Top 5 BEST Cameras for Photography in 2025

The majority of the top cameras on the market today can be used for both photography and videography. However, some cameras provide better value and performance for photography if stills are your primary focus. These are the cameras that are available here: from high-end compacts to flagship mirrorless models, we have compiled this buying guide to assist photographers in selecting their next camera.

The Sony A7 IV is the camera we would pick to use for still photography out of all the ones we have tested. Although the Nikon Z6 III and other hybrids are superior overall, we believe that its 33MP sensor gives it the advantage for photographers. At a price that is currently reasonably affordable, that is combined with autofocus that leads the class. Nevertheless, the Canon EOS R10 is our top pick for a beginner’s camera.

Your shooting preferences, skill level, and budget should all be taken into consideration when selecting a camera. For instance, you may prefer the handling of a DSLR or cover a lot of sports. For this reason, our knowledgeable staff has devoted hours to testing a variety of cameras under actual circumstances. The results of those reviews have been condensed below to assist you in selecting the best photography camera.

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Last update on 2025-02-16 / Affiliate links/images from Amazon.

Top 5 BEST Cameras for Photography in 2025

1.Sony A7 IV

Last update on 2025-02-16 / Affiliate links/images from Amazon.

It was never going to be easy to follow the amazing A7 III, but the A7 IV is a worthy replacement. It’s a strong mirrorless choice for hybrid shooters with a new 33MP sensor that works well for both stills and video. We described it as a “brilliant blend of photographic power and video versatility” in our review. Although it is no longer an entry-level full-frame camera like its predecessor due to a price increase, the Bionz XR processor provides strong performance that largely justifies the additional cost.

In addition to improvements like 10-bit video and an almost infinite buffer depth with a CFexpress card, the A7 IV also benefits from Sony’s industry-leading autofocus capabilities. This buffer is more generous than most photographers will require, according to our tests, with image quality leaning more towards resolution than low-light performance. There are compromises elsewhere, as well: there’s a heavy crop on 4K footage and it isn’t the simplest camera for beginners to use. The Canon EOS R6 also offers faster burst speeds for a similar price. But considering its powerful versatility and higher resolution, the Sony A7 IV deservedly takes our number one spot.

The best mirrorless all-arounder available today is the Sony A7 IV. It offers a fantastic combination of photographic power and video versatility, but it isn’t as quick as the Canon EOS R6, as powerful as the Sony A1, or as reasonably priced as the Fujifilm X-T4. It’s the best illustration to date of the hybrid convenience that contemporary mirrorless cameras can provide since it successfully combines two cameras into one.

The A7 IV has a few minor compromises, as is typical with all-arounder cameras. Since some reasonable noise at higher ISOs somewhat offsets the additional detail from that resolution boost, its overall image quality isn’t a significant improvement over the Sony A7 III. This implies that you might want to to look out for discounts on the A7 III in the Black Friday camera deals, as well as E-mount lenses in the Black Friday deals.

Additionally, rather than being class-leading, the A7 IV’s burst shooting speeds, in-body image stabilization, and battery life are only average. Additionally, this isn’t exactly a light camera for lengthy landscape hikes or a covert one for travel or street photography. We suggest looking into APS-C cameras like the Fujifilm X-T4 (and soon-to-be released Fujifilm X-T5) if that’s important to you.

Despite having a similar appearance to its predecessor, the Sony A7 IV has a number of minor improvements that add up to a much more pleasurable camera to use.

An enhanced electronic viewfinder (EVF) with a resolution of 3.69 million dots and a refresh rate of 120 frames per second is located on top. This is a much-needed upgrade and works especially well when tracking moving subjects, even though it is now fairly standard at this price—the Canon EOS R6 has a viewfinder that is nearly identical.

A new vari-angle touchscreen is located beneath the EVF. An important feature for lone video shooters is that this can rotate to face the direction you’re shooting. However, photographers might favor the Sony A1’s more traditional tilt-screen.

Explore the menus on this screen to discover that Sony’s most recent user interface, initially seen on the Sony A7S III, is also present. These react to touch and are a significant improvement over the confusing menus found on older Sony Alpha cameras.

Anyone who has used an Alpha camera before will find the A7 IV’s grip to be more comfortable, despite the fact that it feels heavier in the hand than its predecessor. A new ring beneath the mode dial allows you to switch between stills and movies.

2.Canon EOS R10

Last update on 2025-02-16 / Affiliate links/images from Amazon.

Although it isn’t the most affordable choice for novices, we believe the Canon EOS R10 is the greatest camera for those just beginning their photography career. Two notable features of the EOS R10, the spiritual successor to Canon’s well-liked mid-range DSLRs, are its remarkable subject-tracking autofocus and its lightning-fast 15 fps burst shooting, which was unheard of at this price. Both work well together to make the EOS R10 a flexible small camera that can be used to capture anything from portraits to fast-moving animals. The R10 found and tracked subjects’ eyes very well during our autofocus testing, which we performed on cats, deer, and a rapid cockapoodle. Its 15 fps burst speeds produced a respectable hit rate.

