5 Best Cameras for Car Photography

If you’re a car enthusiast and love capturing cool frames of automobiles, you need a good camera. And by good, we mean cameras that have a fast shutter speed and large sensor. These parameters ensure your car photos are not blurry and contain ample amounts of details. So, if you’re just starting off and looking for the best cameras for car photography, we’ve included a wide range of options.

From entry-level DSLRs to full-frame beasts, you can pick the best one for you depending on your exact usage. We’ve also taken into account multiple price points that cater to everyone from beginners to professionals. That said, here are the best cameras for automotive photography. But before we get to them –

• If you’re a content creator, you can get a camera for YouTube for under $500.
• Record first-person PoV footage when capturing cars using a pocket camera for vlogging.
• Capture the interiors of a car in 360 degrees using a budget-oriented 360 camera.

1. Canon EOS Rebel T7

• Sensor: 24.1MP
• Minimum shutter speed: 1/4000 seconds

Canon makes some good budget-friendly beginner cameras for various use cases. The Rebel T7 is one of them that fits the bill quite well for car photography. The 9-point autofocus system onboard ensures moving cars are in focus when you capture them. The shutter speed can hit 1/4000s which is also fast enough for a camera in this segment.

Pair it with a lens with a fast aperture and you can capture some excellent shots of cars. If you don’t want to pick up a new lens just yet, Canon bundles in their standard 18-55mm kit lens with the camera that should suffice most needs. However, users have mentioned that the Rebel T7 isn’t an ideal option for car videography since it doesn’t have any sort of in-body image stabilization (IBIS).

If you’re only going to be clicking stills for the foreseeable future, the Rebel T7 is a great starting point.

2. Sony Alpha a6400

• Sensor: 25MP
• Minimum shutter speed: 1/4000 seconds

There are two types of car photography you can specialize in. One where you click photos of still cars and one where you capture moving automobiles. If you’re interested in the latter, you should ideally opt for a lighter camera — especially if you’re a beginner. That’s where the Sony a6400 excels.

The body of the camera is lightweight and compact so you can move it around with ease. You can carry it around your wrist using a lanyard or hang it around your neck for better stability. Along with being compact, the autofocus system on the a6400 is top-notch. Most users of the Sony a6400 have reported stellar performance from the camera, especially in terms of details.

It’s also worth noting that the a6400 excels at 4K video recording — with one big caveat. Just like the Rebel T7, there’s no IBIS so you’ll have to rely on a Sony lens with OSS or a camera gimbal for stabilization. If you want a reliable camera that can shoot excellent photos and is compact, you can’t go wrong with the Sony a6400.

3. Sony Alpha 7C

• Sensor: 25.3MP
• Minimum shutter speed: 1/8000 seconds

A full-frame camera ensures there’s no crop when capturing photos or videos. It also improves the low-light performance of the camera so if you plan on doing a lot of shoots at night or with artificial lighting, the Sony Alpha 7C will surely come in handy.

Along with a bigger sensor, the a7C also clicks photos faster thanks to a shutter speed of 1/8000s. Reviews mention the camera’s video recording capabilities are also excellent. However, the stabilization is average despite the camera featuring IBIS. That’s disappointing if you plan on recording a lot of videos.

Despite its shortcomings, content creators and photographers alike swear by the Sony Alpha 7C. This is mainly due to its form factor and superb image quality. If you travel a lot, the 7C is a superb pick. It’s worth noting that there’s no lens included with the camera body so you’ll have to buy one separately.

4. Nikon D850 Digital SLR

• Sensor: 45.7MP
• Minimum shutter speed: 1/8000 seconds

Along with a fast shutter speed, the Nikon D850’s specialty is its ability to capture shots at 9fps. Essentially, the camera captures nine different images in the span of a second — with full autofocus capabilities. This is an absolute dream if you’re a car photographer.

Speaking of autofocus, the D850 has 153 focus points to ensure you don’t miss what’s important. Users have corroborated this by saying the camera is fast to focus even in low-light situations. If we have to nitpick, the only slight downside of the Nikon D850 is its form factor.

The camera is slightly bulky and heavy. However, considering the list of features and the capabilities of that sensor, you can look past this minor inconvenience.

5. Canon EOS R5

• Sensor: 45MP
• Minimum shutter speed: 1/8000 seconds

Do you want the absolute best camera for car photography? Then the EOS R5 is the undisputed king. While it may dent your pockets, the R5 produces stunning quality images and can even record videos at 8K. The high-resolution sensor captures impeccable details so even if you plan on using the camera for other purposes like sports or wildlife photography, you’re going to be impressed.

Users of the EOS R5 have gone as far as saying it’s one of the best cameras ever made by Canon which is saying something. The autofocus is fast even in low-light situations, and the excellent IBIS ensures small jitters are eliminated.

If you’re a professional photographer or videographer and you want to take the quality of your work to the next level, consider investing in the Canon EOS R5.

FAQs for Car Photography Cameras

Zoom Away

Fulfill your passion for shooting cars by picking up any of the best cameras for car photography mentioned above. Use your camera to zoom in on cars that zoom past you and capture stunning shots of all the automobiles you love!