10 Best Low Light Cameras In 2021: Product Reviews & Guide
No matter where we go, make big or small trips, a camera is always essential. Moreover, even though it’s an age of mobile phones cameras, people still prefer cameras for their high resolution and better picture results. Besides, cameras can take the better image than a mobile phone camera in poor light condition. Thus, we review a list of 10 best low light cameras perfect for both amateur and professional photographers. Since you are here to find the best low light camera, you might as well check out our reviews on compact binoculars.
Table of Contents
- 10 Best Low Light Cameras: Product Reviews & Guide
- 1. Fujifilm X-T3 Mirrorless Digital Camera (Body Only) – Silver
- 2. Nikon D7500 DX-Format Digital SLR Body
- 3. Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II Camera
- 4. Canon EOS 5D Mark IV Full Frame Digital SLR
- 5. Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark II Mirrorless Camera
- 6. Sony RX100VA
- 7. PANASONIC LUMIX LX10 4K Digital Camera
- 8. Sony a7 III Full-Frame Mirrorless
- 9. Nikon Z6 FX-Format Mirrorless Camera
- 10. Sony a9 Full-Frame Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens Camera
- Factors To Consider Before Choosing the Best Low Light Camera
10 Best Low Light Cameras: Product Reviews & Guide
1. Fujifilm X-T3 Mirrorless Digital Camera (Body Only) – Silver
This camera features some of the unique qualities.
Features
X-Trans CMOS
Fujifilm has developed this new sensor that gives a resolution of 26.1MP. Its sensor eliminates the need for a filter on the camera for false colouring and highlighting.
The controls moiré and false colours and the back illumination enhance the colours of the image without compromising the S/N ratio, which also gives you clean, noise-free images.
X-Processor 4
The X-processor 4 is an evolution of the processing engine that brings to use advanced processing abilities. This processor also enhances the film simulation modes and improves the camera ability to capture fast-paced objects, which means the AF has improved speed and accuracy. Hence, it gives the best results from the camera.
Film Simulation Modes
This camera offers you a fantastic range of 16 film simulation modes that help you photograph your intentions. The range provides an effect like using an entirely different kind of film.
Large EVF
This FujiFilm camera gives you a display of 36.9 million dot resolution and a magnification ratio of 0.75x. Moreover, the lag time is minimal 0.005 seconds; and the display is smooth to notice any subject movements and change focus positions.
High Speed
Due to increased processor strength and a high-speed sensor, the shutter allows 30fps without blackout. Unlike previous versions, the rolling shutter distortion has been halved.
- Customizability
- Ruggedness
- Large EVF
- Autofocus speed
- Weather sealing
- Problems in App sync and connection
- Menu is non-intuitive
2. Nikon D7500 DX-Format Digital SLR Body
This camera is one of the most amazing ones due to its easy usage and brilliant features at a nominal price.
Features
8FPS Continuous Shooting
One of the most notable features of this camera is the eight frames per second shot. Its shutter is quite sensitive that enable you to take quick shots. To give a raw and natural quality to images. The shutter is also very quiet, which is a plus.
Powerful Focusing
The focus is so powerful and works quickly with the available 51 focus points, 15 sensors and a group-area AF for image sharpening. It helps in faster light detection when light is low.
Brilliant Metering
The excellent metering helps capture fast-paced scenes effortlessly, and the sensors detect human faces quickly.
Long Battery Life
This DSLR excels at efficiency, so it offers a maximum of 950 shots per battery given that the Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are off.
Ultra High Definition
This DSLR for video records things in 4K Ultra HD and Full HD videos. You can adjust the power, focus and recording through apertures. D7500 can help you record videos in both the SD card and an external device.
Instant Photo Sharing
You can also share pictures that you capture almost instantly. With an app called Nikon SnapBridge, you can share your pictures immediately, prepare a backup for it and even acts as a remote control for self-portraits, wildlife photography and videos.
Creativity
For capturing pictures, a vital aspect is the performance-enhancing features to change the lighting and effects on the image you are capturing. There advanced tools like an Auto and Manual ISO mode and Zebra stripes shall detect overblown highlights. Also, there are so many options to adjust minor changes like adjusting between camera and lens.
