The editorial team’s favourite cameras – October 2024 edition

Looking for a new camera but don’t know which one to get? The world of cameras is quite the jungle. In the Digitec editorial team, we’re lucky to get our hands on all the latest models. In this article, I’ll let you know which ones are currently my favourites. Some of the recommendations also come from my colleague David Lee. The list is updated regularly. You’ll find the previous version here.

We’re aware that there’s no blanket answer to the question, «What’s the best camera?» It all comes down to your budget, situation and preferences. The devices listed here are the ones we’d spend our own money on. Have your own experiences? We’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments!

Studio photography: Fujifilm GFX 100S II, Canon EOS R5

If you’re looking for ultimate image quality, you can’t get around a medium format sensor. For portraits, autofocus with reliable eye tracking is also extremely practical. The Fujifilm GFX 100S II offers both – and doesn’t even cost very much. It has a fantastic dynamic range, a good image stabiliser and an affordable range of lenses. The much more expensive GFX 100 II is hardly worth the extra cost.

In the full-frame range, the choice is huge. The Canon EOS R5‘s currently very good value for money. And now its successorincludes a better autofocus. But, in the studio, this was already pretty good on the R5. With 45 megapixels, the resolution is still up to date and of all the manufacturers, I like Canon’s skin tones the most. There’s also a wide selection of high-quality RF lenses.

Further solid options: Fujifilm GFX 50S II, Sony Alpha 7RV, Nikon Z7II

Landscape photography: Hasselblad X2D, Sony A7C R

The image quality of the Hasselblad X2D is fantastic. The resolution, dynamic range and noise behaviour are all outstanding. It’s my dream camera for landscape photography for totally esoteric reasons. It’s been a long time since I’ve had as much fun taking pictures as I did with this small Hasselblad. Being the most expensive camera in this list, the X2D costs 9,000 francs – without the lenses, which are also expensive. There’s no way to rationally justify this price. You can read why it’s still a legitimate choice on an unlimited budget in this review.

The Sony A7C R is a more reasonable value for money option. It has the same full-frame sensor with 61 megapixels as the larger A7R V but in a compact housing. However, you have to compromise on the viewfinder and video functions. Though neither aren’t so bad for landscapes. Since Sony also has many compact lenses in its range, you can put together a lightweight set with the A7C R that still takes high-quality photos.

Further solid options: Fujifilm GFX 100S II, Sony Alpha 7RV, Canon EOS R5, Canon EOS R5 Mark II, Nikon Z7II, Fujifilm X-H2, Fujifilm X-T5

Reportage photography: Canon EOS R1, Nikon Z6III

Since magazines often rely on images in portrait format, cameras with a fixed vertical grip are ever-present in the world of press photography. The Canon EOS R1 probably has the best autofocus on the market. So there’s little risk you won’t be able to capture the moment. The sensor doesn’t have a global shutter like the Sony Alpha 9 III which also means the image quality won’t be compromised. The competition is fierce. If you prefer a higher resolution, for example, you’ll be happier with the Nikon Z9.

The Nikon Z6III costs less and is also a good choice. Thanks to its partially stacked sensor, it’s extremely fast for its price range. The downsides to this technology are a slightly reduced dynamic range and a moderate resolution. On the other hand, the Z6III is an excellent all-rounder with well thought-out controls. And Nikon has recently been launching lightweight, affordable and yet good Z lenses that fit perfectly with the Z6III. Here’s my detailed review.

Further solid options: Nikon Z8, Sony Alpha 1, Sony Alpha 7 IV, Canon EOS R3, Canon R6 Mark II, Fujifilm X-H2S

Travel photography: Sony Alpha 6700, iPhone 16 Pro

When travelling, it’s handy to be able to cover all your needs with a single lens. In addition, the camera shouldn’t be too heavy. So, cameras with a smaller sensor are the way to go. In my comparison of compact system cameras, the Sony Alpha 6700 was the most appealing. Together with the delightful and inexpensive 18-135 mm lens, it’s a well-rounded package: good image quality, very good autofocus, excellent video functions.

A smartphone in a camera list? Sacrilege! Until a few years ago, it was a no brainer for me to take a camera with me on my travels. But nowadays I often just want to capture memories rather than create photographic masterpieces. Smartphones are ideal and suitable devices for this. Which brand you prefer is a matter of taste. I like the iPhone 16 Pro because it has three useful focal lengths, does many things well on its own, still lets me determine the look of the picture myself and, unlike the competition, doesn’t overdo the AI.

Further solid options: Fujifilm X-S20, OM System OM-5 Canon EOS R10, Sony Alpha 7C R

Sports and wildlife photography: Sony Alpha 1, Canon EOS R7

The Sony Alpha 1 will soon be four years old, but it’s still going strong. It’s fast enough for sports, wildlife and action photography and offers an outstanding autofocus. The 50-megapixel resolution ensures the subject is depicted in sufficient quality even if you crop the image substantially. This makes it much easier to capture nimble subjects. At 200-600 mm Sony offers a very good fitting lens, which – in contrast to the Alpha 1 – isn’t that expensive. You can find David’s hands-on review of the camera here.

With the EOS R7 and its two lightweight super-telephoto lenses, Canon proves that equipment for sports and wildlife photography doesn’t have to cost a fortune. The camera’s autofocus is sensational for this price. With the super telephoto lenses mentioned above, you can easily get snap shots of songbirds. Given the narrow apertures and the APS-C sensor, however, you’ll need a lot of light – ideally sunshine – for a high-quality image. Here you’ll find David’s review.

Further solid options: Nikon Z 9, Nikon Z8, Canon EOS R3 Fujifilm X-H2S

Filming: Sony FX3, Panasonic Lumix S5II

Many cameras today can make good videos. If you’re just planning on filming, I recommend the Sony FX3. Its 4K video quality is very good across the board, no matter the frame rate. Its housing is actively cooled and peppered with 1/4-inch thread holes, allowing you to attach all kinds of accessories without an additional case. The handling on the FX3 is also fully geared towards filming. For more details, click here. Note, a successor model to the FX3 is expected soon.

You can get the Panasonic Lumix S5II much cheaper. It also has a full-frame sensor and good video quality. The Lumix only films in 4K with a maximum of 60 fps, but up to 30 fps it can even do 6K . The autofocus has finally reached the high level of the competition thanks to the new phase system. In my review, the S5 II’s dynamic range and the colours in Panasonic’s log profile were impressive.

Further solid options: Nikon Z6III, Canon EOS R5 Mark II, Sony FX30, Panasonic Lumix GH7

Vlogging: Sony ZV-E1, Panasonic Lumix GH7

It has the same full-frame sensor as the FX3, but costs just half the price. The only thing you have to go without is active cooling and a more professional housing. On the other hand, the ZV-E1 is more compact. Combined with a lens like the Sony FE 20-70mm f/4 G, it makes for a versatile combination of excellent image quality and low weight. On top of that, it offers new AI features and a very aggressive digital image stabiliser. Read here to find out more.

The Panasonic Lumix GH7 has a Micro-Four-Thirds sensor. This has slight disadvantages in terms of image quality, but allows smaller lenses and as a result a compact overall system. The second reason why the GH7 is a vlogging favourite is the many pro features such as custom LUTs or 5.7K RAW recording directly in the camera. Just like its full-frame siblings, the small Panasonic comes with the great new phase-detection autofocus.

Further solid options: Panasonic Lumix S5 II, Nikon Z6III, Sony Alpha 6700, Sony Alpha ZV-E10 II