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The best camera can mean a variety of things these days. Since the iPhone and smart phones in general are used more than ever for photos, there was a period where the digital camera went a bit out of style. However, with Instagram getting more and more professional – even amateurs are investing in professional cameras.
With this huge increase in popularity, comes an overwhelming amount of choices out – and the last thing you want to do is waste your money. So we did the research, tested a wide variety of cameras, and aggregated tens of thousands of online reviews. After exhaustive testing, we were able to find the best camera – here are our top picks.
Our Top Pick
Nikon D850
With a perfect 5-star score (after a staggering 160+ reviews) – the Nikon D850 is the best camera to get. It offers great quality, plenty of features – and still stays within a reasonable price range. DSLR cameras are extensively popular, and the D850 is the best pick.
Other Great Picks
Canon EOS 5D Mark IV
The Canon Mark IV has incredible image quality, and with over 180 perfect, 5-star reviews – it has a stellar reputation. The dynamic range is noticeably better, and we loved the picturesque quality of every shot we took. Highly recommended.
Leica C-Lux
Leica has a legendary reputation in the camera world, and the C-Lux is the all-around best choice. With a much smaller build – but no decrease in image quality – the C-Lux is the perfect model for those who travel. The 20.1 MP MOS sensor provides amazing image quality, and there is nary a feature we don’t love on this Leica.
Nikon D7500
The D7500 is a leader in class for DLSR cameras – and with good reason. With over 100 stellar reviews, and a very good price point – it is a perfect buy for someone looking to get into higher-end photography. Highly recommended.
Nikon COOLPIX P900
The P900 is a perfect entry level camera for someone looking to move into the world of higher-quality images. With over 500 stellar reviews, and a great price point – it’s a great starting point.
Canon EOS Rebel T6
The Rebel T6 is perhaps the most commonly recommended entry level camera – and for good reason. It has an excellent price point, provides stellar image quality – and is easy to use. Highly recommended.
Panasonic LUMIX FZ80
The FZ80 from Panasonic is a stellar budget camera. With over 1,100 positive online reviews, it has a great reputation, and contains every feature you’d want from an entry-level choice.
Polaroid Originals OneStep+
The OneStep+ brings with it – tons of nostalgia. It is a throwback to the point and shoot era of the Polaroid’s heydey. Yet, this awesome camera also connects to your digital devices, and shoots really amazing photos. And it also has a very low price point. Definitely a great budget option.
Polaroid Snap
With over 1,600 amazing online reviews – and a great price – the Polaroid Snap is a very cool camera. It offers great pictures, and looks sleek and minimalist. Definitely a fun option for the beach, parties, concerts, road trips, or barbecues.
Fujifilm Instax Mini 9
The best cheap camera? Quite possibly. With over 3,600 stellar online reviews, the Instax Mini 9 is barely more than a cup of coffee, yet offers great photos, and a very fun user experience. Highly recommended for anyone on an extreme budget, or for anyone looking to have some fun with their camera.
How We Tested For The Best Camera
After aggregating tens of thousands of actual user reviews, we shortlisted the best cameras on the market. Then, the extensive testing began.
We shot indoors, outdoors, with special settings, with default settings, and with numerous different camera models. After extensive shooting, our staff was able to determine which camera was best in each category.
While there are many great cameras on the market, it is in your best interest to avoid any ultra-cheap models that don’t have great reviews, as more often than not – these cameras are not worth the headaches that come with them.
You can go very high-end, and get one of our favorite brands – the Leica. Or, you can grab a great instant camera – which will cost less than last month’s cell phone bill.
It’s all about choosing which camera is right for your goals (as well as your budget). No matter what you are looking for, we have the best camera for you.
When Was The Camera Invented?
All the way back in 1816, the first camera was invented. Using silver chloride paper, Joseph Nicéphore Niépce took the first photograph.
Since then, cameras have gone through numerous changes – to the point that the camera on your smartphone is impeccably polished and extremely high quality.
Along the way, cameras have used film, digital files, and many other storage mediums. A “co-creator” of the camera is also usually noted, this being Johann Zahn.
Zahn was working on the design for a camera all the way back in 1685. However, his design did not become a reality for another 100+ years.
Originally, cameras were not really “cameras”, as we know them. They were really camera obscuras.
These devices show how light can be projected onto a flat surface. Using a lens, cameras allowed lays of right to pass through, and then projected this image onto a flat surface.
Far before even Zahn – ancient societies toyed around with the basic ideas for cameras. Aristotle and even ancient Chinese texts have vague references to the camera obscura concept – going all the way back to 300 B.C.
Ibn Al-Haytham is another name given credit for the camera’s invention. Al-Haytham technically invented the camera obscura, way back in 945 – as in 1,000+ years ago.
Related to the camera obscura, is the pinhole camera. This camera did not use a lens, but rather a simple opening to allow light to pass through.
The only problem with these early ideas, was that there was no way to preserve what you were projecting. This difference is why Joseph Nicéphore Niépce gets the credit for inventing the modern camera – he was the first man who was able to capture and preserve images.
After these initial breakthroughs, Louis Daguerre developed one of the earliest ways to take everyday photographs. Over 10 years later, Alexander Wolcott made another breakthrough – refining the method to take photos that did not easily fade.
How Does A Camera Work?
Cameras work via a fairly simple basic mechanism (though there are also many complex details, if you want to go down that path). Simply, cameras take rays of light, redirect it to a single point (using a lens), and then you are left with a sharp image.
