The best cameras for photography in 2023

June 16, 2023

We pick the best camera for photography in every category, from portraits to landscapes, wildlife, travel, sports, macro and a lot more…

There’s so much to think about when picking the right camera for photography, but probably the first thing to narrow down is this: what exactly do you want to shoot? It’s easy to get overwhelmed by all the options yesterday, but if you know that you want to capture images of wildlife, or landscapes, or perhaps try your hand at street photography or portrait photography, you can start to hone in on which features you need, and find the right camera for you. Of course, it’s okay if you want to do a bit of everything. There’s a camera for that too.

We’ve drawn on our extensive experience reviewing cameras to narrow things down to the best options you can buy right now. We’ve included a mixture of new cameras and older models that can still be picked up for a great price, and we’ve categorised our picks to make it easier to find the right camera for you. We’ve included a host of budget-friendly options too, so don’t worry – this isn’t just a list of the most expensive cameras you’ve ever seen.

Before we start, we’ve put together a quick guide on how to choose the best cameras for photography, i.e. what features to look for. So if you’re new to all this, start there – though you may also want to look at our dedicated guides to the best cameras for beginners and the best cameras under $500/£500.

When you’re picking the best camera for photography, there are a number of key specifications and features worth honing in on. We would advise the main things to keep in mind when making your selection are as follows:

There are three main types of digital cameras – mirrorless, DSLRs and compacts. Mirrorless and DSLR models are interchangeable-lens cameras, while compacts have a fixed lens that can’t be changed. As you might expect, interchangeable-lens cameras give you much more versatility, but are larger and generally more expensive. Compacts, meanwhile, provide portable convenience, but are more restrictive.

There’s also the matter of choosing between a mirrorless camera and a DSLR. Mirrorless models are generally more technologically advanced, especially in terms of autofocus, however many photographers still have affection for the rugged handling of a DSLR. Out of the two, we’ve stuck to just mirrorless models in this guide, as we’re counting off the best of the best, and right now that’s where it is. But check out our guide to DSLR vs mirrorless if you want to learn more about the differences, and we also have a dedicated guide to the best DSLRs.

There’s a variety of sensor sizes on the market, from 1-inch type up to medium format. As a general rule, image quality is better from larger sensors, but you do have the trade-off of a larger and bulkier system to carry around, not to mention a more expensive one. Therefore, your consideration might be whether you want to lighten the load, or whether you want the best possible image quality.

A compromise on both sides of the debate lands you with a middle-sized sensor (APS-C or Full-Frame), while ultimate portability will leave you with the smallest (one-inch) and ultimate image quality leads to medium format (or even larger). Resolution is also a key concern – if you’re intending to make big prints, or photograph something with lots of fine detail, extra pixels make more sense. If you’re keen to keep file sizes down, shoot lots of action or in low light, a lower pixel count might be a better option.

Some of the current mirrorless flagship models have incredibly impressive autofocus systems. But they often come at a high price, being targeted mainly at working professionals who need high-speed and accuracy at all times. Most of us arguably don’t need that kind of power, and you especially don’t if you’re photographing mainly still/static subjects such as landscapes, macro or even portraits. Have a think about how advanced an autofocus system you need (and are willing to pay for), and this can be particularly important if you’re passion is sports, action or wildlife such as birds.

This is another specification that matters hugely to some people, and less so for others. If you’re happy to cart around a tripod with you, or you’re only ever shooting at fast shutter speeds in bright daylight, you’ll be less concerned. However, if you’re into night photography, low-light photography, or somebody who wants to shoot slowly handheld, or somebody who uses long lenses (to name but a few), then you’ll want to pay closer attention to IS specs, and look out for In-Body Image Stabilisation (IBIS).

Again, this is something that for lots of types of photographers, it’s a bit of a redundant specification. If you’re shooting static objects, being able to shoot at 20fps is an expensive specification that might barely – or never – get used. Of course, if you’re shooting wildlife, action, sports and similar high-speed action, you might want a fast frame rate and use high-speed continuous shooting every day.

This is an important one, but it’s not a straightforward one to quantify. Knowing how a camera feels and operates in your hand is ideal – if not necessarily always possible in advance in a world of online shopping. Pay careful attention to reviews which tell you how easy (or otherwise) the camera is to operate, hold and navigate around if you’re not able to handle it yourself before purchase. The weight of the camera and lens(es) can play an important factor in how easy it is to take with you, and how much you’ll enjoy using the camera.

