Best Camera For Night Photography To Take Stunning Photos
Are you finding your night photo shoots burdensome, then probably you're not using the right camera? I, Stefan, have 10 years of experience in photography, understand that taking night photos and videos is time-consuming. However, by choosing the proper night shot camera, you can become an expert in this field. So, what is the best camera for night photography? If you are here to know about that, kindly read this article.
If you ask me to use a regular camera for night photography, I would say you can, but the results wouldn't be as expected because certain features are desired in a night camera like high-dynamic range, a large sensor, and much more. In this article, I've not only mentioned the best night photography cameras but also have listed a buying guide to help you choose one easily. So, let's get started.
TIPS FOR NIGHT PHOTOGRAPHY
REVIEWS OF THE 10 BEST CAMERAS FOR NIGHT PHOTOGRAPHY
BEST CANON CAMERAS FOR NIGHT PHOTOGRAPHY
1. CANON EOS 5D - BEST DSLR FOR NIGHT PHOTOGRAPHY
PRODUCT DETAILS:
FEATURES:
My first pick for the best cameras for night photography is this amazing camera from Canon EOS 5D series. You get all the features needed to take amazing night sky and night city photos with this 30 MP full-frame camera.
Wait it's not over. Go through the design features and performance of this camera to understand how supreme this Canon night shot camera is.
DESIGN:
A completely weather sealed design to give you the comfort of using the camera even in harsh weather conditions! Unlike its predecessor Mark III released in 2012, the build quality of this camera is excellent.
Yes, previously the hand grip wasn't sturdy and also the Mark III version was a bit heavy (950 grams) and bulky. Whereas this camera is comparatively less in weight (800 grams).
The camera body is made of magnesium alloy thereby adding to the durability of the product. The only drawback with the camera is it lacks in-body stabilization. So, make sure you're using a lens that has IS in it.
PERFORMANCE:
This camera is designed with the new 30.4MP CMOS sensor and 6 Dual Digic processors. The Auto Focus technology in this camera flagship is equipped with 61 autofocus points. Among these points, 41 points are cross-type with an enhanced coverage rate of up to 24 percent compared to the Mark III.
The 4K video feature is an added benefit to this camera. With this feature, you can record either 24 pixels or 30 pixels along with a 1.64x crop. However, all the footage can be captured as a Motion JPEG with this camera.
But aren't we missing the main thing - that is ISO feature? We know that night photographs requires a camera capable of handling higher ISO's. In that case this could be one of the best night cameras because it has an enhanced ISO range from 100-32000.
Also, the white balance system and the AF metering system works well with this camera making it the finest Canon camera for night shots.
WHAT I LIKED ABOUT THIS CAMERA
- Responsive touch screen.
- Stellar image quality.
2. CANON EOS R - BEST MIRRORLESS CAMERA FOR NIGHT PHOTOGRAPHY
PRODUCT DETAILS:
FEATURES:
In 2018, Canon launched its first mirrorless full-frame camera in the market, which is this E0S R. Now, we have developed versions like EOS R5 and EOS R6. But, even today, this older model is on-trend, and it can help you a lot in night photography.
The cameras' tack sharp continuous autofocus made me list this as another choice of night photography camera. If you want an iPhone sort of experience, then this is a good buying choice.
DESIGN:
When compared to the previous camera, this is much lightweight. It weighs only 580g, so if you're looking for portable night time camera, this is the one.
In terms of its construction, the camera body is made of magnesium alloy like the 5D Mark IV. Also, it is weatherproof.
You get a 3.15 inch LCD touchscreen so that you can easily zoom in, zoom out or change any camera settings instantly.
As it was the first model in the Canon mirrorless line, it doesn't come with IS. So, if you're in want of IS, you can try using the EOS R5.
PERFORMANCE:
For night photography, you mustn't get shadows on the subjects' faces. And this night shots camera gives perfect control overshadows, so you are guaranteed the best shots with this camera.
Also, the quality of the images is ultimate because it has a 30MP Dual Pixel CMOS sensor inside.
Moving on to the ISO sensitivity of this camera, as we know, the better the ISO, the better the camera will perform at night. With that, you can never go wrong with this camera it is has a native ISO range of 100-40000.
