Best current cameras: which one should you choose?

Whether you are thinking about getting into photography or simply replacing your current camera, the same question comes up quickly: which camera should you choose? What is the best camera? After several years of running our travel/photo blog, we realized we needed a more general guide to answer these questions clearly.

We had already written more specific articles to help you choose the best DSLR camera for your needs or decide which travel camera to choose, but a complete buying guide was still missing. That’s why we decided to put together this article, covering all the main criteria to consider when choosing your camera.

If you want to go even further, we have also published a comprehensive article detailing all the important aspects to consider when choosing a camera.

With so many models, brands, formats, and lens systems available, it can quickly become difficult to choose the right camera. The aim of this guide is to help you understand the main differences between the most relevant options and identify the type of camera that best suits your needs, your budget, and the kind of photography you want to practice.

The photography market has changed a lot in recent years. Mirrorless cameras now dominate most new releases, while DSLRs are becoming less common and are often more appealing on the second-hand market. At the same time, compact cameras, bridge cameras, and smartphones continue to evolve, which makes the choice even less obvious. In this guide, we’ll focus on the cameras that still make the most sense today, whether you are looking for a compact travel camera, a versatile mirrorless body, or a more advanced camera system.

For the past few years, and especially since 2018, the interchangeable-lens camera market has clearly been moving toward mirrorless. Today, recommending a new DSLR is much less relevant, as most innovation, new lenses, and future development are now focused on mirrorless systems. That said, recent DSLRs can still perform very well, especially if you buy second-hand. Since many photographers have switched to mirrorless, it is now possible to find recent DSLRs in excellent condition for much less than their original price.

In this guide, I’ll focus mainly on the most interesting cameras currently sold new, based on their value for money, features, size and weight, and ecosystem quality, especially the available lens range. So, which camera should you choose today? Let’s go through it together!

By “tight budget,” I mean a minimum of around €500 (below that, you’ll usually need to look at the second-hand market, choose a much more limited compact camera, or simply stick with your smartphone), up to about €1,000. That said, it’s important to decide whether this is the budget for the camera body only or for your entire setup, including lenses and accessories. In the latter case, it often makes more sense to look at expert compact cameras or bridge cameras, which I’ll cover first. I’ve also written a complete guide explaining which compact camera to choose.

Here are the cameras I currently recommend in this category if you have a smaller budget and want a compact, versatile alternative to an interchangeable-lens camera.

Sony ZV-1 II

The Sony ZV-1 II is a compact camera designed mainly for vloggers and content creators. Its 18-50mm equivalent zoom is especially useful for filming yourself, travel videos, wide-angle shots, and everyday scenes, while keeping the camera very small and easy to carry.

Nikon COOLPIX P1100

The Nikon COOLPIX P1100 is all about reach. With its 24-3000mm equivalent lens, it is a very specific bridge camera, especially useful for wildlife, birds, moon photography, and distant subjects, even if its small sensor makes it less comfortable in low light.

OM System Tough TG-7

The OM System Tough TG-7 is a rugged compact camera built for difficult conditions. Waterproof, shockproof, and easy to use, it is a great choice for snorkeling, hiking, beach trips, family vacations, and outdoor adventures where you would not want to risk a more fragile camera.

Mirrorless cameras are now the most relevant choice if you want an interchangeable-lens camera on a reasonable budget. For this selection, I’ve focused on affordable bodies that still offer good image quality, modern autofocus, solid video features, and access to a serious lens ecosystem.

Canon EOS R10

The Canon EOS R10 is one of the most balanced mirrorless cameras in this price range. Its 24MP APS-C sensor, fast autofocus, and strong burst performance make it a very good choice for travel, family photography, wildlife, and everyday use. It is more advanced than the EOS R50, with better ergonomics and more direct controls. Its main limitation is the lack of in-body stabilization, but it remains one of the best all-around options around this budget.

Nikon Z50 II

The Nikon Z50 II is a modern APS-C mirrorless camera that improves on the original Z50 with better autofocus, a newer processor, and stronger video features. It keeps a compact, comfortable body, making it a good option for travel and everyday photography. Its 21MP sensor delivers very good image quality, even if the resolution is slightly lower than some competitors. The main limitation remains Nikon’s still relatively limited DX lens range.

Fujifilm X-T30 III

The Fujifilm X-T30 III is a compact APS-C camera that will especially appeal to photographers who like Fujifilm’s colors, film simulations, and more traditional controls. Its 26MP sensor offers excellent image quality, while the small body remains easy to carry when traveling. It is also a very capable video camera for its size, with strong specifications in this price range. However, it does not have in-body stabilization, which is worth keeping in mind if you often shoot handheld in low light.

