Best Sony camera 2021: full frame, APS-C and compact

Over the past few years, Sony has given the dominant duo of Canon and Nikon a daunting challenge, overtaking Nikon to become number two.

They have largely achieved this success by focusing on the most premium segment of each market - whether it's full-frame, APS-C or compact - and delivering the most high-tech product. possible at that time.

It's a common trait that applies to all Sony cameras on this list, from the breathtaking new Alpha 1 full-frame mirrorless to the excellent A6100 APS-C model, to the action camera. Cyber-shot RX0 II niche. p>

While Sony has largely focused its recent efforts on full-frame mirrorless, they certainly haven't forgotten about their APS-C or compact range, offering a number of excellent options in all three categories. p>

All that choice can be confusing, though, so we've compiled our definitive list of the best Sony cameras money can buy.

We've chosen n six different models from Sony's full-frame range, three from their APS-C sensor range and four from their Cyber-shot compacts - there really should be something here for everyone.

We've independently and expertly reviewed virtually every camera Sony has released over the past 15 years, so rest assured you can trust our recommendations.

What is the best Sony camera in 2021?

Here's our list of the best Sony cameras you can buy in 2021:

Sony A1

Sony A9II

Sony A7S III

Sony A7R IV

Sony A7III

Sony A7C

Sony A6600

Sony A6400

Sony A6100

Sony ZV-1

Sony RX10 IV

Sony RX100 VII

Sony RX0 II

Best Sony Mirrorless Camera 2021

Sony does not manufacture DSLR cameras, unlike their main rivals, Nikon and Canon, but instead chooses to focus on developing a wide range of Alpha-branded full-frame mirrorless cameras.

This has made it the number one full-frame mirror for camera makers in a long time, although they have recently faced stiff competition from Canon's EOS R system and Nikon's Z-series.

Sony makes a full-frame camera for seemingly every niche market: the A7R for landscapes, the A9 for sports, the A7S for video, the A7 for all fields, and the A7C as a super compact option.

And in January 2021, they launched the flagship Alpha1, a stunning camera that takes all the best features from the other models in the Alpha series and combines them into one 8K, 50-megapixel monster.

It's not just full-frame, however - Sony also makes a popular APS-C sensor range of mirrorless models, three of which we've included in this guide.

Sony A1

The One might be the only camera you'll ever need.

Price

$$$$$

Key specs

50 megapixel full-frame sensor

8K video

5-axis IBIS

30fps burst shooting

Bird-eye AF

I like

8K video without overheating

Incredibly fast burst shooting without blackout

High resolution sensor

Do not like

This price-tag! p>

Sony put all of its camera eggs in one basket and released the cutting-edge flagship Alpha 1.

They've pulled out all the stops to produce a camera that really can do it all - landscapes, sports, video, studio - you name it.

It has a back-illuminated 50-megapixel stacked Exmor R sensor that offers an impressive 15 stops of dynamic range.

The super-fast 30fps burst shooting mode should be more than fast enough to capture that defining moment.

Bird Eye-AF is a brand new take on the A1 and the entire Sony Alpha range, a feature that should appeal to wildlife photographers.

However, all of this latest technology comes at a steep price - the Sony Alpha 1 is by far the most expensive model on this list.

Our Verdict:

"...the Alpha 1 can shoot at a blistering 30fps with full AF and AE tracking using its electronic shutter thanks to its pair of new Bionz XR processors - yes, you read that right , 50megapixels of JPEG and Raw images at 30fps!"

Read our expert

Sony A1 Review

Sony A9II

A great camera for sports photography and photojournalism

Price

$$$$

main Features

24-megapixel full-frame sensor

4K/30p video

5- IBIS axis

20fps burst shooting

Weather sealed

Love

20fps burst shooting without blackout

Lots of connectivity options

Do not like

Maybe not enough resolution for some

High price for a specialized camera

Until the arrival of the Alpha 1, the A9 II was the fastest camera in Sony's lineup.

Capable of shooting burst photos at 20 fps with no viewfinder break between each frame and a large buffer, it's a great camera for sports, action and wildlife photographers.

The A9 Mark II offers 43 improvements over the original A9, transforming an already great camera into an essential device.< /p>

It's faster, more refined, more durable and more versatile than the two-year-old A9 camera it succeeds.

Despite the recent introduction of the A1, the A9 II is still a compelling option if your subject never stands still.

Our Verdict:

"...the new Sony A9 II is a compelling option for professional users, with Sony introducing a wide range of relatively minor, but collectively major improvements to a flagship camera that was already a veritable speed demon."

