Some of the best traditions are holiday traditions. Turkeys at Thanksgiving, pumpkin carving at Halloween, and Christmas trees filled with decorations are some of the favorite classics but undoubtedly, the biggest of them all is our annual Best and Worst Camera Gear roundup. We come together to fight some inspired competitive challenges and drink more than we should while trying to coherently express our opinions about last year’s gear releases.
last year It was our tenth anniversary episode so we had a blast with our friends at Toolshed Brewing Company. However, this year we wanted to get back to our roots with a more low-key event at our home, just like the old days. We battled in three different games and I have to say that after a few years of hard work for Jordan, this year was easier for me. I warmly encourage you to watch our video and see the exploits. But for those who are just here for the selection, let’s get to it.
best of 2024
zoom lens
Canon came out with an innovative 70-200mm f/2.8 Z lens aimed squarely at video shooters and we also saw the return of a lot of super-zooms to the market. But another blast from the past catapulted it to second place in our competition and further solidified Sigma’s dominance in the optics field this year.
In third place for best zoom lens is the Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 II Art which gives the excellent Sony version a run for its money. Although the Sony is significantly superior optically, the Sigma offers a similar experience for less money and is still a great lens capable of meeting any professional need. The Sigma 28-105mm f/2.8 DG DN ART brings back a classic focal range but gives it a fast f/2.8 aperture all the way. The lens was fun to use and versatile, making it a perfect event lens and our runner-up.
The Winner is a niche product that may not have mass appeal but it’s a fun lens. The Sony G-Master 28-70mm f/2 is like having a bag of primes in one lens. The Bokeh is beautiful and the lens is sharp anywhere in its range. Sony also managed to make it smaller and lighter than the Canon version and it was my personal favorite.
prime lens
2024 was an amazing year for optics and we saw a lot of innovative and improved designs across the board. A good prime lens is always a pleasure to shoot with due to its superior optical quality and fast aperture. The Tamron 90mm f/2.8 Macro Di III was a standout lens, ideal for both close-ups and portraits, but it didn’t quite make the top three.
In third place, we chose the excellent Sigma 50mm f/1.2 ART lens for its excellent performance wide open and at a more affordable price than the competition. The second place lens was a hotly debated topic but ultimately went to the Sony G-Master 85mm f/1.4 II. The original 85mm needed improvements and Sony fixed all the mistakes in it. This lens is perfect and small too.
However, the winner has to go to the Sigma 500mm f/5.6 Sport with its easy-to-carry dimensions and essentially perfect image quality. Focus is quick and rendering of busy backgrounds is ideal. It is a great choice for any wildlife or sporting situation.
video camera
Sony made a great little vlog-style camera with the ZV-E10 II and Fujifilm surprised us with the incredibly capable X-M5 gimbal-ready camera. Top honors belong to the more serious system cameras and Nikon starts with the Z6 III in third place. It seems this versatile camera is capable of doing almost anything. The partially stacked sensor helps deal with rolling shutter problems and the Nikon N-Log has plenty of dynamic range. Pairing it with the new Rad Lutz and the Z6 III can handle whatever you want to do.
The runner-up is the Panasonic GH7. We used this camera for most of the year producing our shows and it never disappointed. The M43 has excellent lenses for the platform and the video quality is amazing. Tons of dynamic range and 32-bit float audio make the GH7 a powerful tool for any professional videographer.
However, Video Camera of the Year goes to the Sony a9 III. The fact that such a specialized sports camera could even be the Best Video Camera of the Year is a testament to the unique technology Sony has put into it. The global-shutter sensor eliminates any kind of rolling shutter and Sony puts in place video tools and proper log formats to maximize image quality. It may be expensive but the truth is that no one in the mirrorless market makes anything like this and probably won’t for a long time.
photographic camera
Deciding on the top three cameras of 2024 was a difficult task due to the plethora of excellent products this year. Stand-outs include the Fujifilm X100VI, Nikon Z50 II, Canon EOS R1 and Sony A9 III. We really tried to stick to bodies that we would use on a more regular basis, which eliminated some of the more sports-oriented cameras, so our third place winner is the Fujifilm GFX 100S II. The GFX system is dominating the medium format market but the latest S model is the best of them all. You get 100-megapixel detail and Fujifilm’s latest AF algorithms but you also get a simple and portable package that can travel almost anywhere.
In second place is the Nikon Z6 III which will probably be in the top choice of most people. It’s great value for the dollar and the epitome of versatility, all in a compact and ergonomic body design. I loved using it and I only put it in second place because the winner gave me what I was looking for perfectly.
My choice for best photographic camera is the Canon R5 Mark II. I get 45 megapixels with some of the most innovative autofocus performance, borrowed straight from the flagship R1. The camera has excellent video capabilities and the versatility to compete with the iconic Nikon Z8.
the worst
worst lenses of 2024
Well, now the time has come that we all wait for every year. It’s time for the worst products of 2024 and to start things off, let’s start with the worst lenses. It’s usually very difficult to pick the worst optic because there’s almost always a good reason for it’s existence. However, this year it was a no-brainer. The worst lens goes to the Panasonic 26mm f/8 Pancake that was released with the S9 camera, it feels like a very rushed stopgap situation.
There are no distance markers on manual focus only lenses and even when the lens is properly focused the results are not amazing. It’s a slow lens with no filter options and a very expensive lens cap. This alone spoiled the release of the Panasonic S9 but fortunately Panasonic recently launched a far superior 18-40mm kit lens.
worst video camera 2024
In development for years, Kodak’s development timeline finally came to a close with this year’s release new super 8 cameraBlending both a modern digital interface and LCD panel with analog Super 8mm media should have been a huge success and attracted a lot of attention.
Turns out the experience of using it is far from ideal. The body design looks good from a distance but is a bit fiddly to use and hold in person. The large gaps between the housing and the back panel allow all kinds of schmutz into the interior and the digital LCD panel is hard to access and offers no exposure assistance. The fact is, many of the lightly used 8mm cameras on the market will do a better job and deliver the same fun experience of shooting the classic format, but there’s no denying that the new Kodak 8 Mimi Camera can also give a pleasant experience. If the price is relatively high.
worst photo camera 2024
It seems as if we’re waging an all-out war against analog with our worst camera of the year, but I hope I can reassure you that we’re not. Reviewing the Pentax 17 earlier this year was an incredibly enjoyable experience Mint Rollei 35AF Sadly it wasn’t.
We had some tough times with the camera and some of the problems have been resolved in current models, but it doesn’t change the fact that the 35AF is more style than substance. It looks gorgeous from a distance and the thumb-winder and rewind knob feel legit. But the camera is hard to use and the overall experience feels cheap. However, the price is quite the opposite. I think some users will find joy in the unique look and feel of the camera, but I’d rather have the vintage Rollei feel.
Well, another year is almost over and 2024 is shaping up to be one of the most exciting years for product launches in recent memory. We saw plenty of innovative mirrorless camera bodies and some stellar optics from almost every major company. We also had a battle of wits, a battle of dexterity and a battle of speed, which resulted in my complete liberation this time, so all seems right in the universe again. We now turn our attention to 2025 and eagerly await the initial launch coming soon.
