10 Best Cameras For Low Light Video

Finding the best cameras for low light video just got much easier. In the world of filmmaking and videography, low light shooting can make or break a shot. It is a necessary skill to have in order to craft the desired look and feel of a scene. Low light shooting can be a difficult endeavor if you’re to get a good, cinematic look – but with the right equipment, it’s entirely possible.

In this article, we’ll dive into the best cameras for low light video and discuss their features, pros, cons, and reviews. We hope this article will help guide you in selecting the best camera for your production which will help you craft beautiful visuals, especially when shooting in low light.

Facts About the Best Cameras for Low Light Video

One important fact to consider is that low light performance can vary greatly among cameras. Many factors can influence the quality of the image when shooting in low light, such as the size of the sensor, the lens choice, the sophistication of the software included in the camera, and even how you set-up the camera.

For example, a camera with a larger sensor can handle lower light levels than a camera with a smaller sensor. This means that choosing the right camera will require some research and experimentation with the gear.

However, with the right knowledge, choosing the right camera for low light shooting doesn’t have to be as difficult. In this article, we will discuss the best cameras for low light shooting and their unique features. From DSLRs to mirrorless and digital cinema cameras, there is a wide range of gear to pick from – but the best cameras for low light video need to be tailored to your specific needs.

Our List of the 10 Best Cameras for Low Light Video

The cameras featured in this list are the ones we believe to be the best choices for low light video. They may not all be the absolute best when it comes to image quality, but they are cameras that will offer excellent results for low light shooting. Let’s start by taking a look at the features and benefits of each one.

Sony a7s III

The Sony a7s III is a flagship full-frame mirrorless camera with a surprisingly compact form factor. The camera offers terrific low-light shooting performance, thanks to its impressive low-light autofocus system, slow motion, and improved image stabilization.

The full-frame 12MP sensor captures stunning images at ISO 12,800 and is capable of producing a wide dynamic range in both 1080p and 4K resolution. The camera also has superb color science and low noise for both photo and video shooting.

On top of the excellent low-light shooting capabilities, the Sony a7s III is packed with a range of other features and excellent burst shooting capabilities. It has a high-capacity battery and impressive ocular AF that tracks and follows subjects much better than traditional contrast-detection AF.

Pros:

• Improved low-light autofocus
• Superb image quality at high ISOs
• 4K and Full-frame recording
• Compatible with a wide range of lenses
• Fast burst shooting

Cons:

• Expensive
• No in-body image stabilisation

Reviews:

The Sony a7s III is a flagship full-frame mirrorless camera and provides incredible performance for low-light shooting. The camera offers excellent burst shooting capabilities, improved autofocus, and superb dynamic range. The image and video quality is top-notch and the camera feels fast and responsive. However, the one downside is the fact that it is quite expensive.

Canon EOS R5

The Canon EOS R5 is an extremely capable and versatile camera with excellent low-light video performance. It features Canon’s latest sensor technology and boasts 4K resolution at up to 60p and 8K resolution at 30p. The camera also has impressive still image capabilities and is capable of taking 45MP images.

The EOS R5 has many helpful features and settings to assist with low-light shooting, including dual pixel autofocus which helps to maintain focus on moving subjects. The camera also has impressive autofocus tracking and illumination range, allowing you to capture excellent images and videos in low light conditions.

Pros:

• Incredible resolution
• Impressive autofocus tracking
• Excellent burst shooting rate
• Dual pixel AF
• 45MP still image capabilities

Cons:

• Expensive
• No in-body image stabilisation

Reviews:

The Canon EOS R5 is an incredibly capable and versatile camera with an impressive resolution, autofocus tracking, and bursting rate. The dual pixel autofocus ensures that you’re tracking your subject in low light conditions, and the still image capabilities are top-notch. The one downside is that it can be a bit pricey.

Panasonic GH5

The Panasonic GH5 is a popular camera choice for low-light videography and is one of the best cameras for low light shooting. The GH5 offers excellent video capabilities with its 10-bit 4:2:2 video capture, slow motion up to 180fps, and its flagship 5-axis in-body image stabilization. The GH5s offers the same features but with improved low-light performance and the ability to capture 4K video at up to 60fps.

