The Best Cameras of 2017

Published October 4, 2016 12:00AM

Canon PowerShot SX620 HS

Don’t let the low price fool you: the PowerShot SX620 is packed with goodies. A clever stabilization system removes shake and supports an impressive 25x zoom, while Smart Auto mode selects aperture and shutter speed based on light conditions. It snaps off detailed 20.2-megapixel stills that can be shared through built-in Wi-Fi.

Leica Q

Picky shooters need look no further than Leica’s Q. The German brand nestled a 24.2-megapixel full-frame sensor behind a Summilux 28-millimeter lens. That supersharp glass also allows for stunning depth of field at speeds up to ten frames per second, while manual settings afford total control.

Olympus Pen-F

The Pen-F has many of the features (pocketability, customizable controls) that made the 1963 original so popular. But the 2016 version boasts modern-day upgrades like a bright OLED viewfinder (think LCD, just more accurate and faster). It’s also crisper, capturing super-detailed landscapes in its high-res 50-megapixel mode.

Moondog Labs 1.33x Anamorphic Adapter Lens

Check this: the film Tangerine, which debuted at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival, was shot on an iPhone 5s mounted with Moondog’s anamorphic adapter. The lens slides onto your phone’s camera and gives whatever you’re shooting a Hollywood look. Download an app like Filmakr ($2; iOS) to stretch your footage into widescreen.

Fujifilm X70

The X70’s autofocus outpaces other point-and-shoots, and the camera captures up to eight frames per second—plenty quick for nailing shots of your buddy’s massive air. Big control wheels permit on-the-fly adjustments. And the large APS-C sensor behind the 18.5-millimeter lens gives a wide field of view, handy when your subject’s moving fast.

Sony a7R II

Building a pro setup? This is your rig. The mirrorless a7R II boasts a 42-megapixel full-frame sensor, which allows for the kind of binocular-sharp clarity typically reserved for cameras twice as heavy. Combine that with an über-light-sensitive max ISO of 102,400 (double most competitors) and 4K video capability, and you have one of the best all-around camera systems ever.