It's fair to say the camera world has changed a bit in the last decade. Back in 2010, our idea of a cameraphone was the Nokia N8 and drones were still military aircraft.

So which photographic trailblazers have got us the most excited in the last ten years? It's a tough choice that had be narrowed down from a longlist of dozens of contenders, but after a fiery debate we've narrowed them down to this list. 

Whether they stood out for their design, innovative features or all-round performance, these are the 12 that really rattled our shutters, sharpened our snaps or generally inspired us to reach for questionable photographic hyperbole.

The great camera evolution (2010-2020)

Before we head into the list, it's worth looking at exactly where we've come from since 2010. 

At the start of the decade, we still relied on compact cameras for our everyday snaps, while getting excited about features like 3D video and inbuilt projectors (yes, really), which have since fallen by the wayside. 

First appearing in 2008, the mirrorless revolution was only just beginning in the early part of this decade. By the end of it, it’s fair to say that while they haven’t quite killed off the DSLR just yet, the diagnosis is pretty terminal. 

There's also been the unstoppable march of the smartphone. Early cameraphones like the Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 and Nokia N8 were surprisingly capable in a hardware sense, with 8MP and 12MP sensors respectively and features like 720p video at 30fps. 

But it's the computational photography spearheaded by Google's Pixel phones that has really taken smartphones well beyond compact cameras and into the territory of so-called 'enthusiast' cameras. Of course, there are still many reasons to buy a dedicated camera, whether it's DSLR or mirrorless, not least the image quality when viewing or printing photos at larger sizes than a phone screen.  

Over the next decade, though, we expect smartphones to further challenge the traditional camera, DSLRs to become a thing of the past, and for prices to come down as the technology starts to plateau. 

Until then, here in chronological order are the 12 cameras, phones and drones that have taken photography to new heights in the last decade...

Samsung NX10 (2010)

Why it was exciting: Big sensors come to small mirrorless cameras

You’d be forgiven for forgetting that Samsung was once a big player in digital cameras. You’d also be forgiven for thinking that it was Sony who pioneered the mirrorless APS-C format. 

But it was Samsung's APS-C mirrorless cameras that paved the way in this area. The NX10 was the first, bringing a 14.6MP sensor and HD (720p) video recording in a form factor that was reminiscent of DSLRs. 

It doesn’t sound like much on the verge of 2020, but in 2010, it gave us a taste of what was to come – even if eventually Samsung bowed out of the market altogether with its last released in February 2015.

Up until then, mirrorless cameras made use of smaller sensors that were inferior to DSLRs – Samsung showed us that a smaller body didn’t necessarily need to be a compromise.

Fujifilm X100 (2011)

Why it was exciting: Well, just look at it

Back at the very start of the decade, Fujifilm was stuck in the doldrums. Once a giant of film photography, it had lost its way and was pushing underwater compact cameras, 3D technology and other niche products. 

Introduced at Photokina in September 2010 and released in early 2011, the X100 is the camera that changed it all for Fujifilm. 

Yes, it was still niche – an APS-C sensor in a “compact” camera with a fixed lens and a high asking price – but it showed what the company was capable of. It demonstrated the fantastic image quality that the rest of the X-series has since demonstrated, as well as showing off new technologies that the company had developed, including a hybrid optical / electronic viewfinder.

Today, the X range boasts a large number of different options, which have rightly proved hugely popular with both hobbyists and pros. The X100 is where it all started.

Sony RX100 (2012)

Why it was exciting: The compact camera was reborn

Named as one of the best inventions of 2012 by Time, the original Sony RX100 was a true innovation when it first came to market. 

It featured a one-inch sensor inside a pocket-friendly compact camera – something that had not been before. Until then, image sensors inside compact cameras had always been small and low in power.

At this point, Canon had pretty much sole control of the 'premium compact' market, with its popular G and S series models. Here was a new rival which promised to make it much less of a compromise between high image quality and portability. 

Such was the popularity of this camera, we’re now in its seventh iteration with the Sony RX100 VII, with a new version turning up pretty much once a year. Over the years, various other innovations have been made, including 4K video, super-fast frame rates, a longer lens and an inbuilt retracting viewfinder – but to this day you can still buy and make good use of the original RX100. 

Nokia Lumia 1020 (2013)

Why it was exciting: It was the big bang moment for today's cameraphones

If you were expecting to see a Pixel or iPhone in this list, we don’t blame you, but it’s arguably the Nokia Lumia 1020 that was the original cameraphone game-changer.