- Live view AF works wonderfully
- Tilting Screen is a great asset
- Great AF system and sensors
- The ISO is very impressive
- Flash
- Just 20MP comparing to D7200
- The NR of D7500 is quite impressive
- In low light situations, there is a red streak across frames.
3. Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II Camera
Olympus has a sleek design and some of the aptest features that will help you take excellent pictures.
Features
Compact and Lightweight
This camera is durable, powerful and portable. It is equally appealing to professionals and beginners for its comfortable design and lightweight so they can carry it anywhere.
High Speed and High Resolution
This camera ensures that you get your best shots and get them fast. You can go from 60 fps in S-AF to 10 fps in C-AF in the mechanical shutter.
Dual Fast Autofocus
The Dual Autofocus helps you to capture those split seconds you seem to miss each time. With the multiple phases of this Dual AF system, you can keep track of all the moving objects.
5 Axis Image Stabilization
Shaky images has been quite a dilemma, especially in beginners. And to minimize that, Image Stabilization feature in this camera, which helps to remove 5.5 shutter speed steps of compensation, will give a crisp image result.
Waterproof
This camera has a rugged design that is comfortable and has a good grip. The manufacturer designs it in a way that it can be water, dust and freeze-proof so you can photograph in the most challenging conditions.
Focus Stacking
Focus stacking helps you minimize the post-photography workload. It enables you to focus at different points in the image at the same time to get a very detailed picture result.
- Waterproof
- Dual SD card slots
- Bigger and better battery with faster charging
- Weather and waterproof
- Video friendly
- Price
- One SD slot is UHS-II
- Cannot reuse the old battery
- Base ISO is 200
- Focus Accuracy is not good enough
4. Canon EOS 5D Mark IV Full Frame Digital SLR
This camera makes the top ten due to its sleek design and performance. The camera is beautiful and gives equally beautiful images.
Features
DCI 4K Video
This camera 30 fps in a very good resolution of 30.4 megapixels with a CMOS sensor.
61 AF Points
This camera caters a 61 points autofocus that is very impressive. The maximum points help to maintain accuracy and give a brilliant performance.
IR metering Sensor
This 150,000 pixel RGB+IR light sensor allows helps track the subjects to maintain focus as well as provide excellent resolution to the images with the proper exposure of light.
High VF
This intelligent Viewfinder helps to customize and brighten the view through various camera settings.
Wifi Connectivity and GPS
With compatible mobile devices, the Wi-Fi allows image sharing and storing. It also gives remote control access for self-portraits and crucial photography. The GPS will help you tag people and places in pictures and share them.
- Touch screen LED monitor
- ISO range 100 32000 with 50 102400 expansion
- Shooting speed is 7.0 fps
- Weather Sealing
- ISO range 100 32000
- Touch Screen LCD
- No Tilt Screen
- Heavy
- No EVF
5. Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark II Mirrorless Camera
This camera is great if you are looking for something speedy and light.
Features
Electronic ViewFinder
The viewfinder is a gift from heaven to find just the right view of what you want to shoot. Even in bright light, it helps you focus and capture it without moving the focus.
Fast Touch Autofocus
The hyper-fast autofocus helps you focus on the points on the screen to capture images in greater detail without any time lag. This function helps to photography the super-fast moments of life that remain blurred otherwise.
8.5FPS Burst Shooting
This camera is best for capturing those slightest moments that often fade when the camera is clicked due to timing. It allows an 8.5 FPS high-speed shooting that allows speedy autofocus as well that captures the best moments.
Silent Shutter
The silent shutter helps you photograph where the slightest noise can be very crucial. This camera is ideal for wildlife photography where the slightest noise can scare the animal or bird away.
Sharing
This camera too has Wi-Fi connectivity and an Olympus App sync that helps to share and transfer files as well as it acts as a remote for distance photography or self-portraits.
- Price is nominal
- Picture quality is great
- LCD and screen are bright with no delay
- Lenses are impressive
- Video Quality is good
- AF is not good with moving targets
- Battery life is not good
- Screen Navigation is difficult
6. Sony RX100VA
Sony RX100A is undoubtedly going to tick a lot of boxes if, you are a beginner level photographer.
