Your real-life dream cameras
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Over the our nearly 25 years of our publication, one of the great pleasures of working at DPReview has always been the privilege of getting to spend our days with the gear we loved. And we've recently been thinking a lot, a lot, about the cameras that mattered to us.
A few weeks ago, we also asked you to tell us what camera you wished you could always have had and why – and boy did you tell us! We've pored over hundreds of your comments and compiled lists of some of the cameras that came up most often. Two lists, in fact. While some of you shared stories of real cameras, others took the prompt and launched into inventing Frankenstein mashups for their dream camera.
In Part One today, let's start by taking a look at the actually existing dream cameras that the DPReview community lusted after. Then, come back next week for Part Two to see our favorite imaginary ideas from the DPReview community for a true "dream" camera.
Apple QuickTake 100
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Several readers picked the Apple QuickTake 100 as their dream camera, noting it for its historic significance.
Today Apple Inc. is known for laptops, the iPhone and their pioneering MP3 players and app store; however, way back in 1994 it also produced one of the first consumer digital cameras.
Built by Kodak for Apple, its $750 price tag made it a premium product out of the reach of many.
'Terribly expensive at the time and rather clunky, but the idea of shooting photos and having near immediate digital access to them was exciting,' said DPReview reader 'Horshack.'
It had a unique binocular-like design and captured images at a whopping 640 x 480. It wasn't designed for a day of shooting; in fact, the internal memory filled up after just eight shots. An RS-232C port was used to transfer photos (in QuickTake or PICT format) to your Mac.
'The pictures themselves were pretty awful, but when I demonstrated digital photography with it in 1994 I blew minds like few technologies ever have,' recalled DPReview reader 'CuriousCaribou. 'It changed my life forever and led to many, many subsequent camera purchases. We need a modern camera with the same effect.'
Read our Apple QuickTake 100 hands-on
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ50
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Featuring an at the time class-leading 10.2 MP CCD sensor, the FZ50 earned high marks for 'an amazingly versatile' 35-420mm equivalent 12x optical zoom in our review.
You don't see many cameras like this anymore, but there was a time when all-in-one power-zoom cameras were a popular choice in the prosumer marketplace.
DPReview reader 'JerryWilliam' wrote: 'Many years ago, as I strolled through the Johannesburg airport, my eyes were drawn to an intriguing find in a nearby shop – a Lumix camera. While I hadn't heard of the brand before, it boasted a Leica lens, which I was certainly familiar with. The camera's deep grip and SLR-like appearance caught my attention, its strikingly beautiful Leica optic dominating the design. A month later, while en route to the United States, I realized I needed a camera. Turning to eBay, I searched for those two key attributes: Lumix and Leica. I settled on the latest and greatest model at the time, the FZ-50. It was 2007, and I continue to use that very camera to this day.'
Read our Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ50 review
Sony SLT-A65
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'My dream camera was the Sony SLT-A65 back in 2011,' wrote DPReview reader 'robbo2.'
'For me, the fast burst rate was a dream come true. I know that other cameras at the time had better low-light performance. However, I felt like a pro with that camera in my hands at local soccer games and track meets. I later sold it and got a Sony A6000: better image quality but nowhere near as much fun.'
Nikon D300
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DPReview reader Astro Landscapes wrote, 'After all these years, I'm most nostalgic for the Nikon D300 and D700. (I started on a D70 and D1X!) There was no one spec that stood out. It was the collection of flagship specs, the "trickle-down" effect that Nikon did so well at a time when Canon was [limiting] their 5D series and their entire APSC lineup,'
'To me, this was what made me a Nikon fan for life. They didn't hang the little guy out to dry and expect consumers to either be happy with dumbed-down entry-level options, or upgrade to a luxury priced exotic flagship option. They did their best to offer incredible value all the way down the line. Nikon did this at a time when all I ever heard from Canon users was, oh, Canon couldn't add THAT feature to a non-flagship camera, it would cannibalize 1D series sales! ...I watched Nikon knock down each domino.'
