The best Sony camera for any photographer

For hardcore pros

Sony A1

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Built for professionals, this mega-camera can shoot 50-megapixel images at super-fast speeds. He is ready for anything.

Full frame upgrade

Sony A7III

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Sony has been refining the A7 range for nearly a decade now and it's a great place to start.

For advanced amateurs

Sony A6600

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Built for advanced hobbyists and enthusiasts, this is where you'll find Sony's fastest autofocus.

Posted

Jul 27, 2021

Go back to 2010 and Sony's digital camera reputation was much different. The electronics giant had a line of successful compact cameras, but it was just getting started in the mirrorless camera market. Now things look quite different.

sony

has become one of the most dominant manufacturers in the camera industry. Its current lineup includes everything from action cameras and compacts to super pro-level mirrorless cameras with state-of-the-art sensors. All this choice can make it difficult to choose the best Sony camera.

Fortunately, Sony's camera lineup has a logical progression. And as long as you know what you're looking for, there's probably a case or camera in the mix that will meet your needs. Here we are going to go over some of the most important things to consider when buying a Sony digital camera.

Best Sony camera for hardcore pros:

Sony A1 p>

Best Sony camera to go full frame:

Sony A7III

Best Sony compact camera:

Sony RX100 VII

Best Sony Camera for Advanced Enthusiasts:

Sony A6600

Best Sony Camera for Budding Content Creators:

Sony ZV-1

Understanding Sony Digital Camera Product Lines

As with other manufacturers, Sony divides its product line into segments for ease of navigation. Even with the different product lines, however, things can still get a bit confusing. Before knowing which is the best Sony camera for you, it is useful to understand the different lines. Here is a brief overview of the different types of cameras that Sony currently offers.

Sony compact cameras

Compact cameras encompass all cameras with an attached lens that you cannot change. A decade ago, Sony used to announce more than a dozen different models in this category each year before smartphone cameras ate away at the viability of the segment. Now, Sony still has a solid selection of lens-tethered compact cameras, but they tend to lean towards higher-end models that can offer features that smartphone shooters can't. This includes huge zoom lenses in the RX10 range, larger sensors in the RX100 range, and the very ambitious $3300 RX-1R M2.

Sony APS-C mirrorless mirrorless cameras

This is where the mirrorless game began for Sony. These enthusiast-grade cameras have a vaguely rangefinder-like body and offer sensors that are about 75% the size of a full-frame chip. They usually cost a lot less than their full-frame siblings, but offer impressive and comprehensive feature sets. They use the same E-mount lenses as the A-series camera (more on those in a bit), but they also have access to APS-C-specific lenses that are often less expensive than their full-frame counterparts.

Sony Alpha full-frame mirrorless cameras

These full frame interchangeable lens cameras represent the highest level of Sony equipment. They usually offer a more DSLR style body with an eye level viewfinder where a prism would typically sit. The company offers a rangefinder-style full-frame body in the quirky A7C. This range is where you'll find Sony's most advanced and professional cameras. They require full-frame e-mount lenses, including high-end glass like the G Master series, which is the top of the lot.

A note on Sony A-mount DSLRs

If you haven't taken a close look at Sony's lineup lately, you might have missed the fact that Sony has stopped selling its A-mount DSLR cameras. Sony has used a somewhat unique system for its DSLRs digital. They used a translucent mirror that didn't flip up every time you took a picture. As a result, you might get some of the benefits you expect from a mirrorless camera in a true DSLR. They were innovative, excellent and generally very cool. However, they couldn't keep up with their mirrorless counterparts in usability.

Choose your goals

If you're buying a Sony mirrorless camera, you're going to want to buy E-mount lenses. If you see A-mount glass, it's designed for Sony's now-defunct DSLRs. You can use A-mount lenses on mirrorless cameras using an adapter. However, you should only do this if you already have an A-mount lens. Native lenses will work much better and more reliably.

If you want a more detailed explanation of lens compatibility, you can check out this

bulkier item

which explains the different offers.

Get a camera you can grow into

If you plan to really develop your photography skills, you'll need a camera that can grow with you. Likewise, if you're already an advanced shooter, you don't want to buy a body that will hold you back for its lack of features. Browsing through Sony's full-frame range, you'll find a number of cameras to suit specific needs.

the

A7R IV

features a whopping 61-megapixel sensor with 15 stops of dynamic range, ideal for studio, portrait, and commercial photographers. On the other side of the coin, the

A9 II

takes 24.2 megapixel photos, but excels in sports with its advanced AF system and 20 fps capture speed. the

$3500A7S III

has an even lower megapixel count at just 12mp. It excels in very low light and video shooting.

Best Sony Camera Overall:

Sony A1

top dog

This pro premium camera has everything you could want, including super-fast, high-resolution shooting.

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This $6,500 beast is the

a true alpha

in Sony's Alpha range. Its 50-megapixel full-frame sensor can produce full-resolution images at up to 30 fps. That means you can take it into the studio and shoot high-res commercial work, then step out on the sidelines at a football game and blast yourself at super high frame rates to capture fast-paced action. It's not just Sony's best camera around, it's easily

one of the best cameras

you can buy right now.

