Jason Schneider

If there were a Photokina Award for the greatest number of cool new products by an American manufacturer, GoPro would certainly be in the running. The innovative folks that put action cams on the map unveiled two new Hero5 cameras and their first-ever drone, along with some interesting accessories. 

Combining hypermodern styling with the classic high-performance modular design Hasselblad has pioneered for 75 years, the new Hasselblad X1D is a striking statement that promises to move the company forward and it’s certainly generating lots of excitement at Photokina. And two new H-Series models confirm Hassleblad’s commitment to moving that line forward.

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens cameras have become increasingly popular among enthusiasts and pros because they provide a DSLR-like shooting experience in a lighter, more compact form factor, along with robust feature sets and significant technical advantages. The top models deliver pro-caliber performance and hi-res/high-magnification EVFs with incredibly rapid refresh rates that display the image captured by the sensor in real time.

Active lifestyle cameras are aimed at photographers who don’t want to worry about their equipment during their adventures, but do want to capture images they can be proud of—even under challenging conditions. All seven cameras on this list are virtually indestructible, high-performance compacts that are perfect for skiing, surfing, taking to the beach, boating, hiking or any other activity where an unprotected DSLR or mirrorless camera could be damaged.