Best Sony camera 2024: the top choices for both stills and video

Sony A7 IV lead image
(Image credit: Future)

The best Sony camera for your needs and budget could well be different to the next Sony fan’s. That’s why our list below covers a range of top options from Sony’s camera catalogue, all extensively tested by our expert team. Whether you want a compact vlogging tool or a professional hybrid, you’ll find Sony’s best camera gear reviewed and rated right here.

After countless hours of hands-on testing, we think the top option for most people will be the Sony A7 IV. With its impressive full-frame sensor, class-leading autofocus and solid video specs, it’s a truly modern all-rounder. In fact, it takes top honours as both the best mirrorless camera and the best camera for photography. But we know that you might well be looking for something different. If you’re focused on video, for example, we highly recommend the Sony ZV-E1. Or for beginners, the Sony A6100.

When we test Sony cameras, we consider everything from handling and usability, to performance, battery life and overall image quality. We think specifically about how users of different skill levels and interests will interact with each camera model in the real world, and use the results to inform our recommendations. Whether you’re new to Sony cameras or you’ve used plenty in the past, you should find an option here that works for you.

Top 3 picks

The round-up below gives you an instant overview of the best Sony camera for each type of photographer. When you find one that looks right for you, use the links beneath each entry to jump down to our full summary.

Best by use-case

Written by
Tim Coleman
Written by
Timothy Coleman

Tim is TechRadar's Cameras Editor, with more than 15 years in the photo video industry. Tim has shot with a wide range of Sony cameras in his time as a photographer and tech journalist, giving him unique insight into what makes a great Sony camera. He notes, "Sony’s stable isn’t short of variety, and that’s reflected in our round-up: you’ll find capable Sony cameras fit for a whole host of shooting pursuits, from travel to video to studio duties."

The best Sony cameras in 2024

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Below you'll find full write-ups for each of the best Sony cameras in our list. We've tested each one extensively, so you can be sure that our recommendations can be trusted.

The best Sony camera overall

The best Sony camera for most people

Specifications

Type: Mirrorless
Sensor: Full-frame CMOS
Megapixels: 33MP
Lens mount: Sony E
Autofocus: 759 phase detection points
Screen type: 3-inch vari-angle touchscreen, 1,037,000 dots resolution
Max burst speed: 10fps
Video: 4K
User level: Enthusiast

Reasons to buy

+
Impressive 33MP sensor
+
Class-leading autofocus

Reasons to avoid

-
Pricier than its predecessor
-
Overkill for beginners

Sony A7 IV sample images

As the successor to the celebrated A7 III, the Sony A7 IV range has big full-frame shoes to fill. Luckily, we think the A7 IV takes that baton and runs away with it. Introducing a sharper 33MP sensor, powerful Bionz XR processor, and upgraded video skills (including support for 10-bit footage), the A7 IV proved a true hybrid workhorse in our review. It also benefits from an improved viewfinder, a new vari-angle touchscreen, and a huge 828-shot buffer for CFexpress cards. 

As is often the case, that flexibility doesn’t come without compromise: there’s a heavy crop on 4K footage and, in testing, we found that it’s not the easiest camera for beginners to use. A price increase means it doesn’t have the same entry-level appeal as its predecessor, while rivals like the Canon EOS R6 also offer faster burst shooting rates – although Sony’s class-leading autofocus skills do plenty to compensate for this. Taken as a whole, the Sony A7 IV is a worthy successor to the A7 III. It’s a fantastically versatile option that could be all the camera most people ever need.

The best high-res Sony camera

The best high-resolution Sony camera for professionals

Specifications

Type: Mirrorless
Sensor: Full-frame CMOS
Megapixels: 61MP
Lens mount: Sony E
Autofocus: 693-point phase detection
Screen type: Articulating 3.2-inch touchscreen LCD, 2,100,000 dots resolution
Max burst speed: 10fps
Video: 8K
User level: Professional

Reasons to buy

+
Excellent autofocus
+
Impressive ISO handling

Reasons to avoid

-
4K video only up to 60fps
-
Demands high-quality lenses

Sony Alpha A7R V sample images

Like its predecessor, the A7R V is the sharpest full-frame mirrorless camera in Sony’s current range. It also addresses many of the shortcomings of the A7R IV before it, making it a more rounded option for professionals. The improvements are plentiful: a new 61MP sensor and Bionz XR processor combine to produce incredibly detailed stills. You also get an impressive eight stops of image stabilization, plus Real-time Recognition AF that’s driven by AI. Based on our review, the result is not a perfect camera, but one that can effectively detect subjects, and capture them in crisp clarity.