Start with full-frame

While the A1 can meet the needs of just about every type of photographer, even at the highest level, some of us don't have the need or the budget for this sort of purchase. However, you don't need to jump into the full frame series at the bottom. Sony's original A7 range debuted in 2013 as the first full-frame mirrorless camera to hit the market. It was a straight down body that delivered strong performance across the board. Sony has continued this tradition with each A7 update.

Best Sony camera to go full frame:

Sony A7III

solid body

With its 24.2MP sensor and 15 stops of dynamic range, that's more than enough for most shooters.

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So the A1 is overkill for most photographers,

the A7 III

offers a great mix of features that should appeal to a very wide group of people. Sony has refined the 24.2MP sensor over the years to achieve better image quality and low-light performance. It can take up to 10 fps and offers some of Sony's most advanced autofocus tracking features. This is a great entry point into full frame mirrorless that will keep you going for years to come.

Get all the features in a smaller package

Mirrorless cameras are great because they offer lots of options and features. But, if you never plan to change your lens, why pay for the privilege? Modern compact cameras have really stepped up in performance in recent years to fill the high-end space that smartphones still can't compete in. the

RX10 IV

from Sony offers many of the same features you'll find in a mirrorless camera, including a 20.1-megapixel sensor and super-fast autofocus with 315 focus points covering 65% of the sensor.

Best Sony compact camera:

Sony RX100 VII

Pocket power

This little camera has a surprisingly large sensor and a very high quality lens with plenty of zoom.,

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When it comes to true compact cameras, the

RX100 VII

is still probably the best you can get. Its one-inch sensor pairs with a Zeiss 24-200mm f/2.8-4.5 lens to produce image quality that smartphone cameras can't touch. It also has autofocus tracking and a pop-up eye-level viewfinder if you don't want to hold the camera in front of you to shoot. If you can't afford the newer model, you can go back a few generations and get a still-great little camera for less money.

You don't necessarily need to use full-size p>

While the price of full-frame cameras like Sony's A7 line has come down, APS-C cameras with their smaller sensors have lost momentum. This is where mirrorless began for Sony, and there's still a lot of life there.

Some photographers prefer rangefinder type housings. Offset viewfinders do not protrude from the camera, and housings are generally compact and easy to carry. These smaller sensors also give these cameras access to more compact and cheaper APS-C lenses, which still deliver impressive image quality.

Best Sony Camera for Advanced Enthusiasts:

Sony A6600 p>

Quick shot

Despite its smaller sensor, this APS-C camera offers many of the features you'll find in higher-end models. It also promises the world's fastest autofocus.

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Sony's flagship APS-C camera has a seriously impressive spec sheet. It houses Sony's familiar 24.2-megapixel sensor, but promises the "world's fastest" autofocus system. While your actual mileage may vary depending on the claim, you'll get excellent AF tracking as well as in-body 5-axis image stabilization to combat handshake.

If you can't change the A6600 price tag, Sony also still sells older versions that can still hold onto the best of them.

The A6400

, for example, will set you back less than $900 in today's market and it offers many of the same features as the A6600.

Don't overlook specialty cameras

If you want to shoot hardcore professional video with Sony cameras, then the company has a whole range of them, including the

FX3

and the

FX6V

. These cameras, however, require a hefty budget to support your production. Almost all Sony mirrorless cameras, and even compact ones, will record excellent video. But, there is a camera in Sony's lineup designed specifically for content creators.

Best Sony Camera for Budding Content Creators:

Sony ZV-1

jammin' vlog

A flip-up screen and optional microphone make it a great camera for shooting while walking and talking.

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A

one inch sensor

sits behind a super-fast 24-70mm f/1.8-f/2.8 zoom lens. It's a great zoom range to cover a wide variety of shooting situations. The 3-inch LCD screen swivels fully forward so you can see what your shot looks like even when you're pointing the camera at yourself. You can connect a microphone with a 3.5mm jack, but the built-in mic offers a windscreen to reduce atmospheric noise if you don't want to add extra hardware.

FAQs

Q: Which Sony camera is the best?

Without more context, you can't beat the Sony A1. It is one of the best mirrorless cameras on the market today. Lightning-fast 30fps capture from a 50-megapixel sensor makes this beast the top of the heap.

Q: What is the best Sony DSLR camera?

Unfortunately, Sony recently stopped producing its A-series DSLR cameras. Now the company is fully focused on E-mount mirrorless cameras. You can still use some of those older A-mount lenses on bodies mirrorless if you have an adapter.

Q: What is the best Sony Cyber-Shot camera?

For all-around use, the Sony RX-100 VII takes the crown. Its blend of versatile zoom range and high image quality makes it ideal for almost any situation. If you want to go wild, I might recommend the RX1R II. It has a full-frame sensor and a fixed 35mm f/2 Zeiss lens. Truly high-end stuff in a small package.

A Final Word on Finding the Best Sony Camera

Sony has a ton of fantastic cameras to offer. They cover just about every specific need that different photographers and videographers might ask for. While finding the best Sony camera for you may take some time, you'll end up with a solid foundation on which to build your gear kit over the years.

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