November 14, 2022, 4:33 pm | Read time: 16 minutes

Even though smartphone cameras are quite capable these days, they often can’t fully replace a real camera. If you’re considering buying a new digital camera for this reason, you’ll face a multitude of options. Making the right choice isn’t easy. After all, the purchase should be well thought out, as a top camera with the necessary accessories can quickly cost several thousand euros. What is important in a camera setup? And which models are suitable for which type of photography? These five digital cameras perform (very) well in various test reports and excel in different disciplines.

Cameras: Test of 5 Digital Cameras

Also read: Smartphones with the Best Cameras

Digital Cameras: Test Winner at Stiftung Warentest is This Model

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According to Stiftung Warentest, the best digital camera is the Fujifilm X-T4. It is a mirrorless digital system camera with interchangeable lenses. The test portal examined the camera with two different lenses–both combinations received the top score of 1.4 (“very good”).

The Fujinon XF 16–80 R OIS WR lens was particularly impressive. In daylight, the camera delivered vibrant photos with excellent color reproduction and effective image stabilization. Even in low light, the photos are bright and true to color, despite the lack of an integrated flash. An external flash can be attached if needed. With a focal length of 0.56 to 2.4 millimeters, wide panorama and wide-angle shots are no problem, and the model is deemed adequate as a telephoto lens for distant subjects and details.

The second tested lens is the XF 18–55 R LM OIS, which also delivers “very good” results. The zoom range is smaller (3.1x): wide-angle and telephoto effects are usable, but the lens is not ideal for primarily close-up shots. Weather resistance is also lacking. The reduced feature set is reflected in the price: the standard lens is significantly more affordable than the other Fujinon XF. In terms of brightness, stabilization, and image noise, the photo and video recordings are convincing.

The camera itself also offers some useful features, such as the electronic viewfinder with diopter adjustment. It compensates for vision impairments from minus four to plus two diopters for photographers. The three-inch monitor is swivel and tiltable. Videos are recorded in 4K resolution, earning a partial rating of “good” (1.7). A benefit for those who want to edit their snapshots later: the camera can optionally save photos in RAW format, as uncompressed files with all captured image information. This makes them particularly easy to edit, though they take up more storage space than a compressed JPG or PNG image. Also top-notch: the Fujifilm X-T4 is dust and splash-proof, making it suitable for outdoor photography. If you’re heading outdoors for a photo session, ensure the lens used is also weatherproof.

Advantages:

+ sharp and high-contrast images

+ diopter adjustment

+ weatherproof

Disadvantages:

– no flash

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Digital Camera Test: The Best System Camera Under 1000 Euros

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A powerful digital camera with a lens and possibly additional accessories can quickly cost several thousand euros–so the investment should be well considered. Especially for photography beginners or casual photographers, that’s a lot of money. Those with a slightly smaller budget who still want a top camera with interchangeable lenses will find a compromise in the Nikon Z 50. It ranks first on Stiftung Warentest’s list of the best digital cameras under 1000 euros.

Unlike Fujifilm’s top model, the camera has an integrated pop-up flash. If you still want to use external lighting for more control over the lighting situation, you can attach additional light to the hot shoe. However, a stabilizer that automatically compensates for movements and minimizes image distortion is missing. On the software side, the Nikon Z 50 offers various exposure programs, a ten-step exposure correction, face and eye detection, and subject tracking. This allows for a lot of experimentation and adjustment before the actual photo, reducing the need for post-processing. The minimum exposure time is 1/4000 second, making the camera ideal for fast shots, such as sports or nature photography. A maximum exposure time of 30 seconds is possible. The camera’s electronic OLED viewfinder impresses the test editors with its color-accurate display and diopter adjustment from minus three to plus three diopters.

Stiftung Warentest combined the camera body with the Z DX 16-50 VR lens. Thanks to the practical Z-mount, all Z-lenses from Nikon and other manufacturers can be attached without an adapter. The tested lens offers a threefold zoom and a focal length of 0.56 to 1.5 millimeters. At the lower end of the focal length scale, the camera delivers great panorama and wide-angle shots, but the telephoto effect at the upper end is somewhat lacking. The lens’s image stabilizer compensates for the missing camera feature and counteracts blurred shots. Only in backlight do reflections appear on the images–other digital cameras handle this better. Hobby and portrait photographers make a good choice with this lens.

Also read: The Right Settings for the System Camera

Advantages:

+ sharp viewfinder with diopter adjustment

+ integrated flash

+ weatherproof

Disadvantages:

– no image stabilizer

Sony Compact Camera: The Best Small-Format Digital Camera

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Compact cameras are–as the name suggests–primarily compact. They are relatively small and lightweight compared to system and DSLR cameras. They also have an integrated flash and a fixed lens, so no additional accessories are needed. This makes compact cameras ideal for transport, which is particularly practical on trips or at various events.

In practical tests by the trade press, the Cyber-shot RX100 VII from Sony performs best. Computerbild rates the digital camera as “good” (2.1), while Chip gives it an even better “very good” (1.1). The model takes pictures with a built-in zoom lens with a focal length of nine to 72 millimeters and an aperture of f/2.8 to f/4.5. Optically, you can zoom in on images up to eight times, and a digital 121x zoom is also possible.

