Whether you’re a new user or seasoned enthusiast, the best Sony camera models have plenty to offer. From compact vlogging tools to professional hybrids, the Sony camera range features options for every photographer. The difficult bit is deciding which one is right for your needs and budget.
We think the Sony A7 IV is the best mirrorless camera you can buy right now, and the top full-frame option for most people. With an impressive sensor, class-leading autofocus and solid video specs, it’s a modern all-rounder that’s ideal for hybrid shooting. That said, if you’re a pro in search of something that can hold its own against medium format machinery, we also highly recommend the Sony Alpha A7R V, with its super high-resolution sensor and sophisticated autofocus.
If footage is your focus, we suggest taking a look at the Sony ZV-E1 – a full-frame model with AI focus tricks that make it one of the best vlogging cameras. Alternatively, the Sony FX30 is a pocket-sized hybrid with the pro-grade skills of Sony’s Cinema Line, while the Sony A7S III has long been a favorite among videographers with bigger budgets.
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. Each entry has been extensively tried and tested by our expert team. For more information on how we review cameras – and how to pick the best one for your needs and budget – head to the bottom of this page. We regularly update this list with Sony’s latest releases, and the links beneath each entry take you straight to the best Sony camera deals.
The best Sony cameras in 2023:
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As the successor to the celebrated A7 III, the latest all-rounder in Sony’s full-frame mirrorless camera range has big shoes to fill. Luckily, 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 is a true hybrid workhorse. 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 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
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. 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
Small, lightweight and equipped with the latest AI smarts, 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.
The result is a camera that makes high-quality vlogging as straightforward as possible. Our tests 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.
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.
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. Along with superb video quality, you also get the option of 4K/120fps for slo-mo sequences, plus the ability to shoot 16-bit raw via its full-size HDMI port.
It's a fun camera to use, too, thanks to its incredibly high-resolution, 9.44-million dot OLED viewfinder, plus a fully-articulating screen with a much-improved touch menu system. 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
Cameras like the A6600 prove that Sony very much still cares about its APS-C range, which is largely aimed at hobbyist photographers and vloggers. In testing, we found its 24.2MP sensor capable of producing excellent shots, aided by a nifty 425-point phase-detect AF system. Tracking focus does a stellar job of following subjects, although it’s unfortunately not available if you have Animal Eye AF enabled.
Where the A6600 diverts from the cheaper models in the Sony APS-C line-up is with the inclusion of five-axis, sensor-based image stabilization. You also get a headphone jack, mic input and HDR video to complement its 4K recording capabilities. We think the only major drawback is that its design feels a little outdated, with some awkward control placement and a pedestrian screen and viewfinder.
Despite arriving in late 2019, the Sony A6600 still doesn’t come cheap. But with solid performance and an extensive range of compatible lenses, it still has plenty to offer for enthusiasts. That said, if you’re struggling to justify the cost, take a look at the A6400.
- Read our in-depth Sony Alpha A6600 review
With a rare blend of speed, resolution, and video skills, the flagship Sony A1 is arguably the ultimate mirrorless camera. The downside is that its performance comes with an equally breathtaking price tag, making it overkill for all but the wealthiest of photographers. If you can afford it, though, we think the A1 is probably the most versatile professional camera ever: lightning-fast AF, super speedy burst shooting, top-end connectivity, and a supremely detailed 50.1MP full-frame sensor proved in testing that it's as useful for shooting portraits as it is for sports.
Not only can it capture detail-rich images at up to 30fps, courtesy of the dual Bionz XR processors, but it's also capable of recording video at up to 8K at 30fps in 10-bit 4:2:0, or 4K at 120/60fps in 10-bit 4:2:2. And if you’re familiar with Sony’s full-frame mirrorless range, you’ll find the A1 is very familiar in the hand, with a build and handling that borrows the best bits from the A7 and A9 series cameras. If money is no object and you’re a pro who shoots a wide range of subjects, this camera can do it all.
- Read our in-depth Sony A1 review
