Best Camera for Wedding Photography

Being a wedding photographer, I get frequently asked a common question – “Can you suggest a good camera for wedding photography?”

I have been answering this question for many years now on my Instagram and Facebook pages. I recorded a video on why you should not upgrade your camera every year.

Let me share my views on how to select the best camera for wedding photography and some key features that you must consider for wedding photography.

Features of Good Cameras for Wedding Photography

The main attributes one should look for in a camera if you are shortlisting a camera for wedding photography are:

1. Fast Auto Focus.
2. Good High ISO Performance.
3. Dynamic Range.
4. Light Weight.
5. Fast Lenses.
6. Variety of Lenses.

Fast Auto Focus

This is the number one factor you should look for. Weddings are fast-paced and dynamic in nature. In an Indian wedding, candid moments can be missed in a blink of an eye. So a camera with fast autofocus in no brainer. You don’t want to end up with a missed shot or an out-of-focus blurry shot. 

As a professional wedding photographer, finding a perfect moment is critical. Finding a perfect moment and missing it is painful. Trust me it is frustrating!

Good High ISO Performance

A lot of Indian Weddings are night weddings and shooting on high iso is quite normal. An average ISO setting is 1600 for me. Buying a camera that produces a cleaner image with less noise (fewer grains) is essential. Select a camera that performs well in this aspect. Right now I am using Sony A7III and I am loving its image quality at ISO like 4000 is usable in real life.

Light Weight

I am a big advocator of light camera systems. And with full-frame mirrorless systems catching up ( and even leading ) with DSLRs. This has been a boon for Indian wedding photographers who hours, day and night. It can be a neck and back-breaking experience. A lighter camera even by 200gms is soothing. 

Having shot on DSLRs for years, adding a mirrorless camera or a smaller yet full-frame camera like Nikon D750 did help. I could see a noticeable difference in fatigue levels after a long day’s shoot.

The mirrorless lenses are almost as heavy as full-frame lenses but the lightweight camera is making a difference.

Fast Lenses

Many wedding photographers prefer fast lenses like F1.2, 1.4, 2.0, or even 2.8 variants. They help you shoot at low ISO when opened wide. So choose a system that offers such lenses. You don’t want to end up buying a camera that has compatible lenses which are F4. This is usually an issue with mirrorless systems.

Variety of Lenses

It is yet another important factor if you are choosing a new mirrorless camera. It may not be an issue when choosing a DSLR. Mirrorless brands have a roadmap for their upcoming launches. Check the availability of lenses, if as a wedding photographer, all the lenses from wide-angle lenses, and photojournalistic lenses to telephoto lenses.

Full frame system

If possible opt for a full-frame camera system. Don’t buy cropped cameras or lenses. In fact, it is the right time to shift to mirrorless systems. Mirrorless cameras are the future of photography.

You don’t want to end up buying something you will be forced to sell after a year. So invest wisely

Wedding Photographer Mindset

Running after the best camera gear is a never-ending game. Your Vision is more important than your camera or gear. You should know that gear is not a limiting factor. It is partly responsible and not fully responsible as a lot of photographers think. Mold your mind to get the best out of the camera. 

The aesthetics of the camera are important. Hold the camera in your hand, you will get a “feel” of the right camera.

Look for features “you use” or “you will need”!

What is a deal-breaker feature for you? for me, a deal-breaker is a poor auto-focus. Know the must-have features you need in your camera.

Don’t upgrade your camera on every upgrade or every new launch. Buy a camera you can afford. An important tip, Invest maybe 10-15% more than the budget you have allocated.

Which system or Brand you should opt for?

Suggesting a brand is generally a biased recommendation including from me 🙂

All brands are making awesome mirrorless cameras and DSLRs. Most of the features (read 95%) are almost the same in all brands. Find a feature that is a deal-breaker for you. It is about mastering the method of elimination.

Check out my short video (~ 6mins) above where I have discussed this topic. Let me know what are your thoughts or any inputs from you.