The GH5 also has a wide variety of features to assist with low light shooting. These features include High Resolution Mode, Focus Stacking, and a high-capacity battery. Both cameras also have great autofocus performance and excellent in-body image stabilization.

Pros:

• Impressive low-light performance
• Wide array of low-light shooting features
• High Resolution Mode
• 5-axis in-body image stabilization
• Fast autofocus performance

Cons:

• Video has a limited dynamic range

Reviews:

The Panasonic GH5 is one of the best cameras for low light shooting. It offers excellent video capabilities, and its low-light performance is impressive. The camera also has a wide variety of low-light shooting features and it has excellent autofocus performance. The only downside is that the video has a limited dynamic range.

Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 6K

The Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 6K is a great choice for low-light video. It features a 13 stops of dynamic range and a Super 35-sized 6K sensor that is capable of recording up to 6K video and stills. The camera offers impressive low-light performance and is perfect for capturing cinematic visuals.

The Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 6K is packed with impressive features for low light shooting, such as slow motion capabilities up to 60fps, an electronic variable ND filter, and a built-in compression algorithm for efficient storage. The camera also has dual native ISO up to 25,600 and 12-bit RAW recording.

Pros:

• Impressive low-light performance
• Super 35-sized 6K sensor
• Slow motion capabilities up to 60fps
• Electronic variable ND filter
• 12-bit RAW recording

Cons:

• Menu system can be confusing
• No internal ND filter

Reviews:

The Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 6K is an impressive camera for low-light shooting. With its Super 35-sized 6K sensor, slow motion capabilities, and 12-bit RAW recording, the camera provides excellent performance in low light. The downside is that the menu system can be confusing and it doesn’t have an internal ND filter.

Nikon Z6

The Nikon Z6 is a fantastic choice for low-light shooting and is one of the best cameras for low light video. It has a 24.5MP full-frame sensor and can record 4K video up to 30fps and full HD up to 120fps. The camera also has a wide dynamic range of 12 stops and can push ISO up to 51,200.

The Z6 is equipped with Nikon’s Snapbridge feature, which lets you transfer your images wirelessly to a compatible smartphone or tablet. It also has an impressive autofocus system, with 273 selectable focus points and face and eye-detection AF.

Pros:

• Full-frame sensor
• 4K video up to 30fps
• 273 selectable focus points
• Snapbridge for wireless image transmission
• Great low-light performance

Cons:

• Battery life could be better
• Rolling shutter can be noticeable

Reviews:

The Nikon Z6 is a great camera for low-light shooting. The camera offers good performance in low light, with a wide dynamic range of 12 stops and an impressive autofocus system. It also has a wide array of features and excellent still image capabilities. The only downside is that the battery life could be better and the rolling shutter can be noticeable at times.

Canon EOS 6D Mark II

The Canon EOS 6D Mark II is a great choice for low-light shooting and is packed with features that make it ideal for low light videography. It has a 26.2MP full-frame sensor and is capable of recording 4K video at 30fps. It also has a native ISO range of 100-40000, which means it can capture good images in low light conditions.

The 6D Mark II also has impressive autofocus capabilities, with 45 focus points and Dual Pixel CMOS AF. Its intuitive menu system also helps to make setting up the camera for low-light shooting easier.

Pros:

• 45 focus points
• 4K video recording up to 30fps
• Native ISO range of 100-40000
• Intuitive menu system
• Dual Pixel CMOS AF

Cons:

• No built-in image stabilisation
• Video quality can be lacking compared to other cameras

Reviews:

The Canon EOS 6D Mark II is a great camera for low-light shooting. It has a native ISO range of 100-40000 and dual pixel AF to help you capture great images and videos in low light. The image quality can be a bit lacking compared to other cameras, but it’s still an excellent low-light camera.

Panasonic Lumix GH4

The Panasonic Lumix GH4 is another excellent choice for low light shooting and is one of the most popular cameras for low-light videography. It has a 16.05MP Digital Live MOS sensor and is capable of recording 4K video up to 30fps. The camera also has a decent autofocus system, with 23 focus points and an impressive continuous shooting rate of up to 12fps.

The GH4 also comes with a range of features that help to make shooting in low light easier, including five preset modes for low light shooting, focus peaking for accurate focusing, and time-lapse recording.

