The 10 Best Digital Cameras (2018+case study)

Trying to find the best camera to buy? Should it be a Panasonic or a Canon? Whether it’s a simple compact or a more professional grade DLSR for some David Bailey-style snapping, there are all kinds to choose from.

Do you want a small camera that requires minimal effort, but takes great pictures? A pocket point-and-shoot is probably your best bet. Need to get close to the action without carrying a huge camera with a big lens? A compact superzoom model is likely for you. Or do you want a lightning-fast shooter that lets you swap out lenses and play with settings? Then you want a D-SLR or a compact interchangeable-lens camera. Plan on shooting on the beach or the slopes? You need a ruggedized waterproof model.

We picked winners from recent cameras we’ve tested in the aforementioned categories to make up our top 10. When there are multiple winners in a category, we pick models at various price points. For D-SLRs, we’ve chosen an entry-level, a midrange, and a high-end, full-frame camera. And this time around, we have four point-and-shoot models at various budget levels.

Remember, though, the digital camera market is a robust one; manufacturers release new products throughout the year, and we’re continually testing and reviewing cameras—and updating this list.

Point-and-Shoot Cameras

Fujifilm X100S
$1,299.00 at Amazon

Don’t be fooled by the Fujifilm X100S’s retro exterior; it’s a modern, full-featured digital camera that impressed us enough to earn our Editors’ Choice award.

Olympus Tough TG-2 iHS
$324.99 at Amazon

The Olympus Tough TG-2 iHS rugged camera is a very minor upgrade to the excellent TG-1. It comes in at a lower price and walks away with our Editors’ Choice award.

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 II
$748.00 at Amazon

The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 II packs a huge 1-inch image sensor into a point-and-shoot body, delivering close-to-SLR-quality images from a camera you can fit in your back pocket. This model offers a few worthwhile upgrades over the already-excellent RX100, including integrated Wi-Fi and a tilting rear LCD, but it comes in at a higher asking price.

Canon PowerShot Elph 330 HS
$149.00 at Amazon

One of the best cameras you can buy for less than $250, the svelte, 10x-zoom Canon PowerShot Elph 330 HS takes beautiful pictures and lets you send them instantaneously with integrated Wi-Fi. 

Digital SLRs

Canon EOS 6D
$1,476.99 at Amazon

The Canon EOS 6D is a top-notch full-frame camera in a compact body. With a relatively affordable price, enthusiast-friendly features, and spectacular image quality, it’s an easy Editors’ Choice.

Nikon D7100
$1,146.95 at Amazon

If you’re in the market for a serious D-SLR, but don’t want to go full-frame, the Nikon D7100 is the way to go; it’s our Editors’ Choice camera in its category.

Nikon D5200
$336.99 at Amazon

The under-$1,000 Nikon D5200 is a capable D-SLR that delivers impressive image quality and continuous shooting at 4 frames per second, earning it our Editors’ Choice for midrange SLRs.

Superzoom Cameras

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ200
$489.00 at Amazon

The 24x Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ200 doesn’t have the most ambitious zoom ratio, but a sharp f/2.8 aperture lens and speedy performance make up for it.