So You Want a Good, High-End Camera. But Nowadays, What Does That Mean?
For many people, there comes a time in life when you need a camera. A high-end camera. Not the one inside your smartphone.
Maybe you’ve just graduated from college and you’re planning to take a vagabond tour through Asia before settling on a career path. Maybe you’ve just welcomed your first child into the world and you want to record every breath-taking moment of her infancy. And maybe you’ve reached retirement age and, at long last, purchased that RV—and now you want to capture each glorious sunset you see in the U.S. national park system.
The point is, you want high-quality photos and you don’t mind spending a little extra money to get them. A few years ago, you would have been shopping for an SLR—one of the big, heavy cameras with interchangeable lenses that pros have used for decades. But now there are more choices, and you might even want (gasp) a point-and-shoot. Yes, really.Some of the thing you will have to consider are:
camera comparison
camera calibration opencv
camera dynamic range
camera focal length
camera obscura band
camera projection matrix
camera quantum efficiency
camera vibration isolator
camera zoom definition
camera 50x optical zoom
What is the Best Camera Brand for You?
Picking up one of the best cameras around is a fantastic decision for any creative. Whether you’re a graphic designer who want to be able to capture print work to show off in your portfolio, a web designer who wants to add imagery to a site, or a freelancer looking to improve their social media presence with top quality pics, a good camera can be hugely beneficial.
This works both for your professional portfolio and your personal enjoyment, because taking pictures is, quite frankly, a lot of fun – especially if you’re a naturally creative person.
Which is the best camera to buy right now? Here are the best we’ve reviewed
Smartphone cameras might be improving at a staggering rate, but they remain mere tasters for the things you can do with a standalone camera.
When it comes to creative flexibility and outright quality, the laws of physics (and economics) mean that standalone cameras are still levels above smartphone snappers.
The trouble is, dedicated cameras come in a bewildering array of shapes and sizes. Which is where our guide comes in. No matter what kind of camera you want – DSLR, mirrorless or compact – our roundup has the right choice for you.
We review everything from fun and casual compacts to professional DSLRs, and have simmered down all our research to this easy-to-digest list of recommendations. There’s something for everyone here.
Best mirrorless cameras
Best full-frame camera body: Nikon Z6
Best APS-C all-rounder: Fujifilm X-T3
Best full-frame all-rounder: Sony A7 III
Best for sports/wildlife: Panasonic G9
Best mid-ranger for vloggers: Canon EOS M50
Best DSLR cameras
Best pro all-rounder: Nikon D850
Best for beginners: Nikon D3500
Best full-frame DSLR for handling: Pentax K-1 Mark II
Best value for Canon fans: Canon EOS 250D
Best for sports/wildlife: Nikon D500
Best compact cameras
Our overall winner: Sony RX100 VI
Best travel zoom: Panasonic Tz200
Best waterproof compact: Olympus TG-6
Best for street photography: Panasonic LX100 II
Best for pro shooters: Canon G1x Mark III
High End Point & Shoot Cameras
There is another kind of camera out there: the so called point & shoot camera. Traditionally, these were entry level, compact, mostly full auto cameras.
As I said, the market has been slowly taken over by camera phones. To overcome this, compact camera manufacturers began making higher end versions with a larger sensor, stylish metal body, and RAW shooting and manual control.
I am a kind of jack of all trades when it comes to photography. I like to work with different subjects and different techniques. But I have always been sceptical about point & shoot.
Guess what? I now own two of them, a Sony RX1o and a pocketable Sony RX100 Mk ii. And in this article I’ll show you why these are a strong competitor to DSLRs.
Scientific grade cameras
Extensive range of high grade camera lines come in various resolutions from 1.4 to 29 Megapixels. All cameras are equipped with high-quality CCD or sCMOS sensors some of which are TE Peltier cooled long exposure and low-light related applications.
USB 3.0 Sony CCD Cameras
Sony CCD Scientific grade camera ICX674 ICX694 ICX814 ICX834
Originating from Scientific field, these high end, Grade 1 Sony sensor USB3 cameras are enhanced with EXview HAD CCD II technology and offer resolutions from 2.8 to 12 MPix.
Full frame rate potential with multi-tap readout.
Hyperspectral mini USB3 Cameras
USB3 Hyperspectral imaging HSI cameras smallest
The xiSpec line of Hyperspectral Imaging (HSI) cameras is equipped with compact sensors from IMEC. With its form factor, it is the smallest and lightest in class.
Ideal for UAV use.
Compact X-RAY Cameras
Kodak Truesense On Semicondactor cooled Scientific grade X-RAY compact
X-Ray direct phosphor imaging cameras include resolutions of 8, 11, 15 and 16 Megapixel with 14 bit images. Uniquely small TE cooled models suitable for Micro CT applications.
Support energy levels from 5 up to 100 keV.
Sensitive CCD Cameras
icg ccd sensors cameras illustration
XIMEA’s cameras with CCD sensors from Sony or Truesense (Kodak, now OnSemi) offer resolutions up to 16 Mpix and come in color or grayscale configurations with scientific grade image quality at real-time frame rates
TE Cooled CCD with USB3
Truesense Kodak KAI-4070 KAI-8052 KAI-16070 KAI-29052 TE cooled Scientific grade
Scientific class of compact USB3 cameras with resolutions from 4 to 29 MPix, based on CCD sensors from Truesense/Kodak like KAI-04070, KAI-08052, KAI-16070 and KAI-29052 coupled with Peltier thermoelectric cooling.
Scientific sCMOS Cameras
Sceintific sCMOS cooled camera grade back illuminated TE
Newest family of Scientific cameras with sCMOS sensors and TE cooling. Resolutions start at 4 Mpix and include Backside illuminated versions. Extremely low noise and high Dynamic range with Quantum efficiency up to 95%.
Specialties of XIMEA Scientific grade cameras:
High dynamic range – from 70 dB with CCD sensors to 90 dB with sCMOS sensors
High Quantum efficiency reaching up to 95%
Dark noise lowered down to 1 e-
ADC readout options with 2x 12 bit, 14 bit or 16 bit output
Linearity below 1% and highest uniformity
Special anti-blooming functionality, Real color truth with unique debayering solutions and high quality filters
Large format sensors and big size of pixels
Economical power consumption
Fastest speeds – using all available readout capability
Peltier Cooling (TEC)
XIMEA’s high-end cameras are designed for a variety of life and material science applications, including Ophthalmology, Pathology, Histology, H & E Staining, Immuno – Fluorescence, Bright-field, Phase-Contrast & Darkfield microscopy, Metallurgical Microscopy (Metallography, Mineralogy, Petrography), Cytology, Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP) applications, In vivo bioluminescence (Biofilm imaging), DNA and Forensic Analysis, FISH, CA++ Ratio and more. Also use in industrial fields like Flat panel and semiconductor inspection, Manufacturing Quality Control and Failure Analysis, Motility and Motion analysis and Solar panel inspection.