10 Best Cameras for Photography in 2024 – Reviews & Top Picks

Last Updated on Jan 03 2024

If you’re trying to take top-notch photographs, it all starts with getting the right camera. But there are hundreds of cameras out there, and they all promise to take great photos. They don’t all deliver, though, so we developed this guide to highlight 10 of the best options on the market. With any of these cameras, you can take outstanding photographs in a wide array of situations.

There are in-depth reviews for each one, along with a comprehensive buyer’s guide to walk you through everything that you need to know.

A Quick Comparison of Our Winners (2024)

The 10 Best Cameras for Photography

1. Fuji Films X-T30 — Best Overall

If you’re looking for the best overall camera for photography, look no further than the Fuji Films X-T30. It’s a mirrorless DSLR camera that can record fast-moving objects, but it’s also dynamic enough to take great photographs in a wide array of lighting environments.

Furthermore, while it takes high-quality photos in almost any situation, if you ever need to record, it can do that in 4K! The entire camera is lightweight and easy to use, making it an outstanding choice for amateurs and professionals alike.

We wish that it was a full-frame camera, but that would drive up the price. Furthermore, it doesn’t come with a lens, but that means you can go out and get exactly what you want.

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2. Ricoh Digital Camera GR III — Best Value

If you’re on a tight budget but want a top-notch camera, the Ricoh Digital Camera GR III is the way to go. Not only is it available at a great price, but it also comes with a lens, so that’s one less thing that you’ll need to purchase.

However, it is hard to swap out the lens, so if it’s not what you want, this camera might not be for you. Still, it’s an APS-C mirrorless camera, which allows for a ton of versatility in different environments.

Additionally, it’s a compact camera with shake-reduction technology that enables you to take great photos even if you’re not the best photographer. With all these outstanding features, it’s not hard to see how this is the best camera for photography for the money.

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3. Pentax K-3 Mark III Camera — Premium Choice

If you’re not worried about how much you’re going to spend, you’ll want to consider the Pentax K-3 Mark III Camera. While it’s expensive, the quality of photos that you’ll get makes it well worth the cost.

It can take 11 photos per second, ensuring that you get the perfect shot every time. Furthermore, it has 4K recording capabilities, and it uses a shake-reduction feature to help you get a crisp photo.

Whether you’re in a low-light situation or trying to capture a moving object, this camera can do it with ease. However, it isn’t a full-frame camera, it is expensive, and it doesn’t come with a lens.

Still, it’s a great option if you can afford the upfront cost of everything.

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4. Pentax KP Body Compact

The Pentax KP Body Compact is an APS-C mirrorless DSLR camera that takes high-quality photos in a ton of different situations.

It’s an extremely versatile option that’s easy to use, and with the shake-reduction system, you get fewer blurry photos and more pristine images. Since it’s a DSLR camera, it’s easy to upgrade to different lenses for different situations, but keep in mind that this camera doesn’t come with a lens out of the box.

It’s also not a full-frame camera, but it is an outstanding choice that you’ll want to consider at this price point.

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5. Pentax K-1 Mark II Camera

The Pentax K-1 Mark II is a full-frame camera, which alone makes it worth considering. You get a wide field of view with this camera, and with 36.4 MP resolution, you also get top-notch photos that you can do whatever you want with.

It also has a lightning-fast aperture speed for capturing moving objects and a high ISO that enables you to capture images in both low-light and high-light situations. It’s also weather resistant, so if you do get caught out in a storm, you don’t have to worry about the rain ruining your camera.

However, it is a bit expensive and doesn’t come with a lens. That means you’ll need to make at least one more high-priced purchase before you can use the camera.

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6. Sony Alpha 7R III Mirrorless Camera

While the Sony Alpha 7R III Mirrorless Camera is expensive, there’s no denying that it comes with tons of features that help offset the cost. First is the 42.4 MP photo resolution, which is the highest photo resolution of any camera on this list.

Furthermore, it uses both a mirrorless and full-frame design, which means you get the best of the best technology on the market today. You get a wide field of view, super-fast autofocus, and the ability to take great pictures in a ton of different lighting environments.

Finally, it can also record in 4K, although it isn’t up to dedicated video camera standards. This is an expensive option and doesn’t come with any lens, but it’s a professional-quality camera that’s well worth the cost.

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7. Canon EOS R6 Full-Frame Mirrorless Camera

Canon is a major name in the photography industry, and its ESO R6 Full-Frame Mirrorless Camera is a good indication of why. It’s expensive, but it comes with everything that you could possibly want in a camera and more.

It’s both mirrorless and full frame, which enables you to get professional-quality photographs in just about any environment. Not only can it take photos in low-light areas, but it also does a great job of capturing moving objects without any blurring.

We wish the photo resolution was a little higher than 20 MP, considering the high price tag. It also doesn’t come with a camera lens, so you’ll need to add that to the purchase price when you’re evaluating different options.

