Our pick for the best digital camera is the Panasonic Lumix S1. The competition is certainly very stiff, but the S1 delivers an unbeatable combination of great low light performance from its 24-megapixel full-frame sensor and extreme high-resolution imaging thanks to it’s 96-megapixel multi-shot mode. It also has one of the best control layouts we’ve ever seen on a camera, mirrorless or DSLR, and is built to hold up to the demands of professional wear and tear.

There are more choices in cameras than ever before, and there is no shortage of great ones. Here are a few of our favorites, all of which we have fully reviewed, from compact point-and-shoots to professional DSLRs.

AT A GLANCE

-> Best digital camera overall: Panasonic Lumix S1
-> Best mirrorless camera: Sony A7 III
-> Best DSLR: Nikon D850
-> Best point-and-shoot camera: Sony RX100 VI
-> Best travel camera: Olympus Tough TG-5
-> Best camera for beginners: Canon EOS M6
-> Best still camera for video: Panasonic Lumix GH5

HOW DOES A DIGITAL CAMERA WORK?

Digital cameras use a lens to focus light onto an electronic imaging sensor. This sensor — the digital equivalent of analog film — is composed of millions of light-sensitive pixels that see either red, green, or blue light. When processed, those pixels combine to create a full-color image. Sensors come in a variety of sizes, and the bigger the sensor, the bigger the lens needs to be. This is why DSLRs and mirrorless cameras can be very large, while point-and-shoots and camera phones are impressively compact. In general, the larger the sensor, the better the image quality — especially in low light settings.

WHAT IS A DSLR CAMERA?

DSLR stands for Digital Single Lens Reflex and it is an evolution of the film-era SLR. These cameras use interchangeable lenses and mirrors to reflect light from the lens up into an optical viewfinder. When you hold your eye to the viewfinder of a DSLR, you are seeing directly through the lens like a window. As optical viewfinders have no pixels, they offer a very clean and responsive view, but they can’t show you exposure simulation in real time and they don’t work at all for video or live view shooting.

WHAT IS A MIRRORLESS CAMERAS?

A mirrorless camera is a type of camera that uses interchangeable lenses. It’s related to the DSLR, but do not confuse the two as the same. Mirrorless cameras do away with a DSLR’s bulky mirror system (hence the name) and instead use electronic viewfinders, or simply no viewfinder at all (as is the case in the Canon EOS M6). This allows for lighter and smaller designs, but professional models can still be somewhat bulky and heavy. Like DSLRs, mirrorless cameras let you attach a variety of lenses and typically use larger sensors than point-and-shoots, which leads to superior image quality.

ARE DIGITAL CAMERAS ALLOWED ON AIRPLANES?

Yes. Digital cameras are, in fact, better to take with you than film cameras, as film over ISO 800 can be damaged by x-ray machines. Most camera accessories are also allowed on planes, including tripods. The major thing to watch out for are the lithium ion batteries that digital cameras use. Keep these in your carry-on luggage. Airport baggage handlers may remove them from checked bags as lithium batteries can pose a fire hazard (although the risk is much lower with camera batteries than, say, phone batteries, as they are not nearly as dense).