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Updated: February 14, 2025
These days, $2000 gets you a lot of camera. The picks on our list are high-spec options that are excellent for stills and video, and many have autofocus systems that come close to the performance of professional sports cameras.
Choosing a camera means committing to the ecosystem of lenses that are available for it, so we advise looking into the price and availability of the types of lenses you'd like to shoot with. It's also worth noting that some camera manufacturers are more restrictive of what options third-party lens makers can provide, so be sure to look at that during your lens research.
Speaking of lenses, it's also worth considering that the latest lens designs for mirrorless cameras regularly out-perform their older DSLR counterparts. If you have any lenses already, you may want to think about whether they're worth keeping around and adapting to a new system, or whether you'd be better off selling them and using the proceeds to buy modern equivalents of your most-used lenses. This option also gives you a path to switching brands, if you feel there's a compelling reason to do so.
Our Recommendations
Best camera around $2,000: Nikon Z6III
25MP full-frame 'Partially Stacked' CMOS sensor | 6K/60p N-Raw video | 5.76M dot OLED 0.8x EVF
Photo: Richard Butler
Buy at Amazon.comBuy at AdoramaBuy at B&H PhotoBuy at MPB
What we like:
- Very good image quality
- Good autofocus tracking with auto subject recognition mode
- Extensive choice of video resolutions and codecs
What we don't:
- Peak dynamic range lower than peers
- N-Raw video format has limited support
- Nikon controls 3rd-party lens options
The
Nikon Z6III is Nikon's third-generation full-frame enthusiast mirrorless camera, with a 'partially stacked' 25MP CMOS sensor.
The Z6III has an ample grip and easy-to-use control scheme. Nikon's menus and touchscreen layout are also well-refined, but the camera lacks the company's traditional AF mode button or front-corner switch.
Autofocus is generally reliable, and the camera includes Nikon's 3D-tracking system and plenty of subject recognition modes. It can shoot 20 raws per second, or 60fps in JPEG mode.
The Z6III is a genuine do-anything camera with excellent video and photo capabilities.
Image quality is very good, with lots of detail and acceptable amounts of noise. There is a slight dynamic range tradeoff for speed, but it's only noticeable in extreme situations.
The Z6III shoots many video formats, including Raw, and has dependable subject-tracking autofocus and a waveform display. Its 4K and 5.4K modes produce excellent detail, even in 60p, and its rolling shutter performance is outstanding.
The Z6III is a significant step-up from its predecessor and is to-date the most all-round capable camera in its class. It excels in both stills and video.
Read our full review of the Nikon Z6III
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A close second: Canon EOS R6 II
24MP Dual Pixel AF CMOS sensor | 40fps burst shooting | 4K/60 from 6K capture
Photo: Dale Baskin
$2399 at Amazon.comBuy at AdoramaBuy at B&H Photo
What we like:
- Simple, powerful AF for stills
- Fast 40fps shooting with continuous AF
- Excellent battery life
What we don't:
- AF less reliable in video mode
- SD cards limit burst duration
- E-shutter can distort fast-moving subject
The
EOS R6 Mark II is Canon's second-generation full-frame enthusiast mirrorless camera, and is based around a stabilized 24MP Dual Pixel CMOS sensor.
It's hard to overstate how evenly matched the EOS R6 II and our overall winner, the Z6III, are. Nikon's latest beat the Canon by a hair on the strengths of its video specs – including its better autofocus performance when shooting video – and its slightly nicer viewfinder. If you don't shoot video, your choice between the two should purely be dictated by the two companies' lens lineups and how they match your preferences... with the knowledge that they both tightly control which lenses third parties like Sigma and Tamron can produce for their systems.
The R6 II has a substantial hand grip and well spaced controls that pair with a simple touchscreen interface and logically-arranged menu system. It fits comfortably in the hand even with larger lenses.
Autofocus performance is consistently reliable, even when capturing images at 40fps. A wide variety of subject detection modes and a surprisingly clever 'Auto' detection mode allow the camera to choose appropriate AF areas and algorithms for many commonly-photographed subjects.
The EOS R6 Mark II is a great stills and video camera, with fast burst shooting being its standout feature.
Rolling shutter is surprisingly well controlled in 40fps electronic shutter mode, though like most of its peers, the R6 Mark II drops to 12-bit capture, reducing dynamic range. In the less fast modes, the image quality is excellent.
