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The Best High-End Cameras Going Into 2023
The Best High-End Cameras Going Into 2023
by Keenan Hursh
Well, it’s 2023. If you’re anything like me, it feels like 2022 flew by in the blink of an eye… Regardless of last year seeming to not have happened at all it turns out lots of stuff happened indeed, especially in the photography world.
There were some exciting new releases, technology continued to advance at a staggering rate, and cameras just kept getting better and sexier across the board.
As we move into the new year many of us are eager to learn what’s out there, and what exciting new gear we can get our hands on. I’ve decided to compile a list of the “best” cameras on the market as we start the new year.
Of course, the word best is very arbitrary and will mean something different to every single one of us. We all have different shooting styles and photography needs and no one camera will completely satisfy every photographer (although some seem to come close).
Some of us are just beginning our photography journeys, some of us have been shooting for 20+ years, and some of us have fallen into very specific niches when it comes to the photos we take and the gear we use.
That being said, I decided to organize this list into two articles based on camera prices and features. This first post focuses on ultra-high-performance cameras that sit at a price point of over $3,500 USD.
Next week we’ll post a second article focusing on some great mid-range options and some awesome cameras that won’t break the bank. After all, it doesn’t make sense to compare apples to oranges. I’m also going to stray away from ranking the following cameras in any sort of hierarchy for previously mentioned reasons.
Well, let’s get into it. Here are some of the best high-performance cameras that we’re the most excited about at Backcountry Journeys.
There were some exciting new releases, technology continued to advance at a staggering rate, and cameras just kept getting better and sexier across the board.
As we move into the new year many of us are eager to learn what’s out there, and what exciting new gear we can get our hands on. I’ve decided to compile a list of the “best” cameras on the market as we start the new year.
Of course, the word best is very arbitrary and will mean something different to every single one of us. We all have different shooting styles and photography needs and no one camera will completely satisfy every photographer (although some seem to come close).
Some of us are just beginning our photography journeys, some of us have been shooting for 20+ years, and some of us have fallen into very specific niches when it comes to the photos we take and the gear we use.
That being said, I decided to organize this list into two articles based on camera prices and features. This first post focuses on ultra-high-performance cameras that sit at a price point of over $3,500 USD.
Next week we’ll post a second article focusing on some great mid-range options and some awesome cameras that won’t break the bank. After all, it doesn’t make sense to compare apples to oranges. I’m also going to stray away from ranking the following cameras in any sort of hierarchy for previously mentioned reasons.
Well, let’s get into it. Here are some of the best high-performance cameras that we’re the most excited about at Backcountry Journeys.
Best High-Performance Cameras (over $3500)
Many of you reading this article have most likely invested quite a bit of time, energy, and money into photography at this point. Because of that, this article will focus on some of the best high-performance cameras currently on the market in 2023. These cameras all sit above the retail price of $3500 USD.
These high-performance options are often flagship models for respective brands or cameras that have very advanced and high-quality features. If you want large sensors with tons of megapixels, incredibly high-resolution video capabilities with high fps, insanely fast burst settings, and incredibly advanced AI-integrated autofocus settings then this is the category for you.
If you’re new to photography or don’t have a huge budget, you probably don’t need any of these options and they would most likely be a bit overwhelming. If that is the case, then stay tuned for next week’s article which will have some great cameras that won’t break the bank.
Here are some of the best high-performance cameras out there.
Many of you reading this article have most likely invested quite a bit of time, energy, and money into photography at this point. Because of that, this article will focus on some of the best high-performance cameras currently on the market in 2023. These cameras all sit above the retail price of $3500 USD.
These high-performance options are often flagship models for respective brands or cameras that have very advanced and high-quality features. If you want large sensors with tons of megapixels, incredibly high-resolution video capabilities with high fps, insanely fast burst settings, and incredibly advanced AI-integrated autofocus settings then this is the category for you.
If you’re new to photography or don’t have a huge budget, you probably don’t need any of these options and they would most likely be a bit overwhelming. If that is the case, then stay tuned for next week’s article which will have some great cameras that won’t break the bank.
Here are some of the best high-performance cameras out there.
Sony a7R V ($3,900 USD)
This camera is an incredibly powerful all-around workhorse. There’s a reason it’s the first one on this list. From ridiculously high-resolution images to powerful AI-integrated autofocusing to gorgeous 8K video capabilities, and everything in between this is a truly amazing camera. Some people are even calling it the best camera to be released in all of 2022. The a7R V also stacks up quite well against the a1 but at a much more affordable price point. This camera rocks!
