Gear of the Year: Cameras

Posted on Jun 19, 2026 by bright_oliver

Gear of the Year is here – cast your vote and back the best camera tech of 2026

It seems every year, a wave of innovation in camera technology sweeps the industry. The past year has delivered everything from smarter hybrid mirrorless cameras to powerful live production tools aimed squarely at modern creators and filmmakers.

Mirrorless cameras remain the industry’s hottest battleground, with standout launches from Canon, Sony, Nikon, Panasonic and Fujifilm. Canon’s EOS R6 III, Sony’s A7 V and Panasonic’s Lumix S1 II pushed hybrid performance further, while Nikon’s Z 5II and Z 6III – and Fujifilm’s flagship GFX100 II – continued to impress serious shooters.

Yet, the biggest shift has been the rise of creator-focused hybrid cameras. Canon’s EOS C50 generated big interest, while Nikon’s ZR mixed cinema ambitions with Red colour science. Blackmagic’s Pyxis 6K and 12K models made major waves in the cine market but faced the rise of the Fujifilm GFX Eterna 55 with its monster-sized sensor.

Content creators now demand portable gear capable of handling YouTube, TikTok, live streaming and professional productions alike. That’s shown in this year’s content creator camera category, where the Canon EOS R50 V is joined by popular models including the Canon Powershot G7 X Mark III, Powershot V1, Fujifilm X-E5, Ricoh GR IV, Sony RX1R III and the Panasonic Lumix S9. DJI’s Osmo Pocket 4, Avata 360 and Mini 5 Pro also proved that compact creator tools are evolving rapidly in the speciality camera section, where the GoPro Mission 1 is looking to change the game.

The PTZ class has expanded, with Panasonic’s upgraded AW-UE160 taking aim at Sony’s FR7 and BRC-AM7 models.

The podcasting hardware category has equipment that powers everything from single-person podcasts to full-scale multicamera live broadcasts. Blackmagic Design dominates with three nominations: the Atem Mini Extreme ISO G2, Atem Mini Pro and Micro Studio Camera 4K G2.

Rode’s Rodecaster Video was joined by two new siblings, the S and Core models, as the brand made huge waves in video podcast production.

And for live streaming∕broadcast production, Canon’s XF605 camcorder is still dominant but Sony’s PXW-Z300 is gaining traction, while Marshall has an array of cameras and Roland’s video switchers round out the category, giving pros the tools to elevate live production with 4K switching, audio mixing and HDMI∕SDI flexibility.

With content creation, streaming and hybrid production changing at incredible speed, this year’s Gear of the Year Awards reflect an industry that has never been more exciting. It’s time to cast your vote.

Cast your vote here!