8 Best camera for low light event photography: (2023 Guide & Reviews)

Last Updated on September 8, 2023 by Sharon Advik

“Low light photography” refers to any situation with little available light.

It might be done in a room with only one light source or just after dusk outside.

Low light conditions allow you to see some detail with your eyes but aren’t entirely dark.

Whatever the circumstance, low light photography presents a distinct set of camera setting issues.

A larger aperture, a longer shutter speed, and a higher ISO level are frequently necessary for this picture.

The light falling on the sensor depends on the lens’s aperture.

This is more of a design consideration than an imaging system specification.

Once a client hired me as an indoor wedding photographer, I took photos with all of my best.

Now, let’s look at the various cameras and their features from the perspective of low-light photography.

Which is the Best camera for low light event photography?

Here are my recommended top 8 Best camera for low light event photography:-

Canon EOS R6: (Best camera for low-light event photography)

My client demanded professional-grade photo and video quality for low-light shoots, and one of the best cameras I found is the Canon R6, a potent tool.

It is a full-frame mirrorless camera with outstanding autofocus, industry-best image stabilization, and exceptional low-light performance.

I find it the best camera for low-light event photography because it worked well for a wedding shoot of my friend, although it was a night event.

Features

  • Brand: Canon
  • Model Name: Canon EOS R6
  • Form Factor: Mirrorless
  • Effective Still Resolution: 20 MP
  • Color: Black
  • Connectivity Technology: Bluetooth, Wi-Fi
  • Screen Size: 3 Inches
  • Photo Sensor Size: Full Frame (35mm)
  • Dimensions (mm): 138.4 X 97.5 X 88.4
  • Body Weight: Approximately 598 g

Shutter Speed/ISO

During night events photography, I found this camera the best, as it has a sensor with an electronic shutter function and an electronically controlled focal-plane shutter.

The shutter speed range is 30-1/8000 sec, Bulb.

It allows photographers like me to freeze fast-moving subjects and capture the moment perfectly.

With this shutter speed, I can capture sharp, detailed images even in bright, sunny conditions.

The range is different by firing mode, in addition to the Soft Touch Electromagnetic Shutter Release.

Aperture /Depth of field

I used the aperture, which controls the light that passes through the camera’s lens and onto the image sensor.

I also used its maximum aperture of f/1.8, making it one of the brightest APS-C cameras on the market.

It allows the camera to perform well in low-light situations, capturing more detail and color than other cameras.

That’s the main reason for my good photography, even in low light.

Its aperture affects the depth of field of a photograph.

A smaller f-number (e.g., f/1.8) results in a shallow depth of field; due to this feature, I created a dreamy blur in the image’s background.

A wider aperture (e.g., f/11) yields a deeper depth of field, ensuring that the foreground and background of my wedding low-light photographs are in focus.

White Balance/ Frame rate

It features a sophisticated white balance system to ensure the low light wedding photograph has an accurate color rendition and improved skin tones.

This system uses auto-white balance algorithms and fine-tuned settings to ensure images look natural, even in difficult lighting conditions.

It also allows me to fine-tune the white balance in-camera for the exact look I am trying to achieve.

Why is this camera the best?

It is the best camera because it offers me a powerful combination of features.

It has a 20.1MP full-frame CMOS sensor and the latest DIGIC X image processor, allowing me to capture sharp images at the low-light wedding.

It also offered me 4K video recording, dual pixel autofocus, and an outstanding battery life of up to 220 shots per charge.

It has built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth to easily transfer images and videos.

All in all, this camera is an excellent choice for both stills and video.

According to my experience, it is the best for low-light event photography.

Conclusion

The camera is well-built and easy to use, making it an excellent choice for me of all levels.

Its excellent performance, robust design, and intuitive features make it a perfect choice for me or one looking for a top-notch camera.

