Looking for the best Low Light Camera for best performance?
We have selected the best cameras for night photography on the market to help you make a super choice…
While taking high quality photographs in daylight is always easy and perfect, doing the same in dim light or at night can be quite a challenge.
Taking good shots in low light situations depends on two factors; skills and the best low light camera.
Unfortunately we can’t do anything about lack of skills but we can definitely give you guidance on choosing the best camera for low light situations.
In order to get nice and clear pictures at night you will need a camera that has a large CMOS sensor, high ISO, low f/stop value and low shutter speed.
Alternatively, you can choose a night vision camera with a flash. Adjusting your aperture and ISO too much can affect the picture especially if you are shooting a large group of people in the dark so using flash is the best way to go.
Table of Contents
- 1 Best Low Light Cameras For Night Photography.
- 1.1 1. Nikon D5500 DX-format Digital SLR Body.
- 1.2 2. Canon EOS Rebel T5 Digital SLR Camera Kit with EF-S 18-55mm IS II Lens.
- 1.3 3. Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ200 12.1 MP Digital Camera with CMOS Sensor and 24x Optical Zoom.
- 1.4 4. Nikon D3300 24.2 MP CMOS Digital SLR with Auto Focus-S DX.
- 1.5 5. Sony Alpha a6000 Mirrorless Digital Camera with 16-50mm Power Zoom Lens.
- 1.6 6. Canon EOS 70D Digital SLR Camera.
- 2 Buying Guide for the Best Low Light Camera On The Market.
Table of Contents
Best Low Light Cameras For Night Photography.
1. Nikon D5500 DX-format Digital SLR Body.
The Nikon D5500 DX-format Digital SLR Body is one of the most affordable best low light cameras in the market and it transforms into a full HD video camera.
It’s a very compact DSLR camera that will allow you to bring out your creativity especially in the dark because of its extreme low light capabilities.
Nikon D5500 features high resolution sensor that has no optical filter so it’s able to capture details through the amazing Nikon lens.
It also has EXPEED 4 image processing to help clean all the data fast and easily giving you well defined images in low light up to 25,600 ISO.
This is the first Nikon DSLR to have a touchscreen vari-angle display that makes shooting easy and exciting.
This touch screen is easy to use because it resembles that of smartphones and it has a new Fn button that allows you access to settings like aperture, ISO, AF mode and others.
It has built-in WIFI and smartphone compatibility so sharing and storing photos is easy and fast.
This lightweight camera delivers great speed and accuracy thanks to the 39-point AF system.
Drawbacks:
It has no image stabilizer.
2. Canon EOS Rebel T5 Digital SLR Camera Kit with EF-S 18-55mm IS II Lens.
Canon is not just famous for its high quality DSRLs but also for making the cheapest cameras and this Canon EOS Rebel T5 Digital SLR Camera is no exception.
It has a large APS-C CMOS sensor that gives great image quality in low lighting at 18MP.
Canon EOS Rebel T5 has a 9-point AF and is able to shoot continuously at 3fps.
Though it does great JPEG pictures, it’s also able to shoot in RAW format which always gives better uncompressed pictures.
This is among the best lowlight camera because it has an aperture value of f/3.6-f/2.2 which means it allows more light to get into the image.
The f/22 setting combined with shutter speed range of 30-1/4000 makes for the best digital camera night photography.
Canon EOS Rebel T5 is a great camera for first time DSLR users and photo enthusiasts because it’s easy to use especially with the 3-inch LCD screen.
The DIGIC 4 image processor also helps to get dazzling pictures and high definition videos.
Drawbacks:
Its ISO range is limited and the autofocus is very slow in low lighting.
3. Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ200 12.1 MP Digital Camera with CMOS Sensor and 24x Optical Zoom.
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ200 is a very affordable EVF type camera for enthusiasts but its low ISO Range is not enough for professional photographers.
However, this camera has other great features that can only be found in high end cameras such as 12fps continuous shooting and a large 12.1MP CMOS sensor.
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ200 offers both RAW and JPEG storage formats and has the ability to capture great high definition videos.
This camera has a 24x optical zoom lens and aperture value of f/2.8 which makes it pretty good for night and indoor shots.
The Lumix has a very slow shutter speed so it allows enough exposure to the shot at 60-1/4000 and it supports face tracking and autofocus.
You can customize this camera to be better and suit your needs especially since it has various exposure options.
If you are looking for a lightweight camera that will fascinate you with its great features, this Lumix is a great buy.
It feels really good on the arm and gives you extremely clear and sharp images even when taken in the dark.
Drawbacks:
The menu system is very complicated unless you operate it on manual mode.
