As mentioned in the introduction, Sony has a variety of camera categories. There are the professional studio and broadcast cameras, such as the Sony HDC-F5500. They have cinema cameras such as the VENICE and consumer cameras such as the Sony CX405 Handycam. However, their interchangeable lens cameras are the company’s most popular and widely used cameras. We will focus on the best camera in this category since these mirrorless cameras can provide you with a high-resolution capture and a wide range of features at an accessible price.
What are Sony cameras great for?
Sony cameras generally have highly effective autofocus systems that track moving objects. Additionally, its cameras are relatively portable, have excellent image quality, good ISO levels and work great in low-light situations. Above all, though, Sony’s wide range of lenses for their mirrorless lineup is excellent.
Some pitfalls of Sony cameras
Although Sony cameras have great features, they fault short in the camera menu system. In most of the company’s cameras, commonly accessed features are buried deep within sub-menus. Another pitfall is the limited touchscreen functionality, usually limited to adjusting focus points. Another very inconvenient hardware feature is not having a fully-articulating screen, meaning that you don’t have titling or flip-out screens.
Full frame versus APS-C cropped sensor cameras
Now that we briefly discussed the pros and cons of Sony cameras, the question is which one is the best for you. To narrow things down, we will provide the options available on the mirror list cameras, but first, you need to understand the difference between full frame and APS-C cropped sensor cameras.
The difference is the field of view the camera sensor can capture. Full-frame camera sensors are larger, allowing more light, higher quality images and low-light performance. The issue is you will spend more money buying a full-frame camera and its lenses. The cropped cameras are lighter and more affordable, but with a smaller sensor, image quality and low-light performance may not be excellent.
Sony’s mirrorless camera lineup
We can divide Sony mirrorless cameras into APS-C cropped and full-frame sensors. APS-C cameras are three main cameras:
On the full-frame sensors, we have:
The A7 is great for those looking for an affordable full-frame camera, and Sony also has vlogging cameras, such as the Sony ZV-1 with a flip-out screen.
As of 2022, here are the best camera bodies available:
- Sony Alpha A1: is the best Sony camera money can buy now. It’s the most advanced hybrid camera Sony has ever released. This model can do photos and videos well, and if it’s within your budget, it will last many years.
- Sony A7R IV: the best for professional photographers who want super high-resolution photos.
- Sony A7S III: designed for professional filmmakers with superb video quality, low-light performance and strong audio options.
- Sony A7 IV: packed with outstanding still image quality and enhanced video technology with advanced autofocus. The A7IV is suitable for filmmakers, videographers and photographers and is an excellent entry point to full-frame mirrorless cameras.
- Sony A7C: best hybrid camera for shooting high-resolution stills and high-quality video in a compact size
- Sony A6600: the best entry-level sony camera with an Advanced APS-C sensor, great for vlogging (flip-up screen) and stills and video at an affordable price.
- Sony ZV-E10: a compact, affordable camera with vlogging-specific features. It has an APS-C sensor and interchangeable lens systems, allowing more flexibility to adapt to different vlogging styles.
Sony cinema camera
Now it’s time to get into Sony’s cinema cameras. Here are the company’s best cinema currently offers as of 2022:
- Sony FX3: an incredible cinema camera that’s well-rounded with many features. It’s also quite user-friendly. If you’ve used a DSLR and mirrorless camera in the past, you will be right at home with the FX3.
- Sony FX6: is a compact cinema camera with cine-style imaging. The Sony FX6 can capture impressive cinematic video while also weighing less than 2 lbs.
Sony’s lenses lineup
Sony offers a wide variety of lenses in comparison to other brands. You will find two types of mounts, the E-mount (for mirrorless cameras) and the A-mount (for DSLRs). The A-mount lens offers the advantage of full-time phase detection autofocus, while the E-mount is more compact with better handling. However, the A-mount has a much bigger focal length than the E-mount used with APS-C sensor cameras. Although the mounts are different and not directly compatible, you can attach mount adapters to use A-mounts lenses with E-mount cameras. Here are a few of the best Sony brand lenses:
Although Sony has its brand lenses, you can find many third parties lenses at a much more affordable price. For a more extensive list of Sony lenses, check out the best Sony lenses buyer’s guide.
Which camera is best for me?
We provided you with a list of Sony cameras from a wide price range and features. As for which camera is best for you, it will depend on the budget you are willing to invest in the camera. Also, remember that the camera body is one thing, and it would be best if you also considered the lenses you need to buy depending on the specific situation.
Wrapping it up
Sony’s lineup covers every specific need that photographers, videographers, and filmmakers could need. Sony was one of the first companies to lead the charge into the mirrorless market. So, it has years more experience than other camera compies. Sony is the way to go if you are looking for a mirrorless camera. Though, that doesn’t mean it’s the only option out there. Other camera manufacturers have great mirrorless options as well. However, if you decide to go with a Sony camera, you won’t be disappointed. Refer to this list, and you will end up with a great camera you can use for years to come.