Which guide to cameras

With a sensor much larger than that in the typical point-and-shoot or your phone , image quality takes a big step up. The downside is that a larger sensor makes everything else about the camera, from the body to the lens, also larger. The Sony RX remains impressively small, although you can find cameras of similar size with smaller sensors that pack in much more zoom. Another type of point-and-shoot is the considerably less compact superzoom , so named for its extremely long zoom lens.

The Nikon P currently holds the record for longest zoom, with a power of x an equivalent focal length of ,mm. Such a camera gives you a lot of shooting flexibility in a relatively compact package. Note, though, that while superzooms look like beefy DSLRs, they still have the limited photo quality of a compact camera due to their small sensors. A few higher-end models, like the Sony RX10 series, have larger one-inch sensors. Ruggedized and waterproof point-and-shoots are a niche subcategory built to handle a day at the beach or survive a drop in the pool.

This category offers superior image quality, more creative options, and faster performance than point-and-shoots, without all the bulk of a DSLR — sort of. Mirrorless cameras tend to be pricier than compact cameras, but the entry-level models are often cheaper than premium point-and-shoots.

There are different formats of mirrorless camera employed by different brands. As with point-and-shoots, a larger sensor will usually have an image quality advantage, although APS-C sensors are already many times bigger than what you have in your phone.

The Sony A7R IV currently holds the record for highest-resolution full-frame camera at 61 megapixels. Read more about the best mirrorless cameras. DSLRs cover the same price range as mirrorless cameras and run the same gamut from consumer to professional. Even as electronic viewfinders have improved significantly and have many benefits, some photographers still prefer the optical viewfinder of a DSLR. This is also what gives DSLRs their vastly superior battery life, as an optical viewfinder draws very little power.

A midrange DSLR can easily get over a thousand exposures on a single battery. The biggest downside of a DSLR is the bulk. Compared to mirrorless cameras, DSLRs are bigger and heavier. They are also worse for video, not necessarily for anything to do with video quality, but simply because the optical viewfinder is useless in video mode which requires live view. However, this is like saying that a pickup truck is the same as a sports car because they both have four wheels.

The physical size of the sensor matters more to image quality than the number of pixels on it. While there are also subjective quality factors like depth of field control that come from larger sensors, the objective reason for the improved quality is that a bigger sensor gathers more light.

This leads to less noise in low light situations and better color and contrast overall. These days, most cameras are sufficiently fast for any casual uses.

Interchangeable lens cameras, whether mirrorless or DSLR, typically offer better performance than compact cameras. They will focus faster, track subjects better, and take more pictures per second although some compact cameras, like the Sony RX series, outclass DSLRs on that last one.

This is an understated element of cameras. If at all possible, try before you buy. The camera you buy should offer quick accessibility to the most commonly used functions, and menus should be simply structured, logical, and easy to learn. Much of this is subjective, so we recommend getting hands-on with different models if you have the opportunity to do so. There are several attributes that differentiate a camera from good to great, and the lens is perhaps the most important one.

A camera that lets you swap lenses gives you different creative options to choose from. Camera Ratings by Consumer Reports. Camera Categories Rated by CR If a camera gives you fine control over exposure settings, we group it with advanced models. Optical Zoom Lens Even the cheapest cameras have at least a 3x optical zoom lens, which is longer than what you get on many smartphones. Photo: Terry Sullivan. What Else to Shop For There are various accessories, from essential to esoteric, that you can buy for your camera.

Illustration: Chris Philpot. Camera Ratings. Camera Brands. Canon offers an extensive line of models in every category, from basic point-and-shoots to pro-level SLRs. Options include superzoom, advanced point-and-shoot, and mirrorless models. Canon also offers a broader selection of lenses for its SLRs and mirrorless models than most other brands offer. Fujifilm primarily offers advanced point-and-shoot cameras, as well as mirrorless models.

Our ratings include advanced point-and-shoot and mirrorless models. Nikon offers a variety of higher-end point-and-shoot models, including superzooms and advanced point-and-shoots, under the Coolpix name. The company has an SLR for a variety of users and budgets, and a wide range of lenses.

