Car photography is a multi-faceted genre pursued by both professionals and hobbyists. It is also incredibly exciting and fun. You can test your skills by taking photos of cars moving at high speeds, or you can use your creative side to photograph stationary cars and car details. But without the right camera, you’ll struggle to capture great photos, which is why we’ve listed the 12 best cameras for car photography below.
A suitable camera for car photography should have several things. First, if you want to capture moving vehicles, you need a camera with a fast and accurate autofocus system. A fast continuous shooting mode is also useful. These two features will allow you to get highly detailed shots of fast-moving cars.
Second, the best car photography cameras boast a large, high-resolution image sensor and interchangeable-lens capabilities. That way, you can create beautiful photos using a variety of different focal lengths.
Best Cameras for Car Photography: Top 12 Picks
1. Canon EOS R5
The Canon EOS R5 has an incredible AF system and high-speed continuous shooting mode for capturing fast vehicles.
Let’s start with one of the best mirrorless cameras offered by Canon, the Canon EOS R5. This revolutionary camera boasts some fantastic features that make it one of the best cameras for car photography, no matter your interests and style.
The EOS R5 has a 45 MP sensor and the latest DIGIC X processor. This means you can take high-resolution photos of cars and have a very impressive keeper rate.
If you want to capture moving vehicles, you’ll appreciate the Canon EOS R5’s amazing AF system, which features 100% area coverage with 1,053 AF zones. The R5 also has an excellent continuous shooting function capable of 12 FPS via the mechanical shutter or 20 FPS via the electronic shutter.
You can use the R5 with native Canon RF lenses or with Canon’s many high-quality EF lenses (via an adapter).
2. Canon EOS R6
The Canon EOS R6 is a cheaper alternative to the R5 and offers most of the same features.
If you don’t want to pay for the Canon EOS R5, the Canon EOS R6 is a suitable alternative that still offers amazing quality and speed for car photography. This full-frame mirrorless camera has a decent image sensor, an amazing AF system, and plenty of other great features.
Compared to the R5, it does have a lower megapixel count, but it still has the same ISO range (expandable up to 204,000). It also has the DIGIC X processor and the same continuous shooting speeds of up to 20 FPS with the electronic shutter.
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Like the Canon EOS R5, the R6 features an amazing AF system that offers 100% coverage; it also has dual card slots.
A great addition to this camera is the car-tracking AF. This is specifically designed to track moving vehicles and is perfect for this type of photography. Like the Canon EOS R5, the EOS R6 also has access to both RF and EF lens lineups.
3. Nikon Z7 II
The Nikon Z7 II is a solid performer for all types of car photography due to its impressive image sensor, fast AF system, and image stabilization technology.
The Nikon Z7 II is one of the best cameras for car photography from Nikon, and it packs everything you need to take stunning photos of stationary and moving vehicles.
First, it has a 45.7 MP sensor for excellent image resolution and detail. Expect superior RAW image quality, colors, and sharpness.
The Z7 II’s autofocus is great for photographing fast-moving vehicles thanks to the excellent 493-point phase-detect AF system. You should find focusing and subject tracking simple with this camera.
We also like that the Z7 II has dual card slots – one CFexpress/XQD slot and one SDHC slot. This means that you get a larger overall storage capacity compared to cameras like the Canon EOS R6. You can use the Z7 II with an impressive range of Nikon Z lenses, and you can also use Nikon F-mount lenses with an adapter.
4. Nikon Z6 II
The Nikon Z6 II is great for car action shoots due to its powerful AF system and its 14 FPS continuous shooting.
Canon has the R5 and R6, while Nikon has the Z7 II and the Z6 II. The Nikon Z6 II is a cheaper alternative to the Z7 II, and it presents a more beginner-friendly option for car photography and photography more generally.
The Z6 II packs a 24.5 MP sensor but can still deliver consistently high-quality images. Its autofocus system is not as advanced as the Z7 II, but it has 273 points and various tracking features. We also like that it has dual card slots, which give you greater flexibility in terms of storage.