Pros:

• 16.05MP Digital Live MOS sensor
• 4K video up to 30fps
• Five preset modes for low-light shooting
• Focus peaking
• Decent continuous shooting rate

Cons:

• No in-body image stabilization
• Battery life can be short

Reviews:

The Panasonic Lumix GH4 is an excellent low-light shooting camera. It has an impressive 16MP Digital Live MOS sensor and can record 4K video up to 30fps. It also has a wide range of features to make shooting in low light easier and comes with an impressive continuous shooting rate. The battery life can be a bit short and the camera doesn’t have in-body image stabilization.

Canon EOS 7D Mark II

The Canon EOS 7D Mark II is a popular camera for low-light shooting and is packed with features that make it perfect for low-light videography. It has a 20.2MP APS-C sensor and is capable of recording full HD video up to 60fps. The camera also has excellent autofocus and is capable of shooting continuously up to 10fps.

The 7D Mark II also has a range of features that help to make shooting in low light easier. These features include an ISO range of up to 25,600, an electronic viewfinder, focus peaking, and a built-in flash for extra light.

Pros:

• 20.2MP APS-C sensor
• Full HD video up to 60fps
• Excellent autofocus
• ISO range up to 25,600
• Focus peaking

Cons:

• No 4K recording
• No in-body image stabilization

Reviews:

The Canon EOS 7D Mark II is a great choice for low-light shooting. The camera offers excellent autofocus and features a 20.2MP APS-C sensor and full HD video up to 60fps. It also has an ISO range up to 25,600 and focus peaking to make shooting in low light easier. The one downside is that the camera doesn’t offer 4K recording or in-body stabilization.

Sony Alpha a6500

The Sony Alpha a6500 is an excellent mirrorless camera with excellent low-light shooting capabilities. It has a 24.2MP APS-C sensor and is capable of recording 4K video up to 30fps. The camera also has a superb autofocus system, with 425 selectable focus points and Eye-AF that can detect and track a subject’s eyes.

The a6500 also comes with a range of features that help to make shooting in low light easier. This includes five custom settings for low-light shooting, a High ISO noise reduction to help reduce noise in low-light shots, and an electronic viewfinder for easier focusing.

Pros:

• 24.2MP APS-C sensor
• 4K video up to 30fps
• 425 selectable focus points
• Five custom settings for low-light shooting
• High ISO noise reduction

Cons:

• Battery life could be better
• No in-body image stabilization

Reviews:

The Sony Alpha a6500 is an excellent mirrorless camera with superb low-light shooting capabilities. It has a 24.2MP APS-C sensor and 4K video up to 30fps. The autofocus system is superb and the five custom settings for low-light shooting make it easy to capture great images in low-light conditions. The only downside is that the battery life could be better and it doesn’t have in-body image stabilization.

Fujifilm X-T3

The Fujifilm X-T3 is another excellent choice for low-light shooting and is packed with features that make it perfect for low-light videography. It has a 26.1MP APS-C sensor and is capable of recording 4K video up to 60fps. The camera also has a wide range of features to help make shooting in low light easier, including Cinema 4K video recording and a range of film simulation modes.

The X-T3 also has superb autofocus capabilities, with 425 selectable focus points and a 0.06-second AF speed. It also offers excellent image quality, with its impressive image processor, high ISO performance, and color accuracy.

Pros:

• 26.1MP APS-C sensor
• 4K video up to 60fps
• Cinema 4K video recording
• 0.06-second AF speed
• Wide range of film simulation modes

Cons:

• No in-body image stabilisation
• No touchscreen

Reviews:

The Fujifilm X-T3 is an excellent camera for low-light shooting. It has a 26.1MP APS-C sensor and 4K video up to 60fps. The autofocus capabilities are superb, and the camera offers an impressive range of film simulation modes. The only downside is that the camera doesn’t have in-body image stabilization or a touchscreen.

Conclusion of the Best Cameras for Low Light Video

We explored the best cameras for low light video, discussing their features, pros and cons, and reviews. Low light shooting can be a daunting task for any filmmaker, but with the right knowledge and the right camera, it can be an enjoyable and rewarding experience.

We hope this article has helped to guide you in selecting the best camera for your production which will help you create beautiful visuals, even in low light. Remember to do some research and experiment to find the right camera for your needs so you can achieve the cinematic look you want.