Best Sony Cameras

The best Sony cameras come in all shapes and sizes, from high-speed sports shooters to high-resolution bodies and very compact pocket cameras. So the best one is ultimately the right one for you and your needs!

Sony was first to the full-frame mirrorless party and established a huge lead over Canon and Nikon, a lead that, in many people’s minds, is insurmountable. And looking through the lineup, it’s very hard to disagree.

Resolution

When it comes to raw resolving power, the 61 -megapixel Sony A7R IV beats all but the $10,000-plus medium-format cameras. For ultra-fast action, the Sony A9 II sports camera is the tool of choice for many professional photographers. And the new Sony A7S III , a camera that challenges the extraordinary Canon EOS R5 for supremacy in video recording.

At a Glance

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These are systems geared towards experts and professionals, but Sony hasn’t abandoned its more affordable APS-C cameras, although the A6XXX range can be confusing! From the entry-level Sony A6100 to the high-end Sony A6600, with specialists like the vlogging-oriented Sony A6400, there’s something for every photo specialist.

These Sony Alpha mirrorless cameras feature interchangeable lenses and are aimed at enthusiastic photographers. But Sony also makes compact fixed-lens Cyber-Shot cameras for everyone from family photographers to travel photographers to vloggers who want high-quality results in a camera small enough to fit in a pocket, or with a range. of zoom that you just can’t get from a mirrorless camera lens.

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Our Recommendation For Best Sony Cameras

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The Best Sony cameras in 2023

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FULL FRAME SONY ALPHA

Sony Alpha cameras are available with APS-C or full-frame sensors. APS-C models are smaller and more affordable and designed more like traditional rectangular ‘rangefinder’ cameras, but still, pack plenty of power.

Sony’s full-frame Alpha cameras look more like mini DSLRs, with an electronic viewfinder placed conventionally on top.

These are larger, more expensive, and geared more towards expert and professional users, although there are still bargains to be had for enthusiasts because Sony has a policy of keeping older models for sale alongside newer replacements, and at extremely tempting prices!!

1. Sony A7III

best overall Sony camera

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Type: Mirrorless | Sensor: Full Frame | Megapixels: 24.2MP | Lens mount: Sony E | Screen: 3-inch tilting touchscreen, 922,000 dots | Viewfinder: EVF, 2359k dots | Continuous shooting speed: 10fps | Maximum video resolution: 4K | User level: enthusiast

• Image quality and speed
• 5-axis image stabilization
• Imbalanced by larger lenses
• 24MP no higher than APS-C models

It may not have the blazing speed of Sony’s top-flight A9 II or the ultra-high resolution of the A7R IV, but the Sony A7 III takes many of the best parts of these more expensive models and delivers them in a more affordable package.

Key features include a highly effective 696-point AF system and a 5-axis image stabilization system that promises 5 EV of compensation. There’s a 24.2MP back-illuminated image sensor, along with the latest generation of image processors, and both deliver amazing tonal range and make very high ISO settings possible.

Handling is good, although some may find the body a bit small when paired with professional lenses, which applies across the entire Alpha range.

For a superior performance at a reasonable price, it’s the best Sony camera out there, but it holds its price very firmly, and for stills photographers, the older Sony A7 and Sony A7 II are very tempting alternatives (and more). cheap).

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2. Sony A7R Mark IV

Best full-frame Sony camera

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Type: Mirrorless | Sensor: Full Frame CMOS | Megapixels: 61MP | Lens mount: Sony FE | Screen: 3-inch tilting touchscreen, 1,440,000 dots | Viewfinder: electronic, 5.76 million points | Continuous shooting speed: 10fps | Maximum video resolution: 4K | User level: Professional

• 61 megapixel resolution
• Continuous shooting at 10fps
• Advanced Eye AF
• Unbalanced with larger lenses
• Quite expensive, of course!

The ‘R’ models of Sony’s A7-series cameras are designed for resolution first and foremost, and the Sony A7R Mark IV certainly delivers. The previous A7R Mark III set the standard for a while, but the A7R Mark IV brings a new record of 61 megapixels which has the highest resolution of any Sony, or even any full-frame camera.

Detail reproduction is spectacular, although the gain is perhaps not as obvious as the bare numbers might suggest, so while the A7R Mark IV beats the older A7R Mark III model on paper, in reality, the differences in reproduction details are smaller than you. could guess.

This means that although the A7R Mark III is technically superseded, it’s still a high-resolution camera by any standard, and is likely to be available now at much lower prices as well. But we think the larger sensors on medium format models are still a big difference, it’s not just about megapixels.

