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.
The best for most people
A powerful all-rounder with an impressive sensor, top-spec autofocus and solid video specs, the Sony A7 IV is the mirrorless hybrid to beat.
The best high-res for pros
It’s not cheap and others do video better, but the A7R V is a high-res pro workhorse with excellent image quality and impressive overall performance.
The best full-frame vlogging
Like a 4K film crew that fits in your pocket, the ZV-E1 gives content creators all the tools they need to produce high-quality handheld vlogs in any light.
Best by use-case
The best for travel
With a best-in-class 61MP sensor, fantastic subject-tracking autofocus and a small form factor, the A7C R is a truly capable, if costly, travel camera.
The best for video
A winner in low light, the A7S III spoils video fans with big pixels, excellent IBIS and an articulating screen – plus no overheating issues to speak of.
The best APS-C camera
It’s not a perfect hybrid, but great handling, compact dimensions and clever AI autofocus make Sony’s flagship APS-C camera a strong option.
The best professional
With a high-res sensor, rapid burst speeds, lightning AF and 8K raw video, the Sony A1 is all the camera most pros could ask for – and priced to match.
The best value video
A compact tool for content creators, the FX30 pairs Cinema Line skills with tidy dimensions to deliver amazing video on the fly, no EVF required.
The best Sony compact
This Sony compact puts emphasis on the premium, but justifies its price with strong image quality, sharp 4K videos and sticky face detection autofocus.
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The best beginner Sony
Easy to use and blessed with strong image quality, autofocus and battery life, the A6100 is a reliable choice for beginners to learn and grow with.
The best compact for vlogging
A pocket vlogging camera with a useful side-flipping screen, the Sony ZV-1 offers plenty of powerful video features in a very portable package.
The best Sony bridge camera
If you’re happy to pay for a true all-in-one with powerful zoom, strong performance and superb image quality, there’s nothing like the RX10 IV.
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
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.
- Read our in-depth Sony A7 IV review
The best high-res Sony camera
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.
- Read our in-depth Sony A7R V review
The best Sony camera for vlogging
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
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.
- Read our in-depth Sony A7C R review
The best Sony camera for video
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.
- Read our in-depth Sony A7S III review
