Buying guide: best cameras around $2000

Around the $2000 price point you'll find flagship APS-C and Four Thirds cameras built for speed and durability, and some highly capable mid-range full-frame mirrorless and DSLRs. In this buying guide we’ve rounded up all the current interchangeable lens cameras under $2500 for enthusiasts and recommended the best.

Our pick: Sony a7 IV

The Sony a7 IV stands out against some very fierce competition. Like many of its rivals it's accomplished at shooting both still images and video, but what sets it apart is how simple and powerful its autofocus system is. Canon's EOS R6 (our previous pick) offers a similar balance of attractive stills and 10-bit 4K video options, also with a simple and effective AF system, but the Sony delivers higher resolution stills, more detailed video and more reliable video autofocus, which give it the edge, for us.

Budget option: Fujifilm X-T4

The Fujifilm X-T4 is also very capable at both stills and video capture. It’s built around an APS-C sensor, so there are situations in which its full-frame rivals can offer significantly better image quality, but the X-T4 is the best way of getting excellent stills and video capabilities in a smaller, less expensive package.

Fujifilm has some of the most attractive JPEG color options in the industry and backs this up with 10-bit video and 4K/60p capture in an image-stabilized body. Autofocus is good, rather than great, but the camera as a whole is very capable. Many photographers enjoy its traditional control layout, or just love the way it looks.

While we've given our top recommendations above, keep reading this buying guide to see if another camera might be the right one for you.

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* This camera has not been reviewed and is not eligible for an award.