In testing, we found it best suited to landscape and studio work, where subjects most benefited from the high levels of detail. However, it only delivers its best when paired with top-end optics, which add a significant margin to the already substantial price tag. Many photographers will find the pixel count overkill, while a maximum 4K frame rate of 60fps won’t be enough for serious videographers. Still, with an EVF borrowed from the A7S III and a useful four-axis articulating touchscreen, we found the A7R V a joy to shoot with.

The best Sony camera for vlogging

The best full-frame vlogging camera from Sony

Specifications

Type: Mirrorless
Sensor: Full-frame CMOS
Megapixels: 12.1MP
Lens mount: Sony E
Autofocus: 759 phase detection points
Screen type: 3.0-inch vari-angle touchscreen, 1,037,000 dots resolution
Max burst speed: 10fps
Video: 4K
User level: Enthusiast

Reasons to buy

+
Cheapest route to Sony A7S III sensor
+
Great for high-quality handheld vlogs

Reasons to avoid

-
Single SD card slot restricts capabilities
-
Smart AI features are buried in menus

Sony ZV-E1 sample images

Small, lightweight and equipped with the latest AI smarts, we think the Sony ZV-E1 is up there with the best vlogging cameras for solo content creators. It shoehorns the full-frame sensor from the A7S III into tiny but relatively robust packaging, and pairs it with the AI chipset from the Sony A7R V. Based on our in-depth tests, the result is a camera that makes high-quality vlogging as straightforward as possible. Our review found that it captured clean 4K video in any light, while in-body image stabilization worked superbly to produce some of the smoothest handheld footage possible without a gimbal. 

And thanks to framing tools that automatically track subjects across the full image, it puts an AI production crew in your pocket, leaving very little to fix in post. That said, with no cooling vents and just a single card slot, it’s not a camera for heavy users. Slow-motion shooters are also limited to 4K at 60p until a firmware updated scheduled for June 2023. But as the cheapest way to get the A7S III sensor, many filmmakers and vloggers will find that the ZV-E1 offers outstanding value.

The best Sony camera for travel

The best Sony camera for travel

Specifications

Type: Mirrorless
Sensor: Full-frame CMOS
Megapixels: 61MP
Lens mount: Sony E
Autofocus: 693 hybrid detection points
Screen type: 3.0-inch vari-angle touchscreen, 1,037,000 dots resolution
Max burst speed: 8fps
Video: 4K/60p
User level: Enthusiast

Reasons to buy

+
Top Alpha sensor in compact body
+
Fantastic autofocus performance

Reasons to avoid

-
More expensive than A7C II
-
Awkward viewfinder

Sony A7C R sample images

The Sony A7C was already one of the best full-frame travel cameras. Its successor ups the ante with a 61MP resolution, fantastic autofocus and Sony’s latest AI-powered subject-tracking. From our review, we think the result is pretty much the ultimate travel camera. The A7C R produces incredible stills in almost any situation, with its extra pixels offering lots of cropping flexibility. The AF can intelligently track a range of subjects, and video proved decent too, with sharp 4K 30p videos taken from the sensor’s 7K readout.

As before, it’s a camera that fits neatly in the hand, with a flip-out screen and control dials adding to the user experience. Its discreet dimensions do come with some compromises, though: in testing, we felt the absence of an AF joystick, and also found the small viewfinder restrictive. The body itself can also feel mis-matched with bigger lenses. That said, if quality is a priority and you’re willing to pay for it, there’s no better blend of size and performance in a travel camera.

The best Sony camera for video

The best Sony camera for videographers

Specifications

Type: Mirrorless
Sensor Size: Full Frame
Resolution: 12.1MP
Lens: Sony E
Viewfinder: 9.44MP EVF
Monitor: 1.44m-dot articulating screen
Maximum continuous shooting speed: 10fps
Movies: 4K at 120fps
User level: Intermediate / expert

Reasons to buy

+
Impressive low light skills
+
Fully articulating touchscreen

Reasons to avoid

-
Pricey 
-
Less well-suited for stills

Sony A7S III sample video

A favorite among videographers and well-heeled YouTubers, the Sony A7S III is the best video camera outside of its cinema range. Its main aim is to be the best 4K camera you can buy, and it achieves this by keeping its resolution low and avoiding the temptation of moving up to 8K. Based on our tests, video quality is predictably superb, with the option of 4K/120fps for slo-mo sequences, plus the ability to shoot 16-bit raw via its full-size HDMI port.

Thanks to its high-resolution OLED viewfinder, plus a fully-articulating screen with a much-improved touch menu system, we think it's a fun camera to use. As you'd expect for a pro-level camera, the A7S III's audio options are also strong, with headphone and microphone ports, plus compatibility with the XLR-K3M hot-shoe accessory from Sony for up to four audio inputs. It's certainly pricey, but the Sony A7S III remains the best at what it does.

The best Sony APS-C camera