Where the likes of iPhone, Google, Huawei and Samsung now tread very familiar territory in pushing their phone camera tech, we can trace a lot of that back to the Nokia Lumia 1020.

It used PureView technology, which works by oversampling pixels to bring out finer detail and work better in low light. The sensor was a whopping 41 megapixels at a time when others were barely going above 8 (in fact, the iPhone is still only 12), and also had a Carl Zeiss lens. 

Easily considered the most advanced 'cameraphone' (a phrase we don't hear so often these days) at the time, it was perhaps the first nail in the coffin of dedicated compact cameras.

Leica Q (2015)

Why it was exciting: A magical combination of full-frame and fixed lens compact

Fujifilm had already proved there was a big appetite for super-large sensors in compact cameras. The next logical step – a full-frame sensor – came courtesy of the Sony RX1, just a year later, but it was the Leica Q that made the concept truly desirable.

By including features like optical image stabilization in the 28mm lens, a touch-sensitive screen, a very usable electronic viewfinder and fast autofocus, it jumped to the top of every street photographer’s wishlist.

It’s only recently that the original Leica Q has been replaced with the Leica Q2, while the latest Sony variant is the Sony RX1 II. But the original Leica Q still stands tall as one of the decade's classic cameras.

Canon EOS 5DR (2015)

Why it was exciting: Super high-res sensors go mainstream

By the middle of the 2010s, mirrorless was the big story in cameras, but Canon clearly hadn't got the memo. 

It was still mainly devoting its attention to DSLRs and, keen to show that there was still life in the old format yet, it launched an exciting duo of full-frame models  that broke the 50 megapixel barrier for the first time. 

It was only recently that this barrier was broken by the 61MP Sony A7R IV in 2019, with the Nikon D850 coming fairly close with its 45.7MP sensor (see below).

The Canon EOS 5DSR showed the world that super high-resolution sensors were truly achievable in bodies that weren't professional-only bricks.

Olympus PEN F (2016)

Why it was exciting: Micro Four Thirds becomes goes big on desirability

This one’s a slight curveball, but the Olympus Pen F has made our list for one reason – it marked the point when we started to take Micro Four Thirds cameras as serious 'main' cameras, rather than backup or travel models.

Arguably, the first really good compact system camera was the Olympus E-M5 Mark II, which brought with it some truly appealing specs and even made professional photographers sit up and take notice.

But it was the PEN F that showed us it was not only possible to include a range of high-end specs, but also to make the design of the camera a key selling point. 

Panasonic GH5 (2017)

Why it was exciting: A truly brilliant video/stills hybrid camera

A camera that appealed to videographers but also held lots of goodies for stills shooters, the Panasonic GH5 is still a great option a couple of years on. 

With a durable build and plenty of 4K video recording capability (including being able to shoot at 60fps), it was – and still is – the ideal model for the new breed of 'content creators' that aren’t strictly tied to one type of output. 

Later, a sister-model for the GH5, the GH5S, was announced as an even-more video-centric model, with its expanded 4K options including the ability to shoot DCI 4K at higher frame rates.

Nikon D850 (2017)

Why it was exciting: It was, and still is, the best DSLR ever made

In a world that's rapidly moving away from DSLRs, the Nikon D850 remains resolutely popular camera, particularly among professional photographers. 

Launched on Nikon's 100th anniversary, it included a 47.5MP sensor that answered the demands for high-resolution photos, while at the same time being more than capable at capturing fast-moving action. It also became the first DSLR to achieve a score of 100 points from independent analysts DxOMark.

A durable and well-built body met the demands of working professionals, while it also offers the kind of battery life that, as yet, mirrorless cameras can only dream of.

DJI Mavic Air (2018)

Why it was exciting: It put pro-level aerial photography in the hands of non-pros

It’s hard to remember a time before drone photography and videography being an everyday part of the media landscape. Hardly a TV production these days seems to be complete without a dramatic overhead shot. 

Where once you’d have had to hire a helicopter and crew for the day, ever-accessible drones brought this kind of shot to the masses. 

And for those without film budgets, the DJI Mavic Air bought that same capability into the hands of us ordinary consumers, too. Hitting the sweet spot between affordability and high image quality, it’s still one of the best drones you can buy if you fancy trying your hands at aerial photography. 

Sony A7 III (2018)

Why it was exciting: It brought full-frame to the masses

Full-frame sensors were once the reserve of professionals – or at least those with plenty of disposable income. 

