The best cameras for photography in 2022: how to choose the perfect camera

How do you choose the best camera when there are so many different types? Never fear – we're here to help! It's not about buying the most expensive cameras or the most powerful – it's about choosing the right camera for what you want to do. We'll explain all the different types, who they are best suited to and what to look for.

So for a start, we need to ask you want kind of photographer you are, and what you want to shoot.

If you just want something, simple, quick and cheap, you might just be looking for the best point and shoot camera. These don't cost a lot, they come with zoom lenses and they have simple controls that anyone can master.

Or what about an instant camera? Even the best instant cameras aren't expensive, and they are super simple, super cheap and a whole lot of fun. They also make some of the best cameras for kids – though the print costs can mount up quickly if you don't ration the shots!

If you're just getting started in photography but keen to learn, you need a camera that's simple enough for a novice to pick up and use, but powerful enough to grow with you as you try out more advanced techniques. Usually the best option here is a DSLR or a mirrorless camera that takes interchangeable lenses, which are among the best cameras for beginners.

What if you are more into travel photography and vlogging rather than a conventional photography career? Some of the best cameras for travel are mirrorless, but have you considered an action camera, or one of the new generation of gimbal cameras like the DJI Pocket 2?

Action cameras are also a great way to get started. GoPro ignited the whole adventure photography genre, but there are lots of rival brands now and some very exciting new technologies that include 360 imaging and pocket-sized gimbal cameras for super-smooth action sequences. The best 360 cameras can capture VR video and stills with no more than the press of a button to give you a totally new perspective.

And talking about perspective, why not try out one of the best camera drones? With automated take off and landing, automated flight controls and programmed flights, most are really simple, even for novices.

There are no so many different ways to get into photography and video, and below we've got a list of ten cameras of the best cameras around right now, each with its own strengths and its own appeal for different kinds of photographer.

The best cameras in 2022

(Image credit: Nikon)

The Nikon D3500 is a long-standing favorite of ours. It's by no means the most advanced DSLR you can get, but its simplicity, its controls and the quality of the images it can create make it our top recommendation for anyone just starting out. There’s a lot the D3500 doesn’t do – it has a fixed rear screen that’s not touch-sensitive, it doesn’t have hybrid on-sensor autofocus and it doesn’t shoot 4K video. But its 24-megapixel sensor delivers super-sharp, super-high quality images, Nikon’s latest AF-P retracting kit lens is a miniature marvel and focuses very fast in live view, even without on-sensor phase-detection autofocus. The D3500 handles well, it’s easy to use, it’s more powerful than it looks and it’s the perfect introduction to interchangeable lens photography.

Read more: Best cameras for beginners

(Image credit: Olympus)

2. Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark IV Small and light, this is a great camera for travel, and powerful enough for more advanced shooting too Specifications Type: Mirrorless Sensor: Micro Four Thirds Megapixels: 20.3 Lens mount: MFT Screen: 3-inch 180-degree tilting touchscreen, 1,037k dots Viewfinder: EVF, 2,360k dots Max shooting speed: 8.7fps Max video resolution: 4K UHD User level: Beginner/intermediate Reasons to buy + Latest 20MP sensor + 5-axis in-body stabilisation + Small body, small lenses Reasons to avoid - MFT sensor smaller than APS-C

With a flip-over screen for selfies and very good in-body image stabilization, the Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark IV is ideal for learning about photography and video and portable enough for daily use. With 4K video and attractive styling the E-M10 Mark IV is ideal as an entry-level camera that can do pretty much everything. It has a smaller Micro Four Thirds sensor than other mirrorless cameras or DSLRs, but the advantage is that the lenses are smaller and lighter. This is a great little camera that's so much more powerful than it looks and could be with you for a long time to come.

Read more: Best mirrorless cameras

(Image credit: Fujifilm)

3. Fujifilm X-S10 Ideal for enthusiasts and upgraders, it's the mirrorless camera with everything, including in-body stabilization and 4K video Specifications Type: Mirrorless Sensor: APS-C Megapixels: 26.1MP Lens mount: Fujifilm X Screen: 3-inch vari-angle touchscreen, 1.04m dots Viewfinder: EVF, 2,360k dots Max continuous shooting speed: 30/8fps Max video resolution: 4K User level: Intermediate/Expert Today's Best Deals View at Walmart View at Best Buy View at Amazon Reasons to buy + Small size & excellent build quality + Vari-angle touchscreen + In-body image stabilisation Reasons to avoid - Conventional mode dial

The Fujifilm X-S10 doesn't have the external exposure controls of the higher-level X-series cameras, but that's the only thing we can find to complain about, and it's clear this is no 'amateur' camera. as its build quality and handling stand out straight away. The swap to a conventional mode dial might disappoint Fujifilm fans, but the excellent finish, build quality and handling and the inclusion of IBIS (in-body stabilisation) gives this camera a very broad appeal, especially in this price sector, to produce perhaps the best combination of performance, quality and value in the APS-C mirrorless camera market right now. It even has a vari-angle rear screen, which is another reason why we rate this new camera above our previous favorite, the X-T30. This is a great choice for photographers looking to upgrade from an older DSLR or mirrorless camera.

