Best cameras under $1,500

The Z5 IIc combines a 24.5MP full-frame sensor with 7.5 stops of in-body stabilization and weather sealing, a mix the Canon EOS R8 and Panasonic Lumix S9 do not offer. Native ISO reaches 64,000 and autofocus is rated down to -10 EV, so it handles dim rooms and evening light well. It shoots up to 30 fps. For video it records internal N-RAW and N-Log, which leaves room for color grading, and it has both mic and headphone jacks.

Its 4K 60p mode uses a 1.5x crop, so wide shots at that frame rate are harder. It records to a single SD card, battery life is rated at 350 shots, and at 620 g it is heavier than the Canon EOS R8. Buyers who mostly want fast bursts in a lighter body should look at the R8, and video-first buyers should compare the Panasonic Lumix S9.

The Lumix S9 puts a 24.2MP full-frame sensor in a 486 g body, and it is built around video. It records up to 6K 30p, supports open-gate capture so one clip can be cropped to both vertical and horizontal formats, and shoots 10-bit V-Log. In-body stabilization is rated at 6.5 stops, autofocus detects people and animals, and native ISO reaches 51,200.

It has no viewfinder, so framing in bright sun relies on the fully articulating screen. The shutter is electronic only, with a measured readout of 22 ms, which can bend fast-moving subjects. 4K 60p is cropped 1.5x, it has a mic jack but no headphone jack, and it is not weather sealed. Stills shooters who want a viewfinder and sealing should choose the Nikon Z5 IIc. Buyers who want a small hybrid with longer battery life should look at the Fujifilm X-S20.

The X-S20 pairs a 26.1MP APS-C sensor with 7 stops of in-body stabilization, and its battery is rated at 750 shots, more than the Sony A6700's 570. Video is a strength: it records up to 6.2K 30p with open gate and 10-bit F-Log and F-Log2, and it has both mic and headphone jacks. Autofocus detects people, animals, birds and vehicles down to -7 EV. At 491 g it is easy to carry all day, and the fully articulating screen suits vlogging.

It is not weather sealed and has a single SD slot. The 2.36M-dot viewfinder is basic, the mechanical shutter tops out at 1/4000 s, and native ISO stops at 12,800, so very low light is better handled by the full-frame bodies. Buyers who need sealing should choose the Sony A6700, which also adds 4K 120p.

The OM-5 II uses a Micro Four Thirds sensor and is built to be carried. At 418 g with weather sealing and 7.5 stops of in-body stabilization, it suits hiking and travel in poor weather. The smaller sensor means smaller, lighter lenses for the same framing, a real gain at telephoto lengths. It shoots up to 30 fps, and its measured readout of 10 ms is faster than the Sony A6700's 15.9 ms, which limits distortion with the electronic shutter.

The trade-offs are clear. Its 20.4MP sensor has less resolution than the 26MP Sony A6700 and shows noise sooner at high ISO than full-frame bodies such as the Nikon Z5 IIc. Autofocus detection is listed for people only, with no animal or vehicle tracking. Video is limited to 4K 30p in 8-bit, it has a mic jack but no headphone jack, and battery life is rated at 310 shots. Buyers who want stronger tracking and video in a small, sealed body should choose the Sony A6700.

The A6700's subject detection covers people, animals, birds, insects and vehicles, a wider list than the Fujifilm X-S20's, which suits pets, garden birds and youth sports. Video reaches 4K 120p with no crop at 4K 60p, in 10-bit S-Log3, and it has mic and headphone jacks. It is weather sealed, has 5 stops of in-body stabilization, and its battery is rated at 570 shots. The 26MP APS-C sensor and 493 g body keep it compact.

Its top burst rate is 11 fps, far slower than the Canon EOS R8's 40 fps, and autofocus is rated only to -3 EV, less sensitive in very dim light than the X-S20's -7 EV. Stabilization is weaker than on the Fujifilm X-S20 or OM System OM-5 II, and it has a single SD slot. Buyers who want faster bursts and a full-frame sensor should look at the Canon EOS R8.

The X-T30 III fits a 26.1MP APS-C sensor and a viewfinder into a 378 g body, lighter than the Fujifilm X-S20. Autofocus detects people, animals, birds and vehicles down to -7 EV, and it shoots up to 30 fps. Video reaches 6.2K 30p with open gate and F-Log2, and 12-bit raw video can be sent over HDMI. It suits street and travel photography, where a small camera gets carried more often.

It has no in-body stabilization, so slow shutter speeds and handheld video depend on stabilized lenses. It is not weather sealed, its single card slot is UHS-I, battery life is rated at 315 shots, and the screen tilts rather than fully articulating. 4K 60p is cropped 1.18x, and it has a mic jack but no headphone jack. Buyers who want stabilization and longer battery life in a Fujifilm body should choose the Fujifilm X-S20.