The best cameras of 2024 - Our editors' choice
This year had a lot to offer in terms of new cameras and, above all, many new Lens. But does it have to be a camera for you that was newly introduced this year 2024 or are cameras from 2022 or 2023 still top cameras that we choose as the best cameras of 2024? The answer is: Yes, we still have older cameras that are among our favorites.
Or are you looking for a compact camera?
Table of contents
Which functions will be important when choosing a camera in 2024?
Away from the sensors, which have long been in a neck-and-neck race, the autofocus plays the biggest development difference and offers the most decisive subtle differences between the various brands that lead to a purchase decision. However, 2024 has once again shown that manufacturers are increasingly listening to the criticism of reviewers and the community in general. As a result, many cameras subsequently receive very interesting updates that include the autofocus, range of functions and so on. This is a valuable asset, as it costs manufacturers a lot of manpower that could have been invested in new developments. At the forefront: Nikon and Panasonic Lumix.
How many megapixels do I need?
How many megapixels the camera should have depends entirely on the area of application. For example, if you like photographing animals, you can crop the image a little more afterwards with more megapixels. One of the disadvantages of many megapixels is the file size, as images with 50 megapixels also take up around 50 MB+/- per RAW image on the memory card. This means that completely different problems arise with megapixel sensors, such as memory management, which should not be neglected as a cost factor in retrospect.
Which sensor size is relevant for me?
We say that the sensors are technically at a uniform level. But the size of the sensor, whether full-frame, APS-C or MFT - that is a question that depends on your budget and the areas of application of your photography. There is no reason to demonize one or the other sensor format from the ground up.
The best full-frame cameras 2024 in the budget up to €2,500
With all the new cameras that have been released, the year 2024 offers a wide variety of products, even from older vintages, which are still on the market and yet leave little to be desired. The full-frame dream is now quite affordable for many photographers.
Sony Alpha 7 III
The Alpha 7III is perhaps one of the treasures of recent years, because its autofocus is not only very good, but the camera also offers a well-rounded package in terms of price-performance! If you're looking to get into full-frame format, this is one of the cheapest cameras around. Another advantage is the large range of Sony FE-compatible lenses, including those from third-party manufacturers.
Canon EOS R8
Last year we still had the R6 MK 1 listed, unfortunately this is no longer available, but the EOS R8 combines some of its functions, only the Eos R8 does not have a built-in IBIS, but in most situations and without a focus on video, you don't need an Ibis.
Nikon Z5
The Nikon Z5 offers a very affordable entry into the full-frame format and two memory slots for SD cards, which can be equipped with inexpensive SD cards. The Z5 has good autofocus and, like the R6, can also be used with the old F lenses with an adapter.
Sony Alpha 7 IV
33 megapixels offer enough scope for super hybrid use. This camera is suitable for portraits, fine art, animal photography, sports photography and much more. The big difference to the Sony Alpha 7 III is the even better autofocus; the camera can also take more continuous shots until the buffer is full than the 7III. It also has very powerful video functions, such as 4K with 60 fps and S-Cinetone.
Nikon Z6 II
The Nikon Z6II is an interesting full-frame camera for anyone looking for a solid continuous shooting speed of 14 fps and two memory card slots. This camera also offers solid autofocus for 4K 60p video. Thanks to the two built-in processors, the autofocus is also much more powerful than the autofocus of the Z5. It is also particularly robust when it comes to weather conditions, as long as you use compatible Lens.
Lumix S5 II
The Lumix S5II is a very modern and strong full-frame package in terms of price-performance. It offers powerful autofocus and up to 5.9K video quality - with a built-in fan, this camera never overheats! Thanks to the continuous shooting speed of 30B/s, it is also suitable for a wide range of applications where a high continuous shooting speed is required. With the L-Alliance, this camera is strongly positioned, because not only Leica supports this mount, but other brands such as Sigma also offer lenses for this lens mount. The camera can also be operated with 2 UHS-II SD memory cards. If you are considering whether you want to continue using Canon EF or switch to a system camera, the S5ii and the Sigma MC-21 are a combination that allows you to continue using the old Canon EF Lens without any real limitations in autofocus performance.
