Best Low Light Cameras for Photography

The lockdown and quarantine have been hard for many people around the world and people have been practicing new hobbies to spend their time and get out of boredom.

Photography is one of those hobbies that many people have developed or have become fond of over the years.

Well, this article is not only for people like those who are amateur photographers but will also help many professional photographers.

In this article, I am going to discuss low-light cameras, their advantages, disadvantages, features, and many more.

Last but not the least, I will discuss the top six low-light cameras in India for low-light photography and video. Keep reading to find out more.

Selection Process

Our method of selection of the products is as follows;

• Likewise, we kept in mind the resolution each camera offers as low light images need to have a good resolution because they do not.
• We kept in mind the weight and build of the camera and how convenient they are according to the price.
• Not only that, but we have included the best affordable low-light cameras, so this article helps everyone even if they are on a budget.
• We researched all the best low-light cameras and listed the top six from among them, keeping the previous criteria in mind.

Top Six Low Light Cameras of 2023 in India

Sony a7S III

The first product we are going to talk about on this list is a product from the very well-known brand, Sony.

The Sony a7S III is one of the best low-light cameras for video. It is the most powerful and super low light camera.

It has a 12.1-megapixel BSI CMOS full-frame sensor. Furthermore, Sony has introduced a 4D focus setting in the camera, learn more about it here.

The ISO range of this product is 80-102,400 which is expandable up to 40-409,600. It has a Sony E mount lens and has 5-body in-axis image stabilization.

This camera might be a little lacking when it comes to stills and printing but for videography, this is a perfect low-light camera.

Furthermore, it is one of the best low-light full-frame cameras of 2022.

Pros–

• The ISO performance is top-class.
• You can make professional-grade videos.
• It has a full-frame sensor.
• 4k and 1080p video modes are available.
• 5-axis stabilisation.
• The body is lightweight but with loads of features.

Cons–

• It is Over-specced for stills purists.
• UHS-II memory cards are supported by only one slot.
• Stellar EVF resolution is missing.

Canon EOS 6D Mark II

The next camera on our list is one from another popular, well-known brand, Canon.

The Canon EOS 6D Mark II is a 26.2-megapixel camera. It has a full-frame sensor and weighs 800g.

It is one of the most desired cameras for professional photographers and videographers.

The dynamic range of this model is perfect, and it has a phenomenal ISO performance. It is one of the best cameras for night photography.

Also, the weather sealing makes it very comfortable on the hands. You can check out the complete specs here.

Pros–

• The body is very tough and well-made with complete weatherproofing.
• It has a 26.2MP CMOS full-frame sensor with Dual Pixel autofocus [supported]. 
• The autofocus is incredible even in video mode.
• There is a vast selection of 4k and 1080p video modes. 
• There is 4K/30p video + HDR 1080p.

Cons–

• To record 4k, you will need to use compact flash cards.
• The optimization of autofocus settings will need some getting used to.

Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark IV

The next camera that is the third entry on our list is a model from the brand Olympus.

The OM-D E-M10 Mark IV. It has a 20.3 megapixel four-thirds live MOS sensor.

It has an ISO range of approx 80-25,600. The lens mount it has is a micro four-thirds lens mount. It has an in-body 5-axis image stabilization.

This is the best low light budget camera and is a perfect low light camera for beginners.

Also, its lightweight makes it easier for traveling photographers. Currently, this model has a review score of 81% on the DP review website.

Pros–

• It has a large MFT lens range.
• The image stabilization is excellent.
• The controls are laid out well.

Cons–

• The sensor is relatively small.

Fujifilm X-T3

Fujifilm is another brand that most of you have probably heard of.

The Fujifilm X-T3 is the next low-light camera on our list.

This is a 26-megapixel camera. It contains an X-Trans CMOS 4 sensor.

It is lightweight with weight of 539g. This is one of the best mirrorless cameras in low light.

The ISO, dynamic range, lens, and everything make it one of the best cameras for low light conditions.

An added perk is the beautifully designed button and keys on this camera that make sit look good and easy to use.

Pros–

• It has got a 26-megapixel, X-trans IV sensor.
• The body is beautifully made and feels good to use.
• There are 4k and 1080p modes available for video.

