It’s December again, which means lots of us are sitting there wondering what to buy for ourselves or the photographer in our lives this holiday season. We’ve been saving up all year to get that something special, but we don’t want to deal with in-store queues – or maybe we’ve just slacked on our Christmas shopping this year. We want to stay at home where it’s nice and warm and see what we can find online that gets delivered straight to our door!

So, this means it’s time for the 2022 DIYP Holiday Gift Guides, and we’re kicking things off with cameras. These are some of our favourite cameras that have been released over the last year. Keep visiting back this week as we release our other guides, including lenses, lighting, tripods, sliders & gimbals, and accessories and gadgets.

Note: It’s worth pointing out that the prices shown here are the MSRP prices. Some of these items are currently on sale and will be priced differently at different retailers throughout December, so be sure to check all links for the best price!

Sony FX30 (Amazon / B&H) – $1,798

The Sony FX30 is essentially a Sony FX3 with an APS-C-sized (or approximately Super 35mm in the case of video) sensor. It offers an almost identical feature set but at less than half the price of its $3,899 big brother. It’s a fantastic low-budget alternative to the FX3 that will suit many filmmakers’ needs at a price that’s more justifiable for those just getting started in the world of video. And because it’s Sony E-Mount, you can adapt many DSLR lenses you might already own.

Olympus OM-1 (Amazon / B&H) – $2,199

This isn’t your dad’s Olympus OM-1. This is the new digital edition. The new Olympus OM-1 marks the first mirrorless camera from OM System since taking over the reins from Olympus. It was released to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the original Olympus OM-1 (that probably was your dad’s or even your grandad’s camera). The new Olympus flagship camera boasts quad-pixel autofocus and 120fps blackout-free continuous shooting. A modern update for the retro camera fanatic in your family!

Sony A7R V (Amazon / B&H) – $3,898

The Sony A7R V is the latest in the lineup from Sony when it comes to high-resolution mirrorless cameras. Targeted toward landscape, portrait, and fine art photographers, this camera is designed for capturing the most detail possible in your images. And while the resolution hasn’t changed from the A7R IV, it boasts a much-improved autofocus system, full-sensor 4K video at up to 60fps and 8K video with passive cooling to maximise shooting time without overheating.

Pentax KF (Amazon / B&H) – $846.95

The Pentax KF is the newest camera from DSLR holdouts, Pentax. In many respects, it’s the same as the Pentax K-70, a proven APS-C DSLR, but it comes with the benefit of a flippy-out LCD. This lets you get the camera low to the ground, high above your head, facing back towards you or in any manner of strange positions while still allowing you to see what you’re shooting. While some may believe the DSLR has had its day, the optical viewfinder remains a favourite among many photographers.

Fujifilm X-T5 (Amazon / B&H) – $1,699

The Fujifilm X-T5 contains the high-resolution sensor from the Fujifilm X-H2, offering 6.2K video and insane 1/180,000th shutter speeds for capturing super fast action. Of course, you’ll need a lot of light for shooting stills at that kind of speed, so be sure to check back for tomorrow’s lighting guide! As well as 10-bit 4:2:2 6.2K video, you’re also able to shoot 4K at up to 120fps using the entire width of the sensor, and massive 160-megapixel stills using the new Pixel Shift Multi-Shot filter.

Canon EOS R6 II (Amazon / B&H) – $2,499

The Canon EOS R6 II marks the first of the second generation of Canon’s full-frame mirrorless cameras aimed at professionals and hardcore enthusiasts. It’s a great camera for just about any genre you want to throw at it, but it excels at sports, wildlife and other action-packed subjects. You’re able to shoot at up to 40 frames per second with the electronic shutter and there’s even a 30fps raw burst mode that gives you 0.5 seconds of pre-capture, letting you hit the shutter after your subject has done its thing but still giving you the shot!

Leica M6 Reissue (B&H) – $5,295

This one’s a bit of an oddity these days because it’s a film camera. It’s the only film camera on this list because it’s the only new film camera we’ve seen for quite a while. Although, this one isn’t entirely new. It’s a new reissue of the legendary Leica M6 35mm rangefinder camera. It’s had a few modern tweaks and updates but it’s largely the same feel and ability as the original. Ideal for the collector in your life.

DJI Mini 3 (Amazon / B&H) – $559+

The DJI Mini 3 is the newest drone from DJI. Starting at $559, it comes in various packages to suit a variety of needs. It lacks the obstacle avoidance of the DJI Mini 3 Pro but presents a significant saving in comparison. As long as you’re not worried about potentially flying into things, then DJI’s new entry-level drone is the ideal starter to get you or a loved one up and running. It falls under the 250g weight limit, too, meaning that it’s not subject to many of the rules and regulations of larger drones in many parts of the world.

Insta360 X3 (Amazon / B&H) – $449.99

The Insta360 X3 (review here) has become one of my most used cameras of 2022 and I don’t see that changing in the future. It’s the follow-up to the company’s Insta360 ONE X2 (review here), offering 5.7K 360-degree video, but the new X3 comes with some great new features. For a start you’ve got Active HDR mode for video, to increase the dynamic range captured in the shot. You’ve also got a massive 72-megapixel resolution for shooting 360-degree still images. The new Me Mode allows for some excellent vlogging possibilities, too!

DJI Osmo Action 3 (Amazon / B&H) – $329+

The most recent iteration of DJI’s Osmo Action camera offers 4K video at up to 120 frames per second and two touchscreen displays. There’s the usual large one on the rear as well as one on the front, allowing you to have complete control whether you’re filming yourself or the action ahead of you. It shoots continuously for up to 160 minutes, allowing for some very long recording sessions for all kinds of activities. It’s also capable of operating as cold as -20 degrees Celcius for the hardcore cold weather enthusiasts!

Insta360 Link 4K AI Webcam (Amazon / B&H) – $299.99

The Insta360 Link is Insta360’s attempt to drag the world of webcams kicking and screaming into the 21st century. With 4K resolution and with features like gesture control, zoom and AI tracking, it certainly beats 99% of other webcams on the market today. It’s equally at home whether you’re live streaming with several of them, switching between different cameras in OBS, or just sitting on Zoom with one of them. It even works with full gesture control on live-stream video switchers like the YoloBox Pro (review here).

Hasselblad X2D 100C (B&H) – $8,199

Perhaps your tastes are a little richer than most of the cameras above or perhaps you just have sensor envy and need the largest one possible? Well, that’s where the Hasselblad X2D 100C steps in. This monster of a camera, as the name suggests, houses a 100-megapixel medium format sensor with 7-stops of vibration-stopping in-body image stabilisation (IBIS). To save those huge raw files, it features 1TB of built-in SSD storage and also features a CFexpress Type B slot. At just over 8 grand, this camera doesn’t come with any lenses, so be sure to budget for that, too!

Overview

So this is our cameras list for this year. It’s been a tough one to pick this year with so many fantastic cameras being released in 2022. We’ve seen some great camera releases from just about every camera manufacturer and I’ve been told that a few of them have big plans for 2023, so stay tuned for those!

What’s been your favourite new camera in 2022? Were this year’s camera announcements all that you hoped they’d be? What are you most anticipating for 2023?

Keep an eye out for upcoming guides coming over the next couple of days covering lenses, lighting, tripods, sliders & gimbals, as well as accessories!

Are you new to photography? Still trying to figure out what camera you want to buy? Check out our beginner camera buying guide here.