Although you are the creative vision behind each and every photo you take, the gear you choose can determine how quickly and effectively you do your job. The best cameras for wedding photography change every year, and it’s important to choose one that is not only reliable and fast, but one that works best for you and your unique situation.
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Before breaking down our picks, remember the glass you put in front of the sensor is sometimes more important than the actual camera itself! If you choose the highest megapixel camera and put a plastic kit lens in front of the sensor, you may find yourself disappointed with the image quality.
Canon 5D Mark IV
After waiting for what seemed like 4 very long years, the new Canon 5D Mark IV is absolutely one to consider. The updates are a welcome improvement that moves this camera to the top of our list for the best camera for weddings.
One of the improvements we like most is the expanded dynamic range. Not familiar with the term? In short, it will allow you to bring home more keepers, which is vital from your weddings camera.
We’ve probably all been in a situation where you’re attempting to take a group photo and some faces are in shade while others are in direct sunlight. When shooting with the 5D Mark IV, we were able to recover areas of the photo that seemed to be very dark as well as the highlights in the faces of those standing in the sun. If taking the same photo with the 5D Mark III, you might be forced to use of one of your 3 genie wishes to save the photo. In terms of wedding cameras, the 5d Mark IV gets our vote for one of the best cameras for wedding photography in 2019.
The camera makes focusing a breeze, too. Offering what some say is another option beyond the typical modes, it allows you to autofocus while in Live View mode by tapping the screen where you want to focus. This comes in handy when you’re attempting a camera angle that would require you to lay on the ground or risk your life standing on a folding chair just to see through the viewfinder. We refer to it as the ‘dignity saver’. Wedding guests tend to act silly or freeze up when a camera is in their face, too, but if you don’t need to look through the eyepiece, you’re a bit more invisible to them! Plus, using Live View mode is an easy way to check your exposure.
One last notable reason we consider this camera to be on top is for the improved ISO over the Mark III. You can comfortably shoot at 12800 ISO and not worry about it looking too gritty–though we suggest staying around 6400.
Overall, this camera has a ton of improvements over its predecessor. It may not be the highest megapixel choice (though it is up there), but we’re not sure clients will even notice. The biggest downfall is the price. At $3,499 it’s a lot to swallow but we believe it’s worth it!
Tip: Outsource your wedding photo editing needs to a specialist so you can spend more time getting to know your camera, and working on advancing your photography skills!
Nikon D750
If there was ever a camera that was going to make Canon shooters jump ship, the Nikon D750 could be it. A little older, it’s still dominating the wedding world. One of the reasons we can’t take our eyes off of it is the price. At just $1,800 it’s hard to pass up.
Like the 5D Mark IV, this camera really knocks it out of the park in terms of dynamic range. When it was first released, this alone really shook the photography world. Being able to pull details out of shadows was something neither Nikon or Canon had perfected quite yet. Even today, 2 years since release, it’s something we absolutely look for in a camera to shoot a wedding with.
If your clients like to get married in really dark, moody barns, the D750 focuses really well in low light. In fact, better than the $6,000 Nikon D4s. Other cameras could take a long time trying to find what to focus on or miss focus altogether. You can feel confident that this camera will not only lock focus but will be more accurate as well!
If you are a Nikon shooter already, this camera is a no-brainer. If you are starting out and haven’t invested in lenses yet, it should definitely be considered. We are excited to see what the update to the D810 will hold, but until then this is our go-to Nikon camera.
Sony A7RII
We can’t keep quiet about our love for the Sony A7RII. Do we suggest selling all of your DSLR gear and head the mirrorless route? Probably not. However, if you are wanting to transition to a smaller system, this is it!
Its claim to fame is being the first mirrorless camera to market that features a 35mm full-frame sensor. The 42.4 megapixel beast also features a 5-axis in-body stabilizer. If you’re a wedding photographer who wants to shoot at the lowest possible ISO while in low light, it stabilizes the image in camera, despite the lens being used. When you’re nervous, do you have shaky hands? If so, this is your camera. Let’s be honest, we all would raise our hands when asked to shoot at a low ISO in low light!
The ISO capabilities of this camera are nearly untouchable. Like several other A7 series cameras, it can basically see in the dark. That said, like the other cameras mentioned in this article, the dynamic range is really great. You can feel confident taking a sunset photo with the sun in the frame knowing you will have the information to recover it into a perfectly usable image.
One last feature that comes in handy is being able to extract still images from 4K video. While we don’t recommend doing this for the entire wedding, if you have 2 or 3 of these cameras, it’s a nice backup to roll video just in case you don’t get the shot.[ninja-inline id= 19679]
There isn’t one perfect wedding camera. We continue to get closer with specs, but finding your perfect camera really depends on many things. If you’re looking for a great all-around camera, we suggest the 5D Mark IV. If price is a concern, the Nikon D750 is our pick. If you want to save your back and try something new, the A7RII should be something you consider.
This is where rentals come in. Instead of purchasing a camera you’ve never tried, many of our customers will rent a camera for 4 days to test it on a real shoot. How it feels in your hands is sometimes more important than the megapixels or cost. You don’t want to wear the wrong size shoe to a wedding, so why buy a camera that doesn’t fit you, too?
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LensProToGo is a national photo and video rental company that ships gear to your home, business, FedEx, or UPS location. Additionally, they can ship gear to any hotel within the United States to make travel easier! They make it easy to determine the final price by including up to 2-Day shipping in the cost of all rentals. Even better, the gear is shipped in Pelican Cases to keep it extra safe while in transit. Click. Ship. Shoot. Return. It’s that easy!
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Don’t forget to check out the related post on the best lenses for wedding photography. In addition to having the best gear for you, it’s important to maintain your photography skills to quickly shoot through any scenario. In our Pro Photographer Lighting and Posing Guide, we share advanced tips and tricks from top pros to help you create dynamic and memorable images. Click the banner below to access the guide today!
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