Cons–

• Battery life is not at all up to the mark.
• Other cameras at this price have built-in image stabilization.

Read also: DSLR vs Mirrorless camera: Which one to buy?

Nikon Z6 II

The second last product on our list is a product from one of the best camera brands, that is, Nikon.

The Nikon Z6 II is a 24.5-megapixel camera with CMOS BSI full-frame sensor.

The ISO range is 100-51,200 which is expandable up to 50-204,800. It has a Nikon Z lens mount, and it has a 5-axis sensor-shift image stabilization.

The Z6 II is something of a low-light specialist.

Its perfect ISO, range, and megapixel count make it one of the best low-light cameras in 2022.

Pros–

• The autofocus is very capable and versatile.
• The metering works in the dark.
• It has a sophisticated Z lens mount.
• Dual processor & memory card slots

Cons–

• The battery life is very low and could have been better.

Also read: 7 Finest DSLR Cameras for Beginners

Nikon D7500

The last and sixth product on our list is another camera from our beloved brand Nikon.

We are going to talk about the Nikon D7500.

It is a 21-megapixel camera. It has a cropped sensor size.

Furthermore, it is a fairly lightweight camera with a weight of 640g. It is one of the best low-light point-and-shoot cameras.

For those of you on a budget or are beginners, you can opt to buy this camera.

Even though it has a cheap price, it has prominent features for that price. 

Pros–

• The image quality is excellent.
• It has a 20.9 MP sensor.
• It offers a great, lightweight, and well-made body at a good price.
• There is a 4k mode with a crop and a 1080p mode.

Cons–

• It only has one card slot, whereas its predecessor had two.
• The crop on the 4k limits your usage of lenses.

Also read: DSLR vs Point and Shoot Camera – What is the best choice for YOU?

What to Look for in a Low Light Camera

• Foremost, you need to consider the sensor size of the camera you are buying.
• Full-frame cameras are the best when it comes to capturing the lightest and hence they will be the best in the case of low-light cameras because you need to capture as much light as you can to photograph in the dark.
• The next thing you need to keep in mind is the ISO. The ISO measures the amount of light your sensor can capture. If your ISO is very high, then you will get more digital noise in your picture, which will make your image look grainy.
• Last but not the least, you need to take into consideration the amount of noise your camera will produce. By noise, I do not mean sound, noise refers to digital noise that makes your picture look grainy. Especially if you capture a picture in the dark, it will be noisier.
• So you need to make sure your camera will eliminate the maximum amount of noise in your photo.

Advantages of Low Light Cameras

• Low light cameras have larger sensors which is the reason they can capture low light. It has been discovered that using larger sensors gives us more high-resolution pictures than others. This is because larger sensors allow for larger pixels, hence, the resolution of photos gets better.
• The dynamic range will be increased if you use low-light cameras. The digital noise will not be huge if you capture images in low light using specifically designed low light cameras. The same cannot be said for normal cameras.
• The diffraction will be less when you use low-light cameras. This is again because of the presence of large sensors. The scattering of light will have less impact if the pixels are widespread in a large sensor instead of a lot of pixels crammed in a small space.

Disadvantages of Low Light Cameras

• If you use a cheap low-light camera without the proper specifications, you will get a grainy picture, that is, the digital noise on the image will be increased.
• The more the aperture is, the less depth of field you will get. Although this has one advantage more light enters the camera.
• Some low light cameras are specifically designed to capture images in low light, so you might have trouble clicking normal pictures with that camera.

Some commonly asked questions about the best low-light cameras.

Conclusion

In conclusion, I would like to say that opting for a low light camera is a great idea.

But if you are not passionate about photography, it would not be the best idea to invest in a low-light camera.

Yes, of course, there are reasonably priced low light cameras too such as the Nikon D7500 product I have described.

That would be good for beginners and amateurs. If you are a professional, you should opt for something like the Canon product I have mentioned in this article or the Fuji film product.

Sony is also a great company for low-light cameras.

Other than my suggestions, there are several more good low light cameras available in the market.

I hope the buying guide helps you choose a good camera for yourself.