All the prosumer cameras to get excited about this year
You’re a prosumer and you’re damn proud of it! You both consume a product but you also use it to produce something professional (not like your stupid parents who just buy microwaves and only use them to heat up soup with). And what is the best of all the prosumer products? The digital camera, that’s what. So let’s take a look at what new cameras are coming out this year for you to shoot what the critics will call “What Citizen Kane was meant to be” on. Or at the very least, some cool ass holiday photos.
Nikon D850
It may be expensive, but if you’re looking for the best camera money can buy right now, Nikon’s fabulous D850 DSLR is probably it. Packing in a brilliant 45.4 MP full-frame sensor, the image quality is stunning. But that’s just half the story – thanks to a sophisticated 153-point AF system and 9 fps burst shooting speed, the D850 is just as ideal for home shooting action and wildlife shots as it is for landscapes and portraits.
Fujifilm X100F
The X100F is brilliant, but it won’t be for everyone. It’s quite a large, retro-style compact camera with a fixed focal length 35mm equivalent f/2.0 lens, designed for photographers who want the weighty, manual external controls of traditional 35mm film rangefinder cameras. It’s not cheap, but it’s kind of special – it’s a wonderful camera to look at and to shoot with.
Canon EOS Rebel T7i / 800D
While the resolution is the same as its previous camera, this has a new design with an improved high ISO performance. The autofocus gets a boost over the older model (now with a 45-point arrangement, backed up by an excellent live view AF system that’s as quick as mirrorless rivals) while the newly designed graphical interface will certainly make this camera even more appealing to new users. It doesn’t shoot in 4k though – just bear that in mind with what is otherwise a very good camera.
Sony Alpha A7 III
Sony’s growing range of mirrorless full-frame cameras offer a great alternative to Canon and Nikon DSLRs. The Alpha A7 III might be the entry level full-frame camera in Sony‘s mirrorless range, but it offers a stunning blend of features that make it a brilliant choice for the enthusiast amateur or the well-honed professional. And for the price you pay, it’s really not a bad deal.
Nikon D3400
Sharing pretty much the same design and specification as its predecessor, the D3400 adds Nikon’s SnapBridge bluetooth connectivity to transfer images directly to your smart device to make it that much easier to share images. The 24.2MP sensor resolves bags of detail, while the D3400 is also a very easy camera to live with. Its useful Guide Mode is a good learning tool that gives real-time explanations of important features. There’s no touchscreen, but otherwise this is a very good entry-level DSLR.
Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark III
While some will criticize the smaller Micro Four Thirds sensor format (around half the area of APS-C), the effect on image quality is actually very minor. It also means that the lenses are as compact and lightweight. It has a 5-axis image stabilization system, an impressive electronic viewfinder, 8.6 fps burst shooting speed, and 4K video. So what we’re basically saying is this is a very good camera.
GoPro Hero 6 Black
The GoPro Hero 6 Black is one of the best action cameras you can buy. It won’t come cheap, but what you get for your dollar includes shooting 4K footage at up to 60 fps, as well as super-slow-motion 1080p video at 240 fps. The improved image stabilization system works great, as well as footage offering a wider dynamic range and better low-light performance than its predecessor. It’s also waterproof down to 10m, has a good 2-inch touchscreen, and the updated app with Quick Stories automatically transfers and edits your footage. If you want an action camera, this is it!
Panasonic Lumix ZS 200 / TZ200
The Panasonic Lumix ZS 200 is the best travel zoom camera available right now. This is thanks in part to the camera using a large 1.0-inch sized sensor that enables the pixels to be about 2.4x bigger than they are in their previous models and this helps the ZS200 produce much higher quality images. The zoom isn’t quite as broad as some though, but the 15x zoom should be good enough for most situations. There’s a built-in electronic viewfinder that makes it easier to compose images in sunny conditions. It’s also got 4K video recording, along with Panasonic’s 4K Photo mode to help capture 8MP images of those quick shots. Add these details together and you’ve got the perfect camera to take with you on your travels around Southeast Asia.
