Ranking of the best digital cameras in 2020

Professional photography involves the use of powerful optical technology to create images that delight and amaze at the first glance. However, it is not always convenient to carry a huge set of all sorts of massive equipment with you, so compact digital cameras are a fairly popular solution among photographers. In terms of size, such devices are noticeably inferior to the optics familiar to professionals, however, the quality of their elaboration and functionality is no worse than classical devices. There are quite a few optical electronics on the modern market, so the review of the best compact digital cameras included only the most worthy models from top manufacturers.

Best digital cameras - TOP price quality

Read also:

1. Best inexpensive cameras
2. Best Cameras for Beginners
3. Best Canon Cameras

Which company should buy a digital camera?

The high demand for digital cameras generates a wide variety of different models, but manufacturers in the competitive IT market segment are a limited number of companies. Only 4-5 companies can claim to fight for a "place in the sun", but each of them offers the best digital cameras for professional photography.

• Canon - The Japanese company is the best manufacturer of optical equipment, according to photographers (both professionals and amateurs). Many of the manufacturer's models have won the highest awards in various ratings, annual IT forums and other events. Highest reliability, stunning optics and ease of use are the main strengths of Canon technology.
• Nikon - Canon's eternal rival for the title of the best digital camera manufacturer always imposes serious competition. The cameras offered by the company are distinguished by special attention to detail and additional functionality, due to which the photographer gets the opportunity to take a wide variety of shots. Nevertheless, the direct optical qualities of Nikon cameras are also worthy of the best epithets.
• Sony - the manufacturer is better known for its "everyday" electronics (smartphones, TVs, laptops), however, in the segment of compact digital cameras and camcorders, the company offers more than decent models for both professionals and amateurs. The advantage of Sony cameras is the development of the sensor matrix, which allows you to take pictures of the highest resolution.
• Fujifilm - devices of the popular manufacturer of goods for photography and filming is the manufacturer of some of the best cameras in the rating in terms of photo quality. The company places great emphasis on the primary processing of frames, which allows you to get excellent images at the output. In addition, Fujifilm often makes good compact video cameras with support for Full HD and 4K images, as well as many add-ons for various shooting modes.

Canon Digital IXUS 230 HS

Many buyers do not need various excesses and mind-boggling photo resolution.This category of photographers should pay attention to the best inexpensive compact camera Digital IXUS 230 HS offered by Canon. It does not have top-end parameters, but for good photography it has everything: 8x optical and 4x digital zoom, a sensor with a 12.8MP BSI CMOS sensor, an optical stabilizer and a flash with a 4-meter coverage. This kind of camera with a cost within 10,000 rubles, judging by the reviews of the device users, is a real find for connoisseurs of reliability and quality. Advantages:

• high shooting speed (up to 8.7 fps)
• good 3-inch screen and user-friendly interface
• Full HD video shooting
• ergonomic design
• excellent 14x Zoom
• there is an HDMI output
• availability of all the most necessary modes

Disadvantages:

• the microphone is more focused on the operator, and not on those who are filmed
• slow-motion autofocus
• flash every time when turned on

Nikon Coolpix P310

The good old Coolpix P310 is a good budget camera that will be appreciated by lovers of time-tested electronics. Digitizer appeared on the shelves of electronics stores in the seemingly distant 2012, but even after 6 years its parameters do not lose their relevance. The excellent 16.79-megapixel sensor allows you to take pictures with a high resolution of 4608x3456, the high shooting speed allows you to create up to 7 photos every second. The ability to manually adjust the aperture from F / 1.8 to F / 4.9 makes a photographer's life much easier. And, of course, one of the most serious advantages is the built-in memory of 90 MB, which creates the sometimes necessary reserve for photos when the memory card is full. Advantages:

• sync pin for connecting a mirror flash
• Full HD video shooting
• advanced HDR mode
• value for money and reliability
• easy to set up
• good focusing speed

Disadvantages:

• weak battery, despite the claimed 230 shots
• burst speed

Video review Nikon Coolpix P310

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H300

The camera continues the TOP of the best modern compact optics with excellent picture detail. The 20.4 megapixel 1 / 2.3-inch matrix captures every detail in the shot composition, which results in a gorgeous photo with a resolution of 5152x3864. Due to its good focusing, the camera is suitable for macro photography, in which the distance to the subject can be as little as 1 cm. It is worth noting the good color rendering of the camera with multi-zone exposure metering and an excellent flash covering a distance of up to 6.8 meters. Considering that one of the best cameras with 35x ultrazoom costs only 12,000-13,000 rubles, you shouldn't think about buying a camera for a long time. Advantages:

