8 Best Full Frame Cameras in 2023 (Updated Monthly)

Today we go over the best full frame cameras. A full frame camera has what is known as a 35mm equivalent sensor, which is 36 × 24 mm. This is based on film photography as it is the size of a 35mm frame. Any sensor smaller than that is called a crop sensor. Full frame means higher resolution and more details in your images.

If you’re looking for the best, we suggest the super-powerful Nikon D850. It has a high resolution, great autofocus, and a beautiful ergonomic design. You won’t find any better full frame camera for less! For other best full frame camera options, keep reading.

Our Top 3 Choices for The Best Full Frame Camera

Nikon D850

Canon EOS 1D X Mark III

Nikon D780

The Best Full Frame Cameras (Top 8 Picks)

A lot depends on what you would like to photograph. We’ve collected eight of the best full frame camera options. But there are also others available. So take a look. But keep in mind what kind of photographer you are and what you would use these cameras for!

Our Top Choice

Nikon D850

Fantastic overall image quality
Excellent 3D continuous AF tracking
Sharp 4K / 30p Ultra HD video
Long, 1,840-shot battery life
Durable, weather-sealed construction

Best Canon Choice

Canon EOS 1D X Mark III

Excellent low-light capabilities
Dual Pixel AF and AI detection
Fantastic buffer for continuous shots
High frame rate for video recording
Great battery life

Best Mid-Level Camera

Nikon D780

Long-exposure presets
Plenty of autofocus (AF) points
Nice, uncropped 4K video capabilities
Dual memory card slots (UHS-II)

Great Value

Canon EOS 6D Mark II

Fantastic image quality
Impressive 45-point AF system
Built well and nice to handle
Handy built-in Wi-Fi and GPS

Best Sony Choice

Sony a7R IV

Super high-resolution sensor
Stunningly sharp image quality
Excellent face and eye detection AF
Large, high-resolution EVF
Sharp 4K Ultra HD video
Weather sealing to protect from elements

Best Mirrorless

Nikon Z6 II

Excellent low-light focusing
Lightweight and portable
Superb low-light dynamic range
Dual memory card slots

Best for Travel

Sony a7 IV

Excellent image quality
Super responsive autofocus
5.5 stops of image stabilization
Fully articulating rear screen
Powerful video capabilities (4K / 60p, 10-bit video) and live streaming

Best Autofocus

Canon EOS R6

Relatively affordable
Excellent in-body image stabilization
Compact and ergonomic design
Fantastic expandable ISO range
Rapid burst speeds

1. Nikon D850

Lens Mount	Lens Mount Nikon F FX
Megapixels	Megapixels 45.7 MP
In-body Stabilization	In-body Stabilization
Viewfinder Type	Viewfinder Type Optical (pentaprism)
Autofocus Points	Autofocus Points 153
Maximum ISO (Native)	Maximum ISO (Native) 25,600
Frame Rate	Frame Rate 7 fps
Video	Video
Screen Size	Screen Size 3.2"

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The Nikon D850 is a full frame camera comes with a resolution of almost 46 MP. But it is the sensor that is the most impressive. The technology used allows the sensor to receive more light. This is great for narrower apertures and slower shutter speeds.

The high-resolution sensor allows you to keep a very high image quality from any scene you capture… especially in low-light conditions! This is handy for event photography and capturing dark home interiors!

If you’re looking for a system with excellent video quality, you’ll get it from the Nikon D850. It has 4K video recording. It also has Wi-Fi. But the Wi-Fi is only usable via Nikon’s Bluetooth Snaprbridge app.

The most significant advantage of this camera is its incredibly low ISO of 64. This retains an outstanding amount of detail and quality in each image. Also, the dynamic range at ISO 64 is fantastic.

2. Canon 1D X III

Lens Mount	Lens Mount Canon EF
Megapixels	Megapixels 20.1 MP
In-body Stabilization	In-body Stabilization
Viewfinder Type	Viewfinder Type Optical (pentaprism)
Autofocus Points	Autofocus Points 191
Maximum ISO (Native)	Maximum ISO (Native) 102,400
Frame Rate	Frame Rate 20 fps
Video	Video
Screen Size	Screen Size 3.2"

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There is no limit to your creativity with the Canon EOS 1D X Mark III. It has superb low-light performance due to the sensitivity range of ISO 100 to 819,200. Also, it can make 5.5K RAW and 4K 60p videos, which is outstanding.

Although image quality depends not only on the number of pixels, the 20.1 MP is relatively low. So if you are a professional who likes to have images printed, this camera might not be the best choice.

Otherwise, it’s a great camera when you need a fast burst rate, like in action photography. The 20 fps (frames per second) continuous shooting speed is impressive. You are definitely going to catch that decisive moment with it.

Also, it has a 191-point autofocus (AF) system. So you won’t have to worry about finding the perfect focus.

3. Nikon D780

Lens Mount	Lens Mount Nikon F
Megapixels	Megapixels 25 MP
In-body Stabilization	In-body Stabilization
Viewfinder Type	Viewfinder Type Optical (pentaprism)
Autofocus Points	Autofocus Points 51
Maximum ISO (Native)	Maximum ISO (Native) 51,200
Frame Rate	Frame Rate 12 fps
Video	Video
Screen Size	Screen Size 3.2"

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For a mid-range full frame camera, you cannot go wrong with the Nikon D780. For a good price, it has excellent resolution and built-in Wi-Fi. And if you are looking for video capabilities, this machine can offer you great 4K Ultra HD (UHD) videos.

One of the most significant benefits of this camera is its “highlight-weighted” metering. This allows the camera to meter light differently by looking at the highlights in the scene.

