Daily Archives: September 2, 2019

Whether you’re a seasoned wedding photog or just starting out, at some point you’ll want a camera with features to serve your business. That can be a tough call, since capturing still images at weddings requires some of the features you’d find in a sports camera or for portraiture and others you’d want for nature or landscape work. The right mix of features spans those subjects and much more, like the bride and groom, wedding guests, and the beauty of the ceremony and event venues. There is no single best choice in terms of camera type or sensor size, either. As you develop your skills, you can shoot with a variety of equipment and have the results turn out well. You’ll be prepared for sunny outdoor settings, dimly lit interiors and everything in between. If you’re looking for the best camera for wedding photography and you focus on stills, we have a list of options for you. For each type of camera and specific sensor category, we bring you the best overall and a close runner-up, and believe me, these were close. Here’s our list of the best wedding photo still cameras. 8 Best Cameras for Wedding Photography Best Mirrorless Overall: Sony A7R III Mirrorless Runner-Up: Sony A7 III Best DSLR Overall: Nikon D850 DSLR Runner-Up: Canon EOS 5D Mark IV Best Crop Sensor: Nikon D7500 Crop Sensor Runner-Up: Canon EOS 80D Best Small Sensor: Olympus OM-D E-M1X Small Sensor Runner-Up: Panasonic Lumix GH5 Best Mirrorless Overall: Sony A7R III Camera Type: Mirrorless Sensor: Full frame 42.4 MP Lens Mount: Sony E (over 100 native) Image Stabilization: Yes Weight: 1.4 lbs. This camera is a perennial favorite for so many kinds of shooting, it consistently lands at or near the top of almost every list. Let’s begin with the 425 focus points in the autofocusing system, mirrorless silence, articulating touchscreen for settings adjustments, and long battery life for a mirrorless (650 shots) as reasons why it’s great for wedding work. IS and video 4K are others, along with the RAW file capability to help with your post-production adjustments. The expandable ISO range makes this camera one of the few mirrorless bodies that can work well in low light. Some users complain about noise or graininess at the edges of the ISO range, but that does not appear to be a consistent problem. This Sony saves and cycles quickly, allowing you to keep on shooting without pause. You might want to invest in a touchscreen shield, as ease of scratching and damaging it are regularly reported. A few reports of weather sealing failure also hit the reviews. Overall, this professional grade camera will be a model you grow into and you might never want to replace, and that’s why it’s at the top of our list. Click to See Price Mirrorless Runner-Up: Sony A7 III Camera Type: Mirrorless Sensor: Full frame 24.2 MP Lens Mount: Sony E (over 100 native) Image Stabilization: Yes Weight: 1.4 lbs. What’s the difference between best mirrorless and runner-up? It comes down to sensor resolution. To compensate, this model has 693 focus points, topping out its sibling significantly. All the other Sony benefits are here, including long battery life for a mirrorless (610 shots), IS and RAW, and solid line-up of a7 lenses. Two memory card image storage slots and weather sealing sweeten the deal. Honestly, so many wedding photogs call this model a tie with the other Sony pro camera on our list that either choice will be a good one. Users note the touchscreen can only be used for focusing, not other setting adjustments. Generally, Sony menus are not thought to be intuitive and people find it hard to adjust if they’ve previously used other brands. Consumers love the precision and ergonomic ease of this model, and state that it can make you a better photographer without much effort. Click to See Price Best DSLR Overall: Nikon D850 Camera Type: DSLR Sensor: Full frame 45.7 MP Lens Mount: Nikon F (over 300 native) Image Stabilization: No Weight: 2.2 lbs. Expandable ISO range for low light situations and a super-long battery life of 1840 shots are two of the reasons why wedding pros love this camera. The 153 focus points and 99 cross type focus points is another, along with the extensive D850 lenses list. It also has two storage slots for memory cards. This Nikon sports a longer than usually shutter life cycle expectation, which means greater durability and longer overall camera life. The do-not-disturb setting is said to muffle camera noise and vibration for those times when you need to stay silent. It has weather sealing for outdoor work. This is heavy body by itself, and it is large, which means ergonomics for those of us with smaller hands might be an issue. Users are disappointed that it lacks IS, and others are not completely satisfied with knob and dial