Make no mistake, when it comes to innovation, Sony has done a whole lot for the camera world that the more traditional companies never did. When they dove into the world of DSLRs after buying Minolta, they had the world’s attention with the Sony a900 — a full-frame DSLR with a whopping 24 megapixels and the feeling of a very serious professional camera. But where they really started to make major shifts in the camera world had to do with their shift in the mirrorless camera space and the DSLT. For over 15 years, we’ve been covering cameras in the photography world. And here are the best Sony cameras that are now considered iconic.
Sony NEX 7: The Incredible Hybrid
What Was It?: The first mirrorless camera that packed a higher resolution APS-C sensor into a smaller form factor camera body. It was also a really attractive looking one that reminded folks of the Mamiya 7 and Mamiya 6 camera bodies. “It is by far the smartest focusing camera I’ve seen and knows exactly what I want to focus on based on my composition of a subject: most of the time that is,” we said in our review of the camera. “But it is far more often than the other cameras.” To add onto this, we noted that the images had Nikon’s sharpness but Canon’s great color tonality. So in many ways, it was the best of many worlds.
Why everyone loved it: The really cool thing that makes this one of the best Sony cameras is that it was the beginning of a time when APS-C cameras could be really used for serious work alongside full-frame cameras. Granted, photographers used cameras like the Nikon D200 and Nikon D300 along with the Canon 40D for a while. But the Sony NEX 7 gave us all faith that APS-C could still hold it together. I even used it for work. The Sony NEX 7 and the Fujifilm X Pro 1 really got that idea in our heads.
Sony a99: One of the Best Sony Cameras for Innovation
What Was It?: The Sony a99 was one of the best Sony cameras because of the fact that it was so insanely innovative. First, it was a DSLT — which means that it used a translucent mirror without the pentaprism. So instead, it used an EVF to give you what the camera was seeing through the viewfinder.
Why everyone loved it: The really incredible thing about the Sony a99 was just how good the AF-D tracking was. Many photographers would use the focus-and-recompose method to shoot because autofocus on cameras generally was awful. To do this effectively, you’d also need to stop the lens down or slide the camera along the focusing plane distance. But with the Sony a99, you could shoot wide open and recompose.
Sony a7/a7r/a7s: The Iconic Triplets
What Was It?: The three mirrorless cameras that started a revolution were the Sony a7 and the Sony a7r — two of which were introduced at the same time. These were the first full-frame mirrorless cameras designed in a body for photographers — which followed on the Sony VG900. Of note, the Sony a7r was really great with adapted third-party lenses because of the design of the sensor. Later on, the Sony a7s changed the world of low-light photography with a super clean 12MP sensor that lost details when it reached the nuclear levels of ISO coverage.
Why everyone loved it: The really nice thing about these cameras is that the image quality, even today, is regarded as something very unique. Photos from the original Sony a7 look far different from anything that Sony puts out today. I converted mine to Infrared and really love the look it delivers.
Sony a9: By Far, One of the Best Sony Cameras in History
What Was It?: The Sony a9 was a very iconic camera for many reasons. It boasted a 24MP sensor that could shoot at insane speeds and keep focusing on the subject. But perhaps more importantly, it could also do so without blacking out the viewfinder. This was the camera that Sony said was their real flagship at the time until the Sony a1 launched.
Why everyone loved it: The really cool thing about the Sony a9 is that it was the first mirrorless camera squarely targeted at the sports photography market. Sony stated that you could use face detection with an athlete as they were running around and it would be able to track their face. Later on, they gave it machine learning with firmware updates.
Sony a1: Still a Great One
What Was It?: The Sony a1 is one of the best Sony cameras because of what it was capable of doing. In 2025, it’s still receiving firmware updates. This camera took a brand new 50MP sensor and gave it the ability to shoot photos at insanely fast speeds. To this day, it’s really the only one that can do so besides Sony a1 II. Canon and Nikon only go up to 45MP.
Why everyone loved it: The really awesome thing that makes the Sony a1 one of the best Sony cameras is that it blends the need for high resolution and speed into one camera like nothing else on the market.
Sony Rx1: The Camera Everyone Dreams Of
What Was It?: The Sony RX1 started it all! By that, we mean the idea that a compact camera could be taken very seriously. Because of very high pricing, folks never really bought into it. But Sony continued on and even made the Sony RX1R II. Reports state that another camera is coming to the market, but we’re not sure just yet. As it is, these cameras hold their value really well.
Why everyone loved it: The really incredible thing here is that we got a full-frame sensor in a super small camera body with an excellent Zeiss 35mm f2 lens. You can’t beat it.
Sony a900: One of the First Iconic Sony Cameras
What Was It?: The Sony a900 was the company’s first DSLR that the masses took very seriously. Back then, professional photographers preferred full-frame because they came from a film background, and that’s what they used to shoot. When the camera world only put out APS sized sensors, many scoffed at the idea of losing their image quality for the same sized camera.
Contax put out the world’s first full-frame DSLR and many other brands followed. But when Sony acquired Minolta, things really became fascinating to watch.
While the Sony a77 was often considered to be a marvel, the Sony a900 is the camera that really made professionals who used Canon and Nikon really pay attention to Sony. It didn’t provide things like Live View and it used Sony’s own proprietary card format. But it boasted a very high-resolution sensor for the time and a whole lineup of lenses for the Minolta A-mount. Even today, folks love those lenses. The Sony 135mm f1.8 that was made in collaboration with Zeiss is still used by many photographers who prefer the look of it to the newer lenses.
Why everyone loved it: The really big reason why people loved this camera is because it was the first entry into the market that made us believe that Sony was here to stay with digital imaging. At the time, people only thought of Sony as a company that made televisions and PlayStation. But with time, their digital imaging division became a serious powerhouse. Their sensors are in pretty much every phone and they’re also in the majority of cameras on the market.
Even today, folks still talk about the Sony a900 and want it on eBay. We highly doubt Sony would ever make something like this again because it’s way too niche of a product. But you can often find it on the second hand market pretty easily. Just be sure to check the condition of it because this camera wasn’t known for its weather resistance.