The last year has continued to bring whiplash to the camera world, with numerous new models introduced across mirrorless, action and compact lineups. We continue to see improvements in all areas, with greater speed, more accurate autofocus and better video specs.<\/p>\n
All those options can be overwhelming, but that\u2019s where this guide comes in. Whether you\u2019re an aspiring action or wildlife photographer, an extreme sports junkie or a content creator, we\u2019ll help you find the perfect camera to match your budget and requirements.<\/p>\n
What to consider before choosing a camera<\/h2>\n
Though smartphones get better for video and photos every year, full cameras are still better in many ways. The larger sensors in mirrorless cameras let more light in, and you have a wide choice of lenses with far superior optics. Where smartphones typically have one f\/stop, cameras have many, which gives you better exposure control. You also get natural and not AI-generated bokeh, quicker shooting, a physical shutter, more professional video results and so on.<\/p>\n
Sensor size<\/h3>\n
With that extra quality comes a lot of extra factors to consider, though. The first thing is sensor size. In general, the larger the sensor, the better (and usually more expensive) the camera.<\/p>\n
Full frame is available on models like Sony’s new ZV-E1, the Canon EOS R6 II and Panasonic S5 II. At a size equivalent to 35mm film (36 x 24mm), it offers the best performance in terms of image quality, low-light capability and depth of field. But it\u2019s also the most expensive and finicky. While bokeh looks incredible at f\/1.4, the depth of field is so razor thin that your subject’s eyebrow might be in focus but not their eye. This can also make video shooting difficult.<\/p>\n
The next size category is APS-C (around 23.5 x 15.6mm for most models and 22.2 x 14.8mm for Canon), offered on Fujifilm’s X Series lineup, Canon\u2019s R10, Sony\u2019s ZV-E10 II and the Nikon Z50. It’s cheaper than full frame, both for the camera body and lenses, but still brings most of the advantages like decent bokeh, high ISOs for low-light shooting and relatively high resolution. With a sensor size the same as movie cameras, it’s ideal for shooting video, and it\u2019s easier to hold focus than with full-frame cameras.<\/p>\n
Micro Four Thirds (17.3 x 13mm), a format shared by Panasonic and Olympus, is the next step down in sensor size. It offers less bokeh and light-gathering capability than APS-C and full frame, but allows for smaller and lighter cameras and lenses. For video, you can still get reasonably tight depth of field with good prime lenses, but focus is easier to control.<\/p>\n
The other common sensor size is Type 1 (1 inch), which is actually smaller than one inch at 12.7 x 9.5mm. That’s used mostly by compact models like Sony\u2019s ZV-1 vlogging camera. Finally, action cameras like the GoPro Hero 11 and DJI\u2019s Osmo 3 have even smaller sensors (1\/1.9 and 1\/1.7 size, respectively).<\/p>\n
Autofocus<\/h3>\n
For photographers, another key factor is autofocus (AF) speed and accuracy. Most modern mirrorless cameras have hybrid phase-detect AF systems that allow for rapid focus and fast burst speeds. The majority also feature AI smarts like eye-detect AF for people and animals. However, some models are faster and more reactive than others.<\/p>\n
Displays<\/h3>\n
The electronic viewfinder (EVF) and rear display are also key. The best models have the sharpest and brightest EVFs that help you judge a shot before taking it. For things like street photography, it\u2019s best to have as bright and sharp a rear display as possible. You may also want a screen that flips out rather than just tilting.<\/p>\n
Lenses<\/h3>\n
DSLRs and mirrorless cameras let you change lenses, but you’re stuck with what’s built into a compact camera. While that’s great for portability, a single lens means you’re going to sacrifice something. Fujifilm’s X100V, for instance, has a fast but fixed 35mm-equivalent f\/2.0 lens and no zoom. Sony’s RX100 V has a 24-70mm zoom, but it’s slower at the telephoto end (f\/2.8) and less sharp than a fixed focal (prime) lens.<\/p>\n
Video recording<\/h3>\n
When it comes to video, there are other factors to consider. Does your camera do \u201cpixel-binning\u201d for video recording or read out the entire sensor? Better cameras tend to do the latter. Another key factor is sensor speed, as slower sensors tend to have more rolling shutter that can create a \u201cjello\u201d effect that skews video.<\/p>\n
In addition, how\u2019s the battery life? How do you like the handling and feel? How long can you shoot video before the camera heats up or stops? Does it support 10-bit HDR video? Is there a microphone and\/or a headphone jack? (if you do a lot of interviews, it’s preferable to have both.) How’s the video autofocus? All of these things play a part in your decision \u2013 so now let\u2019s take a look at the best models.<\/p>\n
Best cameras<\/h2>\nMirrorless cameras<\/h3>\n
