Japan is rich in top-notch manufacturers which make the world around us more convenient. It’s the motherland of such giants as Nikon and Canon. A multinational conglomerate corporation Sony was also born in this land of the rising sun.
Sony was founded in 1946 and now it is aimed at manufacturing of various electronic products. Since 1996 cameras have also become a part of Sony production. Thus, on today’s market you can come across different Sony digital cameras such as point-and-shoot, DSLR as well as mirrorless models.
Here you can find the list of the best Sony cameras and read about their key options and unique features thanks to which they stand out from others.
Best Sony Cameras You Can Find
Last update on 2023-09-26 // The links above are affiliate // Images from Amazon
Sony RX100 VII
A Dazzling Performance Followed by an Equally Dazzling Price
Sony offers a lot of high-quality cameras in its portfolio and RX100 series with its latest Mark VII iteration is certainly one of the better-positioned members of that “squad”. It is compact, fast and offers excellent video quality; characteristics appreciated by an every true camera fan.
Sony RX100 VII comes equipped with an excellent one-inch 20MP Exmor RS Stacked BSI-CMOS sensor (the same one you can find on Mark VI) and the equally amazing 24-200mm f/2.8-4.5 Zeiss Vario-Sonnar lens that is the main reason for its crisp and detailed video and photo image. Moreover, this camera is fitted with retractable EVF with a 2.36 million-dot resolution, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity and most importantly Real-time Tracking and Real-time Eye AF that are the key reason for its super-fast 0.02 seconds auto-focus performance.
This camera supports 30fps 4K recording and 120fps 1080p recording and allows for burst shooting at respectable 20fps and impressive 90fps in single Burst Shooting Mode. Also, it will let you capture high-speed videos with 1000fps rate, which makes it ideal for extreme sports lovers who like to record their every stunt.
Although impressive, Sony RX100 VII still has a few drawbacks. First of all, it’s the high price, as well as not that great ergonomic shape and lack of ND filter that makes capturing videos in bright light quite difficult. Nevertheless, this camera is one of the best there is and without a doubt the best compact Sony camera there is.
- Excellent 4K video
- Amazing AF speed
- Modest battery life
Sony a7 III
Great Sony Camera for YouTube Videos
Do you prefer mirrorless cameras? Sony a7 III is a good one to consider. This camera comes with advanced 24.2mp 35mm Exmor CMOS full-frame image sensor provided with a back-illuminated design. Note that Sony a7 III has an interchangeable lens.
Its sensitivity range reaches up to ISO 51,200 and can get expanded up to ISO 50-204,800 for stills. As well as RX100 VI this model supports 4K video mode. There is also fast hybrid AF with 693 phase-detection and 425 contrast detection AF points. In addition, there is face detection focusing. Still, its shooting speed isn’t very impressive and reaches only up to 10 fps but there is a great 5-axis image stabilization which prevents images from blurs caused by camera trembling and shaking.
Sony a7 III has an articulating touch screen which is convenient in use. This mirrorless camera is provided with the environmental sealing, so it won’t get stuck in the rain. There is also a built-in Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and NFC connectivity. Thus, you can immediately share taken photos with your family or friends.
- uncropped 4K video recording
- articulating touch screen
- environmental sealing
- built-in Wi-Fi, NFC and Bluetooth
- 2 storage slots
- 5-axis image stabilization
- wide sensitivity range
- long battery life (610 shots)
- only one UHS-II card slot
- expensive
- heavy body
Sony a9 II
The Best Sony Camera There Is
If you want the best of the best and have no limitations considering your budget, Sony a9 II is the ideal option for you. This camera will give you everything that you need and much more: 5GHz Wi-Fi connectivity, 1Gbps Ethernet connection, USB3.1 connection, two UHS-II SD card slots, excellent image quality, excellent handgrip, etc.