This gives you more control over the brightest areas. So it reduces the chance of overexposure and blown-out areas. This makes it great for really well-lit scenes, such as interior scenes and daytime events.

4. Canon 6D II

Lens Mount	Lens Mount Canon EF
Megapixels	Megapixels 26.2 MP
In-body Stabilization	In-body Stabilization
Viewfinder Type	Viewfinder Type Optical (pentaprism)
Autofocus Points	Autofocus Points 45
Maximum ISO (Native)	Maximum ISO (Native) 40,000
Frame Rate	Frame Rate 6.5 fps
Video	Video
Screen Size	Screen Size 3"

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With the Canon 6D Mark II, you get an impressive 26.2 MP resolution. This is a decent resolution if you wish to have your images printed. With this resolution, you can get great-quality prints up to 11 x 14 inches.

Both the 6.5 fps (frames per second) and the 45-point AF system are relatively low. They are not the best numbers compared to other full frame DSLRs on the market.

The ISO range runs from 100 to 40,000 but is expandable to 102,400. As a result, this camera performs great in low-light conditions. Overall, the Canon 6D Mark II is a professional camera with an expensive price tag. Still, it’s one of the best cameras in the DSLR world.

5. Sony a7R IV

Lens Mount	Lens Mount Sony FE
Megapixels	Megapixels 61.2 MP
In-body Stabilization	In-body Stabilization
Viewfinder Type	Viewfinder Type Electronic
Autofocus Points	Autofocus Points 425
Maximum ISO (Native)	Maximum ISO (Native) 32,000
Frame Rate	Frame Rate 10 fps
Video	Video
Screen Size	Screen Size 3"

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First, the images come from a 61.2 MP full frame CMOS sensor. So expect an outstanding amount of detail and quality from the Sony a7R IV. You can use this digital camera for all kinds of photography.

For focusing, the 425-point autofocus is a fantastic gift from the Gods. It is fun and fast, which works well alongside the in-camera image stabilizer. So it’s great for action photography too.

It’s perfect for making videos as well because it’s a 4K camera. And the camera body is also much lighter than most full frame DSLRs. So it’s a great portable camera body for a DSLR.

6. Nikon Z6 II

Lens Mount	Lens Mount Nikon Z
Megapixels	Megapixels 24.5 MP
In-body Stabilization	In-body Stabilization
Viewfinder Type	Viewfinder Type Electronic
Autofocus Points	Autofocus Points 273
Maximum ISO (Native)	Maximum ISO (Native) 51,200
Frame Rate	Frame Rate 14 fps
Video	Video
Screen Size	Screen Size 3.2"

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Among the Z series of Nikon, we recommend the Z6 II. It is particularly good for making videos. For photography, you can use the Nikon Z6 II in any field. Moreover, due to its size, it’s portable.

The autofocus system is speedy, and its image resolution is perfect. It also performs great in bad lighting conditions. This is due to the sensitivity range of ISO 100 to 51,200. And it reduces noise effectively.

So it provides every advantage a full frame mirrorless camera could provide.

7. Sony a7 IV

Lens Mount	Lens Mount Sony E
Megapixels	Megapixels 33 MP
In-body Stabilization	In-body Stabilization
Viewfinder Type	Viewfinder Type Electronic
Autofocus Points	Autofocus Points 759
Maximum ISO (Native)	Maximum ISO (Native) 51,200
Frame Rate	Frame Rate 10 fps
Video	Video
Screen Size	Screen Size 3"

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The Sony Alpha a7 IV is simply one of the best full frame cameras on the market. Moreover, as one of the best digital cameras, it has the power to beat DSLRs at their own game.

This monster comes with a 24 MP resolution and a hybrid AF system. The latter has a whopping 399 phase-detection points and 425 contrast focal points.

You get 10 fps, even when shooting silently. That’s the benefit of mirrorless cameras—no sound, as it has no moving parts. It’s around the same cost as the Canon 5D Mark III—for only the body. But it’s lighter, making it perfect for event and travel photography.

8. Canon R6

Lens Mount	Lens Mount Canon RF
Megapixels	Megapixels 20.1 MP
In-body Stabilization	In-body Stabilization
Viewfinder Type	Viewfinder Type Electronic
Autofocus Points	Autofocus Points 1,053
Maximum ISO (Native)	Maximum ISO (Native) 102,400
Frame Rate	Frame Rate 20 fps
Video	Video
Screen Size	Screen Size 3"

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The Canon EOS R6 mirrorless camera is perfect for beautifully capturing what you see. It gives great freedom for creativity. You can shoot in low light due to the sensitivity range of ISO 100 to102,400.

It’s a superb digital camera for taking photos. It’s fast, and you can shoot many images in a row, which makes it great for catching the decisive moment. But it’s perfect for shooting video too.

There is no limit to what you can capture. This camera allows you to have full control over your settings. It’s a very capable camera. And the technical details won’t stand in your way.

Conclusion

While a full frame camera is nice, it is not always necessary. Full frame sensor cameras have higher resolutions. But this only matters if you blow up your images to a large print format. Examples would be billboards or murals for advertising or commercial projects.

The cost between the high-end and low-end full frame DSLRs or mirrorless systems is around $2,000. This cost might not be worth it if you only blog and share your images online. You don’t need the extra megapixels. You could look at a cheaper full frame camera instead.

Perhaps you have the money. And maybe your field or style demands such high-quality resolution. If so, go for one of these best full frame cameras. We recommend the Nikon D850 if you want the best full frame camera on the market today!

Our Top 3 Choices for The Best Full Frame Camera

Nikon D850

Canon EOS 1D X Mark III

Nikon D780