All of the cameras on our list here are mirrorless, and therefore feature electronic viewfinders (EVF). Pay close attention to the resolution of electronic viewfinders – higher is better, but very high-resolution viewfinders tend to only be found on the most expensive cameras. If you’re happier with optical viewfinders, then a DSLR might well be the camera for you – but you lose a lot of the benefits of mirrorless.

As for the screen, things to look out for are resolution, size, and whether it articulates or tilts. Having some movement is useful for composing from awkward angles, with articulating being the most flexible, but tilting perhaps being the quickest for reacting to certain scenarios, such as street shooting.

Having more than one card slot is almost an essential for professional photographers who simply can’t afford to run the risk of not having a backup (especially for special occasions, such as weddings). For most other photographers, it’s a nice bonus to have, but perhaps not essential. That said, if you’re travelling and not able to easily back up your cards, they can also prove useful.

If you’re looking at interchangeable lens cameras, it’s wise to pay attention to the accompanying lens ranges that go with them. Newer camera systems might have limited lenses, or they might not yet have specific or niche optics that you’re particularly keen on. Take a look at typical prices too, as again, newer systems might be pricier compared to longer, more-established systems.

Now that you know what you’re looking for, let’s get started with the best cameras for photography…

The Nikon Z9 in hand. Photo credit: Andy Westlake

At a glance:

The Nikon Z9 (or Z 9, as Nikon sill insist on styling it) is one of the best cameras ever made. It’s not cheap, not at all, but it is quite possibly the best camera you can buy for wildlife photography right now. Its burst-shooting credentials are second to none – it shoots at a rapid 30fps using the full resolution of 45.7MP sensor, but drop that down to 11MP, and the Z9 can rev up to an incredible 120fps. That is, frankly, bonkers.

Of course, this wouldn’t matter if the Z9 didn’t have everything else it needed to nail the shot, but with AI-powered subject-detect autofocus, it’s essentially cheat mode for wildlife photography. The tracking on the AF is also eerily good, able to identify the most important subject in any frame and follow it around no matter where it moves. As we said in our review, this camera is essentially the death knell for the pro DSLR, as it does everything the previous flagship Nikon D6 did, but does it significantly better. Image quality is also absolutely gorgeous in both JPEG and Raw. We found that you can push the ISO all the way up to 25,600 and still get perfectly useable images.

The Nikon Z9 is not the only camera well-suited to nature, however. Be sure to check our guide to the best cameras for wildlife photography for more excellent suggestions. If you want a similar camera to the Z9 without the sky-high price tag, try the Nikon Z5, or the APS-C Nikon Z50.

Pros:

Cons:

Read our full Nikon Z9 review.

Canon EOS R5. Photo credit: Michael Topham

At a glance:

When shooting portraits, it’s a good idea to focus on resolution. Your subjects won’t be running away from you (well, you’d hope not), so you don’t need hyper-accurate autofocus or fast burst. But they may want high-quality prints of the shots you take, which is why having plenty of pixels is a sound move. The Canon EOS R5 is a high-resolution full-frame camera that is ideal for capturing perfect people pictures.

In portrait, getting the eyes super-sharp is crucial. The EOS R5 is equipped with Face- and Eye-Detection autofocus that can take care of this with pinpoint accuracy. In our full review of the camera, we found that it worked incredibly reliably, allowing us to make the most of the camera’s gorgeous, high-resolution sensor.

The EOS R5 isn’t a perfect camera; as we said in our review, the battery life could be better, to the point where you may want to think about picking up the BG-R10 battery grip if you plan on extended shoots. Though, of course, this will add £379/$349 to an already considerable price tag. For a cheaper option in the same family, try the EOS R6 (featured below), or the APS-C EOS R7.

Check what lenses are available for the Canon EOS R5 in our guide to the best Canon RF mount lenses.

Pros:

Cons:

Read our full Canon EOS R5 review.

The EOS R10 handles very nicely, given its small size. Photo credit: Andy Westlake.

At a glance:

Canon is currently filling out the beginner-to-intermediate end of its EOS R mirrorless line like gangbusters – certainly more so than any other manufacturer. For a great camera and lens combination that can be had for less than £1,000 / $1,000, the mid-range Canon EOS R10 is an excellent choice, as it can be bought with an 18-45mm kit lens and still come in under budget.