Read our expert

Sony A9 II Review

Sony A7S III

Sony's dedicated 4K camera is a must-have for videographers

Price

$$$$

Key specs

12-megapixel full-frame sensor

4K/120p video recording

9.44 mi EVF llion dot

Articulated LCD screen

10fps burst shooting

Love

State-of-the-art 4K video

Excellent low light performance

Do not like

Not enough resolution for some

More suitable for video than stills

If video is your primary focus and you don't need the Alpha 1's 8K option, the A7S III is Sony's best camera to choose.

With a modest 12-megapixel back-illuminated sensor that was developed specifically for shooting 4K video, the A7S III is a low-light beast.

It's also a very capable action and low-light shooter for still photography if you don't mind the physical limitations of the low-res sensor.

The A7S III has a state-of-the-art electronic viewfinder and vari-angle LCD screen that make it a pleasure to use.

Our Verdict:

"Sony has been refreshingly determined to deliver a product that truly delivers a real-world experience instead of poking fun at the hollow headline numbers. Yes, it's 'only' 4K. Yes, it's 'only' " 12.1 MP. But at these settings, you'll be hard pressed to find a better camera than the Sony Alpha 7S III."

Read our expert

Sony A7S III Review

The highest resolution Alpha camera is a stunning landscape

Price

$$$$

Key specs

61-megapixel full-frame sensor

4K/30p video recording

Pixel Shift Multi Shot Mode

EVF 5.76million dots

10fps burst shooting

I love

Incredible amounts of detail on offer

Fast burst shooting for so many megapixels

Do not like

Lack of touchscreen controls

No 60p video recording

This is the best Sony Alpha camera for landscape and studio photographers who want the highest resolution money can buy.

With a massive 61-megapixel sensor, it's also one of the highest resolution 35mm cameras available today.

The A7R IV is a surprisingly versatile camera, with 10fps burst shooting and an excellent AF system broadening its appeal to encompass sports and wildlife photographers.

It can even record 4K video too, although it's limited to 30fps and 8-bit quality.

Overall, however, the ability to shoot 61 megapixels at 10 fps with real-time AF tracking and the option of 4K video should not be underestimated!

Our Verdict:

"...the new Sony Alpha A7R IV offers a compelling blend of total resolution, surprising speed and improved handling that broadens its appeal beyond portrait, landscape and architectural photographers."

Read our expert p>

Sony A7R IV Review

Sony A7III

Oldest full-frame Alpha camera here, but still a great one

Price p>

$$$

main Features

24-megapixel full-frame sensor

4K/30p video recording

Tilt LCD Monitor

10fps burst shooting

weather resistant

I love

Far from being a "basic" model

Aggre low price

Do not like

To be replaced soon

No 60p or 10-bit video recording

If you're tempted by one of the other high-end Alpha models but can't afford it, the A7 III might be the camera you end up buying.

Most people don't need the speed of the A9, the resolution of the A7R, or the low-light capabilities of the A7S, which is where the A7 III comes in.

Moderately touted by Sony as the "base" model in the range, the A7 III is far from basic - it's the cheapest and best Alpha camera that will more than satisfy most users.

It offers a winning combination of an incredible AF system, 10fps continuous shooting speed, reasonable 24-megapixel resolution, 4K video and excellent low-light performance.

The only downside to the A7 III is that it needs to be replaced soon! (good news for you though)

Our Verdict:

"The Sony A7 III is quite simply the best camera available at its price. It's good enough to tempt some people to stretch their budget further, and even good enough that some can save money by not having to look higher up the range."

Read our expert

Sony A7 III Review

Sony A7C

It's Sony's smallest and lightest full-frame camera

Price

$$$

Key specs

24-megapixel full-frame sensor

4K/30p video recording

180 degree tiltable LCD monitor

10fps burst shooting p>

weather resistant

I love

Surprisingly small for full frame

Great vlogging potential

Do not like

Deprecated processing and specs

No 60p or 10-bit video recording

Although the A7C has a few flaws, we've included it mainly because it's so small, light and compact.

It essentially combines the specs of the full-frame A7 I II with the size of the APS-C A6600 to create an incredibly small full-frame camera.

Sony has somehow squeezed a full-frame sensor, IBIS unit and new flip-up screen into a body that's only slightly bigger and heavier than the A6600.

It also leads to handling issues, however, with too many missing dials and buttons to provide a great user experience.

Sony is also a little overambitious with the A7C's pricing and positioning, putting it above the A7 III.

Our Verdict:

"Sony is trying to reach out to a new, younger audience of vloggers and content creators with the launch of the A7C, many of whom are simply put off by the size and weight of today's full-frame cameras."

Read our expert

Sony A7C Review

Sony A6600

Flagship APS-C camera incorporates full-frame functionality

Price

$$$

main Features

24MP APS-C sensor

4K/30p video recording

180 degree tilting LCD monitor or

11fps burst shooting

weather resistant

I love

Built-in image stabilization

Excellent battery life

Do not like

Expensive for an APS-C sensor camera

No UHS-II card support

The A6600 is the most well-designated model in Sony's extensive range of APS-C sensor cameras, sitting at the top of the line.

