The best cameras of 2026, with today's prices

2026 has been a big year for cameras. Sony, Canon and Nikon all refreshed the bodies most people actually buy, the compact camera boom kept going, and action cameras got bigger sensors. This list is our shortlist: one or two cameras for each kind of photographer, with today's lowest price at the shops we check.

The prices below are live. They come from the same import as every product page, so if a store drops its price this afternoon, this post shows it at the next price check. Specs come from each maker's spec sheet.

How we picked

• Bought, not just announced. Every camera here is on sale at stores we track, so you can see a real price, not a launch RRP.
• Value matters. A camera that does 90% of what the flagship does for half the money ranks higher than the flagship.
• One pick per need. Most people don't need eight full-frame bodies to choose from. They need the right one for what they shoot.

Best all-round full-frame cameras

These are the cameras we would buy if we could only own one body for stills and video. Both have a full-frame sensor of a little over 30 megapixels, in-body stabilisation and 4K at up to 120p.

The Sony A7 V is the new default for Sony shooters, and it opens the biggest lens choice of any mount. The Canon EOS R6 Mark III goes further on video, with 7K recording, and is the pick if you already own RF lenses. If neither price works, last generation's Sony A7 IV and Canon EOS R6 Mark II are still excellent, and often much cheaper used.

Best value full frame

Full frame used to start at two thousand dollars. Not any more.

The Nikon Z5 II is the bargain of the year: in-body stabilisation and weather sealing at a price that used to buy an APS-C camera. Canon's EOS R8 Mark II is lighter and shoots faster bursts, while Nikon's new Z5IIc drops the viewfinder for a smaller, cheaper body. We cover the whole price band in the best full-frame cameras under $2,000.

Best for beginners

Small, light and easy, each with a flip-out screen and 4K video. The Nikon Z50 II is the one to get if you want a viewfinder. For more on what to look for, read the best cameras for beginners.

Best for creators and vlogging

Interchangeable lenses with the ZV-E10 II, a pocketable 1.4-inch sensor zoom with the PowerShot V1, or a gimbal in your pocket with the Osmo Pocket 3. The full list is in the best vlogging cameras.

Best compact cameras

The Ricoh GR IV is the most pocketable APS-C camera you can buy, the Fujifilm X100VI is the one everyone wants (it is often out of stock, so check how many stores have it), and the Lumix ZS99 is the cheap travel zoom. More in the best compact cameras of 2026.

Best action and 360 cameras

All three are waterproof without a case. See the best action cameras of 2026 for how they differ.

Best for flying

Camera drones are the fastest-growing kind of camera we track. They have their own post: the best camera drones of 2026.

Should you buy new or used?

Almost every camera on this list has an older sibling that is still very good, and a used body from a shop with a warranty is often the best value of all. Our used price guide shows what each camera typically sells for, and used vs new camera gear explains when used makes sense.

If you're not in a rush, check the price history on each camera's page before you buy. Black Friday is close, and our Black Friday camera deals post tracks what's actually cheaper than usual.