The compact housing accommodates a lot of technology: the viewfinder and flash are hidden inside and extend when needed. Although the viewfinder is somewhat small, it is especially useful for photography in sunlight when the display is hard to read. Incidentally, the display can also be tilted. The autofocus works flawlessly in practical tests and usually focuses on the right parts of the image. Otherwise, manual adjustment is possible. Another practical feature: automatic eye detection. It even works on animals like dogs or cats–ideal for those who like to photograph their pets.

Video enthusiasts missed a 3.5-millimeter jack for a microphone or audio playback on the predecessor. Sony has addressed this in the seventh generation of the compact camera. However, you have to hold the microphone yourself: unfortunately, the camera does not have a hot shoe to attach it to.

While it can’t quite match the images of a system camera, especially at higher exposure values, the Cyber-shot does an exceptionally good job for a compact camera. However, with a price of over 1,000 euros, the model is also quite expensive. If you have the budget, the Sony Cyber-shot RX100 VII is currently the best choice.

Advantages:
+ very good image quality

+ large zoom range

+ many modes and effects

Disadvantages:

– small viewfinder

– no hot shoe for microphones

The Best Bridge Camera: Panasonic Lumix DC-FZ1000 II

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A compact camera offers too little flexibility, but a costly system camera is also not desired? Then a so-called bridge camera or high-quality compact camera is the ideal middle ground. The Panasonic Lumix DC-FZ1000 II is such a model: it comes with a fixed lens, but thanks to a relatively large sensor and 16x zoom, it has a lot to offer.

Compact cameras usually have small image sensors. The Lumix DC-FZ1000 II houses a 1-inch sensor that delivers significantly better image quality. It is accompanied by a fixed superzoom lens that can be adjusted in focal length from 9.1 to 146 millimeters–perfect for macro shots! Another highlight is the burst mode: Panasonic’s digital camera shoots up to twelve frames per second. However, zooming is not possible during a burst shot. With over ten different scene modes and 15 image effects, the Lumix is very flexible and offers numerous modification options even before shooting. Videos are recorded in Full HD quality at up to 60 frames per second, while sharper 4K videos reduce the rate to 30 frames per second.

Afterward, photos and videos can be edited directly on the digital camera in various ways: you can, for example, change the focus, extract specific images from videos, or combine different video images into sequences. Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connections allow wireless transfer of material to smartphones or TVs.

This not only sounds good in theory–the features also impress in practice. The trade magazine Computerbild named the Lumix DC-FZ1000 II the best bridge camera, and the model achieved a solid 2.0 (“good”) in the test. Stiftung Warentest awarded the same test result in 2019. The excellent image quality, 4K video recording, and fast processing speed of the camera stand out positively. Compared to the previous model, Panasonic has mainly improved the battery life. According to Computerbild, up to 3900 photos are possible before the camera needs to be recharged.

Advantages:
+ very good image quality and viewfinder

+ large zoom range

Disadvantages:

– not weatherproof

Also read: The Best Gimbals for Cameras and Smartphones

Professional DSLR from Canon: EOS-1D X Mark III

Mirrorless digital cameras are now widespread. In some respects, they offer a bit more convenience–for example, the electronic viewfinder shows the final image directly. Nevertheless, DSLRs have their charm, which professional photographers appreciate. The Canon EOS-1D X Mark III, for instance, is currently one of the best DSLR models on the market. It comes with a full-frame sensor, high light sensitivity, and records videos in high-resolution 5.5K quality.

The size of the camera sensor affects the image section achieved with the focal length. This is known as the crop factor. Full-frame sensors have the advantage of fully utilizing the lens’s focal length, so there is no loss of section. The large sensor also allows for a wide field of view–ideal for wide-angle or panorama shots, as commonly used in landscape photography. Additionally, the image quality is often better than with smaller sensors. This is because the pixels are larger and can capture more light. The EOS-1D X Mark III particularly excels in low-light conditions.

For users interested in sports photography, the speed of burst shots may be of interest. Here, the Canon camera achieves 15 frames per second–allowing you to capture the best moment of any movement. In LiveView on the screen, it even reaches 20 frames per second. The EOS-1D X Mark III also excels in video recording: it records in RAW format, without any compression, even in 5.5K resolution. This currently leaves the competition far behind. For comparison: all other digital cameras in this list only achieve a resolution of 4K.

As a DSLR, the Canon lacks an integrated flash and a fixed lens. This offers photographers a lot of flexibility and creative freedom. However, it also means relying on additional equipment, which, together with the camera body, can quickly cost several thousand euros. The purchase of the Canon EOS-1D X Mark III should therefore be well considered.

If budget is not a concern, this model is a very powerful mirror DSLR that can definitely compete with modern system cameras. In the practical test by Computerbild, the Canon device achieved the top score. The result: 1.7 (“good”). It was combined with the Canon EF 24-105mm f4 L IS USM II lens. It scored particularly well with top image quality for photos and videos, a strong autofocus, and long battery life.

