13 Best Cameras for Car Photography 2024 (Beginners and Pro’s!)

The Sony A7R IV is a professional-grade, full-frame mirrorless camera. And when it comes to image quality, the Sony A7R IV is at the top of our list.

It’s equipped with a Sony back-illuminated Exmor R sensor, which has been a stand-out element in their A7R series. This full-frame sensor gives you an image resolution of 61MP. That’s some serious horsepower, even for a professional camera.

The ISO is another camera feature that makes this model ideal for high-level commercial car photography. The highest ISO level is 102400, which is handy for low-light situations. But it’s the 50 ISO setting that gives the camera special appeal. 50 ISO married with a 61MP sensor produces images of unparalleled quality.

You also have 15-stop dynamic range settings. It pulls the details from the darkest and brightest sections of your images. The autofocus system is excellent and has real-time tracking. And you have 5-axis stabilization for consistently sharp images.

While the Sony A7R IV is perfect for commercial car photography, some features aren’t up to the challenge of motorsports. The continuous shooting speed is limited to a sluggish 10 fps. And the video capabilities aren’t as impressive as the stills. The battery life can also leave you wanting, but shooting with that power uses a lot of energy.

The Canon EOS R5 is a full-frame mirrorless camera. It has fantastic image quality and plenty of outstanding camera features. But its video capabilities send this Canon camera to a strong number two position on our list.

Good video functions have become standard in top-level cameras. And while the 4k quality found in most rival cameras is perfectly acceptable, there wasn’t much to excite. But the Canon EOS R5 is a video revolution. It has 8K video resolution, which takes cinema-quality footage.

The full-frame sensor also gives you stunning results for still photography. The CMOS sensor has a resolution of 45MP. That’s stunning image quality, perfectly suited for professional automotive photography.

The autofocus system is ideal for car photography. It locks on quickly, and the phase-detection points cover 100% of the frame. That means it’ll track a speeding vehicle as it moves across your shot. And it works for photos and videos.

The mechanical shutter gives you a continuous shooting speed of 12 fps, which isn’t great. But switch to the electronic shutter, and you’ll get a burst speed of 20 fps. You’ll be able to capture cars traveling at high speeds without issue.

The 5-axis image stabilization system is also noteworthy for car photographers. It offers up to 8 stops of shake correction, preventing the slightest hint of camera shake. It’ll help while shooting by hand or using a tripod with a slow shutter speed.

The Nikon D850 is the best DSLR camera for car photography. Mirrorless cameras are stealing a lot of the limelight, but the Nikon D850 still makes a case for DSLRs as professional cameras.

The image quality of the D850 is the major selling point. The full-frame sensor has a 45.7MP resolution with an outstanding dynamic range. The ISO is another fantastic feature, letting you shoot at 64 ISO. That gives you a high-quality image with incredible detail.

The autofocus is another strong point for the Nikon D850. It has 153 focus points that cover almost all of your frame. It’ll lock on quickly and track your subject as it moves. And the autofocus is accurate in low-light settings, giving you more opportunities for night shoots.

The video is 4K HD. Coming after the Canon EOS R5, that might not sound like much. But you can capture footage with the full ISO range and the tracking autofocus. And you can create 4K time-lapse videos for extra multimedia options.

The Nikon D850 has some weaknesses. And the burst speed is the main one. The 9 fps continuous shooting speed is slow by any standard. And, like many other DSLR cameras, it’s big and heavy. You’ll feel it during a long car photography shoot.

Full-frame cameras often steal the headlines. But a crop-sensor machine can still be the best camera for car photography if you’re looking for a smaller unit. And the Fujifilm X-T4 is the best camera for car photography in the crop-sensor division.

The Fujifilm X-T4 is a mirrorless camera with an APS-C sensor. Despite its smaller size, the sensor gives you an image resolution of 26.1MP. And with 5-axis image stabilization providing 6.5 stops of correction, you’re guaranteed fantastic car photographs.

