Best Camera of 2022 for Beginners, Enthusiasts, and Pros
- 20MP Micro Four Thirds Live MOS sensor
- TruePic VIII processor
- 121-point Contrast Detection AF system
- EVF with 2.36m-dots
- 3” tiltable touchscreen with 1.03m-dots
- 15fps burst mode
- 4K video at 30p, 25p, and 24p; Full HD video at 60p, 50p, IPB
- Built-in WiFi and Bluetooth
- Approximately 360-shot battery life
- Pros
- Fantastic sensor
- Image stabilization
- Compact size
- Cons
- Good video capabilities
- No microphone port
- No USB-C
- 24.3-megapixel CMOS APS-C sensor
- Bionz X image processor
- Hybrid autofocus system with 179 phase-detect and 25 contrast-detect AF Points
- 1.44-million dot OLED electronic viewfinder
- 3-inch tilting LCD with 921.6K dots
- 11 fps continuous shooting
- 1080p HD video at 24p and 60p
- Built-in NFC and WiFi
- Approximately 300-shot battery life
- Pros
- Excellent autofocus system
- Huge selection of lenses
- Small and lightweight
- Cons
- Old model
- No 4K video
- OLED EVF resolution isn't up to par
- Specs and Features
- 24.2MP APS-C CMOS sensor
- New image processing engine
- 425-point Phase Detection AF system
- EVF with 2.36m-dots
- 3.5” fully-articulated touchscreen with 2.78m-dots
- 8fps burst mode
- 4K video at 30p, 25p, and 24p; Full HD video at 120p, 60p, 50p, 25p, and 24p
- Built-in WiFi and Bluetooth
- Approximately 270-shot battery life
- Pros
- Big and bright display
- Excellent uncropped 4K video
- Digital gimbal stabilizes 1080p footage
- Cons
- No video subject tracking
- Small buffer during continuous shooting
- Small joystick
- 20.1MP 1” Exmor RS BSI CMOS sensor
- Bionz X image processor
- 315-point Phase Detection AF system
- No viewfinder
- 3” fully-articulated touchscreen with 921,600-dots
- 24fps burst mode
- 4K video at 30p, 25p, and 24p; Full HD video at 120p, 100p, 60p, 50p, 30p, and 24p
- Built-in WiFi and Bluetooth
- Approximately 260-shot battery life
- Pros
- Great for vlogging
- Lightweight and portable design
- Attractive price
- Cons
- No viewfinder
- Weak battery life
- Not weather-sealed
- 33-megapixel full frame EXMOR R back-illuminated CMOS sensor
- Bionz XR image processor
- Hybrid autofocus system with 759 phase-detect and 425 contrast-detect AF Points
- 3.68-million dot EVF with 120fps refresh rate
- 3-inch tilting LCD with 1.036 million dots
- 10 fps continuous shooting
- Up to 4K video at 60p with 7K oversampling at 4K 30p
- Built-in WiFi and Bluetooth
- 5-axis in-body image stabilization
- Approximately 580-shot battery life
- Pros
- Amazing 33-megapixel back-illuminated sensor
- Next-level autofocus
- Exceptional EVF
- Cons
- Some menu options are very complex
- 4K video is cropped
- LCD resolution isn't that great
- 20.1MP full frame CMOS sensor
- DIGIC X processor
- 6,072 Dual Pixel CMOS AF II AF points
- 0.5” OLED EVF with 100% coverage and 3.69k-dots
- 3” fully articulating touchscreen
- 12fps burst mode with mechanical shutter, 20fps burst mode with electronic shutter
- 4K video capabilities at 60p, 50p, 30p, 25p and 24p
- Built-in WiFi and built-in Bluetooth
- 5-axis in-body image stabilization
- Approximately 510-shot battery life
- Pros
- Superb autofocus system that's easy to set up
- Great ergonomics
- Full frame in-body image stabilization
- Cons
- Rolling shutter is an issue
- Low sensor resolution compared to similar cameras
- 24.5MP full-frame BSI-CMOS sensor
- Dual Expeed 6 image processor
- 273-point Phase Detection AF system
- EVF with 3.69m-dots
- 3.2” tiltable touchscreen with 2.1m-dots
- 14fps burst mode
- 4K video at 30p, 25p, and 24p; Full HD video at 60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, and 24p
- Built-in WiFi and Bluetooth