placements. Overall, though, this is a semi-pro body that might only be surpassed by the new mirrorless models in the Nikon line – but only maybe. Click to See Price DSLR Runner-Up: Canon EOS 5D Mark IV Camera Type: DSLR Sensor: Full frame 30.4 MP Lens Mount: Canon EF/EF-S (over 270 native) Image Stabilization: No Weight: 2.0 lbs. This runner-up in the full frame DSLR class is so close to the best overall, it’s a photo-finish. This Canon has slightly lower sensor resolution and slightly fewer lens options, but it’s also lighter in weight. For many users, it comes down to which brand you prefer. Reviewers note the 61 focus points and 41 cross focus points make it easy to find the sweet spot with this semi-pro body. It features a long battery life, 900 shots, a range of 5D Mark IV compatible lenses, and has two memory card storage slots. Besides being great low light performance, the ISO can be boosted well into the dim interior shot range. The touchscreen does not articulate, which some users find disappointing. While the video system includes the ability to grab stills from recordings, overall its quality is not on par with other cameras. For wedding stills, though, its sharp rapid autofocus and selection of great optics make it a strong contender for best wedding camera on many lists. Click to See Price Best Crop Sensor: Nikon D7500 Camera Type: DSLR Sensor: APS-C 20.9 MP Lens Mount: Nikon F (over 300 native) Image Stabilization: No Weight: 1.4 lbs. Crop sensor cameras (APS-C sensors) are smaller than full frame but offer many of the same features as their larger sensor siblings. They are also typically less expensive and use the same lenses. They will not have an equivalent focal range since the sensor is smaller, but you can adjust for this in lens selection and shooting style. This model is also lighter and smaller, making it easier to handle. What makes this camera unique is its incredible low light performance, with an ISO range electronically expandable to 50-1640000 (not a typo). Change settings on the fly on the fully tilting articulating touchscreen. A group-type focusing option supplements the 51 focus points and 15 cross type sensors. Users note that not all Nikon F lenses seem to take advantage of low light shooting. As a positive, they like the fast shoot-and-record of this camera, faster than earlier models. Best of all, it is considerably lower in cost than a full frame Nikon, and while it’s not a ‘cheap DSLR’, it is more affordable for the photographer starting their wedding imaging career. Click to See Price Crop Sensor Runner-Up: Canon EOS 80D Camera Type: DSLR Sensor: APS-C 24.2 MP Lens Mount: Canon EF/EF-S (over 300 native) Image Stabilization: No Weight: 1.6 lbs. The one reason this camera didn’t make the best selection for crop sensor size is the lower video resolution, 1920 x 1080 (but hey, this is a comparison of cameras for wedding stills). It’s a shame this wasn’t upgraded by Canon because so many things about the camera are above par. The sensor, for example, produces stellar sharp image quality according to users. You’ll enjoy the breadth of lens possibilities with this camera, as well as the fast 45 focus point and cross type autofocusing system. The articulating touchscreen helps you make settings changes quickly. Battery life at 960 shots does not quit. If video is an important addition to your wedding stills work, this camera will not be the one for you. Despite being a little heavier than the other APS-C camera on our list, users note it is ergonomic, particularly with the new placements of buttons and dials. Best of all, if you’re looking for an entry level option in the Canon line and want to invest in great 80d lenses, you can later migrate to a full frame with EF choices while enjoying all this model has to offer in the meantime. Click to See Price Best Small Sensor: Olympus OM-D E-M1X Camera Type: Mirrorless Sensor: Four Thirds 20.4 MP Lens Mount: Micro Four Thirds (100 native plus more third party) Image Stabilization: Yes Weight: 2.2 lbs. Small sensor cameras are generally not selected by the bulk of wedding photographers because they capture less light, making them a poor choice for shooting church interiors and darkened reception halls. However, they are often a more affordable option for photogs starting out in the biz. In the case of Micro Four Thirds cameras, the wealth of available wedding photography lenses makes an argument for their selection. This new Olympus boasts an updated image stabilization system which should give you even greater shake reduction than those from the big full frame brands. The electronic shutter speed is the highest available in this class, 1/32000 of a second, and the electronic viewfinder gives you the same feel as focusing through a DSLR. Adjustments