The best camera: 3 best cameras to buy in 2021

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Looking for the best camera to buy? There are so many different cameras out there contending for the title as the best camera, which makes it quite overwhelming when trying to decide the ideal one for you. But no worries, we’ve written this extensive guide to help you choose the best camera for your need.

Whether you’re looking for the best camera for beginners, video, photography, or vlogging, or you’re after the best mirrorless or DSLR camera. We’ve compiled the three best options out there based on rigorous research involving every necessary detail to help you narrow down your search to the best camera for your particular need.

Contents

The best cameras 2021

This guide is a work in progress involving 20 best cameras in total, so you can always check back for the full list – but for now, we’ve put together the three best options with exceptionally good value that covers every need and budget.

1. Fujifilm X-T4

The best camera overall for intermediates and professionals

The Fujifilm X-T4 is an excellent masterpiece and the definition of a great camera. It’s an improved upgrade to the X-T3 with new features from styling to design and performance.

The X-T4 is a robust mirrorless camera solidly built with the trademark metallic design that’s weather-resistant and retains all the mechanical controls you’d expect from a Fujifilm camera.

One of the features that stood out in the X-T4 is IBIS (in-body image stabilization), which brings it up to speed with rivals like the Sony A6600. The X-H1 is the only other Fujifilm camera brand that has the IBIS feature.

In addition, the X-T4 has a much bigger battery (than the X-T3 predecessor), which is capable of doing 500 shots per charge, and its performance as a video camera is incredible. It also has a wide array of tools that makes shooting with it a great experience.

You also get a fully articulating LCD touchscreen that can be flipped, rotated, and used as a front-facing screen camera in a selfie mode, perfect for creators that work alone.

Specifications:

Sensor: 26.1MP APS-C X-Trans CMOS 4 sensor | Video: C4K & UHD at 60/50/30/25/24p | Image processor: X Processor 4 | Max image size: 6,240 x 4,160 | AF points: 117/425/91 point hybrid contrast/phase AF | Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | Memory card: 2x SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS II) | ISO range: 160 to 12,800 (exp 80-51,200) | Metering modes: 256-zone multi-pattern, centre-weighted, spot | Viewfinder: EVF, 3.69m dots | LCD: 3-inch vari-angle touchscreen, 1.62m dots | Max burst: 30fps (electronic shutter, 1.25x crop mode) 15fps (mechanical shutter) | Size: 134.6 x 92.8 x 63.8mm | Weight: 607g (body)

$1,699 AT AMAZON

2. Nikon D3500

The best DSLR camera from Nikon for beginners

The Nikon D3500 is a stable favorite for many photographers. Although not the most sophisticated DSLR out there, we still rate it as the best DSLR you can buy right now — for the price, simplicity, controls, the image quality you get, and the incredible 1,550-shot battery life, plus a whole lot more.

For the price as you’d expect, the Nikon D3500 isn’t flawless. It lacks 4K video capture, there’s no hybrid on-sensor autofocus, and its fixed rear screen lacks touchscreen functionalities.

But it does compensate for those drawbacks with a 24-megapixel sensor (one of the best APS-C sensors around) that delivers outstanding, ultra-high quality images and a super helpful photography ‘Guide’ mode, which takes you through all the basic process of using the D3500 functions, such as creating background effects and photo editing — perfect for beginner photographers to understand manual settings, develop their shooting skills, and grow in confidence.

If you are a beginner photographer looking for the best DSLR camera to create great pictures without a steep learning curve, look no further than the Nikon D3500. You’ll certainly get top-notch images of high quality and performance that are exceedingly good for the price.

Specifications:

$499.99 AT AMAZON

3. Fujifilm X-T200

The best mirrorless camera for beginners, vloggers, and Instagramers

The Fujifilm X-T200 is an excellent mix of sophistication and great pricing, a fantastic mirrorless camera with physical controls and touchscreen access to settings – a familiar feature for folks moving over from a smartphone.

If you like to compose images at eye level or take pictures in bright sunlight, you’ll be glad to know the Fujifilm X-T200 comes fitted with an electronic viewfinder plus a generous 3.5-inch LCD screen that can be flipped 180 degrees if necessary, perfect for vlogging and taking gram selfies.

Fujifilm mirrorless cameras are well known for producing images that look awesome with the trademark rich colors that don’t require any editing – thanks to the inclusion of various fantastic movie simulation modes that makes it possible to shoot excellent-looking 4K videos.

The X-T200 also provides access to a vast range of awesome Fujifilm lenses, a tremendous bonus that further solidifies it as the ideal camera for creators of all kinds.

The X-T200 is not the most advanced Fujifilm camera, but for what you get at that price – including the depth of functionality that allows you to develop your skill if you are willing to put in the effort to learn the camera and improve your shots with it.

Specifications:

$799.95 AT AMAZON

The best camera: 3 best cameras to buy in 2021