Features
Faster Autofocus
The autofocus is as fast as 0.05s and gives an accurate and stable image.
WiFi Connectivity
The wifi connectivity will help you sync your device and transfer images instantly.
Retractable Viewfinder
You can view and playback your pictures the OLED Tru-Finder.
20.1 MP Resolution
This camera contains a CMOS sensor with BIONZ X processor to give brilliant image quality.
Image Stabilization
The image stabilization removes any problems of shaky hands during videography and pictures.
Wide Coverage
The camera covers a wide315 phase detection Autofocus to give a high image quality.
High-Speed Continuous Shooting
This camera allows up to 24FPS, which is quite impressive. The high speed, along with the excellent resolution help you in capturing great shots without the time-lapse.
- The camera is not temperature sensitive
- Can be carried in the pocket
- Fast
- Good Image Quality
- Strong built
- Tiny Buttons
- Autofocus slow and inaccurate
- Auto Setting is not that good
7. PANASONIC LUMIX LX10 4K Digital Camera
The Lx 10 is a fantastic incentive for cash and a great performer across the board.
Features
Point And Shoot Camera
Lumix Lx 10 comes equipped with a 20.1-megapixel 1-inch sensor. The Lx 10 has three times greater pixels than the Lx 7. The higher ISO sensitivity of this camera comes with an increase in the quality of the image. Also, the high sensitivity increases the range of the picture and doubles the megapixels.
Bright Pictures
The powerful stabilizer gives brighter, colourful pictures. It has a built-in lens which has a focal length of about 8.8-26.4 mm.
Tilting Selfie Display
Panasonic has now made it possible for you to capture a high pixel selfie with your hand camera. This Lumix Lx 10 has a 3 inch LCD that can tilt 180 degrees for easily capturing selfie photos. Also, when the screen is tilted upwards, the selfie settings are automatically enabled. This camera is an excellent device for a ground-level photograph.
- Screen Tilting for ground-level pictures and selfies
- 1-inch 20.1-megapixel MOS sensor
- A built-in lens with a focal length of 8.8 -26.4mm
- USB Charging
- Wi-Fi connectivity
- 4k video capture
- Live cropping
- Light Composition for perfect night time images
- Not consistent image, streaks across frames
- Overheats when you shoot 4K video.
8. Sony a7 III Full-Frame Mirrorless
Sony, with its A7 III Camera, makes sure that you make your best bet. This camera particularly stands tall in the line of mid-range mirrorless cameras. The 4K stabilizer and the shot battery life is what a cameraman idealizes about an excellent camera.
Features
24 MP Full-Frame Sensors
One of the primary reasons for the fame of this camera is the 24MP Full Frame sensor. Sony uses sensors to maintain image quality. The sensor stabilizes the image to give a 4K resolution video. The dynamic range of this HD camera allows clicking pictures to perfection.
10 FPS Burst Shooting
The extraordinary A7 III can shoot burst up to 10 fps. For instance, it can continue to burst shoot at eight fps at live mode. The 693 Hybrid AF mode allows it to click HD pictures in one continuous burst.
2 Card Slot and Connectivity
Sony A7 comes with two slots for SD card. One of them supports faster UHS-II cards. This brilliant camera can be connected with Wifi or through NFC (near field communications) for easy transfer of video and images. The A7 III, unlike most of the Sony A7 series lets you access devices via Bluetooth, making it a breeze to transfer pictures.
- 24 MP full-frame sensors
- 10 fps burst shooting
- 693 Hybrid AF
- 5 axis Sensor-based stabilization
- 4K video
- 710 Shot battery life
- 2 card slots
- Weather sealing
- Lower pixel quality in comparison to its A7 siblings
9. Nikon Z6 FX-Format Mirrorless Camera
Nikon Z6 is an all-rounder in a very pocket-friendly price range, and it provides you with a high-quality picture with high pixels. This specific model has some unique specifications.
Features
Superb High- ISO Quality
High ISO quality means the camera gives an output with high megapixels. Besides, it increases the pixel quality by ten times in comparison to an ordinary camera. The Z6 combines its 24-megapixel Full frame image sensor with the Nikon Ex speed Image processor. This outputs in the radiant, high-resolution photos. This brilliant quality is the reason behind Nikon’s outstanding 4K video quality.
