Looking to buy a trusty Japanese camera? Here are the best Japanese camera brands that you can rely on! Check it out!
Whether you’re a professional photographer or you love to take random photoshoots, cameras are the best option to get the perfect captures you want.
Although we’re blessed with smartphones that have a great camera quality, nothing can come as great as traditional cameras.
Using a camera to capture pictures grants you a different experience than using smartphones. If you’re pondering about buying a new camera to embrace your inner photographer then Japanese cameras are the best.
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They’re carefully crafted and are of superior quality which let you take the best quality pictures.
To help you find the best Japanese camera brands, my friends and I have tried and tested a couple of cameras from famous Japanese camera brands. Check them out below!
Best Japanese Camera Brands: Quick Glance
Best Japanese Camera Brands | Best-selling Camera | Best For |
Canon | Canon EOS Rebel T7 DSLR | Basic photoshoots and beginner-friendly |
Nikon | Nikon Z 7II FX | Stills and recording video |
Sony | Sony a7 III ILCE7M3/B | Best for shooting photos and videos |
Fujifilm | Fujifilm X-T3 | Both beginners and professionals |
Panasonic | Panasonic LUMIX FZ80 4K Digital Camera | Ideal for travelers |
Pentax | Pentax K-70 Weather-Sealed DSLR Camera | Professionals |
Page Contents
Top Japanese Camera Brands
Canon
When speaking of cameras, the name that innately comes to our mind is Canon. It has been and is one of the most popular camera brands in history.
Canon began as an optical industry company in 1934 in Japan and was initially named Precision Optical Industry Co. Ltd.
In 1947, the company was renamed Canon Camera Co. Inc and is presently known as Canon Inc. Canon is one of the leading producers of cameras, lenses, printers, scanners, etc.
The company is known for producing a variety of cameras such as compact digital cameras, DSLRs, and video cameras.
Best-selling Canon Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T7 DSLR
As someone with only a little knowledge of photography, I decided to purchase the Canon EOS Rebel T7 DSLR camera.
And it’s one of the best decisions I’ve made in my life. For a DSLR camera, the EOS Rebel T7 was quite convenient to use.
It was easy to carry and take pictures with. What I personally like about this camera is that it has a traditional appearance with built-in advanced features.
It has a 24.1 megapixel CMOS sensor and impressive image stabilization. You can also record videos using the Rebel T7 and it has a video capture resolution of 1080p which is perfect for shooting movies.
It has a battery life of 500 photos and you can also turn it into a web camera by using the EOS Utility Webcam Beta Software. You can even take high-quality clear pictures during the night time.
Pros:
- Beginner-friendly
- High-quality video capture resolution
- 95% viewing coverage
- Can be used as a webcam
- Impressive appearance
- Affordable
Cons:
- Not many advanced features
Nikon
Nikon is another famous Japanese camera brand that was founded in 1917. It was earlier known as Japan Optical Industries Co. Ltd and was renamed Nikon Corporation in 1988. Nikon is also the eighth largest chip manufacturing company and also one of the leading manufacturers of digital cameras.
Some of the prominent products manufactured by Nikon include cameras, lenses, ophthalmic lenses, microscopes, binoculars, rifle scopes, etc.
The best-selling cameras of Nikon are FSLR cameras, DSLR cameras, compact digital cameras, digital mirrorless cameras, and underwater film cameras.
Best-selling Nikon Camera: Nikon Z 7II FX
If you want to get your hands on the latest camera for professional shoots then Nikon Z 711 FX is what you should get.
You can capture perfect stills with this camera and it has the ability to capture several shots in seconds with its Dual EXPEED image processors. The Z 7II captures images with vibrant colors that’ll look just like seeing through your eyes or even better.
This camera came in handy for me when I wanted to record videos and the quality is unbelievable. The video resolution is 2160p with 4K UHD quality which makes it ideal for shooting short movies. The camera body has a strong grip that can be helpful for taking vertical images as well.
Pros:
- Mirrorless camera
- 4K UHD video quality
- Water-resistant
- Long battery life
- Faster and precise shots
Cons:
- Expensive
- Suitable for professionals only
Sony
Sony is a worldwide known Japanese electronics brand that manufactures a distinct portfolio of products. It’s one of the world’s largest electronic manufacturing companies that has a net worth of $10 billion USD.
Sony is also the second-largest manufacturer of cameras and the largest manufacturer of image sensors. The billion-dollar company also offers a plethora of cameras such as camcorders, action cameras, digital cameras, and mirrorless cameras.
Best-selling Sony camera: Sony a7 III ILCE7M3/B
The Sony a7 III model is the epitome of perfection, looking at the design of the camera you can tell that it’s one of the most aesthetically pleasing cameras on the list.
The bronze outline on the camera lens is what makes it look outstanding. When talking about its performance, I must say that it’s the best mirrorless camera that can capture flabbergasting images with its 24.2mp BSI image sensor.
It has a 1.8x readout speed that can capture perfect stills with vibrant colors. It provides you with 93% image coverage which means you can take images from high lengths with great quality.