Specs:
61 MP Full-Frame Sensor
8k 24 fps or 4K 60 fps
10 fps Mechanical Shutter
This camera is an incredibly powerful all-around workhorse. There’s a reason it’s the first one on this list. From ridiculously high-resolution images to powerful AI-integrated autofocusing to gorgeous 8K video capabilities, and everything in between this is a truly amazing camera. Some people are even calling it the best camera to be released in all of 2022. The a7R V also stacks up quite well against the a1 but at a much more affordable price point. This camera rocks!
Specs:
61 MP Full-Frame Sensor
8k 24 fps or 4K 60 fps
10 fps Mechanical Shutter
Canon EOS R5 ($3,700 USD)
This thing is insane! When Canon released this camera, it shook the entire industry, and for good reason. Perhaps it overheats after recording 8K for an hour (which most people will never need) but apart from that it is perfect. The R5 takes incredibly high-quality stills with a 45-megapixel sensor, shoots stunning video that trumps even some of the best cinema cameras on the market, has wicked-fast burst modes, and a very impressive autofocus system with built-in image recognition. I shoot with the canon system, and this is probably the next camera I will buy.
Specs:
45 MP Full-Frame Sensor
8K 30 fps or 4K 120 fps
12 fps mechanical shutter or 20 fps electronic
This thing is insane! When Canon released this camera, it shook the entire industry, and for good reason. Perhaps it overheats after recording 8K for an hour (which most people will never need) but apart from that it is perfect. The R5 takes incredibly high-quality stills with a 45-megapixel sensor, shoots stunning video that trumps even some of the best cinema cameras on the market, has wicked-fast burst modes, and a very impressive autofocus system with built-in image recognition. I shoot with the canon system, and this is probably the next camera I will buy.
Specs:
45 MP Full-Frame Sensor
8K 30 fps or 4K 120 fps
12 fps mechanical shutter or 20 fps electronic
Sony a1 ($6,500 USD)
A truly powerful, flagship camera with amazing capabilities from Sony! The a1 does it all exceptionally well at a reasonable price point for everything it offers and even outperforms dedicated action and video cameras in their respective fields. This was the first camera ever to offer a 50-megapixel resolution, 8K video, and high-speed burst modes. It was released in 2021 and still holds up great compared to more recent releases from competitors. If you want a truly multi-functional camera that excels in video, stills, wildlife, action, and landscape photography then the a1 is a great option.
Specs:
50.1 MP Full-Frame Sensor
8K 30 fps or 4K 120 fps
10 fps mechanical shutter or 30 fps electronic
A truly powerful, flagship camera with amazing capabilities from Sony! The a1 does it all exceptionally well at a reasonable price point for everything it offers and even outperforms dedicated action and video cameras in their respective fields. This was the first camera ever to offer a 50-megapixel resolution, 8K video, and high-speed burst modes. It was released in 2021 and still holds up great compared to more recent releases from competitors. If you want a truly multi-functional camera that excels in video, stills, wildlife, action, and landscape photography then the a1 is a great option.
Specs:
50.1 MP Full-Frame Sensor
8K 30 fps or 4K 120 fps
10 fps mechanical shutter or 30 fps electronic
Canon EOS R3 ($6,000 USD)
This is the fastest and most advanced camera ever released by Canon. It’s their flagship model and the go-to option for professionals using the canon system for good reason. Between the high-resolution sensor, great 6K video capabilities, incredibly fast burst modes, and some powerful AF capabilities that can even track your eye movements this thing is a beast!
Specs:
24.1 MP Full-Frame Sensor
6K 60 fps or 4K 120 fps
12 fps mechanical shutter or 30 fps electronic
This is the fastest and most advanced camera ever released by Canon. It’s their flagship model and the go-to option for professionals using the canon system for good reason. Between the high-resolution sensor, great 6K video capabilities, incredibly fast burst modes, and some powerful AF capabilities that can even track your eye movements this thing is a beast!
Specs:
24.1 MP Full-Frame Sensor
6K 60 fps or 4K 120 fps
12 fps mechanical shutter or 30 fps electronic
Nikon Z9 ($5,500 USD)
Perhaps this camera was released a bit late compared to similar models from competitors, but this thing made a splash! When it comes to a non-cinema camera this camera has bewildering video capabilities and can shoot 8K 30fps for over 2.5 hours. In addition, the Z9 has exceptional battery life and a powerful autofocus system. This is one of the most capable all-around mirrorless cameras on the market and an excellent choice for anyone wanting a professional-grade camera from Nikon.
