Have your say: Vote now for best camera of 2023

This has come up before. The A9III has yet to ship and so is not a camera formally released this year. it will be released in 2024.

There are no production models, there are no independent tests of a production model. We have no RAW files from the unit, we have no SLOG3 video files from the unit (which are like RAW files for video in Sony cameras.). Even Sony has yet to post a sample video made by the camera on their website.

So wait until next year for production units to ship and then it will be considered for awards for 2024.

Retro designs are a niche product so, however good or innovative that product is, the audience of those who are truly interested in it will be small. A camera like the Z8, by contrast, is mainstream in design and user interface. It's what many Nikon customers would choose to use, but for the price. That gives it an edge in polls like this.

I'd say the reason the Z8 probably got a lot of attention (votes) was because it was a camera that many anticipated for some time now. We knew a Z8 would come at some point ,and for many, the Z9 was either too expensive, too bulky, or both. And for those people, the Z8 likely checked all the boxes and saved them some money at the same time. For me, the Z8 is the best (and most expensive) camera I've owned to date but it's also a camera I can take in the field and feel ready for anything. My Z6/Z7, couldn't necessarily say the same about those -- I always had reservations about those (even though I still have them and love them, they don't quite perform to the same level as the Z8).

No - I suggested that if people only voted for cameras they bought, most of the votes for the Z8 would disappear - didn't you understand that?

Hi, It really doesn't matter. To be truly fair voters would have to try each of the top ten cameras.
This is just a light-hearted fun poll.

@jaberg: I would say you are a RARE bird in this regard.

And here I thought I was the voice of the common person. ;)

Probably got more votes than any Pentax DSLR in a long time.

While the K3M3 platform has some limitations, I feel like it's a great sign of the effort Pentax is making into... I can't really say "staying relevant" about a DSLR, but perhaps I could say "remaining a valuable niche." They listened to their customer base, created a somewhat special product, and it gives me hope for Pentax.

Released in 2022 and included in last year's poll.

I should think it would be fairly self-evident. The value of a user poll is to interact with the readers of their website.

Obviously a person should take the results for what they are, votea from people that come to this website, nothing more.

Or in other words; lighten up, it's Christmas.

Precisely!

There already is a 100% accurate poll, it is the sales leaders, where people vote with their money. That is the most accurate way to vote. Other than that, there are these user polls where probably most people are just voting for what they read about.

These polls are just for fun, and as someone astutely mentioned, to create engagement in the community. No one should take them seriously.

The interesting thing is that in order to give a more informed opinion based on one's actual usage of a product, one would also have to have used not just the product that one wanted, but all of the products in the list in order to make a fair comparison.

So of course people vote on products they do not own. There is no way anyone could or would buy all of these new products every year, or even a good number of them.

@lx

By all means, make the polls on your website as constructive as you want.

Nobody's stopping you.

@lx

What's hard to follow? Everytime this year DP posts a bunch of fluff posts, many including "my favorite of the year" posts as well as generic, year end polls. They do this because the black Friday roundups are done, but it's still going to be weeks before the earliest of the spring new-product announcements start coming out from the manufacturers, and they otherwise have nothing to post.

Now if anyone feels they can do it better, post a better survey on their respective web page, and show how it is done. Alternatively, if anyone feels they have been cheated by this DP survey, and they are entitled to a better survey provided by DPReview, the link to request a refund of your monthly subscription fee is right up there in the upper left hand corner of the homepage...

Sony a9 III Mirrorless Camera

Est. Ship Date: Wed Feb 21, 2024

B&H Photo Video Electronics and Camera Store

A9III won't be the only global shutter camera next year. Alas for Sony Nikon will be joining the ranks. Also apart from the global shutter why is the best camera. Poor DR, poor resolution, not an all rounder. Very niche camera.

thx has a point. The A9III is a technological tour de force, and an amazing camera. But it does have trade offs in DR, high ISO, and resolution.

For most photographers it would not be their best choice, esp at its price.

Yep, still, after "reopening", which is obviously very much appreciated, one would think things would be dealt with in chronological order. Nevermind Panasonic's users were waiting for PDAF for nearly a decade, if not a decade. It was the single most thing nagged towards Panasonic cams every single time a camera was reviewed and similarly. Now they finally addressed it yet Z8 gets priority despite being nothing new but Z9 without integrated vertical grip. To me that is a clear brand bias. That is not to say that Z8 is a bad camera, obviously not.

The Panasonic I am sure is a fine camera, but let's get real: PDAF is not some big advancement for the entire camera market as a whole, it is just a big advancement for Panasonic users. Other brands have had PDAF for a while now and have really perfected it. So I don't get why Panasonic getting caught up with other brands on their AF system should be something viewed as reward worthy.

@Thought R Us. I do not currently own the S5 II, but there is more to it than the PDAF. It is priced WAY below its competitors and has video features seen in models above its class and price. I do think that it deserves a final review - especially now that it is so heavily discounted ($1700). Feels odd that it was not a higher priority for DPReview.