Sony A6600

The Sony A6600 is no longer the newest APS-C mirrorless camera, but it still has a few strong arguments today. Its 24MP sensor, excellent autofocus, large battery, and in-body stabilization make it a very reliable choice for both photography and video. It also gives you access to the very large Sony E-mount lens ecosystem, including many third-party lenses from Sigma, Tamron, and others. Its design and menus feel older than more recent models, but it remains a solid choice if you find it at a good price.

Canon EOS R50

The Canon EOS R50 is one of the easiest mirrorless cameras to recommend for beginners. It is small, light, simple to use, and still offers a very good 24MP APS-C sensor with Canon’s excellent autofocus system. It is less advanced than the EOS R10, especially in terms of controls and handling, but it is also more compact and often cheaper. For travel, family photos, and learning photography, it is a very attractive entry-level option.

OM System OM-5 II

The OM System OM-5 II is a very interesting choice if you want a compact, rugged camera for travel, hiking, and outdoor photography. Its Micro Four Thirds sensor is smaller than APS-C, but the body offers excellent 5-axis stabilization, weather sealing, and access to a very compact lens system. This makes it especially practical if you want to keep your gear light without giving up advanced features. It is not the best option for very shallow depth of field, but it is excellent for mobility and difficult conditions.

By “mid-range budget,” I mean a budget between around €1,000 and €2,000. In this price range, you can already find very capable interchangeable-lens cameras, as well as some high-end expert compacts that may be more relevant if your budget needs to cover the whole camera, not just the body.

For people with a higher budget, these expert compact cameras are among the most interesting options to consider.

Fujifilm X100VI

The Fujifilm X100VI is one of the most desirable expert compact cameras available today. It combines a 40MP APS-C sensor, a bright 35mm f/2 equivalent fixed lens, and Fujifilm’s famous film simulations in a compact, beautifully designed body. It is especially well suited to street photography, travel, documentary work, and everyday photography. Its fixed focal length makes it less versatile than a zoom compact, but it also encourages a more deliberate and creative way of shooting.

Sony RX100 VII

The Sony RX100 VII remains one of the best premium compact cameras if you want a powerful zoom in a truly pocketable body. Its 24-200mm equivalent lens gives you much more flexibility than most expert compacts, making it useful for travel, family photography, and everyday situations. The autofocus is very fast and reliable, and the camera also offers strong video features. The main compromise is the small 1-inch sensor, which is less comfortable in low light than larger-sensor cameras.

Leica D-Lux 8

The Leica D-Lux 8 is a premium expert compact with a large Four Thirds-type sensor and a bright 24-75mm equivalent zoom lens. It is not necessarily the best value-for-money option, but it offers a very pleasant shooting experience, elegant ergonomics, and a compact body that is easy to carry. Its zoom range makes it more flexible than a fixed-lens compact like the Fujifilm X100VI. It is a good choice if you want a refined compact camera with a more premium feel.

Panasonic Lumix L10

The Panasonic Lumix L10 follows the spirit of the previous LX100 series, with a Micro Four Thirds-type sensor and a bright 24-75mm equivalent zoom lens. It is designed as a serious compact camera for travel, everyday photography, and hybrid photo/video use. Its main advantage is the combination of a relatively large sensor, a useful zoom range, and a fast aperture in a compact body. If availability is good, it could become one of the most interesting premium compact cameras in this price range.

With a budget between €1,000 and €2,000, you can already access some very capable mirrorless cameras. There are clearly too many interesting models in this price range to include them all, so I have selected the cameras that seem to offer the best balance between image quality, autofocus, video features, ergonomics, and lens ecosystem. These bodies are not necessarily positioned as professional high-end models, but they already offer more than enough performance for most photographers.

Canon EOS R8

The Canon EOS R8 is one of the most interesting full-frame mirrorless cameras in this price range. It offers excellent image quality, very good autofocus, and a lightweight body that makes it particularly attractive for travel, portraits, and everyday photography. Unlike some competitors, it does not have in-body stabilization, but its compact size and full-frame sensor make it a very strong option if you want to enter the Canon RF system without going too high in price.

Nikon Z6 III

The Nikon Z6 III is a very capable full-frame hybrid camera, designed for photographers who also want strong video features. It offers a 24MP sensor, excellent autofocus, in-body stabilization, and advanced video recording options, making it much more modern than the older Z6 II. It is also a very good entry point into the Nikon Z system, especially if you want to build your kit around Nikon Z mount lenses.