Canon PowerShot G9 X Mark II
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Canon's PowerShot G9 X Mark II was an entry-level ultra-compact 20.1MP camera. With the ability to shoot stills and video, coupled with a touchscreen, it helped bridge the gap between smartphone UI and dedicated camera UX.
DPReview reader 'Jens Evensen' explains why it was the perfect marriage of image quality, small form and fun:
'My dream camera might not be a specific camera model but a category of cameras; the compact camera. In 2004 I got a task to document a month-long course/event, and that really sparked my passion for photography and cameras. For one month I had a camera with me all the time and took photos of everything I thought could be of interest. Since then I've had a lot of cameras...This winter I found the Canon Ixus series of cameras, like the Ixus 400, 750, S95 and s120, and I think they are my dream cameras. The newest version is the G9X Mark II, and it is not an Ixus but for me it has the DNA and size and weight – and there is nothing wrong with the image quality.'
Read our Canon PowerShot G9 X Mark II review
Fujifilm GFX 50S
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'The Fujifilm GFX 50S was my dream camera,' wrote DPReview reader 'dbateman.'
'I never thought I would be able to afford one, so bought a used Nikon Df as a rough handling approximation in 2017. But last year the used prices dropped to around $2000 and I was able to get one. It has lived up to my desires. I am surprised that I use it hand-held a lot and I would like it to include IBIS. That's the only thing missing. The Fujifilm GFX 50S Mark II has thrown away all the manual controls and the ability to use a grip and tilt EVF, so it's in no way the same. Hopefully Fujifilm will bring back the handling of the 50S in a model with IBIS; otherwise I will just stick with the 50S.'
Read our Fujifilm GFX 50S review
Canon EOS D30
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The D30 was Canon's first 'home grown' DSLR, built from the ground up by the company; their previous forays, the DCS520 and DCS560, were joint ventures with Kodak where the only thing 'Canon' was the outer bodies.
That history is important, but you don't have to take my word for it. Here's DPReview reader 'Navegador' on why this is their dream camera:
'If I must choose an actual camera from the past 25 years then it's the Canon EOS D30. That's the camera that actually made me acquainted with DPReview sometime in the year 2000 as I researched possible Nikon Pronea replacements and could see digital was on the way. I'm not sure if it was Altavista or Google that brought me here with a search for 'digital canon slr' or some such thing, but the fact is I saw a preview of the D30, complete with a sample image (a landscape with a fence, but that may be a reconstructed/invented memory) and I was sold on digital...until I saw the price. $3000 is a lot of money today, but for a college student in the year 2000 it might as well have been the $30,000 that Kodak charged for their DSLRs. Still, it is my actual dream camera. As a happy ending of sorts, I scored a "mint condition" D30 around 2018 for $40 shipped. The rubber door for the external ports disintegrated the other day but otherwise it works fine and finds occasional use.'
Leica Q2 Monochrom
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We've seen a few monochrome cameras announced recently, but one reader decided to look back to the 2020 release of this camera: 'It makes no sense whatsoever: way too expensive, limited in so many obvious ways...and yet...I really really would looove to have one.'
Don't let your dreams be dreams, do it!
Read our Leica Q2 Monochrom initial review
OM System OM-1
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OM System cameras showed up periodically in responses, but none more often than the OM-1. Readers zeroed in on their love of Micro Four Thirds and their appreciation for this feature-packed high-end offering from OM Digital Solutions, their first flagship model since leaving the Olympus mother ship.
'My dream camera is my OM System OM-1,' wrote DPReview reader 'wondrouslight.' 'When my wife and I married, we merged our Olympus systems and ended up with a bunch of Zuiko primes, one OM-1 [film camera] that we used in our home studio and three OM-2N's that we used outdoors. They were loaded with Fujichrome 100ASA (for the vast majority of our shots), Fujichrome 400ASA and Ilford B&W print film. We used (and loved) these cameras for 25 years before moving to digital.'