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Canon EOS R6 II
The successor to the R6 offers improved autofocus performance and a new sensor that's perfect for sports and wildlife photography, supporting up to 40 fps with a pre-capture function that means you'll never miss a moment.
The powerful autofocus helps you to get a sharp subject in virtually every shot. It also has powerful video functions. Even in 2024, the autofocus of the R6II is completely competitive.
Nikon Z f
This gem is a Nikon Z6 III with a slimmed-down, vintage look. It offers the old sensor of the Z6II with the processor of the Nikon Z9, which means for us: next-generation autofocus performance with the image quality of the Nikon Z6 II. It is well suited for anyone who focuses more on photography, because the camera also offers very good support, because the camera can still recognize the eye with the help of Ki and if you now focus with a manual Lens, the camera shows you a green frame as soon as you have hit the focus.
Panasonic Lumix DC-S9 Black
The small full-frame compact camera, or as we should perhaps also call it: Lifestyle camera offers a lot, just no viewfinder, because photography with this camera is focused on the display. The camera offers a lot of what you want, such as good autofocus, long battery life and a very good app connection, with the Lumix LAB, you can transfer images and edit them on the phone and create or transfer LUTs. With the latest firmware, most of the points made by critics about the camera's video functions have also been overridden. Panasonic Lumix is also bringing some color back into the camera market with this camera, which is also available in blue, olive, red and white.
The best APS-C cameras up to €1,800
Compact APS-C cameras offer various advantages for many applications. We would like to introduce you to some of them for a budget of up to €1,800:
Canon EOS R7
The Canon EOS R7 is a little powerhouse. It has sensor stabilization, two memory card slots and 32.5 megapixels with a very high continuous shooting speed of up to 30 fps. On top of this comes the strong autofocus performance with scene recognition and tracking, which is paired with a pre-capture function and a tiltable display.
Sony Alpha 6700
The a 6700 is the latest APS-C camera from Sony. It offers image stabilization of the 26 megapixel sensor and very good video quality of 4K/120p. This camera also offers you top autofocus performance in darker situations as well as the latest Sony generation viewfinder and display.
Fujifilm X-S20
If you know the Fujifilm brand, you probably also love the vintage look of the cameras, which makes their operation a little unique. The X-S20 is particularly compact and offers up to 6.2K video quality at 30fps(Open Gate). It has the autofocus processor that is also built into the larger models such as the X-T5 or X-H2 / X-H2S. Even in the smallest camera, Fujifilm has not dispensed with the IBIS in the sensor. This means that shots in dark situations can be taken almost without hesitation. But what's really special is the film simulation, which allows you to recreate the look of Fuji's old analog films. So you can create unique vacation moments.
Fujifilm X-T5
It is the big sister of the X-S20 and has a more modern sensor with 40 megapixels. It also offers a very special retro charm with very good autofocus performance. The retro film simulations can also be found in this camera. The X-T5 has 2 UHS-II SD memory card slots, so no data is lost and the possibility to photograph an entire vacation and co. with 2 cards. It has sensor image stabilization and thus also offers images with little blurring in darker situations.
The best professional cameras 2024 or rather specialized cameras
Everyone defines professional cameras differently. We assume that these will exceed a price of €2,500 and offer more specific functions, which often go in the direction of sports photography / event photography. The requirements in these areas are particularly high and specific. Many of the cameras mentioned above are used by a wide variety of professionals; we are limiting ourselves here to just one model per brand. We also present the best cameras for more specialized applications, which may be under 2500€, but do not fit anywhere else.