Video is substantially improved over the original R6, with full width oversampled 4K up to 60p, and greatly improved thermal management. Video autofocus still has a tendency to jump to the background, requiring the user to continually redirect the camera to your chosen subject while filming.
Aside from the maximum burst rate, the Canon R6 Mark II might look like a minor upgrade from its 2020 Camera of the Year precursor, but the impressive number of small improvements add up to one of the most well-rounded full-frame cameras in its price range.
Read our full review of the Canon EOS R6 II
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Best camera under $2,000: Nikon Zf
24MP full-frame BSI CMOS sensor | Full-width 4K/30 video, cropped 4K/60 | Stabilization rated to 8EV
Photo: Richard Butler
Buy at Amazon.com$1997 at B&H PhotoBuy at MPB
What we like:
- Distinctive design with direct controls
- Effective subject recognition
- Strong stills and video features
What we don't:
- Weight and minimal grip can become uncomfortable
- Slow MicroSD second slot
- Few custom buttons
The
Nikon Zf is a retro-styled camera built around an image-stabilized 24MP full-frame BSI CMOS sensor.
The Zf gives the choice of using the dedicated control dials or customizable command dials. In most respects it copies its well-polished control system from other recent Nikons. Not everyone will enjoy the angular early 80's handling but it handles just as well as the cameras it resembles.
The Zf's autofocus is impressive, with both subject recognition and AF tracking both working well. It's perhaps not quite as confidence-inspiring as the latest Sony cameras, but it's not far off. It'd be nice to have an AF joystick but the rear control pad does a decent job.
"The Zf's looks may date from 1981, but its performance is completely contemporary"
The Zf uses a very familiar 24MP BSI sensor that has underpinned numerous cameras in recent years, and the results are predictably good. There's plenty of dynamic range and enough detail capture for all but the most demanding applications.
The Zf has a very solid video feature set. Oversampled 4K/30 and cropped 4K/60 is standard for this sensor, but the Zf also adds a waveform display that's especially useful for exposing its 10-bit Log footage.
The Nikon Zf's performance lives up to its looks. It's not as comfortable to hold for long periods as more modern designs, but it's also distinctive and engaging in a way they're arguably not. We're still completing our testing, but it hasn't disappointed yet.
Read our full review of the Nikon Zf
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The compact option: Sony a7C II
33MP BSI CMOS sensor | 4K/60p video with 10-bit color | Dedicated ‘AI’ processor for AF system
Photo: Richard Butler
$2198 at Amazon.com$2198 at Adorama$2198 at B&H Photo
What we like:
- Big camera features in a small body
- Outstanding AF performance
- Auto Framing video mode
What we don't:
- No joystick control
- No fully mechanical shutter
The Sony a7C II is a compact, full-frame mirrorless camera with a 33MP BSI CMOS sensor.
The a7C II's viewfinder is a little small and rather low resolution for this price, but it's part of what helps the camera stay so compact. Modern full-frame lenses are often so large as to make the difference in camera size fairly trivial but Sony's E-mount has the widest range of lenses available, so there are some relatively compact options.
The a7C II is impressively small for a full-frame camera. The addition of a front control dial improves handling significantly and brings it closer to its peers. A fully articulating screen anchors the back and features an extremely responsive touch interface. Unlike many cameras at this price, there’s no joystick control.
Autofocus performance on the a7C II is fantastic and is helped by having a processor dedicated to handling machine learning-derived algorithms. Subject recognition is quick, and the AF system tracks subjects tenaciously around the frame in both stills or video. 10 fps burst shooting with continuous AF results in a dependably high hit rate.
“The a7C II is a surprisingly capable camera for its size.”
The a7C II's 4K/30p video is downsampled from 7K, but with fairly high rolling shutter. There's also 4K/60p from an APS-C crop, all in 10-bit color. S-Log3 and S-Cinetone profiles provide flexibility in post, and the camera supports internal LUTs. Auto Framing mode punches in on subjects, keeping them framed and in focus. The camera includes mic and headphone jacks.
The a7C II is a surprisingly capable camera for its size. It essentially provides the same level of image quality, video capabilities, and AF performance as Sony’s a7 IV, but in a smaller package. In exchange for the small size, you make a few tradeoffs, like no AF joystick, but if compact size is a priority the a7C II will get you there with few compromises.
Read our full review of the Sony a7C II
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Should I buy the Sony a7 IV, a7 III or a7C?