The Nikon Z6 II can shoot in its continuous shooting mode at 14 FPS. Combine this with the fast autofocus system and you have a camera perfect for photographing fast-moving cars.
The Nikon Z6 II looks fantastic and it can also accept a vertical grip attachment. The only downside is that the screen is not fully rotatable.
5. Sony a7R IV
The Sony a7R IV is a versatile mirrorless camera that boasts a superior 61 MP sensor and an excellent hybrid AF system.
The Sony a7R IV is one of the best mirrorless cameras to ever hit the shelves. It has a fantastic image sensor and a great autofocus system. This makes it a well-rounded camera that can handle both moving and stationary car photography.
The Sony a7R IV has a staggering 61 MP sensor, which offers fantastic image resolution and sharpness. The detail, contrast, and colors in your car photos will be exceptional.
For moving-car photography, this mirrorless camera has a fast hybrid autofocus system. It has 567 phase-detection AF points and 425 contrast-detection AF points. This means you should be able to focus precisely on moving vehicles and capture plenty of detail.
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Image quality is also boosted by the 15-stop dynamic range capabilities of the camera, and you get access to the superb range of Sony FE lenses.
6. Sony a7 III
The Sony a7 III is a well-rounded camera that has a good image sensor, a fast AF system, and a nice continuous shooting mode.
If you want a high-quality camera that is a little less expensive than the a7R IV, the Sony a7 III is a great option.
It has a 24.2 MP BSI full-frame sensor with an impressive 1.8x readout speed. Combine this with the 15-stop dynamic range and an ISO range of 50 to 204,800, and you have a camera that is capable of high-quality images in every situation. The Sony a7 III also uses the latest BIONZ X image processor.
The a7 III can shoot at 10 FPS with AE/AF tracking. The autofocus system also has 693 phase-detection and 425 contrast-detection AF points with 93% coverage.
The a7 III is compatible with premium Sony FE lenses, which will let you capture car photography compositions of all types. In terms of features and quality, this camera is similar to the Canon EOS R6 or Nikon Z6 II.
7. Sony a1
The Sony a1 is an amazing high-end camera with a superb AF system, outstanding tracking capabilities, and lightning-fast continuous shooting.
Although the Sony a7 III is an exceptional camera, the Sony a1 goes one step further; in fact, it’s the ultimate Sony full-frame mirrorless camera for car photography (in both features and price).
One of the best features is the next-generation BIONZ XR image processor. It’s amazingly powerful, and it combines with the 50.1 MP Exmor RS CMOS sensor to let you capture amazing images of cars on the move.
The Sony a1 also has a 759-point hybrid AF system with a range of tracking functions. It also has impressive continuous shooting capabilities of up to 30 FPS with full autofocus and autoexposure. You can easily toggle different continuous shooting modes using the Hi, Mid, and Lo buttons on the top of the camera.
Everything about the Sony a1 is built for high-end photography. Whether you want to use the high-resolution sensor to take detail shots or you want to use the amazing continuous shooting and AF to track moving cars, the a1 has you covered.
8. Fujifilm X-T4
The Fujifilm X-T4 provides excellent colors and some stylish filters and shooting modes for creative car photography.
The Fujifilm X-T4 is a great midrange mirrorless camera that delivers professional image quality, plus the body looks great and sports a retro design that hearkens back to old film cameras.
The X-T4 has an incredible 26.1 MP sensor, and while it’s not full-frame, it can capture high-resolution images with ease when combined with any of Fujifilm’s excellent lenses.
We also like that this mirrorless camera has in-body image stabilization. This provides up to 6.5 stops of stabilization, which is great for shooting subjects in low light. The improved mechanical shutter can also shoot at a blazing-fast 15 FPS, which is perfect for capturing action shots of racing cars.