- Approximately 410-shot battery life
- Pros
- Terrific video and image quality
- Two SD card slots
- Excellent ergonomics
- Cons
- AF occasionally “hunts”
- Highest quality video compressions require an external recorder
- Intricate menu system
- 24.2MP full-frame CMOS sensor
- Venus Engine image processor
- 225-point Depth from Defocus AF system
- EVF with 2.36m-dots
- 3” fully-articulated touchscreen with 1.84m-dots
- 7fps burst mode
- 4K video at 60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, and 24p; Full HD video at 60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, and 24p
- Built-in WiFi and Bluetooth
- Approximately 440-shot battery life
- Pros
- Great in-body image stabilization
- Unique creative photo modes
- Dual memory card slots
- Cons
- 30-minute video recording limit
- Slow burst shooting
- Awkwardly located AF-On button
- 45.7-megapixel full frame stacked CMOS sensor
- EXPEED 7 image processor
- 493 phase-detect autofocus points
- 3.69M dot OLED EVF with reduced lag and greater brightness
- 2.1M dot rear LCD with multi-directional tilt
- 30 fps JPEG shooting
- 20 fps Raw shooting (for over 1000 compressed Raws)
- 120 fps JPEG shooting at 11MP resolution
- 8K/30p capture and 4K/60p-from-8K, with ProRes 422 HQ option
- 8K/60p in 12-bit N-Raw with 4.1K ProRes RAW option
- Internal 10-bit N-Log and HLG capture
- 5-axis sensor shift in-body image stabilization
- Twin CFexpress Type B card slots
- Approximately 700-770-shot battery life
- Pros
- Excellent high-resolution sensor
- 120fps continuous shooting
- 8K video at 60p
- Cons
- Absolutely enormous body
- Paltry lens options compared to rival Sony and Canon models
- Rear LCD isn't fully articulating
- 24.1-megapixel full frame stacked CMOS sensor
- Digic X image processor
- 4,779-point autofocus system (3,969 points for videos)
- 0.5-inch EVF with 5.76-million dots
- 4.15-million dot 3.2-inch vari-angle touchscreen
- 12fps burst shooting (mechanical shutter), 30fps burst shooting (electronic shutter)
- 6K up to 60p, 4K up to 120p, 1080p up to 60p
- 5-axis in-body image stabilization (up to 8 stops with certain lenses)
- 1 SD/SDHC/SDXC card slot and 1 CFexpress Type B card slot
- Approximately 620-shot battery life
- Pros
- Excellent video capabilities
- Superb autofocus
- No blackout
- Cons
- Low resolution compared to competitors
- No 8K video
- 50MP full-frame stacked CMOS sensor
- Dual Bionz XR image processor
- 759-point Phase Detection AF system
- EVF with 9.44m-dots
- 3” tiltable touchscreen with 1.44m-dots
- 30fps burst mode
- 8K video at 30p, 25p, and 24p;4K video at 120p, 100p, 60p, 50p, 30p, and 24p; Full HD video at 120p, 100p, 60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, and 24p
- Built-in WiFi and Bluetooth
- Approximately 530-shot battery life
- Pros
- Exquisite 6K video
- Best-in-class AF
- Super-fast continuous shooting
- Cons
- Expensive
- EVF resolution drops slightly when using C-AF
- Top burst shooting speeds only work with some lenses
- 45MP full-frame CMOS sensor
- Digic X image processor
- 5,940-point Dual-Pixel II AF system
- EVF with 2.36m-dots
- 3.2” fully-articulated touchscreen with 2.1m-dots
- 20fps burst mode
- 4K video at 30p and 24p;4K video at 120p, 60p, 30p, and 24p
- Built-in WiFi and Bluetooth
- Approximately 320-shot battery life
- Pros
- 8K video and Canon EOS Cinema features
- Outstanding AF performance
- Amazing in-body image stabilization
- Cons
- Occasional overheating during extended high-resolution video recording
- You can turn off the noise reduction in RAW files
- Limited customization
Photo by Cecilie_Arcurs via iStock
What is the best camera of 2022? Well, that's a complicated question...
