The Most Popular Cameras and Lenses Being Used By Photographers in 2023
I spend lots of time reading through websites that offer us all suggestions on what gear we should be buying. I don’t know about you, but do you often think there is bias in some of the suggestions we read? They get a camera to review from a manufacturer, and just maybe they are afraid to say something bad because they fear they would stop getting cameras and lenses to review in the future. Then there are the photographers that tell you their brand of camera is greater than the rest, and finally, there are the photographers that are always going to tell you to buy the latest and greatest because that’s what gets clicks to their website, not to mention they get affiliate money for sending you to a retailer.
I am not going to sit here and tell you this list of gear below is something you should buy because the manufacturer gave me a piece of equipment to review. I am also not bias to one specific type of camera gear, nor do I receive affiliate commissions. This list of gear below is based on what I see during the workshops I lead across the globe every year. I average meeting 154 clients per year on everything from aurora, landscape, wildlife workshops, and Antarctica expeditions. This is a list of the most frequent gear I see in the field being used in real-world situations.
Before we get into what gear I am seeing on my workshops, let’s talk about what are the most popular camera systems I see.
Sony – 35% of my attendees are now using a Sony Mirrorless camera system
Nikon – 30% of my attendees are now using a Nikon system. Mirrorless is starting to overtake DSLR Nikon systems.
Canon – 25% of my workshop attendees are now using a Canon camera system. Mirrorless is starting to overtake DSLR Canon systems.
The rest of the camera systems comprise the remaining 10% of the camera systems I see on my workshops. Leica is actually the camera system I am seeing more and more.
I want to end this preface by saying this – Do not get swayed in your decision on what camera to buy because a manufacturer releases their latest and greatest. Camera manufacturers leapfrog each other with new technology every time they announce their newest camera. Pick a camera system based on what you need for your favorite type of photography. Stick with that brand of camera, and understand that camera system. Once you make that decision, become a master of composition. A great chef isn’t great because they have a good set of knives, they are a great chef because they mastered the art of making excellent food. With that said, the following is a list of the most popular camera gear I see people using on my workshops.
Canon Photography Equipment
Canon Cameras
Canon EOS Rebel SL3 / EOS 250D - Best For Beginners
Defined by its notably sleek form factor, the black Canon EOS Rebel SL3 is a versatile DSLR offering an ideal mix of stills and video capabilities. Featuring a 24.1MP APS-C-format CMOS sensor and DIGIC 8 image processor, high-resolution stills and UHD 4K video recording are possible, along with a wide ISO 100-25600 sensitivity range to suit working in a variety of lighting conditions.
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Canon EOS 90D - Great For Enthusiastic Shooters
Situated as a versatile camera with capable photo and video traits, the Canon EOS 90D is a sleek DSLR also characterized by its high-resolution 32.5MP APS-C CMOS sensor. This updated sensor design achieves enhanced image clarity, resolution, and dynamic range, along with adept sensitivity to ISO 25600 and low noise to suit working in a variety of situations. Combined with advanced image processing, this sensor is also capable of outputting UHD 4K30p and Full HD 120p video, as well as supporting continuous stills shooting rates up to 10 fps.
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Canon EOS 6D Mark II - Great For Enthusiastic Shooters
Step up into the full-frame game with the EOS 6D Mark II DSLR Camera from Canon. Making high-performance full-frame imaging more accessible, the 6D Mark II makes numerous advancements over its predecessor to improve upon every aspect of image capture and creation. The main update comes in the form of a 26.2MP CMOS sensor and the use of the DIGIC 7 Image Processor to deliver sharper, more vivid imagery in a variety of shooting situations.
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Canon EOS R5 - Pro Level Mirrorless Camera
A camera for the professional image-maker who needs resolution, speed, and video capabilities, there is the Canon EOS R5. Setting a new standard for versatility, this full-frame mirrorless camera features a newly developed 45MP CMOS sensor, which offers 8K raw video recording, 12 fps continuous shooting with a mechanical shutter, and is the first EOS camera to feature 5-axis sensor-shift image stabilization.
