The Most Popular Digital Cameras (in 2022)

Every few months, we publish a list of popular gear based on what our readers buy on Amazon.* This is our latest list of the most popular digital cameras!

As with our popular lenses list, this digital camera list has traditionally been dominated by Canon and Nikon cameras. But their reign seems to be over; Sony has well and truly joined them thanks to an amazing lineup of mirrorless models.

This time around, we’re going to share the top five most popular digital cameras (including both mirrorless and DSLR models). We’ll then provide comprehensive lists featuring the most popular models from each main manufacturer.

The (overall) most popular digital cameras

Below, we feature the top five most popular models:

1. Canon EOS Rebel T7 DSLR Camera

The Canon EOS Rebel T7 tops our popular camera list for a few reasons.

First, it’s a Canon camera, so it comes with a name that everyone knows and respects.

Second, its price is hard to beat: the T7 costs under $500 – including an 18-55mm kit lens.

The T7 is a great choice for anyone new to photography looking for their first camera. And while there are cameras with better specifications (many of which are on this list), the T7 gives you a 24 MP APS-C sensor, a built-in flash, 1080p video, and 3 frames-per-second continuous shooting. You can even use it as a webcam!

See the current price of the Canon T7 (with a kit lens) here.

Buying recommendation: If you have a few hundred extra dollars to spend, we would recommend the Canon EOS Rebel T8i. It’s a couple of years younger than the T7 and comes with some upgraded features.

2. Sony a7 IV Mirrorless Camera

The Sony a7 IV couldn’t be more different from the T7, yet it’s a very worthy #2. In fact, among our readers, it only sold one fewer unit than the T7. (Also, the dPS founder just picked up this very camera!)

And while it has a steep price tag, its specifications reveal why.

The a7 IV is the fourth-generation model in the a7 lineup, and it comes with a 33 MP full-frame sensor, 10 frames-per-second continuous shooting, 4K/60p video, 5-axis optical image stabilization, 759 autofocus points, eye tracking for humans, animals, and birds, and so much more.

If you’re looking for a true hybrid camera, you can’t go wrong with the a7 IV.

See the current price of the Sony a7 IV here.

Buying recommendation: If you don’t have the budget for the a7 IV, check out the Sony a7 III. It’s the a7 IV’s predecessor and is still available (with a very comparable set of specifications).

3. Canon EOS R6 Mirrorless Camera

Canon has been making real inroads with their R-series mirrorless cameras as of late, so it’s no surprise to see an EOS R model on our list of popular cameras.

The Canon EOS R6 may not have features quite as spectacular as those offered by its sibling, the Canon EOS R5, but its specifications are very respectable. It’s a great choice for enthusiasts who want a camera with both photo and video capabilities.

It has a 20 MP full-frame sensor, in-body stabilization, 20 FPS continuous shooting with the electronic shutter, 12 FPS continuous shooting with mechanical shutter, 4K/60p video, and much more.

See the current price of the Canon EOS R6 here.

Buying recommendations: Canon is quickly expanding their EOS R lineup. If you have a larger budget, check out the already-released EOS R5 and EOS R3. Also, at the time of writing, Canon has announced a few additional cameras, including the EOS R7 and the EOS R10 (both of which cost less than the EOS R6 and are due out this summer).

4. Canon EOS 5D Mark IV DSLR Camera

You could do a lot worse than heading out on assignment with a Canon EOS 5D Mark IV hanging around your neck.

While the 5D Mark IV is the oldest camera in our top five (it was released back in late 2016), 5D cameras have featured on our popular digital camera lists since the original 5D launched in 2005.

5D models have been used by many millions of enthusiasts and professionals. The Mark IV has a 30.4 MP full-frame sensor, a 61-point AF system, 7 FPS continuous shooting, and 4K video. As a stills camera, the 5D Mark IV holds up very well. In fact, we know a number of pros who still use the 5D Mark IV as their primary camera.

See the current price of the Canon EOS 5D Mark IV here.

5. Sony a6600 Mirrorless Camera

Sony’s APS-C camera lineup has always been impressive, and the a6600 is the current top option. This camera is small but packs quite a punch, and it’s great for both still and video content creators.