Finally, if you like to do artistic and retro car photoshoots, you’ll appreciate the Fujifilm X-T4’s simulation modes, which allow you to create photos in different styles.
9. Fujifilm GFX 100S
The Fujifilm GFX 100S offers one of the highest-quality image sensors available.
Next, we have the Fujifilm GFX 100S. This medium-format camera is meant for professional use and is great for those who have an expansive budget.
The GFX 100S boasts one of the best image sensors available, a 102 MP back-illuminated CMOS sensor that creates remarkable images with amazing detail, contrast, and colors.
The 100S also has in-body image stabilization and a nice autofocus system. Therefore, you can capture moving and stationary vehicles in sharp detail.
Despite all of this, the camera is quite compact and lightweight. The only downside is the price tag, which comes in at nearly $6,000. However, if you’re a professional, the Fujifilm GFX 100S is a superb choice.
10. Canon EOS M50 Mark II
The Canon EOS M50 Mark II is a portable mirrorless camera that has a high-quality image sensor and autofocus system.
Not every camera for car photography has to be expensive. If you’re on a budget, check out the Canon EOS M50 Mark II, a versatile mirrorless camera with some excellent features and access to a range of quality lenses.
The Canon EOS M50 Mark II packs a 24.1 MP sensor and uses the DIGIC 8 processor. It’s not the most powerful camera on the block, but it’s certainly capable of beautiful images!
It also features an excellent autofocus system, and you should be able to focus on moving vehicles with ease.
The Canon EOS M50 Mark II can use EF-M and EF lenses (though you need an adapter to work with the latter), so you can use the camera to capture a wide variety of automotive photos.
11. Panasonic Lumix G100
The Panasonic Lumix G100 is a lightweight Micro Four Thirds camera that is great for photographing vehicles during your travels.
Another excellent budget option is the Panasonic Lumix G100. This portable mirrorless camera is great for both car photography and car videography. In this kit, you get the Panasonic Lumix G100 and a decent starter lens, the 12-32mm.
This Micro Four Thirds camera boasts a 20.3 MP sensor and in-body image stabilization. Combine this with the AF system, and you have a camera that is capable of capturing beautiful photos of cars in many situations.
It is also a compact camera that is easy to carry, so if you don’t want to lug around a large DSLR, the Panasonic Lumix G100 is a good choice.
This camera accepts Micro Four Thirds lenses from Panasonic and Olympus. This makes it incredibly versatile, and you can find a good selection of lenses for wide-angle, standard, and telephoto car photography.
12. Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III
The Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III is capable of 60 FPS continuous shooting with the electronic shutter.
Our last pick is the Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III. This is a premium Micro Four Thirds camera from Olympus and has an array of great features for car photography. It also has one of the fastest continuous shooting modes available.
The E-M1 Mark III’s 20 MP sensor produces fantastic-quality images. The camera also has a great AF system with 121 phase-detection points; this should help when focusing on moving vehicles.
The best feature, however, is the shutter. The E-M1 Mark III packs a mechanical shutter that is capable of shutter speeds up to 1/8000s. This is incredible for moving car photography, as is the camera’s 60 FPS continuous shooting mode.
Other useful features include dual card slots and a durable, weather-resistant body. Finally, you can use the full range of Panasonic Lumix and Olympus MFT lenses to cope with many different car photography situations.
Capture Beautiful Car Photos with These Cameras
We hope you found this guide useful! As you can see, there is a large range of high-quality cameras available, and it can be difficult to know which one is a good choice for you.
If you intend to take photos of moving cars, you want a camera with fast autofocus and an impressive continuous shooting mode, such as the Canon EOS R5 or the Sony a1.
Alternatively, if you want to take photos of stationary cars, you should grab a camera with a high-megapixel sensor, such as the Fujifilm GFX 100S.
Last, if you simply want to snap some photos of your own car as a hobby, a budget option like the Canon EOS M50 Mark II or the Panasonic Lumix G100 could be a good option.
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