Lastly, this Z range full-frame camera has a new lens mount that opts for a throat diameter of 54mm, similar to the EF lens mount of Canon.
Also, it comes with the EF-EOS R mount adapter with the control ring, in-built polarizing filter, and in-built variable neutral density filter.
So, if that sounds good, book one now using the link!
WHAT I LIKED ABOUT THIS CAMERA
- Good control customization.
BEST NIKON CAMERA FOR NIGHT SHOTS
3. NIKON Z6 - BEST CAMERA FOR LONG EXPOSURE
PRODUCT DETAILS:
FEATURES:
A perfect camera if nightscape/night sky photography is your passion. Also, long exposure night shots with tack sharpness is what this Nikon camera gives you.
It costs around 1700$, but you get all the top features needed for your night photography sessions like better handling in low-lights, dynamic range, and contrast.
DESIGN:
Unlike the cameras stated above, which weren't image stabilized, this one is so you can have long exposure shots without any image blur.
I liked the way this camera is manufactured. It has an LCD screen on the front and controls to easily change the ISO settings, white balance, aperture, and exposure.
The Nikon Z series uses the FTZ mount adapter, which allows the photographer to capture the moments without any limitations.
FOCUS PEAKING: What is it? It is one of the popular design features of this camera. So, it highlights the areas in the frame that are in focus as red spots. On the contrary, if you don't find anything highlighted, the subject isn't in focus, which will help you to get sharp shots.
PERFORMANCE:
No wonder why this camera is a tempting camera for filmmakers and photographers. With this camera, you can capture the full-width 4K UHD video from the beginning. This is due to the firmware upgrade.
The Nikon Z6 boasts the improved Eye AutoFocus system with animal eye AutoFocus to improve object tracking while in motion.
ISO RANGE: 100-51,200.Splendid! If you have a normal lens but still want to take nightscapes, this camera will be beneficial because it has better sensitivity to light.
But all these are common in most cameras? Then what is special about this. If that's your query, let me tell you. I've tried using the Nikon D700 and this Z6. In the former model, you have to remove the filter and then focus on the subject.
However, I directly zoom in to a star with the ND filter on my device with this camera. I do this because the "Live view" helps me to view the picture before snapping a shot directly.
With my experience, manual focus works best in night photography, and this camera will give you a joyous experience with that. I can guarantee you.
WHAT I LIKED ABOUT THIS CAMERA
BEST SONY NIGHT SHOT CAMERAS
4. SONY ALPHA 7 II - BEST FULL FRAME CAMERA FOR NIGHT SHOTS
PRODUCT DETAILS:
FEATURES:
A budget-friendly compact night shot camera with advanced features including 5-SteadyShot image stabilization, eye tracking, 24MP sensor, and much more.
It is Sony's fourth launch in its Alpha 7 lineup. When comparing this camera with the other a7 series, the A 7 II version has an improved AF performance and better handling.
DESIGN:
The 5-axis image stabilization can reduce the blur from five different directions like vertical, horizontal, yaw, pitch, and roll. The solid body of the camera comes with magnesium alloy construction to shoot the moment even at night.
Also, it comes with moisture and dust seals to protect the camera. Further, the grip of the camera is designed with a pronounced thumb ridge for flexible handling.
This night camera comes with an E-mount lens that will well-suit particularly for shooting videos with movie-friendly features like zoom control, smooth focusing, and aperture control.
PERFORMANCE:
When it comes to performance, the signature hybrid AF system of the camera features 25 contrast-detection points and 117 phase-detection points. These detection points are used to enhance the tracking performance of the camera.
Alongside, it features AF lock mode to focus and shoot the moving objects and has a simple control layout for easy operation.
But the only downside about the camera is it doesn't offer a good ISO range like the previous ones. The ISO of this camera ranges from 100-25,600; however, it is expandable on the low end only to 50. So, as per my view, this night photography camera will aid beginners but not professionals.
WHAT I LIKED ABOUT THIS CAMERA
- Improved ergonomic.
- Sharp image quality.
6. SONY ALPHA A6400 - BEST CHEAP CAMERA FOR NIGHT PHOTOGRAPHY
PRODUCT DETAILS:
Next up in the list of best night photography cameras is the Sony a6400. It is a full-frame mirrorless interchangeable lens camera that comes with a 24MP APS-C sensor. This camera comes with some additional features like a tilting touch screen that can be used for vlogging or selfies.
