The editorial team’s favourite cameras – September 2023 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. For the «Sports and Wildlife Photography» and «Travel Photography» categories, my colleague David Lee was kind enough to provide his recommendations. The list is updated regularly. You’ll find the previous version from April 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 100 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. This combination is currently only available in one camera: the Fujifilm GFX 100 II. It offers fantastic image quality and all modern conveniences like a good image stabiliser and extensive video functions. There’s no better tool for the studio. You can find the detailed test review of the GFX 100 II [here].(/page/fujifilm-gfx-100-ii-im-test-das-ultimative-werkzeug-29494).

In the full-frame range, for the studio, I’d go for the Canon EOS R5. It now has three years under its belt and is therefore relatively cheap for its performance. With 45 megapixels, the resolution is still up to date, and of all manufacturers I like Canon’s skin tones the best. Otherwise the R5 is a very good all-round camera. David hardly found any weak points in his test. If you have time, it might be worth waiting because the R5’s successor is expected to come out next year. But it’ll be more expensive to begin with.

Further solid options: Fujifilm GFX 100S II, Sony Alpha 7RV, Nikon Z 7 II

Landscape photography: Hasselblad X2D, Fujifilm X-H2

The image quality of the Hasselblad X2D is fantastic. The resolution, dynamic range and noise behaviour are all outstanding. But it’s my dream camera for landscape photography for purely esoteric reasons. It’s been a long time since I’ve had as much fun taking pictures as I did with this amazingly small medium format camera. The colours are exactly to my taste, the haptics and ergonomics on another level. 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 my review.

At the other end of the value-for-money spectrum is the Fujifilm X-H2. The camera costs 1,800 francs and still offers a very good resolution of 40 megapixels. Thanks to the APS-C sensor, both the body and lenses are nice and small. Noise performance at high ISO isn’t quite as good as that of a full frame due to the small sensor, but this isn’t particularly relevant in landscape photography. Even the imperfect autofocus isn’t a problem with static objects. You can find the detailed review of the X-H2 here.

Further solid options: Fujifilm GFX 100S, Sony Alpha 7RV, Canon EOS R5, Nikon Z 7 II

Press photography: Nikon Z 9, Canon EOS R6 Mark II

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 Nikon Z 9 is an up-to-date model offering just that. It’s blazingly fast, extremely robust and super comfortable to hold. Its image quality is excellent, as is its autofocus. And should you want to shoot a video every now and then, the Z 9 is up there. The only drawbacks are its weight and price. The latter also being at the professional end of the spectrum. See more details here. If the vertical grip doesn’t do anything for you, you’ll get practically the same performance in a more compact body in the Nikon Z 8.

The Canon EOS R6 Mark II costs less and is also a good choice. It’s fast and has very good autofocus and noise performance, especially in photos. But the most important aspect in this category is, in my opinion, the fact that the current generation of Canon bodies feels great to hold. The R6 Mark II feels well balanced, even with heavier lenses like the RF 70-200mm f/2.8L. I also think the 24-megapixel resolution is a good middle ground between quality and file size when shooting thousands of images. Here’s my detailed review of the Canon EOS R6 Mark II.

Further solid options: Sony Alpha 1, Canon EOS R3, Sony Alpha 7 IV, Fujifilm X-H2S

Travel photography: Sony Alpha 6700, Sony RX100 V A

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. Therefore, cameras with a smaller sensor are the way to go. In my comparison test of compact system cameras, the Sony Alpha 6700 was the most appealing. Together with the pleasingly good and inexpensive 18-135 mm lens, it’s a well-rounded package: good image quality, very good autofocus, excellent video functions.

For many years now, the Sony RX100 has proved itself as the ideal companion on hikes and walks. It fits in your pocket, is always ready to go and still offers everything you need. The viewfinder in particular is handy. David’s favourite model would be the RX100 V A, but it’s no longer available. The new model is the RX100 VII, which is more expensive but has more range.

Other great 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 is no longer brand new, but it’s still top-notch. It’s fast enough for sports, wildlife and action photography and offers an outstanding autofocus. The 50-megapixel resolution ensures that the subject is depicted in sufficient quality even if you crop the image substantially. This makes capturing nimble subjects much easier. With 200-600 mm Sony offers a very good, perfectly 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 sensationally good 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 really high-quality image. Here you’ll find David’s review.

Further solid options: Nikon Z 9, Nikon Z 8, Canon EOS R3 Fujifilm X-H2S

Filming: Sony FX3, Panasonic Lumix S5II

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. Even at 120 fps, cropping is minimal and the choice of file formats is huge. Its case is actively cooled and peppered with 1/4-inch thread holes, allowing you to attach all kinds of accessories without an additional case. Operation of the FX3 is also fully geared towards filming. It comes with an XLR handle where you can connect professional microphones. For more details, click here.

The Panasonic Lumix S5II II is much cheaper than the FX3. It has a full-frame sensor, too, and its video quality is also good. The Lumix only films in 4K with a maximum of 60 fps, but it can even do 6K with up to 30 fps. 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 also stood out in a particularly positive way.

Further solid options: Canon EOS R5 C, Sony FX30

Vlogging: Sony ZV-E1, Sony FX30

Are you an aspiring vlogger? My recommendation for you is the Sony ZV-E1. It has the same full-frame sensor as the FX3, but costs just about half the price. The only thing you give up is active cooling and the more professional case. In return, the ZV-E1 is much 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.

Want the benefits of the Sony FX3’s professional body, but don’t want to shell out 5,000 francs? The Sony FX30 is the answer for you. For less than half the price, you’ll only have to make one sacrifice: instead of a full-frame sensor, the FX30 only comes in APS-C size. This can be an advantage, especially for vlogging, since you can make use of the correspondingly smaller APS-C lenses. This reduces the weight. The quality loss compared to the large sensor is workable, as seen in my short-format review.

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