• high speed and volume of continuous shooting (up to 100 shots at 8 frames per second)
• 35x Optical Zoom
• flexibility of settings
• good autonomy (batteries are enough for 200-300 photos)
• long battery life

Disadvantages:

• medium level of image stabilization
• maximum resolution for shooting HD video
• no possibility to manually adjust the shutter speed

Canon PowerShot SX420 IS

A 20.5 megapixel CCD matrix, 42x optical and 4x digital zoom, a combination of aspherical and low dispersion lenses at a price of 12,000 rubles will hardly make it possible to doubt that the PowerShot SX420 IS is the best camera in the budget segment of modern optics. Such parameters are most often found in more expensive models, but the Japanese manufacturer made a real gift to the buyer. The quality of the images captured by this ultrazoom digital camera is difficult to describe in simple terms, as photos with a resolution of 5152x3864 are incredibly colorful, clear and rich. Advantages:

• 4x digital zoom
• good night photography
• Wi-Fi and NFC support
• easy to use
• excellent stabilization work
• combination of cost and opportunities

Disadvantages:

• average battery despite claimed 195 shots
• there is no way to adjust some parameters manually

Canon PowerShot G9 X Mark II

The considered model of a compact digital camera qualitatively differs from many devices of this category in terms of both assembly and quality of shooting. The parameters of the Canon camera sensor are perfectly matched: a 1-inch BSI CMOS matrix of 20.9 megapixels, a crop factor reduced to 2.7 and a 42-bit depth allow you to take photos that can be safely sent to all kinds of exhibitions. The presence of a charging connector makes life much easier, especially in cases where there is no outlet, but there is an external battery. Advantages:

• exposure and focus bracketing (auto-shoot multiple frames to find ideal settings)
• excellent high contrast and night shooting modes
• 3-inch touch screen
• excellent picture quality
• comfortable and lightweight
• easy to learn even for an amateur
• good frame depth and color reproduction

Disadvantages:

• average battery despite 235 shots

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100

The rating is continued by the lightweight and convenient camera Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 with an impressive 1-inch CMOS-matrix 20.9 megapixels. An excellent study of optics and an emphasis on aperture allowed the engineers of the Japanese company to create a camera that works great in low light. The camera is undeniably the best model for night photography in the mid-range. It is worth appreciating the proprietary lens from the legendary manufacturer of optical means Carl Zeiss, which, despite the outwardly modest 3.6-fold optical zoom, does an excellent focusing. The Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 is one of the best Sony cameras on the market. Advantages:

• excellent flash at 6.3 meters
• manual focus and autofocus correction
• shooting Full HD video at 50-60 frames per second
• great for shooting in low light
• the ability to rotate the display
• smart processor
• bright flash

Disadvantages:

• there is no way to pause when shooting video
• slightly overpriced

Video review Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX100

Panasonic is gradually changing its policy, moving away from the release of optics, but the premium camera Lumix DMC-LX100 is still quite popular. The operation of the Leica DC VS lens with aspherical and low-dispersion lenses enables detailed focusing even at the 3.1x optical zoom. Huge for the world of cameras, the sensor size of 1.3 inches (otherwise referred to as 4/3) with only 2x the crop factor allows you to capture even the smallest and most inconspicuous details of the composition. Advantages:

• built-in stereo microphone
• filter shoe and thread
• burst quality
• excellent sensitivity
• support for video recording up to 4K
• excellent lens aperture

Disadvantages:

• average quality of autofocus
• long preparation for work

Nikon Coolpix W300

It would be very strange not to include this waterproof compact camera in the review, because such a device is almost indispensable for travel and active (and even extreme) entertainment. The well-thought-out design of the camera allows it to withstand not only shocks, but also depths of up to 30 meters, which will especially help if the camera is lost in water. Despite the emphasis in terms of reliability, the camera received excellent optics: a 16.76-megapixel matrix, a 5x zoom lens with low-dispersion lenses, as well as, most importantly, amazing electronic stabilization when shooting in dynamics. And finally, the cherry on top of the camera's advantages is the 4K video recording mode, which allows you to capture amazingly colorful videos. Advantages:

• GPS module support
• battery charger connector with USB output
• 473 MB internal memory
• durability and reliability
• the possibility of various settings
• light weight
• fast focusing

Disadvantages:

• despite the declared battery capacity of 280 shots, it is enough for 150-170 or less

Fujifilm FinePix XP120

A budget version of a camera for tourism will be an excellent solution if your vacation is not related to extreme sports.The reliable protection against moisture in the camera allows you to use it, for example, near a pool or near the sea, in water parks, in very snowy or rainy weather. The high-quality parameters of the lens (5x zoom, aspherical lenses) and the matrix (16.76 megapixels, photo resolution 4608 × 3456) make it possible to take excellent pictures both in bright sunny and cloudy weather. The camera is especially good in dynamic shooting, since, in addition to the optical stabilizer, it has acquired a sensor shift. It is difficult to find excesses in the device, but for 11,000-12,000 rubles in terms of price-quality ratio, the camera is more than an attractive offer for travelers. Advantages:

• 3-inch display and user-friendly menu
• shooting Full HD-video at FPS 50-60
• good HDR mode
• stylish appearance
• low price

Disadvantages:

• low flash power
• scratch-resistant display

Sony Alpha ILCE-6000 Kit

It's time to turn your attention to interchangeable-lens digital cameras. The proposed model supports a variety of lenses thanks to the Sony E mount. They can be sold with completely different attachments, so each photographer can choose one or more options to suit their needs. CMOS-matrix of 24.7 megapixels is the main advantage of the camera. With an impressive APS-C size and a crop factor of 1.5, the resolution can be up to 6000 × 4000. And, of course, the presence of such functionality as flash bracketing and white balance, electronic video finder and hybrid autofocus will complement the idea of ​​this chic digital camera. Advantages:

• matrix cleaning support
• the ability to shoot up to 11 frames per second
• wonderful night shooting
• good and fast focusing
• convenient control
• it is possible to install additional software to expand functionality
• there is support for WiFi and NFC

Disadvantages:

• no microphone output
• inconvenient location of the video recording button
• not completely thought out system of turning off the display and switching to the viewfinder

Fujifilm X70

One of the most popular Fujifilm cameras is simply designed to break stereotypes. With an incredibly compact size, the device received an APS-C-type X-Trans CMOS II sensor. Usually, such parameters are found only among more massive cameras, but the Japanese masters decided to create a certain contrast. At 16.7 megapixels and a crop factor of 1.5, the camera captures not just even the very detail, but every millimeter of it. In addition, the lens features a stable F / 2.8 aperture and 28mm focal length, which perfectly complement the listed parameters. Any professional would not spare money for this miracle of optical thought. Advantages:

• 3-inch flip-down touchscreen
• functions are duplicated on control wheels
• Full HD video at 60 frames per second
• the ability to work at high ISO
• high-quality metal body
• optics of excellent quality
• light weight
• USB charging capability

Disadvantages:

• slow hybrid focus
• no stabilization
• noisy focusing drive
• no viewfinder

Leica X Vario

The most expensive digital camera in the rankings may seem like overpriced. However, only a true connoisseur of truly professional photography can feel and understand the whole essence of a digital camera. The image of the camera is very minimalistic: the absence of many bells and whistles, the shooting speed is only 5 frames per second, Full HD video, not 4K. However, Leica is known for its optics, and not for various add-ons and add-ons. The proprietary 16.5 megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor has undeniably the best color reproduction on the premium photography market. Amazing sharpness and a gorgeous shutter, a unique 2.55x zoom lens and contrast autofocus, exposure auto-processing and perfect flash ... Every shot taken with this camera automatically becomes a masterpiece. Advantages:

• fits perfectly in the hand due to the weight and metal body
• interchangeable lens caps
• excellent quality optics
• reliability and durability of all elements
• excellent picture quality
• good battery life (up to 300-350 frames)

Disadvantages:

• lack of a video finder
• high price

Compact digital cameras - which is better to choose

It is definitely impossible to determine which model is better and of higher quality. Every photographer, professional or beginner, has a different vision of composition, needs and goals. It will not be possible to impose one thing on everyone, so the rating of the best digital cameras offers excellent options for excellent shooting for any occasion.