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Canon EOS 5D Mark IV - For Cinema Lovers and Professionals
Continuing on in their legacy of powerful workhorse cameras, Canon has released the 5D Mark IV DSLR which is an outstanding still photography option and an able 4K-capable video machine. This multimedia maven offers a newly developed 30.4MP full-frame CMOS sensor paired with the DIGIC 6+ image processor in order to balance fine detail and resolution with low-light performance and sensitivity. It is able to work within a native range of ISO 100-32000, which can then be expanded to an impressive ISO 50-102400, for sharp, low-noise images in a variety of conditions.
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Canon EOS-1DX Mark III - Pro-Level DSLR
Built for speed, sensitivity, and precision, the Canon EOS-1D X Mark III is a powerful DSLR designed for sports, wildlife, and other trying and dynamic imaging applications. Designed as the flagship of the EOS system, the 1D X Mark III is characterized by its refined processing capabilities and distinct speed to suit both photo and video applications. Featuring a newly designed 20.1MP full-frame CMOS sensor and updated DIGIC X image processor, this camera is capable of continuous shooting rates up to 16 fps with the optical viewfinder or 20 fps in live view, with a 1000-shot buffer when shooting raw+JPEG. Complementing this speed is an impressive native sensitivity range from ISO 100-102400, that can be expanded to ISO 50-819200, to suit working in a variety of lighting conditions.
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Canon Lenses
Canon EF 14mm f/2.8L II USM – This is probably the best Canon lens for shooting the northern lights and night skies. It’s wide and fast enough to capture the movement of the Aurora.
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Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS II USM – A great lens for landscapes, street photography, portraits, and general photography.
An advanced one-lens solution, the EF 24-105mm f/4L IS II USM is a Canon L-series zoom covering wide-angle to short-telephoto focal lengths and featuring a constant f/4 maximum aperture. The version II of this popular lens sports a redeveloped optical design, which includes four aspherical elements to significantly reduce distortion and spherical aberrations throughout the zoom range for great sharpness and accurate subject rendering.
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Canon 24-105mm f4L IS RF Lens (mirrorless) – A great lens for landscapes, street photography, portraits, and general photography.
Poised to be the new workhorse zoom, the Canon RF 24-70mm f/2.8L IS USM is a versatile wide-angle to portrait-length lens characterized by its bright, advanced, and intuitive design. The constant f/2.8 maximum aperture suits working in difficult lighting conditions and also enables greater control over depth of field.
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Canon EF 70-200mm F2.8L IS III USM – This lens is good for general photography, landscapes, sports, and wildlife
The EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS III USM delivers outstanding performance and optics to help you reach new heights in high-level creative imaging. The lens's constant f/2.8 maximum aperture enables fast shutter speeds and beautiful background blur across its zoom range. To further enhance clarity, it adds Canon's Air Sphere Coating (ASC), which combines with updated Super Spectra Coatings to significantly reduce lens flare and ghosting.
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Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 L IS II USM – I see this lens on my wildlife workshops.
A long-reaching telephoto zoom characterized by a sophisticated optical design and advanced image stabilization technologies, the Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM Lens is part of the esteemed L-series developed for full-frame EOS DSLRs.
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Canon RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM (mirrorless) – I see this lens on my wildlife workshops.
Covering a variety of telephoto focal lengths, the Canon RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM spans a short- to super-telephoto range within a sleek and portable form factor. The modest maximum aperture enables a relatively portable design that is well-suited to handheld, walkaround use and optical image stabilization also helps to steady photos and videos by up to five stops when working in difficult lighting conditions.
