Camera Reviews | The VergeThe Verge is about technology and how it makes us feel. Founded in 2011, we offer our audience everything from breaking news to reviews to award-winning features and investigations, on our site, in video, and in podcasts.2026-08-14T21:38:48+00:00https://www.theverge.com/rss/camera-review/index.xmlhttps://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/01/verge-rss-large_80b47e.png?w=150&h=150&crop=1Antonio G. Di Benedetto<![CDATA[We’re reaching peak camera with the Sony A7R VI]]>https://www.theverge.com/?p=9800642026-08-14T17:38:48-04:002026-08-15T08:00:00-04:00
Maximum camera. | Photo: Antonio G. Di Benedetto / The Verge
It wasn't long ago that shooting with a super high-resolution camera meant making serious sacrifices for the sake of all those megapixels. Enter the A7R VI.
Sony's latest flagship high-res camera is a 66.8-megapixel spec monster. In addition to its modest bump in resolution from the last-gen A7R V, it uses a new sensor and processor that unlock nearly any kind of shooting - from sports and action to usable 8K video. It's a huge departure from years ago, when high-resolution cameras were slower, noisier, and more specialized as a result of all those megapixels.
The A7R VI's fully stacked sensor and new Bionz XR2 processor allow it to shoot …
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Sheena Vasani<![CDATA[The only instant cameras worth your money]]>https://www.theverge.com/23133103/best-instant-cameras-fujifilm-polaroid-kodak2026-08-07T14:04:08-04:002026-08-07T14:04:08-04:00
There’s something magical about using instant cameras that smartphones can’t match. You can capture a moment, print it out, and then give the photo as a gift or hold onto it. Image quality won’t be all that good, but imperfections are part of the allure.
We tested instant camera models from popular brands and landed on a handful that we think are the best. Some aim to preserve the classic experience above all else, while others support companion apps and the ability to print stored photos.
Fujifilm’s latest Instax cameras are the best out there for most people. The company’s Instax Mini Evo is a bit pricey, but it produces great-looking images and offers a lot of creative control. If you’re shopping on a tighter budget, the Instax Mini 13 also takes good photos but has fewer features. The Polaroid Flip is the best retro-focused experience (be warned: prints are pricey!), while Kodak’s Mini Retro 3 might be a better purchase for some because its prints are quite affordable by comparison.
Film type: Fujifilm Instax Mini film/ Film size: 2 x 3 inches /Weight: 285 grams/ Charging method: USB-C / Companion app: Yes/ Other features: LCD screen, smartphone printing
Fujifilm’s Instax Mini Evo is a hybrid instant camera that bears a resemblance to its premium X100 line of cameras that cost hundreds more. Its vintage dials and buttons look so stylish that they caught the attention of passersby as I walked around Los Angeles.
It’s easy to balk at its price tag, but this camera offers a level of flexibility that sets it apart (and could save you from wasting a bunch of prints). The camera’s dials also let you apply lens options and effects, from retro filters to monochrome shades, and you can even remotely trigger shots from the app. Its 3-inch LCD screen can be used as a viewfinder, and it also lets you preview and select which images you want to print. The camera’s internal storage tops out at 45 images, which is more limited than we’d prefer, though you can send photos from a smartphone to print. Plus, unlike the Instax Mini 13 (a more budget-friendly pick mentioned below), the Evo uses a USB-C port for charging.
Film type: Fujifilm Instax Mini film/ Film size: 2 x 3 inches /Weight: 327 grams/ Charging method: AA batteries/ Companion app: None/ Other features: Built-in selfie mirror, self-timer, film counter
Fujifilm’s Instax Mini 13 is a more budget-friendly option that can take great photos mostly on par with the Mini Evo. It’s easy to use (just twist its lens to turn the camera on or off), it outperforms other budget instant cameras we tested, and we like its bright, playful designs. Its biggest improvement over the Mini 12 is its self-timer, with both two- and 10-second countdown options. Meanwhile, the Instax Mini 41 looks more sleek, but it lacks the Mini 13’s self-timer and costs about $23 more usually.
The Mini 13 produced more true-to-life photos than the non-Fujifilm instant cameras I tested. I also appreciated the Mini 13’s generously sized physical viewfinder and that it shows your remaining shots, which is useful given that each print costs about $1.
Like many instant cameras, it struggles in low light, though the built-in flash brightens dark scenes. The flash can’t be disabled, and it’s very powerful, which resulted in a handful of overexposed shots during testing. It lacks Bluetooth connectivity along with creative shooting modes found on pricier cameras, so you can’t edit photos, apply filters, or choose from different lens effects before printing.
Fujifilm’s Instax cameras produce excellent-looking photos, but each print costs around $1. Kodak’s hybrid Mini Shot 3 Retro is pricier up front (it retails for $159.99 but it often on sale for much less) but much cheaper to buy film for, making it the better budget pick (or beginner-friendly pick). Replacement cartridges are often around $20 for a 60-print pack. And, because you can preview photos before printing, you’re less likely to waste prints.