Sony’s A7 III changed that, bringing the large sensor to an audience that previously might have found it out of reach. 

A 'basic' or 'entry-level' model with all the image quality of something far more complex, it shows that you don’t always need to invest huge wads of cash to get something that produces fantastic image quality. 

There’s also a range of options that would once have attached extra zeros to an asking price, including 4K video, in-body image stabilization and a very capable AF system. 

Fujifilm GFX100 (2019)

Why it was exciting: We can think of 102 reasons 

We finish our list with a medium format camera that was announced at Photokina in September 2018, making its way into stores earlier this year. 

Not content with having a sensor that's 1.7x bigger than its full-frame rivals, this supersized beast also gives you a huge 102 megapixels to play with. And to think that we once considered 24 megapixels to be a high-resolution offering.

It’s true that this is hardly a camera for the average person, but it’s certainly not as expensive as you might assume. For working professionals producing billboard-sized imagery, it’s a good contender, while it also gives well-heeled enthusiasts huge bragging rights too. 

It's fair to say the camera world has changed a bit in the last decade. Back in 2010, our idea of a cameraphone was the Nokia N8 and drones were still military aircraft.

So which photographic trailblazers have got us the most excited in the last ten years? It's a tough choice that had be narrowed down from a longlist of dozens of contenders, but after a fiery debate we've narrowed them down to this list. 

Whether they stood out for their design, innovative features or all-round performance, these are the 12 that really rattled our shutters, sharpened our snaps or generally inspired us to reach for questionable photographic hyperbole.

The great camera evolution (2010-2020)

Before we head into the list, it's worth looking at exactly where we've come from since 2010. 

At the start of the decade, we still relied on compact cameras for our everyday snaps, while getting excited about features like 3D video and inbuilt projectors (yes, really), which have since fallen by the wayside. 

First appearing in 2008, the mirrorless revolution was only just beginning in the early part of this decade. By the end of it, it’s fair to say that while they haven’t quite killed off the DSLR just yet, the diagnosis is pretty terminal. 

There's also been the unstoppable march of the smartphone. Early cameraphones like the Sony Ericsson Xperia X10 and Nokia N8 were surprisingly capable in a hardware sense, with 8MP and 12MP sensors respectively and features like 720p video at 30fps. 

But it's the computational photography spearheaded by Google's Pixel phones that has really taken smartphones well beyond compact cameras and into the territory of so-called 'enthusiast' cameras. Of course, there are still many reasons to buy a dedicated camera, whether it's DSLR or mirrorless, not least the image quality when viewing or printing photos at larger sizes than a phone screen.  

Over the next decade, though, we expect smartphones to further challenge the traditional camera, DSLRs to become a thing of the past, and for prices to come down as the technology starts to plateau. 

Until then, here in chronological order are the 12 cameras, phones and drones that have taken photography to new heights in the last decade...

Samsung NX10 (2010)

Why it was exciting: Big sensors come to small mirrorless cameras

You’d be forgiven for forgetting that Samsung was once a big player in digital cameras. You’d also be forgiven for thinking that it was Sony who pioneered the mirrorless APS-C format. 

But it was Samsung's APS-C mirrorless cameras that paved the way in this area. The NX10 was the first, bringing a 14.6MP sensor and HD (720p) video recording in a form factor that was reminiscent of DSLRs. 

It doesn’t sound like much on the verge of 2020, but in 2010, it gave us a taste of what was to come – even if eventually Samsung bowed out of the market altogether with its last released in February 2015.

Up until then, mirrorless cameras made use of smaller sensors that were inferior to DSLRs – Samsung showed us that a smaller body didn’t necessarily need to be a compromise.

Fujifilm X100 (2011)

Why it was exciting: Well, just look at it

Back at the very start of the decade, Fujifilm was stuck in the doldrums. Once a giant of film photography, it had lost its way and was pushing underwater compact cameras, 3D technology and other niche products. 

Introduced at Photokina in September 2010 and released in early 2011, the X100 is the camera that changed it all for Fujifilm. 

Yes, it was still niche – an APS-C sensor in a “compact” camera with a fixed lens and a high asking price – but it showed what the company was capable of. It demonstrated the fantastic image quality that the rest of the X-series has since demonstrated, as well as showing off new technologies that the company had developed, including a hybrid optical / electronic viewfinder.

Today, the X range boasts a large number of different options, which have rightly proved hugely popular with both hobbyists and pros. The X100 is where it all started.