While buying older cameras second-hand is often regarded as the best way to get top-end features for a low price, the EOS R10 is loaded with some pretty impressive stuff for a camera at this price point. Probably the most significant difference between the EOS R10 and a similarly priced second-hand camera will be subject-detection autofocus, which has filtered down from Canon’s pro cameras and is genuinely a game-changer. The little EOS R10 can recognise and lock onto subjects like humans, animals, and vehicles, and track them around the frame with incredible accuracy. A second-hand Sony A6000 from 2014 may be cheaper, but it won’t do that.

The EOS R10 is an APS-C camera, and the selection of APS-C lenses in the RF-mount range is still disappointingly small, meaning you may be stuck with unbalanced full-frame lenses. For an alternative though, consider shelling out for an EF-EOS R adapter. Once you’ve paid that initial cost (save money by getting one second-hand), you have access to an enormous range of ultra-cheap EF-mount DSLR lenses, which will work on your EOS R10 with full functionality.

Pros:

Cons:

Read our full Canon EOS R10 review.

Canon EOS R3 in hand with lens, as tested by our Technical Editor. Photo credit: Andy Westlake

At a glance:

For sports and action photography, being able to react to super-fast moving subjects is paramount – which the Canon EOS R3 is extremely well-suited to.

You can shoot at 30fps in full-resolution raw and with full autofocus, and you can also freeze moments by shooting at a record-busting 1/64,000sec, too. We found autofocusing to be superb, with 4779 points working to ensure you never miss a moment. On top of that, with eye-control AF you can choose a focus point simply by looking at the subject through the viewfinder – you don’t get much quicker than that. Our tests revealed subject tracking for moving subjects is almost infallible, too.

Its relatively low-resolution 24MP sensor may sound disappointing when compared to some of the high resolution offerings here, but it helps to keep file sizes down and is more than enough for printing at fairly large sizes.

Pros:

Cons:

Read our full Canon EOS R3 review.

The Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark IV front on. Photo credit: Andy Westlake

At a glance:

This tidy, tiny Micro Four Thirds camera is a fantastic beginner’s way in to mirrorless cameras, and comes at a bargain price, too. The Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark IV is absolutely bursting with cool photography features, including a touchscreen interface, stylish Art Filters, and sophisticated Live Composite for long exposures. When we reviewed the camera, we almost ran out of time to try out all its features, there are so many to try out and play with.

Using the Micro Four Thirds system means you’re working with a smaller sensor than APS-C cameras like the Fujifilm X-S10. However, it does give you access to a huge catalogue of Micro Four Thirds lenses, those made by both Olympus and Panasonic (and others), and also the 2x crop factor gives you a good deal of extra reach, effectively transforming a 50mm lens into a 100mm one.

Stylish and likeable, the Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark IV is an ideal mirrorless camera for beginner photographers on a budget. You’ll also find 4K video recording, and In-Body Image Stabilisation, giving your video footage a smooth look.

Pros:

Cons:

Read our Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark IV review.

Sony Alpha A7R IV with lens. Photo credit: Michael Topham

At a glance:

The winner of our product of the year in 2020, this superb high-resolution camera is still a fantastic choice for landscape reason. We loved it when we first reviewed it, and it continues to impress today.

A key reason for this is its very high-resolution 61 megapixel sensor – the highest you’ll find on our list, and the highest you’ll find outside of medium format cameras. That super high resolution sensor is ideal for landscapes, and, being packed into the relatively small body of the Sony A7 series means you can carry it around to reach all sorts of photogenic locations without troubling your back too much.

Although you may want to use a tripod for landscapes, if you want to keep it light, you’ll also benefit from 5-axis image stabilisation. If you do pack that tripod, making use of Pixel-Shift Multi Shooting to create an even higher resolution composite image is likely to be tempting to serious landscape photographers.

If you like to photograph other subjects, as well as landscapes, the A7R IV isn’t well suited to everything. While it does well at other static subjects – such as portraits and macro – with 10fps shooting, action and wildlife shooters would do better to look elsewhere.

There are other cameras which we’d recommend for this genre – make sure to take a look at our best camera for landscape photography guide to find out more.

Updated by the Sony Alpha A7R V, this model is still well worth looking at, particularly if you want to save money.

