It used to be that the natural step-up from a compact camera was a DSLR,
but things are a lot more complicated these days. The desire for the
better quality shots a larger sensor brings and flexibility of
interchangeable lenses remains, but the options are more varied and
interesting than ever before.
Nothing epitomises this better
than the Compact System Camera, or CSC, which has in recent years
presented greater opposition to the DSLR as an upgrade from a compact
camera, or even a smartphone. Not only do CSCs offer larger sensors than
compact cameras and smartphones, they do so with a lot less bulk than
a DSLR.
Better still are the prices. While there are expensive
CSCs, many compact system cameras cost less than £500. Some even cost
about the same as top-end compact and bridge cameras, two other
traditional upgrade paths for people looking to advance their
photography skills.
To help you decide what camera to buy we’ve
picked out six of the best cheap compact system cameras, all of which
retail for less than £500. We have a camera from each of the big brands, with one or two of the models representing outstanding value as they’ve come down in price significantly since their launch. This makes it the perfect time to take a second look to see which truly is the best cheap compact system camera going.
Jump to section:
- Page 2: Features – Canon EOS M, Nikon 1 J3, Olympus E-PL5
- Page 3: Features – Panasonic GF6, Samsung NX2000, Sony NEX-5R
- Page 4: Design & Perf. – Canon EOS M, Nikon 1 J3, Olympus E-PL5
- Page 5: Design & Perf. – Panasonic GF6, Samsung NX2000, Sony NEX-5R
- Page 6: Image Quality – Canon EOS M, Nikon 1 J3, Olympus E-PL5
- Page 7: Image Quality – Panasonic GF6, Samsung NX2000, Sony NEX-5R
- Page 8: Verdict
Best Cheap Compact System Cameras: Specs
The rest of this feature is split into sections, starting with features, design and performance and finally image quality. You can skip to any specific section using the links above, while below is a quick look at the specs of each of our best cheap CSC contenders.
Left to right: Canon EOS M (£349); Nikon 1 J3 (£439); Olympus PEN E-PL5 (£449) 
Left to right: Panasonic Lumix GF6 (£359); Samsung NX2000 (£499); Sony NEX-5R (£449)
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Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.