Best cameras under $2,000

The Z6 III covers stills and video with few gaps. Its partially stacked 24.5MP sensor has a measured readout of 9.4 ms at 6K, so electronic-shutter bursts of up to 60fps show less distortion than on the Zf. Autofocus is rated down to -10 EV, eight stops of in-body stabilization help in dim light, and the 5.76M-dot viewfinder is sharper than the R6 II's 3.69M-dot finder. Video reaches 6K 60p internal N-RAW or ProRes RAW and 4K 120p, with uncropped 4K 60p. CFexpress Type B and SD slots allow backup recording.

At 760 g it is heavier than the R6 II, battery life is rated at 390 shots, and video clips stop at 125 minutes. Canon users who want low-light stills, 40fps and dual SD slots should look at the EOS R6 II. Those who need a fan for long video takes in full frame should consider the Panasonic S5 II.

The EOS R6 II is built for low light. Its 24.2MP full-frame sensor stays clean at ISO 12,800, native ISO reaches 102,400, and autofocus is rated down to -6.5 EV. Eight stops of in-body stabilization allow slow handheld shutter speeds, and the electronic shutter reaches 40fps. Two SD UHS-II slots give a backup for paid work, and battery life is rated at 580 shots. Video is 4K 60p at full width in 10-bit 4:2:2 C-Log3, with clips up to 360 minutes and ProRes RAW over HDMI.

Its 24MP resolution limits cropping, there is no CFexpress slot, and it uses a micro HDMI port. Measured readout is 16.5 ms, slower than the Z6 III's 9.4 ms, so fast subjects can skew with the electronic shutter. Shooters who want faster readout and internal raw should look at the Nikon Z6 III. Canon users who want a lighter body should consider the EOS R8 II.

The EOS R8 II weighs 546 g, lighter than the EOS R6 II. Its 24.2MP sensor reaches native ISO 102,400, autofocus is rated down to -7.5 EV, and 7.5 stops of in-body stabilization help with handheld work. The electronic shutter shoots at up to 40fps. Video is uncropped 4K 60p in 10-bit 4:2:2 C-Log3 with clips up to 360 minutes, and it has mic and headphone jacks and weather sealing.

The spec lists only an electronic shutter, so there is no mechanical option for subjects that would show distortion, and no lab readout figure is available yet. It has one SD slot, its LP-E17 battery is rated at 270 shots, well below the R6 II's 580, and the 2.36M-dot, 0.7x viewfinder is smaller than the R6 II's 3.69M-dot, 0.76x finder. There is no raw video. Canon users who need two card slots and a longer battery rating should choose the EOS R6 II.

The Zf is a stills camera first. Its 24.5MP backside-illuminated full-frame sensor reaches native ISO 64,000, autofocus is rated down to -10 EV, and eight stops of in-body stabilization allow slow handheld shutter speeds in dim light. It has a 3.69M-dot, 0.8x viewfinder, a fully articulating screen and weather sealing. Video covers 4K 60p in 10-bit with N-Log, which is enough for casual clips.

Its measured readout is 22 ms, so the electronic shutter can distort fast subjects, and bursts top out at 30fps. 4K 60p crops 1.5x, color is 4:2:0, and there is no raw video. The second card slot takes microSD UHS-I rather than a full-size card. It weighs 710 g, and battery life is rated at 380 shots. Shooters who want speed and stronger video in the same mount should pick the Z6 III. Those who want similar stills with two full-size SD slots should consider the Nikon Z5 II.

The G9 II gets more reach from every lens. A lens on Micro Four Thirds frames like a full-frame lens of twice the focal length, so long telephoto setups stay smaller and lighter. Bursts reach 75fps, eight stops of in-body stabilization steady long lenses, and flash sync is 1/250 s. Two SD UHS-II slots and weather sealing suit outdoor work. Video is strong too: 4K 120p, 5.8K 30p, uncropped 4K 60p, open gate, and 10-bit 4:2:2 V-Log.

The smaller sensor has less low-light headroom: native ISO tops out at 25,600, and autofocus is rated to -4 EV, compared with -10 EV on the Nikon Z6 III. Measured readout is 13.2 ms at 5.7K, slower than the OM-3's 5.8 ms. Battery life is rated at 370 shots. Shooters who want a lighter Micro Four Thirds body with faster readout should look at the OM-3. Those who want full frame should consider the Nikon Z6 III.

The Z5 II suits event and portrait photographers who want full frame and a backup for every frame. Its 24.5MP backside-illuminated sensor reaches native ISO 64,000, and autofocus is rated down to -10 EV, the same low-light rating as the Z6 III. Two SD UHS-II slots, 7.5 stops of in-body stabilization, weather sealing and a 3.69M-dot, 0.8x viewfinder cover the basics of paid work. Video includes 4K 60p in 10-bit N-Log and internal N-RAW.

It is not built for action. Measured readout is 22.2 ms, so the electronic shutter can distort moving subjects, and bursts top out at 30fps. 4K 60p crops 1.5x, color is 4:2:0, and clips stop at 125 minutes. It weighs 700 g, and battery life is rated at 350 shots. Shooters who need faster readout should look at the Nikon Z6 III. Those who want uncropped 4K 60p and 40fps bursts should consider the Canon EOS R6 II.

The GH7 is built for video and still takes capable stills. A built-in fan supports long takes, and it records ProRes RAW internally, 5.8K 30p, 4K 120p, and uncropped 4K 60p in 10-bit 4:2:2 V-Log, with open gate for cropping vertical versions. CFexpress Type B plus SD slots and a full-size HDMI port suit professional workflows. For stills, it has a 25.2MP sensor, 75fps bursts and 7.5 stops of in-body stabilization, and the Micro Four Thirds format keeps lenses compact.

At 805 g it is heavier than the G9 II. The smaller sensor has less low-light headroom, with native ISO topping out at 25,600 and autofocus rated to -4 EV. Battery life is rated at 380 shots. Stills-first shooters who want the same resolution and burst speed in a lighter body should pick the G9 II. Those who want a fan with a full-frame sensor should look at the Panasonic S5 II.