The best camera for me might not be the best camera for you. It depends on many factors like your skill level, your needs in terms of specs and features, and your budget, to name a few.
So the answer to our question is that it depends!
What we've done, though, is compile a list of cameras for beginners, enthusiasts, and professionals. For each category, we've included multiple cameras, each with detailed information about specs and features, as well as details about the pros and cons of each camera.
In other words, this is a one-stop-shop for you to find the best camera to fit your current situation!
Table of Contents
Best Camera for Beginners
Photo by andresr via iStock
If you're a new photographer and you've outgrown the capabilities of your smartphone or existing DSLR or mirrorless camera, the options listed below give you loads of features without breaking your budget.
What's more, these cameras have enough in the way of specs that you can grow as a photographer in the coming years without necessarily needing to invest in a more robust camera.
Additionally, while this list includes options for the best camera for photography, each beginner camera also offers decent video features. It's the best of both worlds!
Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark IV
Specs and Features
Pros and Cons
If you want a small, highly capable mirrorless camera that is compatible with hundreds of affordable lenses, the OM-D E-M10 Mark IV is right up your alley.
Though it's a beginner camera, you get some nice features headlined by a fantastic 20.3-megapixel micro four thirds sensor. The TruePic VIII processor makes it a speedy camera as well, offering up to 15fps burst shooting speed.
The camera's flip-down touchscreen is a nice touch for capturing low-angle shots while the image stabilization will help you create tack-sharp images, even when you're holding the camera.
There's no microphone or USB-C ports, and the autofocus isn't the best in this class. However, this camera is loaded with other features, has great ergonomics, and with all those available lenses, you can really build an impressive kit that can grow with you as you gain skills. It's certainly an option for the best camera of 2022!
Learn more in our Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark IV review.
Sony A6000
Specs and Features
Pros and Cons
Debuting in 2014, the Sony a6000 isn't exactly a new camera. However, it's still one of the top choices for best camera for beginners because it offers excellent features at a great price point (given its age, you can often find it at steep discounts).
Sure, you don't get 4K video, but if you're more focused on stills, you can reap the benefits of a robust 24.3-megapixel sensor, a fast and accurate autofocus system, and 11fps continuous shooting. Additionally, Sony has a huge selection of images for cameras in this range, so you can outfit your a6000 with any lens you could possibly want.
Fujifilm X-T200
Pros and Cons
The Fujifilm X-T200 is an entry-level mirrorless camera ideal for hybrid photographers who shoot photos and videos. It was announced in January 2020 and replaced the Fujifilm X-T100 as the company’s signature interchangeable lens camera for beginner photographers.
It combines a 24.2-megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor with an upgraded image processor, and the pair delivers fantastic results in both photo and video modes. Moreover, the colors in JPEGs are bright, vibrant, and very pleasing to the eye. JPEGs look great straight out of the camera and are perfect for new photographers.
Also, thanks to a new hybrid autofocus system capturing sharp, in-focus images has never been easier. The AF works during photo and video modes, and the face/eye-detection setting is phenomenal for portraits and videos. Manual autofocus is also available for people interested in learning how to use it.
A few more noteworthy features of the Fujifilm X-T200 include a giant fully-articulating touchscreen display, intuitive menus, and uncropped 4K video. The high-resolution video and articulating screen, in particular, make it an excellent camera for beginner YouTubers and filmmakers.
Learn more in our Fujifilm X-T200 review.
Sony ZV-1
Specs and Features
Pros and Cons
The Sony ZV-1 is an award-winning point-and-shoot camera specifically designed for vloggers, YouTubers, and influencers. It came out in May 2020 and has been flying off the shelves ever since. It has a 1-inch CMOS sensor and a powerful Bionz X image processing engine.