The EOS R10 is not a small camera, but it weighs only 429g and has a deep grip that balances it well in the hand when using a variety of lenses. Regretfully, the EOS R10 lacks in-body image stabilization and only has two native lenses as of this writing. However, it’s a flexible companion that’s perfect for beginning photographers if you’re willing to purchase one of the many full-frame RF lenses that are compatible with the camera or modify older ones with an EF-EOS R adapter.

The Canon EOS R10 fills a gap that has existed in the company’s mirrorless camera lineup for a few years. It’s currently among the best cameras available, and because of its compact size and light weight, it’s also among the best travel cameras. This makes it a great choice for both novices and seasoned Canon enthusiasts seeking a fun second camera for daily use.

Although the EOS R10 is slightly more costly and sophisticated than more conventional entry-level cameras, such as the Canon EOS Rebel SL3 and EOS 250D DSLR, it is still a significant improvement over those models and well worth the price. In actuality, it is a development of double-digit DSLRs, such as the Canon EOS 90D, which are cameras that became firm favorites with those who wanted to snap their family, vacations and day-to-day lives with smartphone-beating quality.

The Digic X processor, which unlocks the newest autofocus technology and some remarkable burst-shooting speeds for its price, is the secret to the allure of the Canon EOS R10. With Dual Pixel CMOS AF II and 15 frames per second continuous shooting (though the EOS R10’s buffer applies a firm brake), this camera is more than capable of capturing the family dog’s game-winning goal in the garden water polo.

The EOS R10 can follow a variety of subjects with a fair amount of persistence, including people, vehicles, and animals (dogs, cats, and birds). This is a very helpful feature that sets this camera apart from competitors like the Fujifilm X-S10, even though the latter does have in-body image stabilization and (at the moment)a bigger selection of lenses.

3.Sony A7R V

Last update on 2025-02-16 / Affiliate links/images from Amazon.

The Sony A7R V is the company’s sharpest full-frame mirrorless camera, replacing the A7R IV. As we discovered in our review, it also addresses a number of the shortcomings of the A7R IV, making it a more comprehensive professional camera. The Bionz XR processor and a new 61MP sensor work together to produce incredibly detailed stills. It was also simple to shoot handheld during testing thanks to the eight image stabilization stops. The efficiency of Real-rime Recognition AF also impressed us. Although it’s not flawless, it can typically identify and clearly capture a variety of subjects.

We believe that the A7R V’s level of detail makes it ideal for studio and landscape photography. Remember that it’s only produces its best results when paired with top-spec lenses, which will add heavily to the already high price tag. The A7R IV offers the same resolution, but we do think the A7R V is the better camera overall, particularly with a sharper EVF that makes framing a joy. That said, if you don’t need so many sensor pixels, you’ll find better value for less elsewhere.

Since the A7R, the first high-resolution full-frame mirrorless camera, was released by Sony in 2013, it has been updated every few years, leading to the A7R V, the fifth model in the series. Since then, there have been significant advancements in the ergonomics, handling, and, of course, technology of cameras. However, with more competitors now on the market, the A7R V faces fierce competition from devices like the Nikon Z 7II and Canon EOS R5.

Despite not having the best performance in every category, the A7R V is the newest model on the market and has some amazing specs, so there isn’t much to be concerned about in the end. A new 61MP sensor and Bionz XR processing are among the features.

Although there are a few design changes that enhance the A7R IV, the A7R V’s overall design is very similar to earlier models, with the majority of innovations taking place under the hood. Newcomers should have little to no trouble navigating the main settings, and existing Sony users will probably feel right at home.

A brand-new 4-axis 3.2-inch articulating touchscreen on the rear of the camera can be tilted, flipped sideways, and twisted to face forward, making it ideal for both still and motion pictures. Compared to the first two models, which only had a tilting screen, this makes the screen a little bulkier, but it has no effect on handling. It’s the same with the electronic viewfinder.

Despite the nearly limitless ways to customize Sony cameras, the exposure compensation dial is now unmarked on the top of the camera and, like the majority of the buttons and dials, can be set to perform a different function if users so choose. However, setting it to exposure compensation is the most practical option.

Similar to earlier A7R models, when two cards are inserted, the two card slots on the grip’s side can be configured to record in multiple ways. Both SD and CFexpress Type A cards, the latter being the faster option, can be inserted into the card slots on the A7R V.

4.Canon EOS R7

Last update on 2025-02-16 / Affiliate links/images from Amazon.

We believe that the Canon EOS R7 is the best crop sensor camera available right now if full-frame is not a requirement. In our review, we emphasized its exceptional autofocus capabilities, first-rate in-body image stabilization, and the 32.5MP sensor’s class-leading detail. Although its full-frame cousins remain superior in low light, our real-world tests showed that the EOS R7 produced beautiful images in a variety of situations. Its burst speeds of 30 frames per second also impressed us, making it an excellent option for sports and wildlife enthusiasts.

