Choosing a camera is not just about resolution or price. It is about finding something that matches how you like to shoot. Some photographers want a compact mirrorless camera that travels easily. Others want an action cam that can handle rough hikes, or a full-frame system that delivers the best possible image quality. With so many options today, there is a camera built for almost every creative style.
We tested the top models across categories to help you decide which one fits your needs. Whether you are filming your first vlog, shooting portraits or capturing fast-moving action, these are the best cameras to help you grow your skills.
Best cameras for 2026
Best mirrorless cameras
Mirrorless is the largest camera category in terms of models available, so it’s the best way to go if you’re looking for something with the most advanced features. Canon and Nikon recently announced they’re discontinuing development of new DSLRs, simply because most of the advantages of that category are gone, as I detailed in a video. The biggest selling feature of a mirrorless camera is the ability to change lenses depending on the type of shooting you want to do.
Canon Best mirrorless camera for most people Canon EOS R10 My top pick under $1,000 is still the 24.2-megapixel Canon R10, which is a great model for both photographers and content creators. It can shoot bursts at up to 23 fps in electronic shutter mode, and offers 4K 10-bit at 30p with supersampling and no crop, or 4K 60p with a 1.5x crop. It has a fully articulating display for vlogging, along with a 2.36-million dot electronic viewfinder. It uses Canon’s Dual Pixel AF with subject recognition mode that works in both photo and video modes. The main drawback is a lack of in-body stabilization. $980 at Amazon
Nikon Best for most - runner up Nikon Z 50 II Though not quite as pretty and compact as my previous pick, the 21-megapixel Nikon Z fc, the new Z50 II offers improved performance and more advanced tech across the board. That means you can now shoot 4K video at up to 60 fps instead of just 30 fps (albeit with a crop) and shoot bursts (JPEG only) at up to 30 fps. Autofocus has been overhauled to be more responsive and now includes 3D tracking with AI modes for animals, birds and vehicles. There’s also an auto mode that selects the subject for you — a handy feature for beginners. $907 at B&H Photo
Sony Best for content creators Sony ZV-E10 II The Sony ZV-E10 II is the best camera for vloggers, edging Fujifilm’s new creator model the X-M5 thanks to the superior autofocus. It comes with a 26-megapixel APS-C sensor that’s much faster than before, so rolling shutter wobble is mostly a non-issue. You can shoot supersampled 4K video at up to 30p using the full sensor width, or 4K 60p with a small 1.1x crop. It also supports 10-bit S-Log3 video capture, LUT imports and more. The main drawbacks are the lack of an electronic viewfinder and mechanical shutter. $998 at B&H Photo
Nikon Best midrange - runner up Nikon Z6 III Think of the Nikon Z6 III as a mini Z8, thanks to the incredible performance of what the company calls a partially stacked sensor. You can shoot RAW bursts at up to 20 fps in electronic shutter mode while nailing sharp shots thanks to the much-improved autofocus. On the video side, it supports 6K RAW at up to 60 fps, or 4K 120p. The only thing holding it back from dethroning Sony is image quality that’s compromised a bit by the relatively low resolution and reduced dynamic range. $2,497 at B&H Photo
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