3. Sony A7II

Best full-frame mirrorless Sony Camera

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Type: Mirrorless | Sensor: Full Frame | Megapixels: 24.3MP | Lens mount: Sony E | Screen: 3-inch tilting, 1,228,800 dots | Viewfinder: Electronic | Max Burst Rate: 5fps | Maximum video resolution: 1080p | User level: enthusiast / professional

• 5-axis in-body image stabilization
• Low price!
• A few years now
• The body is small but the lenses can be big

For a long time, the original Sony A7 was the cheapest full-frame camera you could get and was one of our favorite Sony cameras but it’s proving quite hard to find these days and its replacement the A7 Mark II is, to be fair, a much better camera.

The big advantage you get with the Alpha A7 II is the built-in optical stabilization. This allows you to get more stable shots in a wide variety of lighting conditions and works with any of Sony’s range of E-mount lenses.

Autofocus and start-up times are also faster than the A7, the first thanks to a 117-point phase-detection AF system that works in combination with a 25-point contrast-detection AF, ensuring sharpness no matter where the subject is. the frame.

This 24-megapixel CSC is also pretty small for a full-frame camera. Prices for the A7 Mark II are falling just like they did for the original A7 before it, and right now this is the best deal of them all for full-frame upgraders.

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SONY ALPHA APS-C

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4. Sony A6000

Best APS-C Sony Camera

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Type: Mirrorless | Sensor: APS-C | Megapixels: 24.3MP | Lens mount: Sony E | Screen: 3-inch tilting screen, 921,000 dots | Viewfinder: EVF, 1,440,000 dots | Continuous shooting speed: 11fps | Maximum video resolution: Full HD | User level: beginner / enthusiast

• Small and light construction
• Built-in electronic viewfinder
• No 4K video
• Relatively old model

Although it was released in 2014, the A6000 is still one of the best cameras from Sony. Also, it significantly undermines the newer A6400 and even the ‘basic’ A6100 that will ultimately replace it.

In fact, it’s currently just over a third of the price of the top A6600. With its APS-C format compact camera styling and access to Sony’s range of interchangeable lenses, it’s a small body that packs a punch.

The resolution from the 24.3MP image sensor is good, though the 1,440k-dot electronic viewfinder and 921k-dot tilting screen (shared by the other models in the series) now look distinctly low-res.

The A6000 lacks the ability to shoot 4K movies, but overall performance and image quality are impressive and it’s excellent value for money.

5. Sony A6400

Best for vloggers with its 4K video and 180-degree screen

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Type: Mirrorless | Sensor: APS-C | Megapixels: 24.3MP | Lens mount: Sony E | Screen: 3-inch tilting screen, 921,000 dots | Viewfinder: EVF, 1,440,000 dots | Continuous shooting speed: 11fps | Maximum video resolution: Full HD | User level: beginner / enthusiast

• Excellent 4K video and AF
• 180-degree screen
• No stabilization in the body
• Design that feels dated

The Sony A6400 is effectively the ‘middle’ camera in Sony’s A6000 series, slotting in above the A6000 and the newer A6100 model and below the new higher-end A6600. But it still packs a high-tech, super-fast autofocus system and excellent 4K video capabilities.

Its still image quality is very good, but really this camera’s strength is as a blogging/vlogging tool for one-handed content creation. Its 180-degree screen is the key here, turning up and towards you to help you with your framing, facial expressions, and delivery as you present video pieces to the camera.

The higher-end A6600’s specs are better, but you have to be careful with any camera, and Sony models in particular, not to pay for high-tech features you don’t need yourself, like crop-edge AF or zoom modes. burst.

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6. Sony A6100

Best Premium Sony Camera

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Type: Mirrorless | Sensor: APS-C | Megapixels: 24.2MP | Lens mount: Sony E | Screen: 3-inch 180-degree touch screen, 1,440,000 dots | Viewfinder: EVF, 1,440,000 dots | Continuous shooting speed: 11fps | Maximum video resolution: 4K | User level: beginner / enthusiast

• Real-time tracking autofocus
• 4K video recording
• 180-degree screen
• No in-body sensor-shift stabilization
• Low-resolution EVF
• Much more expensive than the old A6000

This is the entry-level successor to the Sony A6000, and while the previous model remains on sale, we’ve heard rumors that it may not be for much longer.

Six years later, the A6100 has brought a number of improvements, sharing many of the same upgrades featured on the latest mid-range A6400 and high-end A6600 bodies, including a 180-degree touchscreen for selfies and vlogging, 4K video, and the fastest format. and a more advanced autofocus system.

These upgrades don’t come cheap, though, with the A6100 costing nearly double the price of the original A6000, which somewhat limits its appeal as an entry-level camera.

However, as we have seen before with Sony cameras, the constant price discount over time can make them very attractive purchases.