Specs:
45.7 MP Full-Frame, Stacked Sensor
8K 60 fps or 4K 120 fps
20 fps RAW or 120fps lo-res JPEG
Perhaps this camera was released a bit late compared to similar models from competitors, but this thing made a splash! When it comes to a non-cinema camera this camera has bewildering video capabilities and can shoot 8K 30fps for over 2.5 hours. In addition, the Z9 has exceptional battery life and a powerful autofocus system. This is one of the most capable all-around mirrorless cameras on the market and an excellent choice for anyone wanting a professional-grade camera from Nikon.
Specs:
45.7 MP Full-Frame, Stacked Sensor
8K 60 fps or 4K 120 fps
20 fps RAW or 120fps lo-res JPEG
Lumix S1H ($3,700 USD)
A great camera for stills and incredible for video! This is an adaption of Panasonic’s iconic S1 that still shoots amazing photos but draws some very powerful video capabilities from their line of cinema-specific cameras. This is also the first ever mirrorless camera to get an ‘A’ rating from Netflix and they are using it on many of their productions. If you want to primarily focus on super high-quality videos and also want great stills capabilities this is a great option!
Specs:
24.2 MP Full-Frame Sensor
6K 30 fps or 4K 60 fps (Netflix ‘A’ approval)
9 fps mechanical shutter
A great camera for stills and incredible for video! This is an adaption of Panasonic’s iconic S1 that still shoots amazing photos but draws some very powerful video capabilities from their line of cinema-specific cameras. This is also the first ever mirrorless camera to get an ‘A’ rating from Netflix and they are using it on many of their productions. If you want to primarily focus on super high-quality videos and also want great stills capabilities this is a great option!
Specs:
24.2 MP Full-Frame Sensor
6K 30 fps or 4K 60 fps (Netflix ‘A’ approval)
9 fps mechanical shutter
Medium Format Cameras
I know that the large majority of us aren’t using medium format cameras, especially with the insane capabilities of modern full-frame options, but for the small percentage of us who are fully invested in medium format, there are some great options on the market going into 2023. In this article, I’m focusing on some great options from Fujifilm and of course Hasselblad.
If you want insanely high image resolution and quality and if the price tag isn’t a deciding factor for you, then you just might be interested in these next-generation, powerful medium format cameras.
I know that the large majority of us aren’t using medium format cameras, especially with the insane capabilities of modern full-frame options, but for the small percentage of us who are fully invested in medium format, there are some great options on the market going into 2023. In this article, I’m focusing on some great options from Fujifilm and of course Hasselblad.
If you want insanely high image resolution and quality and if the price tag isn’t a deciding factor for you, then you just might be interested in these next-generation, powerful medium format cameras.
Fujifilm GFX100S ($6,000 USD)
This camera is absolutely incredible. The GFX100S brings exceptional image quality to a relatively small body and the level of detail and the dynamic range captured by this massive sensor is simply jaw-dropping. This camera also has great autofocus and in-body image stabilization. If you’re ready to move past a 35mm sensor and super high-resolution images are your main focus, then check this thing out. The video capabilities aren’t bad either for a medium format camera.
Specs:
102 MP Medium Format Sensor
4K 30 fps uncropped
5 fps mechanical shutter
This camera is absolutely incredible. The GFX100S brings exceptional image quality to a relatively small body and the level of detail and the dynamic range captured by this massive sensor is simply jaw-dropping. This camera also has great autofocus and in-body image stabilization. If you’re ready to move past a 35mm sensor and super high-resolution images are your main focus, then check this thing out. The video capabilities aren’t bad either for a medium format camera.
Specs:
102 MP Medium Format Sensor
4K 30 fps uncropped
5 fps mechanical shutter
Hasselblad X2D 100C ($8,200 USD)
Wow! This camera is stunning and the images it can produce are even more gorgeous. If you have any interest in high burst rates or video this isn’t the machine for you, but if you want some of the highest quality images money can buy, then I can’t think of anything better than the X2D. With a massive 100-megapixel sensor, native 16-bit color, 15 stops of dynamic range, 7 stops of IBIS, and 1TB of internal storage this isn’t a camera, it’s a spaceship!
