Hottest Cameras of the Year (2017)

Hottest Cameras of the Year (2017)

By Tamara Wilm

Let’s take a quick look at some of the hottest cameras of the moment. Whether you’re looking for a new rig for yourself in 2018, or you’re considering buying one for a loved one, these cameras are where it’s at.

Nikon D850

Nikon, always a solid choice due to their reliability and superb image quality, tops the list with their D850. The newest camera in their D800 series, The D850 was designed with the professional in mind thanks to its impressive EXPEED 5 Image Processor and ability to shoot 7 fps. This translates into speed when shooting—meaning you won’t have to wait for the camera to catch up. The D850 also has a153-point autofocus system. The full-frame camera features a 45.7MP BSI CMOS Sensor and can capture crisp UHD 4K/30p video. A 0.75x magnification optical viewfinder and a 3.2” tilting touchscreen LCD make for clear viewing during and after shooting.

Additional features include built-in Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and an ISO range from 32 to 102,400.

Sony a7R III

Sony made a splash this year with their mirrorless Alpha a7R III. Even though it’s a compact camera—generally preferred by people who want to cut down on the weight of their rig—don’t let that deter you. It combines speed, high-resolution, and video capabilities into one impressive package. The heart of the camera is its full-frame 42.4MP Exmor R BSI CMOS sensor. The BIONZ X Image Processor enables a 10 fps continuous shooting rate and fast autofocus. When it comes to video, the a7R III shoots UHD 4K with the entire width of the full-frame sensor.  The camera also features a 3.69m-dot Tru-Finder OLED viewfinder for clean shooting without distraction, and a 3.0” tiliting LCD touchscreen on the back for viewing your photos and navigating the menu. Dual SD memory card slots ensure you won’t run out of space at a crucial moment. Wi-Fi and Bluetooth round out the feature list.

Sony a9

The Alpha a9 is another impressive compact mirrorless from Sony capable of taking professional quality images. Its full-frame stacked 24.2MP sensor and BIONZ X Image Processor ensure fast shooting at up to 20 fps.  It can also shoot UHD 4K video, and has an expanded ISO range to 204,800. The back of the camera features a 3.686m-dot resolution quad-VGA OLED Tru-Finder for getting an accurate view of what you’re shooting, while the 3.0” tilting touchscreen LCD is there for either shooting or reviewing images after the fact. The a9 also has dual SD memory card slots, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth.

Canon 6D Mark II

Canon’s 6D Mark II DSLR is another full-frame, high-resolution winner from a highly regarded name in the industry. Considered top of the line in the series, this camera shoots 26.2MP thanks to its CMOS sensor and DIGIC 7 Image Processor. The ISO range is expanded from 50-102400, and it can shoot up to 6.5 fps. It also has a 45-point AF (autofocus) system. It shoots full HD video at 60 fps, and it has the ability to create 4K time-lapse movies and HDR video. There is a 3.0” touchscreen LCD. Wi-Fi, NFC, Bluetooth, and built-in GPS for geotagging are all options as well.