6 Best High-End Cameras for Professional Photography
You can purchase some quite powerful cameras if you spend more than $2500. These models offer fast burst rates, some of the most advanced video features, the highest levels of detail, or a mix of all three.
The cameras under $2000 are great for most uses, but the cameras in this category are some of the best we've seen if you and your photography require the best possible image quality or specialized features. There are a few high-end models or specialized sports/photojournalism cameras that cost more than the $4000 maximum limit we've set for ourselves, but these are often such unique offers that we're presuming you're genuinely considering them and don't need our assistance in picking.
It is noteworthy that there is no such thing as a terrible camera at this level, therefore this should probably be your deciding factor if you have any investment at all in one company's lens system (or plan to adapt DSLR-era lenses from them). But in the unlikely event that you intend to swap systems, we will emphasize the unique advantages we discovered with each camera.
Our suggestions:
Nikon Z8
Sony a7CR
Canon EOS R5
Sony a7R V
Fujifilm GFX 50S II
Sony FX3
Nikon Z8
The Nikon Z8 is a mirrorless camera with a 46MP Stacked CMOS sensor that shoots still images and can record video quickly.
The Z8 boasts well-positioned controls and a roomy, comfortable grip. The ergonomics and degree of control customization are commensurate with the Z9, which is geared toward pros. Although the viewfinder resolution is poor, it is one of the best for action due to its brightness and lack of lag.
The Z8 tracks reliably anything that is below the AF point and may be configured to do so. If you'd like, it can also give recognized subjects close to the AF point priority. With a pre-burst option, the Z8 captures full-res JPEGs at 30 frames per second or at 20 frames per second in raw format.
Pros:
Superb autofocus
Fast shooting
Excellent video
Cons:
Large, heavy body
Relatively low-res (though fast) viewfinder
Not all subject detection modes equally good
Excellent mage quality is achieved by maintaining high detail levels in relatively low light. If you utilize the more compressed Raw settings, the color of the JPEG image is appealing and shows no signs of degradation.
Excellent video quality is offered in a variety of 10-bit gamma/compressed and raw formats, with outputs of up to 8K/60 or 4K/60. A less detailed 4K/120p option is also available. It's simple to shoot with features like waveforms and accurate autofocus.
At this pricing point, the Nikon Z8 offers a remarkable combination of resolution, focusing performance, and video capabilities, making it an incredibly capable all-around camera. Even if it's not a tiny or light camera, taking it around gives you the impression that you're ready for anything.
Sony a7CR
Featuring a 61MP BSI CMOS sensor, the Sony a7CR is a small, full-frame camera. Its compact design allows it can fit in the majority of the features available in Sony's bigger bodies, all without compromising performance and yet producing beautiful detail.
Impressively compact for a full-frame camera, the a7CR is. The handling is substantially improved by the installation of a front control dial. Notably, for a camera this expensive, the viewfinder is tiny and has rather poor clarity, and there is no joystick to set the AF point.
Pros:
Big camera features in a small body
Outstanding AF performance
Auto Framing video mode
Cons:
Small, low-res viewfinder
No joystick control
No fully mechanical shutter
The a7CR's 61MP sensor is a the average daily distance noisy in low light, but it can record a lot more detail than most full-frame competitors. The 61MP sensor is fully utilized by JPEG images, which have pleasant colors and superb sharpness. There is enough freedom in raw files to bring up shadows at the default ISO.
Impressive for its size, the a7CR produces excellent results. Contained in a more compact design, it offers nearly all of the capabilities and an equivalent image quality as Sony's a7R V. You give up some conveniences in return for the compact size, such as the absence of an AF joystick, but the a7CR is a great option if you want the highest resolution possible in a travel-sized body.
Canon EOS R5
The Canon EOS R5 is a full-frame mirrorless camera with a wide range of features. It can record 8K video and take 45 megapixel still photos at up to 20 frames per second.