Top Cameras for Wedding Photography in 2024

Canon EOS R5

Key Specifications:

1. 45 MP.
2. 8K RAW video.
3. 4K at 120 FPS.
4. Better Autofocus coverage.
5. Dual card slots (CF express and SD card).
6. Better battery life.

Closest Cameras with similar features: Sony A7R V and Nikon D850

Pros:

1. Powerful feature-rich camera for shooting wedding videos.
2. Excellent image stabilization.
3. Autofocus.

Cons:

1. Slight heating issue when shooting in 4K.

The first thing that you will notice is the re-emergence of the joystick and wheel at the back of the camera. The R5 camera body does look thicker than EOS R and it should be as it has built-in image stabilization.

The thicker body of R5 makes it easier to hold especially for those long wedding events.

The R5 uses a new LP-E6 battery that easily lasts 15-20% more than older batteries. The bonus is that you can use the same old charger to charge these batteries.

5 Axis IBIS image stabilization works like charms and it does make a difference when you are shooting the video handheld.

Canon menu system has always been easy. But this one is even better and more intuitive. In a wedding, where you need to change a few settings quickly this can be a great help.

The R5 is equipped with 12 FPS with a mechanical shutter and 20 FPS when you are shooting with the silent electronic shutter. Practically this is sufficient when you are in burst mode and you will notice all of the things that will be captured at this rate.

Who Should Buy it?

Any professional photographer should pick this up without any hesitation. With high-resolution images and 8K videos, it is an ideal workhorse for wedding photographers and wedding videographers.

Canon EOS R6 Mark II

See Deals!

Key Specifications:

1. Brand new 24.2MP full-frame sensor (dual pixel).
2. 12fps with the mechanical shutter.
3. 40fps with the electronic shutter.
4. UHD 4K/60p.
5. 6K Raw footage.

Closest Camera with similar features: Sony A7IV

Pros:

1. Improved electronic shutter.
2. No rolling shutter issue while using the electronic shutter.
3. Good battery life as I easily got more than 2000 photos during the day.
4. No overheating issue while recording 4K videos.

Cons:

1. OVF simulation does not use HDR and fails to make the view natural looking like you see it in Canon EOS R3.
2. Tracking the moving subject while focusing is a hit or miss sometimes.

The moment you hold the R6 M2 in your hands, the first thing you notice is the layout is different from its predecessor. It feels different and better.

A toggle button is at the top to choose between photography or video mode. It is quite a basic thing to have but it makes life so easy. In R5, you will have to go into the menu to change that.

The on and off button on the right side is slightly different and feels better.

Another thing that I am extremely happy about is the flip-out LCD screen. Now you rotate that fully by flipping out. This is surely going to make life easy while shooting wedding videos from awkward angles.

There is a slight upgrade of 20.1 MP in R6 to 24.2 MP in R6 M2. But the major difference that will help all wedding photographers is the 40 FPS electronic shutter. Now go silent and press the click button when the bride is coming down the aisle. I bet you are not going to miss any shots.

The mechanical shutter is still 12 FPS but the electronic shutter is now twice more than Canon R6. This upgrade will make it hard to ignore if you are out to buy Canon R6.

Subject detection is another area that has improved. With 40 FPS, all the shots you will be captured will be in focus. Canon has added new subjects for auto-detection and tracking.

There is a new sensor for Canon R6 Mark II and it is better than R6. It has some pro features similar to R3. It stands somewhere between R6 and R3.

The biggest upgrade for wedding videographers is the 6K oversampled feature. You can now shoot in 6K and compress it into a high-resolution 4K video with much better details. The footage is noticeably sharper around corners and has overall sharper details.

Although to an average person, it may not be that noticeable, or the screen they will be watching on may not be ideal to notice the better quality.

The 4K videos can be shot at 60 FPS. It supports 180 FPS but only on 1080p.

R6 Mark II does not have 30 min video recording limit. You can record without a break for 6 hours. It will save you a lot of headaches while recording longer wedding rituals or lengthy speeches at the wedding reception. All you need is high-capacity memory cards so that you don?t run out of space.

It also comes with 6K RAW recording with the help of an external recorder. It can be useful for videographers who take up assignments beyond weddings.

