What's the best camera Okay, we admit it it's an impossible question to answer.
The best camera for a pro photographer is a million miles from the best camera for an adventure sports nut or a novice shooter.But if you just want to know what we think are the top ten standout cameras you can buy right now regardless of user level or price point then keep on reading.What we've done then is to pick out what we think are the standout cameras in their fields.
This may be because they have the most amazing features and specifications, because they're amazing value for what they offer or because they are just brilliant at the job they've been designed for.All these are cameras have been extensively tried and tested by ourselves, so if you want to know any more about any of them as well as check out sample images, just click the link to the full review.Along the way we'll explain some of the jargon and the differences between cameras, though if you need a bit more help deciding what kind of camera you need, you can get a lot more information from our special step-by-step guide: What camera should I buyOn the other hand, you may already have a clear idea of the kind of camera you want, in which case you could go straight to one of our more specific camera buying guides:1.
Nikon D850High resolution meets high speedType: DSLR | Sensor size: Full-frame CMOS | Resolution: 45.4MP | Lens: Nikon F mount | Viewfinder: Optical | Screen type: 3.2-inch tilting touchscreen, 2,359,000 dots | Maximum continuous shooting speed: 7fps | Movies: 4K | User level: Intermediate/expertStunning image qualityExcellent performanceSlow Live View AF speedSnapBridge connectivityIt may be expensive, but if you're looking for the best camera money can buy right now, then Nikon's fabulous D850 DSLR pretty much ticks every box.
Packing in a brilliant 45.4MP full-frame sensor, image quality is stunning.
But that's just half the story.
Thanks to a sophisticated 153-point AF system and 9fps burst shooting speed, the D850 is just a home shooting action and wildlife as it is landscapes and portraits.
The Nikon D850 is perhaps the most well-rounded camera we've ever tested.Read our in-depthNikon D850 review2.
Sony Alpha A7R IIISony's megapixel monster gets a performance boostType: Mirrorless | Sensor size: Full-frame CMOS | Resolution: 42.2MP | Lens: Sony E mount | Viewfinder: EVF | Screen type: 3.0-inch tilting touchscreen, 1440,000 dots | Maximum continuous shooting speed: 10fps | Movies: 4K | User level: Expert10fps at 42.2MPFast AF performanceLimited touchscreen controlNo XQD card slotsOnce, if you wanted a professional quality full frame camera it had to be a Nikon or Canon DSLR.
Sony's growing range of mirrorless full-frame cameras offer a great alternative.
With the Alpha A7R III, Sony has taken one of our favorite mirrorless cameras and bolstered the performance to make it one of the most complete and versatile cameras available today.
With a brilliant full-frame 42.2MP sensor that's supported by and advanced AF system and 10fps burst shooting, you no longer have to sacrifice performance for resolution or vice versa.Read our in-depthSony Alpha A7R III review3.
Fujifilm X-T2A stunning camera perfect for enthusiast photographersType: Mirrorless | Sensor size: APS-C CMOS | Resolution: 24.3MP | Lens: Fujifilm X mount | Viewfinder: EVF | Screen type: 3.0-inch tilting screen, 1,040,000 dots | Maximum continuous shooting speed: 8fps | Movies: 4K | User level: Intermediate/expertPolished handlingFast autofocusNo touchscreenNot much elseThe update to the X-T1 may look similar at first glance, but there have been some huge improvements made to Fujifilm's follow-up flagship mirrorless camera.
Perhaps the biggest update though is the autofocus.
A huge leap forward compared with the system found in the X-T1, AF tracking of moving subjects is very snappy, while the level of sophistication and customisation is impressive.
Add in 8 frames per second burst shooting, a clever double-hinged rear display, bright EVF, Fujifilm's excellent 24.3MP X Trans III CMOS sensor and plenty of body mounted controls and you're left with one of the best cameras available today.Read our in-depthFujifilm X-T2 review4.
Nikon D3400Not the most expensive entry-level DSLR, but we think it's the bestType: DSLR | Sensor: APS-C CMOS | Resolution: 24.2MP | Lens: Nikon F mount (DX) | Viewfinder: Optical | Screen type: 3.0-inch screen, 921,000 dots | Maximum continuous shooting speed: 5fps | Movies: 1080p | User level: BeginnerGood image qualityGuide modeFixed screenNo touchscreenNikon's D3400 builds on the brilliant D3300 and is our top pick when it comes to entry-level DSLRs.
Sharing pretty much the same design and specification as its predecessor, the D3400 adds Nikon's SnapBridge bluetooth connectivity to transfer images directly to your smart device to make it that much easier to share images.
The 24.2MP sensor resolves bags of detail, while the D3400 is also a very easy camera to live with.
Its clever Guide Mode is a useful learning tool that gives real-time explanations of important features.
There's no touchscreen, but otherwise, this is our favorite entry-level DSLR right now.Read our in-depth Nikon D3400 review5.
Fujifilm X100FClassic design and controls make it the perfect enthusiast compactType: High-end compact | Sensor: APS-C CMOS | Resolution: 24.3MP | Lens: 23mm f/2 | Screen type: 3-inch, 1,040,000 dots | Viewfinder: Hybrid | Maximum continuous shooting speed: 8fps | Movies: 1080p | User level: ExpertHybrid viewfinderExcellent image qualityISO dial not that practical1080p video onlyThe X100F is a thing of beauty both to look and and to use, but it's not for everyone.
It's a relatively large, retro-styled compact camera with a fixed focal length 35mm equivalent f/2.0 lens, and designed for photographers who hanker after the weighty feel and manual external controls of traditional 35mm film rangefinder cameras.
It's a relatively specialised camera and most owners are likely to have other cameras too.