Sony a9 II comes with 24.2-megapixel 35 mm full-frame stacked CMOS sensor with integral memory, like its predecessor, as well as a brand new Sony’s BIONZ X- image processor and LSI chip that raise its overall performance to unbelievable heights. Moreover, this camera offers advanced image stabilization and an excellent auto-focus feature that, thanks to the algorithm changes, allows much faster and, more importantly, more accurate focusing. Also, its AF function offers Real-time Tracking and Real-time Eye AF that makes it very practical for capturing action moments of humans or animals.
Sony a9 II offers 20fps continuous shooting with AF/AE tracking, comes with solid battery life, it supports for ISO 100 to a maximum of ISO 51,200 and altogether has no major flaws, except for the price.
In other words, if you want the best Sony camera and one of the best cameras on the market in general, and you have a huge budget at your disposal, Sony a9 II is a choice that simply cannot disappoint you.
- 20fps continuous shooting
- Good connectivity
- Excellent image quality
- Expensive
Sony Alpha 7C
A Compact Full Frame Mirrorless Camera From Sony
Even if the Sony Alpha 7C was released last September, it’s still one of the best full-frame mirrorless cameras in 2021. Retailing for a little bit less than $2k, this is the epitome of Sony’s obsession with crafting small and super-high-tech cameras.
The Alpha 7C is the successor of the famous Alpha 7 and Alpha 7R, released almost ten years ago, which were the world’s first full-frame mirrorless cameras. While the Alpha 7C retains the same SLR design, it has become larger and, obviously, better from all points of view.
To begin with design, the Alpha 7C is clearly not pocketable nor exceptionally small, yet it feels rock-solid and will not slip out of your hands, being fairly easy to carry, i.e. it’s basically the perfect type of small camera, if such a thing even exists. Connectivity is taken care of by a mic port, a headphone jack, a micro HDMI port, a USB-C port, and one SD card slot, all of which are protected by hinged doors.
There’s also a fully-articulated screen, which is fairly easy to flip around, whip up and play with according to your needs, and needless to say, it feels sturdy and well built.
In essence, the Sony Alpha 7C is a 24 MP advanced full-frame mirrorless camera, featuring a BSI-CMOS sensor, a fully articulated touchscreen, built-in image stabilization and Sony E Lens mount. What’s really cool about this camera is that its high-end imaging hardware boasts impressive specs for the price, i.e. the 24 MP sensor offers a sensitivity range of ISO 100-51,200, plus extended settings ranging from ISO 50 to 204,800.
Moreover, the sensor works in tandem with a Bionz X processor, which is the exact same model employed in the top of the line Alpha 7R IV, and supports shooting @10 fps, with a 115-frame raw buffer, or 8fps with live view between frames. We must also mention the hybrid AF system, that uses 693 phase-detection points and 425 contrast-detection points, and it makes for the company’s industry-leading AI-based autofocus technology.
Needless to say, you’ll also benefit from Sony’s excellent Real-time Eye AF and Real-Time Tracking. Video recording options include 4K resolution at up to 30 fps, or Full HD up to 120fps. Finally, you can connect the Alpha 7C to your smartphone via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth using the free Imaging Edge Mobile app for Android and iOS.
- Impressive image quality
- Superb AF system
- Solid battery life
- USB charging
- 5-axis stabilization
- Stellar video capabilities
- Very portable for a full-frame
- Cramped hand grip
Sony Alpha 7R IV
The Best All-around Sony Camera for Both Professionals and Enthusiasts
Finding a high-quality camera among the Sony devices is something rather usual; however, finding one that offers great image quality, excellent autofocus and great versatility, narrows the search a bit, and the first name that should come to your mind in that case, is Sony Alpha 7R IV.
This is a camera that is multifunctional and offers images with great dynamic range and excellent sharpness, but unfortunately, costs a lot of money. Nevertheless, the level of its image quality proves that it is worth it.
Sony Alpha 7R IV comes with an exceptional 61.2MP BSI CMOS full-frame sensor and Sony BIONZ x processor that is responsible for the high-quality noise reduction. Moreover, it is equipped with 5.76M dot OLED viewfinder, two SD UHS-II slots, and offers decent connectivity with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and NFC connections.
