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Camera gifts for your doting dad

From pocket shooters to digital SLRs to cameras that fly, here's a list of options that will help make your dad the memory keeper for your family.

Joshua Goldman
Managing Editor Josh Goldman is a laptop expert and has been writing about and reviewing them since built-in Wi-Fi was an optional feature. He also covers almost anything connected to a PC, including keyboards, mice, USB-C docks and PC gaming accessories. In addition, he writes about cameras, including action cams and drones. And while he doesn't consider himself a gamer, he spends entirely too much time playing them.
Lori Grunin Senior Editor / Advice
I've been reviewing hardware and software, devising testing methodology and handed out buying advice for what seems like forever; I'm currently absorbed by computers and gaming hardware, but previously spent many years concentrating on cameras. I've also volunteered with a cat rescue for over 15 years doing adoptions, designing marketing materials, managing volunteers and, of course, photographing cats.
Expertise Photography, PCs and laptops, gaming and gaming accessories
Joshua Goldman
Lori Grunin
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1 of 11 Sarah Tew/CNET

Panasonic Lumix ZS100

Whether a budding enthusiast or full-auto fan, the ZS100 delivers the upgrade in image quality a 1-inch sensor affords with enough of a zoom lens for a lot of framing flexibility and sufficiently fast to capture life in action. Plus it supports 4K video for the sharpest capture possible.

Check out the rest of our Gadget Gifts for Dad on Father's Day.

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2 of 11 Sarah Tew/CNET

Panasonic Lumix LX100

If your dad's really into photography, this compact is one of the best you can get without breaking the bank.

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3 of 11 Lori Grunin/CNET

Sony A6000

Any guy downsizing from a dSLR or upgrading from a compact will find this a great interchangeable-lens model. With the image quality and performance of a dSLR, the A6000 is a generation old, but that just means it's inexpensive enough to make an affordable yet terrific gift.

Check out the rest of our Gadget Gifts for Dad on Father's Day.

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4 of 11 Sarah Tew/CNET

Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark II

A small dSLR alternative, one of the best things about the Micro Four Thirds interchangeable-lens cameras is that the lenses are tiny -- you can throw five in your bag and barely feel them. The E-M10 Mark II is fast, with solid photo quality and a useful feature set, plus Olympus' policy of adding features via firmware upgrades makes this one a long-term choice.

Check out the rest of our Gadget Gifts for Dad on Father's Day.

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5 of 11 Sarah Tew / CNET

Panasonic Lumix FZ1000

The FZ1000 is a good fit for dads who want the look and feel of a dSLR, better image quality than a point-and-shoot and a long zoom lens they don't need to worry about changing whether they're shooting landscapes, portraits, birds or sports.

Check out the rest of our Gadget Gifts for Dad on Father's Day.

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6 of 11 Lori Grunin/CNET

Ricoh Theta S

This is perfect for dads who like to show off gadgets that a lot of people haven't seen before. With a single button press the Theta S instantly captures a spherical photo that you can send to your phone and upload to Facebook or Twitter to for the ultimate 360-degree selfie. Oh, and it captures video, too, if you want to really capture your surrounding for people to explore.

Check out the rest of our Gadget Gifts for Dad on Father's Day.

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7 of 11 Sarah Tew/CNET

GoPro Hero4 Session

If you're looking for the best overall GoPro to get your dad, the Hero4 Silver is what you want. However, the cube-shaped Session is a favorite, too, for its small size, waterproof body and single-button operation. Its $200 price helps as well.

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8 of 11 Joshua Goldman/CNET

TomTom Bandit

If your dad likes to spend more time capturing life and sharing it than sitting behind a computer editing, you'll want to get the Bandit. Sensors built into the camera are able to sense when something exciting is recorded and tag those sections of video. You can then wirelessly connect the camera to a smartphone and, simply by shaking your phone, the camera will stitch those moments into a video to share with friends and family instantly.

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9 of 11 Joshua Goldman/CNET

DJI Phantom 4

This is the top consumer camera drone at the moment. If your dad already has every other kind of camera for the land, it's time he captures life from the sky, too. The Phantom 4 has all the bells and whistles, though, so if something more streamlined is what you have in mind, check out the company's Phantom 3 Standard.

Check out the rest of our Gadget Gifts for Dad on Father's Day.

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10 of 11 Sarah Tew/CNET

Nikon D5300

This model might be a little old, but that just means you can get dad a great general-purpose camera, with lens, for less than $800.

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11 of 11 Sarah Tew / CNET

Canon EOS Rebel T6i

A nice general-purpose camera that's a step-up from a phone or compact, the T6i is sure to please the dad who attends all your special events.

Check out the rest of our Gadget Gifts for Dad on Father's Day.

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