Shooting videos with the a7 model with 2160p video resolution can let you capture the best moments of your life. You can even capture pristine pictures of the night sky without a hassle as it has a convenient autofocus function.
Pros:
- Ergonomic and sleek design
- Comes with a variety of components
- High-quality video resolution
- Easy to carry
- 1.8x speed captures pristine images
- Long battery life for video recording
- Advanced 24.2 mp sensor
Cons:
- On the expensive side.
Fujifilm
Fujifilm is one of the most used camera brands at the beginning of the 21st century. Fujifilm was founded in 1934 and was named Fuji Photo Film Co. Ltd. The company was known for manufacturing digital cameras, photographic films, color films, etc.
Best-selling Fujifilm Camera: Fujifilm X-T3
If you’re a photography student who wants to start off small and simple then the Fujifilm X-T3 is the ideal pick for you.
It’s a mirrorless digital camera that has a 26.1mp Trans CMOS 4 sensor that’s perfect for capturing clear-cut shots and also has 4 image-processing engines.
The X-T3 model has a 3.69 million dot OLED color viewfinder and blackout-free burst shooting that helps you capture fast-moving objects without blurring.
What I personally like about the X-T3 camera model is that it has 4K/60p recording which helps you record videos with superior resolution and quality.
Shooting videos during the nighttime has been much easier with Fujifilm X-T3. It comes with 3x optical zoom to help you capture far-away shots with much ease.
Pros:
- 26.1mp Trans CMOS 4 sensor for high pixelated images.
- Weather-resistant.
- Perfect for shooting 4K UHD high-resolution videos.
- Ideal for beginners and professionals.
- Black-out free burst for shooting vibrant pictures
Cons:
- Not worth the price.
Panasonic
Panasonic is a famous Japanese electronics company that was founded in 1935. The company was named Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. (MEI) and as of 2008, the company changed its name to Panasonic Corporation.
Panasonic initially started as a manufacturer of lightbulb sockets and then started manufacturing consumer electronics like cameras.
Panasonic Best-selling camera: Panasonic LUMIX FZ80 4K Digital Camera
Out of all the digital cameras listed here I’d certainly say that the Panasonic LUMIX FZ80 is one of the most convenient cameras to use without too many intricate functions.
This camera offers you auto and manual exposure control types which means you can completely control how you want the frames to appear.
It has a high-resolution video quality of 2160p which lets you shoot clear videos even in the brightest of day and the darkest of night.
It has an 18.1mp MOS sensor and 60x zoom lens to capture clear-cut pictures from farther.
You’ll fall in love with its low-light performance which captures impressive pictures during nighttime. It’s hands down a worthy camera for beginners and amateurs in photography.
Pros:
- 2160p video resolution
- Compact body
- Wi-Fi connectivity and USB charging to mobiles
- 18.1mp MOS sensor
- 60x zoom lens
- Low light performance
- Affordable
- Beginner-friendly
Pentax
Pentax is an unknown name to most people but it’s one of the best electronics brands in Japan. Pentax is the brand name used by Ricoh company to manufacture and distribute cameras such as DSLR cameras, CCTV cameras, binoculars, rifle scopes, etc.
Pentax best-selling camera: Pentax K-70 Weather-Sealed DSLR Camera
While Pentax is an unpopular camera brand it’s one of the reliable Japanese camera brands like Canon and Nikon.
It has a perfectly built design with a strong grip that lets you capture images from different angles. This DSLR camera has a 24.24mp CMOS sensor and a 1080p video resolution which makes it an ideal camera for professional photographers and videographers.
It also has a variety of built-in features such as Wi-Fi, LCD display, and night vision red light that help you capture pictures at night with superior quality. The Pentax K-70 is dustproof and weather-resistant that can even capture images and videos underwater. It has a built-in shake reduction mechanism that avoids vibration when taking pictures.
Pros:
- Ergonomic body and vintage design
- 24.24mp CMOS sensor
- Night vision red light
- Built-in Wi-Fi and shake reduction mechanism
- 1080p video resolution
- Weather-resistant and dustproof
- Affordable
Best Japanese Camera Brands: FAQs
Are any cameras made in Japan?
Japan is known for its major production of high-quality consumer electronics. There are several popular camera brands that were founded in Japan such as Canon, Sony, Pentax, Fujifilm, Nikon, and Panasonic.
What is the best Japanese camera?
The best Japanese cameras in 2021 are
Canon EOS Rebel T7 DSLR
Nikon Z 6II FX
Sony a7 III ILCE7M3/B
Fujifilm X-T3
Panasonic LUMIX FZ80 4K Digital Camera
Pentax K-70 Weather-Sealed DSLR Camera
Which camera do the Japanese use?
Japanese camera brands are dominating the digital camera market. The widely used camera brands by the Japanese are Pentax and Nikon. Over 25% of the Japanese people prefer Pentax cameras and nearly 20% prefer Nikon cameras.
Which is the number one camera company in the world?
The number one camera company in the world is Canon Inc. Canon is a Japanese company that dominates the world digital camera market. It manufactures a plethora of cameras from DSLRs, compact digital cameras, video cameras, etc.