Read more: Best cameras for enthusiasts

(Image credit: Canon )

4. Canon EOS 90D Canon's top APS-C format DSLR is powerful and versatile, and great for people who prefer a DSLR design Specifications Type: DSLR Sensor: APS-C Megapixels: 32.5MP Lens mount: Canon EF-S Screen: 3.0in touch, pivot 1,040,000 dots Viewfinder: Pentaprism Max burst speed: 10fps Max video resolution: 4K User level: Enthusiast Today's Best Deals View at Walmart View at BHPhoto View at Amazon Reasons to buy + Tremendous value + Fully articulated touchscreen

Reasons to avoid - Pixel count causes noise issues - Unimpressive buffer capacity

We know that mirrorless cameras are all the rage, but we've included the Canon EOS 90D for all those DSLR fans we know are still out there – and for all the folk who've got drawers full of Canon lenses! The Canon EOS 90D is an astounding APS-C workhorse of a camera, which combines the highest resolution yet seen in an APS-C sensor of 32.5MP, with high-speed frame rate of 10fps, and it also manages glorious uncropped 4K video, without that irritating crop that has plagued Canon cameras in the past. Its handling and ergonomics are a joy, reminding us of why shooting on a DSLR is such an enjoyably tactile experience, and it's available for a welcome enthusiast price point – not to mention the fact that you get an optical viewfinder, which many people still prefer to the electronic viewfinders on mirrorless cameras. Rumours of the DSLR's death will have been greatly exaggerated if Canon keeps on producing models as good as this.

Read more: Best DSLRs

(Image credit: Sony)

5. Sony ZV-1 Want to try your hand at some proper vlogging? That's what the little Sony ZV-1 is built for! Specifications Type: Compact Sensor: 1inch CMOS Megapixels: 20.1MP Lens mount: N/A Screen: 3-inch vari-angle touchscreen, 921k dots Viewfinder: No Max continuous shooting speed: 24fps Max video resolution: 4K User level: Intermediate Today's Best Deals View at Walmart View at Best Buy View at Amazon Reasons to buy + Vari-angle rear screen + Clip on wind shield + Brilliantly fast AF Reasons to avoid - No viewfinder

Normally we recommend interchangeable lens cameras for any kind of serious photography or filmmaking, but we'll make an exception with the Sony ZV-1. It has a fixed 3x zoom lens and a 1-inch sensor that's smaller than its Micro Four Thirds and APS-C rivals, but it makes up for it with a super-compact body small enough to slip into a jacket or even a trouser pocket, and a body, controls, audio system and rear that are optimised brilliantly for vlogging. The woolly hat you see in the pictures is a muffler to cut wind noise while filming, and it comes with the camera, and the autofocus on this camera is blazingly fast – and copes brilliantly when you hold objects up to show the camera.

Read more: Best cameras for vlogging | Best cameras for travel

(Image credit: DJI)

6. DJI Pocket 2 It looks like no other camera, but the Pocket 2 incorporates its own gimbal stabilizer for super-smooth video Specifications Type: Gimbal camera Sensor: 1/1.7-inch Megapixels: 64/16MP Lens mount: N/A Screen: 1-inch touchscreen Viewfinder: No Max continuous shooting speed: N/A Max video resolution: 4K User level: Beginner/Intermediate Reasons to buy + Excellent stabilization + Panoramas, timelapse, more + Simple forward/selfie switching Reasons to avoid - Tiny on-camera screen - Accessories add to the cost

We've gone really left-field with this suggestion, but the DJI Pocket 2 could be a great travel/vlogging camera. It wouldn't be the first choice for stills, but its 16MP stills (it can go up to 64MP) are likely to be better than a smartphone's and it can shoot programmable multi-row panoramas stitched in-camera, too. There's even an optional wide-angle add-on for spectacular interiors and architecture. Its star turn is its video, though, with an in-built gimbal that provides a smoothness bigger cameras can only dream of. It comes with a dinky controller for powered pan and tilt movements and has a trio of 'follow' modes, just like a proper gimbal. The difference is that this one will fit in a shirt pocket. The built in touchscreen is very small, but you can plug the Pocket 2 into your smartphone and control it on a bigger screen via the DJI app.

