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Shopping for anew cameracan be an overwhelming experience. Digital photography as a medium is riddled with technical jargon that is confusing to understand if you are new to it. Adding to the complexity is the fact thatmodern camerasare frequently advertised with fancy marketing language. It can be challenging to know what actually matters when choosing a camera and what is just fluff.
Luckily, we live in a time when there are very few bad cameras. But cameras are also not one-size-fits-all devices. For example, a wildlife photographer will have different needs than a street photographer, and a pro will certainly have different requirements for a camera than a beginner. Your individual needs, goals, and how you want to use the camera will determine which one is best for you. To aid in your search for the best cameras, though, we’ve highlighted some of our favorite options for a range of situations and needs.
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We don’t do arm-chair research. We buy and test our own products, and we only publish buyer’s guides with products we’ve actually reviewed.
Best all-around: Canon R6 Mark II
Canon EOS R6 Mark II
The Canon R6 Mark II is a true hybrid camera with impressive specs and features for both video and photography. It’s capable of 4K 60p internal recording or 6K RAW external recording and up to 40 fps burst shooting with the electronic shutter. Plus, it offers advanced and responsive autofocus to keep up with just about any situation.
If you dabble in a bit of everything and want superb quality across the board, the R6 Mark II is the way to go. This hybrid camera features Canon’s typical excellent image quality and excellent video specs. The camera is very comfortable to hold and is easy and intuitive to use. It’s the ideal choice for those upgrading from a DSLR, beginning their professional photography career, or experienced pros looking for another camera body.
Canon EOS R6 Mark II: Jack of all trades
Canon’s second-gen R6 brings with it some welcome improvements, including improved autofocus, increased resolution and no more recording limits.
In terms of video, it’s capable of 4K60 10-bit internal video with Canon Log 3 or external 6K ProRes RAW recording. For slow-motion needs, the R6 Mark II can record up to 1080p at Full HD resolution. There are no recording limits, making it possible to get long takes in one go. Plus, there’s a mic and headphone port along with a micro-HDMI port.
For photography, the R6 Mark II can shoot 12 fps with the mechanical shutter and up to 40 fps with the electronic shutter. The Dual Pixel CMOS AF II autofocus system is incredibly responsive and accurate, making it easy to get focused shots even when capturing high-speed action. It also performs very well in low-light situations, adding to its versatility.
Best mirrorless for beginners: Canon EOS R10
Canon EOS R10
The Canon EOS R10 is one of Canon’s entry-level models that is built for beginners. It is a compact body, making it easier to travel with, but it still packs plenty of useful and impressive features. It’s capable of 4K30p video and produces quality JPEG files, so beginners don’t have to jump right into RAW files if they don’t want to.
Canon’s EOS R10 is an ideal camera for beginners partly because of its approachable price and compact size. Despite the small size, Canon packed a lot of features and quality into the camera, so you won’t have to make many compromises to get started.
The best digital cameras for beginners
Ease your way into the world of photography with one of these user-friendly but capable models.
The 24.2-megapixel APS-C sensor produces plenty of resolution for beginners and most people in general as well. The image quality is excellent, even when shooting JPEG files. In fact, those JPEGs produce a surprising amount of dynamic range, so you don’t have to jump into shooting raw files to get flexibility when editing if you don’t want to. It’s also capable of bursts up to 23 fps with the electronic shutter, making it possible to capture action.
The R10 isn’t just for stills, either. It can record 4K30p video that’s oversampled from 6K, resulting in sharp, clear video. Oversampling like that is really impressive on an APS-C camera, especially at this price point. Should you want to record slow motion, you can also record 120p video at full HD resolution.
Best entry-level full-frame: Nikon Z5
The Nikon Z5 is a beginner-friendly full-frame mirrorless camera. It features a 24.3-megapixel sensor with the best electronic viewfinder in its class. The 5-axis in-body image stabilization helps achieve sharp images at slower shutter speeds, and it’s capable of up to 4K video, though with a crop. The autofocus is highly capable, so you’ll get more images in focus.
The Nikon Z5 is a great choice for those looking to upgrade from an APS-C or anyone wanting to dive into full-frame right off the bat. It features a 24.3-megapixel full-frame sensor with a powerful EXPEED 6 image processor. The Z5 also offers the best electronic viewfinder (EVF) of its class, making it easier to frame your shots when using the EVF.
Nikon Z5: Mirrorless marvel
Nikon’s more affordable full-frame mirrorless camera has a host of impressive features. But how does it stack up in use? Read our review for more…
The Z5 produces Nikon’s typically excellent image quality, so you’ll get strong images with plenty of room for editing should you want it. It features 5-axis in-body image stabilization (IBIS) with five stops of stabilization, making it easier to get sharp images at slower shutter speeds.
For video use, the Z5 is capable of 4K video, although that’s with a 1.7x crop. As a result, it’s not the best choice for serious videographers. But you’re able to shoot Full HD at 60 fps with no crop and time-lapses right in camera. The autofocus is fast and accurate and very easy to use, meaning you won’t have to fuss with settings to get the best results. Finally, the body is weather-sealed to protect it against the elements.
