
With the end of the year and the holidays nearing, many photographers are filling up their wish lists with gear they’re hoping to receive. Among the most popular categories of photographic equipment for shooters to desire is a brand new DSLR, and there’s nothing more exciting than beginning the new year with a new camera to inspire your creativity. Here’s a look at some of the most wished-for DSLRs that photographers are hoping to have in their bags soon.
Nikon D850
Without a doubt the hottest DSLR on the market right now, Nikon released the D850 in late summer to much acclaim and long wait times to acquire one. And for good reason! The D850 is the latest model in the popular D800-series of high-resolution full-frame cameras, and features a completely updated feature set, based on a new 45.7MP BSI CMOS sensor and EXPEED 5 image processor. Aside from the higher resolution, faster performance is the name of the game with the D850, which can now shoot at 7 fps, record UHD 4K/30p video, and features the same 153-point autofocus system as the flagship D5. Among the other specs setting this camera apart, the new model has a larger 0.75x-magnification optical viewfinder, 3.2" tilting touchscreen LCD, 8K time-lapse mode, and built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.
Canon EOS 5D Mark IV with Canon Log
Released last year, the Canon EOS 5D Mark IV still stands as one of the most popular DSLRs for nearly all genres of photography. In 2017, an updated version with pre-installed Canon Log was released to appeal specifically to filmmakers looking at this full-frame camera. The inclusion of this gamma setting helps videographers achieve an extended dynamic range of up to 12 stops, along with greater latitude for post-production color-grading, and a new View Assist function also provides a more accurate representation of footage when monitoring on the rear LCD or an external monitor. Besides theses updates, the 5D Mark IV remains the workhorse that has made it so popular for over a year now, by way of the 30.4MP CMOS sensor, DIGIC 6+ image processor, DCI 4K/30p video recording, Dual Pixel CMOS AF, and fast 7 fps continuous shooting.
Nikon D500
One of the most exciting DX/APS-C cameras on the market today, the Nikon D500 is going on two years but still holds the flagship spot in Nikon’s DX DSLR line. Built for high-speed shooting and multimedia applications, this workhorse of a camera sports such specs as 10 fps shooting for up to 200 consecutive frames, UHD 4K/30p video recording, and has a 153-point autofocus system like the D5 and D850. The 20.9MP CMOS sensor also affords an impressive sensitivity range to ISO 1640000, and allows you to create in-camera time lapses for up to 9999 consecutive frames with 4K/30p output.
Canon EOS 6D Mark II
A newcomer to Canon’s lineup, the EOS 6D Mark II was released in the middle of the year as the long-awaited successor to the first entry-level full-frame camera, the 6D. The 6D Mark II improves this popular line with a new sensor, a full-frame 26.2MP CMOS, along with a new processor, the DIGIC 7, to realize enhanced image quality, improved sensitivity to ISO 102400, and faster continuous shooting to 6.5 fps. The new model was also updated with a more sophisticated 45-point all cross-type AF system, Dual Pixel CMOS AF, and a 3.0" 1.04m-dot vari-angle LCD monitor.
Nikon D750
Nikon’s Goldilocks camera, the D750, has been one of the manufacturer’s most popular cameras since its launch, due to the well-balanced combination of size, weight, image quality, feature set, and affordability. As an all-rounder, the D750 features a respectable FX-format 24.3MP CMOS sensor that offers an expandable sensitivity range to ISO 51200, supports Full HD 1080/60p video recording, and, along with EXPEED 4 sensor, affords a 6.5 fps continuous shooting rate. The compact, ergonomic design and light overall weight are the other two main assets of this camera, which eschews the traditional idea that full-frame DSLRs must be large and heavy.
Canon EOS-1D X Mark II
Canon’s top dog, the EOS-1D X Mark II, is the company’s flagship DSLR and a camera that truly puts the “wish” in wished-for, for many photographers. As a professional machine, the 1D X Mark II is built for speed and to excel in nearly any working conditions you can imagine. Using a 20.2MP full-frame CMOS sensor and a pair of DIGIC 6+ image processors, you can shoot at up to 14 fps with the viewfinder using full-time AF and AE. The sensor also affords DCI 4K/60p video recording and reaches an impressive expanded sensitivity of ISO 409600. Couple all these imaging capabilities with a tough, weather-sealed body design, and you have a camera after which many lust.
Sony Alpha a99 II
Moving away from the two main players in the DSLR market, Sony still has its foot in the door with its sole full-frame A-mount offering, the Alpha a99 II. Even though Sony is known better known for its mirrorless segment, the a99 II still holds its own and acts almost like a souped-up a7R II. It uses the same 42.4MP Exmor R BSI CMOS sensor and BIONZ X processor, with front-end LSI, to offer up to 12 fps shooting, UHD 4K video, and sensitivity to ISO 102400. Separating itself further from the DSLR pack, the Sony has sensor-shift 5-axis image stabilization and, due to its unique translucent mirror design, uses a 2.36m-dot electronic viewfinder instead of the optical viewfinder of a traditional DSLR.
Hasselblad H6D-100c
Closing our look at some of the most wished-for DSLRs of the year is one of the more awe-inspiring cameras around, due to its enormous sensor size and high resolution, as well as its equally impressive cost. The Hasselblad H6D-100c is a medium format DSLR and uses a 100MP 53.4 x 40mm CMOS sensor, which is very close to the actual filmic dimensions of the 645 format (something that has yet to be reached by mass market cameras). Using the sensor to its fullest potential, the H6D platform offers 16-bit color output along with a 15-stop dynamic range, and the Hasselblad Natural Color Solution helps to maintain realistic skin tones and smooth tonal transitions. Additionally, unique for medium format, the H6D-100c is also capable of recording UHD 4K/30p video.
Which DSLRs are at the top of your wish list? Let us know in the Comments section, below!
3 Comments
With apologies to Janis Joplin:
Oh Lord, won't you buy me a Canon 1DX Two?
My friends all have the Nikon D850 Blues.
I must make amends.
The Canon 1DX II has got to be a massive beast, in terms of weight and heft, for its FPS, but it would be overkill for what I usually shoot. I'd consider renting one when the Thunderbirds or Blue Angels have a performance. For a practice round of the 2015 Masters, I removed the battery grip of my 5D III and Motor Drive AE from my New F-1 to reduce the weight I carried.
Or instead of the impressive fps of the 1D X II, you could rent an H6D for the Masters practice round and be able to count the dimples on those Pro V1s! Either one definitely isn't going to help you save on weight, though.
True. I wonder how many dimples there are on a golf ball.