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Pros
  • Outstanding 20MP image sensor
  • Quick, smart autofocus
  • Subject tracking at 20fps
  • Large, crisp EVF
  • Swing-out touch LCD
  • Dual UHS-II SDXC card slots
  • Strong 4K video quality
Cons
  • Battery life could be better
  • Lens system still has room for growth

Sony A7S III: (Best camera for low-light event photography)

It is an impressive full-frame mirrorless camera designed for professional videographers and photographers.

I used this camera in a low-light wedding, where I found the camera features image stabilization and creative options.

I claim it is the perfect camera for capturing action-packed and stunning photos.

I got my clients happy due to this device’s performance.

Features:

  • Brand: Sony
  • Model Name: Alpha a7S III
  • Form Factor: Compact
  • Effective Still Resolution: 12.1 MP
  • Unique Feature: Image Stabilization
  • Color: Black
  • Connectivity Technology: USB
  • Photo Sensor Size: Full Frame (35mm)
  • Item Weight: 3.1 Pounds
  • Video Capture Resolution: 2160p

ISO/Shutter speed

It is a powerful camera featuring an impressive shutter speed of up to 1/8000th a second.

This allows me to capture fast-moving objects like I captured the people dancing on the floor at a wedding without sacrificing image quality.

It also enabled more creative control over exposure and freezing motion, allowing you to get dramatic effects.

With its fast shutter speed, I believe it is perfect for sports, wildlife, and other types of action photography.

Aperture/Depth of field

During indoor wedding photography, I noticed that it has an impressive maximum aperture of f/2.8, which allowed me to keep excellent low-light performance and shallow depth of field for beautiful out-of-focus backgrounds.

It also features a 15-stop dynamic range and advanced autofocus capabilities, making it an excellent choice for me to capture high-quality images in low-light situations.

With its excellent depth-of-field capabilities, this camera is a great choice for me to keep all kinds of portrait and landscape shots, from tight close-ups to wide-angle shots.

White balance/ Frame rate

It is an impressive camera with superior white balance and frame rate of its field.

I noticed it features an advanced auto white balance system that allowed me to adjust accurately for lighting conditions.

I wanted to capture slow-motion video of that wedding, and this camera also has a high frame rate of up to 120fps for slow-motion video.

Why is this camera the best?

It is the best camera for me due to its remarkable features.

The camera has a 12.1 megapixel full-frame back-illuminated Exmor R sensor, a BIONZ XR processor, and 4K 120p recording capability.

For still photography, the camera can use 15+ stops of dynamic range to capture every detail in the scene, which is perfect for wedding photography.

The camera has advanced autofocus capabilities, an LCD touchscreen, and Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity.

With these features, I quickly captured stunning photos and videos, allowing me to take my content-creating and photography skills to the next level.

Conclusion

It is an excellent choice for both professional and amateur photographers like me.

Its high resolution and powerful features allowed me to capture stunning images with incredible detail.

It is a robust, reliable, and versatile camera that will surely be a favorite for years.

I find that it is the best camera for low-light event photography.

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Pros
  • 12MP full-frame sensor
  • 4K recording at 10-bit quality
  • 120fps slow motion at 4K
  • Face and eye detection autofocus
  • Subject tracking at 10fps
  • High sensitivity for low light
  • 5-axis IBIS
  • Dust and splash protection
Cons
  • CFExpress cards required for best quality slow-motion video
  • Video autofocus doesn’t work SLR lens adapters

Panasonic Lumix GH5S: (Best camera for low-light event photography)

GH5S is a powerful and versatile camera for me.

I used this camera at my friend’s wedding for good photography.

I found it the best version of this camera as it features in-body image stabilization and a robust weather-resistant design.

For wedding shoots, with its excellent image quality and advanced features, it is a great choice for those looking for a professional-level camera.

I find that it is the best camera for low-light event photography.

