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The best low light camera has the unique ability to shoot excellent quality in poor lighting – and get results other cameras could only dream of.
The problem is that you don’t have the time or patience to comb through the hundreds of options that are available.
You’d have to go through every single option and put it up against the others, all while trying to find the right balance between cost and performance.
If you’re anything like me, you don’t have a giant budget to just go out and buy a bunch of the best low light cameras in the world. There are financial and time limits.
This may sound gloomy, but there’s good news.
I’ve been doing this for a long time, but this doesn’t mean I’m the be-all-and-end-all photography guru!
I’ve learned what works and what doesn’t work overtime, and have built up a keen sense of what’s going to perform the best in the real world.
You need a low light camera that meets all your needs. It has to find the right balance between cost, real-world performance, features, versatility, durability, etc. The list goes on.
I’ve taken the time to go through all the options and have put together what I think are the absolute 7 best low light cameras that strike the perfect balance.
You’ll find options for different styles and unique features that some will find super-useful, and others will scoff at.
Remember that there’s no perfect camera. Even the most expensive models don’t do everything perfectly.
By the end of this guide, you’ll have a firm idea of which low light camera suits your needs, style, and budget. You’ll learn about the good and bad points of each camera, what’s unique and some frequently asked questions about them.
So now, before using up any more of your time, let’s get into the guide!
Comparison of 5 Best Low Light Camera in 2023
Image | Product Name | Features | Price |
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Panasonic Lumix ZS200 |
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Panasonic Lumix FZ80 |
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Canon PowerShot SX620 |
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Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark II |
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Nikon D3400 DSLR |
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Our 7 Best Low Light Cameras
Here we’ll go a little more depth on the specifics of each camera. You’ll learn about the main features and my thoughts on each camera.
You’ll also be able to compare what we liked and disliked about each model, which will give you a good idea of how it’ll perform in the real world.
Let’s get into the reviews!
1 Panasonic Lumix ZS200 – Best Low Light Video Camera
- Sensor: 1” 20.1MP CMOS
- Stabilization: Yes
- Electronic Viewfinder: Yes
- Body Material: Metal
- Lens: 24-360mm / F3.3 – 6.4
- ISO: 100 – 12 800
Panasonic is known to make excellent low-light cameras that don’t cost an arm and a leg.
The large 1” sensor lets you capture more light and color in your shots. Although it’s not full-frame, you’ll be able to get more than enough light into your images – and the difference is very noticeable.
Whether you’re shooting with the 20.1MP camera or filming in 4K, you’ll get plenty of detail into your shots. The stabilization further adds to the sharpness and clarity of the results you’ll get.
You have broad creative control with scene mode and various filter modes.
Mounting up on a good tripod will be essential if you plan on using higher ISO values. It gets pretty grainy at the higher end of the scale, so try to keep it as low as possible. Panasonic tends to reward lower ISO counts more handsomely than higher ones.
The electronic viewfinder is surprisingly accurate and you’ll have a good feel for how the final image will turn out. This combined with the 3” touch LCD drains the battery much faster, so use it wisely.
While it’s not a perfect camera, you’ll get excellent quality images out of it with good technique and a little patience.
- Excellent zoom ability that keeps grain to a minimum
- Stabilization works well to keep low-light shots as smooth and sharp as possible
- Battery life is fantastic – perfect for extended evening and night shots
- Great price point and it delivers quality performance in more than just low light photography
- Not the easiest camera to use – if you’re just getting into low-light photography you might want something more beginner-friendly to learn the ropes on
- The autofocus doesn’t always find the right focus and this worsens in low-light conditions
2 Panasonic Lumix FZ80 – Best Low Light Digital Camera
- Sensor: 1/2.3” 18.1MP
- Stabilization: Yes
- Electronic Viewfinder: Yes
- Body Material: Plastic
- Lens: 20-1200mm (60x zoom)
- ISO: 80-6400
The FZ80 offers you an affordable entry into the low-light Panasonic cameras. It’s not the very best low-light camera by any means. You’re still getting decent low-light performance at lower ISO settings.
You’ll be able to shoot up to ISO6400 in automatic mode. You won’t often find yourself shooting up at these ranges anyway as they’re pretty grainy.
You’re likely to get the best results shooting under ISO2000. You’ll take some time to explore and experiment for yourself and see what works best.