to settings can be made quickly through the fully articulating touchscreen. Reviewers note the sensor and limited ISO range are the same as the older M1 Mark II, a disappointment to many at this price point. It is heavy and large in the hand but deemed to be rugged. One feature that makes it stand out is the built-in setting mimicking neutral density filters, so if you shoot weddings by the water or against strong sunlight, you’ll appreciate that ability. Click to See Price Small Sensor Runner-Up: Panasonic Lumix GH5 Camera Type: Mirrorless Sensor: Four Thirds 20.3 MP Lens Mount: Micro Four Thirds (100 native plus more third party) Image Stabilization: Yes Weight: 1.6 lbs. This would be a time when finding a recommendation for a pro camera as a beginner’s model might appear to be laughable, but given the many features of this Panasonic, it isn’t out of line. Ease of use bordering on point-and-shoot adaptability is the primary reason it makes our list (for even simpler options, check out our compact event cameras guide). Its menus are said to be intuitive, and you can adjust settings on the fully articulating touchscreen that is the largest in its class. Another huge advantage is the range of GH5 lenses available, both Panasonic natives and hundreds by third-party manufacturers like Olympus and others. The electronic shutter speed of 1/16000 of a second is one of the fastest out there. IS compensates for beginner jitters and the 225 focus points help you find the right composition and click on it quickly. Users wish the camera came with higher sensor resolution. As happens with many mirrorless cameras, it has a short battery life, 410 shots. However, if you’re breaking into the field and want a camera you can grow into for years to come with great lens (and other shooting style) options, you can’t go wrong with the GH5. Click to See Price Back to Top The Complete Cameras for Wedding Photography Buyer's Guide What Makes a Camera Great for Wedding Stills FAQs about Cameras for Wedding Photography Selection Criteria for Cameras for Wedding Imaging What Makes a Camera Great for Wedding Stills Mirrorless vs. DSLR Handheld Stability Ease of Use Lenses Other Features Think about how you would typically be shooting still images at a wedding. Most of your shots will be candids, often handheld, as you move around to find the best angle. You don’t want to be the center of attention because of camera noise, distracting movements with a travel tripod, or focusing issues. On the other hand, you want crisp pictures because those bring in the depth of field and action that creates emotion, and weddings are all about emotion. Yes, you need to consider the lenses along with the body, but let’s begin with the cameras themselves and consider why you’d select one over another. Mirrorless vs. DSLR It could be said that in previous years, the reason you used a DSLR was because they could produce the best images on the market and lenses were readily available. Mirrorless is catching up, however, and they have one big advantage over their larger, heavier siblings. They are quiet. Mirrorless cameras do not have the mirror that needs to tilt up when exposing an image. That action produces the discernible click we hear from DSLRs, and there is no way for those bodies to avoid making it. Mirrorless cameras are silent, and when you’re trying to blend into the background at a wedding, you need that quiet. DSLRs, on the other hand, use through-the-lens viewfinder technology, which means what you see through the viewfinder is what you’ll get on the image. Mirrorless viewfinders are most often offset electronic representations of this, and some don’t even have that capability. You’ll have to decide this on your own, because we can’t play favorites from one camera type to another. Cameras for Weddings Best For Lens Mount Image Stabilization Weight Sony A7R III Best Mirrorless Overall Sony E Yes 1.4 lbs. Sony A7 III Mirrorless Runner-Up Sony E Yes 1.4 lbs. Nikon D850 Best DLSR Overall Nikon F No 2.2 lbs. Canon EOS 5D Mark IV DSLR Runner-Up Canon EF/EF-s No 2.0 lbs. Nikon D7500 Best Crop Sensor Nikon F No 1.4 lbs. Canon EOS 80D Crop Sensor Runner-Up Canon EF/EF-S No 1.6 lbs. Olympus OM-D E-M1X Best Small Sensor Micro Four Thirds Yes 2.2 lbs. Panasonic Lumix GH5 Small Sensor Runner-Up Micro Four Thirds Yes 1.6 lbs. Handheld Stability When you’re moving around the wedding venue, you’ll be shifting your focus from the happy couple to their guests to the sights around them on a regular basis. This means you’ll be using your camera as a handheld, and you want something that makes this easy. Weight and size are factors (another place where mirrorless tend to win over DLSRs) but more importantly, you want the camera to help you focus fast. This is