Mirrorless is the largest camera category in terms of models available, so it\u2019s the best way to go if you\u2019re looking for something with the most advanced features. Both Canon and Nikon recently announced they\u2019re discontinuing development of new DSLRs, simply because most of the advantages of that category are gone, as I detailed in a video<\/a>. The biggest selling feature of a mirrorless camera is the ability to change lenses depending on the type of shooting you want to do.<\/p>\n Key features to consider are sensor size, resolution, autofocus, shooting (burst) speeds and video specs. If you\u2019re primarily a sports or wildlife photographer, you\u2019ll likely want fast burst speeds and accurate autofocus. Portrait and landscape shooters will favor large sensors and high resolution (more megapixels) to maximize image quality. And content creators will want to look for things like flip-out displays, high-end video specifications and good in-body stabilization. Price is of course a major factor as well.<\/p>\n Canon<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n My top pick under $1,000 is the brand new 24.2-megapixel Canon R10<\/a>, which is a great model for both photographers and content creators. It can shoot bursts at up to 23 fps in electronic shutter mode, and offers 4K 10-bit at 30p with supersampling and no crop, or 4K 60p with a 1.5x crop. It has a fully articulating display for vlogging, along with a 2.36-million dot electronic viewfinder. It uses Canon\u2019s Dual Pixel AF with subject recognition mode that works in both photo and video modes. The main drawback is a lack of in-body stabilization.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n $999 at Amazon<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n Nikon<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Another great choice in this price range is the 21-megapixel Nikon Z fc<\/a>, as it\u2019s not only a solid hybrid photo\/video camera but happens to look beautiful as well. You can shoot bursts at up to 11 fps with autofocus and auto-exposure enabled, and it offers supersampled 4K at up to 30 fps. Perhaps the most desirable feature is the small, functional body that makes it ideal for travel.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n $957 at Amazon<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n Sony<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n The Sony ZV-E10 II<\/a> just hit the market, but for content creators, it\u2019s worth waiting a couple of weeks. It comes with a 26-megapixel APS-C sensor that\u2019s much faster than before, so rolling shutter wobble is mostly a non-issue. You can shoot supersampled 4K video at up to 30p using the full sensor width, or 4K 60p with a small 1.1x crop. It also supports 10-bit S-Log3 video capture, LUt imports and more. The main drawbacks are the lack of an electronic viewfinder and mechanical shutter.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n $998 at B&H Photo<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n Sony<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Though it was released over two years ago, the Sony A7 IV<\/a> still has the best combination of image quality, performance and video powers. The 33-megapixel sensor has the highest resolution in its price range, and dynamic range is also near the top. At the same time, you can shoot at up to 10fps in mechanical shutter mode. For creators, 10-bit 4K video is available at up to 60fps, and it offers the best autofocus in its class, both for video and photos. The main drawback is rolling shutter distortion that occurs with the electronic shutter or video.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n $2,498 at Amazon<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n Nikon<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Think of the Nikon Z6 III<\/a> as a mini Z8, thanks to the incredible performance of what the company calls a partially-stacked sensor. To that end, you can shoot RAW bursts at up to 20 fps in electronic shutter mode while nailing sharp shots thanks to the much-improved autofocus. On the video side, it supports 6K RAW at up to 60 fps, or 4K 120p. The only thing holding it back from dethroning Sony is image quality that\u2019s compromised a bit by the relatively low resolution and reduced dynamic range.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n $2,497 at B&H Photo<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n Panasonic<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Content creators should take a hard look at the full-frame Panasonic S5 IIX<\/a>. It\u2019s the company\u2019s first camera with hybrid phase-detect AF designed to make focus “wobble” and other issues a thing of the past. You can shoot sharp 4K 30p video downsampled from the full sensor width, or 4K 60p from an APS-C cropped size, all in 10-bit color. It even offers 5.9K 30p capture, along with ProRes capture to an external SSD. You also get a flip-out screen for vlogging and updated five-axis in-body stabilization that\u2019s the best in the industry. Photo quality is also good thanks to the dual-gain 24-megapixel sensor. The main drawback is the slowish burst speeds.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n $1,998 at Amazon<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n Nikon<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n The Nikon Z8<\/a> is an interesting mirrorless camera because it carries the same specs as the company\u2019s Z9 flagship but costs a lot less. It\u2019s one of the highest resolution full-frame cameras with 45 megapixels, but is also one of the fastest with burst speeds up to 30 fps. At the same time, it offers incredible video capabilities with 8K RAW video at up to 60 fps. Autofocus isn\u2019t on par with Sony\u2019s A1, but it\u2019s a better camera for the price.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n $3,997 at B&H Photo<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n Fujifilm<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n If you\u2019re OK with a smaller APS-C sensor, check out the Fujifilm X-H2S<\/a>. It has an incredibly fast stacked, backside-illuminated 26.1-megapixel sensor that allows for rapid burst shooting speeds of 40 fps, along with 4K 120p video with minimal rolling shutter. It can capture ProRes 10-bit video internally, has seven stops of in-body stabilization and a class-leading EVF. Yes, it\u2019s expensive for an APS-C camera, but on the other hand, it\u2019s the cheapest stacked sensor camera out there. The other downside is AF that\u2019s not quite up to Canon and Sony\u2019s level.