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Best Sony Digital Cameras

Updated August 2018
Why trust BestReviews?
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We buy all products with our own funds, and we never accept free products from manufacturers.
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers.
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We buy all products with our own funds, and we never accept free products from manufacturers.
Bottom Line
Pros
Cons
Best of the Best
Sony
a6500 Mirrorless
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Bottom Line

Excellent image sensor quality with 24.2 megapixels of resolution. Can shoot 4K movies.

Pros

Able to record images quickly, thanks to a fast autofocus mechanism. Offers electronic viewfinder. Able to record images in burst mode at speeds up to 11 frames per second. Excellent still image and movie resolution levels. Mirrorless design of the a6500 creates a smaller camera body than a DSLR.

Cons

High price point. A bit too complicated for beginner-level photographers.

Sony
a6000 Mirrorless
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Bottom Line

Offers a high quality image sensor with tiltable LCD screen and electronic viewfinder.

Pros

Includes a large image sensor with 24 megapixels of resolution. Fast performing camera at 11 frames per second in burst mode. Good performance in low light situations. High quality LCD screen that also can tilt away from the camera. Good camera size with the mirrorless design.

Cons

Kit lens isn't a high quality component. Battery lifespan could be better.

Sony
HX300
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Bottom Line

Fixed lens camera with a large 50X optical zoom lens that brings far-off subjects closer.

Pros

Can record images at a resolution up to 20.4 megapixels. Having a 50X optical zoom lens is a great feature when shooting nature photos. Includes a tiltable LCD screen that allows you to shoot odd-angle photographs. Can record images in burst mode at up to 10 frames per second.

Cons

Image quality lags behind DSLR and mirrorless style digital cameras.

Best Bang for the Buck
Sony
HX80
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Bottom Line

Good all-around camera offered at a low price point that includes a 30X optical zoom.

Pros

Great travel camera because of its small size and large optical zoom lens. Includes an adequate 18.2 megapixels of resolution. Has 3-inch LCD screen with the ability to tilt it at multiple angles. Offers a viewfinder. Good performance for close-up photos with an accurate AF system.

Cons

Wi-Fi connection is difficult to set up. Durability of camera is questionable.

Sony
RX100 Mark II
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Bottom Line

Excellent photo quality for small, fixed lens camera, thanks to the high quality image sensor.

Pros

Includes a 1-inch image sensor and 20.9 megapixels of resolution, providing great photographs in a small camera. RX100 Mark II works great in low light shooting situations. Tiltable LCD screen makes it convenient to shoot odd-angle photos. Includes built-in Wi-Fi and NFC connectivity options.

Cons

Small 3.6X optical zoom lens versus what's found in most fixed lens camera.

How we decided

We purchase every product we review with our own funds — we never accept anything from product manufacturers.

  • 16 Models Considered
  • 68 Hours Researched
  • 1 Experts Interviewed
  • 83 Consumers Consulted
    • Zero products received from manufacturers.

    We purchase every product we review with our own funds — we never accept anything from product manufacturers.

    Why trust BestReviews?
    BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We buy all products with our own funds, and we never accept free products from manufacturers.
    BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers.
    BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We buy all products with our own funds, and we never accept free products from manufacturers.
    The team that worked on this review
    • Eliza
      Eliza
      Production Manager
    • Heather
      Heather
      Chief Content Officer
    • Kyle
      Kyle
      Writer
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    Sony

    a6500 Mirrorless

    Sony

    a6500 Mirrorless

    Excellent image sensor quality with 24.2 megapixels of resolution. Can shoot 4K movies.
    $1398
    ×

    Sony

    a6000 Mirrorless

    Sony

    a6000 Mirrorless

    Offers a high quality image sensor with tiltable LCD screen and electronic viewfinder.
    $698
    ×

    Sony

    HX300

    Sony

    HX300

    Fixed lens camera with a large 50X optical zoom lens that brings far-off subjects closer.
    $499
    ×

    Sony

    HX80

    Sony

    HX80

    Good all-around camera offered at a low price point that includes a 30X optical zoom.
    $338
    ×

    Sony

    RX100 Mark II

    Sony

    RX100 Mark II

    Excellent photo quality for small, fixed lens camera, thanks to the high quality image sensor.
    $648