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Nikon Photography Equipment
Nikon Cameras
Nikon D7500 - Great Crop Sensor For Enthusiast Photographers
Designed as a true all-arounder, the Nikon D7500 is a DX-format DSLR offering a versatile feature-set to appeal to photographers and videographers alike. Based on a 20.9MP CMOS sensor and EXPEED 5 image processor, this multimedia maven avails an 8 fps continuous shooting rate for up to 100 consecutive JPEGS, a native sensitivity range to ISO 51,200 that can be expanded up to ISO 1,640,000, and 4K UHD video and time-lapse recording capabilities.
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Nikon D780 - Great Full Frame for Enthusiastic Shooters
Mixing a contemporary imaging approach with traditional form and function, the Nikon D780 is a versatile DSLR excelling in both photography and video applications. Featuring a 24.5MP full-frame CMOS sensor, high-resolution stills and video recording are possible, and the sensor features a BSI design for heightened clarity and reduced noise levels to suit working in a variety of lighting conditions.
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Nikon D850 - Great Full Frame DSLR for Serious Photographers
Proving that speed and resolution can indeed coexist, the Nikon D850 is a multimedia DSLR that brings together robust stills capabilities along with apt movie and time-lapse recording. Revolving around a newly designed 45.7MP BSI CMOS sensor and proven EXPEED 5 image processor, the D850 is clearly distinguished by its high resolution for recording detailed imagery.
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Nikon Z6ii/Z7ii - Mirrorless Cameras for Serious Photographers. Landscape photographers should look at the Z7ii, wildlife photographers should look at the Z6ii
More speed, more versatility, more performance, the Nikon Z6 II is an updated take on the all-rounder mirrorless camera designed for high-end photo and video applications. Despite the wealth of upgrades, the Z6 II retains its familiar form factor and prized image quality to benefit working multimedia image-makers.
Improved processing, greater versatility, but familiar in design, the Nikon Z7 II takes everything that was great from the original Z7 and ups its capabilities even more. Sporting a high-resolution 45.7MP FX-format BSI CMOS sensor and dual EXPEED 6 image processors, the Z7 II is clearly aimed at the detail-obsessed image-maker.
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Nikon D6 - Pro-Level DSLR Camera
The peak of Nikon's DSLR lineup, the D6 is a no-holds-barred camera with a focus on speed, performance, reliability, and precision. Adept in both photo and video realms, the D6 revolves around a 20.8MP FX-format sensor and an EXPEED 6 image processor that enables an impressive 14 fps continuous shooting rate, a native sensitivity range from ISO 100-102400 (expandable up to ISO 3280000), and UHD 4K video recording at 30 fps.
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Nikon Z9 - Pro level Mirrorless Camera
Delivering speed, image quality, and connectivity, the Nikon Z9 is a professional-grade camera characterized by its newly developed sensor, advanced AF performance, and high-resolution 8K video recording. Their first mirrorless flagship camera, the Z9 stands out as a camera that appeals to photographers and filmmakers working across a wide variety of applications.
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Nikon Lenses
Nikkor 14-24 f/2.8G ED – This is the lens I used for years to photograph the northern lights and landscape photography. It’s versatile, sharp, and fast. If you’re shooting with a Nikon DSLR, it’s still a great lens, and you can get it at a lower price.
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Nikkor Z 20 mm f/1.8 S (mirrorless) – One of the best prime lenses for Nikon mirrorless shooters. This lens is designed specifically for low-light photography, and it’s one of the best Nikon lenses for shooting the northern lights, night sky, and landscapes.
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NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G – A great lens for landscapes, street photography, portraits, and general photography.
The Nikon AF-S Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8G ED Autofocus lens is a fast aperture standard zoom lens designed for photojournalism and general photography. Optimized for edge-to-edge sharpness on both the Nikon FX (full-frame) and DX-format image sensors, this lens also includes two ED (Extra-low Dispersion) elements and PGM aspherical lenses that help control chromatic aberrations while enhancing sharpness and contrast, even at the widest aperture settings.
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NIKKOR Z 24-120mm f/4 S (mirrorless) – A great lens for landscapes, street photography, portraits, and general photography.
