10 Best Cameras for Car Photography in 2023

So you’ve finally got the car of your dreams and you want to take some stunning photos to show it off. Or perhaps you have a passion for cars and photography and want to combine these as a hobbyist or even a professional. That’s amazing, but where do you start?

You’ve looked at hundreds of cameras and are overwhelmed by the sheer amount of choice. I get it; it is difficult knowing which camera will give you the tools you need to create artistic and striking car photography masterpieces. That’s where we can help.

To produce detailed, beautifully rendered car photos, you need a suitable camera – one that has a high-resolution sensor, great low-light performance, fast autofocus, and impressive continuous shooting. In case you’re stuck and looking for guidance, I’ve selected the 10 best cameras for car photography, including options for a wide variety of budgets and brand preferences.

1. Canon EOS R5

The Canon EOS R5 remains one of Canon’s top mirrorless cameras, and it’s got everything you need to take sharp, detailed car photos in any situation. I find the controls of this camera easy to use as you can set the exposure without touching the screen and the dials are ergonomically placed.

This will let you make quick adjustments so you can adapt to changing conditions when taking photos of cars outside. The R5’s ISO range of 100-51,200 means that you can get some epic nighttime car shots, too.

And thanks to the in-body image stabilization, it’s always easy to use the R5 handheld, so you don’t necessarily need to worry about lugging a tripod around.

But the best aspect of this camera is the autofocus system. The sensor features 100% AF coverage so you can easily focus on small external car details like headlights and logos. Additionally, if you’re after moving car shots, the 20 FPS continuous shooting mode and the car AF tracking feature make it easy to capture the car perfectly every time.

2. Nikon Z 7II

The Nikon Z 7II is like the Canon EOS R5 in many ways, but I do prefer it from a design and ergonomics point of view. It just feels great to use and the controls are very intuitive – the only thing I would like to see improved is the LCD screen. You can’t flip it out sideways, so it does limit how you can preview your compositions.

Regardless, this is a great camera for car photography due to the 45.7 MP full-frame sensor and the next-gen image processors. It works incredibly fast, and menu navigation is a breeze. The buffer capacity is also much improved compared to the original Z7; that way, you can shoot bursts without worrying about temporarily running out of space, which is often essential when capturing car action photos.

I love the Nikon Z lenses, too, which is what the Z 7II uses. Wide-angle lenses are great for car shots where you want to include some of the road and surroundings, but there are some epic portrait and telephoto lenses available for detail shots, too.

The autofocus system is very solid, and although it doesn’t have a huge array of tracking features, focusing on subjects like moving cars is easy and the Z 7II rarely misfocuses. The in-body image stabilization is also helpful as it lets you use the camera handheld in virtually any low-light situation.

3. Sony Alpha 7R V

The Sony Alpha 7R V manages to improve on its predecessor, the Alpha 7R IV, and I didn’t think that was possible! The biggest change is the BIONZ XR processor – it makes the camera more responsive and just easier to use. The a7R IV was by no means bad, but the a7R V comes with a real boost.

I love the 61 MP full-frame sensor as it means you have so much more detail, and it also ensures added flexibility when editing your car photos in post-processing software. You can crop different parts of the vehicles as needed, which is always helpful when producing professional-grade automobile shots.

Although the a7R V is a high-level camera, it’s really compact. I’ll admit that it does get a little weighty when you attach certain Sony telephoto lenses, but even if you’re doing long photoshoots at multiple locations, transporting this camera shouldn’t be an issue.

4. Fujifilm X-T5

Fujifilm makes some excellent compact mirrorless cameras, but the company’s best option for car photography is the Fujifilm X-T5. It really is small, and most of the time I find that the lenses are larger and heavier than the camera body. This makes it great for fast-paced car photoshoots at multiple locations.

The 40.2 MP APS-C sensor really packs a punch, and when you combine it with the in-body image stabilization, you should have no trouble taking sharp interior and exterior shots. Although you can use the LCD screen to shoot, the EVF display is beautiful, and you can quickly make changes via the large dials and buttons.

The 20 FPS continuous shooting mode works great for action shots – you can just hold your finger on the shutter to fire off a burst of photos as the car moves. The X-T5 is a great option that doesn’t break the bank, so it’s ideal for hobbyists looking to take high-quality car images.

5. Canon EOS R6 Mark II

I loved the original Canon EOS R6, but the Canon EOS R6 Mark II offers numerous improvements to the autofocus system, sensor, shooting modes, and more. These changes make the R6 Mark II even better suited for car photography than its predecessor, mainly due to the faster continuous shooting speed of 40 FPS.

The camera operates silently, and when you’re shooting moving objects like cars, the high-speed continuous shoot modes are fantastic. The improved 24.2 MP sensor offers more detail (I always thought the 20 MP of the original EOS R6 was lacking). Of course, it would be nice if the R6 Mark II used the 45 MP sensor from the EOS R5, but then it would cost substantially more.

I love the new autofocus features, and Canon continues to add more tracking functionality so you can photograph moving subjects. The controls are great too and make it easy to adjust your AF modes and exposure settings as needed.

If you take night shots of cars, this camera will be especially exceptional. Its low-light performance is outstanding, and even at higher ISO settings, your images will feature minimal noise. If you don’t need 45 MP of resolution, this could honestly be the best Canon camera for car photography on the market.

