Camera which to buy

Plus the best full-frame cameras are fantastic after dark. But there are other compromises to consider alongside the price. Besides being overkill for most people, the increased sensor size also means full-frame cameras tend to be bigger and notably heavier even than mirrorless models.

And while the crop factor of a full-frame camera captures a wider field of view and therefore makes it easier to get a shallow depth of field , you have to work harder to shoot close-ups of distant objects. Pros: Maximum quality thanks to the full-frame sensor; often designed for tough, daily use; high resolution or high continuous shooting speeds a speciality.

Cons: Expensive to buy and that goes for full frame lenses, too; pro models are bulky and heavy. At Capturing action? Dynamic range can be disappointing, with a lack of detail in highlights, but color reproduction is excellent and noise handled well.

Its ergonomic design also means the R6 is comfortable enough for all-day use. The key issue is cost: there are full-frame alternatives available with more pixels for less money. But few that are quite as compelling. While video was once a completely different discipline, almost every decent camera in can record sharp footage in Full HD or 4K. Even smartphones can now capture the kind of video which would embarrass camcorders of old. Mirrorless cameras are now the driving force behind video technology, with the format favoured by everyone from YouTube superstars to documentary makers.

These cameras are built to be rugged yet easy to use, with a range of creative shooting modes — plus class-leading stabilization skills — which allow you to shoot professional-looking footage in tricky conditions.

You could also consider the new fleet of pocket-friendly video tools, from the tiny Insta Go 2 to the compact DJI Pocket 2, which features a small mechanical gimbal to keep shots steady.

But if you want the very best video quality, mirrorless is the answer. These cameras usually offer features which make it simpler to shoot excellent footage, such as tilting touchscreens for easier framing and processors powerful enough to support the frame rates required for smooth slow-mo.

The best mirrorless video cameras also support a range of file formats and colour profiles which add flexibility for editing. Both the sensor and the body are the same, so you get a well-built, lightweight mirrorless camera with excellent handling.

Low-light performance is limited by the Micro Four Thirds sensor, but five-axis image stabilization performs well. Autofocus is accurate, plus the forward-facing screen is handy for framing yourself. North America. Jump to: 1. Video cameras. Trying to decide which camera you should buy? Our pick Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra.

Reasons to avoid - Expensive for a smartphone - No microSD card slot. GoPro Hero 10 Black. Reasons to avoid - Same small sensor as before - Not a winner in low light. Reasons to avoid - Pricey compared to rivals - Touchscreen control limited. Fujifilm XV. Reasons to avoid - Not weather-sealed - Quite expensive. Nikon D Reasons to avoid - No touchscreen - No 4K video.

Fujifilm X-T4. Reasons to avoid - AF performance limited by lens - No headphone port. Canon EOS R6. Reasons to avoid - Not a massive upgrade from the GH5 - Rivals have higher resolutions. Chris Rowlands. See more Cameras news. This is an understated element of cameras. If at all possible, try before you buy. The camera you buy should offer quick accessibility to the most commonly used functions, and menus should be simply structured, logical, and easy to learn.

Much of this is subjective, so we recommend getting hands-on with different models if you have the opportunity to do so. There are several attributes that differentiate a camera from good to great, and the lens is perhaps the most important one.

A camera that lets you swap lenses gives you different creative options to choose from. Most DSLRs and mirrorless cameras are typically sold with a basic kit lens. You can spend a small fortune on a variety of lenses from wide-angle to telephoto.

Changing a lens literally changes your perspective, and choosing one is such a large topic that we have a separate buying guide dedicated to lenses. First-time camera buyers often ask if, say, Canon lenses can be used on a Nikon camera. In general, you cannot cross brands — at least without using third-party adapters and sacrificing some performance.

There are also third-party manufacturers, like Sigma and Tamron, that make lenses in different mounts to fit Canon, Nikon, Sony, and other brands. Optical image stabilization helps eliminate blur from your photographs by physically shifting elements within the lenses. This is especially useful for long-zoom lenses which can be hard to hold steady.

This tends to be the preferred method of DSLRs, although not all lenses are stabilized. Sensor-shift stabilization often called in-body image stabilization, or IBIS physically moves the sensor in response to vibrations. This is the preferred stabilization method of mirrorless cameras. It typically performs very well and has the benefit of working with any lens. Electronic image stabilization EIS , by contrast, is a camera trick.

While it might capture a less blurry picture, it often does so at the expense of reduced image quality. This is the preferred method of action cameras, and some — like the GoPro Hero8 Black — have actually done it quite well. A viewfinder certainly has its advantages, and photography enthusiasts still prefer them over using an LCD screen.

