sony a6500 lcd screen made in china

Over the last few years Sony have mounted a strong challenge to the dominant duo of Canon and Nikon, overtaking Nikon to become the number two player.

This is a common trait that applies to all of the Sony cameras in this list, from the breath-taking new Alpha 1 full-frame mirrorless, to the excellent A6100 APS-C model, to the niche Cyber-shot RX0 II action camera.

While Sony have largely focused their recent efforts on full-frame mirrorless, they certainly haven"t forgotten their APS-C range or their compact line-up, offering a number of excellent options in all three categories.

We"ve chosen six different models from Sony"s full-frame range, three from their APS-C sensor line-up, and four of their Cyber-shot compacts - there really should be something here for everyone.

We"ve independently and expertly reviewed virtually every camera that Sony has released in the past 15 years, so rest assured that you can trust our recommendations.

Sony don"t make DSLR cameras, unlike their main rivals, Nikon and Canon, instead choosing to concentrate on developing an extensive range of Alpha-branded full-frame mirrorless cameras.

Sony make a full-frame camera for seemingly every market niche - the A7R for landscapes, A9 for sports, A7S for video, A7 for all-round, and the A7C as a super-compact option.

It"s not all about full-frame however - Sony also make a popular APS-C sensor range of mirrorless models, three of which we"ve included in this guide.

Our verdict: "...the new Sony A9 II is a compelling option for pro users, with Sony introducing a wide range of relatively minor, but collectively major, improvements to a flagship camera that was already a real speed demon."

Our verdict: "Sony has been refreshingly single-minded on delivering a product that truly delivers in real world experience instead of flouting hollow headline grabbing numbers. Yes it"s "only" 4K. Yes, it "only" has 12.1MP. But within those parameters, you"ll be hard pressed to find a better camera than the Sony Alpha 7S III."

Our verdict: "...the new Sony Alpha A7R IV offers a compelling blend of out-and-out resolution, surprising speed and enhanced handling that widens its appeal beyond just portrait, landscape and architecture photographers."

Modestly billed by Sony as being the "basic" model in the range, the A7 III is far from being basic- this is the best-priced, best all-round Alpha camera that will more than satisfy most users.

Our verdict: "The Sony A7 III is quite simply the best camera available at its price-point. It"s good enough to tempt some people to stretch their budget further, and even good enough for some to save money by not having to look higher up the range."

Sony have somehow squeezed a full-frame sensor, an IBIS unit and a new flip-out screen into a body that"s only slightly bigger and heavier than the A6600.

Our verdict: "Sony is attempting to reach out to a new, younger audience of vloggers and content creators with the launch of the A7C, many of whom are simply put-off by the sheer size and weight of current full-frame cameras."

Our verdict: "The new flagship A6600 begs, borrows and steals features from further down Sony"s extensive range of APS-C models and also further up from the A7 full-frame cameras..."

At the time of launch in 2019, it had the best auto-focusing that Sony offered on any of their cameras, including the much more expensive full-frame models. That"s no longer true today, but it"s still a great system.

It does have a few weaknesses - the design is rather outdated and there"s no built-in image stabilisation system or headphone socket - but overall the A6400 is the APS-C sensor camera that we"d choose in the Sony range.

The A6100 is also great for vlogging thanks to its flippable screen, 4K/30p quality, no limit on the actual recording length, built-in MIC port and that fantastic AF system.

Our verdict: "The new Sony A6100 is a much more significant upgrade from the incredibly popular A6000 than the A6400 and A6600 were from the A6300 and A6500 respectively, gaining a lot of cutting-edge functionality from the more expensive, sophisticated models."

As cheaper compact cameras have declined in popularity over the last few years, Sony have switched tack to making the best possible compacts instead, whether they be for recording video, stills, action, or wildlife.

Sony have taken the popular RX100 and added a microphone socket, a hot-shoe on the top, and a screen which flips out to the side, making it better suited to video recording.

Our verdict: "...the price of the Sony ZV-1 should be affordable to people who want it, and given many of the features of the camera are the same as found in recent A7 series cameras, there is a lot of technology crammed in to a very portable body."

There are still a few caveats - no camera is perfect - including poor battery life, no built-in ND filter, and a rather limited touchscreen interface, but overall this is probably the best compact camera that you can currently buy.

Our verdict: "If you want a camera that"s fast enough to shoot fast-moving subjects - wildlife, sports, or just your kids - and small enough to fit inside a coat pocket, then there"s simply no better option currently on the market than the Sony RX100 VII."

The last entry in our guide to the best Sony cameras is an unusual one - a high-end action model that costs as much as some interchangeable lens cameras.

Our verdict: "...if the Sony RX0 II does happen to suit your specific needs, you’d struggle to find a better pocket camera with this level of image quality."

Most Sony cameras and lenses are designed in Japan and made in Chunburi, Thailand, about a 90-minute drive from central Bangkok. Some of its cheaper cameras and lenses are manufactured in China to save costs.

Lot of professional photographers now rely on Sony,something that wasn"t true 10 years ago, so they"ve made massive strides in recent years,really focusing on the needs of the professional user. The good news is that has filtered down to their cheaper cameras too.

Are you kidding?! Sony leads the way in video, from the 4K-specialist A7S III and the new FX-3 to the headline-grabbing 8K Alpha 1. Videographers have long used Alpha cameras, and it"s easy to see why.

If you"re an amateur for whom photography is a hobby and you don"t want to spend too much money, then the APS-C range is hard to beat, especially the Sony A6400, which hits the right note between features and cost.

Yes, seven of the latest Sony cameras can now be used as webcams via the Imaging Edge Webcam software program. They are the Alpha 1, A7C, A7R IV, A9 II, A7S III, FX-3 and the ZV-1.