4. Nikon D3300 24.2 MP CMOS Digital SLR with Auto Focus-S DX.
Nikon D3300 24.2 MP CMOS Digital SLR is a good camera for low light because of many reasons one being its large 24.2MP CMOS sensor.
The CMOS DX-format technology is great for low light photography and the high megapixels also help a bit.
The Nikon D3300 accepts various zoom and lens kits available to allow better capture of images no matter the distance.
If you are a fan of small, lightweight and beautiful DSRL; this camera is available in black, red and gray colors because not everyone likes black.
Other features include 5fps continuous shooting, 11-point autofocus and 3D tracking features so you can even capture moving subjects.
With an ISO range of 100-12800 expandable to 25600, you can be sure taking photos at night even without flash won’t be a problem.
Nikon D3300 is one of the affordable low light photography camera options out there and it has an aperture of f/3.5.
Beginners will have no trouble operating this camera because it comes with an easy to use guide mode and panoramic capture mode.
Drawbacks:
It has no touch screen and image stabilization.
5. Sony Alpha a6000 Mirrorless Digital Camera with 16-50mm Power Zoom Lens.
One of the reasons why the Sony Alpha a6000 Mirrorless Digital Camera is a great night time camera is because its mirrorless meaning its aperture size can be adjusted easily.
This camera is available in silver, black and white colors so you can choose the color you like better and it has a range of lens kits to choose from such as 16-50mm, 16-50mm+55-210mm, 16-50mm+50mm and 18-55mm+55-210mm among others.
Sony Alpha a6000 Mirrorless features a large 24 megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor so it captures more light and converts it to signal to make better images.
It also comes with high ISO setting of 100-25600 that can be expanded to 51200 meaning it will be more sensitive to any available light.
Though it is extremely affordable, the Sony Alpha a6000 Mirrorless has amazing features including the hybrid autofocus that offers 179-point focal phase detection and 25-point contract detection so moving objects are detected easily.
It is a fast camera that can shoot 11fps continuously and has a long battery life.
Sony Alpha a6000 Mirrorless has a shutter speed of 30-1/4000 and its WIFI compatible in case you want to share pictures.
Drawbacks:
It’s a good size but the grip could be bigger not to mention add a touchscreen.
6. Canon EOS 70D Digital SLR Camera.
Canon EOS 70D Digital SLR Camera is sold body only meaning you have to buy the lenses separately.
It’s a quality DSLR that has a large 24 APS-C CMOS sensor and DIGIC 5+ image processor to ensure well detailed and clear images even in low light situations.
Canon EOS 70D processor also ensures speedy operation of up to 7fps and full HD 1080p video recording.
With an ISO range of 100-12800 expandable to 25600, light sensitivity is pretty high so you will be able to shoot easily in the dark even without flash.
However, what makes the Canon EOS 70D the best low light compact camera is the built-in flash with speedlite transmitter and the 3inch touch screen with 1,040,000dots.
This camera also features a dual pixel CMOS autofocus and intelligent viewfinder to ensure accuracy and speed.
This compact camera has multiple exposure controls and a handheld night scene mode to make taking photos at night so much easier.
Drawbacks:
Canon EOS 70D Digital SLR Camera does not support RAW files editing.
Buying Guide for the Best Low Light Camera On The Market.
Buying the best low light camera can be a challenge if you don’t know what you are looking for.
As earlier stated, the most important features a night camera should have include high ISO range, fast shutter speed, large CMOS sensor and large aperture.
If you have all that in mind plus the ability to flash you are well on your way to great low light photography. However, this is not enough; other factors to consider include;
- Size And Weight:
Ideally, the bigger the camera the better it is but this is an old misconception.
Today we have very small and lightweight cameras with high end features and high quality lens so you don’t have to always carry a bulky camera bag with you.
While big always looks more professional, it’s heavy on the arm and bad for travelling.
Unless you plan to use a tripod, small and pocket friendly is always best if it has a good grip and great features.
- Extra Features:
Gone are the days when cameras were meant to take photos only; today we want them to connect to the internet, share images easily and tell us time and direction.
The best low light camera should be WIFI and smartphone compatible, have GPS and the ability to record HD video.
- Controls:
A camera that has few controls is easier to use compared to many controls especially on the menu system.
It’s even better is the camera comes with an LCD touchscreen because you can easily control and do your settings on the screen while seeing the results.
- Lens Quality:
The ability to shoot sharp images in various light conditions is determined by the lens.
Whether you are using interchangeable lenses or built-in lens, they must have fast apertures and optical image stabilization.
Conclusion:
While it’s great to buy the best low light camera, it is not enough. One must be able to make all the features work together to make high end images in low light.
Your budget and skills will determine whether to buy a DSLR or the best low light point and shoot camera but everything else is about settings and skills.
