10 best professional cameras

Medium format - a separate class of photographic equipment with a matrix larger than 24 × 36 mm. The "purebred" representative of the Swedish Hasselblad family has a sensor size of 32.9 × 43.8 mm and provides very high image quality in RAW. In terms of dynamic range, color reproduction, working ISO (up to 6400!) The device has no equal. The camera is not designed for dynamic shooting: it turns on in 7 seconds, focuses slowly, writes a full buffer to the card for 20 seconds. Not suitable for reporting, but for thoughtful work in the studio, landscape, interior and architectural photography - that's it. It is a pity that only the most successful representatives of the industry can afford a far from budget instrument.

A niche mirrorless camera made for a special type of street photographer who is nostalgic for the film process. The aesthetic, tactilely pleasing titanium and magnesium case is protected from scratches thanks to the Duratect coating (in DR Black and DR Silver versions). On the back side there is a 1.28-inch square mini-display showing a film emulator. You can view your shot in two ways: on the pop-up screen or through the hybrid viewfinder. The latter makes it possible to perfectly frame the frame, trust your feelings and skills, without being distracted by viewing the footage. There is an opinion that the price is too high, but you need to understand the purpose of creating a model.

The novelty is focused on shooting sports and extreme working conditions, when the level of responsibility does not allow distraction to technology. The option of physical protection with a Kensington lock has been thought out when working from two points. Live view mode for videos makes it possible to shoot a series of images of 8 megapixels at a speed of 30 fps, even 60 fps is available, but already at 2 megapixels. Silent mode delivers up to 10.5 fps with AE tracking, time-lapse and time-lapse video. Pre-programmed settings help you quickly navigate the situation: adjust white balance, patterns, and AF lock. Snapshots can be filtered by protection status, transfer, rating. Priority photos are sent first.

Designed and manufactured in Germany, this mirrorless camera features the most durable all-metal construction with stylish leather accents. Attention is paid to both photo and video format. Shooting 5K video at 60 fps at full frame is available.Ergonomics has improved: ISO, Picture Style, video assistant are located separately and do not depend on the photo mode. Pleases with the new EyeRes electronic viewfinder at 5.76 megapixels: framing and previewing photos are now easier and more enjoyable. The Maestro III processor has improved speed characteristics: shutter release is faster, smart AF itself switches focus / shutter priority, a burst of up to 20 fps in silent mode and up to 10 fps on mechanics has appeared.

The beauty of medium format will be revealed in fashion photography, still life, portraits of people and animals. In this class, the 645Z can be called a "budget" camera, since the closest competitor Hasselblad H5D-50c with a 50-megapixel matrix exceeds 1 million rubles. The capabilities are impressive: 43.8 mmx32.8 mm CMOS sensor with a capacity of 51.4 millioneffective pixels produced by SONY uncompromisingly conveys light nuances on any texture (metal, rubber, leather, water). With a branded FLU CARD for PENTAX, the laptop remotely controls the process, and with a fast USB 3.0 cable it is convenient to watch material on the monitor. Tracking autofocus, according to the observations of testers, does not miss at all.

Phase One uses a 150MP sensor (!) and automatic frame averaging on RAW shooting. In this mode, the picture quality is improved further by combining several shots, in fact, the dynamic range is expanded, noise is reduced, and detail is increased. The X-Shutter electromagnetically controlled shutter allows shutter speeds to be built in a stunning range of 1/1000 s-60 min. and serves reliably, up to half a million operations (test results). Experts refer to the XT as a "field" model because it delivers unrivaled performance outside the studio, in a more dynamic plein air rhythm.

The camera will not let you down when shooting responsible professional reporting: the rate of fire has been increased to 20 fps in Live View with both electronic and mechanical shutters. Through the optical viewfinder, the series frequency reaches a new level, previously sky-high for a SLR device - 16 fps. The result is saved to 2 Compact Flash CFexpress memory cards, and this is the creation of 1000 shots without buffering and 12-bit video in RAW 5.5K (5472 × 2286) 60p format. A 20.2 MP full frame sensor with an anti-aliasing filter reveals a lot of details, shooting in twilight and even darkness has become easier due to ISO adjustment up to 102400 and sensitivity up to -6 EV, plus there is support for 10-bit HDR-photo HEIF-format.

The camera is equipped with an L-mount compatible with Leica and Panasonic optics. 3 recording methods are implemented: H264 with IPB compression for 4K UHD up to 120Mbps, or H264 with All-I compression and bitrate up to 440Mbps for 4K, or CinemaDNG RAW up to 2.5Gbps. Working with open uncompressed RAW video for digital cinema is flawless, with overexposed areas stretched up to 3 stops, underexposed areas up to 2 stops. On media, this format takes up a lot of memory: less than an hour of 12-bit RAW 24 fps video fills a terabyte SSD. There is no logarithmic profile, although there is hope for its addition in new firmware. The battery capacity is about 1200 mAh, it will last for a couple of hours of shooting with breaks.

The camera can record ultra-clear videos in 6K (3240p, i.e. 6144×3240) as well as 5.9K at 25/30p in 16:9 format with 10-bit color. 4K recording pleases with settings, including the aspect ratio from 3:3 to 16:9 and the system frequency, which is optimal for Cinema, PAL, NTSC systems. Small dimensions and weight (151×114×110 mm, 1164 g) expand the variability of the angle. Stabilization is carried out along 5 axes, based on a matrix shift. In terms of efficiency, it covers 5 stops of exposure, and when using stabilized lenses - as many as 6 (Dual I.S. technology). This mirrorless camera was the first in the world to receive active silent cooling, and due to the fan, you can shoot without time limits.

The autofocus of the device works flawlessly. The interface includes 4 programmable buttons C1-C4 in addition to the standard AF-ON and AEL, but in fact you can assign the desired function to any. In the same way, the on-screen menu and shooting modes are adjusted to the needs of the photographer - Sony's concern for the convenience of professionals has long become a tradition. The bayonet is well fixed on the metal case, 6 screws will support the heaviest lens. Engineers have improved moisture resistance performance by increasing the tightness of connectors, compartments and covers. When switching from a SLR camera, the compact grip and weight distribution will not please, and with a large system lens, the gap to the handle will seem too small.