Features:

  • Model: Name Panasonic LUMIX GH5s
  • Form Factor: Mirrorless
  • Effective Still Resolution: 10.2 MP
  • Special Feature: Image-stabilization
  • Optical Zoom: 1 x
  • Screen Size: 3.2 Inches
  • Photo Sensor: Size 1-inch

ISO/Shutter speed

It features an impressive ISO range of up to 51200 and a fast shutter speed of up to 1/16000 second.

This allowed me to capture high-quality images in low-light weddings without compromising detail.

It also has a wide dynamic range to bring out the best in each shot.

This camera also features a high-speed autofocus system to ensure accurate and precise focusing, even in challenging conditions.

Aperture/Depth of field

It is known for its impressive depth of field control, thanks to its wide aperture range of f/1.2 to f/16.

It allowed me to create stunning images with a shallow depth of field, making them ideal for portrait and landscape photography, precisely what my friend wanted.

White balance/ Frame rate

Its features include an excellent sensitivity range, white balance control, and frame rates up to 180fps in complete HD.

Additionally, it has a fast autofocus system with 225 contrast-detection points and an impressive OLED viewfinder.

In short, it is an excellent camera for both stills and video, delivering superior image quality and features.

Why is this camera the best?

Its 10.2-megapixel Digital Live MOS Sensor and Venus Engine 10 image processor provide excellent image quality and high light sensitivity for both stills and video.

My friend liked the quality.

Additionally, In the wedding, it can record 4K/60p and 4K/50p video with 10-bit 4:2:2 color sampling and offers me a variety of unique features, such as Dual Native ISO and V-Log L Gamma.

Conclusion

In conclusion, I will say that it is good for low-light event photography as it is the perfect choice for experienced photographers and videographers thanks to its advanced features and excellent image quality, as it helped me a lot in taking good photos.

It is a reliable, versatile, and robust camera that would help me in low-light events.

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Pros
  • Native 4K sensor and dual native ISO for excellent low-light video quality.
  • Same build quality as GH5.
  • Dual card slots.
  • Vari-angle touch LCD.
  • Big, sharp EVF.
  • 14-bit Raw imaging V-Log L and HLG included.
Cons
  • No in-body stabilization.
  • No built-in flash.

Nikon Z 6II: (Best camera for low-light event photography)

I have to take pictures of a family event on my customer demand.

The theme of that event was black and a low-light function.

Guess what has been my favorite gadget to get excellent results.

It is a high-end full-frame mirrorless camera designed to meet the needs of professional and enthusiast photographers alike.

I found it to be the best camera for low-light event photography.

All its features gave me a complete package to shoot anywhere in dim light.

Features:

  • Model Name: Z 6II FX-format Mirrorless Camera Body
  • Form Factor: Mirrorless
  • Effective Still Resolution: 24.5 MP
  • Unique Feature: Vibration Reduction, 273-Point Phase-Detect AF System, Dual EXPEED 6 Image Processors
  • Optical Zoom: 1 x
  • Color: Black
  • Connectivity Technology: Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, USB, HDMI, GPS
  • Screen Size: 3.2 Inches
  • Photo Sensor Size: Full Frame (35mm)

ISO/Shutter speed

It offered me a wide ISO range of 100-51,200, making it capable of shooting in almost all lighting conditions.

I covered the light properly using this camera.

It also featured a fast shutter speed of up to 1/8000 sec, helping me easily capture fast-moving subjects.

Aperture/Depth of field

In my experience, it featured a maximum aperture of f/4 and a minimum aperture of f/22, which allowed me to control the depth of field for my photography’s creative effects, which is why my client liked my photography style.

It also offers a 9-blade diaphragm for smooth bokeh.

White balance/ Frame rate

It offered me a range of white balance settings for lighting conditions and a maximum frame rate of 12 fps in continuous shooting mode.

Why is this camera the best?

It is the best camera for low-light event photography as a professional and enthusiastic photographer.

It offers impressive features, including a 24.5MP BSI CMOS sensor, Dual EXPEED 6 image processor, UHD 4K/30p video recording, a 3.2″ 2.1m-dot touchscreen LCD, and a weather-sealed body.