Sony RX100 (2012)

Why it was exciting: The compact camera was reborn

Named as one of the best inventions of 2012 by Time, the original Sony RX100 was a true innovation when it first came to market. 

It featured a one-inch sensor inside a pocket-friendly compact camera – something that had not been before. Until then, image sensors inside compact cameras had always been small and low in power.

At this point, Canon had pretty much sole control of the 'premium compact' market, with its popular G and S series models. Here was a new rival which promised to make it much less of a compromise between high image quality and portability. 

Such was the popularity of this camera, we’re now in its seventh iteration with the Sony RX100 VII, with a new version turning up pretty much once a year. Over the years, various other innovations have been made, including 4K video, super-fast frame rates, a longer lens and an inbuilt retracting viewfinder – but to this day you can still buy and make good use of the original RX100. 

Nokia Lumia 1020 (2013)

Why it was exciting: It was the big bang moment for today's cameraphones

If you were expecting to see a Pixel or iPhone in this list, we don’t blame you, but it’s arguably the Nokia Lumia 1020 that was the original cameraphone game-changer.

Where the likes of iPhone, Google, Huawei and Samsung now tread very familiar territory in pushing their phone camera tech, we can trace a lot of that back to the Nokia Lumia 1020.

It used PureView technology, which works by oversampling pixels to bring out finer detail and work better in low light. The sensor was a whopping 41 megapixels at a time when others were barely going above 8 (in fact, the iPhone is still only 12), and also had a Carl Zeiss lens. 

Easily considered the most advanced 'cameraphone' (a phrase we don't hear so often these days) at the time, it was perhaps the first nail in the coffin of dedicated compact cameras.

Leica Q (2015)

Why it was exciting: A magical combination of full-frame and fixed lens compact

Fujifilm had already proved there was a big appetite for super-large sensors in compact cameras. The next logical step – a full-frame sensor – came courtesy of the Sony RX1, just a year later, but it was the Leica Q that made the concept truly desirable.

By including features like optical image stabilization in the 28mm lens, a touch-sensitive screen, a very usable electronic viewfinder and fast autofocus, it jumped to the top of every street photographer’s wishlist.

It’s only recently that the original Leica Q has been replaced with the Leica Q2, while the latest Sony variant is the Sony RX1 II. But the original Leica Q still stands tall as one of the decade's classic cameras.

Canon EOS 5DR (2015)

Why it was exciting: Super high-res sensors go mainstream

By the middle of the 2010s, mirrorless was the big story in cameras, but Canon clearly hadn't got the memo. 

It was still mainly devoting its attention to DSLRs and, keen to show that there was still life in the old format yet, it launched an exciting duo of full-frame models  that broke the 50 megapixel barrier for the first time. 

It was only recently that this barrier was broken by the 61MP Sony A7R IV in 2019, with the Nikon D850 coming fairly close with its 45.7MP sensor (see below).

The Canon EOS 5DSR showed the world that super high-resolution sensors were truly achievable in bodies that weren't professional-only bricks.

Olympus PEN F (2016)

Why it was exciting: Micro Four Thirds becomes goes big on desirability

This one’s a slight curveball, but the Olympus Pen F has made our list for one reason – it marked the point when we started to take Micro Four Thirds cameras as serious 'main' cameras, rather than backup or travel models.

Arguably, the first really good compact system camera was the Olympus E-M5 Mark II, which brought with it some truly appealing specs and even made professional photographers sit up and take notice.

But it was the PEN F that showed us it was not only possible to include a range of high-end specs, but also to make the design of the camera a key selling point. 

Panasonic GH5 (2017)

Why it was exciting: A truly brilliant video/stills hybrid camera

A camera that appealed to videographers but also held lots of goodies for stills shooters, the Panasonic GH5 is still a great option a couple of years on. 

With a durable build and plenty of 4K video recording capability (including being able to shoot at 60fps), it was – and still is – the ideal model for the new breed of 'content creators' that aren’t strictly tied to one type of output. 

Later, a sister-model for the GH5, the GH5S, was announced as an even-more video-centric model, with its expanded 4K options including the ability to shoot DCI 4K at higher frame rates.

Nikon D850 (2017)

Why it was exciting: It was, and still is, the best DSLR ever made

In a world that's rapidly moving away from DSLRs, the Nikon D850 remains resolutely popular camera, particularly among professional photographers. 