Specs:
100 MP (back-side illuminated) Medium Format Sensor
No Video Capabilities
3.3 fps at 14-bit color
Wow! This camera is stunning and the images it can produce are even more gorgeous. If you have any interest in high burst rates or video this isn’t the machine for you, but if you want some of the highest quality images money can buy, then I can’t think of anything better than the X2D. With a massive 100-megapixel sensor, native 16-bit color, 15 stops of dynamic range, 7 stops of IBIS, and 1TB of internal storage this isn’t a camera, it’s a spaceship!
Specs:
100 MP (back-side illuminated) Medium Format Sensor
No Video Capabilities
3.3 fps at 14-bit color
Hasselblad X1D 50C ($5,800 USD)
A gorgeous and exciting mirrorless option much smaller than most medium-format Hasselblad cameras. Perhaps it only has 1080p video and it’s certainly not the choice for action or fast-moving wildlife subjects with a slow burst rate, but this camera produces some gorgeous images. Maybe some full-frame cameras now have 50+ megapixels but the medium format found in this camera gives you a higher dynamic range and less noise. If you want a beautiful camera with great image quality in the medium format then check out the X1D 50C!
Specs:
50 MP Medium Format Sensor
1080 Full HD Video
2.3 fps max burst rate
A gorgeous and exciting mirrorless option much smaller than most medium-format Hasselblad cameras. Perhaps it only has 1080p video and it’s certainly not the choice for action or fast-moving wildlife subjects with a slow burst rate, but this camera produces some gorgeous images. Maybe some full-frame cameras now have 50+ megapixels but the medium format found in this camera gives you a higher dynamic range and less noise. If you want a beautiful camera with great image quality in the medium format then check out the X1D 50C!
Specs:
50 MP Medium Format Sensor
1080 Full HD Video
2.3 fps max burst rate
Well, these are some of the high-performance cameras that we’re the most excited about as we roll into 2023. Stay tuned for our next article (coming out next week) for some great mid-range and budget cameras!
I hope this article was helpful and that you gained some valuable insights into what is on the market today. As always, enjoy your photography journeys!
I hope this article was helpful and that you gained some valuable insights into what is on the market today. As always, enjoy your photography journeys!
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AUTHOR
AUTHOR
Keenan Hursh is a Photographer, visual designer, and creative story teller based out of Bozeman, Montana. He draws inspiration from his frequent excursions into the natural world and always brings his camera along to capture whatever adventures he finds himself in. Keenan is passionate about documenting and sharing fleeting moments from the natural world and focuses primarily on wildlife, landscape, and adventure photography.
When it comes to gear, he primarily shoots digital with his Canon EOS R5 and EOS 6D mark ii but also has several 35mm film cameras that get out every now and then.
At a very young age, Keenan started bringing a camera along on his excursions and immediately fell in love with the art of photography. He started out with his parent’s cheap point and shoot and has continuously improved his craft and gear refining his shooting style and producing more compelling and intriguing images.
Growing up in the foothills of Boulder, Colorado, surrounded by mountains and wilderness, Keenan has developed a deep passion for many outdoor activities. When he’s not out on a shoot or using his camera, Keenan enjoys skiing, climbing, hiking, backpacking, cycling, whitewater rafting, and paragliding. If he’s outside, away from the distractions of society and civilization, he’s in his happy place.
Keenan studied Emergent Digital Practices at the University of Denver while minoring in Marketing and Entrepreneurship. Since earning his degree in 2019 he was worked with a wide range of clients, companies, and organizations throughout his career. Apart from photography he specializes in content creation, writing, brand development, and graphic design.
You can view Keenan’s portfolio on his website at www.keenanhurshphoto.com
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"Backcountry Journeys offers guests the unique opportunity to explore our natural world from behind their own lens. We run a selection of hand-crafted Photo Tours, Workshops & Safaris connecting passionate people to exceptional experiences. Locations worldwide.
- Russ Nordstrand, Backcountry Journeys Founder & Director
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BACKCOUNTRY JOURNEYS
"Backcountry Journeys offers guests the unique opportunity to explore our natural world from behind their own lens. We run a selection of hand-crafted Photo Tours, Workshops & Safaris connecting passionate people to exceptional experiences. Locations worldwide.
All Images & Content are property of Backcountry Journeys Photography Tours, Workshops & Safaris LLC - Copyright 2024
TRIP CATALOG
Download our Trip Catalog for detailed information on our many destinations for photography tours, workshops, and safaris.