Trends are certainly a thing within the photographic community, whether they involve rubbing Vaseline on the front of your lens (please DON'T do this) to picking up an old film camera and shooting 36 frames of nostalgia. However, some trends lean towards buying the best cameras on the market today, or the most trendy, which can be complete worlds apart.
Camera retailer B&H Photo Video has recently shed some light on its best-selling cameras of 2022. While some are what you'd expect – cameras with high megapixel counts or a high number of frames per second, one camera (we'll let you guess which one) will leaving you scratching your head going: "really?" Scroll down below to see if your next camera is on this list.
The Sony A7 IV signals a step up in ambition for Sony's ‘vanilla’ A7 model. Traditionally, the Sony A7 has been the range’s entry-level camera, with the ‘R’ models adding resolution and the ’S’ models adding speed/sensitivity. But there’s nothing ordinary about the Sony A7 IV, and while it does technically superseded the A7 III, it’s an altogether more advanced camera that, we think, targets a higher-level audience. Compared to the A7 III, the A7 IV is a major step up – but in price as well as features. The Sony A7 III will keep going for now, so it makes for a tricky buying decision, not helped by the A7 IV's patchy availability. If you see one, get it! Check out the best Sony camera guide for more.
The Canon EOS R6 is the serious enthusiast's model of the EOS R series, taking the place of the slightly muddled EOS R, and for those who don't need the leading-edge tech and resolution of the EOS R5. What you get on the EOS R6 is a top shooting speed of 20fps, and autofocus that borrows the deep-learning tech from the EOS-1D X Mark III, meaning it gets better as you use it. The resolution is just 20.1MP, which might be too low for some tastes, but this means the pixels are larger, for better low-light performance. Check out the best Canon camera guide to find out more.
This brightly colored disposable camera ups the usual 27 exposures to a generous 39 on Kodak Kodacolor film and comes with a built-in flash offering a 4ft to 10ft range. This is all wrapped in a durable plastic casing that should withstand a few knocks. It feels like the adage ‘can’t go wrong’ should have been invented for cameras such as this. Note: 27-exposure versions also exist, but the "27+12" 39-exposure option is usually better value.
The Canon EOS R5 is a technological bombshell. It's Canon's new flagship mirrorless camera, and at first glance seems to be trying to corner every segment of the market at once. It's got a 45MP sensor that produces images of incredible detail thanks to a new low-pass filter, as well as the class-leading autofocus system of the Canon EOS-1D X Mark III, with a whopping 5,940 AF points for photography and 4,500 for video.
If you are in the market for one of the latest mirrorless wonder-cameras but are confused by the choice, it’s perhaps easier to say who the new 12.1MP Sony A7S III is NOT best suited for. If you want one camera to take video and incredibly high-resolution stills, it’s definitely not for you. If you are a filmmaker who absolutely needs 6K or 8K or wants to shoot video raw files recorded internally, then it’s not for you either. But if your work is predominantly video in 4K or HD, and use the stills function to take pictures to use online or medium sized prints, then this is the camera that will suit your needs. And that’s what the vast majority of filmmakers want from their camera right now.
The Nikon Z6 II is a light refresh of the original Z6, with a second memory card slot and faster processor bringing a bump to burst shooting, now up to 14fps, and the ability to record 4K video at 60fps. it's a terrific all-round camera at a very good price, and this camera's build quality, design and handling are excellent – as is its in-body stabilization. The 24MP sensor sounds only a small step up from Nikon's 20.9MP APS-C mirrorless models, but in combination with the much larger full frame sensor area, it delivers a big leap in image quality, especially in low light. If you're into vlogging and filmmaking, not just stills, this is the Nikon to get, but check out the best Nikon camera guide for alternatives.
While the new Sony ZV-E10 spiritually supersedes it, the Sony ZV-1 remains a great option that doesn't require you to faff with lens changing. Some might dismiss the ZV-1 as yet another Sony RX100 variant, but it’s much more than that. The sensor and lens might be familiar, but the body, the controls, the audio and the rear screen are all new and different and optimized brilliantly for vlogging. There are a couple of niggles. It's cheaper than the flagship Sony RX100 VII camera, despite offering a better proposition for vloggers. Just as the Sony ZV-E10 re-invented Sony's APS-C mirrorless cameras at a lower price for a vlogging audience, so the ZV-1 does the same for Sony's previously pricey Sony RX100 compact camera range.
The Canon EOS 5DS R was the long-awaited follow-up to the aging Canon EOS 5D Mark III and brought with it new technology and a number of significant upgrades. Including its full-frame 50.6MP CMOS sensor, the camera captures ultra-high resolution images suitable for large-scale printing and extensive, creative cropping. The Dual DIGIC 6 Image Processors provides the wherewithal to handle this abundance of information, enabling fast performance speeds and top-of-the-line image quality. The 5DS R also features video capabilities of capturing HD 1080p at 30 fps. Today this DSLR is still a powerhouse camera, and if you're happy with no 4K video, it's a steal.
The Nikon Z7 II was Nikon's flagship full-frame mirrorless camera until the mighty Nikon Z9 came along. Even so, while the Z7 II can't match the Z9's continuous shooting speed or 8K video, it delivers the same super-high resolution and easily enough sports shooting/video capability for everyday non-specialist use. This Mark II version brings dual memory card slots and faster processing, but retains the excellent design and handling of the original, and Nikon's equally excellent in-body stabilization system. Nikon has quickly built an impressive range of pro-spec Nikkor Z lenses, so the Z7 II makes an extremely good all-round camera for professional use – and Nikon's pricing is very competitive too. We really rate the Nikon Z7 II not for any flashy, headline-grabbing specs but because it does everything really well at a good price.
No matter what your interest or skill level, it goes to show that any camera can become popular. Who would have thought five years ago that a Kodak disposable camera would take third place over Canon, Nikon and Sony?
The best thing about this list from B&H Photo Video is that all of them are in stock and ready to ship, so if you have been wanting a camera featured on this list, maybe now is the time to buy!
