Here at Pocket-lint, we test all the top cameras throughout the year, whether they’re professional mirrorless bodies or tiny action cameras. Now, as the year draws to a close, we’re celebrating the very best cameras of 2023.
The 20th annual Pocket-lint Awards, sponsored by new EE, were held on 9 November 2023 – and included all the best devices across a wide range of products. In each category, we honed in on a shortlist of six nominees, each product having been reviewed by the Pocket-lint team in the last 12 months.
There were loads of great cameras hitting the market in 2023, which meant that the prize was hotly contested. And while we were amazed by numerous cameras this year, there can only be one winner.
Camera of the Year: Panasonic Lumix S5IIX
Panasonic
Panasonic Lumix S5IIX
With some of the most comprehensive video features of any mirrorless camera, and an extremely competitive price tag, the Lumix S5IIX is the camera that made the biggest splash in 2023.
The Lumix S5IIX is a spectacular full-frame mirrorless body from Panasonic. It has some of the most comprehensive video shooting capabilities of any full-frame camera on the market today, and when it comes in at half the price of a lot of its competitors, it’s sure to garner attention.
The S5IIX and its sibling, the S5II, are the camera bodies that debuted Panasonic’s excellent phase detection autofocus system, this means that the one area that was holding the brand back has now been addressed, and the S5IIX focuses with the best of them.
It also has some of the most impressive in-body image stabilisation that we’ve seen on a full-frame camera, so your shots always look their best whether you’re shooting photos or capturing video. As a bonus, it’s one of the only cameras to come in a stealthy all-black colourway, so it brings some style to the table, too.
Highly commended: Sony A7C R
The Sony A7C R is another camera that absolutely blew us away this year. This camera has a shockingly travel-friendly and compact body, but it somehow squeezes in a 61MP full-frame sensor. It’s a perfect tool for anyone who needs the highest-resolution snaps but doesn’t want to carry a massive professional body. Of course, like most Sony cameras, it’s excellent at shooting video, too.
Not only does this camera provide stunning detailed images, but it’s also able to produce them quickly, at a rate of 10 frames per second. In video mode, you can shoot at up to 4k60 in 10-bit 4:2:2 and even oversampled 6.2k with a Super35 crop. Truly impressive, especially considering its diminutive size.
The best of the rest
Canon EOS R6 Mark II
The Canon EOS R6 Mark II is an exceptional full-frame body that’s suited to photographers and video makers alike. It has some of the fastest burst shooting capabilities in its class, excellent video specifications, fast and reliable autofocus, and Canon’s renowned colour science.
Canon has a lot of excellent full-frame cameras in its lineup, but the R6 Mark II quickly cemented itself as our favourite thanks to its blend of performance and pricing. It’s the Goldilocks camera and a true hybrid performer.
Fujifilm X-T5
The Fujifilm X-T5 is a photographic powerhouse with retro charm. It’s not just about the look and feel of this vintage shooter, though; it has impressive IBIS and autofocus tracking, with high-resolution capture in both stills and video.
It’s obviously geared towards photographers primarily, but its video specs might surprise you, offering up to 6.2K recording in 10-bit 4:2:2. If you crave the look and feel of an old-school film camera but don’t want to sacrifice an ounce of performance to get it, then the X-T5 demands your attention.
Nikon Z8
The Nikon Z8 is a professional body that can handle anything. Its speedy stacked sensor enables blazing-fast burst shooting with 47.5MP stills and can shoot RAW video at a staggering 8K 60fps.
No matter your subject or shooting style, there’s a good chance that the Nikon Z8 is up to the task. It just does everything exceptionally well. It may not come cheap, but it justifies that price.
Sony A6700
The Sony A6700 is a compact APS-C camera with abilities that go well beyond its size. It boasts some of the best autofocus in the business, and thanks to its AI smarts, it can even track insects. The 26MP stills look fantastic, and you can shoot video all the way up to 4K 120fps with a crop or 4K 60fps without.
The A6700 has great hybrid abilities, and its small stature makes it a pleasure to carry around; it’s priced quite competitively, too. Not to mention the fact that it’s compatible with one of the most robust lens ecosystems available today.
How the EE Pocket-lint Awards judging works
The winner for the Best Camera category was decided by the Pocket-lint team, along with a panel of expert judges from publications across the industry. Following a rigorous scoring process, the Best Camera winner for 2023 was announced at an in-person event on 9 November 2023, along with the winners from the other 20 categories.
A Product of the Year winner was also announced, chosen from the winners of the 21 categories.
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