In addition to the global shutter Sony A9 III and some cool mirrorless options – Fujifilm X100 VI, Panasonic C9 And Canon EOS R5 II What immediately comes to mind is that 2024 was a dismal year for cameras, full of minor tweaks and minor improvements. With the exception of DJI Neo. For $200, aerial photography is now finally within the reach of virtually everyone.
A very good, but not very good year for DJI
DJI launched its product line this year with the Sword of Damocles hanging over its head: the US government planned prohibit sales of the company's products by the end of 2024 due to potential espionage concerns. And only at the last minute DJI got a defermentthanks in large part to lobbying from public safety groups that rely heavily on their drones. The company now has until the end of 2025 to prove its products pose no risk.
The company's 2024 camera equipment list began with Open 2An FPV drone that improves on almost everything over the popular original at a reduced price. Then DJI announced it Mini 4K for $299. We also saw Action 5 ProDJI's best action camera to date, and On 3SA high-performance drone with a relatively large 1-inch sensor camera and an available Mic Mini wireless microphone system.
However, the biggest launch was the Neo drone, which was announced in September. It took the idea of a simple drone for creators, first proposed (and then discarded) Take a photo with Pixthsimultaneously lowering the price and adding artificial intelligence technology.
Neo is very light drone it can be operated without a license and is safe for people thanks to its enclosed screws. It's ready for beginners to use right out of the box without any training – just put it in your hand and press a button and it will take off and take cool pre-programmed drone-like photos.
However, just because Neo is affordable doesn't mean it's easy. If you want to control the Neo manually, it supports DJI controllers, FPV goggles, and can even be controlled using a smartphone. In manual mode, it can reach speeds of up to 18 mph or faster and is highly maneuverable. With built-in AI features, it can track you while you walk or bike, making it a vlogger's best friend. Finally, it can shoot all your footage in 4K 30p with surprisingly good quality considering the price.
My main gripe with the Neo is the banshee-like noise it makes, which can be obnoxious in public areas. Overall, though, it's a very useful product at a great price, and it's managed to capture the zeitgeist like no other camera product this year.
Canon and Fujifilm were the best among the rest.
My favorite mirrorless camera this year was Canon EOS R5 II. That's not because of any exciting new technology, but because it's a near-perfect hybrid camera.
It all starts with the new 45-megapixel multi-pixel sensor, which offers a combination of speed and resolution we've only ever seen on the Sony A1 or Nikon Z9 – both significantly more expensive. It also features the most advanced AI autofocus system. All this allows for ultra-fast shooting at up to 30fps in RAW mode. The advanced autofocus system makes blurry photos a rare occurrence, even at these speeds. At the same time, 45-megapixel photos provide exceptional detail and relatively wide dynamic range with accurate and pleasing colors.
At the same time, it offers incredible video capabilities, shooting in 8K RAW at up to 60fps and 4K 120p. As with photos, video quality is exceptional thanks to the new CLog 2 capture, which provides wider dynamic range. Apart from all this, the EOS R5 II is simply a great camera with almost perfect ergonomics.
Another camera that I really liked is the Fujifilm X100 VI compact camera. The camera deserves a lot of the press it has received this year because its uncluttered nature, vintage look, film simulation and excellent controls truly bring the fun back into photography. At the same time, it's a technological marvel with a higher-resolution 40-megapixel sensor, decently fast shooting speed, stabilization, and excellent video performance.
Finally, I think the Panasonic S9 deserves credit for trying something new. It's one of the smallest full-frame cameras I've ever seen, but it offers features like 6K video and built-in stabilization. But the main new feature is the built-in LUT simulation – something like Fujifilm's X100 VI, but for video. Combined with the large sensor, this makes for an interesting camera.
What to Expect in the Camera World in 2025
Despite the potential US ban, DJI will likely continue with its ambitious 2025 product launch schedule. The company is rumored to be working on a foldable model called DJI flip and will also likely release a successor to the Mavic 3 Pro sometime next year, according to recent reports. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Documents. Additionally, the company tends to update most of its drones and cameras quickly, so expect successors for the Action 5 Pro camera, Mini 4 Pro drone, and more.
Elsewhere, there are intriguing rumors that Fujifilm is releasing a one-inch, half-sensor a compact one that would be similar to a digital version of the popular Pentax 17 film camera and could even allow diptych (side-by-side) photographs to be taken.
Otherwise, Sony should release an update to its popular A7 IV released in 2021 with faster shooting speeds and other specifications to better match the competition. Canon will most likely release a new camera in the same price range, the R6 III, also with improved specifications. We could see a new Nikon Z5 III model with improved specifications. And Panasonic is going to update its S1 and S1R models. Manufacturers can jump on the compact train now that Fujifilm has proven it's a viable category, which will be good news for all photographers.