Best brands of camera in the World

Canon

Canon is a world-leading manufacturer of optical imaging devices, from cameras and lenses to printers, photocopiers, and medical equipment. They've been making cameras since the 1930s and remain one of the leading manufacturers of cameras and lenses today. Canon has moved increasingly into the mirrorless market with models like the affordable, entry-level Canon EOS M50 or full-frame options like the portable Canon EOS RP. Canon EOS R5, this full-frame mirrorless model features a sturdy, weather-sealed magnesium alloy construction and a 20.1-megapixel sensor. It delivers fantastic out-of-the-box image quality and outstanding noise handling capability for low-light shooting.

Nikon

Nikon was one of the pioneering manufacturers of digital cameras throughout the 1990s and continues to hold its own against competitors like Canon. In recent years, Nikon has similarly been moving more and more into the realm of mirrorless cameras, though it's still primarily known for its DSLRs, from the easy-to-use Nikon D3500 to well-regarded professional models like the Nikon D850, as well as consumer point-and-shoots. Its mirrorless lineup has steadily improved, and the company now offers mirrorless models to suit different experience levels, including the entry-level Nikon Z 50, the retro-inspired Nikon Z fc, and the full-frame Nikon Z 6II. Nikon is known for pushing boundaries with some of its cameras, like the Nikon COOLPIX P1000, which has the longest fixed zoom lens on the market.

Sony

Sony has been producing cameras since the 1990s. Since acquiring Konica Minolta in 2006, the company has continued to expand its digital camera offerings and has become the third-largest camera manufacturer in the world behind Canon and Nikon. Sony has roots in manufacturing electronic components like semiconductors and image sensors and is one of the world's largest manufacturers of image sensors; many cameras from other brands feature Sony-built sensors. Sony focuses primarily on mirrorless cameras under its Alpha brand name, but it offers point-and-shoot cameras in its Cyber-shot lineup. Their cameras are known for their snappy, highly effective autofocus systems and portable bodies.

Fujifilm

Fujifilm started as a film manufacturer in the early twentieth century until it eventually began producing cameras of its own in the late 1940s under the 'Fujica' moniker. Fujifilm was one of the most successful camera companies to transition from film to digital, and it's now one of the leading producers of APS-C mirrorless cameras as well as increasingly affordable medium format cameras. The Fujifilm X-T4 is the best Fujifilm camera that we've tested and one of the best all-around cameras in its price range.

Panasonic

Panasonic is a global electronics manufacturer that makes everything from TVs and appliances to batteries, headphones, and cameras. Its camera lineup is marketed under the LUMIX brand and is made up primarily of digital mirrorless cameras. For a long time, Panasonic focused mainly on producing cameras within the Micro Four Thirds system, which the company standardized in collaboration with Olympus. Four Thirds camera sensors have a roughly 4:3 aspect ratio and have half the size equivalence of a full-frame sensor; they're smaller than APS-C sensors but larger than those typically found on compact point-and-shoot cameras. That gives them more focal reach and allows them to use lenses that are smaller and cheaper than full-frame lenses.

Olympus

Olympus has been around in some form or another since the 1930s. It was a major brand in the days of film, achieving worldwide popularity in the 1970s and 80s with its innovative 'OM System' line of SLRs. In the digital age, Olympus helped standardize the Four Thirds and later Micro Four Thirds systems, offering a smaller and more affordable alternative to either full-frame or APS-C cameras. In 2021, Olympus's imaging division was acquired by OM Digital Solutions, which announced it'll begin releasing cameras under the new brand name 'OM System' in a callback to the company's heyday, though these cameras and lenses will be compatible with older Olympus-branded products.

Pentex

It was first used by Asahi Optical in the middle of the twentieth century, with the release of the influential Asahi Pentax camera. It was so popular that it propelled Asahi to the global stage and prompted them to rename the company to simply 'Pentax'. Similar to Olympus, Pentax cameras were often innovative and well-regarded throughout the development of SLRs. In the digital age, the company was eventually acquired by RICOH and renamed RICOH Imaging Company, though it still releases DSLRs and medium format cameras under the PENTAX brand, as well as compact cameras under its own name, like the RICOH GR III. The brand is one of the few that doesn't make any mirrorless models and remains committed to releasing high-quality DSLRs and lenses.