If car videos are your thing, you’ll be pleased with the Fujifilm X-T4’s multimedia features. The video quality is solid 4K HD. And you can shoot super-slow-motion in full HD. The 425-point tracking autofocus has you covered for stills and video.

You have options with the burst mode. The mechanical shutter gives you a continuous shooting speed of 15 fps, which isn’t too shabby. But switch to the electronic shutter and you’ll have a rapid 30 fps. But burst mode seriously reduces the battery life. So you won’t miss a thing until the battery runs out.

The Fujifilm X-T4 is an excellent all-rounder. It gives you superb options for stills and videos. And the APS-C sensor means this digital camera is smaller and more affordable than some others.

The best car photography cameras don’t have to be professional-level equipment. After all, not everyone is a professional car photographer. And if you’re a beginner, you’ll need a camera to match your skill level. The Nikon Z50 is the best option for beginners.

The Nikon Z50 is a compact camera with a small and lightweight body. But it’s packed full of multimedia features that new car photographers will love.

The APS-C (crop) DX-format sensor has an image resolution of 20.9MP. That might not sound like a lot, but you’ll see a huge jump in quality from a smartphone camera. The ISO range is 100 to 51200, giving you noise-free images in low-light conditions.

The 4K video quality is excellent for car vloggers and videographers. You get video filters and effects, and you have the ability to shoot in slow motion for dramatic shots. And 11 fps burst speed isn’t bad for a camera at this level.

Vlogging and video recording are easy with the flip-down LCD touchscreen and viewfinder. And the WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity mean you can share your videos instantly.

The Sony A9 II isn’t cheap. But it does have the best autofocus system on the market. And that makes it one of the best cameras for car photography. This mirrorless camera is perfect for car racing and other motorsports.

The A9 II uses a 639-point phase-detection autofocus system. It uses artificial intelligence to constantly monitor the movement of your subject. It holds focus and tracks the subject as it moves. And it’s accurate even with fast-moving objects.

Artificial intelligence is also used for the AF eye-tracking feature. It locks on to eyes and tracks them, keeping them in focus. It’s so accurate it can identify and track the eyes of a racing driver wearing a helmet.

Sports photographers also love the 20 fps continuous shooting speed. It’s quick, and you also have full AF coverage when shooting at top speed. The burst limit for shooting is 361 shots for JPEG and 239 for RAW.

24.4MP from a full-frame sensor might not sound like much. But it’s a stacked Exmor-RS CMOS sensor, which features innovative sensor technology. You’re getting superb image quality. And while the Sony A9 II is geared toward capturing still photos, the video is still respectable.

The Sony A1 combines terrific image quality and speed. The specifications are outstanding. And many professional sports photographers rave about this camera. The quality, speed, and precision of the Sony A1 make it an ideal camera for car photography, especially for shooting high-speed motorsports. But this camera comes with a monster price tag.

It’s a full-frame mirrorless camera from Sony, so you’d expect a high megapixel count. But the image resolution of 50.1MP is still surprising. You’re guaranteed high-quality images with every click.

The burst speed is just what you need if you’re shooting high-speed car action. The electronic shutter gives you a sensational 30 fps. And that’s possible even when shooting in RAW. The phase-detection autofocus also gives you coverage while in burst mode.

The 5-axis image stabilization is also worth a mention for sports photographers. As is the excellent 4K video function. 4K sounds like a standard resolution for video, but it’s exceptional from the 50.1MP sensor.

Battery life is one problem. We recommend taking spares when you’re at your next car shoot. And the burst mode will drain the battery extra fast. It should also be noted that 30fps isn’t always achievable. You might need to settle for 25 or 20 fps at times.

The Olympus OM-D E-M5 III is a micro four thirds (MFT) camera. It’s small, compact, and packed full of features that make it an excellent camera for car photography.

The micro four thirds camera sensor is smaller than a full-frame and APS-C sensor. That means MFT cameras are smaller, more compact, and lighter in your hand. Naturally, an MFT sensor will have a lower megapixel count. But the image quality is still outstanding.