Who Should Buy it?

It does not fall into a professional wedding photography camera but if you are someone who is entering the world of wedding photography. You can go for it considering its price. If you are an enthusiast or a hobby photographer who may or may not earn much from photography, you can skip this one.

This can be a good backup camera for wedding photography for seasoned wedding photographers who already have other pro-camera bodies like R3 or R5.

Nikon Z6 II

Key Specifications:

1. Dual Expeed processor.
2. 4K at 60p.

Closest Camera with similar features: Canon EOS R6 Mark II

Pros:

1. Dual card slots.
2. Good dynamic range.
3. No banding issue.
4. Accurate eye detection.
5. Affordable & versatile.

Cons:

1. Smaller menu joystick.
2. No eye detection in video recording mode.
3. Only vertical old-school tilt screen.
4. Poor autofocus tracking.

Nikon Z6 II is a very different and more capable camera since it has been launched. In the first 6 months, there have been two major firmware upgrades that have really improved the autofocus system of the camera. 

The new dual processor seemed like a minor upgrade from Nikon Z6 when it was introduced in the market. But the firmware upgrades have given the much-needed power boost that I missed initially.

The IBIS or in-camera stabilization is one of the best in the market now. The touch screen is quick and intuitive to use.

The color reproduction is nice even in low-light conditions. It is a crucial aspect to consider if you are shooting weddings.

Like other camera brands, Nikon has improved eye tracking with an option to select the subject in a rectangular frame so that eye focus does not hop in and out of your desired subject. It can be extremely useful in scenarios where a bride is coming down the aisle and you don?t want the focus to shift from her eye to the people around her.

I will also add that focus tracking has improved from the previous generation but there is still scope for improvement.

The video capabilities have improved as well. I have shot extensively in a standard flat profile and color grading was easy with good results. The s-log is available but a flat profile can be something you can look at if you don?t want to shoot in an s-log profile.

The camera continues to have 30 min recording limit that I would have liked to have been removed.

Who Should Buy it?

If you are on a budget or already invested in Nikon mirrorless lenses and cameras, this is an ideal pick to shoot weddings.

Nikon D780

See Deals!

Key Specifications:

1. 24.5 MP with EXPEED 6 image processor.
2. Phase detection in Live view.
3. 4K at 30 FPS.
4. 7 FPS with mechanical shutter and 12 FPS in live view mode.

Closest Camera with similar features: Nikon Z6 II

Pros:

1. Dual autofocus system.
2. Better Live view as compared with predecessors.
3. Best Nikon DSLR for video.
4. Dedicated autofocus button at the back.

Cons:

1. Focus coverage is concentrated in the middle.
2. Weak face detection.
3. No EVF.
4. No image stabilization.
5. Pop-up flash missing.

People will question you on why you want to buy a DSLR in 2024. I have used Nikon DSLRs for shooting weddings for the longest time. It worked like a charm with no major complaints.

This is the age of mirrorless cameras and the future is mirrorless technology. There are many photographers who have not shifted their focus towards mirrorless. They own F-mount lenses and FX bodies. It will be a huge investment to dump everything and rebuild it into a new system.

D780 is primarily for wedding photographers who are interested in DSLRs.

It is a powerful camera with superior autofocus, metering, and dynamic range that mirrorless cameras cannot match.

All these attributes are helpful in shooting weddings. D750 is a favorite among wedding photographers and the D780 is a worthy upgrade that has picked the same sensor from Z6.

It comes with live view mode with better autofocus and faster tracking. This is handy for most new-age wedding photographers who like to shoot photos and videos looking through LCD.

Video has been upgraded as well to 4K video up to 30 FPS and slow-motion up to 12 FPS in 1080p mode.

Autofocus is similar to Z6 and the transition from one subject to another is smooth (live view).

Who Should Buy it?

Nikon DSLR users who are not ready to transition into the Nikon mirrorless range. D780 has a lot of similarities with Z6 when it comes to autofocus and to some extent video. They can get benefitted from a few mirrorless features in a DSLR.

I have discussed in detail who should buy D780 earlier in my blog.