Variables altering photographs including lens length, lens quality, and many other components. However, these processes are really more for experts in the field, as the average consumer will not notice much difference between images taken with vastly different internal and technical processes.
What Is A DSLR Camera?
Imagine your favorite camera going digital, and you’ve already got a pretty good idea what a DSLR camera is. By combining a swinging mirror with digital imaging sensors, manufacturers struck pay dirt with DSLR cameras in the early 2000s.
As more and more of the world wants a flawless looking Instagram account, DSLRs have become extremely popular with younger generations. They are portable, fairly affordable, and provide great image quality.
To this day, most camera purchases (at least by beginners or novices) – are DSLRs.
What Is A Mirrorless Camera?
A mirrorless camera has different internal circuitry than a DSLR – there is no swinging mirror, or optical viewfinder. Instead of the standard DSLR process, light will pass through the lens and hit the camera sensor directly.
Why would anyone want a mirrorless camera, instead of a DSLR? For starters, mirrorless cameras are far smaller (and lighter) than a standard DSLR model.
Secondly, image quality and ease of use for mirrorless cameras are arguably better than the traditional DSLR models. This is a recent change, as the best mirrorless cameras did not start to become available to consumers until 2018.
While there is not a definitive winner between DSLR and mirrorless cameras yet – many feel that mirrorless is the future. We like both types of cameras, so the choice ultimately lies with you.
Leica Camera
Leica is a brand synonymous with quality. They produce high-end cameras – and we absolutely love them.
If you’re heavily into photography – you need at least one Leica camera in your collection. They are not for beginners (or for the budget-conscious) – but they will produce some of the finest images you’ve ever seen.
Point And Shoot Camera
A point and shoot camera is a great travel companion – they will produce a similar image quality to your camera phone, but will provide you with an optical zoom lens that is simply missing from camera phones. Additionally, a point and shoot camera is cheap, tough, and will instantly give you great photos.
Polaroid Camera
Polaroid cameras were incredibly popular – the company did over $1 billion in business in 1979 alone. These cameras take a photo in literally seconds, and have a very distinct (and very nostalgic) look.
Instagram first gained prominence largely due to its built-in filters – many of which mimicked the Polaroid camera effect. Unfortunately, as digital photography started taking over the world, Polaroid saw a significant drop in their revenue.
Nowadays, many people miss the simplicity and fun of using a Polaroid camera, so they have become popular again in the photography community. Another advantage of using a Polaroid, is that your images will not automatically be uploaded to the cloud – making for a more fun and “instant” experience – which is what photography back in the 1960s and 1970s was all about.
Disposable Camera
A disposable camera is somewhat similar to a Polaroid – only you don’t immediately see what you’ve shot. Instead, you take the camera in to get the film processed – and you also must buy a new camera for every photography session.
These cameras were very popular until the early 2000s, when digital cameras came along and changed everything. Disposable cameras only cost a few dollars, and are great for trips to an amusement park or the beach – as you won’t really mind if you accidentally damage a $20 camera.
Compare this to the heart attack you might have if you ruin a $5,000+ Leica – and you can instantly understand the appeal of a disposable camera.
Digital Camera
A digital camera is simply defined as any camera that stores its images using digital files, instead of using actual film. Most cameras made after 2000, are digital cameras.
Consumers have flocked to this medium like it was the second coming, as it greatly reduced the cost of shooting thousands of pictures – and also provided you with the photos as soon as you shot them.
As with most technological advances, there is really no going back from digital cameras – they have simply revolutionized and changed the photography game forever.
How Much Is A Camera?
There is a huge range of prices for the best camera, depending on your specific needs. Cheap instant cameras may only cost $20. At the other end of the spectrum – a top of the line camera (like a Leica) – may cost thousands.
If you’re a beginner, we might recommend a camera that costs only a few hundred dollars. If you’re a novice, you may be better off spending $500+. And if you’re an expert – you’ll want to look at a high-end Leica.
How To Clean A Camera Lens
Cleaning a camera lens is actually a very simple process – but it’s also incredibly easy to screw it up. Start by using the right materials – not a paper towel and water (yes, people really do this!).
Using a simple air blower, along with a soft-bristled brush, you will want to smoothly remove any dirt from the lens. Next, add a tiny amount of lens cleaning fluid to a cloth (microfiber is the best material, although a cleaning wipe works too).
Wipe in a circle motion, starting from the outer edge of the lens. This will remove dirt, smudges, fingerprints, and oil.
And that’s it! Make sure you are always delicate with your camera lenses, as they are quite expensive, and are very fragile (and easy to damage).
What Is The Best Camera For Me?
This will all depend on your skill level, budget, and specific needs. You may only need a $20 instant camera – if that’s what you are looking for.
On the other end of needs – you may want to spend thousands on a flawlessly made Leica camera. Most consumers end up landing somewhere in the middle, spending about $500, on average.
This will allow you to get great quality photos – with lots of custom features – but not completely break the bank. If you are a huge Instagram user, a more expensive upfront investment will likely be worth it – as you’ll notice a huge jump in photo quality.
Professional Instagram accounts all use photography equipment that is worth thousands (or tens of thousands) of dollars. If this is what you are aspiring towards, you will definitely need the proper gear to get there.
The Best Camera
There you have it – our picks for the best camera. Whether you want a simple point and shoot camera, an expensive Leica, or a middle-of-the-road DSLR – we’ve got you covered.
When buying a camera, always look for: great user reviews, impeccable craftsmanship, a history of great customer service – and above all else – absolutely fantastic image quality.
Of course, there are a ton of great electronics besides cameras, so be sure to take a look at some of our other reviews.