Also, it comes with an upgraded AutoFocus system with 425 Phase or Contrast detection points. Hence the upgraded AF will improve the focus speed and tracking. At 11fps, the continuous capturing will remain the same hence, you can shoot 4K Ultra HD videos.
The 4D focus system of the camera boasts the fastest AF acquisition time where you can lock the focus even while shooting motion. The incredible detection points of the camera allow you to track an object effectively. Furthermore, Sony’s a6400 takes advantage of the enhanced fast hybrid AutoFocus in both HD and 4K UHD.
This camera comes with an advanced real-time Eye-AF which is an AI technology to detect and process real-time data with improved accuracy. Also, it is equipped with a real-time tracking AutoFocus which comes with a special object recognition algorithm to capture the subject with extreme accuracy and precision.
The 180-degree tiltable LCD touch screen is accessible in this camera. This LCD flip screen comes with a 921K high resolution to capture selfie-shooting for both image and video motion. With this feature, vloggers can be able to monitor their composition throughout the entire process.
Also, this LCD screen is designed with the Touch Focus, Touch tracking, TouchPad, and Touch shutter to activate the real-time tracking system.
Overall with this camera, you can save the money you spend on a dedicated night vision video camera and still get the same results!!
WHAT I LIKED ABOUT THIS CAMERA
- Highly advanced autofocus eye and AF tracking.
- Enhanced the ISO range.
- Good video and image quality.
7. SONY A7R III MIRRORLESS CAMERA
PRODUCT DETAILS:
The Sony a7R III is a 42.4 Mega Pixel high-resolution full-frame mirrorless camera for taking pictures at night.
It's full-width 4K 30-pixel video with cutting edge is one of the best features. This 4K camera is equipped with 10fps speed motion shooting, a phase-detect autofocus system, in-body image stabilization, and dual memory card slots. These are the added benefit of the camera.
The autofocus system of the camera has been structured to match the motion shooting performance with 399 phase-detection points in an array. It is combined with the 425 contrast Autofocus point. The viewfinder of the camera is -3EV which is reliable to focus on continuous shooting.
The 5-axis SteadyShot system of the camera offers a 5.5 stop and it doesn’t come closer to the full-frame image stabilization. Sony’s battery offers double shot capacity while shooting. Along with these design features, the a7R III is equipped with the new Multi-shooting pixel shift mode to capture the series of shots with a 1pixel shift between each picture.
This feature helps you to capture the high-resolution image or video file with full color and reduce the noise with good texture. Overall, it is the best Sony camera for night pictures.
WHAT I LIKED ABOUT THIS CAMERA
- Improved dynamic range.
BEST PENTAX CAMERA FOR NIGHT PHOTOGRAPHY
8. PENTAX KP
PRODUCT DETAILS:
FEATURES:
Looking for a portable camera? Then you must take a look at Pentax KP which is the best camera for night photography that comes with a 24.3 megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor with the weather-sealing, and 5-axis image stabilization. This night camera is quite slimmer than other DSLRs. The 24 Megapixel sensor in the camera features a wide range from ISO 100 to ISO 819200.
DESIGN:
However, there is no Anti Aliasing filter on the sensors. But, the camera can stimulate the Anti Aliasing filter to support the image stabilization system. The entire part of the camera is made with magnesium alloy and has 67 seals to make sure that the camera offers dustproof, cold-proof, and weatherproof.
This camera comes with the small Grip S which can be replaced with the optimal large Grip and Medium Grip. This lovely camera features an e-dial for both the front and back of the camera. This dialing mode can be changed by using the function dial of the camera. Also, it offers a new shooting mode including motion bracketing, depth of field bracketing.
PERFORMANCE:
The 5-axis reduction is the in-built feature of the camera that counteracts the shake and blur of the image. Further, the viewfinder of the camera offers a 100 percent view, 0.95x magnification to the users. The screen of the camera is a tilt-up and down LCD screen with 921k dots. Entirely, it is one of the best cameras that shoot the moments at low light and even at night.
WHAT I LIKED ABOUT THIS CAMERA
- Capable AutoFocus System.