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SONY CYBER-SHOT CAMERAS

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Sony’s range of Cyber-shot compact cameras is wide and varied! The ‘RX’ models are more likely to appeal to connoisseurs, the ‘HX’ series gives you a long zoom range for a modest outlay, while the WX series offers cheap and effective point-and-shoot photography. Image 1 of 5

7. Sony RX100 V/VA

Best Powerful Camera as an Alpha but fits in your pocket

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Type: Compact | Sensor: 1-inch type | Megapixels: 20.1MP | Lens: 24-70mm (equiv) f/1.8-2.8 | Screen: 3-inch tilting screen, 1229k dots | Viewfinder: EVF, 2359k dots | Continuous shooting speed: 24fps | Maximum video resolution: 4K | User level: enthusiast

• Relatively large sensor for a compact
• High-resolution EVF
• Really expensive
• Small size can be tricky

Sometimes even a compact system camera can feel a bit bulky. The RX100 Mark VA is a slim, streamlined camera from Sony’s acclaimed line of premium compact cameras with a permanently attached lens.

It aims for the highest levels of image quality, using a 1in-type image sensor that’s relatively large for a compact camera, having a respectable 20.1MP sensor resolution. You can also get the RX100 VI, which increases the effective focal range from 24-70mm to 24-200mm, in 35mm terms, and an even newer Sony RX100 VII.

For us, however, the Sony RX100 VA offers the best combination of size, features, performance, and cost. Confusingly, Sony keeps all versions of the Sony RX100 for sale, so the latest model, the RX100 Mark VII, is two versions ahead of this one, on paper.

In practice, we think the RX100 V/VA still gives you more for your money. You may feel it’s worth paying more for the RX100 VI and VII’s longer zoom range, but you’ll also be paying for burst speeds, AF modes, and video capabilities that we think are overkill for a pocket camera.

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8. Sony HX90V

Best Sony Compact Camera with a Big Zoom

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Type: Compact | Sensor: 1/2.3in type | Megapixels: 18.2MP | Lens: 24-720mm (equiv.) F/3.5-6.4 | Screen: 3-inch tilting screen, 922,000 dots | Viewfinder: EVF, 638k dots | Continuous shooting speed: 10fps | Maximum video resolution: Full HD (1080p) | User level: beginner

• Large 30x zoom range
• Built-in GPS for geotagging
• No 4K video
• No touch screen

Despite being small enough to fit in a spare pocket, the HX90V compact camera is slim and boasts an 18.2MP image sensor, a pop-up viewfinder, a 3-inch tilting screen, and a powerful zoom range. optical zoom equivalent to 24-720mm on a full screen.

Frame camera. There’s also a 5-axis Image Stabilizer available, which helps keep things steady, especially towards the long end of the powerful zoom range.

Wi-Fi and NFC connectivity is also built into the camera, and the ‘V’ edition includes a built-in GPS for geo-tagging your images.

As an added bonus, the screen has a selfie-friendly 180-degree tilt mechanism, ultimately making it ideal for the traveling photographer who occasionally wants to get into the frame.

9. Sony Cybershot WX220

Best Sony Camera for Beginners

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Type: Compact | Sensor: 1 / 2.3 inches | Megapixels: 18.2MP | Lens: 25-250mm f/3.3-5.9 equivalent | Screen: 2.7in, 460k dots | Viewfinder: No | Continuous shooting speed: 1.5fps | User level: beginner LOW STOCK

• 10x zoom range in a slim body
• Decent ISO range
• 1.5fps weak burst mode
• Small 2.7-inch screen

Any self-respecting point-and-shoot compact has to differentiate itself from what a smartphone can do.

The most useful advantage it can offer is an optical zoom, and the Sony WX220 ‘s 10x zoom goes far beyond the lenses on most compact point-and-shoot cameras.

Otherwise, it doesn’t have many frills, and the 2.7-inch LCD screen seems a bit small compared to what’s on the rest of the market, but what it does, it does well, with images becoming bright and punchy with a decent level of detail. If you want a small camera with an above-average range that the whole family can use, the WX220 is worth a look.

10. Sony RX10 IV

Best Sony ultimate bridge camera

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Type: Compact | Sensor: 1-inch type | Megapixels: 20.1MP | Lens: 24-600mm (equiv) f/2.4-4 | Screen: 3-inch tilting screen, 1,440,000 dots | Viewfinder: EVF, 2360k dots | Continuous shooting speed: 24fps | Maximum video resolution: 4K | User level: Expert

• AF phase-detection system
• Excellent still image/video quality
• Excellent lens
• Very expensive

It is Sony’s ultimate bridge camera for both sports/action and 4K video

The RX10 IV is the latest incarnation of Sony’s high-end RX10 series of video/bridge cameras. The highlight is the inclusion of a 315-point phase-detection AF system and the introduction of a touch screen.

The 24fps burst shooting capability is pretty amazing, and it’s this, combined with the larger sensor, better autofocus and better lens that makes the RX10 Mark IV outperform other bridge cameras.

It’s also great for 4K video, not least because of its long-range zoom lens and autofocus system. However, the price means that this camera will only appeal to really serious enthusiasts or experts.