They are all but necessary in bright sunlight when an LCD screen may be washed out, and can also just help you focus on the photograph and ignore external distractions. DSLRs feature optical viewfinders the image from the lens reflected from the mirror , while mirrorless cameras use electronic viewfinders EVFs , which are essentially tiny LCD screens with an eyecup.

Electronic viewfinders offer a host of their own benefits: You can see the effect of your exposure and color settings while shooting, you can zoom in to check focus, and you can display all sorts of other information.

All cameras shoot video these days, and many even record at 4K Ultra HD resolution. In its successor was launched, the Sony Alpha 7iii. Unfortunately, it costs about twice as much as its predecessor. But in return some significant improvements were made.

The already excellent image quality is even better, the autofocus is faster and sharperand the battery lasts even longer. If that is worth 1, euros more to you, you need to decide for yourself. If we had to buy a new camera though, we would invest into the Alpha 7iii. To the Alpha 7iii on Amazon. Sony Alpha 7 lenses. Fujifilm has been offering excellent mirrorless cameras for years. It particularly addresses professional photograpers, which is why there are mainly high-end cameras by manufacturer.

The X-T3 is one of them. We would personally take a Sony camera, which offers a full-frame sensor for the same price. It is still a good choice, since Fujifilm stands for highest quallity products. To the Fujifilm X-T3 on Amazon. For a really long time Nikon and Canon have completely ignored the market for mirrorless cameras. This is why we would not recommend the cameras for beginners. If you already own a couple of Nikon or Canon lenses and want to switch to the mirrorless system, both models are a good alternative.

You can then easily use your old lenses with an adapter. Bridge cameras bridge the gap between DSLRs and small compact cameras. They combine the characteristics of both camera types, hence the name. Nevertheless, these cameras have a very large optical zoom range.

In many cases, the zoom range is much larger than that of the lenses usually used on a DSLR camera or a mirrorless system camera. To give you a comparison: A 50x zoom on a bridge camera is equivalent to a lens with a focal length of mm. Unfortunately, many bridge cameras have problems with image quality in the higher zoom ranges.

After all, not having to constantly change lenses can be quite an advantage. Almost all well-known camera manufacturers offer bridge cameras in all price and performance classes. You can get a simple bridge camera for less than euros. So a bridge camera is a good way to get started with photography without breaking the bank. If you have a small budget, but still want to get serious about photography, then a cheap bridge camera is a good choice for the beginner.

This bridge camera provides a 50x optical zoom and an image stabilizer to help protect your shots from camera shake. Another cheap compact camera for beginners is the B The Nikon Coolpix offers a 40x optical zoom and is available in different colors. However, the camera does support the manual setting of aperture and shutter speed.

If you want to improve your photography skills, you should choose another camera. If the different automatic modes are enough for you, this camera is a good choice. It costs about to euros. To the Nikon Coolpix B on Amazon. Panasonic also offers another excellent entry-level bridge camera with the Lumix DMC-FZ72, a name that rolls off the tongue.

The camera is a little more expensive tan the other beginner models, but provides a good image quality and functions, such as a 60x optical zoom. For quite some time bridge cameras were only for beginners. Since then, the market with really good cameras for ambitious photographers grew a lot. The RX10 series is probably the best bridge camera you can find on the market today.

The image quality is very good. Instead, these cameras have Zeiss lenses. There are four models. In our opinion, the best money for value offers the cheapest camera for euros and the DSC-RX10M3 for about 1, euros, which is our personal favorite in this segment. Many people have taken their first steps into the world of photography with a small compact camera. Of course, the main advantage of a compact camera is its low weight and minimal size.

Today, compact cameras have disappeared a little from the general perception and have been largely replaced by smartphone cameras. But for us, a compact camera is still a sensible investment if you choose a high-quality model.

Cheap compact cameras, on the other hand, are actually superfluous, since smartphones can now take just as good a picture.

It is different with the premium compact cameras, whose prices are in the high three-digit or even four-digit range. Here the image quality is also right. Such a camera is something for you if you want to reduce the size and weight of your equipment to a minimum.

Generally we would not recommend you to buy a cheap compact camera. In most cases you will drive better with a smartphone instead. Meanwhile there are seven different models. See our DSLR camera reviews if you're looking for first-class image quality. If you're interested in finding more out about how they compare with mirrorless cameras, read our guide on the differences between the two.

Test score. A good-quality camera will make a real difference to your photos. But should you buy a compact, DSLR, compact system or bridge camera?

JM Jake Massey. In this article What type of digital camera should you buy? Compact camera features Waterproof camera features Bridge camera features Mirrorless camera features DSLR camera features What makes a good digital camera? How much do you need to spend on a camera? What type of digital camera should you buy?

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