Pros:
Impressive image quality
Excellent ergonomics, usability
Impressive AF with 100% coverage
Internal HDR or 10-bit 4:2:2 video capture
Great in-body stabilization
Cons:
Overheating looks to be a problem in video
So-so battery life with EVF at 120 fps
HDR stills options a bit buried, internal displays not HDR capable
The Nikon Z8's introduction has brought to light the Canon EOS R5's shortcomings. While the latter boasts excellent image quality and a reliable autofocus system, the former's electronic shutter, which is not particularly quick to read out, increases the risk of rolling shutter in its 20fps mode. The video also appears excellent, but the HQ 4K mode—which is derived from 8K capture—as well as 8K itself have a tendency to cause the camera to overheat easily. Moreover, the camera is unable to shoot at 60p, unlike the Nikon.
Even while it lags slightly behind its competitors in several areas, its strong degree of backward compatibility is a big part of its attractiveness. Should you possess a substantial dedication to premium Canon EF DSLR lenses, the EOS R5 is expected to provide the most reliable performance.
The EOS R5 is still a great all-around camera for photographers of all stripes, even though heat build-up restricts how long you can capture extremely high-quality video. Landscape, wedding, event, and even sports photographers searching for a reliable, all-purpose mirrorless camera may find the EOS R5 to be a good fit.
Sony a7R V
The fifth-generation high-resolution full-frame mirrorless camera from Sony, the a7R V is centered around a stabilized 61MP sensor.
Compared to the Nikon Z8 (and, to a lesser extent, the Canon EOS R5), which offers a faster and more resolution-rich combo, the Sony a7R V is more concerned with high resolution. It can record 8K video, but only with a large rolling shutter and severe crop.
Pros:
Very detailed Raw files with excellent dynamic range
Tilt/articulating display suits both photo and video
Very reliable autofocus, especially for human subjects
Cons:
Pixel shift high res and focus stacking require desktop s/w
Severe rolling shutter for e-shutter and many video modes
The a7R V is a fantastic camera with a mechanical shutter for taking high-resolution pictures. Because of its remarkable autofocus capabilities, it may be used to capture a wide range of topics, such as wildlife and sports. But, if your task necessitates the usage of a silent electronic shutter or video recording, the sensor's delayed reading limits its potential.
The a7R V is an excellent high-resolution studio or landscape camera, but its greatest competition is the a7CR, which provides much of the same functionality in a more affordable and compact package. It offers a much nicer viewfinder, faster USB connector for tethering, and better Wi-Fi than the a7CR, but except in the case of shooting wide apertures and fast shutter speeds together, there's no difference in image quality.
Fujifilm GFX 50S II
A (relatively) small 50MP medium format mirrorless interchangeable lens camera with integrated image stabilization is the Fujifilm GFX 50S II.
The most affordable digital medium format camera to be released to date is the 50S II. Its usability goes well beyond the studio thanks to image stabilization and perfect focus. Although its biggest advantages aren't speed, autofocus, or video, it should be very appealing to hobbyist photographers looking for some of the highest image quality on the market.
Among its competitors, the GFX 50S II stands out for its specialized features. Although it lacks speed and versatility, its superior image quality is partly attributed to its lenses, with the GF primes being particularly noteworthy. The more costly 100MP models have a noticeable IQ edge, but the 50S II is still excellent for studio and landscape photography.
Pros:
The most affordable medium-format ILC yet
Photographer-friendly ergonomics, with lots of customization
Effective in-body stabilization
Cons:
Contrast-detect AF is slower than its peers
Image quality not signficantly better than the best full-frame
Eye-detection AF isn't as dependable as rival systems
Unimpressive video specifications (HD only)
Sony FX3
The Sony FX3 is a camera from Sony's Cinema series, but we've put it here because, although having many similarities to the a7S III, we think it's a superior option.
The Sony FX3 is a full-frame, fan-cooled, image-stabilized video camera that can record UHD 4K video at up to 120p.
Compared to the a7S III, it lacks a viewfinder but adds reliability and longer recording times because of the cooling fan. The FX3 has a pricey add-on to the a7S III that looks to cost a little extra on paper—a top grip with integrated XLR adapters.
Pros:
Excellent video quality
XLR top-handle included
Fan for extended recording
Cons:
No DCI video options
No viewfinder for stills shooters
No shutter angle option
It's important to know that Canon also has an EOS R5 model specifically designed for video. A supporter of the EOS R5C is gained, but an image stabilization system is absent. Although its cost puts it outside the purview of this tutorial, we still favor the Sony's smaller form factor—especially if you want to use a gimbal.