Launched on Nikon's 100th anniversary, it included a 47.5MP sensor that answered the demands for high-resolution photos, while at the same time being more than capable at capturing fast-moving action. It also became the first DSLR to achieve a score of 100 points from independent analysts DxOMark.

A durable and well-built body met the demands of working professionals, while it also offers the kind of battery life that, as yet, mirrorless cameras can only dream of.

DJI Mavic Air (2018)

Why it was exciting: It put pro-level aerial photography in the hands of non-pros

It’s hard to remember a time before drone photography and videography being an everyday part of the media landscape. Hardly a TV production these days seems to be complete without a dramatic overhead shot. 

Where once you’d have had to hire a helicopter and crew for the day, ever-accessible drones brought this kind of shot to the masses. 

And for those without film budgets, the DJI Mavic Air bought that same capability into the hands of us ordinary consumers, too. Hitting the sweet spot between affordability and high image quality, it’s still one of the best drones you can buy if you fancy trying your hands at aerial photography. 

Sony A7 III (2018)

Why it was exciting: It brought full-frame to the masses

Full-frame sensors were once the reserve of professionals – or at least those with plenty of disposable income. 

Sony’s A7 III changed that, bringing the large sensor to an audience that previously might have found it out of reach. 

A 'basic' or 'entry-level' model with all the image quality of something far more complex, it shows that you don’t always need to invest huge wads of cash to get something that produces fantastic image quality. 

There’s also a range of options that would once have attached extra zeros to an asking price, including 4K video, in-body image stabilization and a very capable AF system. 

Fujifilm GFX100 (2019)

Why it was exciting: We can think of 102 reasons 

We finish our list with a medium format camera that was announced at Photokina in September 2018, making its way into stores earlier this year. 

Not content with having a sensor that's 1.7x bigger than its full-frame rivals, this supersized beast also gives you a huge 102 megapixels to play with. And to think that we once considered 24 megapixels to be a high-resolution offering.

It’s true that this is hardly a camera for the average person, but it’s certainly not as expensive as you might assume. For working professionals producing billboard-sized imagery, it’s a good contender, while it also gives well-heeled enthusiasts huge bragging rights too. 

Ahead of what's expected to be the official unveiling at today's (November 4) Adobe Max conference, Adobe Photoshop for iPad has already appeared on the App Store.

It was widely expected that the app wouldn't be available until some days after the official announcement, but it's available now. The free download will see you have unrestricted access to the app for a full 30 days – beyond that you'll need a subscription to Adobe Creative Cloud. 

• Read our Photoshop CC (2019) review
• Discover our best photo editor in 2019
• Find out the Best free photo editor 2019

At the time of writing you can get a Creative Cloud subscription for £9.98 / $9.99 / AU$14.29 a month, which includes Photoshop and Lightroom across all your (compatible) devices, including computers and iPads.

The key benefit of the new version is that it enables you to edit your files just as you might do on your desktop. So you get PSD (Photoshop Document) support, layers, selection tools, and many of the other editing tools you’ll be used to from the desktop version, but optimized for touchscreen interfaces.

That’s great news for anybody who wants to edit their images on the move and doesn’t necessarily have their laptop with them. 

Cloud working

Another plus point is the ability to save your files in the cloud, and resume working on them later on another device. 

Over the years we’ve seen some 'Lite' Photoshop and Lightroom options for iPads and other mobile devices, but they’ve always been something of a compromise, which you’d only really use if you had no other option available. 

Professional and news photographers should find the new app particularly useful, as they’ll be able to edit and upload photos from the scene of an event rather than having to wait until they get home, and without having carry a laptop with them at all times.

We've had a brief play with Photoshop for iPad, and we found that it wouldn't open raw files from a Nikon Z7, while some functionality appears to be missing; however; considering that the app hasn’t been officially announced yet, we're hoping that fixes for any issues will be rolled out promptly.

• The best free Mac photo editor 2019

We first heard about the Zeiss ZX1 more than a year ago when it was announced at Photokina 2018, but since then we've not heard much in terms of a release date or detailed specifications.

Now a set of leaks specs appear to have given us a bit more to go on, as well as seeming to confirm the few details that have already emerged. 

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PhotoRumors has published what it claims are the full specs of the camera, including the optical design of the lens, ISO speeds, shutter speeds, size and weight.

A couple of things we did know were that the camera was set to have a 37.4MP full-frame sensor and a 35mm f/2 Zeiss lens, both designed in-house. The sensor will be paired with a leaf shutter (which means you’ll be able to sync your flash at whatever shutter speed you desire).