4K video is excellent quality for the price. The stabilization will take quite a hit on your battery life, but it’s worthwhile if you’re looking for buttery smooth footage.
It’s definitely a compelling choice for the best low-light video camera in this price range. In the right hands, it can compete with models that cost much time more.
It’ll take a little experience, skill, and patience to coax high-quality results from this camera, but it’s certainly possible.
- Video and picture quality is high despite the low cost of the camera
- The lens with a 60x zoom ranging from 20-1200mm that’s very versatile
- The zoom is smooth enough to be reliable
- The camera is very light and surprisingly comfortable to hold
- Battery life struggles when shooting in 4K with image stabilization
- The plastic body is more prone to damage and faster wear and tear (the mount is metal so that’s a plus)
3 Canon PowerShot SX620 Digital Camera
- Sensor: 1” 20.2MP CMOS
- Stabilization: Yes
- Electronic Viewfinder: No
- Body Material: Plastic
- Lens: 4.5-112mm 25x zoom lens
- ISO: 80-3200 effective range
If you’re looking for value and savings, this could be the best low-light SLR camera for you. It’s very affordable while still offering you everything you’d need to shoot awesome low-light shots.
You’ve got a diverse range of shutter speeds. You’ll get top-quality shots when shooting at a low ISO and with a good tripod. This puts it as a top choice for the best low-light digital camera when you compare the results with the cost.
The zoom performs better in practice than it does on paper. This is mainly due to the image stabilization being so smart. Images are pretty much shake-free and the resulting images are tactful and detailed.
The stabilization doesn’t work as well with video, but it’s still good enough to give you smooth shots that are worthy of more expensive cameras.
Overall, this unit earns its place out low light digital cameras review because it delivers huge value where it matters most.
- Great battery life that isn’t hit too hard by shooting video with stabilization
- High-quality pictures that rival far more expensive cameras
- Easier to use than most competitors at this price point – it’s a solid choice pick for beginners
- Zoom performs better than you’d expect from a unit of this type.
- Struggles with face recognition, especially in low light
- No settings wheel on the back of the camera – they’re buried deep in the settings menu
4 Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark II – Best Low Light Cameras Point and Shoot
- Sensor: 1” 20.1MP CMOS
- Stabilization: Yes
- Electronic Viewfinder: No
- Body Material: Metal
- Lens: 24-100mm
- ISO: 80-6400
Not only is it easy to use, but it’s also fast and fun to use. You’ll find that the auto settings are more than capable of carrying you through most situations.
If you’re more confident in your skills, you can take manual control (I recommend this for low-light photography). You’ll be able to get clean shots even when at ISO1600. This makes this unit one of best low light cameras point and shoot for this price.
You have in-camera RAW conversion too. This is a special tool that’ll give the quality of your results a big boost. You’ll also build up your skills along the way.
Long exposures are exceptional on the G7. You’ll obviously need a good tripod with you, but you can expect near-professional-grade low-light results.
The lens is wide and bright, drawing in enough light to make this camera perform better than most just as the light is beginning to fade. It bridges that low light space between late afternoon and early evening expertly.
- Image stabilization is better than almost all cameras I’ve used in this price range
- The lens is bright and gives you a versatile field of view and controls overexposure
- Autofocus does well in low-light situations – though this expected considering the higher price
- The metal body gives you far enhanced durability over competing models
- Battery life isn’t great – you’ll need to carry extra batteries if you plan on extended shooting
- Bokeh isn’t as smooth when you’re focusing within 2 feet, but it’s good beyond that
5 Nikon D3400 DSLR
- Sensor: 1” 24.2MP CMOS
- Stabilization: Yes
- Electronic Viewfinder: Yes
- Body Material: Metal
- Lens: 18-55mm; f3.5 – f5.6 VR
- ISO: 100 – 25600
You won’t often go wrong with the Nikon D-series if you’re looking for good low light performance.
This is a top pick for the best low light DSLR camera. You’ll get top-shelf performance and a reasonable price.
The sensor isn’t full-frame, but it will produce excellently sharp photos and videos. It’s has a higher native resolution than almost all cameras you’ll find at this price.
It has the specs and real-world performance to help you get professional-looking low light photos without having to be a true expert.