While it does take high-quality still images, video shooting is its bread and butter. It offers 4K video capture at frame rates of 30, 25, and 24 frames per second and has 1080p Full HD options. I recommend 30p for most people, but if you want a more cinematic look to your movies, you should opt for 24p.
More killer video features of the Sony ZV-1 are an in-camera 1080p/120p slow-motion mode, a fully-articulating touchscreen LCD, a strong battery life, and advanced audio controls. The audio controls include a port for an external microphone, a headphone jack, and a built-in directional microphone with a wind protector.
If you like the look and feel of this camera but want an interchangeable lens camera instead, you should consider the Sony ZV-E10. It has a massive lineup of native Sony E Mount lenses and is like a newer version of the Sony Alpha a6100.
Learn more in our Sony ZV-1 review.
Best Enthusiast Camera
Sony a7 IV
Specs and Features
Pros and Cons
If you're an enthusiast photographer, you'll be hard-pressed to find a better all-around camera than the Sony a7 IV.
This Sony camera has a new 33-megapixel sensor that offers excellent imaging quality and good video performance, though 4K video is heavily cropped. As expected, the a7 IV has a killer autofocus system that is among the leaders in the industry.
This camera also has great battery life, which is estimated at 580 shots.
Of course, all these goodies come at a price. This is not a cheap camera, but with features like a Bionz XR processor, 10-bit video support, and a buffer that's hard to fill, you definitely get what you pay for. That's why we've ranked it as the best enthusiast camera of the year!
Canon EOS R6
Specs and Features
Pros and Cons
Another great option for the best enthusiast mirrorless camera is the Canon EOS R6.
One of its biggest draws is that it offers similar capabilities as the Sony a7 IV, but with a smaller price tag. It's also a true hybrid camera, so if you want excellent photo and video performance, it's a solid choice - especially if you're already in the Canon ecosystem.
Aside from the breathtaking autofocus system, the EOS R6 offers top-of-the-line burst shooting, a 5-axis stabilization system, and is compatible with Canon's impressive and ever-growing lineup of RF lenses.
While it is a good performer on the video front, overheating limitations pose a bit of a problem. Rolling shutter is also an issue, and for some, the 20.1-megapixel resolution will be a turn-off. However, despite a few flaws, this is a fantastic option for enthusiast shooters.
Learn more in our Canon EOS R6 review.
Nikon Z6 II
Specs and Features
Pros and Cons
The Nikon Z6 II is a powerful hybrid mirrorless camera launched in October 2020 to much anticipation. It boasts a 24.5-megapixel full-frame CMOS sensor and two Expeed 6 image processors. The dual processors seriously increase the camera's speed and will improve your overall productivity when in the field.
One fantastic feature of this camera is its autofocus. It covers approximately 90% of the camera's sensor, has 273 selectable focus points, and works equally well in video recording as it does during still shooting. Moreover, the subject tracking in C-AF is superb and is ideal for portrait and wildlife photographers who shoot moving subjects.
On top of that, its low-light performance is far superior to the original Nikon Z6. This improvement is due to the camera’s 5-axis image stabilization technology and wide ISO range. Low-light autofocus is also much more accurate and responsive than its predecessor.
More awesome features of the Z6 II are its fast continuous shooting, dual memory card slots, and a vertical video mode. The 14fps max continuous shooting makes it an excellent camera for sports and action photography. And the vertical video mode is useful for creating content for social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok.
Learn more in our Nikon Z6 II review.
Panasonic Lumix S5
Specs and Features
Pros and Cons
The Panasonic Lumix S5 is an advanced yet affordable mirrorless camera that debuted in September 2020. It has the same 24.2-megapixel full-frame CMOS sensor and Venus Engine image processor as its cousin, the Panasonic S1, but is significantly smaller and less expensive.
It is aimed at both photographers and videographers, and new and improved features help to improve the quality of both photos and videos. For starters, it has several unique photo modes, such as the 96MP multi-shot mode. This mode captures multiple frames and compiles them together into one ultra-high-resolution image.
