Many Brands Are Making the Best Cameras In The World

The world of photography is changing, and the camera brands that we know and love are constantly evolving. Cameras are becoming increasingly important as technology continues to improve and camera phones become the norm. There are many brands that make cameras, but which ones are the best? There are a lot of different factors to consider when you're trying to decide what camera is best for your needs. Depending on whether you're a professional photographer, an amateur enthusiast, or an occasional user will determine which type of camera you should buy. Also, many different variables such as budget and camera types can come into play when deciding on the best brand. This article will help you do just that. We'll talk about some of the most popular and well-known camera brands in the world and give you an idea of what they offer - from their brief history to their features and more.

1 - Canon

With the invention of the first SLR camera by a Japanese company called Nippon Kogaku KK, which was eventually rebranded to Nikon, it seemed that Canon would never be able to catch up with its competitor. However, after numerous mergers and acquisitions involving other camera brands, Canon finally became what it is today. Its first camera was the Canon Ixus, which was designed for high-end consumer photography, but today Canon is known for making some of the best DSLRs money can buy. The company has invested heavily in its Cinema EOS line of cameras and manufactures lenses under its own name and those it acquired through its numerous acquisitions, these being the likes of Sigma, Carl Zeiss and lately Tokina.

2 - Nikon

Just like Canon, this Japanese company was founded in 1917 after a merger between Nippon Kogaku Tokyo KK and another company called Rokuoh-sha, which produced sewing machines at the time. They didn't produce their first camera until 1938, though when they released the Nikon I, which was called the Nikkorex in its native Japan. Today, Nikon has one of the best optics among DSLRs and manufactures some professional-level compacts - definitely not a company to count out. It's worth mentioning that Nikon doesn't own any other major camera brands at this time.

3 - Sony

This Japanese company is probably the youngest here, as it was only founded in 1946 by Masaru Ibuka and Akio Morita, but it has come a long way since then. Sony didn't start out making cameras, though - the first product they came up with was the rice cooker. Sony cameras have exciting features like a Dynamic Range Optimiser, which preserves details in both highlight and shadow areas, a 35mm full-frame Exmor CMOS sensor, which is ideal for high-quality digital photography and lots of other cool features.

4 - Panasonic

Another Japanese company that has spread worldwide, Panasonic, was founded in 1918 and originally produced light bulbs. It's a conglomerate consisting of numerous companies that all fall under the Panasonic brand, and one of the most important ones is Sanyo which it acquired in 2009. Today Panasonic can offer a wide range of imaging devices from compacts to high-end mirrorless systems. While it's not as prestigious as other brands, the Panasonic Lumix G Series system ranks among the best mirrorless cameras out there.

5 - Leica

This German company may be one of the most prestigious manufacturers of imaging devices that still exists today, but it's also one of the oldest - in fact, they are older than both Canon and Nikon combined. They're even older than the aforementioned Canon, and Nikon combined, as the company was founded in 1849. The first camera they manufactured was called the Daguerreotype, but it wasn't until the late 19th century when they released their most popular product so far - the Leica A. During World War II, they made a line of cameras for the German military known as Wehrmacht which were used in slightly different variants. Today, Leica is still a high-end manufacturer of cameras and lenses with some pretty interesting technology included, like the T lens mount.

6 - Olympus

This Japanese company has made some of the most iconic cameras ever, like the Pen or OM-1, which are still popular among film camera enthusiasts to this day. Olympus was founded in 1919 but didn't produce its first camera until 1936 - it was called the Urinal. Today Olympus is known mainly for its compacts and DSLRs, but they make digital microscope cameras used by medical staff and students alike. The company also manufactures various lenses under the Zuiko brand, which is one of their oldest ones, along with PEN and OM lines.

7 - Fujifilm

Yet another Japanese company on this list, Fuji was founded in 1934 and initially produced photographic film and photographic paper. They didn't start manufacturing cameras until the late 1940s, though. Today you'll find a number of Fuji-branded imaging devices, from point and shoot compacts to DSLRs and even medium format cameras! The company has done many interesting things over the years, like announcing an instant film camera back in 2013, which was based on the Instax line of instant cameras.