I found it to perform exceptionally well indoors where the lighting is dimmer, and in the evenings. Its ability to take sharp portraits is nearly unrivaled.
The camera has a sleek metallic design that makes it feel very sturdy and comfortable in your hands. Despite this robust build, it isn’t too heavy and is pleasant to use over extended shoots.
The light sensitivity and ISO work fantastically well together. You’ll even be able to set the ISO to auto and let the camera take care of the rest. I personally prefer to go manual as I find the D3400 rewards it far better.
In the end, you’re getting one of the top options for best low light camera at this price point – plus it’s a fantastic entry point into the Nikon sphere.
- Images and videos are very high resolution – the VR lens helps give you even smoother footage
- ISO is amazing and will even give you semi-usable photos at ISO25600
- The build is high quality and very durable
- Battery life is bordering on excellent, but not quite enough to get over that line
- No touch screen or tilting LCD – though this doesn’t matter to everyone
- Beginners may struggle to get a hold of the manual controls
Also Read: Best Camera for Night Photography
6 Panasonic Lumix FZ300 Long Zoom
- Sensor: 1/2.3” 12.1MP MOS
- Stabilization: Yes
- Electronic Viewfinder: Yes – optical
- Body Material: Plastic
- Lens: 25-600mm; f2.8 constant
- ISO: 80-6400
If you’re looking for an affordable camera that has more features than its competitors, then this is the best low light digital camera for you.
It packs in heaps of quality features like an optical viewfinder, 24x optical zoom, a 180° LCD display, and 4K photos and videos.
This combination of features is very difficult to find on any camera at the same price point. It’s a fantastic option if you’re looking for a high level of functionality and versatility.
Not only is it good in low light, but you’ll be able to take it almost anywhere with you. The 600mm zoom is ridiculous – it’s stable and exposes well across the entire focal length.
RAW support and optical image stabilization top it all off to make this a massive deal. It’s hard to ignore everything this camera offers. Of course, though, it’s not perfect and there are things that could be improved on.
- Excellent variety of useful features
- Affordable considering the value for money
- Low light performance is really good so long as you stick to the lower end of the ISO range
- It’s fast and has a rugged, sturdy design
- Could do with a higher MP count – it may struggle with large printouts
- Autofocus isn’t on par with the performance of the rest of the camera
7 Canon PowerShot SX730 Digital Camera – Best Low Light Slr Camera
- Sensor: 1/2.3” 18.1MP
- Stabilization: Yes
- Electronic Viewfinder: Only LCD
- Body Material: Metal
- Lens: 4.3-172mm 40x zoom
- ISO: b
In good lighting, this camera is brilliant. In low light, it can still shine above the other options.
You’ll need to use longer exposures and a tripod, but the ISO will help you get good-quality photos. There isn’t too much grain under ISO3200, but you won’t get a whole lot of usability above that.
The good news is that under ISO2000, the images and videos are excellent. They’re sharp and clear enough to be printed out. This makes this one of the best low-light professional video camera options out there.
The battery life is huge. I’ve hardly ever used a full charge. You’ll find the battery life more than enough to carry you through entire days of shooting.
The performance at full zoom is surprisingly good. You’ll be able to use it expertly for concerts and nightscape shots.
- Fantastic zoom is better than most SLR telephoto lenses
- Very good battery life
- The articulating screen is very useful and reliable
- The price is great considering what you’re getting
- Video autofocus tends to drift a little while shooting
- Better for beginners than for experienced users
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Our Final Thoughts
We’ve looked at 7 of the most feature-rich and value-for-money low-light cameras you’ll find.
We took the time to look at some cameras that are better suited to beginners, and some that better reward a photographer with a little experience.
All the cameras we’ve taken a look at are capable of putting out top-quality results and some can even be used professionally (in the right hands).
Your choice should be a whole lot easier with the narrow field of options. All that’s left is for you to make the decision and get started.
Your skill set, determination, and consistency matter more than the gear you have. Spend as much time as you can to draw inspiration and ideas from established photographers. You’ll be surprised how much you can learn from unexpected sources.
Devote time to improving your craft every day and you’ll come out on top over time.
The most important point is to have the best low-light camera for you specifically. Go out, practice, keep improving and get the low-light results you’ve been searching for!
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