6. Sony Alpha 7R IV

If you don’t want to pay for the Alpha 7R V, the Sony Alpha 7R IV is still a great choice. Although it has an older processor, I don’t find it sluggish, and the image quality is superb thanks to the 61 MP full-frame sensor.

The compact mirrorless design is so much better than older clunky DSLRs, and I like the metal lens mount that makes the lens connection feel really durable and stable.

If you want to take shots of moving cars, the hybrid autofocus really helps. It has excellent coverage, and the impressive tracking capabilities ensure you can always focus on moving vehicles no matter their speed.

You can make quick changes to your camera settings using the handy dials, and your exposure settings are all shown on the EVF display. That way you can work more quickly and make subtle changes to get the best results when doing car photoshoots.

7. Nikon Z 6II

If you’re a serious car enthusiast or you want to start doing automotive photography for clients but don’t want to spend lots of money, the Nikon Z 6II is a great choice.

It’s significantly cheaper than the Z 7II and still has excellent features. The dual card slots are really useful; you can use them to save two copies of each photo, which is essential for those who care about redundancy.

The sensor is a 24.5 MP full-frame unit, and the image quality is superb. Although you don’t have as much resolution to work with compared to the Z 7II, you can still produce high-end results. Additionally, the camera packs dual EXPEED 6 image processors, so it’s extremely responsive.

I like the position of the EVF – it makes composing incredibly easy – and the LCD is fully rotatable, too, and allows you to preview your car shots quickly. I do wish it flipped out to the side, though this shouldn’t be a huge issue for most car photographers. Note that you can get this camera bundled with an excellent 24-70mm f/4 lens, which is a great starter option as it’ll allow you to take a range of different car shots, including both interior detail photos and wide-angle body photos.

8. OM SYSTEM OM-1

Micro four-thirds cameras aren’t as revered as full-frame models, but the OM SYSTEM OM-1 is a superb option for serious shooters who need a compact, rugged camera for photographing cars in a variety of scenarios.

Although it only has a 20 MP Four Thirds sensor, the image quality is still fantastic, and the ISO range of 80-102,400 is great for low-light car shots. You can even shoot in near darkness; in fact, I’ve taken snaps of my Mazda MX-5 at night with the headlights on and produced excellent results with minimal background noise.

Shooting at night is made even easier thanks to the excellent in-body image stabilization; you can capture sharp shots even when you’re working at slower shutter speeds.

For moving cars and action shots, you’ll love the 10 FPS continuous shooting mode, which has full-time AF/AE so you shouldn’t need to keep redoing the same sequences due to missed focusing. This isn’t one of my favorite cameras in terms of design, but the build quality is outstanding, making it great for photographing cars in the rain and snow. It’s also easy to use and is compatible with plenty of excellent MFT lenses.

9. Canon EOS R10

As one of Canon’s first RF-mount APS-C cameras, the EOS R10 represents an impressive step forward for the imaging company. It’s also one of their most affordable models yet and is a great pick for enthusiasts who require serious shooting capabilities but don’t want to spend thousands of dollars on a camera.

After testing the EOS R10, I definitely want to switch to it from my EOS M50 Mark II. Everything about the camera feels great, and I especially like how compact it is – that’s why it’s a solid choice for on-the-go car photoshoots and even travel car photography.

In terms of image quality, it has a 24.2 MP APS-C sensor, which produces great photos and should work well for beginners and enthusiasts. The AF system isn’t pro-level, but it’s still great for quickly focusing on different parts of a car’s interior and body.

The continuous shooting modes are good, too, including a RAW burst mode that’s perfect for capturing moving vehicles. The bundle you see above includes a variety of accessories, and you get the standard RF-S 18-45mm kit lens, too. I do wish the lens were a bit more impressive, but it offers a good focal length range and can get the job done. Also, you can always upgrade to one of Canon’s excellent RF lenses down the line.

10. Nikon Z 30

Not every camera has to be stacked with features for professional work. The Nikon Z 30 may not be a pro-level camera, but it’s my top pick for beginners and people who just want a decent camera to take photos of their car for social media.

It’s meant primarily for vlogging, but I’ve found that it’s really good for photography, too, and you can capture fantastic photos as a beginner. It has a 20.9 MP APS-C sensor, and it’s compatible with the impressive range of Nikon Z lenses.

Perhaps the best feature is the Z 30’s small and lightweight size. It’s great for driving to different spots to shoot without feeling like you’re carrying around a brick.

The only drawback is the lack of a viewfinder. Some photographers prefer to compose using an EVF, and you only get the touchscreen with the Nikon Z 30. On the other hand, the screen is high quality, so unless you’re used to working with a viewfinder, you shouldn’t run into problems.

Capture Breathtaking Car Photos with the Right Camera

As you can see, there are some amazing car photography cameras. If you’re still struggling to decide on the right model, think about your level of skill and the type of car photography you want to do.

If you’re a car enthusiast and just want to take amazing pictures of your vehicle to show off to friends, I recommend cheaper options like the Nikon Z 30, the Canon EOS R10, or the OM SYSTEM OM-1. These all still pack a punch and will help you capture your beloved car in exquisite detail.

Alternatively, if you need a camera for semi-professional work, consider higher-level models like the Canon EOS R6 Mark II or the Nikon Z 6II.

Finally, if you’re a serious professional, it might be worth investing in a top-spec model like the Canon EOS R5, the Nikon Z 7II, or the Sony Alpha 7R V.

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