Cameras of the Year 2022

The contenders:

Lumix GH6

OM Systems OM1

Fujifilm X-H2s

Sony FX30

Sony A7Rv

Canon R6ii

Through B&H I’ve been able to try and test and use many more cameras than I ever have previously. And there are some amazing cameras around, although each still has it’s own limitations and frustrations.

In many situations, my little Sigma FP is still my favorite. Small and powerful and reliable, and an excellent little street camera, but I wouldn’t use it as an a-cam professionally. It’s just a little quirky for that.

For a while I really thought I’d invest in a Sony FX3 or FX30 when budget allowed, as a dedicated video camera. But the more time I spend with Canon cameras, the more I like them. The colors, the quality of the screens. I don’t think they are quite as intuitive as their reputation implies, but I enjoy the ergonomics and experience more than Sony. Personal preference for sure.

So my favorite new camera this year is the Canon R6ii. In some ways a relatively minor upgrade, but also worthwhile with the removal of the recording limit, extra resolution and improved autofocus.

My second choice is the OM Systems OM-1. OM are the only company touting specific IP ratings rather than just generic ‘weather sealing’, and the flagship is such a fast capable camera, and still fairly small. It’s a shame they didn’t do a little more with the OM-5 (at least to add USB-C), but it’s still an excellent little camera too. I hope OM can survive and thrive going forward as they have a lot to offer, and the smaller sensors still have plenty to offer as AI and computational photography becomes increasingly more prevalent.