The Mini Shot 3 Retro affords you more controls than the Instax Mini 13; it sports an LCD screen for previewing photos, it lets you print photos from your phone via Bluetooth, and you can upload ones you shoot to social media using Kodak’s Photo Printer app. The companion app features frames, stickers, filters, and other effects that would look great in a scrapbook. There’s even a beauty mode and Snapchat-style filters. However, photos taken with the Mini Shot 3 Retro lack sharpness and sometimes have an excessive pink tint, and the prints also feel flimsier.
The best instant cameras for retro fans
Polaroid Flip
Score: 6
Pros
Cons
Attractive, retro design
Prints dreamy, vintage-style photos that are relatively sharp for a Polaroid photo
Film type: Polaroid i-Type Color Film / Film size: 4.2 x 3.5 inches / Weight: 648 grams / Charging method: USB-C / Companion app: Yes / Other features: Scene Analysis
If you’re looking for an instant camera that offers a retro-inspired experience, the Polaroid Flip might be for you. Its classic design and flip-up lid resemble vintage instant cameras like the Polaroid 600, and its square I-Type film prints iconic white-framed photos that look like authentic Polaroids. Yet the camera has modern features like Bluetooth, USB-C charging, and a beginner-friendly companion app that adds convenience and creative control.
The Flip improves on my former retro pick, the third-gen Polaroid Now Plus, with clearer shots and fewer wasted photos. That’s important, as you don’t want to waste any of the eight I-Type sheets that come in a pack that’s $18.99. The Flip’s sonar autofocus and a four-lens hyperfocal system result in sharper images, plus it has an excellent flash — it’s the most powerful of any Polaroid camera I’ve tested. The Scene Analysis feature also helps by warning if a shot is likely to be over or underexposed, or if you’re too close to your subject (these warnings didn’t always get the exposure right).
The Flip has a few downsides, in addition to its costly film. It’s the heaviest camera on this list, not to mention it’s awkwardly sized, making it tough to slip into a purse or easily carry around. Prints also take 15 minutes to develop, during which they must be shielded from light. Low-light performance remains a weak spot as well, and I struggled to capture indoor shots given the contrast and saturation are lower than with Instax film. Sometimes, this gave my pictures a more dreamy, vintage look that felt artistic, but you might not be into it.
If the Flip seems too bulky or expensive for you, the third-generation Polaroid Go is a smaller retro-inspired alternative. It weighs just over a pound and fits easily in the palm of my hand. At $89.99, the latest Go is the most affordable Polaroid camera available, with film that costs only a little more than Fujifilm’s Instax sheets (a 16-sheet pack runs $21.99).
The Go skips advanced features found in the Flip, including creative shooting modes, Bluetooth connectivity, and a companion app for editing photos. It’s a straightforward point-and-shoot camera with a self-timer and large selfie mirror. The smaller prints may disappoint those who prefer traditional Polaroid sizes, but its simplicity and portability make it an approachable way to enjoy the classic Polaroid experience at a much lower price.
Update, August 6: Added the Instax Mini 13 and Polaroid Go Gen 3, made the Instax Mini Evo our top pick, and designated the Kodak Mini Retro and Instax Mini 13 as our budget picks.
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Dominic Preston<![CDATA[A second lens makes DJI’s Osmo Pocket 4P my new favorite video camera]]>https://www.theverge.com/?p=9724562026-07-29T13:45:07-04:002026-07-30T08:00:00-04:00
Like other recent DJI products, the Pocket 4P won’t launch in the US.
DJI's Osmo Pocket 4P is a pretty simple proposition: an Osmo Pocket 4 with a second camera lens slapped inside. But is that extra lens worth the added size, weight, and cost relative to the regular Pocket 4? And how does it compare to the only rival on the market, Insta360's dual-lens Luna Ultra?
It depends on what you're filming. But I think most prospective buyers would get plenty of use out of the 4P's 3x telephoto lens, and its quality is certainly impressive. Meanwhile, DJI has managed to undercut Insta360 on price while at least matching it on quality. For most, this will be the better buy, though the Luna Ultra has one major advanta …
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Dominic Preston<![CDATA[DJI’s Osmo Pocket 4 is a better camera in every respect]]>https://www.theverge.com/?p=9205472026-04-30T05:03:20-04:002026-04-30T07:00:00-04:00
The Osmo Pocket 4 is no reinvention; it looks just like the Pocket 3.
First they came for the drones, and now the vlogging cameras. DJI's Osmo Pocket 4 is the first of its compact steadicams not to launch in the US, following a string of DJI drones also missing the US market.
The good news for American buyers is that the Pocket 4 is mostly an evolutionary upgrade, and there's little it does that the Pocket 3 doesn't (it looks like the rumored dual-lens Pro version will be more of a reinvention). The good news for everyone else is that those evolutions run throughout the Pocket 4, from the camera sensor to the controls. That makes this an unmistakable improvement over the previous generation.
