Two camera’s this year caught my eye for doing something no other cameras have done in their price range before. I thought them both deserving of my camera of the year award. Many people ask me for recommendations for cameras and if you are in the market, you’ll won’t be disappointed in either.
Sony RX100 20MP 
The Sony packs a serious punch. When it was released The New York Times named it “The Best Pocket Camera Ever Made”. The problem with most pocket size cameras is not their “megapixels” but their sensor size. Sensor size is muuuuuucccchhh more important than megapixels. Professional cameras have big sensors and pocket cameras have small meaning you get crappy photos. The Sony packed a pro size sensor, professional quality lens, fast autofocus (you’ll catch your kids in focus now) and a whole ton of features that professionals love. But anyone can use this camera!
Nikon D600 24.3 MP 
The Nikon ended up being a purchase for our business this year and I love this camera. It was the lowest price Full Sensor (see a theme here about sensor size) on the market when it came out. The image quality out of the sensor is unbelievable. I can’t recommend this camera enough. It’s quick to autofocus (not as quick as a D3s or D4 though.) 24 megapixels allows for more cropping of images after the photo is taken. Dual slots allow me to backup photos to a 2nd card which provides extra peace of mind. The video quality and ability to plug in a mic, blew me away as well. I reviewed this camera extensively on Amazon.
Runner Up
I love the Nikon D3200 for photos and video also. It is a great first DSLR to own. Read my review at Amazon for more details.