In the digital camera market, for all applications and all price ranges, Sony is one of the dominant companies with a range of products that meet all needs. The two major lines are Sony Alpha cameras and Cyber-Shot cameras. The former comes with interchangeable lenses and is aimed at a professional and advanced audience. Otherwise, the latter is for an audience looking for cameras with built-in lenses for amateur use.
Now let’s go into detail and see which is the best Sony camera broken down by category and price range. We study from high-end pro models to cheaper pocket compacts to provide a spectrum of options for all features and budget needs.
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Contents
- Top 9 Best Sony Camera 2021 Reviews
- #1 Best Sony Camera for Beginners: Sony A9 II Mirrorless Camera
- #2 Best Sony Camera for Vlogging: Sony Alpha A7 II Mirrorless Digital Camera
- #3 Best Sony Camera for Portraits: Sony Cyber-Shot RX10 IV Camera
- #4 Best Sony Camera for Landscape Photography: Sony A7R IV Camera
- #5 Best Sony Camera for Wedding Photography: Sony Alpha A6600 Mirrorless Camera
- #6 Best Sony Camera for Astrophotography: Sony Alpha A6400 Mirrorless Camera
- #7 Best Sony Camera for Video: Sony RX100 VII Camera
- #8 Best Sony Camera for Streaming: Sony HX400V Compact Digital Camera
- #9 Best Sony Action Camera: Sony DSCWX220/B Digital Camera
- FAQs
- Final Words
Top 9 Best Sony Camera 2021 Reviews
#1 Best Sony Camera for Beginners: Sony A9 II Mirrorless Camera
The Alpha A9 II is Sony’s full-frame camera aimed at photography beginners. It offers a 24MP sensor, 20 FPS continuous shooting speed with no blackout, and a truly competitive AF system with 93% image coverage.
Sony’s Real-Time AF tracking system, which was first introduced with the a6400, is truly a significant change within the industry. It allows for intuitive use of the camera, for effectively focused photographs on most of the occasions.
The camera body of the mirrorless is rainproof. Inside the camera, we find the 5-axis stabilizer to photograph subjects that are not illuminated, increasing exposure times.
Pros
- High shooting speed
- AF system (93% image coverage)
- Rainproof
- Two memory card slots
- Wi-Fi system with 5Ghz technology support
Cons
- Expensive
The Sony Alpha A9 II is the best Sony camera ever. The only problem is the price. In terms of performance, it surpasses the most performing SLRs such as the Nikon D6 and Canon 1Dx Mark II.
#2 Best Sony Camera for Vlogging: Sony Alpha A7 II Mirrorless Digital Camera
One of Sony’s most popular digital cameras is the A7 III, as it combines a host of incredible features at a price never seen before in the full-frame mirrorless industry. Many technical specifications of the A7 III come directly from the Sony A9 and Sony A7R III. This camera is halfway between the professional and the advanced enthusiast that comes with an incredibly competitive price.
There are many basic features including a solid, well-built camera body, 2.36 million dot electronic viewfinder, and 922k-dot touch display. The camera has 5-axis internal stabilizer, 10fps continuous shooting, 693-point hybrid focus system, and 4K recording capability.
The Exmor R BSI CMOS sensor is 24MP that offers excellent image quality and high performance in low light conditions. The AF system is reliable and fast with subject recognition technology, face and eye detection to follow movement precisely during both shots and videos.
Pros
- Solid construction
- Electronic viewfinder
- 922k-dot touch display
- 5-axis internal stabilizer
Cons
- Low memory capacity
For both photography and video, the Sony A7 III is an excellent product with a package of unique features.
#3 Best Sony Camera for Portraits: Sony Cyber-Shot RX10 IV Camera
The Sony RX10 IV is a bridge camera that offers the highest speed and performance in its class. It is versatile and has a high-image-quality. It comes with a zoom range that covers all the distances from wide-angle to telephoto.
