Aside from the universal shutter in Sony’s A9 III and some cool mirrorless options – the Fujifilm X100 VI, Panasonic S9 and Canon EOS R5 II come to mind – 2024 was a tough year for cameras full of minor fixes and minor upgrades. Except for DJI’s Neo. For $200, aerial photography is now accessible to anyone.
DJI is very good, not so good year
DJI released its product list this year with the sword of Damocles hanging over its head: the US government was planning to ban the sale of the company’s products by the end of 2024 due to possible inspection fears. It was only at the last minute that DJI got a reprieve, thanks in large part to lobbying the public safety groups that rely heavily on its drones. It now has until the end of 2025 to prove that its products do not pose a risk.
The company’s lineup of camera gear for 2024 started with the Avata 2, an FPV drone that improved almost everything from the popular original at a reduced price. DJI then announced the $299 Mini 4K. We also saw the Action 5 Pro, DJI’s best action camera to date, and the Air 3S, a powerful drone with a very large 1-inch sensor camera and Mic Mini, an affordable wireless microphone system.
Its biggest launch, however, was the Neo drone, which was announced in September. It took the idea of a simple drone for creators, first pioneered (and then demoted) by Snap with the Pixy, while lowering the price and adding AI technology.
Neo is a very light aircraft that can be launched without a license and is safe for people due to its covered propellers. It’s ready for beginner use right out of the box with no training — just put it in your hand and press a button, it will fly away and capture cool “dronies” styled shots.
Just because the Neo is affordable doesn’t mean it’s basic, though. If you want to fly the Neo manually, it supports DJI controllers, FPV goggles and can be flown using a smartphone. It can hit speeds of up to 18 MPH or even faster in manual mode, and is easy to control. Thanks to the built-in AI features, it can track you when you walk or cycle, making you a vlogger’s best friend. Finally, it can capture all your videos in 4K 30p, with surprisingly good quality considering the price point.
My biggest gripe with the Neo is the banshee-like noise it creates, which can be deceiving in public spaces. Overall, though, it’s a very useful product at a great price and has managed to capture the zeitgeist like no other camera product this year.
Canon and Fujifilm were much better than others
My favorite mirrorless camera this year was Canon’s EOS R5 II. That’s not due to any amazing new technology, but the fact that it’s probably a decent hybrid camera.
That starts with a new 45-megapixel sensor that offers a combination of speed and resolution that we’ve only seen in Sony’s A1 or the Nikon Z9 – both of which are very expensive. It also features the company’s most advanced AI autofocus system. All that allows for fast shooting speeds of up to 30fps in RAW mode. Its advanced AF system makes blurry photos a rarity even at those speeds. At the same time, 45 megapixel images deliver exceptional detail and a relatively high dynamic range, with accurate, pleasing colors.
At the same time, it offers amazing video capabilities, with 8K RAW shooting at up to 60fps and 4K 120p. Like the photos, the video quality is exceptional thanks to the new CLog 2 capture that allows a high dynamic range. On top of all that, the EOS R5 II is a great camera to use, with almost perfect ergonomics.
Another camera I really enjoyed using was Fujifilm’s X100 VI compact. The camera deserves the great value of the device it received this year, because its reduced nature, its classic look, the simulation of the film and the good handling return the fun to the pictures. At the same time, it is a technical marvel with a 40-megapixel resolution sensor, decently fast shooting speed, stabilization and strong video details.
In the end, I think Panasonic’s S9 deserves to be congratulated for trying something new. It’s one of the smallest full-frame cameras I’ve seen, yet it offers features like 6K video and in-body stabilization. But the main new trick is the built-in LUT simulation- kind of like Fujifilm’s X100 VI, but for video. That, combined with the large sensor, makes it an interesting camera.
What to expect in the world of cameras in 2025
Despite the possible ban in the US, DJI is likely to continue with its flagship product release plan in 2025. According to rumors, it is working on a foldable model called the DJI Flip and is likely to release a successor to the Mavic 3 Pro sometime next year. according to the latest FCC. Besides, it tends to have a faster development cadence for most drones and cameras, so expect to see successors to its Action 5 Pro camera, Mini 4 Pro drone and other models.
Elsewhere, one interesting rumor has Fujifilm releasing a one-inch, compact sensor-half that can resemble the digital version of the famous Pentax 17 film camera and may even allow diptych photos (side by side).
Otherwise, Sony should release an update of its popular A7 IV launched in 2021 with higher shooting speed and other features to better match the competition. It is very likely that Canon will release a new camera in that same price category, the R6 III, which also has improved specifications. We can see the new Nikon Z5 III model that works better. And Panasonic is due to update its S1 and S1R models. Manufacturers may be jumping on the compact bandwagon, now that Fujifilm has revealed its working class – something that could be good news for all photographers.
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