If you’re a serious photographer, it’s a safe bet the pics from your phone just don’t cut it for you. If you’re looking for a higher-end camera that will give you better resolution and more control without the bulk of a digital single-lens reflex camera, one of these four models will take care of your needs.
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Sony A7R II
Product Review: https://www.cnet.com/products/sony-alpha-a7r-ii/#ftag=CAD187281f
CNET rating: 4.0 stars out of 5 (Excellent)
The good: For the most part, the Sony A7R II delivers terrific photo and video quality in a compact, well-designed body.
The bad: Terrible battery life and a mushy shutter mechanism may negatively impact your shooting experience. Also, there’s general highlight clipping in still photos and artifacts in some high-ISO-sensitivity shots that we hope Sony can improve via a firmware update.
The cost: $2,549.00 to $2,899.99
The bottom line: It needs a little more refinement, but overall the Sony A7R II is a great camera for folks who need a high-resolution full-frame model in a more compact design than a DSLR.
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Olympus PEN-F
Product Review: https://www.cnet.com/products/olympus-pen-f-review/#ftag=CAD187281f
CNET rating: 4.0 stars out of 5 (Excellent)
The good: The Olympus PEN-F is fast, delivers great photos in a streamlined body and offers a nice feature set.
The bad: The camera lacks a grip and video is not one of Olympus’ strong suits. Plus, it really should be at least modestly dust- and weather-sealed for the money.
The cost: $1,099.00 to $1,199.00 (body only, silver)
The bottom line: Excellent photo quality and performance and a system with tiny, fast prime lenses make the Olympus PEN-F a great camera for street photography.
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Sony A6300
Product Review: https://www.cnet.com/products/sony-alpha-a6300/#ftag=CAD187281f
CNET rating: 4.0 stars out of 5 (Excellent)
The good: The Sony A6300 delivers class-leading photo and video quality, plus good performance and features for shooting action.
The bad: Myriad small annoyances mar the experience and it has the trademark poor battery life of Sony’s A series. Plus it really could use in-body image stabilization.
The cost: $799.99 to $899.99 (body only)
The bottom line: A respectable update to its very popular A6000 mirrorless interchangeable-camera model, the Sony A6300 remains great but also retains some of the drawbacks of its predecessor.
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Panasonic Lumix DMC-G7
Product Review: https://www.cnet.com/products/panasonic-lumix-g7/review/#ftag=CAD187281f
CNET rating: 4.0 stars out of 5 (Excellent)
The good: For the money, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-G7 delivers great photo and video, excellent performance and a broad feature set.
The bad: It’s another in a long line of Panasonic cameras with proprietary USB connectors and some people might find it too complicated.
The cost: $697.99 to $797.99 (with 14-42mm lens)
The bottom line: A great mirrorless interchangeable-lens camera for families and travelers, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-G7 is a compelling alternative to similarly priced DSLRs.
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The following CNET staff contributed to this story: Senior Editor Lori Grunin and Senior Editor Laura K. Cucullu. For more reviews of personal technology products, please visit www.cnet.com.
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