Best Sony Digital Cameras
Updated June 2021 Written by Kyle Schurman Table of Contents Buying Guide to the Best Sony Digital Cameras Key Considerations Features Digital Camera Prices...
30/09/2021
Updated June 2021
Written by
Kyle Schurman
Contents
Sony Cameras Best Digital Camera Buying Guide
Key Considerations
Features
Sony digital camera prices
Tips
Other products we considered p>
FAQs
Buying Guide
best sony digital cameras
Although many people enjoy taking photos with a smartphone, there are a few advantages to using a digital camera. For starters, you'll receive a higher quality lens and faster processing speeds with the digital camera.
When you're ready to step up your photography skills beyond what's available with a smartphone, Sony digital cameras are a good choice. Sony has been making high quality cameras for decades.
Sony offers several types of digital cameras at different price points. We'll help you make sense of all your digital camera buying choices.
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Sony's compact cameras tend to be slim, sleek models aimed at beginners. Some Sony compact cameras have optical zoom lenses.
Key Considerations
Image sensor:
The image sensor is the chip that measures the light in the scene, recording the image. The physical size of an image sensor plays a key role in determining camera performance. Larger image sensors deliver significantly better results, but they cost more.
Goal:
You will use either a fixed lens or an interchangeable lens with your Sony camera. A fixed lens is built into the camera and cannot be removed. An interchangeable lens can be replaced to give the camera new functionality. Any lens you select for an interchangeable lens camera must be compatible with the camera body.
Megapixels:
Each image sensor can record a certain number of megapixels. A megapixel (or MP) equals 1 million pixels. A pixel is a small dot that combines with millions of others to create digital photography. Having more megapixels equals a sharper photo. However, megapixels are not as important to overall image quality as the physical size of the image sensor.
Video:
Sony cameras can record both movies and stills. You can choose resolutions for videos up to 4K and select frame rates.
Zoom:
Fixed-lens cameras measure how much magnification their lenses can achieve through a zoom number. Optical zoom is preferred over digital zoom. Optical zoom enlarges the scene without sacrificing image sharpness. Digital zoom uses software to magnify the scene, causing a slight blur in the image.
Features
Sony digital cameras are available in different models. Understanding these differences can help you make the best purchase for your needs.
Fixed lens cameras
Fixed-lens cameras are those where you can't remove the lens because it's built into the camera body. Some of these cameras are simple point-and-shoot cameras with small image sensors. These are made for beginner photographers. Sony's other fixed-lens cameras are advanced cameras with large image sensors. These cameras are expensive, but they give excellent photographic results.
One of the main advantages of a fixed-lens camera over a smartphone camera is the optical zoom. This lens can magnify the scene while maintaining image sharpness. Smartphone cameras only use digital zoom. Some Sony fixed lens cameras offer great optical zoom measures of 25X or even 50X.
Sony now only makes high-end fixed-lens cameras. While you can still buy Sony's inexpensive compact cameras, the company no longer actively manufactures these cameras. They will therefore not be new.
DSLR
A DSLR camera uses a medium to large sized camera body. You use
interchangeable lenses
with this style of camera. Each lens gives you different functionality and must be purchased separately.
DSLR cameras have a mirror inside that reflects the image back to the optical viewfinder at the top. This mirror mechanism makes the camera body thicker than other camera styles.
Sony DSLR cameras are Alpha cameras. Sony has stopped making new Alpha cameras, but you can still buy these DSLRs used.
Mirrorless cameras
Mirrorless cameras use an interchangeable lens like a DSLR. However, they don't have a mirror inside because the viewfinder is actually a display screen. This digital viewfinder is different from the optical viewfinder of a DSLR, eliminating the need for a mirror.
The design allows the mirrorless camera body to be much thinner than a DSLR. Lenses used with mirrorless cameras also tend to be thinner than DSLR lenses.
Sony is still actively manufacturing mirrorless cameras. DSLRs have been the most capable cameras on the market for quite some time; however, modern mirrorless cameras are close to DSLRs in performance.
Did you know?
Sony's mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras use the E-mount, so you can use any E-mount compatible lens on these cameras.
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Sony digital camera prices
You can pay anywhere from< /p>
$150 to $3000
for a Sony digital camera, depending on its feature list and design.