The newly leaked specs claim the lens construction will consist of eight elements in five groups, and that ISO speeds will top out at ISO51200, with a minimum setting of ISO80. The maximum shutter speed is claimed to be 1/8000 sec, and the shutter itself is said to be mechanical rather than electronic.

The leak supports previous rumors that the ZX1 would have a 0.74x Full HD OLED electronic viewfinder, joined by a large 4.34-inch touchscreen. Perhaps the most intriguing of the reported features is integrated Adobe Lightroom for in-camera editing. 

Another unusual feature is the apparent lack of a memory card slot, with users instead having need to rely on the 512GB of internal memory. 

It had previously been suggested that the ZX1 would be available to buy in early 2019, and while we're none the wiser in terms of an official release date, PhotoRumors says the camera will be announced "soon". 

Back in August, a Zeiss representative replied to a Twitter user, telling them that the company was still in the concept or testing phase, which suggested that an official announcement was still some way off.

• Read our Sony RX1R II review 

Just over a year after the first Z series bodies were launched, Nikon has launched another one – but this time packing a smaller, APS-C sized sensor. 

Pitched as (even) smaller versions of its highly regarded Z6 or Z7 camera, the Z50 uses the same mount as its older and bigger siblings.

• Discover our best mirrorless cameras of 2019
• Read our Nikon Z6 review 
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Prior to launch, speculation had been rife that Nikon would try to appeal to a different audience with its next Z series camera, and with a smaller sensor and more affordable price point, the strategy seems to suggest that mirrorless is very much the future for this company. 

Nikon places the Z50 alongside its mid-level DSLRs the D7500 and D500, giving an indication of who it expects to buy the camera. Aimed slightly above the beginner market, the Z50 is perhaps also something that might appeal as a secondary or travel body for existing Z series users, or possibly even Nikon DSLR owners. 

Functionality 

Unsurprisingly, the Z50 inherits a lot of the same functionality and features as the Z6 and Z7, and has been styled to look very similar. At the heart of the camera is a 20.9 megapixel APS-C (which Nikon calls DX) format sensor, as well as a fast, wide Hybrid-AF autofocus system, which also includes Eye AF. 

For composing your images there’s a 2360k-dot electronic viewfinder, or you can use the tilting 1040k-dot LCD monitor – unlike the Z6/Z7, the Z50’s screen can tilt to face all the way forwards, with a dedicated selfie mode.

A single UHS-I SD card slot marks another lower-cost point of departure, compared to the Z6/Z7’s XQD card slot, but that’s likely to be good news for those already holding on to a stack of SD memory cards. 

Uncropped 4K video recording is available up to 30fps, as well as Full HD, slow-motion and time-lapse options.

New Lenses

Although the Z50 uses exactly the same mount as the older Z series snappers, two new lenses have been launched especially for it.

There’s a 16-50mm f/3.5-6.3 pancake zoom lens, which will come with the Z50 as the standard kit lens. This collapsible optic is designed to be a good walkaround lens for most ordinary situations. There’s also a 50-250mm f/4.5-6.3 zoom lens if you need to reach subjects further away from you. Nikon says you’ll be able to buy both lenses together with the camera as a “travel package”, if that kind of thing floats your boat. 

As with the Z6/Z7, you can also use the FTZ mount adapter to use any existing F-mount DSLR lenses you might already own, while there are seven further already existing Z-mount lenses which can also be used. A roadmap shows that Nikon will be adding more lenses to the line-up throughout 2020 and 2021. 

Nikon Z50 Price & Availability 

Sales of the camera will start on November 7, just in time for that lucrative Christmas market. The Nikon Z50 price will be $850 / £849 body only (around AU$1,543), or $999 / £989 (about AU$1,798) to include the 16-50mm f/3.5-6.3 VR lens. A range of other kit bundles are also available too. 

Australian pricing is still to be confirmed but we will update this story as soon as we're able to find out.

DSLRs had taken a back seat to mirrorless cameras in the past few years, with many speculating they will not be resurrected by camera makers. However, Canon has put those speculations to rest, having announced the EOS 1D X Mark III in January, after releasing an enthusiast-level EOS 90D in August last year. And that's not even going to be the last if rumors are to be believed. 