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Antonio G. Di Benedetto<![CDATA[Allow me to explain why I love this camera that can’t shoot color]]>https://www.theverge.com/?p=9100612026-04-11T09:02:43-04:002026-04-12T07:00:00-04:00
No frills, all artsy thrills. | Photo: Antonio G. Di Benedetto / The Verge
I love black-and-white photography. I also adore compact cameras you can always have by your side. So I'm a total mark for the Ricoh GR IV Monochrome, a fixed-lens camera that can't zoom and can't record color - at all. It's a formula that makes the average person ask, "Why?"
I've tested the GR IV Monochrome for over a month, taking it with me everywhere and photographing everything. Let me explain how this pricey little point-and-shoot is likely to go down as one of my all-time-favorite cameras.
Ricoh GR IV Monochrome
Score: 8
Pros
Cons
Excellent black-and-white image quality
Everything great about the standard GR IV: sharp lens, small size, …
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Antonio G. Di Benedetto<![CDATA[Retro camera shootout: Camp Snap Pro vs. Flashback One35 V2]]>https://www.theverge.com/?p=8826412026-02-23T16:49:29-05:002026-02-22T08:00:00-05:00
Fun vibes. Okay-ish photos. | Photo: Antonio G. Di Benedetto / The Verge
There's been a surge of interest over the last few years in inexpensive digital cameras. Younger folks are snapping up old point-and-shoots because they view the aesthetic as more authentic and more appealing than smartphone images. Companies are even rereleasing old techat new prices. And there are cameras like the original Camp Snap: a $70 single-button point-and-shoot with no screen, designed as a modern take on a disposable film camera. It's cheap enough to send off with a kid to summer camp and accessible enough for just about anyone to enjoy its lo-fi aesthetic.
I've been testing two charming examples of this formula: the $99 Camp S …
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Antonio G. Di Benedetto<![CDATA[The Canon EOS R6 Mark III is great, but this lens is amazing]]>https://www.theverge.com/?p=8506022026-01-04T11:47:42-05:002025-12-30T09:00:00-05:00
An f/1.2 aperture is a beautiful thing.
Canon's new EOS R6 Mark III is an excellent camera. It's not a groundbreaking upgrade to the 3-year-old R6 Mark II, but it takes the same body with great ergonomics and adds more resolution, video that now goes up to 7K with open-gate filming, and improved autofocus performance. If you're in need of an impeccably good all-around camera for anything from wildlife photography to weddings and videography, you can't go wrong. It's an easy recommendation, especially if you already shoot Canon and are due for an upgrade. (But a used R6 Mark II is also very appealing if the higher $2,799.99 price is too lofty.)
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David Imel<![CDATA[The Nikon ZR gets surprisingly close to a real RED camera (for a lot less money)]]>https://www.theverge.com/?p=8299302025-12-01T17:59:57-05:002025-12-02T08:30:00-05:00
The Nikon ZR with its touchscreen flipped out.
If you shoot video professionally, there's a good chance you've salivated over a RED camera at some point. RED has long been one of the top choices for big-budget productions, offering a combination of image quality and flexibility that's unrivaled by most consumer cameras. They're also wildly expensive, topping out at around $45,000 on the high-end, putting them far out of reach for most everyday projects. But now, Nikon is promising to take the most unique part of RED - the file format that powers its incredible imagery - and offer it at a fraction of the price.
The $2,200 Nikon ZR is full of features tailored to video shooters. It has a …
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Vjeran Pavic<![CDATA[Hasselblad X2D II: the luxury sports car of medium format cameras]]>https://www.theverge.com/?p=7653052025-08-27T07:23:38-04:002025-08-26T08:00:00-04:00
We've spent most of the year talking about gadgets getting more expensive. Thanks to US tariffs, prices are risingevery few months, and even small upgrades have come with big price hikes. So I was pleasantly surprised to find out that the new Hasselblad X2D 100C II will actually be cheaper than its predecessor, coming in at "just" $7,400 for the body.
Don't get me wrong. It's far from cheap. But Hasselblad is trying to get this camera in the hands of a wider audience. I've been looking at my account balance ever since I started this review, trying to figure out if I can justify buying one for myself. I probably can't - but not because I d …
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Vjeran Pavic<![CDATA[The Fujifilm X-E5 proves familiar isn’t always a bad thing ]]>https://www.theverge.com/?p=7141412025-07-27T13:47:02-04:002025-07-27T13:47:02-04:00
The Fujifilm X-E5 has a familiar but gorgeous new look.
The X-E5 is Fujifilm's tiny powerhouse. It's part of a line of cameras that has often been described as similar to the X100, except with an interchangeable lens. But the X-E line has evolved this year and is taking on a new shape. It used to be seen as a budget option, but at $1,699, that can no longer be said.
Despite the fact that I've used almost every Fuji out there, this was my first time playing around with any of the X-E line of cameras. The X-E5 is a gorgeous, petite, and classy-looking camera with sharp lines throughout the body, and with buttons and an occasional concave edge for some extra flair and a distinctive look. It is ever …