Alternatively, videographers and filmmakers love the video quality of the oversampled 4K/30p footage. Thanks to in-camera image stabilization, it has terrific sharpness and very little camera shake. Also, you can capture 4K/60p clips with this camera. They are ideal for slowing down in post-production and playing back in slow-motion.
Two more great features of the Panasonic Lumix S5 are its weather-sealed body and long-lasting battery. One group, in particular, who loves working with this camera is event photographers. It’s perfect for weddings, concerts, and more!
Learn more in our Panasonic S5 review.
Best Camera for Professional Photography
Nikon Z9
Specs and Features
Pros and Cons
While it took a while for the Nikon Z9 to debut, it has certainly made a splash in terms of its photography and video capabilities.
Since there's no mechanical shutter, you get up to 120fps continuous shooting, which, along with the 1/32,000 top shutter speed makes this the ideal choice for sports and wildlife photographers.
But this isn't just the best professional camera for those reasons - it has an incredible autofocus system that's powered by Deep Learning AF. This means the Z9 has unsurpassed autofocus capabilities, and can recognize everything from human eyes and faces to cars, motorcycles, and animal features.
On top of that, the Z9 offers 8K 60p video. It's also capable of 8K 30p video with a two-hour time limit.
It's also the cheapest of the three flagship professional cameras - the Canon EOS R3 and Sony a1 being the other two.
Canon EOS R3
Specs and Features
Pros and Cons
Another pick for the best professional camera for photography is the Canon EOS R3.
If it looks like a 1D X Mark III, you wouldn't be far off. This is a big camera, but it has the modern functionalities of a high-end mirrorless camera.
While the 24.1-megapixel sensor resolution seems paltry compared to other options at this price point, its stacked design gives you plenty of firepower. In fact, the EOS R3 is capable of 30fps burst shooting in RAW.
Complementing the lightning-quick burst shooting is the autofocus system, which is capable of eye control - just look at the AF point you want and the camera will select it.
Sure, the R3 doesn't have 8K video, but it does offer up to 6K at 60p with internal recording. But, this is not intended to be a video camera - it is a photo-first rig, and it shows. That's why it's on our list for the best camera for photography!
Sony a1
Specs and Features
Pros and Cons
The Sony Alpha 1 was released in March 2021 and is the most powerful Sony digital camera ever. It is their flagship product and boasts a 50-megapixel full-frame CMOS sensor and dual Bionz XR image processing engines. The trio works together seamlessly and delivers jaw-dropping results.
For photographers, the 50MP image sensor can take pictures with a max resolution of 8640 x 5760 pixels. That is absolutely gigantic and means that your photos will never suffer a drop-off in image quality, even when enlarged for magazines, posters, or billboards. Furthermore, the 30 fps continuous shooting makes the a1 a great camera for sports, wildlife, and adventure photography.
As a video camera, the standout feature is the 8K video. And while the file sizes of these clips are huge, the quality is off-the-charts. Luckily, the camera also has two memory card slots so that you can record more footage. AF tracking during video recording is also industry-leading.
Lastly, this camera has many professional connection ports, including inputs for a full-size HDMI, a microphone, headphones, and more!
Learn more in our Sony a1 review.
Canon EOS R5
Specs and Features
Pros and Cons
Another excellent camera for professionals is the Canon EOS R5. It’s Canon's flagship mirrorless camera for consumers and a direct competitor of the Sony a1. Canon launched it in July 2020, and it has a high-resolution 45-megapixel full-frame sensor and a Digic X image processor.
My favorite thing about this camera is its two unique operating systems—one for photography and one for video shooting. Moreover, the EOS R5 has a nifty new toggle switch that allows you to quickly and easily switch between the two. Also, you can customize the buttons and settings of the two operating systems independently.
The camera functions like a Canon EOS cinema camera in video mode. This means you have tons of professional features such as 8K video, 4K/120p slow-motion video, and advanced codecs. RAW, 10-bit, C-log, and HDR PQ are only a few of the compression formats.
One last amazing feature of the EOS R5 is the Dual Pixel autofocus. It covers 100% of the full-frame sensor and has excellent subject tracking technology. It can even locate and track the faces and eyes of animals!
Learn more in our Canon EOS R5 review.