Nikon, too, has just released the D780, and quickly followed it up with its professional sport shooter. And the timing couldn't have been better. 2019 marked the 20th anniversary of the Nikon single-digit D series, which launched in 1999 with the Nikon D1. And now, we have what the company calls the "the most advanced digital SLR to date".

With the 2020 Olympic Games coming up this year, we're going to see the professional, sports-focused DSLR flagships from Canon and Nikon face off again, just like the old days. In the red corner, there's the newly released Canon 1DX Mark III. And, in the opposite corner is the Nikon D6, which has only just been announced.

The Canon shooter is pretty much a hybrid of DSLR and mirrorless tech, with some of the best features we've seen from the latest mirror-free models, like advanced autofocus, alongside traditional DSLR traits like the optical viewfinder and lengthy battery life. The Nikon competition also offers similar features, in a very different package.

• Read our Nikon D5 review 
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• Mirrorless vs DSLR: 10 key differences

Nikon D6: release date and price

Like its predecessor, the Nikon D5, and its new Canon counterpart, the D6 is not going to be cheap. It will begin shipping in April 2020 and carry a hefty price tag of $6,500 / £6,299, with Australian pricing yet to come. That puts it pretty much in same territory as its main rival, the just-released Canon 1D X Mark III, which is also vying for the camera bags of professional sports photographers.

Nikon D6: design 

Nikon was kind enough to supply a small picture of the D6 in its development announcement back in September. It was presumably a mock-up, rather than a final rendering but, even then, we knew it would resemble the D5 physically.

The chassis remains that quintessential chunky design to incorporate a big battery and accommodate the dual shooting layout for both vertical and horizontal capture.

The magnesium alloy body is completely weather-sealed, making it "as tough as the professionals who use it". 

It should come as no surprise to see Nikon keep to a very similar form factor as the D5's for the D6 – after all, expecting pros to get used to a drastically new way of working is a big task. The square shape of the D5 allows it to incorporate a battery grip for extended battery life, and we expect the D6 to blow its mirrorless rivals out of the water for longevity by doing the same thing. 

Also announced as being in development at the same time as the D6 was a new 120-300mm f/2.8E FL ED SR VR telephoto lens, which looks set to be a bit of a beast – the Nikon D6 will have to be large enough to balance well with such lenses, which are popular with sports and wildlife shooters.

Nikon D6: sensor and processor

The beating heart of the Nikon D6 is the 20.8MP full-frame sensor, which is lower in resolution than the D5's although marginally higher than the 1D X Mark III's 20.1MP pixel count. Despite the lower resolution, the new sensor has been designed to deliver high quality images that can be captured at a maximum speed of 14fps when shooting with E-type lenses (those with an electromagnetically controlled diaphragm). Switch to shooting via the rear LCD display – or the silent shooting mode – and you'll get a top of 10.5fps at full resolution with autofocus tracking. 

There are also the options of shooting 30fps which will restrict image sizes to 8MP, or heading higher to 60fps to get 2MP files. This burst of speed has been made possible by a brand new Expeed 6 engine.

Nikon D6: autofocus

Nikon has revamped the autofocus system from the ground up, delivering what the company promises is a much faster, more precise AF system. Instead of the older 153-point array, the D6 now features a 105-point all cross-type system with every single point now selectable individually. Each uses what Nikon calls a "triple-sensor arrangement", although details on how this works is as yet unclear.

While the centre point can focus down to -4.5EV, the others are all good for down to -4EV. With an ISO range matching its older sibling, the D6 seems set to be the new low-light king.

Nikon D6: video features

The Nikon D5 was the first Nikon DSLR to be capable of recording high-definition 4K/UHD movies in-camera, and the D6 carries on in that tradition. However, the camera was built for stills and, like the D5, offers 4K/30p video, albeit with focus peaking and an MP4 recording option.

Nikon D6: card slots and connectivity

Dual memory card slots are pretty much a given. The Nikon D5 can be bought with either 2x XQD slots, or 2x CF slots, but Compact Flash is pretty old hat now, so Nikon has made both slots in the D6 compatible with XQD and CFExpress. This backward compatibility is perfect for those who already have a stack of XQD cards in their possession, considering how expensive CFExpress cards are.

A USB-C port is available for quick wired transfer of files, while Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are also available. However, that's never really quick enough for the pros who need to deliver images with the shortest turnaround time possible. For them, there's a 1000BASE_T Ethernet port for wired transfer which, according to Nikon, is now 15% faster than the one on the D5.