Sony fixed-lens digital cameras typically cost
$150 to $1500
. You will pay more for these cameras when they have larger image sensors.
Sony mirrorless and DSLR cameras cost between
$500 and $3000
. Understand that you might incur additional costs with these lens cameras. Again, cameras with larger image sensors will cost more than those with smaller image sensors.
Expert advice
If you're buying a Sony DSLR camera, you'll need to add an A-mount lens.
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Tips
Some Sony cameras are older.
Sony now only makes advanced fixed-lens and mirrorless cameras. Any Sony DSLRs or compact cameras you buy are older. That doesn't mean they're bad cameras, it just means they don't pack the latest technology.
Stick to a budget.
It's easy to spend a lot of money on a digital camera from Sony or another company. Figure out what you can afford for a camera and stick to that amount. Keep in mind that some Sony cameras will have additional costs such as additional interchangeable lenses.
Beginners don't need a lot of features.
If you are new to photography, a lower priced digital camera should serve you well. Advanced and expensive cameras are designed for experienced photographers. A beginner may not be able to take advantage of all the features of an advanced camera. That being said, if you want to learn more about photography, an advanced camera can help you learn more over time than a beginner camera.
Consider your movie recording needs.
Many people like to use their Sony digital cameras to
record movies
. Remember to consider the video recording features of the Sony camera before buying it.
Understand your flash options.
Most Sony cameras have a small built-in pop-up flash. This camera works great for medium shots. To get the best flash performance, consider purchasing a separate flash. This fits over the hot shoe mount on top of the camera.
“When comparing Sony digital cameras, models with the largest image sensors (in terms of physical size) will produce the best photographic results.”< /p>
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Other Products We Considered
There are several different models of Sony digital cameras on the market. Although we have listed some excellent models in our matrix, you may want to consider other Sony cameras. If you have a big budget and are looking for the highest level of image quality, we suggest the mirrorless camera
Sony a7R III
. This camera has a full-frame image sensor and a resolution of 42.4 MP. For a huge optical zoom measure in a Sony camera, the
Sony HX400V
is an excellent choice. It has a 50X optical zoom, ideal for photographing distant subjects. If you want the image quality of a mirrorless camera but want a fixed-lens design, you'll like the
Sony RX100V
. This camera has an extremely fast autofocus capability, allowing you to take photos of fast-moving subjects with razor-sharp clarity.
Some Sony mirrorless cameras will come with the camera body alone. Others come in a kit with one or two starter lenses included with the camera.
FAQs
Q. What are the hidden costs when buying a Sony digital camera? R.
If you choose a mirrorless or DSLR camera from Sony, you may want to purchase additional lenses in the future. Also, camera manufacturers require you to separately purchase a memory card to store photos. Some people choose to buy a second battery, a
tripod,
a camera strap or additional flash to enhance their use of the camera.
Q. How do I know which Sony camera is the best option for me?A.
Start by setting a budget for your purchase. Then think about how you plan to use the camera. If you just want a simple camera that you can carry in a pocket, a small fixed-lens model is a solid choice. When you need the next level of image quality, go for a DSLR or a mirrorless camera. Video quality is also better with the interchangeable lens camera. Just stick to your budget.
Q. What is an optical zoom measurement? R.
If you have a Sony compact camera, you may see an optical zoom number for the camera. In a fixed-lens camera (a device whose lens cannot be removed), the level of magnification of the lens is called zoom. The number next to the X tells you the maximum magnification the lens can achieve. Optical zoom differs from digital zoom, where the camera software creates the magnification. Digital zoom results in loss of sharpness.
Q. Do I need a special Sony camera model to record videos? R.
No. All Sony digital cameras can take photos and videos. If you are particularly interested in recording movies, pay attention to the video resolution and frame rate for the camera. Sony cameras can shoot at HD or 4K resolution, or they can shoot at lower resolutions to save storage space. You can also adjust the frame rate, usually between 24 and 240 frames per second.
Q. Can I carry a Sony mirrorless camera in my pocket? R.
Some Sony mirrorless cameras are small enough to fit in a large pocket. However, many people choose to carry these cameras in a camera bag. The bag simplifies the transport of the camera, additional lenses and any other photographic equipment you have.