The Sony a7 IV is tough to recommend in 2025. Its viewfinder, ergonomics, and full mechanical shutter, are improvements over the a7C II, but it's also larger, heavier and offers less effective image stabilization than the newer, generally less expensive model. If you're sure you don't care about compactness, it might be worth paying a little extra for the a7 IV's larger, higher-resolution viewfinder, but only if the price difference is small.
It's a similar story with the a7 III and a7C. These are from an older generation of products with less sophisticated autofocus, video and image stabilization. They also use an older, more awkward-to-navigate menu system, which we'd happily pay to avoid ever having to use again. The a7C lacks the version II's front control dial and features an even smaller viewfinder, so we'd be inclined to save up for one of the newer models.
What about APS-C?
There are a couple of high-end APS-C cameras priced around $2000 that are certainly worth a look. The smaller APS-C sensor format generally gives the Canon EOS R7 and Fujifilm X-T5 an image quality disadvantage compared to full-frame models, but also let you have much smaller lens/camera combinations. They're also markedly less expensive than the other cameras we'd recommend.
The Fujifilm X-T5 gives you access to a wide range of lenses, including some value options and a healthy selection of fun prime lenses. It also has a retro style with a refined shooting experience, which is helped by Fujifilm's habit of including aperture rings on many of its lenses. Its autofocus and video aren't up with the best cameras in this guide, but it's a camera we really like if you want a compact kit.
The do-anything traveler: OM System OM-3
20MP Four Thirds Stacked CMOS sensor | 2.36M dot EVF 0.69x magnification | IP53-rated weather sealing
Photo: Mitchell Clark
Buy at Amazon.comBuy at AdoramaBuy at B&H Photo
What we like:
- Very fast shooting with low rolling shutter
- Controls put best features front-and-center
- Excellent battery life
{RoundupContent:omsystem_om3 section=cons}
The
OM System OM-3 is a 20MP Micro Four Thirds camera with a Stacked sensor capable of shooting up to 50fps with continuous autofocus.
The OM-3 is well-suited to traveling, as the Micro Four Thirds system lets you use especially compact lenses, and its Stacked sensor gives it fast autofocus, incredible burst rates for shooting even the fastest subjects, and the ability to use computational modes to adapt to a wide variety of situations. It also sports an IP53 rating for dust and water resistance, so you won't have to worry if it starts raining.
It has plenty of customizable buttons, though no AF joystick or grip. Its color dial and computational photography button put key features front-and-center.
The OM-3 is a great little camera that packs a lot of technology and features into a classic-looking body.
The subject recognition and tracking autofocus modes work well, though it can struggle to predict a subject's movement. It supports pre-capture, has very little rolling shutter, and can shoot up to 50fps with continuous autofocus when paired with specific lenses.
Image quality is good, and can be improved with easily accessible computational multi-shot modes. The JPEG colors are good and can be customized extensively, and the Raws are relatively flexible.
The OM-3 is a stylish camera that can go anywhere, and is fast enough to shoot almost any subject. Its autofocus is reliable, though not class-leading, and its viewfinder is on the small side, but its compact design and lenses make it appealing for travel.
Read our full review of the OM System OM-3
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Other Four Thirds cameras
The OM-3 shares most of its DNA with the OM System OM-1 II, though the latter is a little larger thanks to its inclusion of a better viewfinder and handgrip. Both are similar to the Panasonic G9II, though it's substantially larger, sharing its body with the full-frame S5II. All are Micro Four Thirds, which could be a tough sell given the sensor sizes people usually expect at this price. However, they may be worth considering if you're excited by computational photography features like handheld high-resolution multishot, are looking to get the most reach out of the smallest lenses, or are going on adventures that require the most compact kit available.
Best for vlogging: Sony ZV-E1
Full-width 4K/60p, 120p with minor crop | Auto cropping/framing modes | Subject recognition AF
Photo: Richard Butler
$2199 at Amazon.com$2198 at Adorama$2198 at B&H Photo
What we like:
- 4K footage up to 120p
- Auto-cropped modes aid one-person operation
- Effective autofocus
What we don't:
- Recording times can be short in warm conditions
- 12MP resolution not optimal for stills
- Cropped footage is upscaled to 4K
The Sony ZV-E1 is a full-frame E-mount mirrorless camera aimed at vloggers and ambitious content creators.