BEST OLYMPUS CAMERA FOR NIGHT PHOTOGRAPHY
10. OLYMPUS OM-D E-M5 MARK III - BEST NIGHT SKY CAMERA
PRODUCT DETAILS:
FEATURES:
The Olympus OM-D Mark III camera is one of the most sought after camera by photographers as it best MFT camera for taking pictures at night. This lovely camera is sharper, lighter, and better than the Mark II. It has a 20.4MP sensor, better autofocus, and an improved image stabilization system.
The Olympus OM-D E-M5 camera sits between the OM-D range and features the pro-friendly E-M1X, E-M1 Mark II, and E-M10 Mark III. The on-chip phase-detection AF points significantly improve the continuous AF compared to other camera series.
DESIGN:
This MFT camera is small and portable. It weighs roughly around 420g which is a blessing for night street photographers and nightscape photographers.
It includes a TruePic VIII image processor, 5.5 stops image stabilization, and a 121 point AF system. You can pair any super-telephoto lenses with this camera and take amazing shots of the night sky.
PERFORMANCE:
Along with these, the camera comes with upgraded video features and image stabilization. It provides speedy burst shooting up to 10fps along with the mechanical shutter. Other factors that affect the camera's performance while shooting include a low ISO range and a UHS-II SD card.
The camera's Electronic Viewfinder displays the view from the lens and shortens the distance between the sensor and the lens mount.
Most Olympus cameras have big lenses with f/1.2, but this E-M5 Mark III has a small lens. In simple terms, it is one of the most impressive cameras to shoot your unforgettable moments even at night without any blur.
WHAT I LIKED ABOUT THIS CAMERA
- Stabilized image sensor.
FACTORS TO CONSIDER WHILE PURCHASING A NIGHT SHOOTING CAMERA
Now that you've got an idea about the best night time cameras, you might think how to choose camera? and how to sort through all these top camera brands with international influence? These days, the camera market is extremely developed and it can be difficult to determine which model we really need. So, let me take you through some features that you need to look upon in a night camera.
1. FULL FRAME/CROP SENSOR CAMERA
I would recommend using full-frame cameras for night photography because they perform better in low-light when compared to APS-C cameras. This is because large sensor cameras are capable of capturing more light as their imaging area is larger.
2. ISO
Yes, this is an important feature you have to look for in a night camera. Because for day light shoots it's okay to have a camera settings of less ISO. However, in the case of night shoots where you have to crave for some light having a high ISO camera is essential.
For beginners let me tell you in a nutshell what ISO is. ISO is a measure of describing how sensitive the camera is when exposed to light.
3. FOCAL RANGE
Choose a camera that allows you to lighten the shadows or dark areas of the scene; if you select a camera with this provision, you needn't work on improving shadow effects post-production.
4. IN-BODY STABILIZATION
While taking pictures at night, it is difficult to obtain blur free footages. But, if you have a camera that has an IS in it, you get the provision of taking shots at longer shutter speeds. Thus, you can take longer shots thereby achieving shake free pictures and videos.
night time camera settings
I wouldn't say that these settings should be strictly followed for your night shoots. However, I can guarantee that your night pictures and videos will look far better when you follow these steps.
1. ISO SETTINGS
The higher the ISO value, the more your camera will be sensitive to low light. But what is the appropriate ISO for night photography? Is that your question? Let me tell you the answer.
For night photography, you can start from an ISO number of 800 and go for higher ISOs up to 3200, 6400 or even higher. This will help you get grain free images and videos while shooting at night.
2. USE LONGER SHUTTER SPEEDS
Night photography requires capturing a shot with longer shutter speeds. Only then can you avoid image blur. For night sky photography, set the shutter speed at least 10 seconds more than the actual time. Whereas for night city photography, an improvement of 5-10 seconds in shutter speeds will be sufficient for getting sharp images.
3. SET THE CAMERA TO MANUAL MODE
I know autofocusing helps a lot in photography. However, for night shots, you might need to manual focus as well, depending on the situation. So, first, make sure the camera allows manual override and if so, prefer using "manual mode."
CONCLUSION
There are many good-quality cameras in the marketplace. The above-mentioned are some of those best night shooting cameras. The cameras in my list will meet all the requirements that a professional photographer will look for. So, if you wish to buy the best camera for night photography, then pick any of these cameras. I wish you the best!