In our review we remarked on the digital namesake's build quality (good for 25 years?) as an image-stabilized 20MP camera capable of high-speed shooting and offering a range of computational photography modes.
Read our OM System OM-1 review
Nikon D500
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We saw more than a handful of mentions for this camera. The Nikon D500 is a 21MP APS-C DSLR capable of shooting at up to 10 frames per second and featuring an autofocus system derived from the one in the D5. We called it one of the preeminent APS-C cameras on the market in our review and several of you seemed to agree.
'My dream camera was the Nikon D500. It was such a powerful and versatile machine back then in 2016, ahead of the competition in most regards, that it was hard not to desire it as a Nikon user,' wrote DPReview reader 'wjan.'
Reader 'redhed17' wrote: 'The Nikon D500 was the surprise camera, with specs I doubt many dreamt of, me included. A lot of Nikon users were hoping/expecting a D400 to improve on the D300S at some point. As the many years went on, with no mention of that, the prospect seemed to be remote to say the least, as many people in the Nikon Pro DX Forum seemed to take great pleasure in telling anyone who dared to mention a D400. Give up waiting, go full-frame, get a D7***, people were told many many times. I was on the verge of giving up on a D400/replacement, and was considering the switch to a Canon 7DII within the month, when the D500 came out of the blue, announced with the D5. It improved on the D300S in almost every way, which is what you would hope for in a replacement. It went far beyond what almost anyone 'predicted' for a D400. I think it was/is the pinnacle of the crop-sensor DSLR, and I'm thankful Nikon made it. And just in time for me. ;-) I didn't dare to dream that much, but it is all the camera I need.'
Panasonic Lumix DC-GH5
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This 20MP Four Thirds sensor camera was the latest in Panasonic's industry-changing GH line of cameras. Building on the GH4, the camera added in-body stabilization and 4K video without cropping, along with improved performance.
For many users, like DPReview reader 'Elemental Photography,' the GH5 struck the right balance of portability and features for a travel-friendly kit:
'I have a hard time imagining a camera I'd like to have more than my Panasonic GH5. It's in the sweet spot of stills features, video features, build quality, ergonomics and size for me. Part of me would like to have a medium format option, but the smaller, lighter kit gives me more creative options in the field, on hikes and for bicycle touring than something larger and heavier with better image quality. So I guess I'm living the dream!'
Read our Panasonic Lumix DC-GH5 review
Canon EOS 5D
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We noted the Canon EOS 5D in our most significant cameras series for helping expand 'full-frame' beyond the professional world, bringing large-sensor image quality to wider audiences.
Several DPReview readers seemed to agree.
'The first Canon 5D, one of the first "more affordable" full-frame digital cameras at a time when only a handful existed, reflected DPReview reader 'Le Kilt.' 'Great quality, made the most of full-frame EF lenses, a joy to use.'
'Of course the 5D Mark II upped the level incredibly, and I've had all the 5D cameras, appreciating all the evolutions, but the original was just such a great leap into full-frame digital.'
Ricoh GR-Digital
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Sometimes the best camera is the one in your pocket, and this svelte but powerful camera series has always been easy to grab and go.
Perhaps that is why DPReview reader 'bastibe' made it their dream camera:
'It must be the Ricoh GR (any version). I cannot count the number of occasions where something cool happened right in front of me when nobody was expecting a photo opportunity. That's when I pull the GR out of my pocket, switch it on while I raise it, and take the shot before the moment has passed or the subject has had time to react. The GR is small enough to fit in my pants pockets, durable enough to actually survive there (ask me how I know), completely usable one-handed, blind if need be (driving, kayaking, piloting) and above all, fast-fast-fast. Faster than my "big" camera. Faster than my phone. And with a sharp lens and a good sensor, to boot. I'd rather give up both my phone camera and my big ILC with all its lenses than this little wonder of technology. I've tried the Sony RX1 (too big), RX100 (too slow), Fuji X100 (big and two-handed), Panasonic LX100 (too big and too slow). I'd like to try the GR IIIx, but there's nothing like a wide-angle for blind shooting. It's genius.'