Pros:

Cons:

Read our full Sony A7R IV review.

The Lumix G100 is small and light for one-handed use. Photo credit: Richard Sibley

At a glance:

All right, we are cheating a little here. While you do need to pay a little more than £500 or $500 to get hold of a new Lumix G100, it does come as part of a lens bundle with Panasonic’s 12-32mm kit lens. So, proportionally, you are paying less than £500 or $500 for the camera itself, and fortunately, it’s an excellent camera in its own right.

While the Panasonic Lumix G100 is billed as a vlogging camera with 4K video recording, it has loads of great photography features too. The Four Thirds sensor represents a real step up in quality from a smartphone, and this is one of the smallest mirrorless cameras that manages to pack in a centrally placed EVF, a pop-up flash and a hotshoe for attaching accessories.

As we said in our review, the Four Thirds sensor offers a surprising amount of dynamic range and flexibility. Normally, the story goes that smaller sensors are restricted in this regard; however we found in testing that we were able to recover a good amount of detail from highlights and shadows in raw files shot with the Lumix G100

You also gain access to a wide range of Micro Four Thirds lenses with this camera, making it a great choice for those looking for compact or budget lenses.

Pros:

Cons:

Read our full Panasonic Lumix G100 review.

OM System ’Olympus’ OM-1 IP53 weather-sealing coming in handy. Photo credit: Joshua Waller

At a glance:

When you’re looking for a camera that is well-equipped for astrophotography, there are a few specifications that come in particularly handy.

The OM System OM-1 (still branded with Olympus on the camera body) ticks a lot of boxes. We liked the fact that it was weatherproof, meaning you can use it outside in less than perfect weather and still trust it to deliver the goods.

One of the big reasons for it making it on to our list however is the dedicated Starry Sky AF mode, which is specifically designed for focusing on distant stars. There’s also a Night Vision option which is designed to work with it. We found that the Starry Sky AF works extremely well, and is reliable for both speed and accuracy.

Other than that, you also have excellent image stabilisation – perfect for those long exposures, and the fact that the camera (and accompanying lenses) is smaller and lighter than many other models, it’s the ideal model for toting around in the dark. It’s well suited to a variety of other photography as well, including wildlife, travel, sports and more thanks to high-speed shooting, and advanced subject detection AF.

If you’re interested in this genre of photography, make sure to check out our guide to the best cameras for astrophotography for more suggestions.

Pros:

Cons:

Read our full OM System OM-1 Review

Nikon Z7 II with 24-70mm f/2.8 lens. Photo credit: Michael Topham

At a glance:

For macro and close-up work, it’s a good idea to look for something with a high resolution sensor to make sure you capture all that exquisite fine detail.

The Nikon Z7 II is one of the highest resolution sensors on the market, with a 45.7MP sensor, so it’s just the ticket for that job. There’s a couple of dedicated Z-mount macro lenses, while if you’ve already got a Nikon DSLR macro lens, you can use it with the Z7 II via an optional adapter.

Having a tilting screen is useful for shooting from low angles, or for shooting with a remote release / wirelessly so as not to disturb delicate subjects. With that in mind, 5-stop in-body stabilisation (IBIS) helps when shooting close-up subjects handheld too.

We liked the handling of the Z7 II, with the excellent grip proving to be a particular winner. We also thought it was very intuitive to use, making it ideal for making quick changes.

Pros:

Cons:

Read our full Nikon Z7 II review.

The beautiful, retro-styled Fujifilm X100V. Photo credit: Michael Topham

At a glance:

When it comes to street photography, you want your camera to be discreet, light and capable of grabbing the moment as it unfolds in front of you. It helps if it’s also attractive to look at, too.

The Fujifilm X100V is the perfect street photography camera as it ticks all those boxes, and is ideal for a day pounding the pavements without drawing too much attention to yourself.

Pictures produced by the camera are beautiful, and the tilting screen helps to capture “from the hip” moments that previous iterations of the camera didn’t offer – something which we found to be a massive benefit in our review.

You get all of that in a design which is small and light, yet still packs a pretty large APS-C sized sensor. The trade off is a fixed lens – which although a good length for street photography, gives you more limitations than some other cameras.

If you’re wondering, these are the best cameras for street photography, if the Fujifilm X100V doesn’t take your fancy.

