Our year in cameras
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The major manufacturers released 21 new cameras in 2023, three more than the previous year. Perhaps this is an early indicator that the slowdown in manufacturing and chips we saw during the pandemic may be coming to an end.
We've compiled a list of every major camera released last year. There are certainly some new cameras we expect to be favorites for years to come, as well as some headscratchers. When we break it down by manufacturer, some were definitely more busy than others.
It's pure speculation what any of this means for 2024: will the trend of increased new releases continue? Will others who were quiet in 2023 ramp up this year? Will a new leader emerge? Time will tell.
A quick note: this list isn't meant to be an all-inclusive rundown. For instance, you won't find instant cameras, action cameras, smartphones or outliers like the Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses in this recap. You also won't see the Sony a9 III on this list because it was only announced in 2023 and not released.
Canon
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Canon released four cameras between February and May 2023.
The EOS R8 was a more-than-capable entry-level full-frame mirrorless camera that earned a place in our end-of-year buying guide. At under $1500, we gave it high marks for packing Canon's latest AF capabilities and attractive video in a compact, ergonomic body with twin dials.
Around the same time, the EOS R50 also was announced. A compact mirrorless built around a 24 MP APS-C sensor, it was aimed at entry-level smartphone users seeking something a little more out of a camera.
Later in the year, the EOS R100 and PowerShot V10 arrived. The R100 was a parts bin of camera parts, cobbled together with previous generation tech and less sophisticated autofocus, and the V10 was a vlogging camera with a mic array and social media-friendly filters.
Fujifilm
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Fujifilm released two cameras last year, and both cameras were head-turners.
In May 2023 the X-S20 arrived, and it was a lot of camera for its price point. We gave it a slot in our best cameras under $1500 buying guide. It improves on the X-S10 meaningfully by improving the video, but we did note that it still lags behind competitors in AF tracking.
The GFX 100 II feels like a camera with big ambitions. Fujifilm's latest medium format sees improvements to the sensor, IS and AF. It also captures 8K video and has tools like waveform and vectorscope display.
Leica
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Leica released three cameras in 2023, two of which were variations on the M11.
First there was the M11 Monochrom in April, which removed the color filter array from the M11's 61MP BSI CMOS sensor. That difference gives the camera a base ISO that's one stop higher than that of the color version (without filters absorbing the light, the sensor doesn't need as much exposure to saturate).
In October, the M11-P variation came with the usual flourishes that come with 'P' models (no Leica red logo stamp on the front, a glass screen cover) and also added metadata recording abilities following standards from the Content Authenticity Initiative (CAI). That latter addition also makes it the first camera on the market to use CAI systems.
In between these, the Q3 refreshed Leica's fixed-lens range-finder style camera line. It updated on its predecessor with a higher resolution 60MP full-frame sensor, improved burst rates and added the ability to shoot 8K/30p video.
Nikon
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Nikon released two cameras last year, and they both earned high marks in our buying guides and our annual DPReview Awards.
The Z8 took everything great about the Nikon Z9 and trimmed it down into a smaller package for $1500 less. Wonderful image quality and AF are married with nice video performance and thoughtful ergonomics. We liked it enough to give it our award for Product of the Year 2023.
Another DPReview award winner, the Zf finally gave users the full-frame retro-inspired camera they'd long awaited. Combining modern tech with late 70s/early 80s design language, it brings forth a photo/video camera that is fun to use and be seen using.
OM Digital Solutions
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It was a quiet year for OM Digital Solutions; the Tough TG-7 was its only camera released in 2023.
A rugged, waterproof compact with a 25-100mm equivalent zoom lens, it's fully waterproof down to a depth of 15m (50 ft). We recommend it as our best waterproof compact, in part because, unlike other rugged cameras, it lets you shoot Raw images, which can come in handy if you're shooting underwater and need to make adjustments.
Panasonic
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Panasonic released three cameras last year. Well, two, really, as the DC-S5II and DC-S5IIX were announced at the same time, and the differences between them are primarily in video specs aimed at professionals and power users. The 'X' version adds the ability to output ProRes footage directly to an external SSD or Raw footage over HDMI. If you're only interested in stills, there's no need to pay more for the 'X' version. The result is a well-priced camera that offers both stills and video shooters a reason to look closely at the L-mount system.
On the other end of the spectrum from the feature-packed enthusiast-level full-frame cameras is the DC-G9 II, the company's first Micro Four Thirds camera with phase-detect autofocus. It's a high-end model aimed at still shooters, with a clean layout that places the most often used controls at your fingertips.
Ricoh / Pentax
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Ricoh only had one camera release last year.
The Pentax K-3 Mark III Monochrome is a variant of its 25.7MP APS-C DSLR with no color filter array. The loss of the color filter array results in the usual benefits: gain a stop of light across all ISO settings, sharper images (no need to demosaic), no chroma noise, and more image detail overall. It was a big swing, and we were glad to see Pentax trying something different.
(Note: we're not counting the WG-90 as a 2023 camera since it won't hit store shelves until later this year.)
Sony
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Sony, by far, released the most new cameras in 2023. It put out a whopping five new cameras, ranging from pocketable compacts to feature-packed 60MP full-frame cameras.
March saw the ZV-E1, a camera that asked, what if we took some of the tech from the Sony a7S III and Sony FX3 and jammed it into a camera aimed at vloggers? The result was a full-frame high-end camera that reframed what it meant to be a 'vlogging' camera.
A few months later, the ZV-1 Mark II arrived; it was an update with an enticing 18–50mm equivalent F1.8–4.0 lens. A stacked CMOS sensor aided video capture with great AF and a quick readout. The camera excelled at video, but we felt it came up short for stills.
July's a6700 added a new enthusiast-level APS-C mirrorless. It excelled in everything we threw at it and continued the a6000 series' reputation as a great bang-for-the-buck option for users willing to trade a larger sensor and some ergonomics in exchange for robust image quality, video and some of the industry's best AF.
Finally, we have the a7C II and a7CR, two cameras with similar body styling, button layout, AF systems and 10-bit video capture. The major difference lies in the sensor: 33MP for the a7C II and 61MP for the a7CR. Each represents an interesting option for shooters interested in specs and traveling light.
That's all folks
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And that's the year. It's interesting to see the slight uptick in new bodies (both 2021 and 2022 saw 18 central camera releases each). It makes you think about what might be next.
How do you think the camera industry did in 2023? Where do you think it's going in 2024? What are you most excited about? What would you like to see next? Share your 'hot takes' in the comments, and let's meet in 12 months to do it again.
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