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Over the years, photojournalism has become a popular branch in the world of journalism. The English adage, a picture is worth a thousand words, is very much applicable in photojournalism, as it emphasizes the capability of visuals rather than written words. 

If you are involved in photojournalism, your camera will serve as a powerful tool that can capture images with utmost clarity and even from a distance. If you are thinking about investing in a camera to capture the incidents happening around you, you should have an idea of the features to look for.  Today, there are plenty of brands and options that can easily confuse an average buyer who is not so updated regarding the latest features and technology. To help you make the right choice, we made a list of top 5 cameras suitable for photojournalism, and an explanation of factors you must consider while purchasing a camera for your specific purpose. 

Table of Contents

Here are 5 of our favorite cameras for photojournalism:

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Japanese tech giant Sony has introduced this wonderful camera that is just perfect for photojournalism. The camera features a full-frame stacked CMOS sensor w/integrated memory, which is first in the world. The camera can shoot photos at up to 20 fps speed continuously without blackout. Sony a9 is the first camera in the world to have such an amazing feature.

The camera comes with a powerful battery that can last up to nearly 480 shots with viewfinder and around 650 shots with LCD monitor. You can record videos for approximately 105 minutes with viewfinder and 120 minutes with LCD monitor. It is a vibration-free camera and works silently so that no one can catch you clicking a picture. It has an anti-distortion shutter up to 1/32,000 sec.

The operating temperature for the camera is between 32 and 104 degree F and 0 to 40 degree C. The 693 Phase Detection AF can point to a frame coverage of more than 93%. Among accessories, you will get AC adaptor, power cord, battery charger BC-QZ1, cable protector, micro USB cable, body cap, shoulder strap, eyepiece cup, accessory shoe cap, etc.

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Nikon has brought this as one of the best cameras for photojournalists. The 20.8 MP camera features FX-Format CMOS sensor and a 3.2”/2.3m-Dot Touchscreen LCD Monitor. Its EXPEED 5 image processor will help you to shoot 4K UHD videos at 30 frames per second.

The camera can be an ideal choice for photojournalism, as it comes with type I compact flash compatible with UDMA and XQD type memory. Its Multi-CAM 20K 153-Point AF System will make photography effortless for you.

Among the key features, you will get 180K-Pixel RGB Sensor and Group Area AF, and shooting of 12 frames per second for 200 shots using AE/AF. The camera comes with accessories like EN-EL 18a Rechargeable Li-ion Battery, USB cable clip, MH-26a battery charger, UC-E22 USB cable, HDMI cable clip, DK-27 eyepiece adapter, BF-1B Body cap, BL-6 battery chamber cover, network guide, warranty, and more.

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One of the top camera makers, Canon, has come with this new powerful tool for photojournalists. The 30.4 MP full-frame digital camera comes with CMOS Sensor, that ensures versatile photoshoot even in low light conditions. 

The ISO range of the camera is between 100 and 32,000, while it can be expanded up to 50-102400. The camera can capture 4K 8.8-MP images and full HD videos up to 60p and up to 120p. With this camera, you can shoot 4K motion cinema-type JPEG videos as well.

Its dual pixel CMOS AF will ensure smooth AF during video shoots. It comes with a full touch LCD interface and you will be able to shoot continuously at 7.0 fps. The DIGIC 6+ image processor ensures excellent speed and perfect image quality.

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Sony has never failed to impress its buyers with the unique features of its products, and the new Alpha A6000 Mirrorless Digital Camera from Sony is a beast that comes in a compact body. 

The mirrorless camera is built-in with a 24 MP APS-C CMOS sensor that gives exceptional detailing. Apart from this, it features an ISO range of 100-25600 and an exceptional Focus Sensitivity Range between EV 0 and EV 20. 

The camera also comes with 179-points of focus with phase-detection and 25 contrast-detection points with built-in Wi-Fi and NFC. All these features make this camera a preferred choice among photojournalists. 

The compact design of the camera makes it easy to carry, and the stylish soft-sided case offers additional protection, which is quite impressive. There are various modes to take your photography to a whole new level and you will get a carrying case free of cost too. 

If you don’t want to compromise on the quality and want to get all the features in a compact size camera, this will be the perfect deal for you.  

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X-T1 Mirrorless Camera with 3 inch flexible LCD and waterproofing from Fujifilm is one of the most popular models that are famous for photojournalism. The camera features a 16.3 MP APS-C X-Trans II CMOS sensor and it can be used for up to 8 FPS continuous shooting. 

The best thing about the camera is its dust protection and waterproofing features, that make it a win-win deal for all. Dust particles and moisture are the primary threats for a mirrorless camera, and these feature will give you peace of mind and you won’t have to worry about operating it even in the rain. 

