful Fujifilm X-T5. Fujifilm makes a ton of great crop sensor cameras and this one is arguably the most popular. With a 40-megapixel sensor and plenty of other great features at a very attractive price, this is a great camera.

OM SYSTEM OM-1 Mark II

Price: $2,000
Specs:

• 20MP Stacked BSI Live MOS MFT Sensor

• DCI/UHD 4K 60p 12-Bit Video Recording

• 10 fps Shooting, 120 fps with E. Shutter

• Cross Quad Pixel Phase-Detection AF

• 5.76m-Dot OLED Electronic Viewfinder

• 3.0” 1.62m-Dot Swivel Touchscreen LCD

• 5-Axis In-Body Image Stabilization

• High-Res Shot, Live ND & Composite Modes

• IP53 Weather-Sealed & Freezeproof Design

• Dual UHS-II SD Card Slots

Next, we have the wildly successful OM-1 Mark II. Olympus has really made name for themselves with this line of cameras and I’ve only heard great things. This is by far one of the very best micro four thirds cameras currently available and it houses some really great features. On top of that, if you want something that’s lightweight and compact, this system is hard to beat.

Sony a6700

Price: $1,398
Specs:

• 26MP Exmore R APS-C BSI CMOS Sensor

• BIONS XR Image Processor

• UHD 4K 120p / FHD 240p / 10-Bit 4:2:2

• Up to 11-fps Shooting, ISO 100-32000

• 5-Axis Pixel-Level Images Stabilization

• Real-Time Tracking AF for Stills & Video

• 759-Point Phase Detection, 93% Coverage

• S-Log3, S-Gamut3, S-Cinetone, User LUTs

• Internal Mic + Inputs, USB Streaming

• 3” 1.03m-Dot Vari-Angle LCD Touchscreen

The Sony a6700 is the newest addition of their incredibly popular and successful alpha 6000 series of cameras. When the original a6000 was first launched years ago it was a revolutionary game changer and the a6700 continues this trend. If you want a really great crop sensor camera from Sony then this is what you’re looking for.

Canon EOS R7

Price: $1,499
Specs:

• 32.5MP APS-C CMOS Sensor

• Dual Pixel CMOS AF II

• 4K 60p 10-Bit Video, HDR-PQ & C-Log 3

• 30 fps E. Shutter, 15 fps Mech. Shutter

• 2.36m-Dot OLED EVF

• 1.6m-Dot Vari-Angle Touchscreen LCD

• Sensor-Shift 5-Axes Images Stabilization

• Dual UHS-II Memory Card Slots

• Multi-Function Shoes, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth

Another really great crop sensor body is the EOS R7 by Canon. Whether you’re a wildlife enthusiast and want some extra reach or trying to avoid the high price tags of full-frame bodies, the R7 is a really stellar offering from Canon that will get the job done.

Fujifilm X-H2

Price: $1,999
Specs:

• 40MP APS-C X-Trans BSI Sensor

• 7-Stop In-Body Inage Stabilization

• 8K 30p, 4K 60p, FHD 240p 10-Bit Video

• 5.76m-Dot OLED Electronic Viewfinder

• 160MP Pixel Shift Multi-Shot

• 20 fps E. Shutter, 15 fps Mech. Shutter

• CFexpress Type B & SD UHS-II Card Slots

• ProRes Raw, Blackmagic Raw via HDMI

• Intelligent Hybrid Autofocus

Our second Fujifilm camera on today’s list is the wildly popular and highly praised X-H2. If you want a crop sensor camera that really packs a punch and comes with top-tier features and specs, then the X-H2 is a great option. With great video and photo specs, and all the modern bells and whistles you’d want this camera is popular for a reason.