Read more: DJI Pocket 2 review

(Image credit: DJI)

7. DJI Mini SE What about a drone? They don't come any easier to fly than this – even take-off and landing is automatic Specifications Weight: 249g Dimensions (folded): 180×97×84mm Dimensions (unfolded): 159 x 203 x 56mm Controller: Yes Video resolution: 4K 30fps (1080P@60fps) Camera resolution: 12MP Battery life: 30 minutes Max Range: 3.5km / 2.17mi Max Speed: 72kph / 44.7mph Today's Best Deals View at Amazon Low Stock View at Walmart View at Best Buy Reasons to buy + Side-steps registration fees + GPS and Altitude Hold + Slightly better in wind than the old Mini Reasons to avoid - JPEG stills only - No forward collision sensors

The best way to think of the DJI Mini SE in terms of quality is as a flying smartphone camera from a mid-range device. That, though, is a high standard these days, certainly far higher than toy drones and their shaky video because this drone can hover perfectly thanks to its onboard sensors and has a 3-axis mechanical stabilizer for its camera. Drone experts might decide that the 2.7K video resolution isn’t enough for them, but most new users will be amazed by the stability and the video quality. The Mini SE also scrapes in beneath the legal 250g registration threshold and has a much more welcoming entry price than anything else DJI offers, making it a perfect gift. Software-wise the app is intuitive and includes auto land, return to home and some cool orbiting effects which will be sure to earn likes.

Read more: Best camera drones | Best drones for beginners

(Image credit: GoPro)

8. GoPro Hero10 Black If you want a camera to record life's adventures, the Hero10 Black is about as good as it gets Specifications Weight: 153g Waterproof: 10m 5K video: up to 60fps 4K video: up to 120fps 1080P: up to 240fps Stills resolution: 23MP Battery life: 1-32hrs estimate Today's Best Deals View at Walmart View at Amazon View at Sweetwater Sound Reasons to buy + Faster user interface + Increased frame rates + Hydrophobic lens coating Reasons to avoid - Incremental upgrade on Hero9 Black - Bigger than the Hero8 Black and Hero7 Black - Not compatible with older batteries

The GoPro Hero 10 might be a little more than you need if you're shopping for your first action camera, but if you're looking for a camera that's going to record super-smooth high-quality video this can't be beaten. It might look a lot like the previous GoPro Hero 9, which is still available, but it is a pretty significant upgrade. It features a new G2 processor which makes the interface super responsive, doubles the frame rates and fuels the best image stabilization tech available in action cameras. The stand-out feature is its ability to record 5.3K 60p using GoPro's new HyperSmooth 4.0 video stabilization. It also has the ability to shoot 23-megapixel photos and is has the best low-light performance of any GoPro yet. You can buy a wealth of accessories separately so as well as mounting it on your helmet, you could attach it to your chest, your head or even onto one of the best selfie sticks.

Read more: Best action cameras

(Image credit: Canon)

9. Canon EOS R5 This professional mirrorless camera from Canon has 8K video (!), 45 million pixels and a great pro lens range Specifications Type: Mirrorless Sensor: Full frame CMOS Megapixels: 45MP Monitor: 3.15-inch fully articulating touchscreen, 2,100k dots Continuous shooting speed: 12fps mechanical shutter, 20fps electronic shutter Viewfinder: 0.5-inch OLED EVF, 5,690k dots, 100% coverage Max video resolution: 8K DCI or UHD at 30p User level: Professional Today's Best Deals View at Walmart View at Amazon View at BHPhoto Reasons to buy + Incredible image quality + Exceptional 8K video + 20fps shooting! Reasons to avoid - 8K recording limits

The EOS R5 is Canon's latest flagship mirrorless camera, and seems to be trying to corner every segment of the market at once. It's got a brand-new 45MP sensor that produces images of incredible detail thanks to a new low-pass filter, as well as the class-leading autofocus system of the EOS-1D X Mark III, with a whopping 5,940 AF points for photography and 4,500 for video. The EOS R5's video specs are nothing short of next-generation. It can capture uncropped 8K Raw video internally at up to 29.97fps in 4:2:2 12-bit Canon Log or HDR PQ (both H.265) in both UHD and DCI – this is cinema-quality stuff, and Canon knows it. 4K capture is also possible at up to 119.88fps, and with the new Frame Grab function, it's possible to snatch high-resolution 35.4MP stills from your 8K footage, ensuring you never miss a moment.

Read more: Best professional cameras

(Image credit: Sony)

10. Sony A7R Mark IV Another great mirrorless camera designed for pros, with huge resolution and fast 10fps shooting Specifications Type: Mirrorless Sensor: Full frame CMOS Megapixels: 61MP Lens mount: Sony FE Screen: 3-inch tilting touchscreen, 1,440,000 dots Viewfinder: Electronic, 5.76m dots Continuous shooting speed: 10fps Max video resolution: 4K User level: Professional Reasons to buy + 61 megapixel resolution + 10fps continuous shooting + Advanced Eye AF Reasons to avoid - Quite expensive – of course!

The 'R' models in Sony's A7 series cameras are designed first and foremost for resolution – and the Sony A7R Mark IV has the highest resolution yet in a full frame camera. It's not just the detail rendition that's stellar, but this camera's 4K video capability and 10fps continuous shooting speed – all combined with in-body 5-axis image stabilization and one of the most powerful autofocus systems the world has seen, complete with the world's best (so far) eye AF. One of the most compelling reasons for picking the Sony system, however, is the extensive lens range now available, both from Sony itself and from third party lens makers, and the momentum the Sony brand has built up in the professional photographic community.

Read more: Best mirrorless cameras

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