Photographer?s Additional Notes: If you are on a very tight budget. D750 is still a very capable DSLR and I highly recommend it. 

Sony A7 IV

See Deals!

Key Specifications:

1. 33MP with Exmor R CMOS Sensor.
2. 4K at 60fps in 10-bit.
3. 10 fps mechanical shutter speed.
4. Image stabilization.
5. 759-Pt. Hybrid AF with Real-time Eye AF.

Closest Camera with similar features: Sony A7III and Canon R6

Pros:

1. Better low-light performance.
2. Good autofocus tracking.

Cons:

1. Poor battery life.
2. Rolling shutter issue.
3. 4K at 60fps with crop factor.
4. Flip screen but tilt absent.

A7IV is an overall decent upgrade from its predecessor A7III. The first thing that I noticed with a considerable upgrade in the EVM. It looks impressive on paper with 3.69M dots but when you are shooting in high frames per second, the resolution drops. But yes it does look better in playback.

The A7IV significantly improved in producing better images in low light. The low noise, dynamic range, and color reproduction are quite good.

Autofocus and tracking are key for wedding photographers. I have used Sony A7III and shooting with A7IV I can easily see it is much smoother. The tracking is significantly better and more accurate.

No more missed shots at the wedding reception and on the dance floor.

The buffer speed in the camera is another plus point when you are shooting in burst mode on the dance floor. I tested the camera with CF express Type A card using uncompressed RAW images in burst mode and it did not lag.

In the video department, it can shoot 4K video at 60 fps which is good at this price range but comes with a crop factor. Autofocus and tracking are again very smooth while shooting video. There are additional useful video tools like focus map and breathing compensation that makes it even more attractive.

Who Should Buy it?

It is a worthy purchase for someone looking to enter into a Sony mirrorless camera system at an affordable price. If you already have a Sony A7III and looking to upgrade you can skip this one. But if you use A7III primarily for shooting video, you may consider upgrading to this one.

Photographer?s Additional Notes: A7III is well made all-round camera and is available at a very good price. You can skip A7IV if you want to save some money and invest that money into a lens.

Fuji XT5

See Deals!

Key Specifications:

1. 40MP APS-C X-Trans CMOS sensor.
2. IBIS stabilization.
3. 6.2k/4K (cropped).
4. 425 Hybrid AF system.

Closest Camera with similar features: Fuji XT4

Pros:

1. Film simulation presets.
2. 3-way LCD.
3. Good range of prime and zoom lenses.

Cons:

1. Rolling shutter issue.
2. Limited video features.
3. The headphone jack missing.

Fuji cameras are popular among street photographers because of the small form factor. In the last few years, they have gained popularity among wedding photographers for the same reason. 

The launch of XT5 has seen many wedding photographers jumping into the Fuji camera systems. It is intended to attract photographers than videographers.

The layout and menu system is similar to XT4. XT5 is smaller in size than XT4. I find the joystick slightly smaller and inconvenient to use in my big hands.

Wedding photographers want a distinct look in their images. Using film simulations will come in handy when used along with their favorite lightroom presets.

Although the small size and light weight are advantages, they can be a disadvantage for photographers with big hands. There is no slot for adding a battery grip as well.

Autofocus is fast and reliable. I tried autofocus tracking with eye detection on, on a moving model and it faired well in my tests. 

There was noticeable skewing on buildings with the electronic shutter in high-speed burst mode. Pixel shift mode can be useful in capturing more details in panoramic portraits or the wedding venue in general.

As far as video features are concerned, don?t get me wrong when I said it is a photography-centric camera. It has decent video features but it is not a workhorse video camera.

It shoots in 6K and 4K. We don?t have any camera on our list that shoots 6K. 4K and 6K are available without crop at 30 fps. They can go up to 60 fps but with a crop factor.

Who Should Buy it?

Wedding photographers who want the smallest cameras on the field or want a certain look in their images are switching to Fuji now.

Photographer?s Additional Notes: If you are an owner of XT4 you can skip this upgrade but if you have older models like XT1/2/3, it is worth upgrading.