Sony A7 IV

The Sony A7 IV remains one of the most balanced full-frame mirrorless cameras in this price range. Its 33MP sensor, reliable autofocus, 5-axis stabilization, and strong video features make it suitable for many types of photography, from travel to portraits, landscapes, and professional work. One of its main strengths is the Sony FE ecosystem, with a very wide choice of native and third-party lenses, which I detail in my Sony FE lens list.

Sony A6700

The Sony A6700 is the most interesting APS-C option in Sony’s current range if you want a compact but powerful mirrorless camera. It offers a 26MP sensor, excellent autofocus, 5-axis stabilization, and very strong video specifications, including 4K up to 120p. Compared with full-frame bodies, it is easier to carry and often more affordable to build a complete setup, while still benefiting from Sony’s mature lens ecosystem.

Fujifilm X-T5

The Fujifilm X-T5 is one of the best APS-C cameras for photographers who prioritize image quality, controls, and shooting experience. Its 40MP sensor provides plenty of detail, while the compact body, film simulations, and in-body stabilization make it very enjoyable to use for travel, landscapes, and everyday photography. Fujifilm also has one of the strongest APS-C lens ecosystems, which is a real advantage if you want to build a complete kit around Fujifilm X mount lenses.

OM System OM-5 II

The OM System OM-5 II is a very good choice if you want a compact, stabilized, and weather-sealed camera for travel, hiking, and outdoor photography. Its Micro Four Thirds sensor is smaller than APS-C or full frame, but the system allows you to use smaller lenses and keep your gear very light. If you are hesitating between several ecosystems, it can also be useful to compare this approach with full-frame systems such as Nikon Z cameras or other mounts like the Nikon full-frame mirrorless range and the L-mount lens ecosystem.

I’ll be honest: if you are planning to spend more than €2,500 on a camera body, you should already have a fairly clear idea of what you need. Above all, you should know why you are ready to spend that much. If that’s not the case, it may be wiser to lower your budget a little, spend more time understanding your needs, and possibly keep some money aside for lenses. That said, it is still difficult not to mention a few excellent cameras that are not that far above the previous price range. I will skip expert compact cameras here, as there are very few options at this level and they are not always easy to find.

For this budget range, I have deliberately kept the selection very short. Of course, many very high-end cameras could legitimately be considered among the best in each brand, such as the Sony A1, the Canon EOS R3, or the Nikon Z9. However, these are mainly aimed at professionals or very specific uses, with prices often well above €6,000.

Sony A1

The Sony A1 is a true professional hybrid camera, designed for photographers who need both very high resolution and extreme speed. Its 50MP full-frame sensor, fast burst shooting, advanced autofocus, and 8K video capabilities make it one of the most complete cameras on the market. It is clearly overkill for most users, but for demanding sports, wildlife, action, or professional hybrid work, it remains a benchmark camera.

Canon EOS R3

The Canon EOS R3 is a professional full-frame mirrorless camera built mainly for speed, reliability, and action photography. Its 24MP sensor may seem modest compared with some competitors, but it allows excellent performance in sports, wildlife, events, and low-light situations. It also benefits from Canon’s very strong autofocus system and the growing RF ecosystem, which you can explore in my Canon RF lens list.

Nikon Z9

The Nikon Z9 is one of Nikon’s most impressive mirrorless cameras, aimed at professionals who need a robust, fast, and highly capable body. Its 46MP full-frame sensor, advanced autofocus, strong burst performance, and 8K video features make it suitable for wildlife, sports, reportage, and high-end hybrid work. It is large, heavy, and expensive, but it is also one of the most complete cameras in the Nikon Z system.

Some of you may wonder why certain cameras are not included in this selection, such as the Panasonic G9 II, Canon EOS RP, Nikon Zfc, Sony A7C II, or other popular models. This does not mean these cameras are bad. In many cases, they are very good. But when I take into account their price, performance, ergonomics, size, video features, and lens ecosystem, they do not always seem to fit as well as the models selected above.

For example, some cameras are excellent but too specialized, too expensive for what they offer, or less balanced than their direct competitors. Others suffer from a lens ecosystem that is still a little limited, or from compromises that may become frustrating depending on your use. In short, I cannot include every good camera on the market, and I had to make choices to keep this guide readable and useful.

Just keep in mind that the higher you go in budget, the more important it becomes to know exactly why you are choosing a specific camera. Spending more on the body also means having less money left for lenses, memory cards, batteries, filters, a tripod, a camera bag, or other accessories that may have a bigger impact on your photography than the camera itself.

I hope this updated guide has helped you better understand which camera to choose depending on your budget, your needs, and the type of photography you want to practice.