It may be a touch pricey, but there's nothing quite like it it's an exquisite camera to look at and to shoot with.Read our in-depthFujifilm X100F review6.
Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark IITop-notch performance in a super-small package Type: Mirrorless | Sensor size: Micro Four Thirds | Resolution: 16.1MP | Lens: Micro Four Thirds | Screen type: 3.0-inch tilting touchscreen, 1,370,000 dots | Viewfinder: EVF | Maximum continuous shooting rate: 8.6fps | Movies: 4K | User level: Beginner/enthusiastCompact proportions5-axis stabilisationSmaller sensor than someBattery life could be betterWhile the main specification of the OM-D E-M10 Mark III doesn't offer a huge upgrade from the Mark II, Olympus has refined and tweaked one of our favorite mirrorless cameras to make it an even more tempting proposition for new users and enthusiasts alike.
Some will criticise the smaller Micro Four Thirds sensor format (roughly half the area of APS-C) but the effect on image quality is minor and it means that the lenses are as compact and lightweight as the camera itself.
Sporting a 5-axis image stabilization system, decent electronic viewfinder, an impressive 8.6fps burst shooting speed and 4K video, it's no toy the E-M10 Mark III is a properly powerful camera.Read our in-depth Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark III review7.
Panasonic Lumix TZ100The perfect travel camera - small, versatile and with a decent zoom Type: Travel compact | Sensor: 1-inch type CMOS | Resolution: 20.1MP | Lens: 25-250mm, f/2.8-5.9 | Viewfinder: EVF | Screen type: 3.0-inch, 1,040,000 dots | Maximum continuous shooting speed: 10fps | Movies: 4K | User level: Beginner/enthusiast1-inch type sensor4K moviesLimited 10x zoomTouchscreen would be niceSimilar in size to earlier TZ-series cameras, Panasonic however has managed to squeeze a much larger sensor into the TZ100.
This enables the pixels to be about 2.4x bigger than they are in models like the TZ90, and this helps the TZ100 produce much higher quality images.
The zoom lens isn't quite so extensive though, but you still get an electronic viewfinder that makes it easier to compose images in bright sunny conditions and in addition to 4K video recording, there's Panasonic's 4K Photo mode to help capture 8MP images of fleeting moments.
It all adds up to be a powerful compact camera.Read our in-depthPanasonic Lumix TZ100 review8.
Canon EOS 800DCanon's best entry-level DSLR yet offers power and performance Type: DSLR | Sensor: APS-C CMOS | Resolution: 24.2MP | Lens: Canon EF-S | Viewfinder: Optical | Monitor: 3.0-inch vari-angle touchscreen, 1,040,000 dots | Maximum continuous shooting speed: 6fps | Movies: 1080p | User level: BeginnerPolished handlingVari-angle touchscreenOnly 95% viewfinder coveragePlastic finishOne of the best entry-level DSLRs out there, the EOS 800D is an update to the 750D.
The resolution stays the same, but it's a new design with an improved high ISO performance.
The autofocus also gets a boost over the older model, now with a 45-point arrangement that's backed up by excellent live view AF system that's as quick as mirrorless rivals, while the newly designed graphical interface will certainly make this camera even more appealing to new users.
The absence of 4K video and the quality of the exterior materials disappoint, but despite this the EOS 800D is a great entry into the world of DSLR photography.Read our in-depthCanon EOS 800D review9.
Panasonic Lumix FZ2000The bridge camera for the photographer who wants quality too Type: Bridge camera | Sensor: 1.0-inch type CMOS | Resolution: 20.1MP | Lens: 24-480mm, f/2.8-4.5 | Screen type: 3-inch vari-angle screen, 1,040,000 dots | Viewfinder: EVF | Maximum continuous shooting speed: 12fps | Movies: 4K | User level: Intermediate/expertLarge 1-inch sensorSuper-fast AFBig, heavy and not cheapNo weather-sealingOur final camera is a 'bridge' camera, a type of camera that we don't normally like very much because the ultra-zoom design forces the makers to use titchy 1/2.3-inch sensors the same size as those in point-and-shoot cameras.
You get the look and feel of a DSLR, but you certainly don't get the image quality.
But the Panasonic Lumix FZ2000 is different.
It sacrifices a huge zoom range in favour of a much larger 1.0-inch sensor - a compromise most serious photographers will applaud.
While the zoom tops out at 480mm equivalent, which is relatively short for a bridge camera, that's still plenty for all but the most extreme everyday use.
We'd certainly sacrifice a little for of zoom range for better and faster optics.
We love the FZ2000 because it delivers both image quality and zoom range, while also offering full manual and semi-manual controls, the ability to shoot raw files and 4K video.Read our in-depth Panasonic Lumix FZ2000 review10.
GoPro Hero6 BlackMeet the new king of action camerasType: Action camera | Sensor: 1/2.3-inch type CMOS | Resolution: 12MP | Lens: wide-angle f/2.8 lens | Screen type: 2-inch touchscreen | Viewfinder: N/A | Movies: 4K | User level: Beginner/intermediateRefined designGreat image qualityTouchscreen fiddly to useAn expensive hobby gadgetThe GoPro Hero6 Black is the best action camera you can buy.
It's pricey compared to some of the competition, but it's got a wealth of features, including shooting 4K footage at up to 60fps, as well as super-slow-motion 1080p video at 240fps.
The improved image stabilization system works at treat, as well as footage offering a wider dynamic range and better low-light performance compared to the Hero5 Black.
That's not forgetting it's waterproof down to 10m, has a useful 2-inch touchscreen, while the updated app with QuikStories automatically transfers and edits your footage for you.
If you want an action camera, you're not going to go wrong with the Hero6 Black.Read our in-depthGoPro Hero6 Black reviewaKBB2RTZRTwSeaRZxwEg4L.jpg#