Best camera 2018: The best compact, CSC and digital SLR cameras from £199

Buying a camera can be a daunting process, with a huge range of different shapes, sizes, specs and features to look out for. In this guide you’ll find everything from hulking semi-pro DSLRs to pocketable compacts, and while some of the cameras here are getting on a bit, that doesn’t mean you should discount them completely – older models are even more likely to be available for bargain prices.

If you’re not sure which one is right for you, then be sure to read our complete in-depth buying guide on page two. There’s something for everyone here, from tiny compacts that will slip into your pocket right up to the best budget DSLRs, so it pays to make sure you’re choosing the right camera for your purposes. We’ve summarised the key points and specifications you need to know, but there are also quick links to our full reviews where you’ll find the results of our in-depth testing, including a selection of sample photographs for each camera.

To make this article easier to browse, and to make it easier for you to find the camera you’re after, we’ve split it into two. On this page you’ll find our favourite DSLR cameras and Compact System Cameras (CSCs), and over on page 2 you’ll find our pick the best Bridge cameras, Ultra-zoom cameras and Compact cameras. On page three we have a detailed buying guide, which will help you choose the right kind of camera for your needs.

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The best cameras to buy in 2018

The best CSC, digital SLR and high-end compact cameras

If you want the ultimate image quality and flexibility, a digital SLR or Compact System Camera is for you. There’s a lot of variation in this category, from hulking semi-pro DSLRs to fairly compact budget CSCs, but all of them have interchangeable lenses so you choose the best tool for the job. Generally speaking, sensor size is far bigger than on a compact camera, with this being the best, simple indicator of image quality, although big sensors do restrict zoom multipliers. Most of these cameras have plenty of manual controls, for those who want to fine-tune their exposures, though this isn’t always the case with the more budget CSC offerings.

1. Canon G7 X Mark II: The best compact camera you can buy

Price when reviewed: £599

An update to the brilliant G7 X, one of our favourite cameras of 2015, this new model has astounded us by being better yet. The core concept is still the same, take a 1in sensor and marry it with a bright lens in order to provide SLR kit lens quality in a far smaller and more portable package.

The small camera still fits into most pockets. Inside there’s a faster processor for quicker shooting and a better grip on the front, which is greatly appreciated for those times you’re holding a £500+ camera with a single hand. The LCD screen on back now tilts up and down, it’s still a touchscreen, so entering settings can be done using this and with the lens ring around the front, alongside a wealth of other dials and buttons.

It’s photo quality that really stand out, though. The 20-megapixel sensor and f/1.8-2.8 lens produce incredible results in almost all lighting conditions. There’s also a fairly wide 4.2x zoom range, bigger than most SLR kits lenses, so framing shots is a breeze too. The results are packed with detail, with great colours in JPEGs and a lack of noise that’s surprising for such a small camera.

The G7 X Mark II is already a strong contender for our camera of the year, if you need something more portable than a CSC or SLR this is the camera to buy.

Read our full Canon G7 X Mark II review

Key specs – Sensor resolution: 20 megapixels, Sensor size: 1in, Viewfinder: None, LCD screen: 3in (1,040,000 dots), Optical zoom (35mm-equivalent focal lengths): 4.2x (24-100mm), 35mm-equivalent aperture: f/5-7.7, Weight: 319g, Dimensions (HxWxD): 64x108x42mm

2. Canon EOS 5D Mark IV: A stunning DSLR, if you can afford it

Price when reviewed: £3,599

It’s not like the 5D Mark III was a bad camera – it was one of the best high-end DSLRs money could buy. But as you’d hope, Canon has revisited its legendary DSLR and pushed it to ever-greater heights. You now get impressively crisp 4K video recording as part of the package, and autofocus – traditionally a weak point – is now good enough that you can rely on it in most situations. This is a huge step forward for shooting video, but the quality of the photographs you get from the 5D Mark IV is better than ever.

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The upgraded 61-point autofocus sensor is a welcome addition; the full-frame sensor now has 30.4 megapixels to play with; and continuous shooting now hits 7fps, up from the 6fps on the previous model. Apart from a few nit-picks, this is a DSLR to be reckoned with. Whether you’re a deep-pocketed amateur or a professional that’s looking for an upgrade on an older model, this is one purchase you’re unlikely to regret.

Read our full Canon EOS 5D Mark IV review

Key specs – Sensor resolution: 30.4 megapixels, Sensor size: 36x24mm (Full frame), Focal length multiplier: 1x, Viewfinder: Optical TTL, LCD screen: 3.2in (1,620,000 dots), Lens mount: Canon EF, GPS, Wi-Fi, Weight: 800g, Size (HxWxD): 116x151x76mm

3. Fujifilm X-T2: The best CSC camera serious money can buy

Price when reviewed: £1,357

Fujifilm’s X-T1 was frustratingly close to perfection, and now the X-T2 has taken everything that made its predecessor so great and improved on it. You still get a pleasingly old-school design which is both weather-sealed and reassuringly robust, but the quality of the video capture has taken a huge leap forwards – this is now a superbly capable all-rounder for taking on both stills and video work.