More importantly, this device can create 4K video in full sensor width or with the APS-C/Super 35 crop (however, only in 30fps rate) and supports for four of 16-shot high-resolution photography that allows for the creation of images that are up to 240MP in size. Furthermore, it provides for 10fps burst shooting and comes fitted with an excellent hybrid auto-focus (567 Phase detection AF points and 425 contrast AF points), as well as Real-time tracking and Real-time Eye-tracking that are delivering the extremely sharp and detailed image.
Overall, if you want the best Sony camera, Sony Alpha 7R IV is pretty much the top of the offering and more importantly, a device that will amaze you.
- Excellent resolution
- Great AF
- Easy handling
- Only 30fps 4K recording
- Expensive
Sony ZV-1
The Pocket Rocket
The Sony ZV1-1 would make for the ideal choice if you’re an avid vlogger looking for an affordable compact camera. Basically, the ZV-1 was specifically designed for content creators, YouTubers and vloggers, and it features an excellent flip screen plus a powerful mic, all for less than $1k. What’s not to like, right?
Despite its relatively low price, the Sony ZV-1 is the best pocket vlogging camera money can buy, and includes highly advanced features borrowed from the Sony RX100 series, like its class-leading AF system, which combined with design tweaks make the ZV-1 the perfect choice for shooting videos from the hip.
Arguably, the main selling point of the Sony ZV-1 is the combo between Sony’s Real-time tracking and Real-time Eye AF systems and a bright 24-70mm f/1.8-2.8 lens, which work alongside its 1’s 1-inch sensor to produce high-quality vlogs, with consistent focus and a pleasing background blur.
The camera also offers a 3.5 mm mic port, so you can add high-quality audio to your videos, and even a hotshue mount, which allows you to improve you street-art capabilities by using a LED light or a shotgun microphone.
We must also mention some of ZV-1’s best features, the likes of AF sensitivity options, the built-in ND filter, and S-Log2 profiles, which are great for users looking to color grade their videos. Windows users also get live streaming capabilities, and all these things put together make for an incredibly powerful compact camera.
Bottom line, this is arguably the best video all-rounder in its class.
- Industry-leading AF
- Bright lens
- Pocketable
- Side-flipping screen
- Hotshoe and 3.5mm mic port
- Instant bokeh mode
- Impressive mic quality
- Complicated UI
- Lacks USB-C
Sony Alpha a6400
A More Budget-Oriented Sony Camera
If you are after a solid Sony camera that offers a lot of customization options, great auto-focus and overall delivers a good-quality photo and video, Sony Alpha a6400 is the device for you. Although it isn’t cheap, it is still much more affordable than, for instance, Sony Alpha 7R IV or Sony a9 II; therefore, it’s much more budget-oriented and with a pretty good value for the money.
Sony Alpha a6400 is equipped with a 24MP APS-C sensor and a new Bionz X processor, that are the most responsible for its quality image delivery, as well as amazing auto-focus with 425-pt phase detection and Real-Time Tracking that is doing miracles for a wide variety of Sony cameras.
This camera offers good connectivity with Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and NFC and a rather disappointing SD slot compatibility, since the slot supports only UHS-I standard. Moreover, a6400 allows for 30fps 4K recording and 11fps burst shooting and offers decent ISO range from 100 to 3200.
On the other hand, this camera lacks the in-body stabilization and RAW processing; nevertheless, it offers many useful features such as great battery life, USB charging, weather-proof design, slow motion 1080p video, and most importantly, detailed and color-accurate imagery.
Altogether, Sony Alpha a6400 isn’t a perfect device. However, if you want the best budget Sony camera, be aware that this one offers pretty much the best ratio of features and the price.
- Great customization options
- Amazing auto-focus
- Good battery life
- Excellent 4K video
- No in-body stabilization
- slot is only UHS-I compatible
- No RAW processing