The 20.1MP 1-inch Exmor RS BSI CMOS sensor and BIONZ X processor are the heart of this digital camera for portrait enthusiasts. Thanks to this combination of technical features, the RX10 IV can shoot a burst of up to 24 fps and record 4K/30p or Full HD 1080/120p video.
Unlike other bridge cameras, it is a camera that allows you to work even in low light conditions with excellent quality photos, a high level of detail, and little digital noise. The AF system provides 315 phase-detection points and can focus on the subject at a blazing speed of 0.03 seconds.
Pros
- RS BSI CMOS sensor
- High versatility
- High resolution
- Adapts to low light conditions
Cons
- Low-quality Bluetooth connectivity
Among other available connections, it is also possible to connect an external microphone and use the mini-jack output to monitor the audio with headphones.
#4 Best Sony Camera for Landscape Photography: Sony A7R IV Camera
Among the best cameras ever, we also find the latest addition to the high-resolution full-frame mirrorless category. The A7R IV is the best Sony camera for people looking for a professional camera for versatile uses.
The standout feature is the 61MP full-frame sensor. It allows us to capture high-resolution photographs and landscape publications. The Sony A7R IV also offers mind-boggling performance in the focus and continuous shooting area.
The Real-Time tracking AF system is simple to use and effective for capturing the subject correctly without the need to adjust many settings. The camera offers 567 phase-detection AF points, covering 99.7% of the frame vertically and 74% horizontally.
Pros
- 61MP full-frame sensor
- High resolution
- The real-time tracking AF system
- It Covers 99.7% of the frame
Cons
- Heavyweight
The Sony A7R IV is one of the best high-resolution cameras currently on the market. We highly recommend it to all landscape, portrait, event, and wedding photographers.
#5 Best Sony Camera for Wedding Photography: Sony Alpha A6600 Mirrorless Camera
Among the Sony Alpha cameras, the best of all is the latest Sony A6600. It is the renewed version of the Sony A6500, replacing the latter as the top of the line.
The Sony A6600 adds nothing exceptional over the previous version. But there are a couple of updates that are worth mentioning. The first is the introduction of a new battery that improves the autonomy of the camera.
The second is the addition of the audio output to monitor video recordings with headphones. For the rest, the camera is like the previous model with a 24MP APS-C sensor and a high-level performance for both photography and video.
The camera has an internal stabilizer mounted on the 5-axis sensor to guarantee excellent performance even when we want to lower shutter speeds or to film freehand. It is also convenient to add a screen that can be positioned 180 degrees up to record some wedding videos.
Pros
- High autonomy
- Innovative battery
- High-quality audio and video
- Internal stabilizer
Cons
- EVF blackouts
For portability, versatility, and performance, this Sony camera is one of the best Alpha cameras on the market for capturing semi-professional photos and videos.
#6 Best Sony Camera for Astrophotography: Sony Alpha A6400 Mirrorless Camera
Among the Sony A6000 line cameras, the Sony A6400 is the mirrorless successor to the hugely popular Sony A6300. All A6000 series cameras have been well-received by the public as they offer truly affordable value for money. And the A6400 does not disappoint as it contains all the best features of the previous versions plus adds even more advanced specifications for higher performance.
The sensor is a 24.2MP APS-C, BIONZ X processor, 2.36 million dot electronic viewfinder, 3-inch touch screen display, and 921,600 dots in resolution. We can flip it 180 degrees above the camera body for vlogs and selfie shots. As with the A6500 described above, the A6400 can shoot a burst of 11 frames per second. Therefore, it is also good for fast action.
Pros
- High value for money
- 24.2MP APS-C
- BIONZ X processor
- 2.36 million dot electronic viewfinder
- 921,600 dots in resolution
Cons
- Low sensor
Unlike the A6500, there is no sensor stabilization system. Therefore, we recommend buying lenses with OIS technology, especially for people who intend to film for astrophotography.
#7 Best Sony Camera for Video: Sony RX100 VII Camera
The best Sony compact camera for pocket size and video performance is the RX100 VII, a super-zoom camera we recommend for those who do not want to compromise. This camera costs more than other cameras in the same category. With the Sony RX100 VII, you get unquestionable image quality, exceptional video capabilities, outstanding AF system performance, and a continuous shooting capability.