There are still chinks in that somewhat dauntingly expensive armour, such as the slightly unreliable autofocus in burst stills and video modes, and Fujifilm should definitely look to give the next generation model a faster turn of speed in single drive mode.

That said, the X-T2 is a fantastic camera that delivers fantastic results in a wide range of challenging shooting conditions. For many people, that’s well worth paying a premium for.

Read our full Fujifilm X-T2 review

Key specs – Sensor resolution: 24 megapixels, Sensor size: 23.6×15.6mm (APS-C), Focal length multiplier: 1.5x, Viewfinder: Electronic (2.36 million dots), LCD screen: 3in (1.04 million dots), Lens mount: Fujifilm X Mount, Weight: 507g, Dimensions (HxWxD): 92x143x51mm

4. Sony RX100 V: A stunningly capable compact at a not-so-compact price

Price when reviewed: £943

It’d be easy to mistake the Sony RX100 V for a mere compact camera. Take one look at the photos and videos captured by this miniature wonder, however, and you’ll realise that you’re in the company of something very special indeed. There’s only one catch: you won’t get much change from £1,000.

Pay your money and you’ll be rewarded with the fastest camera we’ve ever encountered. The RX100 V grabs 23.1 images per second and is capable of keeping that up for 170 JPEGs or 72 RAW photos before slowing down – if you’re sick of missing that perfect shot, you’ve got no excuse with the Sony.

That speed wouldn’t be much good if it weren’t partnered with great image quality, and thankfully the RX100 V delivers the goods. The 24-70mm zoom is admittedly too short for sports and wildlife snapping, which is a touch disappointing, but photo and video quality is spotless. 4K video is crystal clear and photos retain impressive amounts of detail even in poor lighting conditions.

If you want a superlative camera that you can pop in a pocket, then the Sony is well worth considering – but with highly capable rivals such as the Canon PowerShot G7 X II costing substantially less, we’d think long and hard before taking the plunge.

Read our full Sony RX 100 V review

Key specs – Sensor resolution: 20 megapixels, Sensor size: 13.2×8.8mm (1in), Viewfinder: Electronic (2.4 million dots), LCD screen: 3in (1,228,800 dots), Optical zoom (35mm-equivalent focal lengths): 2.9x (24-70mm), 35mm-equivalent aperture: f/4.9-7.6, Weight: 298g, Dimensions (HxWxD): 60x104x41mm

5. Fujifilm X-T10: Superb photos, but video isn’t so great

Price when reviewed: £595

With retro designs and hands-on controls for enthusiasts, Fujifilm’s X-series cameras have built a solid following, mainly those who fondly remember the days of film cameras. it doesn’t matter if you like the look though as the cameras also have stunning image quality for their price, and the Fujifilm X-T10 is no exception.

This is the cheaper model in the current range, so there’s no metal body or weather-proofing here. You do still get plenty of dials and switches to play with, great ergonomic design and a well-thought-out control system. Still image quality is stunning, among the best you’ll see from an APS-C based CSC. Video isn’t its strongest point though and neither is raw speed, but pictures look great. At this price it’s something of a bargain, shooting pictures just like cameras twice the price.

Read our Fujifilm X-T10 review for details

Key specs – Sensor resolution: 16 megapixels, Sensor size: 23.6×15.6mm (APS-C), Focal length multiplier: 1.5x,Viewfinder: Electronic (2,360,000 dots), LCD screen: 3in (920,000 dots), Optical zoom (35mm-equivalent focal lengths): 3.1x (24-75mm),35mm-equivalent aperture: f/5.2-8.4, Lens mount: Fujifilm X Mount, Weight: 576g, Size (HxWxD): 85x130x116mm

6. Panasonic G80: The best CSC under £1,000… for now

Price when reviewed: £799

Panasonic has taken its brilliant G7 and pushed it to new heights – the G80 adds a weather-sealed body, bigger viewfinder, sensor-shift stabilisation and a posher kit lens. The £799 price is pretty reasonable by CSC standards and places it squarely between entry-level models such as the Canon EOS M3 and premium-priced cameras such as the Fujifilm X-T2, but the impressive thing is that it performs more like Fujifilm’s high-end rival in most respects. The G80’s performance, handling, features and range of controls are all top-notch, and its video performance is better than pretty much anything out there. Fujifilm’s X-T20 may yet knock it off its perch, but for now the G80 is flying high.

Read our full Panasonic G80 review for details

Key specs – Sensor resolution: 16 megapixels, Sensor size: 17.3x13mm (Micro Four Thirds), Focal length multiplier: 2x, Viewfinder: Electronic (2,360,000 dots), LCD screen: 3in (1,040,000 dots), Optical zoom (35mm-equivalent focal lengths): 5x (24-120mm), 35mm-equivalent aperture: f/7-11.2, Lens mount: Micro Four Thirds, Weight: 715g, Size (HxWxD): 79x137x130mm

7. Canon EOS 750D: A great mid-range DSLR

Price when reviewed: £617

The new Canon EOS 750D eschews fancy features to concentrate on what’s truly important from a camera – consistent image quality. Images from its new 24-megapixel sensor are consistently brilliant, with the camera’s new metering system providing enviable results in practically any conditions -measuring the brightness across the frame at 7,560 points, with 19 autofocus points.