It also offers a wide ISO range, fast shutter speed, and a robust autofocus system with 273 selectable points.

Conclusion

It is a great all-around camera that offers excellent image quality and performance.

It is well-built, reliable, and offers several advanced features, making it an excellent choice for professional and amateur photographers.

Its sensor delivers quality images, while the autofocus system is fast and accurate.

The dual card slots are an excellent addition, and the battery life is decent.

This camera is an excellent choice for a high-end full-frame mirrorless camera.

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Pros
  • 24MP full-frame image sensor
  • 5-axis in-body stabilization
  • Phase detection autofocus
  • Up to 14fps continuous drive
  • Dual memory card slots
  • Strong 4K video toolkit
Cons
  • Raw video requires paid firmware upgrade
  • Limited third-party lens support
  • Full-frame 4K limited to 30fps

Fujifilm X-T4: (Best camera for low-light event photography)

X-T4 is the latest flagship camera from Fujifilm.

I have utilized this camera for my client’s task.

To make them happy has been my forever safe option.

To use it in California is my forever best-to-go mode camera.

Someone recommended I use this camera in low-light events, and I tried.

Boasting an impressive list of features, it offered me an unparalleled experience.

Its new APS-C sensor, 4K video recording, and advanced autofocus system make it a powerful and versatile camera.

Features:

  • Model Name: Fujifilm
  • Form Factor: Mirrorless
  • Effective Still Resolution: 26.1 MP
  • Optical Zoom:1
  • Color: Black
  • Technology for Connectivity: USB 3.0
  • Screen Size: 3 Inches
  • Photo Sensor Size: APS-C

ISO/Shutter speed

During my first experience with this camera, I found its interesting features as its ISO range is from 160 – 12800, and it has an electronic shutter speed of up to 1/32000 of a second.

This gave me great flexibility to shoot in various lighting conditions.

Aperture/Depth of field

It has an aperture range of F2.0 – F16 and a 9-blade diaphragm for beautiful bokeh.

I also controlled the depth of field by adjusting the lens’s aperture and focal length to take a perfect shot, and I believed this was the best camera for me.

White balance/ Frame rate

It has a wide range of white balance settings that helped me capture the right colors in photos.

It helps me to record 4K video at 30 frames per second and full HD video at 120 frames per second.

Why is this camera the best?

It is an excellent camera for photographers and videographers and proved best for me in my shoot.

I captured sharp images and smooth videos with its powerful autofocus system and 5-axis image stabilization.

It also has an impressive list of features that make it easy to use and get great results.

Conclusion

According to my experience, I concluded that this camera has impressive features that offer me an excellent experience for photographers and videographers.

It covers light perfectly with its powerful autofocus system, 5-axis image stabilization, and advanced features; it is a perfect choice for me to take their photography and videography to the next level.

This camera is far better than others, so I have found the perfect one I was looking for now.

It proved to be the best camera for low-light event photography.

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Pros
  • Pro-grade, dust- and splash-protected body
  • Excellent EVF
  • Articulating LCD
  • 15fps mechanical shutter
  • Improved battery
  • Excellent in-camera film looks and Raw processing
  • Stabilized image sensor
  • 4K at 60fps
Cons
  • No standard headphone jack (though a dongle is included)
  • Smallest tracking focus area not that small

Nikon D850: (Best camera for low-light event photography)

D850 is an advanced full-frame digital SLR camera with various features that helped me capture stunning images for a party.

With its high resolution, I captured my friend’s low-light event at night in his college.

It worked best for me to make him happy.

I claim this camera is one of the most powerful cameras in the Nikon lineup.