Read our Ricoh GR-Digital review
Sony a9
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One of the most popular mirrorless cameras today, the a9 is Sony's enticing offering for professional wedding, action and sports photographers. It's a 24MP, full-frame mirrorless camera that can shoot at 20 frames per second with full autofocus and, just as importantly, very low viewfinder lag and absolutely no blackout during continuous shooting.
The a9 was a popular choice among DPReview readers a well.
'For me the A9 came along at just the right time in my life,' wrote DPReview reader 'MikeRan.'
'I was casually into photography using decent APS-C cameras with an all-in-one lens. My daughter was getting more serious in her ballet training and her small dance studio didn’t have a photographer, I shot her studio’s ballet from the back (unpaid). Always self-conscious of the shutter noise and using an unsuitable lens, the results were not good, though still better than cellphones. When I saw the A9 announcement with high-performing silent shutter capability I decided to go for it. I bought the A9 a few months after it was announced, and, just to get started, the 24-240. (Yeah that was also a mistake, but a natural evolution of my own development.) Immediately the results improved, and a few lenses later I was really producing good work. No longer feeling limited by the gear, (which for the most part wasn’t actually limiting), my photography grew in ways I never expected it to. It was the inflection point for me.'
Canon M50
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Canon hasn't made clear whether there's a future for its EF-M lens mount, but that doesn't mean we can't find joy in the Canon M50.
DPReview reader 'Alan Sh' picked the M50 for its size, weight and ability to let him be ready in the moment:
'It's got the right mix of quality, decent lenses (and lots with an adapter), weight and versatility for just about every situation I come across. But I'm primarily a landscape shooter - and others may differ from my opinions.'
No need to apologize! The best camera is the one you love to use!
Nikon D4s
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A Nikon flagship, the D4s was a 16.2MP FX-format CMOS with fast AF, 1080/60p video recording and the ability to output uncompressed video over HDMI while simultaneously recording to a memory card.
'For me, the dream camera was the D4s,' wrote DPReview reader 'C_McCann.'
'Around the time it came out I was starting to really get into my photography. At the time I was rocking a D90 and 18-200 and was starting to really find my eye. I was at a baseball game and the local sports photographer let me try his brand new D4s and his 70-200 F2.8. I almost dropped it when I fired off my first burst. Started snapping away faster than I had ever thought possible. Anyway, I felt I had a brief opportunity to play with the camera of the gods, and I’ll never forget it. I never did get a D4s, or any really professional camera. I stuck with the prosumer Nikons.'
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX8
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A compact but powerful camera, the GX8 had a lot to like under the hood. With a 20MP Four Thirds MOS sensor, Dual IS capability, 4K video/photo and weather resistance in a magnesium alloy body, it doesn't look too bad for a nearly seven-year-old camera.
'I never expected to use a digital camera for more than a few years due to the fast technical development, but I have used my two Panasonic GX8s since 2016/17, and even after acquiring other cameras in addition (I currently own a G85 and a G9), the two GX8 bodies are what I grab when I'm going out to take photos,' wrote DPReview reader 'zakk9.'
'There are several reasons why the GX8 is such a great camera: Excellent ergonomics with lots of physical switches and buttons; good, 20MP image quality; Very good video quality as long as the scene isn't too complex; practical box shape; good tilting viewfinder and fully articulated LCD; doesn't look too "professional" or obtrusive; great selection of compact high-quality lenses.'
'Another photographer has said that using the GX8 is like wearing a glove that one has used for several years. Everything fits.'