Its high-end SLRs include large full-frame sensors, which provide better quality in low light. Nikon has also expanded its line of mirrorless Z Series cameras, which sport large sensors and accept interchangeable lenses. The venerable company no longer offers SLRs. A pioneer in mirrorless cameras, Panasonic also offers several less expensive superzoom and advanced point-and-shoot models.

Sony offers a variety of innovative cameras in the mirrorless and SLR categories, some with full-frame sensors and a wide variety of lenses, as well as a wide selection of advanced point-and-shoots. The company supplements these higher-end cameras with relatively inexpensive point-and-shoot and superzoom models.

When you shop through retailer links on our site, we may earn affiliate commissions. Learn more. Sharing is Nice Yes, send me a copy of this email. Send We respect your privacy. Oops, we messed up. Try again later. More From Consumer Reports. Check the review here. Being able to use different lenses vastly expands your creative opportunities.

Canon and Nikon offer the largest selection of lenses for their DSLRs, but the smallest selection for their mirrorless cameras here in This relates to autofocus speed, frames per second FPS , and the startup time and general operational speed of the camera. DSLRs and mirrorless cameras typically offer better performance than compacts and bridge cameras, although it depends on the model. In general, you need to spend a lot more on a compact camera for it to rival the speed of a larger model.

A higher FPS anything over 5 can be useful for capturing fast moving subjects, but it needs to be coupled with decent autofocus tracking performance to ensure your shots are in focus. Most photographers are likely to shoot video on their smartphone for convenience.

All digital cameras shoot video these days, with some offering high-end features such as 4K Ultra HD resolution, multiple frame rates, super slow-motion, high speed recording and time-lapse.

Are you likely to use a bulky DSLR or mirrorless to capture the occasional footage of your kids playing around? Personally speaking, I seldom press the record button on any of my cameras. In addition, some brands only produce APS-C sensor cameras, with others only producing mirrorless models. The biggest photography brand in the world, catering to all kinds of photographer, from absolute beginners to the best professionals in the world.

Canon produce a diverse selection of cameras 1 , with their core sales coming from compacts and DSLRs. One area that Canon is playing catch-up is mirrorless — their first full frame mirrorless model was released relatively recently in , and their lens selection is still small and expensive. Nikon caters to all photographers, offering some of the best entry-level DSLRs for beginners, all the way up to incredible flagship bodies for professionals 2. Their Cyber-shot line of compact cameras is still hugely popular, with new models being released several times a year 3.

Sony cameras are known for having the latest fancy technology, with their range of Alpha mirrorless cameras dominating the industry in auto-focus performance. Sony full frame mirrorless cameras also offer the best battery life out of any other brand in the industry. Sony offer a broad selection of lenses , but it pales in comparison to that of Nikon and Canon. Lenses are typically more expensive too, with less options for beginners.

However, you can still choose from a range of affordable entry-level APS-C mirrorless cameras, and some truly class-leading Sony Alpha full frame cameras, if your budget allows. Another key player in the world of mirrorless, Fujifilm is perhaps best known for its instant cameras and film stock.

This makes them a popular choice if you want to skip the photo editing process. While Fujifilm offer a fine selection of cameras 4 with new models appearing several times a year, their entry-level offerings start at a slightly higher price than those released by Sony.

The aesthetics of Fuji cameras is a big reason to invest in this brand — their cameras look and feel great, and have earned legions of devoted fans. More megapixels allow you to crop your images more heavily while editing.

Photos with more megapixels have more detail, but are consequently larger in file size, meaning they can take longer to edit, send, store, and handle in general.

Most cameras have the option to choose lower resolutions if desired, which can be handy when transferring to smart devices to share online.

Pixel size is more important, and this is governed by the size of the image sensor. Camera brands try to compete by introducing fancy new features, but my advice is to make your decision based on the core elements mentioned in this article. Taking the photo is only half the battle — you need to learn to edit too. A common mistake made by beginners is buying everything in the bargain bin at the local camera store, but in reality, very few accessories are actually required at first.

A tripod can be a worthwhile investment if you require a steady shot. Remember — the more accessories you have, the heavier your camera bag… and the less likely you are to take your camera with you!

Purchasing cameras online is simple and convenient. Following a recent poll in the Shotkit Facebook Group, I learned that people buy cameras from a wide variety of local high street shops and online retailers.

Just remember this — every camera is different, but your skill as a photographer is far more important than the camera body.