The ZV-E1 is a specialist tool designed for vlogging. It shares many of its capabilities with the more expensive FX3 and a7S III but adds a series of modes that automatically frame and follow a presenter around the scene, if you're trying to shoot video single-handed. The lack of fan and single card slot significantly dent its recording endurance, so it's unlikely to work as a cheaper alternative to the FX3 for serious video work.
The ZV-E1 has two command dials, both on the back of the camera, which makes manual video control a little fiddly, there's a touchscreen-led interface to encourage more automated presenter/operator working, though.
The ZV-E1's subject recognition system is highly reliable. The lack of a fan means it's much more susceptible to overheating than the otherwise similar FX3. It adds automated modes that crop and follow a recognized subject around the frame, adding dynamism to single-operator footage.
"The ZV-E1 has some clever automated modes but can be a bit fiddly to operate. It's hard to match the power for the price, though"
The camera's 4K footage (up to 120p) is detailed with relatively little rolling shutter, but you'll want to use the strongest level of image stabilization (with crop) for hand-held shooting as it's a little juddery in less intensive modes.
The camera's 12MP sensor takes perfectly attractive images with plenty of dynamic range and pleasant JPEG color but the low resolution means it wouldn't be our choice if stills shooting is important to your work.
The ZV-E1 tries to marry the capability of the FX3 cinema camera with automated ease-of-use, but can end up being quite confusing in the auto modes and quite fiddly if you try to take a more hands-on approach. It's hard to match the power for the price, though.
Read our initial review of the Sony ZV-E1
What if I want to shoot videos, not vlogs?
Realistically, all of our picks above have very capable video modes that should give you the flexibility to work on the occasional video project. If you're mainly buying a camera for video work, though, it's worth considering something like the Sony FX30, which is designed to be flown on gimbals and to produce 4K/60p video without having to crop in. Sony's more video-focused camera also has excellent rolling shutter rates, helping avoid a jello-like effect in fast-moving footage, as well as best-in-class autofocus.
The FX30 does have the downside of having an APS-C sensor, meaning it can't take in as much light as full-frame options. Its full-frame counterpart, the FX3, is priced way above $2,000. If you really value full-frame and video performance, the Panasonic S5 IIX has some serious video chops, including features like waveform displays and shutter angle settings. However, its autofocus is decidedly a tier below Sony's, as is its rolling shutter performance.
A fixed-lens option: Fujifilm X100VI
40MP BSI CMOS APS-C X-Trans sensor | 35mm equiv F2 lens | Hybrid viewfinder
The Fujifilm X100VI is a refinement of everything that made the X100V great, but it's still difficult to buy.
Photo: Richard Butler
$1987 at Amazon.com$1599 at Adorama$1599 at B&H Photo
What we like:
- Excellent build quality
- Subject-detection autofocus
- Now with in-body image stabilization
What we don't:
- Lens not especially fast to focus
- Hard to find in stock
While the rest of our selections from this guide have interchangeable lenses, a feature you might demand at this price point, the incredibly hyped-up Fujifilm X100VI also sits just under the $2,000 price range at a (new, higher-than-its-predecessor) price of $1,600 and is worth considering.
A fixed-lens camera with a 35mm equivalent F2 lens, the X100VI is in active production following its 2024 launch, and so should be somewhat easier to buy than its constantly out-of-stock forebear. The reality, at the moment, is that it's also quite hard to find.
Updated with in-body image stabilization rated at up to 6EV of correction and a 40MP BSI CMOS APS-C X-Trans sensor, the X100VI is a significant upgrade over its predecessor despite looking virtually identical. And those improvements in part explain the X100VI's $200 increase in list price to $1,600.
The addition of subject-detection autofocus has given the X100VI the ability to recognize animals, birds, automobiles, motorcycles and bikes, airplanes, and trains though human (face/eye) detection is a separate mode. However, the lens the X100VI shares with the X100V is not the fastest to autofocus, prioritizing sharpness over speed.
If you're looking to make an investment in a camera with a ton of versatility, the X100VI doesn't compete with cameras that support dozens or hundreds of lenses. But for the price point, it's the best at what it does.
Read our Fujifilm X100VI review
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Why you should trust us
This buying guide is based on cameras used and tested by DPReview's editorial team. We don't select a camera until we've used it enough to be confident in recommending it, usually after our extensive review process. The selections are purely a reflection of which cameras we believe to be best: there are no financial incentives for us to select one model or brand over another.