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It’s got a great liveview mode too, handy for those making the leap from compact cameras or smartphones, with responsive subject tracking for sharp shots of moving subjects. It also comes with built-in Wi-Fi and NFC to make sharing photos easier via your smartphone. It’s the perfect SLR for those buying their first one or upgrading from an older model.

Read our full Canon EOS 750D review for details

Key specs – Sensor resolution: 24 megapixels, Sensor size: 22x15mm (APS-C) Focal length multiplier: 1.6x, Viewfinder: Optical, LCD screen: 3in (1,040,000 dots), Optical zoom (35mm-equivalent focal lengths): N/A, Lens mount: EF-Mount, Weight: 771g (body-only), Size (HxWxD): 104x132x148mm

8. Nikon D610: A superb full-frame DSLR

Price when reviewed: £1,449

Full-frame photography took a price crash last year, with both Canon and Nikon selling such cameras for around £1,500 for the first time. We preferred the Nikon D600 over its Canon rival, but then it started to suffer problems with dirt on the sensor. Now the problem wasn’t critical but it did through a spanner in the works of a great camera.

So now we have the D610, essentially the same camera but with the problem well and truly fixed. There have been a number of other minor tweaks, notably faster continuous shooting of 6fps, up from 5.5fps, and a new quiet continuous mode at 3fps.

Most things stay the same then, but that’s not a problem. Image quality is sublime, with colours that both sizzle and subtly recreate skin tones with ease. There’s barely any noise, even at high ISO speeds. There are all the controls you need and this should be high on your list if you’re serious about buying a DSLR.

Read our full Nikon D610 review for details

Key specs – Sensor resolution: 24.2 megapixels, Sensor size: 35.9x24mm, Focal length multiplier: 1x, Viewfinder: Optical TTL, LCD screen: 3.2in (921,000 dots), Optical zoom (35mm-equivalent focal lengths): , 35mm-equivalent aperture: , Lens mount: Nikon F, Weight: 850g, Size (HxWxD): 113x141x82mm

9. Canon EOS 70D: An ideal DSLR for enthusiasts

Price when reviewed: £999

The Canon EOS 70D is the new top-end model in Canon’s APS-C range, so if you’re looking for a great DSLR but aren’t ready to move to professional-class full frame cameras then this is a good choice. It’s extremely consistent with features, image and video quality all impressing. It has a new sensor-based autofocus which makes it far easier to use in live view (and for video) plus an articulated screen for shooting at unusual angles.

The new sensor has 20 megapixels, automatic exposures were brilliantly judged and the details were precise. Noise levels were low up to ISO 5000, but it’s not the best performer in this area admittedly. The consistency of the images it produces is the real highlight here, plus its flexibility as both a stills and video capture device. It’s our narrow favourite though pure photographers should seriously consider the Nikon D7100 as well.

Read our full Canon EOS 70D review for details

Key specs – Sensor resolution: 20 megapixels, Sensor size: 22x15mm (APS-C) Focal length multiplier: 1.62x, Viewfinder: Optical, LCD screen: 3in (1,040,000 dots), Optical zoom (35mm-equivalent focal lengths): N/A, Lens mount: EF-Mount, Weight: 755g (body-only), Size (HxWxD): 104x139x79mm

10. Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH4: The best CSC for 4K video

Price when reviewed: £1,299

The GH series has long stood out among CSCs. Rather than use a mirrorless design to simply reduce the size of the device, Panasonic has concentrated on the technology’s leaning toward video capture. The Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH4 then builds upon its predecessors’ reputation for excellent video quality and features with support for 4K footage, which looks stunning.

Even if you’re not yet in a position to enjoy such video, shooting in 4K has its advantages. When you downsample 4K footage to Full HD the new camera is capable of twice the colour resolution of previous efforts. Shooting this way also lets you crop into the frame in editing without a big noticeable loss in quality. There’s loads of video quality options, mic inputs and outputs, and uncompressed video can be streamed from the HDMI port.

As a camera, it’s also impressive, though you’ll find better examples at this price admittedly. Still it keeps up with most CSCs and image quality is solid and consistent rather than outstanding. For video though it has no peers given its price and portability, so if you’re a video enthusiast looking for a new camera, look no further.

Read our full Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH4 review for details

Key specs – Sensor resolution: 15.9 megapixels, Sensor size: 17.3x13mm (Micro Four Thirds) Focal length multiplier: 2x, Viewfinder: Electronic, LCD screen: 3in (1,036,000 dots), Optical zoom (35mm-equivalent focal lengths): N/A, Lens mount: Micro Four Thirds, Weight: 560g, Size (HxWxD): 95x144x84mm

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