Aside from the Sony α9 III’s global shutter and some cool mirrorless options (Fujifilm X100 VI, Panasonic S9, and Canon EOS R5 II come to mind), 2024 is full of small tweaks and minor improvements. It was a boring year for cameras. Except for DJI’s Neo. Aerial photography is finally available to anyone for $200.
DJI had a very good year, but not a great year
DJI announced its product lineup this year with the Sword of Damocles hanging over its head. The U.S. government had planned to ban the company’s products by the end of 2024 over potential espionage concerns. It wasn’t until the last minute that DJI was able to get a reprieve, thanks to lobbying by public safety groups that rely heavily on the company’s drones. The company has until the end of 2025 to prove that its products pose no risks.
The company’s list of camera gear for 2024 began with the Avata 2, an FPV drone that improves on almost everything about the popular original at a lower price. DJI then announced the $299 Mini 4K. Also on display will be the Action 5 Pro, DJI’s best action cam to date, the Air 3S, a high-performance drone with a relatively large 1-inch sensor camera, and the Mic Mini, an affordable wireless microphone system It was done.
But its biggest product was the Neo drone, announced in September. It took the idea of a simple drone for creators first developed by Snap with the Pixy (which has since been discontinued), but lowered the price and added AI technology.
Steve Dent of Engadget
Neo is a very lightweight drone that can be operated without a license and is safe for humans thanks to its covered propellers. Even beginners can use it right out of the box without any training. Just place it in your hand and press a button to take off and take cool programmed shots like a “drone”.
But just because the Neo is approachable doesn’t mean it’s basic. If you prefer to pilot Neo manually, it supports DJI controllers, FPV goggles, and you can even fly using your smartphone. It can reach speeds of up to 18 miles per hour, or higher in manual mode, and has great maneuverability. Thanks to its built-in AI features, it can track you even when you’re walking or riding a bike, making it a vlogger’s best friend. What’s more, it captures all footage at 4K 30p, which is surprisingly good quality considering the price.
Neo’s main drawback is that it makes a banshee-like noise, which can be difficult to handle in public. But overall, it’s a reasonably priced, very useful product that manages to capture the zeitgeist better than any other camera product this year.
Canon and Fujifilm were the strongest for the rest.
My favorite mirrorless camera this year was Canon’s EOS R5 II. That’s not because of any fancy new technology, but rather the fact that it’s a near-perfect hybrid camera.
Steve Dent of Engadget
It starts with a new 45-megapixel stacked sensor that offers a blend of speed and resolution that we’ve only seen on the Sony A1 or Nikon Z9 (both fairly expensive). It also features the company’s most advanced AI autofocus system. These enable ultra-fast shooting at up to 30fps in RAW mode. Thanks to the advanced AF system, there are very few blurry photos even at this speed. At the same time, the 45-megapixel photos offer good detail and a relatively high dynamic range, with accurate and pleasing colors.
At the same time, it offers incredible video capabilities with 8K RAW shooting at up to 60fps and 4K 120p. As with photos, video quality is also exceptional thanks to the new CLog 2 capture that allows for higher dynamic range. Additionally, the EOS R5 II is a very easy-to-use camera with near-perfect ergonomics.
Another camera that I really enjoyed using was the Fujifilm X100 VI compact. This camera deserved a ton of press this year. Its stripped-down nature, vintage look, film simulation, and ease of use make photography a real joy. At the same time, it is an amazing technology with a higher resolution 40 million pixel sensor, fast enough shooting speed, stabilization and stable video specifications.
In the end, I think Panasonic’s S9 deserves praise for trying something new. It’s one of the smallest full-frame cameras I’ve ever seen, but it has features like 6K video and in-body image stabilization. But the main new trick is the built-in LUT simulation. It’s similar to Fujifilm’s X100 VI, but for video. Combined with a large sensor, it becomes an interesting camera.
What to expect from the camera world in 2025
Steve Dent of Engadget
Despite a possible ban in the US, DJI will likely continue its ambitious product release schedule into 2025. Rumor has it that the company is developing a foldable model called the DJI Flip, and is likely to release a successor to the Mavic 3 Pro sometime next year. According to recent FCC filings. Apart from that, most drones and cameras tend to upgrade quickly, so we can expect to see successors to the Action 5 Pro cam, Mini 4 Pro drone, and other models.
Elsewhere, there are interesting rumors that Fujifilm will launch a 1-inch half-sensor compact that’s like a digital version of its popular Pentax 17 film camera, and could also take diptych (side-by-side) photos. .
Otherwise, Sony is expected to release an update to its popular 2021 a7 IV that will improve shooting speed and other specs to make it more competitive with competitors. Canon is very likely to release a new camera in the same price range with improved specs, the R6 III. Introducing the new Nikon Z5 III model with improved performance. And Panasonic plans to revamp its S1 and S1R models. Manufacturers may jump on compact trains now that Fujifilm has proven the category is viable. This should be good news for all photographers.
