It’s a wonderful time to be a photographer, and the choice of cameras is better than we have had for many years. I’m lucky enough to have played with many cameras due to my involvement in photography, plus of course like many of you I also read a lot and watch YouTube and other sources of information.
Today, in no particular order, we look at 5 modern cameras that for some reason or another have impressed me. You can’t go wrong with whatever camera you buy today, but sometimes a camera just stands out.
5. Nikon P1100
I’ve already written about this camera, and for all it’s potential faults it’s a camera that has really wowed me this year. I’ve used it quite extensively and it never ceases to amaze me when I see a damson fly 15 meters away and I zoom into it’s eyeballs with such ease. I can genuinely see why so many people are leaving larger sensor cameras for this absolute monster of a zooming camera.
4. Fujifilm GFX100 II
I’m in no way a pixel-hoe at all, and for me 12-36 megapixels is more than enough for work and play. However, having played with my Nikons 96 megapixel files (it’s pixel-shift mode), the thought of natively, in one click getting a 100 megapixel file is intriguing. Plus of course the cameras low light ability and depth of field (due to its huge medium format sensor) you get in images is all very mouth watering for someone who spends the warmer months shooting people! The only camera here I’ve not actually used.
3. OM Systems OM-1 Mk II
Every time I pick up the OM-1 Mk ii with a telephoto lens I can’t believe how light it is and how much it has to offer. So much tech in such a camera is amazing, and shooting birds and wildlife with it is always a joy to behold. It’s really a wonderful micro four thirds camera.
2. Ricoh GR IV
A camera that I have thought about owning so many times. The GR series are the ultimate pocketable point and shoot cameras. I have played with the series time and time again, and although I might miss not having a viewfinder, it’s such a small sacrifice for a tiny bodied aps-c camera that produces beautiful images.
1. Nikon ZF
You all know that I own and love my Nikon ZF. From the moment I seen it’s classic styling, to the first time I took a photo with it, I knew it was something special. Phenomenal image output, dynamic range, body design, low light capabilities, autofocus and overall features. The Nikon ZF is perfect in every way and it can handle any situation you throw at it, from client work to capturing birds in flight with ease.
Conclusion
As I’ve said many times, it’s 2026 and it’s really hard to buy and own a bad camera for everyday use. These five cameras are just some of the cameras that have blown me away in recent years. It is so wonderful working with photography and photographers, and always nice to help others decide what they are buying (as in a previous article here).
You may notice a lack of one particular camera brand that I always used to aspire to own. That’s right, a Leica camera. The funny thing is, since having the Nikon ZF, I really have not thought about owning a Leica, it is that good a camera!
My name is Mark G Adams and I run Photography By Mark G Adams. I am a professional photographer from South Wales, shooting weddings, events and portraits as well as running meets and workshops. For fun I like to shoot landscapes, wildlife and occasionally do street photography. Enjoy my website as I share my knowledge learned over decades of working and having fun in photography – This Is My Personal Website
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Nikon Recipes for the Z system can be found here.
You can find a complete list of my gear here.
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