It incorporates many of the features of the more expensive full-frame Alphas, including microphone and headphone ports, built-in image stabilization, eye detection in movies, and unlimited video recording.

The Alpha 6600 continues to use the very familiar handling and control layout of all previous A6000 series cameras - there are very few surprises here.

It's a bit more expensive than the A6400, however, without offering enough to justify the price hike, so unless you really need the A6600's IBIS system, a lifetime of longer battery and a headphone jack, the A6400 is a more sensible choice.

Our Verdict:

"The new A6600 flagship begs, borrows and steals features from Sony's extensive APS-C model line and also further from the A7 full-frame cameras..."

Read our expert

Sony A6600 review

Sony A6400

24 megapixels and 4K video for under £1000

Price

$$

Key specs

24MP APS-C sensor

4K/30p video recording

180 degree tilting LCD monitor

11fps burst shooting

weather resistant

I love

Excellent AF system

180 degree LCD screen for vlogging

Do not like

No built-in image stabilization

No UHS-II card support

The A6400 is Sony's sub-£1000 interchangeable camera, and is well enough designed to be a smarter choice than the flagship A6600.

At launch in 2019, it had the best autofocus Sony offered on any of its cameras, including the much more expensive full-frame models. That's no longer true today, but it's still a great system.

It has a 180 degree LCD screen perfect for vlogging as well as 4K/30p video with no limit on the actual recording time.< /p>

It has a few shortcomings - the design is rather outdated and there's no built-in image stabilization system or headphone jack - but overall the A6400 is the APS-C sensor camera you've come to expect. we would choose in the Sony scope.

Our Verdict:

"...the A6400's continuous AF system is simply the best we've ever used, on any camera, whether you're a professional user shooting sports or a more casual user trying to get better photos of your children in erratic motion."

Read our expert

Sony A6400 Review

Sony A6100

The cheapest A6000 series camera is a bargain

Price

$$

main Features

24MP APS-C sensor

4K/30p video recording

180 degree tilting LCD monitor

11fps burst shooting

OLED viewfinder

Love

Great AF system

180 degree LCD screen for vlogging

Do not like

No built-in image stabilization

No UHS-II card support

It may currently be the A6000- the cheapest camera in the series (excluding the older A6000 model itself), but the A6100 is also one of the best.

It benefits from many of the cutting-edge features of the more expensive and sophisticated models, including the top-of-the-line A6600's incredible autofocus system.

With the exact same 24.2MP sensor and processor on board as the A660o, you'd be hard pressed to tell the difference between them in terms of image quality.

The A6100 is also ideal for vlogging thanks to its flip-up screen, 4K/30p quality, no limit on actual recording time, built-in MIC port and that fantastic AF system.

Our Verdict:

"The new Sony A6100 is a much bigger upgrade of the incredibly popular A6000 than the A6400 and A6600 came from the A6300 and A6500 respectively, getting many of the cutting-edge features of the more expensive models. and sophisticated."

Read our expert

Sony A6100 Review< /p>

Best Sony Compact Camera 2021

As cheaper compact cameras have lost popularity over the past few years, Sony has opted for the best compacts possible, whether recording video, photos, action or wildlife.

The creme de la creme Cyber-shot is undoubtedly expensive compared to its main rivals, but they are also consistently best in class.

Whether it's the ZV-1 for vloggers, the RX10 IV for wildlife, the RX100 IV for all-around use, or the RX0 II for action, they all share one thing in common: trying to be the best they can be.

Sony ZV-1

One of the best Sony cameras for vlogging

Price

$$

Key specs

20 megapixel 1 inch BSI sensor channels

24-70mm f/1.8-2.8 zoom lens

Vari-angle LCD touchscreen

4K/30p video recording

24 fps burst shooting

Love

Same core technology as RX100 series

All the ports you need for vlogging

Dislike p>

No EVF or flash

A larger lens would be perfect

It's the best Sony compact camera to buy if you're an avid vlogger, as it was specifically designed for that purpose.

Boasting many of the same basic features as recent A7 series cameras, the ZV-1's compact body packs a lot of technology.

Sony has taken the popular RX100 and added a microphone jack, a hot shoe on the top and a screen that flips to the side, making it better suited for video recording.

All that's really missing is a bit wider lens, USB-C socket to allow for faster charging and headphone use, and possibly a larger battery.

Our Verdict:

"...the price of the Sony ZV-1 should be affordable for people who want it, and given that many of the camera's features are the same as recent A7 series cameras, there's lots of technology crammed into a very portable package."

Read our expert p>

Sony ZV-1 Review

Sony RX10 IV

A fantastic superzoom bridge camera with a large 1-inch sensor

Price

$$$$

Key specs

20megapixels

24-600mm f/2.4-4 lens

24fps burst shooting

4K/30p video recording

Like

The best superzoom camera on the market

Ideally suited for wildlife photography

Do not like

Very expensive for a compact camera

Did we mention the price yet?!