Features:

  • Brand: Nikon
  • Model Name: Nikon D850
  • Form Factor: Digital SLR
  • Effective Still Resolution: 45.7 MP
  • Special Feature: Digital-camera
  • Optical Zoom: 1 x
  • Color: Black
  • Connectivity Technology: Bluetooth, USB, HDMI, NFC
  • Screen Size: 3.2 Inches
  • Photo Sensor Size: 35.9 mm x 23.9 mm

ISO/Shutter speed

It offered a wide range of ISO settings, from 100-25,600 and extendable to 102,400.

It ensures that the photos I capture would be sharp and noise-free, no matter the lighting conditions.

The camera has a range of shutter speeds of 30 sec to 1/8000th of a second, allowing me to capture fast-moving subjects easily as I captured all my friends enjoying and dancing together.

Aperture/Depth of field

I noticed that this camera has a maximum aperture of f/5.6 and a minimum aperture of f/32, which allows me to achieve a perfect shallow depth of field to focus on my subject.

It also has a 9-blade rounded diaphragm that helped me create beautiful, soft bokeh in my images.

This bokeh is liked by my friends very much.

White balance/ Frame rate

This camera offered me a wide range of white balance settings during the shoot as it is the best camera for low-light event photography, including Auto, Daylight, Flash, Cloudy, Shade, and more.

It ensures that the images will be accurately colored, no matter the lighting conditions.

The camera has a frame rate of 8 fps, allowing me to capture fast-moving subjects easily.

Why is this camera the best?

It is one of the best cameras in the Nikon lineup, offering features and performance that can’t match.

Its 45.7-megapixel back-illuminated CMOS sensor and 153-point autofocus system ensure stunning image quality.

Its eight fps shooting speed and 4K video recording capabilities make it perfect for fast-moving subjects.

Conclusion

This remarkable camera offers excellent image quality, fast and accurate autofocus, and excellent build quality.

It is well-suited for professional and amateur photographers and is an excellent choice for a wide range of shooting scenarios.

Its impressive resolution, dynamic range, advanced features, and excellent ergonomics make it a top-notch camera for any photographer.

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Pros
  • Full-frame 45.7MP image sensor.
  • 153-point autofocus system.
  • 7fps burst shooting.
  • Wide ISO range.
  • 4K video.
  • Large optical viewfinder.
  • Tilting touch LCD.
  • Dual card slots.
  • Bluetooth and Wi-Fi.
Cons
  • Live View focus uses contrast detection only.
  • No built-in flash.
  • SnapBridge system needs some work.

Sony A9 II: (Best camera for low-light event photography)

I like to keep nature in my photos, especially in the evening, so I focused on a powerful full-frame mirrorless camera that offers a range of features to help me capture stunning images.

It has accurate autofocus and excellent image quality.

The Sony A9 II features a 5-axis image stabilization system that reduces my camera’s shake, an advanced autofocus system, and a wide range of ISO settings best for wedding low-light shooting.

Features:

  • Model Name: Alpha 9 II
  • Form Factor: Mirrorless
  • Effective Still Resolution: 24.2 MP
  • Stabilization
  • Color: Black
  • Connectivity Technology: Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, USB
  • Screen Size: 3 Inches
  • Photo Sensor Size: Full Frame (35mm)

ISO/Shutter speed

It offers a wide range of ISO settings, from 100 to 51,200, which allows me to capture images in challenging lighting conditions.

During the nature photography, I found that the camera has a fast shutter speed of up to 1/32,000 a second, allowing me to freeze fast-moving insects with stunning clarity.

Aperture/Depth of field

It features a maximum aperture of f/2.8, making it excellent field control depth.

The camera also has a wide range of aperture settings, allowing me to choose the right location for the right situation according to my choice.

White balance/ Frame rate

In my experience, I found it has a wide range of white balance settings, allowing me to adjust the color of your image to my liking as if I have to capture different pictures of the sky, so this camera is best for low light event photography.

It also has a fast frame rate of up to 20 frames per second, allowing me to capture fast-moving subjects easily.

Why is this camera the best?