Read out Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX8 review
Canon EOS-1D
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DPReview reader brings us this wonderful story about the Canon EOS-1D:
'The Canon EOS-1D...I first handled one in early 2002 when I was visiting Canon in Japan. I was there with Steve Jobs and Phil Schiller, in my role as product marketing manager for iPhoto. We were there to meet with some of the senior people on the Canon camera team. As is customary, our hosts had small gifts for each of us. I don't remember what I got, but I definitely remember what Steve got, as it was an EOS-1D. It was passed around the conference table so we could each experience it, and I was just stunned by how cool it was. As a reference point, I was shooting a Nikon Coolpix 990 at the time, so this thing was like science fiction by comparison. Back home, Steve passed the camera on to the engineering team so they could test it with iPhoto, and I never saw it again. But I sure wished I could have had one.'
Fujifilm X-E3
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The Fujifilm X-E2S is a rangefinder-styled mirrorless interchangeable lens camera featuring a 16MP X-Trans sensor and abundant external controls.
DPReview reader 'chse' explained why this was their dream camera:
'Smartphone cams became better, but my irritation with those grew when dedicated shutter buttons went out of style. With no viewfinder and still lacking image quality, I started to look at digital cameras again. So I was lent a Canon APS-C DSLR and gifted with an afternoon with a photographer. That made clear that I hate viewfinders not showing the whole frame. It renewed my suspicion that I prefer rangefinder-style cameras. So I checked out DPReview and found cameras to try out. Micro Four Thirds models from Olympus were too expensive or small or lacked the viewfinder when I tried out those. Fujis, however, fit me instantly. So I thought a Fujifilm X-E2s would be nice. I planned to buy a used one when the X-E3 came out.'
Read our Fujifilm X-E2s review
Nikon Z5
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'I am confused whether this is supposed to be a camera that already exists that you cannot afford or otherwise obtain, or one that existed in the past or if it is a camera that does not exist, so I will do both,' wrote DPReview reader 'Carol T.'
(You weren't the only one, 'Carol T.' As we noted above, so many people jumped into flights of fancy that we'll be doing a Part Two next week featuring all the imaginary dream cameras. For now, let's see why the Nikon Z5 landed on Carol T.'s real-world list:
'The Nikon Z5 has been my dream camera, I love it so much. I realize to most people here that is like doing a serious review of Olive Garden, LOL. The Z5 pretty much checks all the boxes for me: ergonomics, menus, handling, size, the gorgeous files – just everything. The Z system seems like someone tailored it just for me.'
Canon EOS 7D
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Readers were taken with the Canon EOS 7D as a powerful camera that packed many advanced features into its small body.
'I used it for insects, birds in flight and tennis,' wrote DPReview user 'Peter too.'
In our review we were also impressed by the camera, considering it to be everything a semi-pro model should be and a strong contender for the best APS-C SLR on the market at the time. The camera also appealed to photographers looking to step up from entry level cameras.
'I’d already owned a Rebel body, but a used 7D came up on Craigslist,' wrote DPReview user 'MarshallG.' 'Turns out it had a shutter count less than 500. It was a true professional quality body and it inspired me to work hard at my photography. With that camera, I grew tremendously as a photographer. I loved using that camera. Built like a tank. A YouTuber named Kai lit one on fire, froze it and kicked it down a flight of stairs…and it still worked. It was a great camera.'
Pentax 645Z
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We loved this powerhouse of a camera when it hit the scene in 2014. With a 51.6MP CMOS sensor that measures roughly 44x33 mm, it wasn't quite 'full-size' for medium format, but the large sensor area helped it gather more light than comparable full-frame DSLRs.
In our review we noted it as having the best image quality at base ISO of any camera we'd tested up to that point, and it was an affordable medium-format camera to boot. The Pentax had a lot of fans.
'The Pentax 645Z was my life's best buy,' DPReview reader 'IdM photography' wrote. 'The image quality was stunning, a huge improvement over my already good Nikon D800E, and AF (always using the central AF point and recomposing) so much better in low light. I initially had only two lenses, the standard 55mm F2.8 and the 90mm F2.8 that I most used, for half and full body portraits. The 28-45mm F4.5 zoom was great for landscape but heavy. I've now switched to a Fujifilm GFX 100S.'
