Best Sony Digital Camera of 2016

By Matt Staker. Last updated Jun 21, 2016.

Sony is best known for the Cybershot series of compact cameras that virtually converted consumers from film based camera to digital version.

Sony is one of the powerhouse brands in consumer electronics and bring their expertise in digital imaging to the digital camera market. When CCDs and CMOS sensors started to replace films, Sony jumped in with their expertise and soon became a market leader in digital cameras.

Sony is best known for the Cybershot series of compact cameras that virtually converted consumers from film based camera to digital version. The Cybershot cameras coupled with Carl Zeiss lenses are hugely popular even today. The main selling point of the best Sony digital cameras has been their user-friendliness and stylish looks. Nevertheless, most of their point and shoot cameras are positioned as premium models.

Sony has a strong focus on producing ultra slim cameras which can be easily slipped into the pocket, notably the T-series for the fashion-conscious. Though in the advanced premium point and shoot segment, the photo enthusiasts may be put off by the lesser number of manual controls.

In 2005 Sony bought Konica Minolta's camera business, and soon launched the first Sony Digital SLR - Alpha 100. Today there is a comprehensive range of Alpha DSLR models, along with the fixed-mirror SLT-A33 and A55 which is more lightweight than traditional dSLRs. The best Sony Digital SLRs also feature image stabilization in their camera bodies.

Similar to Olympus, Sony has lauched their NEX system of ultra compact mirrorless APS-C bodies and lenses. The NEX series is touted as the slimmest camera offering dSLR-like quality. Sony is also the leading supplier of compact camera and SLR sensors to a large proportion of the market. Sony camera new models offer still more advanced features at competitive prices.