It has a robust 24.2MP Exmor R CMOS sensor and BIONZ X image processor, a rapid shutter speed, a broad ISO range, a sophisticated autofocus system, and an easy user interface, making it one of the best cameras available.

Conclusion

I think it is a powerful full-frame mirrorless camera that offers a range of features that help me capture stunning images, and for me, it is the best camera for low-light event photography.

It is an impressive camera, offering outstanding performance and features for both stills and video.

It has a 24.2-megapixel full-frame stacked CMOS image sensor, 5-axis in-body image stabilization, and lightning-fast autofocus.

It also has a higher-resolution viewfinder, 4K video recording, and more.

These features make it an excellent choice for professional photographers and videographers, and you should buy this for low-light event photography.

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Pros
  • Blackout-free capture at 20fps
  • Superlative autofocus system
  • 24MP full-frame sensor
  • Dust and splash protection
  • 5-axis IBIS
  • 4K video
  • Wired and wireless file transfer
Cons
  • No S-Log video profiles included
  • Can’t switch to video when clearing image buffer

Olympus Tough TG-6 Red: (Best camera for low-light event photography)

When I started my profession, I used this camera as my best friend told me that this was the best camera for low-light event photography.

I chose this camera to improve my photography skills.

All I can say is that this camera is perfect for beginner and experienced photographers.

This waterproof and dustproof camera can withstand challenging conditions while producing stunning images.

The camera has a 12-megapixel resolution, a 5x optical zoom, and a tilting LCD screen.

It also has a variety of manual and automated settings, making it an excellent choice for novice and advanced photographers.

Features:

  • Brand: Olympus
  • Model Name: Tough TG-6
  • Form Factor: Ultra-compact
  • Effective Still Resolution: 12 M.P.
  • Optical Zoom: 4 x
  • Color: Red
  • Connectivity Technology: Wi-Fi, USB, HDMI
  • Screen Size: 3 Inches
  • Photo Sensor Size: 1/2.3-inch

ISO/Shutter speed

It has a range of ISO settings from 100 to 6400, allowing me to adjust the sensor’s sensitivity to different lighting conditions according to my choice.

It also has a range of shutter speeds from 1/4000 to 60 seconds, which allowed me to capture fast-moving or slower-moving scenes at the beginning of my profession.

Aperture/Depth of field

The maximum aperture of this camera is f/2.0, which allows me to control the depth of field in my photos.

As a beginner photographer, it is beneficial for me to create a blurry background in close-up shots or isolate a subject from its surroundings.

White balance/ Frame rate

It has a range of white balance settings to adjust the color in the photos of that indoor wedding event.

It is the best because the frame rate is up to 30 frames per second, allowing me to capture smooth, high-quality videos.

Why is this camera the best?

According to my experience, it is the ideal camera for me.

It has built-in Wi-Fi and GPS, making sharing photos with my friends and family easy and convenient.

I highly recommend this camera as it is waterproof and dustproof, making it the perfect choice for low-light events.

Conclusion

It is an excellent camera for both beginner and experienced photographers as I am a beginner, and I achieved my goal with this camera.

Its features include manual and automated settings, a 5x optical zoom, and a tiltable LCD screen.

It also has built-in Wi-Fi and GPS.

In addition, the camera is waterproof and dustproof, making it the perfect choice for me.

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Pros
  • Tough, waterproof build.
  • Add-on lenses and macro lights are available.
  • Sharp rear LCD.
  • Wide aperture lens.
  • 4K video.
  • Wi-Fi.
Cons
  • Not a touch screen.
  • LCD can pick up scuffs and scratches.
  • Video features lag behind action cameras.
  • Wi-Fi app pushes spammy notifications.

CONCLUSION:

All the cameras we will discuss in this article are all right, guys.

Do you guys have any experience with these cameras? What are your thoughts on them?

Which is your Best camera for low light event photography?

Is there a camera you love to use for event photography that I didn’t mention in this article?

Would you please leave your thoughts and comments below?

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