Z8 is just not exciting to me, i.e. those who have Z9 are not going to ditch it and get Z8 but those who have G9 are very likely to upgrade to G9 II.

I agree those that have Z9 aren’t going to ditch it. But I bet a bunch of Z7 and Z7II owners that have been eyeing up better AF performance they’ve seen in $2500-$4000 Canon’s and Sony’s are jumping on the Z8 in the absence of a Z7III.

OMG. I missed the memo that says all dpreview members have to like a camera that is exciting to one particular member. 🤦🏿

Rajesh, this is the main point of DPR…. Do you need a memo??? 😂

Vit, have you held a Z8? It has great build quality, same as the Z9. It did have the strap issues on some but that was long ago fixed. It has the same build quality as the D850. I am also sure it definitely has same or better build quality than the Panasonic.

The controls on the Z8 are considered by many to be among the best.

To say the IQ is like the D850 is a huge compliment. In fact no camera has really exceeded the D850 in pure IQ since then and so you could say any camera has the same IQ (or a bit less) than the D850.

I'm sure the Panasonic is a fine camera but no need to denigrate the Z8 to make that point.

Many Z8 owners added the Z8 to an existing Z9. I am one of them.

Having the exact same capabilities in 2 bodies of different form factor but very similar ergonomics is tremendously valuable when you shoot events/actions because muscle memory isn't disturbed. Yet you can got the more compact option when you just need on body and don't plan to shoot a lot in portrait mode.

Having raw video on both is also wonderful for editing. I typically having on my DJI RS3 Pro and the other one on the Sachtler tripod/head.

This is the value of a system designed from the ground up for working photographers.

@Vit Adamek
“PSAF”?
So your Panasonic should be rewarded for being late to the party?

I agree, but why put it on the list then remove and delete all the votes?

The a9 III accidentally made it onto the list but was removed within minutes of the poll going live. Nothing is rigged, it was just human error.

@Dale

Did you and Richard manage to do any shooting with the 300/2.8 at the NY event? I was a bit surprised there wasn't a DPR 'hands on' article.

We did get a chance to shoot with it a bit. I can't judge image quality as it was a pre-production product, but I found it pleasantly light, easy to handle, and well-balanced when attached to the a9 III.

We just plain ran out of time and didn't get a chance to do a hands-on with it, but we'll certainly do that as soon as we get one in the office.

Cool, thanks Dale.

Fair question. Although Sony announced the a9 III in 2023 and held a press event, everything was pre-production gear, to the point that we were asked not to capture Raw images. Effectively, it was a pre-announcement with limited access to a non-final product. We didn't consider it for our recent 2023 DPReview Awards since we don't have a production model to evaluate or compare to other products.

Our policy is that products are eligible for awards in the year that production models actually ship.

Right, it is no contest... it is a voting. That is by definiton a highly subjective process. The Z8 may be an attractive camera in many regards, but if you are looking for a small device, for an inexpensive device, for maximum image quality, etc. it may not be your camera of the year.

@mick232 -

Yep. I bought an A7RV to complement my A1. However great the Z8 may be it isn't enough to switch systems and it's too big for my tastes regardless.

So yeah - individual preferences still apply.

Z8 is the best camera released this year. The A1 (substantially more expensive than the Z8) is still a better camera for me (smaller and higher performance) and with all I have invested in glass it would take a lot for me to switch systems, but if I was starting from scratch today it would be a much more difficult decision than it was in 2017 when I jumped into Sony full frame mirrorless with the A9.

The a1 is a bit ahead in terms of still shooting, the Z8 is significantly ahead for video.

@MikeRan There are E to Z adapters spare body with interesting functionality same lenses.

Huh? If I have all e mount lenses and an A1 (and A9II) what seriously would I need with a Z body? You’re being silly now.

If you change brands every time brand A leapfrogs brand B... then there's something wrong.

My top pick in this poll is from a brand I own zero equipment from (although I have used their microscopy resolution calculator).

I’m primarily a Fujifilm shooter these days but I voted for the Nikon Z8 as best of the year and two Leica cameras as runners up because they are what most interest me.

It’s supposed to be a fun look at the collective mindset — not a brand war.

MadeInLisboa Ha. The A9III is a flop. It’s not even on sale yet. The announced sync speeds are supported by the Sony speedlites (yes, 1/80,000). And most flashes will sync at full or half power at well over 1/500s and 1/2000s and faster at 1/4 power which is faster than any other conventional camera on the market.

Clearly you are one more concerned about finding things Sony can’t do than recognizing what it can. It’s also completely obvious that you have never used a strobe in your life. Haha.

English must not be your first language because your high FPS/Nikon Z9 comment doesn’t make any sense, and the camera may have a bit more noise in bright light where no one cares about noise, and it remains to be seen how the low light performance is when the ISO is high.

But per the original comment you can choose to not vote for it in 2024 since it’s not yet available to flop in 2023. Lol..

That link is 100% consistent with my statement. LOL..

Anyway I guess you’re just bitter you’re stuck with 1/200th…