Best Sony Cameras | 2025

Sony has been in the camera game for some time, and any list of the best Sony cameras will by necessity be long — so strap in! We’re counting off all the top Sony cameras you can buy right now, including both full-frame and APS-C models from the Alpha mirrorless range, as well as a few of Sony’s Cyber-shot compacts.

There’s lots to cover, there’s no doubt about that. Sony has a reputation for producing some of the most high-end professional cameras in photography and video alike. However, this isn’t the whole story, as the manufacturer also offers plenty of mirrorless cameras and compacts for beginners, amateurs and enthusiasts, with prices to match. So no matter your skill level or budget, we should be able to find a suitable Sony camera for you.

We’ve divided this guide up into sections for each type of camera, and for every model we’ve included, we’ve added suggestions for the genres of photography or video (or both) that it’s best suited for. Read on to see which of Sony’s cameras have most impressed our review team to earn a spot on this list — and don’t forget to check out our guide to the best Sony lenses for some quality glass to pair with your new camera.

Best Sony compact cameras

Sony’s compact camera range isn’t as extensive as it once was, but there are still plenty of options for anyone who wants an all-in-one platform for photography or video. Whether you opt for a premium Cyber-shot RX compact, or one of the newer ZV models that are specifically tailored to vloggers, you’ll be getting a brilliant camera that’s easy to use and great for travel.

We’ve picked just a couple for this section — a vlogging option for aspiring YouTubers and streamers, and a premium RX compact for those who want high-end quality from a small package.

Best vlogging camera:

Sony came out with something of a surprise when it unveiled its first ZV-1 compact, a clever little all-in-one shooter tailor-made for vlogging. The camera was a quiet hit, but vloggers and videographers had a few points of feedback which Sony took on board for the ZV-1 II. Many asked for a wider zoom lens to fit more in the frame, and Sony obliged with a new 18-50mm f1.8-4.0 zoom lens, giving you that extra wiggle-room at the wide end.

The three-capsule microphone has also been upgraded, providing better-than-ever audio — though, of course, you can plug in your own superior microphone if desired, and we would generally recommend you do (see our guide to the best microphones). The video autofocus is also, as ever, superb, with real-time tracking and Sony’s famous Eye AF to ensure you can stay locked onto your subject even as they move.

Best premium compact:

Pros:

• Premium camera quality in a pocketable package
• Ultra-fast shooting and impressive autofocus
• Plenty of zoom range from high-quality lens

Cons:

• Small controls and EVF can be fiddly to use
• 1-inch sensor is smaller than the mirrorless range

With seven iterations of the RX100, Sony must be doing something right. These compact cameras have long hewed to a winning formula — pairing a high-quality 1-inch sensor with a generous zoom lens and putting it all in a camera body that slips in the pocket. This necessitates some creative design choices that have become synonymous with the line, the most well-known of which is definitely the lovely little pop-up electronic viewfinder.

The RX100 VIIA is an incredible camera. It’s truly impressive how high-spec Sony made this little thing — with a hybrid autofocus system that uses 357-point focal-plane phase-detection and 425-point contrast-detection, resulting in autofocus acquisition speeds as fast as 0.02sec. You’ll have to go some way to beat that! Image quality too is excellent, particularly at low ISOs, and quality is well-maintained right the way through the 24-200mm equivalent focal range of the Zeiss-made lens. 

Not enough? Well, how about 20-fps blackout-free shooting, and pristine 4K video, and Sony’s ‘Real-time Tracking' and ‘Real-time Eye AF' capabilities? This is, quite simply, a stunning little piece of kit.

Best APS-C Sony mirrorless cameras

Sony’s range of E-mount mirrorless cameras with APS-C sensors are the ideal choice for beginners, amateurs, vloggers and enthusiasts. The A6000 series have long been known for being impressive mid-priced speedsters, great for sport or wildlife photography on a budget. However, we’ve also recently seen the ZV line come to mirrorless, offering a video-focused experience that’s tailored specifically to vloggers.

We’ve picked out a few of our favourites here. Remember that as these cameras have smaller APS-C sensors, they will incur a 1.5x crop factor on any E-mount lens that is mounted to them, increasing the effective focal length by 50% (so a 50mm lens, for instance, will effectively be a 75mm lens). Sony offers a number of excellent E-mount lenses that are specifically made for this format, including some video-optimised options that are designed for vlogging.