The camera is freeze proof and one can use it with weather-resistant lenses in extreme cold as well. The camera comes along with OLED viewfinder with 2,360,000 dots and 100% coverage, and there’s a tiltable 3” LCD screen that aims to offer the highest convenience to the users. 

With this camera, you can also capture 1080/30fps HD videos. If you are thinking to invest in a camera for photojournalism, this will exceed your expectations in every aspect. 

Five analog dials are metering mode, EV compensation, Shutter speed, Drive & ISO. If you are about to invest in a high-end camera for photojournalism, this a must-check item for you.  

The toughest part of buying a camera is deciding which one to choose. As a general rule, you must stick to your requirements to choose the right camera. There are many important things to consider before investing in a camera that is often missed by buyers, and here we are listing the factors so that you can make the right decision.  

If you are looking for a camera for photojournalism, you will have to shoot a wide variety of photographs depending on the requirements. If you are thinking about investing in a DLSR camera, you won’t have to invest in small lenses like 11mm separately. 

An 18-55mm lens is decent, and usually you won’t require a wider field of view for your purpose. If you have decided to invest in a DSLR camera, then 18-55mm and 70-300mm lenses will work fine for taking different types of shots. 

In case your budget is tight, there are plenty of options in the point and shoot cameras, with which you can capture good photographs for your purpose. If your budget is slightly higher but you don’t want to invest in a DSLR camera, you can check the options available for bridge cameras that come along with big lenses. 

Mirror-less cameras are also getting popular over the years, and if you want stunning details like DSLR along with a compact body, you can even opt for a mirrorless camera, but you will have to increase your budget for that.  

Image sensors are crucial for capturing a photograph and deliver best results. Good image sensors are a must-have for capturing excellent moments, and therefore one should check the image sensors before purchasing a camera. You will get the details regarding the number of pixels a sensor can capture, depending on which you have to make your final decision carefully. 

As a photojournalist, you may need to capture images and make videos from a distance. Fixed focal length lenses are great for enhancing the quality of pictures, but they may not be suitable for photojournalism. The zooming ability of the camera must be considered when investing in a camera for photojournalism. 

You should buy a camera that has a decent zooming ability. Buyers must invest in zoom lenses if they have decided to invest in DLSR cameras or mirrorless cameras. However, you can also invest in good quality point and shoot camera or bridge camera to get everything at a lesser budget. To be specific, point and shoot camera and bridge cameras are ideal for photojournalism as they are compact in size. As the name denotes, you just have to point the camera towards the subject and shoot it with the shutter. 

As a photojournalist, you will be sent on various assignments where you have to capture photographs in varying situations. Sometimes, things happen just in the nick of a second, and you will need an equipment that can work fast to capture those moments.

Your job is journalism and not photography, due to which you must make sure that the camera you choose is easy to use, so that you don’t need to learn all the technical knowhow to be able to use the device.

While you may be required to carry your camera in unexpected situations and places, make sure that the one you are choosing is light in weight and compact in size. A high-end camera with a heavy bag full of lenses may not be suitable for your job.

As a photojournalist, you may be required to shoot in rain, wind, snow and sun. A delicate camera that cannot handle any adverse conditions will be of no use to you. So, make sure that the camera that you choose is resistant against water, dust, heat, and freeze, and is sturdy enough to withstand falls.

Lowlight performance is also an important factor you need to look at when investing in a camera. As a photojournalist, you may have to capture even at nights and in low lights. If your camera doesn’t offer stunning low light performance, it will be a disadvantage. Make sure to check low light performance with flash and without flash to understand the difference, and it will be helpful. 

If you are buying a DSLR or mirrorless camera, you won’t have to check it, but if you are buying a point n shoot or bridge camera, make sure to check whether it has manual control. Although, you cannot find manual control in every model, having this feature will be beneficial from time to time as per the nature of your job. Manual control will allow users to control shutter speed and aperture, so that you can take stunning pictures with this feature.

Last but not the least, you should consider the cost as well, because exceeding the budget may not be worth it. Investing in expensive models doesn’t mean you will leave others behind in the competition. Take your time and think carefully before making the final decision.  

We hope readers have got a basic idea regarding the features and models of cameras suitable for photojournalism. Here, you must have got an idea about what features to look for, so that you can make an informed decision for your purpose. We hope this guide will help you, so that you won’t regret your decision in the future.

Photo & Videographer

A photographer with a passion for capturing the beauty of nature and the human form. My work has been featured in galleries and publications around the world, and I strive to create images that evoke emotion and tell a story.

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