A truly versatile everyday lens, the NIKKOR Z 24-120mm f/4 S, from Nikon, is a wide-angle to short-telephoto zoom covering an extremely useful range of focal lengths to benefit a variety of applications from landscape to portraiture. The constant f/4 maximum aperture offers consistent performance throughout the zoom range and the lens features an advanced optical design for high sharpness and clarity. As a go-to lens for a majority of needs, this lens also sports a relatively compact and lightweight design.
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NIKKOR Z 14-24mm f/2.8 S (Mirrorless) - A favorite lens for night sky and landscape photography.
Ultra-wide with a flexible-yet-exacting design, the NIKKOR Z 14-24mm f/2.8 S from Nikon is a wide-angle zoom distinguished by its advanced optical design and bright f/2.8 constant maximum aperture. This fast design suits working in low-light conditions when shooting landscapes handheld and also offers improved depth of field control.
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NIKKOR 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II – This lens is good for general photography, landscapes, sports, and wildlife
This is a sharp, versatile, and durable telephoto zoom lens with a fast constant maximum aperture, useful in lowlight situations. A workhorse of a lens used by professionals and amateurs alike it is ideal for photojournalism, sports, and wildlife photography and is effective for almost all telephoto applications, including portraiture. An FX-format lens, it can also be mounted and used on DX-format DSLRs.
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NIKKOR Z 70-200mm f/2.8 VR S (Mirrorless) – A popular zoom among sports, event, and portrait photographers, the NIKKOR Z 70-200mm f/2.8 VR S from Nikon is an impressively versatile telephoto lens characterized by its bright f/2.8 design. The fast maximum aperture suits working in available lighting conditions and also affords increased control over depth of field for isolating subjects with selective focus.
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NIKKOR Z 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 VR S (Mirrorless) – I am seeing this lens on my wildlife workshops.
Offering super-telephoto reach in a portable design, the NIKKOR Z 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 VR S, from Nikon, is a versatile zoom well-suited for sports and wildlife applications. Covering a broad telephoto range, the lens manages to remain relatively lightweight and compact, making it ideal for travel as well, and it incorporates Inner Balance technology that maintains stability when tracking moving subjects and shooting atop a gimbal head.
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NIKKOR 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR –A great choice for wildlife photographers.
Whether your subject is far in the distance or close, fast or slow, you can land the shot. On FX-format cameras, 500mm brings distant birds, wildlife, athletes, performers, landmarks, and more into tight focus. DX-format cameras add an additional 1.5x zoom effect for an angle of view equivalent to a whopping 750mm! And despite that extreme power, you can also focus on subjects as close as 7.2 feet away for detail-rich close-ups.
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Sony Photography Equipment
Sony Cameras
Sony A6400 - Excellent Entry-Level Camera
Fast, versatile, and compact, the Sony a6400 is an APS-C-format mirrorless camera that adopts many of the features normally reserved for their full-frame lineup. This includes an autofocus acquisition of 0.02 seconds, Real-time Eye AF and Real-time Tracking capabilities, high-speed shooting up to 11 fps and silent shooting up to 8 fps, both with AF/AE tracking, an upgraded BIONZ X image processing engine, an LCD touchscreen that tilts 180° up and 74° down, UHD 4K movie recording with full pixel readout and no pixel binning, internal recording for time-lapse videos, and more.
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Sony A7S III - Sony's top-of-the-line mirrorless Cinema Camera. Designed for professional filmmakers
Optimized video, optimized sensitivity, optimized speed, the Sony a7S III raises the bar for what a full-frame mirrorless camera is capable of. A revised 12.1MP Exmor R BSI CMOS sensor and updated BIONZ XR image processor offer faster performance, improved noise reduction, and a wider dynamic range, along with UHD 4K 120p video recording and internal 10-bit 4:2:2 sampling.