Best for beginners:

Want to get started with Sony mirrorless photography? We reckon the A6100 is your best bet. A lightweight and easy-to-use APS-C camera that’s available for a great price, the A6100 manages to stay accessible while also inheriting plenty of high-end features from the flashier Sony cameras to ensure that it’s a cut above other entry-level cameras. It’s capable of uninterrupted 11fps burst shooting with AF/AE tracking, and it has Sony’s uncannily good Eye AF for locking onto your subjects’ eyes in portraiture. 

The sensor produces punchy and bright images with lifelike colours. The slim build makes the camera an ideal choice for travel, and you’ll have no issues finding a comparatively lightweight and affordable E-mount lens to go with it. While the A6100 does shoot excellent 4K video, if you’re a video shooter primarily or even significantly, a ZV camera is probably a better bet (see below). For photographers however, the A6100 is our top entry-level and budget choice. 

Best for video:

This is Sony’s premier camera for vloggers right now. The Sony ZV-E10 II takes everything that was great about the original ZV-E10 and improves on it. Now you have 4K 60p 4:2:2 10-bit video at your disposal, as well as a further range of cinematic colour profiles, including Log recording. The rolling shutter issue that handicapped the original ZV-E10 in certain situations has also been dealt with, and the ZV-E10 II is also better equipped for social-friendly vertical shooting, with a dedicated UI that kicks in when the camera turns sideways.

On a budget? The original Sony ZV-E10 is still available for a significant discount. Its battery life isn’t quite up to that of the ZV-E10 II, it lacks that useful vertical UI, and the overall video quality was definitely improved in the jump between cameras. However, the original ZV-E10 still makes for a great starter vlogging camera, as long as you watch out for that rolling shutter effect — plus, of course, it uses all the same lenses, so you’ll have an easy time upgrading down the line.

Best mid-range:

Bringing Sony’s APS-C range well and truly into the 2020s, the Sony A6700 is truly an enthusiast’s camera for the next generation. It retains a lot of the things users have liked about previous A6000 models — the speedy shooting, the travel-friendly size, the fast autofocus — and improves on them, resulting in one of the best APS-C cameras ever made.

One thing that sets the A6700 apart from many other APS-C cameras is its highly effective in-body stabilisation system. Providing up to five effective stops of compensation, this system allows you to shoot handheld with much slower shutter speeds than would otherwise be possible, giving you much more shooting flexibility in low light. Image quality is also superb, with generous dynamic range, vivid colours and excellent noise control even when the ISO is bumped up.

And let’s not forget about video — the A6700 inherits features from Sony’s top-end cinema cameras to deliver a superb video platform, downsampling from 6K to create outstanding 4K quality. It can also shoot in 4K at up to 120fps for slow-motion effects. 

Best full-frame Sony mirrorless cameras

Finally, we come to Sony’s flagship range. The full-frame Alpha series aren’t just some of the best Sony mirrorless cameras, but are some of the best mirrorless cameras, full stop. Sony’s full-frame range has been going strong ever since the introduction of the first two Alpha 7 cameras in 2013, and these days it is replete with a host of cameras for all different purposes and users.

Some full-frame Sony cameras are highly specialised for specific genres or modes of shooting, while others are excellent all-rounders that are extremely capable for just about any use you might put them to. We’ve included a broad selection in this roundup, and where we’ve looked at top-end pro cameras, we’ve also provided some more affordable suggestions for those whose budgets don’t stretch as far. Remember that for full-frame Sony cameras you’ll need to use FE lenses.

Best for travel:

The Sony A7C II is up there with Terminator 2, The Godfather Part II and Dune: Part II, as a sequel that took everything promising about the original and improved on it to make something truly sublime. The original Sony A7C was billed as a travel-friendly full-frame camera for adventurous photographers who demand top-notch image quality. In an unfortunate bit of timing, it ended up launching in the midst of COVID-19 lockdowns, when travel wasn’t high on many people’s priority lists. So the A7C II came along perhaps quicker than it would have otherwise.

But this was no rush job. Sony took the opportunity to improve the A7C II across the board, giving it cutting edge-features like subject-recognition autofocus, as well as a new front control dial that has vastly improved the camera’s ergonomics. Its magnesium-alloy body is dustproof and splashproof, and it also keeps one of the A7C’s most travel-friendly features — its excellent battery life.