If money is no object, the RX10 IV is the ultimate ultra-zoom camera.

Wildlife photographers will be very pleased with the results of the RX10, all in a relatively small body.

The versatile lens impressed us a lot, as did the image quality from the 1-inch sensor, which is very large for a bridge camera.

You also get a 24fps high-speed shooting mode with full-time AF for up to 10 seconds, which should be more than enough frames to get the perfect shot.

The RX10 IV is no slouch when it comes to video either, offering slow-motion video at up to 1000fps, 4K/30p video without pixel binning, as well as microphone and headphone ports.

Our Verdict:

"The Sony Cyber-shot RX10 IV is one of a kind. No other bridge camera handles and performs so well."

Read our expert

Sony RX10 IV Review

Sony RX100 VII

Sony's best all-around compact camera for stills photographers and avid vloggers

Price

$$$

Key specs

20megapixels

1 inch stacked sensor

24-200mm f/2.8-4.5 lens

20 fps seamless burst shooting

4K/30p video recording

Love

4K video without cropping

20fps burst mode thanks to stacked image sensor

Do not like

Bad battery life

No built-in ND filter

The RX100 is one of the most popular series of compact cameras, and it's easy to see why with the excellent Mark VII version.

With faster, more usable burst shooting, improved autofocus and the long-overdue addition of a mic port, it's the best RX100 camera ever.

Blackout-free 20fps shooting with real-time AF tracking makes it more than fast enough to take on fast-moving subjects - wildlife, sports, or just your kids - while still being small enough to fit in your coat pocket.

There are still a few caveats - no camera is perfect - including poor battery life, no built-in ND filter and a rather limited touchscreen interface, but overall this is probably the best compact camera that you can buy today.

Our Verdict:

"If you want a camera that's fast enough to shoot fast-moving subjects - wildlife, sports, or just your kids - and small enough to fit in a coat pocket, then there's simply no better option. currently on the market than the Sony RX100 VII."< /p>

Read our expert

Sony RX100 VII review

Sony RX0 II

A high-end action camera - what else did you expect from Sony?!

Price

$$$

Key specs

1 inch 15 megapixel sensor

4K video

24mm f/4 lens

1.5 inch tilting LCD screen

Electronic stabilization in the body

I love

Versatile tilting screen

Excellent image quality for an action camera

Do not like

Electronic stabilization is disappointing

Expensive for an action camera

The last entry in our guide to the best Sony cameras is an unusual one: a high-end action model that costs as much as some interchangeable lens cameras.

The RX0 II is certainly a niche product, and expensive to boot, but it's so much more than just an action camera, being just as suitable for vlogging and life as a rugged B-roll camera.

Its large 1-inch sensor and sharp 24mm f/4 lens ensure that the RX0 II delivers the best image quality of any action camera, although the new electronic stabilization system is less effective.

If you need one of the best action cameras on the market and are willing to pay for it, then this camera definitely fits the bill.

Our Verdict:

"...if the Sony RX0 II meets your specific needs, you'd be hard-pressed to find a better pocket camera with this level of image quality."

Read our expert

Sony RX0 II Review

Frequently Asked Questions< /p>

Where are Sony cameras made?

Most Sony cameras and lenses are designed in Japan and manufactured in Chunburi, Thailand, about a 90-minute drive from central Bangkok. Some of its cheaper cameras and lenses are made in China to cut costs.

Are Sony cameras good for photography?

Many professional photographers now trust Sony, which was not the case. true 10 years ago, so they've come a long way in recent years, really focusing on the needs of the professional user. The good news is that the cheaper cameras have also been released.

Is Sony good for video?

Are you kidding?! Sony is leading the way in video, from the 4K specialist A7S III, to the new FX-3, to the headline-grabbing 8K Alpha 1. Videographers have been using Alpha cameras for a long time, and it's easy to see why.

Which Sony camera is the best?

If you're a professional who shoots for a living, the new Alpha1 camera really does it all: landscapes, action, studio, video and travel. p>

If you are more of a specialist, opt for the A7R IV for landscapes, the A9 for sports, the A7S III for video or the A7C for travel.

If you're an amateur for whom photography is a hobby and you don't want to spend too much money, then the APS-C range is hard to beat, especially the Sony A6400, which strikes the right balance between features and cost.

The RX100 is a great series of travel cameras that are easy to carry around all day and don't attract unwanted attention.

Can I use a Sony camera as a webcam?

Yes, seven of Sony's latest cameras can now be used as webcams via Imaging Edge Webc am software. These are the Alpha 1, A7C, A7R IV, A9 II, A7S III, FX-3 and the ZV-1.

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