Nikon Z6 III
This new camera offers a perfect powerhouse for every hybrid professional photographer. It's not on a par with the Z6II in terms of price, but it has the processor of the Z8 and Z9. The camera is the first camera to date to offer a smart connection to the Nikon Imaging Cloud, which allows you to back up your images from the camera directly to the cloud, where they are available free of charge for 30 days. That alone is exciting, but the camera is also blazingly fast at 120bps and also offers up to 6K video at 60p. Nikon's purchase of Red Digital also offers great potential for filmmakers, who have now recently released an extra LUT library with matching RED looks. Unlike the Nikon Z8 and Z9, this camera also offers a mechanical shutter, which will please many flash photographers who do not own a Profoto flash system, as HSS is still possible.
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Canon EOS R5 Mark II
The long-awaited successor to the EOS R5 has been presented, the R5II not only offers many megapixels (45Mp), but also many other powerful features such as: 8K60p or many practical AI functions such as upscaling with internal cropping. However, sports photographers will certainly be interested in the action priority, where the autofocus tracks the active player so that the right player is always in focus. The new larger viewfinder also makes up the overall package, which also features the new generation of eye tracking. We think this camera is very exciting for all photographers who place particularly high demands on themselves and their equipment.
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Nikon Z8
The little sister of the Nikon Z9. It offers everything that the larger Nikon Z9 can do - at a lower price. 45.7 megapixels, 8.3K at up to 60 fps and functions such as autocapture make everyday work easier for many professional photographers. For example, the Z8 can automatically photograph lightning in a thunderstorm or a mountain biker riding down a mountain.
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Fujifilm GFX100S II
Last year we had the GFX 100 II in the top cameras of the year, now its little sister is in the best cameras of the year. It forgoes some of the strong video features of the GFX 100 II and is designed more for the photographer. So if you are that one photographer who really prefers to shoot with their medium format camera rather than use this hybrid for photography and videography, you can work wonderfully with the GFX 100S II and save money that you can use for a GFX Lens.
Fujifilm X-H2S Housing
The X-H2s is the best option for those who need speed. Fast continuous shooting of 40 frames/sec is possible here with 26 megapixels. Thanks to the APS-C sensor, you can benefit from the crop factor and the telephoto focal length extension. As with the X-T5, the camera has powerful video features such as Open Gate. This makes the camera a very strong all-rounder for its price.
Sony Alpha FX30
We've grown very fond of the FX30 and it's one of the cameras in the FX line-up that we wouldn't want to miss. 26 megapixel sensor, strong autofocus, but the FX3's housing! This means you can make very good use of the crop factor to tease out a little more focal length, especially in the long focal length range. But not only that, the price with active cooling also makes the system a real stunner and is also an announcement to the popular FX3.
Panasonic Lumix DC-GH7
The Lumix GH7 is an exciting MFT camera that looks back on a glorious past with the GH5. Now the GH7 offers some exciting features: Open Gate, Arri LogC3 (via upgrade) or 32-bit float recording internally with the new XLR2 adapter. The GH7 is a new bolide for videographers, because the Panasonic Lumix DC-GH7 has finally received the phase hybrid autofocus, with which it now finally has a competitive autofocus.
Leica Q3 43
How could we forget the highlight from our presenter Stefan? The Leica Q3 43 is the second version of the popular Leica Q3, same sensor, same autofocus. However, a focal length of 43mm, so a little less wide angle, but no distortions and no chromatic aberrations. The camera is a dream for many Leica enthusiasts and street photographers!
Our conclusion
In 2024, the camera market will offer more and more cameras that are suitable for hybrid use, i.e. photography and videography. The most exciting developments are in the area of AI functions, where Canon is taking the functions further than just autofocus support in 2024 with the EOS R5II and EOS R1. Especially in the area of continuous shooting per second, there are now more cameras that enable up to 120bps. We have deliberately decided to exclude cameras with poor availability from the recommendation, specifically the Fujifilm x100vi, for example.