Contrary to cheaper compact cameras, this Sony camera features a 1-inch type sensor for relatively superior image quality. There is also a premium quality built-in lens that offers a zoom range of 24 to 200mm with a maximum aperture of F2.8-4.5.
Pros
- Lightweight and compact
- Premium video quality
- Outstanding AF system performance
- Continuous shooting capability
Cons
- Expensive
As for the video sector, the Sony RX100 VII camera can record movies in 4K. There is also a microphone input to record higher quality audio than other compact cameras on the market.
#8 Best Sony Camera for Streaming: Sony HX400V Compact Digital Camera
Turning to low-cost Sony cameras. Sony HX400V is ideal for people who are interested in a digital camera with good photographic quality with powerful zoom for travel and holidays. It is a product that meets this type of need at an affordable cost.
The advantage of having this camera lies in the camera’s robust body. It offers a tactile experience similar to a reflex, but the use is much simpler. The unit comes with automatic controls and easy to learn that is excellent for people who often livestream.
With a 20.4MP Exmor R CMOS sensor, you will capture high-definition photos with minimal digital noise even when there is not much light. The performance speed and the buffer are remarkable thanks to the capabilities of the BIONZ X image processor.
Pros
- Excellent photographic quality
- Powerful zoom
- Robust construction
- Exmor R CMOS sensor
- BIONZ X image processor
Cons
- Low-quality processor
For shooting sporting events and fast action, this bridge camera can shoot 10 frames per second in a burst. The AF system is fast enough to capture the moment so you do not miss the mark.
#9 Best Sony Action Camera: Sony DSCWX220/B Digital Camera
With this digital camera, you can take pictures that are certainly better than your smartphone. You will have access to a range zoom powerful enough to reach distant subjects.
The camera offers an 18.2 MP Exmor R CMOS sensor with a BIONZ X image processor. The integrated lens can produce focal lengths equivalent to 25-250 mm in a full-frame with 10x optical zoom and 20x Clear Image Zoom.
The 2.7-inch LCD monitor comprises 460k-dot for an unrestricted view of the image. It is an important detail since this compact does not come with an electronic viewfinder to compose and expose the image. The presence of the Optical SteadyShot Image Stabilization system allows you to shoot by hand, even when the light is not the best.
Pros
- Powerful zoom
- Exmor R CMOS sensor
- BIONZ X image processor
- 10x optical zoom
- 20x Clear Image Zoom
Cons
- Low-quality video
The Sony WX220 can film in Full HD 1080p at up to 60 fps. The Wi-Fi function is convenient for quickly transferring the shots to a smartphone.
FAQs
What is the best Sony camera to buy?
The Sony A9 II camera comes with two memory card slots, both with support for UHS-II. There is a Gigabit Ethernet port and USB 3.2 port to achieve fast file transfer over FTP. Sony has also implemented the Wi-Fi system with 5Ghz technology.
The available ISO sensitivity range is 50 to 204,800 and 14-bit RAW files can be recorded without compression. The video section includes a 4K recording.
Which Sony camera is best for photography?
The photographic quality of the Sony A7R IV is truly exceptional, with a well-extended dynamic range and an exceptional ISO sensitivity performance.
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Which is the latest Sony camera?
The Sony A7III is the latest model that supports two memory cards. It has improved the autonomy thanks to implementing the new NP-FZ100 type batteries, capable of taking up to 710 photos on one charge.
Which is better: Nikon or Canon or Sony?
The situation is much simpler, you can face the purchase of a new reflex heart much lighter. Many photographers say that Nikon and Canon are the same. You can have personal opinions, but technically it is impossible to affirm the superiority of either of them.
Final Words
To date, the Sony Alphas represent the best Sony camera on offer. It comes with a full line of APS-C and full-frame cameras. They found such a wide response from the public that Canon and Nikon took the step and introduced the Canon EOS R and Nikon Z full-frame mirrorless cameras, respectively.