Panasonic Lumix GH7

Price: $2,198
Specs:

• 25.2MP BSI CMOS Micro Four Thirds Sensor

• 4K 60p 4:2:2 10-Bit Unlimited Recording

• 5.7K 60p, 4K 120p HFR, FHD 240p VFR

• ProRes RAW, 32-Bit Float, 13+ Stop WDR

• Dual I.S. 7.5-Stop 5-Axis Stabilizer

• 3.68m-Dot OLED Electronic Viewfinder

• 3.0” 1.84m-Dot Free Angle Touchscreen

• CFexpress Type B & SD UHS-II Card Slots

Shifting back over to the micro four thirds category is another really great offering from Panasonic. The Lumix GH7 is quite impressive and can achieve a lot for such a small sensor. This camera body is a really great option and features some top-notch specs.

Nikon Z50 II

Price: $907
Specs:

• 20.9MP DX-Format CMOS Sensor

• EXPEED 7 Image Processor

• UHD 4K 60p / Full HD 120p Video Recording

• Improved Autofocus, 9 Subject Detection

• Dedicated Picture Control Button

• Pre-Release Capture, 30 fps Shooting

• Bright OLED Electronic Viewfinder

• 3.2” 180-degree Tilting Touchscreen

• SD Memory Card Slot

• Built-In Wi-Fi and Bluetooth

If you want a really solid crop sensor body from Nikon that won’t break the bank, be sure to check out the Z50 II. This camera is a really great successor to the original Z50 and features some really great specs for the price point. The Z50 II is lightweight, compact, doesn’t cost and arm and a leg, and overall, this thing is a really solid crop sensor camera.

Canon EOS R10

Price: $979
Specs:

• 24.2MP APS-C CMOS Sensor

• Dual Pixel CMOS AF II

• 4K 30p Video, 4K 60p with Crop; HDR-PQ

• 23 fps E. Shutter, 15 fps Mech. Shutter

• 2.36m-Dot OLED EVF

• 1.04m-Dot Vari-Angle Touchscreen LCD

• Multi-Function Shoe, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth

Along the same lines as the Z50 II the Canon EOS R10 is a really solid crop sensor offering from canon that has some great features and also won’t break the bank. With lots of tech found in more expensive cameras, the R10 is a great bang for your buck to say the least.

Fujifilm X-T50

Price: $1,399
Specs:

• 40.2MP APS-C X-Trans CMOS 5 HR Sensor

• X-Processor 5 Images Processor

• Dedicated Film Simulation Dial

• Native ISO: 125-12800 Extended: 64-51200

• 4K 60p, 6.2K 30p 4:2:2 10-bit Video

• Compatible with X-Series Lenses

• 7-Stop In-Body Image Stabilization

• Frame.io Camera to Cloud Integration

• AI-Assisted AF Subject Detection

• 20 Film Simulation Modes

With a heavy focus on the crop sensor market, we have a third camera from Fujifilm featured in today’s list. The X-T50 is yet again a camera that has received tons of praise and many high-quality reviews and ratings. On top of that you can easily switch between 20 different film simulation modes to create compelling images. With many great features and specs at a very reasonable price point, this thing is great.

Panasonic Lumix GH5 II

Price: $1,498
Specs:

• 20.3MP Live MOS Sensor with AR Coating

• DCI/UHD 4K 60p Video, 10-Bit Internal

• Preinstalled V-Log L, No Crop 4K Video

• 6.5-Stop 5-Axis Dual I.S. 2

• 0.76x 3.68m-Dot OLED Viewfinder

• 3.0” 1.84m-Dot Free-Angle Touchscreen

• 225-Area DFD AF, Advanced Subject detection

• Livestream Video via Wi-Fi

• 6K and 4K PHOTO Modes

And last but certainly not least we have the Panasonic Lumix GH 5 II. This is yet again another very solid micro four thirds camera body and it’s a great successor to the original GH 5. With great video and photography specs, tons of solid reviews and ratings, and a lot of great features at an attractive price point, this camera is another really nice offering from Panasonic.

And there we have it. This has been our comprehensive list of 10 of the absolute best crop sensor and micro four thirds cameras currently available as we kick off 2025. Of course, there are plenty of other great options out there but these are the 10 cameras that we’re really excited about in this category. Be sure to read yesterday’s article covering the best full frame mirrorless cameras going into 2025.

As always, thanks for reading. I genuinely hope this article has been informative. We’ll see ya on the next one and until then, happy shooting!