With a good grip and a wide range of direct-access controls, the EOS R7 was also a pleasant camera to hold and operate during our tests. A welcome bonus is having two UHS-II card slots, and the capability to record uncropped 4K/60p video output makes the EOS R7 a tidy all-rounder. The only major drawback at present is the continued lack of native lenses, an issue not suffered by alternative APS-C cameras such as the Sony A6700 and Fujifilm X-T5.

The EOS R7 is a portable and user-friendly camera that combines features from Canon’s DSLR lineup and its current EOS R series cameras.

You’ll probably feel right at home if you’ve ever used a Canon EOS camera. However, finding everything you need won’t be too difficult, even if this is your first time using the brand. Photographers are likely to appreciate the EOS R7’s deep chunky grip, which is impressive for such a small camera. However, the camera’s overall dimensions aren’t too large for travel photography.

A top-plate LCD for rapidly checking settings is not included with mid-range cameras, as one might anticipate. The full-frame EOS R6 is no different, so APS-C users shouldn’t feel too hard done by here. What you do get is a sensibly laid out control system, which includes a mode dial to the right of the viewfinder, a control dial just behind the shutter button and dedicated buttons just behind that for ISO and video recording.

Flipping to the back of the camera, there’s a joystick-cum-control wheel hybrid that some will love, and others may well hate. It does take some getting used to, especially if you’re an existing Canon owner. But after a few days in its company, it works quite well in tandem with the principal control dial. The dials can be used to adjust shutter speed and aperture – depending on the shooting mode you’re in – as well as flip through menu items and images in playback.

The joystick is ideal for moving the AF point around the frame when shooting through the viewfinder, though you can also use the screen to do this so long as you have ‘Touch and Drag’ enabled in the main menu.

Other buttons include a four-way d-pad, a useful ‘Q’ button for quickly accessing your common settings, and buttons for playback and deleting photos. Almost all of the controls are found on the right-hand side of the camera, which is ideal for one-handed operation, with the small size of the body meaning everything is within easy reach of your thumb.

5.OM System OM-1 II

Last update on 2025-02-16 / Affiliate links/images from Amazon.

The OM System OM-1 II is a strong contender for photographers who value portability, fun handheld use, and size. It is lightweight and durable. The OM-1 II excelled in the majority of our tests, particularly wildlife photography, made possible by its stacked Micro Four Thirds sensor and quick TruePix X processor. You’d be hard-pressed to find a more capable autofocus system for bird photography, and it offers a wide range of subject detection modes. Its distinct computational photography modes, which are the best available outside of smartphones, also help to make up for its smaller sensor.

But the news is not entirely positive. This second-generation model is merely an update of the now less expensive OM-1; we believe that it could have included more features.to the OM-1 by a firmware update rather than making a new, pricier model. The MFT sensor and 20MP resolution are modest for a camera at this price, with low light image quality not quite up to the level of full-frame rivals. If you can overlook those drawbacks, then the OM-1 II (and its huge range of Micro Four Thirds lenses) will make a fine companion. Quite simply, it’s the one of the most enjoyable cameras you can buy.

How to choose the best camera for you

The main thing to look at when buying a digital camera is sensor size. Larger isn’t always better, but it is a good guide to what kind of camera it is, how expensive the lenses will be, and who it’s aimed at. In general, Micro Four Thirds and APS-C cameras are for both hobbyists and pros, while full-frame models tend to be strictly for advanced photographers with bigger budgets. Compact cameras with 1-inch sensors are for travel zooms and everyday photography.

Other features to look out for are viewfinders (electronic or optical), which are considered essential by most photographers, and handling. If you’re likely to want to use longer lenses, then a good grip is essential. You should also consider which lenses you’re likely to need for your favorite types of photography – for example, bright prime lenses are better for portraits and street shooting, while wide-angle zooms are more useful for landscapes. Deciding which camera system, including lenses, is the best for you is often better than choosing a camera in isolation.

Are DSLRs best for photography?

DSLRs have long been a byword for ‘serious’ photography, but they’re no longer at the top the camera tech tree. Mirrorless cameras, which replace the DSLR’s optical viewfinder with a wholly electronic EVF, are now the beneficiaries of the camera giants’ latest lenses and autofocus systems. Neither Canon nor Nikon has released a new DSLR in years. That’s why our list above is dominated by mirrorless cameras, rather than DSLRs.

That doesn’t necessarily mean you shouldn’t consider buying a DSLR for photography. Their main benefit now is value for money – their lack of an electronic viewfinder means they’re usually cheaper than mirrorless equivalents, and their maturity means they have a wide range of affordable lenses. Classic DSLRs like the Canon EOS 6D are also excellent second-hand buys. But the smarter long-term investments are now mirrorless cameras.