You might struggle to find the Fujifilm X100V, as it’s become increasingly popular recently, so here as some Fujifilm X100V alternatives.

Pros:

Cons:

Read our full Fujifilm X100V review.

The Canon EOS R6 Mark II is an excellent mirrorless all-rounder. Photo credit: Andy Westlake

At a glance:

A good wedding camera needs to do a bit of everything, and do it well enough to dazzle some of the most demanding clients out there. Something that perfectly fits that bill is the Canon EOS R6 II, a full-frame all-rounder that’s more affordable than headline-grabbers like the EOS R5 or EOS R3. The EOS R6 Mark II gets a minor resolution bump from the original EOS R6 (24.2MP rather than the slightly stingy 20MP), and also benefits from subject-detection autofocus.

Capable of shooting at 12fps with the mechanical shutter or up to 40fps with the electronic, in full-resolution RAW, the EOS R6 Mark II is a tough camera to miss with. The deep buffer can go to 190 JPEG or 140 CRAW files in a single burst, too. Image stabilisation is rated at up to 8 stops of effective compensation, which is handy when light starts to get low. If you also shoot video at weddings, the EOS R6 Mark II has you covered, with 4K 60p movies available.

The excellent viewfinder and screen make the EOS R6 Mark II a pleasure to use. Just be aware that this all this comes at a higher cost than the EOS R6 did (and if you have the EOS R6, it’s probably not quit enough to justify a upgrade).

If you’d like to know more about shooting weddings, take a look at our guide to the best kit for wedding photography.

Pros:

Cons:

The Panasonic Lumix TZ200D is portable and agile, but boasts a hefty zoom range. Photo credit: Andy Westlake

At a glance:

The Panasonic range of TZ travel compacts (known as ‘ZS’ in North America) includes some of the most consistently popular travel cameras out there. The combination of a 1-inch sensor and a generous zoom range is ideal for travel, giving you dynamic range and optical flexibility that are both superior to what’s offered by any smartphone you’d care to name.

The Panasonic Lumix TZ200D is our pick for casual travel photographers who want something that’s both portable and powerful (it’s the exact same camera as the Lumix TZ200, just with a higher-resolution LCD screen). Its Leica-made lens covers an expansive zoom range from 24mm equivalent all the way to 360mm equivalent. There aren’t many things you’ll photograph on your travels that won’t fit into that bracket! The five-axis optical stabilisation also helps the tele end of that lens be actually useable without being compromised too much by camera shake.

Producing punchy and vibrant images, the TZ200D is a great choice for just about any travel photographer. One thing to be aware of though is that its maximum aperture tops out at f/3.3, so you may find it struggles when the light gets low.

If you’re not quite tempted by the TZ200D, don’t forget to have a look at our guide to the best travel cameras for a range of other recommendations.

Pros:

Cons:

Check out our Sony RX100 VI vs Panasonic Lumix TZ200 head to head comparison.

Sony Alpha A7 IV in use, mid-testing. Photo credit: Andy Westlake

At a glance:

If you’re an enthusiast photographer who likes to photograph all kinds of different subjects, you’ll be after an all-round camera that delivers well on all fronts.

That’s exactly what the Sony A7 IV is designed to do. You get a 33 megapixel sensor that we found produces excellent results, including in low light. It’s neither super high in resolution nor on the low side, so it’s good for landscapes, macro photography, portraits, wildlife and more.

It can shoot at 10fps, and while this isn’t super-fast, it’s more than enough for somebody who shoots the occasional moving subject. We were big fans of the high-resolution viewfinder, while having a fully articulating screen is also very handy.

Pros:

Cons:

Read our full Sony A7 IV review.

Related reading:

Need further buying advice? Check out our full selection of buying guides. We also have options for beginners and kids!

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Amy is a highly experienced photography and technology journalist who has been working on AP since 2018, having been working in the industry since 2009. She is a graduate of the magazine journalism course at Cardiff University and has written for a wide range of publications and websites. As Features Editor, she is responsible for commissioning an eclectic mix of features connected to general photography, along with interviews. She is also a very experienced reviewer of cameras and associated technology, with her reviews featured on multiple sites including TechRadar, Digital Camera World, Trusted Reviews, ePhotozine, Stuff, Expert Reviews, T3, Photography Blog and more. She is also an expert on smartphone photography and smartphones generally.