It comes with a 24.2 MP APS-C sensor, human and animal eye detection, 4K video, 425 phase-detection and 425 contrast-detection AF points, and image stabilization.

See the current price of the Sony a6600 here.

Buying recommendation: Don’t have the budget for the a6600? Check out Sony’s exceptional a6400 model and the newer Sony ZV-E10. (The latter is emerging as a popular camera among vloggers and content creators.)

Most popular Canon digital cameras

This past quarter, we’ve seen intense competition between Canon and Sony, with Canon just outselling Sony among our readers.

Canon’s cameras generally fit into three categories: the EOS R lineup (full-frame mirrorless at present, though it’s soon to feature two APS-C models), the EOS M lineup (compact APS-C mirrorless), and the DSLR lineup (both full frame and APS-C).

Without further ado, here are the most popular digital cameras from Canon:

Canon EOS Rebel T7 DSLR Camera (also known as the EOS 2000D)
Canon EOS R6 Mirrorless Camera
Canon EOS 5D Mark IV DSLR Camera
Canon EOS RP Mirrorless Camera
Canon EOS Rebel T8i DSLR Camera (also known as the EOS 850D)
Canon EOS R5 Mirrorless Camera
Canon EOS R Mirrorless Camera
Canon EOS M6 Mark II Mirrorless Camera
Canon EOS M50 Mark II Mirrorless Camera
Canon EOS 90D DSLR Camera

Most popular Sony digital cameras

Sony has dominated the mirrorless camera market for the past few years, so it’s not surprising that the company was barely beaten by Canon as the most popular manufacturer among our readers.

Sony’s offerings largely fall into two categories: full-frame mirrorless cameras (including the a7, a7R, a7S, a9, and a1 ranges) and APS-C mirrorless cameras.

While Canon has been rapidly expanding their mirrorless lineup, what still sets Sony apart is the company’s amazing range of both all-around and specialist cameras.

Here are the 10 most popular Sony digital cameras; we’ve also noted the purpose of the more specialized options.

Sony a7 IV Mirrorless Camera (All-around Hybrid)
Sony a6600 Mirrorless Camera
Sony a7 III Mirrorless Camera (All-around Hybrid)
Sony a6400 Mirrorless Camera
Sony a7R IV Mirrorless Camera (High Resolution)
Sony a7S III Mirrorless Camera (Video/Low Light)
Sony ZV-E10 Mirrorless Camera (Vlogging)
Sony a9 II Mirrorless Camera (Sports/Journalism)
Sony a7C Mirrorless Camera (Compact Hybrid)
Sony a6100 Mirrorless Camera

Sony’s only main camera missing from this list is the amazing (but expensive) flagship model, the Sony a1. It’s quite possibly the best camera on the market today, but it struggles on the “popular camera” list due to its price.

Most popular Nikon digital cameras

Nikon is a much-loved manufacturer among our readers. Over the last couple of years, however, we’ve slowly seen a decrease in the number of people buying Nikon cameras.

Interestingly, we haven’t noticed as steep a decline in the number of Nikon lenses purchased by readers (as you can see on our popular lens list).

Nikon does continue to release mirrorless cameras, so we’ll hopefully see the company bounce back over the next few years.

In the meantime, here are the most popular Nikon digital cameras:

Other popular digital cameras

The Most Popular Digital Cameras (in 2022)

While Sony is definitely a major contender for the most popular camera manufacturer, we’ve also seen other manufacturers produce some popular cameras this past quarter. As always, Fujifilm and Panasonic have a few models that are much loved by our readers.

Interestingly, the most popular product is a $2500 camera that is – at the time of writing – yet to be released. In fact, if it were made by Nikon, it would have come in at #2 on Nikon’s list!

Here are the rankings:

*These popular camera lists were compiled from reports supplied to us by Amazon and other sites where we are affiliates.

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It adds nothing to the cost of the product but gives us a small kickback to help cover our server, design, development, and editorial costs.

Thanks for your continued support. We hope you find this popular camera list helpful when you consider your own purchases.