In Body Stabilization
The Camera is equipped with a built-in eye detection system. It focuses on the eye of your subject, locks and focuses on it through the sight and helps you capture a mention-worthy picture. Likewise, its sensors stabilize the camera and produce HD quality pictures.
Stellar Z Mount Lenses
Every photographer wishes to have their hands on these Nikon Mount Lenses. However, for all Nikon Z6 users, it comes already installed. With these lenses, bodies can be made to look much thinner. These lenses allow more advanced optical designs and upgraded image quality.
- High ISO quality
- Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity
- 12fps burst mode
- Inbuilt stabilization sensors
- Cinematic Capture
- 4K high pixel readout
- Average buffer Capacity
- 310 Shot Battery life
10. Sony a9 Full-Frame Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens Camera
This Sony a9 Full-Frame Mirrorless is a fantastic low light camera that breathes life into the pictures.
Features
Anti-Distortion shutter
If you are a wildlife photographer, then you for sure you will idealize this quality of Sony A9 Camera. The shutter when closing produces zero sound, unlike other cameras. Furthermore, the device doesn’t vibrate when the shutter closes. The picture capturing process has become very efficient with Sony, whose devices can capture photos at a rate of 1/32,000 sec. Well, that’s wow.
20 FPS Continuous Shooting
Finding a camera who can provide you with 20 fps shooting at this price range is highly impossible. But, Sony A9 makes it possible. Sony A9 is the world’s first camera with a blackout-free 20 fps continuous shootin. In addition, its large high-speed buffer permits you for up to 241 RAW images or 362 JPEG images.
CMOS Sensor
Sony is considered to be the world’s largest sensor manufacturer; so, this is the reason why its devices have noteworthy sensors. The CMOS sensor, in this case, contributes to the high picture quality; and its unique 24.2 Megapixel sensor combines with the Bionz X image processor to readout data 20 times faster than an ordinary camera.
- 693 hybrid AF system
- qualified 4K video quality
- high megapixels images
- anti-distortion shutter
- 20 fps continuous shooting
- enigmatic menu system
- weak battery life
Factors To Consider Before Choosing the Best Low Light Camera
Cameras and other technology must be bought very carefully as one must have complete knowledge of the features and the product. Similarly, these features affect your photography and tell you if the price of the product is reasonable. Let’s have a look at some of the features one must consider before buying a camera:
Image Sensors
Sensors are essential as they capture light. Charged Coupled Device (CCD) and Complementary Metal–Oxide–Semiconductor (CMOS) sensors are among those most common sensors. Moreover, CCD has been one of the oldest photo capturing sensors because of its superior image quality than CMOS.
However, their requirement for high power has lead camera manufacturers to use CMOS. The evolution of CMOS has made them capable of producing image quality like that of CCD with less power and more speed.
Resolution
Resolution is one of the most critical things in cameras; in fact, it is one of the first questions asked when finding a camera because this decides the image quality. If the resolution is 10+, then the image quality will be high. And if you are a Professional, then 20+ will be ideal.
Lenses
One of the main selling points of cameras is the interchangeable lens as lenses, more often than not, decide how great a camera is. However, there are multiple types of lenses including wide-angle, distance and close lenses.
Manual Controls and Easy Navigation
One of the most recurring problems after buying a camera is the user’s inefficiency to handle the controls. They often feel frustrated with complicated navigation, which becomes a problem when they are photographing.
The ViewFinder
Viewfinders help you keep track of what you are shooting. There are mostly two types of screen, either LCD or OLED. Most cameras use LCDs although OLED are brighter and thinner. There are cameras which offer 2 viewfinders, one a screen and other an eye-level one.
Price
Price is a significant factor in buying anything but especially cameras. You have to look if the price aligns with the number of features offered in the cameras. You have to keep in mind your position as well. If you are a beginner, a camera with some essential functions would be right for you at a lower price.
However, if you are a professional, a camera with more elaborate features is excellent. Yet, the price should be reasonable as well.
Conclusion – Wrapping Up
While buying a camera you must consider the weight, the focus and accuracy, the resolution as well as the durability. These are some significant features required for shooting outdoors and these cameras excel in it.