Although they have been around for decades, digital cameras are still relatively young in terms of technology. But that doesn’t mean they don’t have their favorite icons; In this article, we have selected some of the prominent and groundbreaking models that are changing the game.

And on a side note, if you’re interested in owning a piece of history, you can pick up one or more of these models for a song on the second-hand market. They may not be brand new, but most will still be capable of taking great photos.

Kodak DCS-100

The world’s first digital single-lens reflex (DSLR) camera, this 1991 model was aimed squarely at the professional market and was based heavily on existing film camera bodies. Even just I found a beautiful photo today It is a difficult job.

Despite using a 1.3MP sensor that would be laughable in 2024, it was very expensive (around $25,000) and required a bundle of extra kit (like a separate digital storage drive that could hold close to 150 images); the installation weighed about 7 kg.

Canon EOS 300D/Digital Rebel

The EOS 300D (known in the US by the much more stylish name ‘Digital Rebel’) was probably the first DSLR designed for normal people to own and use. Its $1,000 price point made it accessible to a market where high-end digital photography had been priced out so far, while autofocus, a rear screen, and compatibility with Canon’s existing EF lens lineup made it nice and easy to use.

Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Almost every digital camera today shoots Full HD video, but 15-odd years ago this was a rarity on DSLR cameras. In 2008, the Canon EOS 5D Mark II changed all that by not only becoming the first Canon DSLR to support video recording, but by doing so in crisp 1080p resolution. It’s impossible to overstate how groundbreaking this is for hobby filmmakers; For the first time, they were able to shoot professional-looking videos with a camera that was affordable, lightweight and available at any electronics store.

Panasonic Lumix GF1

The Lumix GF1 wasn’t the world’s first mirrorless digital camera to support interchangeable lenses; That honor went to its predecessor, the bulky and chunky G1. What the GF1 did was improve things enough that you can see why giving up a DSLR would be worth it. Thanks to its slim, lightweight body (the entire setup can fit in a jacket pocket, thanks to Panasonic’s tiny 20mm pancake lens), this was a nimble and elegant camera that could take gorgeous digital photos without needing its own case.

Leica M8

The M8, the first digital model of Leica’s long-running M series rangefinder cameras, was released in 2006 with a 10.3 MP Kodak-designed CCD sensor. Just like the folk who were outraged by Bob Dylan’s ‘go electric’ in the 1960s, some cinephiles couldn’t stomach the idea of ​​this 35mm manual focus mainstay embracing what they saw as fashionable. But the M8’s tank-like build quality and support for Leica’s unique range of lenses meant that the M series’ transition to digital was smoother than many expected.

Sony RX1

What was Sony thinking when it put a full-frame sensor in a pocketable point-and-shoot camera? The company’s willingness to innovate in ways that established rivals can’t or won’t has been a big part of why Sony is such a major player in the digital camera market, and that’s built into this 24.2MP compact. Perfect shots with the 35mm F/2.0 Zeiss lens.

Fujifilm GFX 50S

Companies like Hasselblad have been producing medium format digital cameras for a while, but there was nothing as affordable, accessible and portable as the Fujifilm GFX 50S, released in 2017. Despite its rather slim and tidy size (it weighed under 750 grams without lens) this body contained a powerful and massive 51.4 MP sensor, 1.7 times the size of its full-frame equivalent. It delivered incredibly detailed photos, and its size meant it performed excellently in environments where traditional medium format cameras were impractical.