accomplished through two mechanisms: a fast and accurate autofocusing system (bonus points if its motor is quiet too, but that’s most often a lens issue) and image stabilization. The more autofocusing points you have, the more options you’ll have for selecting the focal point of a shot. The trade-off is often ease of selection, though, which is why touchscreens that adjust settings are so popular. Image stabilization (IS) creates forgiveness if your hand shakes a little bit, or you haven’t completely settled your breathing before you press the shutter release. It also compensates for vibrations from the gear itself. This is less important when you have the camera on a tripod for posed stills, but for handheld work, it is critical. Ease of Use You won’t be telling the bride she has to repeat that moment when she stares into her groom’s eyes as she recites the vows she wrote, nor will you be asking the groom to spontaneously sweep his now-wife off her feet for the first kiss – again. (Okay, he might be pleased to do that, but you won’t be asked to photograph any more weddings for people who overhear the request.) You need a camera that is easy to adjust, focus, and shoot so you can concentrate on composition and framing. Part of this comes from practice with the camera, but if the camera requires three clicks to do something other bodies only need a single swipe to accomplish, which will be easier to use on the fly? Intuitive adjustments with a minimal number of movements from you brings you back to the job more quickly. Touchscreens make life a whole lot easier here. Lenses You want the perfect set of lenses to complement your body, so you want a depth of choices with great glass and features like silent autofocusing and even IS in the lenses, because redundancy never hurts. While lenses are outside the scope of this article, suffice to say that having a couple hundred lens options can just about guarantee you’ll find what you want. Picking professional grade optics is always a good idea, because your major gear investment is usually in lenses, and your body is more frequently upgraded down the road. Other features If you shoot a lot of outdoors scenes, weather sealing is a plus. A built-in flash is nice for filling in lighting without a lot of pre-setup bother. Having a hot shoe for additional lighting is a big benefit. You will be carrying extra batteries, but overall battery life that lasts through the ceremony makes your photog life easier. While you will be using this camera primarily for stills, having 4K video resolution allows you to take advantage of that perfect moment without changing gear. The more options you have to capture the magic, the better. Don’t forget things like how the camera fits in your hand and where the controls are located. Good ergonomics can mean the difference between shooting for hours (which you will be) and feeling engaged and pleased with the results, and exhausting yourself (bad photos, anyone?). Finally, you’ll want to have RAW capability, because those images are the ones you can adjust in the greatest detail in post-production on your photo editing monitor. Back to Top FAQs about Cameras for Wedding Photography Can a crop sensor camera be used for professional wedding photography? What camera type is best for low light conditions? Does the size of the memory card slot matter? Are wedding cameras good for other kinds of photography? How much do I need to practice with my wedding camera? Don’t ask us if a mirrorless is better than a DSLR, because both have benefits and it depends on your preferences. Likewise, we cannot answer the Nikon-versus-Canon debate – again, personal preference. But here are some frequently posed questions about cameras for wedding photography we can help you with. Cameras for Weddings Best For Camera Type Sensor Sony A7R III Best Mirrorless Overall Mirrorless Full frame 42.4 MP Sony A7 III Mirrorless Runner-Up Mirrorless Full Frame 24.2 MP Nikon D850 Best DLSR Overall DSLR Full frame 45.7 MP Canon EOS 5D Mark IV DSLR Runner-Up DSLR Full frame 30.4 MP Nikon D7500 Best Crop Sensor DSLR APS-C 20.9 MP Canon EOS 80D Crop Sensor Runner-Up DSLR APS-C 24.2 MP Olympus OM-D E-M1X Best Small Sensor Mirrorless Four Thirds 20.4 MP Panasonic Lumix GH5 Small Sensor Runner-Up Mirrorless Four Thirds 20.3 MP Can a crop sensor camera be used for professional wedding photography? Yes, if you understand the differences the smaller sensor creates. First, your equivalent or effective focal length of your lenses will change. The smaller the sensor (that would be crop sensor or APS-C), the longer the equivalent focal range, changing the way your lens sees the scene. (The so-called small sensor cameras on our list are even smaller and the focal range adjusts to even longer.) Also, you