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n $2,499 at Amazon<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n Sony<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n For the ultimate high-resolution camera, check out Sony\u2019s A7R V<\/a>. With a 61-megapixel sensor, it shoots sharp and beautiful images at a very respectable speed for such a high-resolution model (10 fps). It has equally fast and reliable autofocus, the sharpest viewfinder on the market and in-body stabilization that\u2019s much improved over the A7R IV. Video has even improved, with 8K and 10-bit options now on tap, albeit with significant rolling shutter. If you don\u2019t need the video, however, Sony\u2019s A7R IVa does mostly the same job, photo-wise, and costs a few hundred dollars less.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n $3,898 at Amazon<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n The most important features to look for in an action cam are image quality, stabilization and battery life. GoPro has easily been beating all rivals recently in all those areas, but DJI has taken a lot of its business to date with the Osmo Pocket 3 gimbal camera.<\/p>\n DJI<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Late last year DJI unveiled the Osmo Pocket III<\/a> and I called it<\/a> \u201cmaybe the only vlogging camera you need.\u201d It has a big 1-inch sensor, the same size found on Sony\u2019s ZV-1 II compact camera. That boosts image quality considerably, particularly in low light. It also has a new, large swiveling touchscreen that makes it easier to switch between horizontal and vertical video.<\/p>\n What really makes it great for vlogging are the follow modes combined with face tracking. If you\u2019re working solo, you can simply set it up and it\u2019ll rotate and tilt to follow you around. That also applies for walk-and-talk vlogging, so you don\u2019t have to worry about focus or even pointing the camera at yourself. The main drawbacks are the reduced resolution (which means it\u2019s not ideal for photos) and a price that\u2019s considerably higher than the previous model.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n $669 at Amazon<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n GoPro<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n GoPro\u2019s Hero 12 Black<\/a> is a relatively mild update over the Hero 11, but it was launched at a lower price and is often available for only a tad bit more than the Hero 11 Black \u2014 so it\u2019s easy to recommend. It can record videos at up to 5.3K at 60fps in 10-bit color with high data rates, and 8:7 capture that uses the entire sensor now works in all modes. The battery lasts around 10-15 percent longer than before, and it has a new quarter-inch tripod mount. Otherwise, the Hero 12 still has the best digital stabilization (aka Hypersmooth) of any action camera, a full-color front screen and the best image quality, overall, of any cam in its class.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n $318 at Amazon<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n This category has fewer cameras than it did even a few years ago and many models are older, as manufacturers focus instead on mirrorless models. However, I\u2019m still a big believer in compact cameras. They\u2019re a noticeable step up from smartphones quality-wise, and a lot of people will take a compact traveling or to events when they\u2019d never bother with the hassle of a DSLR or mirrorless camera.<\/p>\n Compacts largely have type 1-inch sensors, but a few offer larger options, particularly Fujifilm\u2019s XF-100V. Another popular model, Sony\u2019s XV-1, is primarily aimed at content creators looking to step up. In any case, desirable qualities include image quality, a fast lens, relatively long zoom, flip-out display, good battery life, a high quality EVF, decent video and good pocketability.<\/p>\n Fujifilm<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n The Fujifilm X100 VI<\/a> is a near-perfect update to the X100 V, keeping everything buyers liked while adding features like a 40-megapixel sensor and in-body stabilization. Image quality is excellent and the improved resolution is much appreciated for things like street and tourist photography. Meanwhile, the in-body stabilization makes it much more useful in low light or to create blur effects handheld. Video is solid for such a small camera, with up to 6K 30p capture. The only downsides are mediocre battery life and autofocus that can be a bit slow.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n $1,599 at B&H Photo<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n Sony<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n The 20-megapixel Sony ZV-1 II<\/a> is follow-up to the ZV-1, a compact camera based on the RX-100 series that uses a type 1-inch sensor. It does that job well thanks to a lightweight body, built-in high-quality microphone, flip-out display, 4K 30p video, best-in-class autofocus and excellent image quality. The 18-50mm f\/1.8-4.0 lens is sharp and wider than on the ZV-1, so it\u2019s better for vlogging. One very nice feature is the built-in ND filter, but it does lack optical image stabilization and a headphone port.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\nMirrorless cameras under $1,000<\/h3>\n
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Mirrorless cameras under $2,500<\/h3>\n
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Mirrorless cameras over $2,500<\/h3>\n
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Best action camera or gimbal camera<\/h3>\n
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Best compact camera<\/h3>\n
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