Emilio Pucci Dress Similar | Cutler & Gross (Sold out, Similar) | Giambattista Valli Boots (Sold out, but Similar) | Ermanno Scervino Handbag (Sold out, Similar) | Roksanda Pearl Earring (Sold out, Similar)
I can’t believe I’m saying this but fashion week is almost here…again! Time is just flying, but I can’t spend too much time looking back as I prep for the shows this season. However, one of the issues I remember running into was not having a portable camera on hand. Although Dan and I swear by our Canon DSLR, it’s sometimes not the most convenient choice when I’m running from show to show and want to throw it inside my bag. It has been a while since we spoke about cameras, so I wanted to share the best portable cameras for bloggers. I figured this would be helpful for you guys as we all get ready for this upcoming fashion week. Whether you’re traveling or at a event, one of our picks below will be perfect for you!…
…
I’ve broken up this post up into price points since I know that cameras can get super expensive and not every one has the same budget. Keep in mind that the more expensive it gets, the more bells and whistles it comes with. This may or may not be what you need, but I’ll explain more below. Note that I’ve also ordered these from least expensive to most expensive.
Budget (Under $700)
Sony A6000 – The Sony A6000 is, in my honest opinion, the best portable and budget friendly camera out there at just under $600. Its performance in low light conditions is super impressive and image quality is exceptional for what you pay. This camera is great for capturing shows or events that don’t offer a ton of light. And you even get a digital viewfinder that show what your manual adjustments look like in real time. My only complaint is that the battery life isn’t great, but you can always buy back up batteries for cheap. Also, if you shoot lots of video and need a long capture time (like more than 30 minutes), the camera can get super hot which will cause it to automatically shut off.
![Canon PowerShot Digital Camera [G7 X Mark II] with Wi-Fi & NFC, LCD Screen, and 1-inch Sensor - Black, 100-1066C001](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51noZbmp16L._SL160_.jpg)
Canon G7X II – The G7X is a popular option among bloggers and vloggers, but it is more of a point-and-shoot which means you cannot change the lens and it’s not exactly ideal for darker environments. However, there are some great functions that make it worth looking at. First, the nature of being point and shoot makes it the most compact camera on this list. But unlike most point and shoots, you get manual control, RAW functionality (important if you like to edit), and it even has WIFI capability. This is by no means a replacement for DSLR or mirrorless quality photos, but it is a good all-around pocket-sized camera when you’re on the go. And if you’re doing a lot of vlogging, you’ll love the tilt screen feature.
Affordable ($700-$1100)
Fuji X-T100 – Fujifilm has become increasingly popular over the years and we can see why. Not only are the cameras aesthetically pleasing, but it also offers up some great features. Notably, the camera produces bright images with lots of color and light – even if you’re shooting jpegs. The electronic viewfinder is exceptionally crisp. This is important if you don’t like the idea of shooting via LCD. And the screen also flips out completely, so if you’re in selfie mode, you’ll appreciate this because the other mirrorless options don’t
offer it. In terms of performance, the autofocus is not super fast (which isn’t entirely necessary unless you’re shooting sports); however, it is accurate enough while capturing walking or jumping movements.
Sony A6300 – The A6300 is an update to the A6000 and gives us more to work with such as 4k video footage and an updated sensor that improves efficiency and performance. This sensor also renders cleaner images even as you increase the ISO to compensate for light. Where this camera really outperforms the A6000 is in the autofocus technology. It’s much faster, detects the subject matter quicker, and the AF points span the entire view. If you’re wanting to shoot runway, then these new features will come in handy.
Canon EOS M5 – A great alternative to the Sony mirrorless is the Canon EOS M5. The image quality is nothing short of what you’d expect from the brand. And if you’re already a Canon shooter, you’ll be happy to hear that you can purchase an adaptor that allows you to use your existing line up of lenses. Another feature worth noting is the touch and drag AF function. It’s a nice substitute for not having the joystick often found on DSLRs. Where this camera has shortcoming is the build. It doesn’t feel as durable as I would like and also, it’s quite loud. Image play back is sluggish, but those things aside, it’s a solid camera.
Sony A6500 – The A6500 is going to be the top of the line for affordable portable options. It’s a great improvement from both the A6000 and A6300, giving us a solid build, high image quality, and in-body stabilization, which compensates for camera shake and hand movement. If you’re trying to capture a video from an event or off the runway, this is a huge game changer that’s worthy of the price increase. You can also shoot at much slower shutter speeds without motion blur – and there’s the convenience of the touchscreen.
Mid Range ($1200-$2000)
Sony A7II – Moving into a solid line up of full-frame options, the Sony A7II is my first recommendation. Compared to the rest of the full-frame cameras listed, you’ll sacrifice a bit of image quality. You’ll also be set back in video as this camera doesn’t shoot 4k – something commonly found in newer cameras. However, you do get the full-frame features (having that extra bit of space in photo which can make a huge difference) with the in-body stabilization mentioned in the A6500. Plus, it’s extremely affordable.
Sony A7R II – The A7R II is one of Sony’s older mirrorless full-frame camera that rivals the A7III (below), but is still highly regarded despite its age. While they have a lot in common, there are a few differences. The biggest one being that it has double the amount of megapixels as the A7III which is insignificant in the case of shooting photos for blogs and Instagram. But if you’re one who tends not to get your framing right in camera and need to crop in post processing, then it may be very handy. I can see this being the case for street style photographers. Or if you have other hobbies like shooting stills and landscape, this would be the way to go.
Sony A7III – The A7III is a nice update from the A7II giving us worthy features from the A7R II and A7R III (below) – along with better low light shooting capability, better dynamic range, and superior autofocus. Again, the improved AF system will be beneficial for capturing runway or quick movement/running in between shows. You also get 4k video function, huge improvement in battery life, and great quality images! For what you pay, this camera really gives you the most bang for your buck.
High End ($2500+)
Sony A7R III – If you have a big budget and want the best possible camera out there, the A7R III is it! The camera gives both supreme quality stills and video with more megapixels, a better LCD screen and electronic viewfinder, and the best quality photos and video at higher ISO. There’s not much more to desire here.
Nikon Z6 – For a mirrorless full-frame alternative, meet the Nikon Z6 which is now available for pre-order.
Do you have any of these on your wishlist?
camera gearphotography tips