Advantages:

+ very good image quality and optical viewfinder

+ weatherproof

+ full-frame sensor

Disadvantages:

– few shooting and subject programs

– no integrated flash

– very expensive

What Makes a Good Digital Camera?

With the variety of digital cameras available, finding the right model is not easy. Many people therefore use the number of pixels with which the camera resolves photos as the first reference point for a good camera. The more individual pixels, the sharper the image–or is it?

That’s only partially true. If the pixel count is too high and not optimally matched to the rest of the camera’s equipment, image quality can decrease. This can lead to image noise or discoloration. This is because the image information is no longer processed correctly. The interplay of lens, sensor, hardware, and software is therefore much more important than resolution–but also harder to assess, at least at first glance.

Also read: From Aperture to Megapixels–the Most Important Features of a Smartphone Camera Explained

Which Digital Camera is Suitable for Which Purpose?

Unlike analog cameras, a digital camera stores the captured image on a digital medium. Digital cameras come as compact, DSLR, and system cameras. The difference lies in the range of functions.

A digital compact camera is particularly suitable for beginners and occasional shots, such as travel or event photography. They are characterized by their small size, a fixed lens, and an affordable price. Those with slightly higher demands can opt for a high-quality compact camera, a so-called bridge camera, which offers more settings than a regular compact camera.

Hobby and professional photographers, on the other hand, choose a system camera with interchangeable lenses. Such digital cameras are particularly flexible and deliver the best photos in various situations. Whether portraits, panoramas, or macro shots: thanks to interchangeable components and accessories, the right equipment can be found for every subject.

Digital DSLRs come with a retractable mirror and an optical viewfinder. This allows the photographer to view the subject directly through the lens with their own eyes, rather than on a small screen like with an electronic viewfinder. On the one hand, you don’t see all the settings made before the snapshot, but on the other hand, this has a positive effect on the camera’s battery: DSLRs often run longer because the optical viewfinder doesn’t consume energy. Here, too, flashes and lenses can be exchanged and combined with the camera as desired.

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Exposure, Aperture, Focal Length: Key Terms Explained

Photography beginners can quickly get lost in the jungle of technical terms. What exactly is focal length? And what influence does the choice of lens have? This overview of the most important camera features sheds light on the subject:

• Exposure: Exposure and light intensity play a major role in the photo result. They can be regulated by three factors: exposure time, light incidence (via the aperture), and light sensitivity (via the ISO value).
• Exposure Time: This time indicates how long the camera is exposed to light. A short exposure time is suitable, for example, for sports photography or snapshots. A long exposure time, on the other hand, acts as a stylistic device to make processes appear softer, such as the flow of water or the blurring of car headlights.
• Image Sensor: The sensor in digital cameras converts the captured image of the lens into a digital image via electrical signals. Common digital cameras have large full-frame sensors, medium-sized APS-C sensors, 1-inch sensors, and even smaller sensors in compact cameras. The size of the sensor affects the focal length, depth effect, and possible image noise.
• Aperture: The aperture is located in front of the lens and determines the amount of light entering. This allows the exposure and depth of field to be determined. The smaller the number, the more light enters the lens.
• Focal Length: The focal length indicates the field of view of the lens. With a high focal length number, the lens takes close-up shots, while a smaller focal length number results in wide-angle shots.
• ISO: The English abbreviation stands for the International Organization for Standardization and indicates light sensitivity in photography. Together with exposure time and aperture, it regulates the exposure settings of the photo. In a dark environment, you increase the light sensitivity of the lens to achieve better-lit results.
• Lens: The lens consists of various lenses that reflect the optical image onto the sensor. Lenses are classified by their focal length (e.g., telephoto or wide-angle lenses), and those with variable focal lengths are called zoom lenses.
• Viewfinder: Through the viewfinder of a camera, the photographer aims at the subject. This is easier and more accurate than determining the photographed section solely via the display. An electronic viewfinder resembles a small screen on which the subject is reflected. They show all settings, so you can see the final image directly through the viewfinder. DSLRs, on the other hand, rely on optical viewfinders, where photographers view the subject almost directly through the lens. Exposure corrections are only visible on the image after the shot.
• Zoom: With a variable lens, the zoom factor indicates the ratio of the largest to the smallest focal length. Optical zoom is achieved by mechanically changing the focal length. Digital zoom, on the other hand, merely enlarges a selected image section, as would be possible afterward with editing software.

Conclusion: These Digital Cameras Impress in Tests

Before buying a new camera, consider what type of shots you want to capture with it. The hardware and software requirements of a camera differ, for example, between landscape, sports, and portrait photography. Those who want to be as flexible as possible should opt for a DSLR or system camera with interchangeable lenses. Beginners, on the other hand, can start with a compact or bridge camera to familiarize themselves with the various possibilities of the device and experiment. Whether Panasonic, Sony, or Nikon: with the wide range of models and manufacturers, there is a suitable digital camera for every need and budget.