will appear to be closer to the subject when you look through the viewfinder. That means to fill a sensor in the viewfinder, you might need to be ten feet away with a full frame and fifteen with a crop sensor. With practice, you won’t even realize there is a difference, though, unless you change camera bodies often. What’s more important is the resolution of the sensor, expressed in megapixels (MP). The more MPs, the more detail you’ll get, and anything above 20MP is great with today’s technology. Higher MPs also increase the size of the file you’re saving in bytes, which can be a downside if you don’t use larger-sized memory cards. What camera type is best for low light conditions? DSLRs have been the best for low light shooting because the sensor system grabs more light. You will also find the viewfinder easier to use in a DSLR. This isn’t to say mirrorless can’t do low light, but you’ll find it easier with a DSLR. Does the size of the memory card slot matter? The best cameras, and all the ones on our list fall into this group, have slots that accommodate cards with different memory sizes. This means you learn what the max is for your camera (which will be a lot) and select the kind of memory card you want based on this. Some cameras come with two slots, not always for the same card size. Are wedding cameras good for other kinds of photography? Generally, they are, but it depends on what else you like to shoot. For example, the silence of a mirrorless is also great for close-up wildlife work. Low light DSLRs handle indoor events where supplemental lighting is impossible with better ease. How much do I need to practice with my wedding camera? You want to practice so much that the camera is an extension of your body and you don’t have to think about what you’re doing. You can then concentrate on composition and framing, because that’s where your professional magic makes a difference. The camera is a tool, and you are the craftsperson. Back to Top Selection Criteria for Cameras for Wedding Imaging Camera Type Sensor Lens Mount Image Stabilization Weight The selection criteria for our best cameras for wedding imaging note the features and specifics we discussed earlier in the article. If a camera lacks a criterion, it isn’t a reason to avoid it if you know how to work with that aspect of photography. Many adjustments can be made in post-production to offset a shortcoming in field work. Note that all cameras on our list can save images in RAW file type. All but the Canon EOS 80D have 4K video; that Canon has 1920 x 1080, fine for computer screens but not for televisions. Cameras for Weddings Best For Camera Type Sensor Lens Mount Image Stabilization Weight Sony A7R III Best Mirrorless Overall Mirrorless Full frame 42.4 MP Sony E Yes 1.4 lbs. Sony A7 III Mirrorless Runner-Up Mirrorless Full Frame 24.2 MP Sony E Yes 1.4 lbs. Nikon D850 Best DLSR Overall DSLR Full frame 45.7 MP Nikon F No 2.2 lbs. Canon EOS 5D Mark IV DSLR Runner-Up DSLR Full frame 30.4 MP Canon EF/EF-s No 2.0 lbs. Nikon D7500 Best Crop Sensor DSLR APS-C 20.9 MP Nikon F No 1.4 lbs. Canon EOS 80D Crop Sensor Runner-Up DSLR APS-C 24.2 MP Canon EF/EF-S No 1.6 lbs. Olympus OM-D E-M1X Best Small Sensor Mirrorless Four Thirds 20.4 MP Micro Four Thirds Yes 2.2 lbs. Panasonic Lumix GH5 Small Sensor Runner-Up Mirrorless Four Thirds 20.3 MP Micro Four Thirds Yes 1.6 lbs. Camera Type In this criterion, we note camera style (mirrorless or DSLR). Silence weights a choice toward mirrorless, and low light and other performance factors favor DSLR. Really, neither is a bad choice. Sensor We discussed the differences between full frame, crop sensors and small sensor (Four Thirds) earlier, and we note the size here. We also list the sensor resolution. While "the more the better" is one philosophy in resolution megapixels (MP), you’ll also have more potential adjustments in post-production and larger file sizes to save. Lens Mount You’ll be researching lenses next, so knowing the mount used on your body is key. We add more about native and other lenses available at the time of this comparison in the comments for that camera. Again, there is not a bad choice among any of the cameras we list for lens availability. Image Stabilization IS in the camera helps offset instances when jitters or vibrations (mechanical in the camera and lens or in your surroundings) would otherwise create a blurred image. We think this is a must for wedding photogs, but if you’re otherwise steady, you can survive without it. (Note that many lenses also come with IS.) Weight Ergonomics matter, so we list the weight of the camera for you here. Remember that you’ll be adding the lenses to this. If reviewers or users have other observations about overall ergonomics, we note them in the comments. Back to Top