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Sony A7R IV - Pro Level Professional Camera for Taking High-Resolution Photos
Moving to an even higher resolution realm, the Sony a7R IVA continues the noteworthy series of highly capable full-frame cameras, characterized by impressive stills and video performance, and versatility. This fourth edition of the a7R sees the inclusion of an updated 61MP Exmor R BSI CMOS sensor and enhanced BIONZ X image processor, which affords impressive imaging results with marked smoothness, a 15-stop dynamic range, and, of course, speed. Up to 10 fps shooting is possible along with the ability to record UHD 4K30 video, both with support for Real-time Eye AF and Tracking AF technologies.
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Sony a9 II - Pro Level Professional Camera
The second generation of speed, the Sony a9 II takes the impressive feature-set of its predecessor and adds enhanced connectivity, a refined body design, and even quicker performance. Utilizing the proven 24.2MP full-frame Exmor RS BSI stacked CMOS sensor and an updated BIONZ X processor, the a9 II sports especially quick and responsive capabilities. Up to 20 fps shooting is possible with a silent electronic shutter or up to 10 fps with a mechanical shutter is supported, along with a wide sensitivity range that reaches up to an expanded ISO 204800.
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Sony Alpha A1 - Pro Level Full Frame Mirrorless
A flagship in the truest sense, the Sony a1 is the one camera designed to do it all. Built without compromise, this full-frame mirrorless offers high-resolution for stills shooting, impressive 8K video recording, speed and sensitivity, and connectivity for the most demanding professional workflows.
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Sony Lenses
SONY 20MM F/1.8 G – The Sony 20 mm f/1.8 is the best lens for photographing the northern lights. The quality in low-light photography is stunning. It’s fast and sharp even in the corners, with no deformations, aberrations, and other issues commonly found in other Aurora lenses. It’s also light and compact, and the price is affordable compared to other quality prime lenses.
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Sony FE 16-35mm F2.8 GM – Wide-angle scenes, video, time-lapse… this is a very versatile lens to shoot the northern lights, night skies, and landscapes.
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Sony FE 24-105mm f/4 G OSS Lens – A great lens for landscapes, street photography, portraits, and general photography.
Designed for versatility, the FE 24-105mm f/4 G OSS Lens from Sony is a wide-angle to short-telephoto zoom designed for E-mount mirrorless cameras. Complementing the useful range of focal lengths is a constant f/4 maximum aperture, which maintains consistent performance throughout the zoom range and also affords increased control over depth of field. Benefitting the reach is an advanced optical design, which employs aspherical and extra-low dispersion glass elements to control color fringing, distortion, and a variety of aberrations for greater sharpness and clarity.
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Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II Lens – A great lens for landscapes, street photography, portraits, wildlife, and general photography. Boasting exceptional optics, a complete feature set, and outstanding speed in all aspects, the Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS Lens easily takes its place as the de facto telephoto zoom for professionals. A member of the G Master series, this 70-200mm delivers high sharpness alongside smooth, clean bokeh and with an absolute minimum of aberrations. This is guaranteed through the use of an XA element, two aspherical elements, four extra-low dispersion elements, and two Super ED elements in the optical design. Furthermore, the lens has a Nano AR Coating that reduces reflections, flare, and ghosting for improved contrast and color.
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Sony FE 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 GM OSS Lens – I am seeing this lens on my wildlife workshops.
Targeting sports, wildlife, and action shooters, this FE 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 GM OSS Lens from Sony will satisfy many photographers and videographers who are looking for a bit of extra reach with their full-frame E-mount camera. As a member of the G Master line, it is designed for outstanding resolution and sharpness with minimal aberrations, something assisted by the implementation of one Super ED and two ED elements as well as a Nano AR coating.
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Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS Lens – I am seeing this lens on my wildlife workshops.
Spanning a versatile telephoto range, the FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS from Sony is a flexible zoom perfectly suited for nature, wildlife, and sports applications. Its long reach pairs with a modest maximum aperture range to render to a relatively lightweight and portable design, which benefits handheld use.
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I hope this list helps give you a better idea of what camera gear people are purchasing.