Best for travel: Fujifilm X-S20
Fujifilm X-S20
Thanks to its compact size, the Fujifilm X-S20 is perfect for travel. It also provides access to Fujifilm’s attractive built-in Film Simulation modes, so you can have polished-looking photos right out of the camera for faster sharing.
Traveling with a big, bulky camera is no fun (speaking from experience). The Fujifilm X-S20 packs a lot into a really compact package, making it much easier and more fun to take on your journeys. It also punches above its weight regarding what you get for the price. Plus, the magnesium body is highly durable, so you won’t have to baby it even on rugged adventures.
Fujifilm X-S20: Hybrid performance at a friendlier price
Is this the hybrid camera to beat?
One of the best parts of the X-S20 is the seven-stops of stabilization. You’ll be able to crush low-light situations without bringing along a tripod. It features a 26.1-megapixel X Trans CMOS 4 sensor with a powerful X-Processor 5 imaging engine, resulting in truly impressive performance across the board.
The subject recognition autofocus system is accurate and responsive, resulting in sharper shots. It can record up to 6K 30p or 240p Full HD for ultra-slow-motion footage. For burst shooting, you’ll get 20 fps uncropped or 30 fps with a crop. Also useful for traveling is the standard Fujifilm Film Simulation modes, which offer attractive in-camera presets so you can share right away without editing.
Best for vlogging: Sony ZV-E1
Sony ZV-E1
Sony’s flagship ZV camera combines the power and capabilities of a full-frame Alpha camera with the portability and features from its creator range to great effect. It features advanced autofocus with plenty of vlogging specific tools to help you create high-quality videos no matter what the content.
Vloggers and content creators have a unique set of needs, and the Sony ZV-E1 easily meets those. It is compact and lightweight, making it feasible to shoot handheld, even for a full day. The rear display flips around, so you may record yourself with far less fuss.
Sony ZV-E1: An impossibly small full-frame camera
The latest full-frame camera from Sony joins its vlogging ZV range, but features interchangeable lenses and lots of power.
The ZV-E1 can record 4K video up to 120p, giving you lots of flexibility. There are no recording limits, meaning you can record long, single takes when necessary. Plus, there are plenty of useful modes like cinematic bokeh, AI-based auto-framing, and a Product Showcase Setting, making it much easier to get high-quality vlogs.
This vlogging camera provides 15 stops of dynamic range for greater control when editing, and you may even import and apply your own LUTs right in camera. The 5-axis image stabilization allows you to get smooth footage without a gimbal. You’ll also have access to Sony’s highly impressive autofocus system, which features a Multiple Face Recognition setting to track multiple subjects within the frame. Overall, it’s an impressive little camera that is purpose-built for vloggers.
The bottom line: Best camera
Unfortunately (or perhaps fortunately), there truly isn’t one best camera overall, as different situations and needs call for different cameras. However, the Canon R6 Mark II is an extremely well-rounded device that is ideal for most people. It produces fantastic photos and videos, offers super autofocus abilities, and is compact enough to be a travel camera for those who want an interchangeable lens camera on their trips.
How we chose the best cameras
The writers and editors have decades of experience reviewing tech products and cameras specifically. We have had on experience with just about every major camera available, including the options included in this guide. When selecting the cameras here, I aimed to select options for various experience levels and budgets, as well as cameras for different shooting scenarios. Image and video quality were primary considerations, as were autofocus abilities, battery life, user-friendliness, and build quality.
Q: Is full-frame or crop sensor better?
Which sensor size is best truly depends on your needs and preferences. Full-frame cameras are ideal for professional photographers or anyone who wants larger file sizes to capture more detail. That extra detail is necessary for printing large and giving you more flexibility when cropping images in post. Full-frame cameras also allow for wider angle lenses, which makes them the preferred choice for landscapes or anything requiring a broad view, and they are capable of a more shallow depth of field.
The downside to full-frame cameras is that they are larger than crop sensor cameras (APS-C cameras) and more expensive as well. APS-C cameras are ideal for travel because of their more compact size. Also, because of the crop inherent to APS-C cameras, you get more reach from telephoto lenses (roughly 1.5x, depending on your camera system). As a result, you may opt for a smaller, cheaper telephoto lens and still be able to get epic sports and wildlife photos.
Q: Are mirrorless cameras better than DSLRs?
Mirrorless cameras certainly have advantages over DSLRs, mostly because they feature all the latest technologies. They have remarkably advanced autofocus, mind-boggling dynamic range, and impressive video specs.
Most companies have either ceased production of DSLRs or at least haven’t released any new models for years. Resources simply aren’t going to DSLR cameras at this point. Likewise, companies are focusing their attention on mirrorless lenses as opposed to options designed for DSLRs, so you won’t find newly released lenses for the older technology, either.
DSLRs are still highly capable devices with fantastic image quality and worthy specs. But if you want the latest and greatest features, you should be investing in mirrorless. If you’re also looking to build out a lens kit that grows with you well into the future, mirrorless would be the way to go.
Q: What camera is best for beginners?
Every brand makes some fantastic cameras for beginners. When choosing your first camera, it’s important to consider what system you’d like to stick with, as you will likely also be investing in lenses, and switching systems down the line can be very expensive. While we like options from each major brand, Canon’s EOS R10 is one of our favorite options for beginners because of its compact size, excellent autofocus, and well-rounded specs.