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8. Canon EOS Rebel T7

If you’re looking for a more affordably priced Canon DSLR camera, consider the EOS Rebel T7. It’s an APS-C mirrorless camera that takes high-quality photos with a 24.1 MP resolution. Furthermore, it’s easy to upgrade the lens to get whatever you want, but it does come right of the box with a lens that you can use.

It’s lightweight and easy to use, and it even comes with a built-in Wi-Fi capability that makes it easy to share photos to different devices.

However, it’s not a full-frame camera, and compared to other, more expensive options, the quality of the photos simply isn’t there. It’s good enough for amateur photographers, but if you’re looking for a professional-quality product, this isn’t it.

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9. Panasonic LUMIX FZ80

The Panasonic LUMIX FZ80’s low price tag definitely shows up in the features that it doesn’t offer. For starters, it has low-resolution quality. 18.1 is still high enough to get great photos, but it’s not quite as sharp as some other cameras.

Furthermore, while it does come with a lens, it’s not one that you can replace. So, if you ever want other capabilities, you’ll need to get a whole new camera.

But it does have an optical zoom of up to 60x, and that enables you to capture images of faraway objects with ease. In fact, it’s completely possible to get a view of Jupiter and its moons with just this camera!

It also comes with 4K recording capabilities, and it’s both lightweight and easy to use. If you’re an amateur photographer, this camera might be exactly what you want, and you won’t need to blow your budget to get it.

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10. Sony a7 III

The Sony a7 III is a professional-quality camera in every way, and that starts with its mirrorless and full-frame design. This enables you to get an outstanding field of view, the ability to photograph fast-moving objects, and a dynamic shooting range in both high-light and low-light situations. It does record in 4K, but it’s not a professional-quality feature.

It’s lightweight and easy to use for both professionals and amateurs. It is expensive and doesn’t come with a lens, though. But if you can afford it, you’ll love everything that this camera offers.

Buyer’s Guide: Buying the Best Cameras for Photography

With so many features in cameras, it can be overwhelming trying to figure out what everything is and what you need. That’s why we developed this comprehensive buyer’s guide to walk you through everything that you need to know before purchasing your camera.

DSLR and Mirrorless Cameras

Every camera option but one on this list is a DSLR, and there are plenty of mirrorless camera options too. DSLR cameras enable you to swap out the lens, which gives you the ability to adapt to different situations and get more from your camera.

If the camera is both DSLR and mirrorless, it has a fast shutter speed, which helps you capture moving objects. Furthermore, mirrorless cameras tend to be small, making it easier to have recording capabilities. They do cost more than DSLRs, but they have superior image stabilization properties, meaning you get fewer blurry images and better results!

Full Frame vs. Crop Sensor Cameras

Not every camera on this list is a full-frame camera, but it’s a huge perk. Full-frame cameras provide a much larger field of view than traditional crop sensor cameras.

They also do a better job of collecting light in low-light situations, and they control bright environments better. If you’re looking to capture a shallow depth of field, full-frame cameras excel there too.

The main tradeoff is the price. Full-frame cameras cost more than crop sensor cameras, so they’re out of many amateur photographers’ price range.

How Many Pixels Do You Need?

One of the first things that many people look at when picking a camera is the resolution. But while the total number of pixels matters, it’s not quite as important as some people think. That number only comes into play when you’re trying to make the image larger. Even with an 18-MP camera, the lowest resolution on this list, you can expand an image to a 16” x 24” without any drop-off in quality. Most photographers will be more than happy with a 40” x 60” print with this camera.

The top resolution camera on this list has a 42-MP resolution and that delivers near-perfect results all the way to 30” x 45”. You can explode them well past 50” x 75” without seeing much of a drop-off in quality.

So, if you need the extra resolution, it all comes down to how large you want the photos!

A Note on 4K Recording

Many of the cameras on our list have 4K recording, and it’s certainly a nifty feature. However, if you’re comparing the frame rate to dedicated video cameras at a similar price point, these cameras can’t keep up.

This recording capability can make for fun moments, but don’t expect professional quality from any of the cameras on this list.

See also:

• What is ISO on a Camera
• How to Clean a Camera Sensor Safely
• 7 Types of Video Cameras
• 10 Types of Digital Cameras

Conclusion

If you’re still debating about what camera is right for you after reading through the reviews and the buyer’s guide, we highly recommend going with the Fujifilm XT30. It’s the top choice for a reason, and it can deliver professional-quality results on an amateur-friendly budget.

However, if you are on a tight budget, the Ricoh Digital Camera GR III is an outstanding choice too, and it comes with the lens that you need right out of the box. Don’t put off your photography goals any longer; get a camera that can get you there.

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Featured Image Credit: Prasanna Kumar, Unsplash