Nikon D700
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The D700 was Nikon's first 'compact' professional SLR, essentially a Nikon D3 shrunk down and squeezed into a body roughly the same size as a Nikon D300. In our review we noted that its arrival was one of the worst-kept secrets in an industry with 'more leaks than the Titanic,' but it was still something of a surprise coming so hot on the heels of the D3 and D300.
Several readers chose the camera as their dream gear, noting it for its high performance, nice image quality and small size. For some it was also a nostalgia trip that captured the magic of having fun with photography.
'This was the digital camera that most handled and felt like the great Nikons I shot with in the '70s and '80s,' wrote DPReview reader 'PhotoArch82.' 'The image quality, in its day, was amazing. But it was more about the experience of shooting it. It was solid, fast, and got out of your way to let you shoot. For me, it was the first digital camera that was Nikon-like.'
I remember there was a demo of a D700-captured image blown up to the size of a large building and the image quality was still good.
DPReview reader 'photoeng' wrote: 'For digital cameras, I always wanted the D700. I just remember seeing the images and reading about the low light sensitivity. I remember there was a demo of a D700-captured image blown up to the size of a large building and the image quality was still good. Even years after it was released when the MP war was really heating up, I still wanted it. But I still have not bought a full-frame camera.'
DPReview reader 'solamnus' reminds us all of the bigger picture: 'Choosing the most advanced and professional-looking camera would have been me at one point in time...in the digital era I thought bigger and more advanced meant getting to be a good photographer, instead of realizing that the more advanced the camera, the less I had to work on the craft and get inspired. A cameras that embodied those other qualities I valued was the Nikon D700, the first digital camera that made me believe I could leave film at that point.'
Canon EOS R3
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Several readers picked Canon's (current) flagship, the full-frame RF-mount R3. Shocking, I know.
Well, the R3 is packed with the latest tech, as it's aimed squarely at professional sports photographers and photojournalists. It's a full-frame 24MP camera with a Stacked CMOS sensor, which delivers fast readout for rapid shooting, responsive autofocus and low rolling-shutter video. On top of that it wows with a host of innovative features, including the return of Canon's Eye Control autofocus system, last seen in film SLRs of the late '90s and early 2000s.
Read our Canon EOS R3 initial review
Limited-edition gold Leica M10-P
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Several DPReview readers shared memories of lugging around various models of Leica cameras, but one reader looked at the top shelf and fixed their eyes upon this gold-plated and crocodile-leather-wrapped limited edition.
Created to celebrate the coronation of King Maha Vajiralongkorn, the camera came in two color options: 10 units with yellow leather and 20 units with green leather, available for an estimated $50,000 and $30,000, respectively.
Go big or go home I suppose?
Nikon Z9
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Come on, you knew it was coming.
The Nikon Z9 is pro-grade 45.7MP full-frame mirrorless camera. With a fast-readout Stacked CMOS sensor, 8K-shooting, it's the first camera in its class to abandon the mechanical shutter entirely.
'As a wildlife photographer, the Z9 is just a beast and my dream camera. It just brings pretty much everything you could need,' wrote DPReview reader 'DavidNikonD500.'
DPReview reader 'pcgeekesq' also gave the Z9 high marks, but included a 'small' request:
'I enjoy the black-out-free fast viewfinder, excellent electronic-only shutter, high-speed shooting modes, good autofocus, durability/ruggedness, sensor shield, and overall versatility of my Z9, but if they could put all that in an APS-C sensor (DX) camera with a corresponding lighter and smaller body, that would be a dream camera for me.'
Stay tuned for Part Two
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In Part Two of this series we'll look at the DPReview community's wildest imaginary dream cameras, from mashups to outright new inventions and some ideas that defy the laws of physics. There's also still time to submit your ideas, so pop on over.
Until then, happy snapping.
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