The Olympus OM-D E-M5 III is ideal if you’re looking for something smaller for car photography. The 20MP Live CMOS sensor produces wonderful images. You won’t be disappointed if you’re shooting cars in a product photography style.

The features are also well-suited to faster types of car photography. The burst mode is one of the fastest of any camera, with a continuous shooting speed of 30 fps. That’s the same rate as the Sony A1, but the OM-D E-M5 III is a fraction of the price.

The autofocus is another feature speed fans will enjoy. It has a 121-point all-cross type phase-detection system. While it doesn’t have full-full coverage, it locks and tracks your subject when it’s in the covered area.

The 5-axis image stabilization also helps maintain image quality. It counteracts camera shake, giving you more freedom without a tripod. And it’ll keep fast-moving subjects looking sharp.

The Olympus OM-D E-M5 III is a compact and affordable camera for car photography. The quality is good enough for product photography. And its other features make it one of the best cameras for shooting cars on the move.

If you’re looking for something compact, the Panasonic Lumix LX100 II is one of the best cameras for car photography. It’s a point-and-shoot camera with all the right features for car photography.

The Panasonic Lumix LX100 II has a large four-thirds image sensor. At 21.7MP, it gives you stunning images from a small camera. And you even have image stabilization, keeping your photos crisp when shooting handheld.

The fixed Leica DC Vario-Summilux lens gives you macro and telephoto options. The macro options are ideal for capturing the intricate details of a car. You can document all the tiniest car features with stunning quality.

You also have telephoto shooting options. And you don’t have to worry about changing lenses. The telephoto capabilities make it a suitable camera for car events where you can’t get close to the vehicles.

The 4K video is brilliant for a camera of this size. It shoots at a rate of 30 fps with full image quality. And the frames can be extracted and used as still photographs.

There’s no optical viewfinder, but the digital display gives you a clear view of what you’re shooting. Plus, it doubles as a touchscreen for easy control and navigation. The battery life is another strong point. It’s yet another feature, making it the best pocket-sized camera for car photography.

If you’re getting started on the video side of car photography, you might not have the budget for something like the Canon EOS R5 straight away. The Panasonic Lumix G85 is an excellent budget-friendly alternative for car photography.

The micro four-thirds sensor gives you a resolution of 16MP. It’s far from record-braking in terms of resolution. But the G85 has an optical low-pass filter, giving your images a 10% boost in detail and clarity.

The Panasonic is geared towards video recording. And the 4K footage is excellent for enthusiastic vloggers and videographers. The dual image stabilization helps keep your footage steady when shooting handheld. It’ll help in low-light situations too.

Video is shot at 30 fps, and you can pull individual frames from the footage for stills. It’s a handy feature for commercial videography because you don’t have to re-do shoots for stills. Even a 4K Post Focus allows you to change the focus point after taking the picture.

If you’re a videographer on a budget, the Panasonic Lumix is one of the best cameras for car photography. While the photos aren’t groundbreaking, the video features prove their high quality.

The Nikon D5600 has been on the market for some time now. But despite its age, the D5600 remains one of the best cameras for car photography. It’s also the best budget camera if you’re looking for a reliable DSLR.

This camera does have its limitations. The burst is slow, and the video recording specs look a little outdated. But image quality isn’t something you need to worry about with this Nikon camera.

The APS-C camera gives you an image resolution of 24.2MP. And this is backed up by excellent low-light performance. The ISO range is 100 to 25600. And you won’t experience any digital noise until you reach the upper limits.

The burst mode is slow by anyone’s standards, giving you just 5 fps. The video is full HD and highly usable. But the standard has fallen behind newer camera models. You get autofocus with 39 points of detection and tracking. But it’s not very reliable with fast-moving subjects.

These specs tell us the Nikon D5600 isn’t the best camera for motorsport or car racing photography. But the image quality and low-light performance show it can hold its own with commercial and automotive photography.