Best all-rounder:

A true full-frame hybrid king, the Sony A7 IV is basically the camera that’s good at everything. On the stills side, you’ve got a luxurious 33MP full-frame sensor and 10fps burst shooting. For video, you’ve got 4K 60p, 10-bit colour depth and Cinetone/Log profiles. And for both, you’ve got a broad ISO range for low-light shooting, a capable 5-axis stabilisation system, and sophisticated autofocus with real-time Tracking and Eye AF technology.

The price of the A7 IV has also come down since it was launched, making it more tempting than ever for any serious hybrid content creator who wants full-frame quality. This is an excellent route into Sony full-frame photography or videography, and makes for a brilliant all-rounder for day-to-day shooting.

Best for landscape photography:

Sony’s resident resolution monster, the Sony A7R V is a stunning piece of kit for landscape photography. If you want to make huge prints of your images you’ll be in heaven with its massive 61MP of resolution, capturing stunningly detailed shots with punchy colours and amazing dynamic range. In the fifth iteration of this popular line of cameras, Sony has also taken the opportunity to improve the autofocus and ergonomics; the former is fast and capable thanks to AI-powered subject recognition, while the latter benefits from a new four-axis articulating touchscreen. It may be high-res, but the A7R V is no slowpoke.

This is a pro-spec camera across the board — it also shoots beautiful 8K video. As such, you may not need everything it’s selling. If that’s the case, then the Sony A7R IVA may be worth looking at instead, as it offers the same whopping 61MP resolution but with a simpler previous-generation feature-set — at a significantly lower cost. 

Best for sports:

The Sony A9 III is the best sports camera ever made. It’s a stunning leap forward in technology, endowed as it is with the world's first full-frame global shutter technology. What this means is that the whole of the sensor is exposed simultaneously, as opposed to line by line which is how it usually works. This completely eliminates the rolling shutter effect, in which fast-moving objects appear distorted, that can plague high-speed cameras. Therefore, the Sony A9 III can shoot at much faster speeds than any other consumer camera on the planet. Want full-res burst shooting at 120fps with AF tracking, or shutter speeds as fast as 1/80,000sec to completely freeze even the fastest of action? Here you go.

Highly specialised as it is, the Sony A9 III is only really suitable for professional sports photographers. If you’re an amateur or enthusiast looking for a speedy shooter, one of Sony’s APS-C cameras like the A6100 or A6700 would be a more appropriate choice. 

Best for filmmaking:

If you’re a filmmaker or serious videographer, and it fits in your budget, the Sony A7S III could be the best buy you ever make. Well known throughout the video industry for superb 4K capabilities, the A7S cameras have long been at the top of the pile when it comes to serious, professional video-making — and this third iteration is the best yet. Supporting 120fps capture in 4K and boasting the latest advancements in autofocus, the A7S III also offers an overhauled touch-based UI that makes it much smoother and easier to operate than its predecessors, especially with the newly fully articulated screen.

Of course, that’s only half the equation with A7S cameras — the other is their superb, class-leading low-light sensitivity and high-ISO performance. The original A7S made jaws drop on release with its ability to shoot low-light video at high enough ISOs to effectively turn night into day, and the A7S III is no different. Its native ISO ceiling is 102,400, expandable to 409,600, and while this is the same value as previous models, improvements to the camera’s processing have made footage captured at these settings so much cleaner. 

FAQs

Are Sony cameras good for beginners?

Yes, Sony cameras are great for beginners. They have intuitive controls, excellent autofocus, and helpful shooting modes. Many models offer guided menus and automatic settings, making it easy to start capturing high-quality photos and videos right away.

Why do photographers choose Sony cameras?

Photographers choose Sony for their cutting-edge technology, exceptional image sensors, and fast, accurate autofocus. Sony cameras are known for delivering sharp, detailed images with excellent colour accuracy, making them a favourite for everything from portraits to wildlife photography.

Are Sony cameras good for video?

Absolutely. Sony cameras are highly regarded for video. They are packed with features like 4K recording, advanced stabilisation, and superb low-light performance. Many models include professional-level video tools, making them a popular choice for content creators and filmmakers alike.

Do Sony cameras have good battery life?

Sony cameras have improved battery life in recent years, with many models capable of shooting for hours on a single charge. For extended shoots, features like USB charging and optional battery grips help keep you powered up and ready to capture every moment.

Are Sony lenses expensive?

Sony offers a wide range of lenses, from affordable options to premium glass for professionals. Their lineup includes high-quality primes and versatile zooms, so whether you’re just starting out or looking for top-tier optics, there’s a lens to match your needs and budget.