On paper, the Nikon D6 doesn't sound as quick as the Canon EOS 1D X Mark III, however we're yet to test both cameras extensively and see how they do against each other in the real world. We look forward to pitting them against each other in the arena and we'll share our thoughts with your as soon as we've done so.

• Nikon may also be set to unveil an APS-C mirrorless camera

A sneak-peek presented by Photoshop Product Manager Meredith Payne Stotzner shows how Adobe will be improving its exceedingly clever Content Aware Fill tool in an upcoming update for Photoshop.

Content Aware Fill utilizes Sensei AI technology to create impressively realistic fills in a matter of seconds, with Stotzner calling it a “magical” feature. 

• These are the best free photo editors in 2019
• Read our Photoshop CC (2019) review 
• Photoshop vs GIMP: the differences

Joining the current Rectangular option for the tool will be new Auto and Custom options. The former will make use of the pixels immediately surrounding a selection for a better final result, automatically analyzing which would make the most sense to use to create a fill.

Alternatively, the Custom option gives the user full control over which area to use as a sample instead – this is apparently something which has repeatedly been requested by users.

See it in action

A video showing the capabilities of the new tools has been shared, showing just how useful the new tools could be for removing pesky tourists and stray objects from scenes, and re-imagining compositions. Having full control over the selection area is designed to save time, where the existing Rectangular option requires a little more input to get the exact effect you want. 

Stotzner claims that the feature is “more intelligent” and “more powerful” than ever before – and judging from the speed and seeming accuracy of the tools as showcased in the video, she’s not far wrong. 

No specific date was shared for the update, but the reference to 2019 indicates that it should be here before the end of the year.

• Discover the best photo editor in 2019 

Rumours continue to surround the launch date of the hotly-anticipated Sony A9 II, and another reported image of the next-generation model has appeared on SonyAlphaRumors. 

The original Sony A9 has been on the market since April 2017, so it’s ripe for an upgrade, especially with the Olympics coming up next year - the current model is pitched as a top-level professional camera which is particularly adept at sports and action shooting, 

• Read our Sony Alpha A9 Review 
• These are the best mirrorless cameras 2019
• Mirrorless vs DSLR: 10 key differences 

Its headline feature is its ability to capture 20fps at full resolution with zero viewfinder blackout and full autofocus - in short, it’s the perfect camera to capture fast-moving subjects without missing a shot. 

The latest leaked image suggests that the body construction of the A9 II will be almost identical to its predecessor, which is fairly typical of how Sony likes to operate - we’ve seen similar decisions before in its A7 range. 

Rumors of internal specs are a little thin on the ground so far, but it's been suggested that we could see a 36-megapixel full-frame sensor, which would certainly give other fast full-frame shooters a run for their money. We might also be treated to an even faster frame rate, which would make capturing those Olympic highlights almost too easy. 

As for a Sony A9 II release date, rumors suggest an October launch event is on the cards - if so we shouldn’t have to wait to long to get the full low-down. 

• These are the best Sony cameras 2019

Nikon’s full-frame mirrorless models, the Z7 and the Z6, have proved popular since their launch last year, and now rumors suggest the company could be planning to unveil a mirrorless APS-C model.

NikonRumors claims the new model will be called the Z50, and will be supported at launch by a pair of new APS-C format (DX in Nikon terminology) lenses. 

The site says the camera will have a 20MP sensor, an articulating three-inch screen and an electronic viewfinder, and will offer 11fps shooting. The lenses that are rumored to be launching with it are a 16-55mm f/3.5-6.3 kit-type lens and a 50-230mm f/4.5-6.3 telephoto zoom lens. 

• These are the best mirrorless cameras for every budget
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Mount options

These aren't the first rumors of Nikon launching a lower-cost or entry-level mirrorless camera, and it would make a lot of sense for Nikon to enter the mirrorless APS-C market, which until now it's left to rivals Sony and Canon.

If it does launch an APS-C model, it'll be interesting to see whether Nikon uses the same mount across all its models, as Sony does, or splits them into distinct APS-C and full-frame categories with separate lenses, as Canon does. 

With relatively few specs to go on it's not immediately obvious who a camera like the Z50 would be aimed at, but it's likely to go head to head with the likes of the Sony A6600, or perhaps the Sony A6100 if Nikon is aiming for the entry-level market.

September and October tend to be busy months for new launches as manufacturers look to cash in on the lucrative Christmas market, so watch this space.

• These are the 12 best budget DSLRs, compacts and mirrorless cameras