13 Best Cameras for Concert Photography

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To capture the beautiful moments during concerts, you need a camera that has an impressive and high ISO output. This article discusses some of the best cameras for concert photography.

Usually, the concert venues are held in dark places, and despite the stage lights, you will certainly need a high-quality camera that can maintain sufficient shutter speed. Modern cameras can perform shooting at high ISO and produce excellent image quality pictures. There is no need to spend a lot of money on concert photography.

Lets look at the list without delays!

Best Cameras for Concert Photography

Sony A6000: Best Budget option for concert photography

Sony’s camera here is a high-tech mirrorless digital camera to kick off our list that’s as versatile as they come making it the best camera for concerts, live shows, venues, and more.

Equipped with the 24.3-megapixel APS-C sized exmos, it’s safe to say that this is a camera that will definitely provide you with some extremely high-resolution photographs that you desire during your shows.

More than capable of detailing your image exactly how you want it, this camera is great not only for difficult lighting but also the distance that you are from your target. Imagine being at a concert and being able to capture memories as if you’re sitting right in the front row and you have the sony alpha a6000.

It has a beautiful and very attractive design. Many problems like shadowing and light gathering can be wiped out with Sony A6000. Its compact size increases mobility, it is lightweight which makes it convenient to carry. The buttons can be customized at your convenience for getting optimal results. The tilting screen makes it possible to change the angles as per your needs. High-Resolution pictures can be taken using this camera.

There are 13 different kinds of modes to capture the images or for filming short videos. The pictures can be shared using smartphones or tabs with the use of a wifi connection. By using advanced algorithms, it corrects colors, textures, and shadows.

Fujifilm XT-10

The xt-10 enables photographers to now have a compact high-quality camera that comes with 920k dot tilting lcd as well as great dials for better operation. This light weighted camera features a real-time viewfinder, which provides options that offer a whole new set of choices when it comes to adjusting your photo to how you want it to look.

This is an underrated quality when it comes to digital cameras as now you can solely focus your concentration on the picture. Long story short if you’re looking for a camera to do all the dirty work for you don’t look any further than the Fujifilm xt10 because this is another great pick as the best camera for concerts and live shows.

Nikon D500 Camera

Here we have a DSLR camera by Nikon that’ll without a doubt enable you to create the image you’re looking for optimal for large events when there are many distractions the camera’s incredibly sharp 20.9 megapixel DX format CMOS sensor makes this camera one of the best for concerts of all kinds. Although it’s a bit more expensive than our previous choice.

As versatile as they come, this camera is also great for adventure seekers and world travelers too since the lighting compatibility with it is amazing. On top of it all and for this cost, we’d hope for something like this, you have 4k UHD recording at 30fps, perfect for those who are concerned with having the best quality videos of their concerts.

The Nikon D500 is known as the active camera by Nikon. It can capture incredible pictures with clarity and speed, stunning resolution, and performance. It could be your traveling buddy to capture your memories. It has fast and accurate autofocus and the latest touchscreen being an outstanding addition to Nikon D500.

The sharing of the pictures is easier with Nikon D500. The camera can also be connected to a smart device to transfer the pictures. It comes with top-notch build in quality, longer battery life. But, the size of the camera is big and difficult to fit in some messenger bags. It is quite expensive.

Canon 6D Mark II

Canon 6D MK II provides a delightful feel for the camera, with weather sealing, excellent color versatility, and it offers good battery life. The floppy LCD screen gives pleasant look and has high ISO performance with the touch screen menu. The canon’s edition of skin tones is still at the top in the market. The camera has a 26.2-megapixel image sensor.

The picture can be captured from different angles. To avoid the camera’s shaking when you are shooting handheld films, the 5 -axis image stabilization system and movie digital IS are built-in features. The autofocus points are in the middle, and it is slow with sigma lenses. It has a single card slot.

Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II

Here we have another one of the best cameras for concerts that creates inspiring photography that appears professionally taken. Although larger than point-and-shoots and mirrorless cameras, the body is quite lightweight and waterproof and, although not recommended to splash at will, can help in the long run for longevity.

A few other features we love are:

1. Advanced five-axis image stabilization mechanism,
2. Full-HD 1080p video recording,
3. 10 FPS sequential shooting,
4. 81 points selectable autofocus,
5. and WIFI compatibility.

The camera’s touch and swivel LCD monitor offers the user to have easily accessed variable angle positioning, making those tricky shots a whole lot easier to access.

Nikon D5

Here we have quite a beast. When it comes to precision and world-class quality this is a frame dslr camera that’s optimally positioned as one of the best cameras out there not just for concerts or performances but really anything you can think of in the professional photography world.

If you’re looking for a speedy, incredibly precise camera that’s more than well equipped to emulate one of the professional photographers, you can find it in Nikon’s d5. A large sensitivity range that’s budgeted up to the most we’ve seen in this guide at 3.28 million, which is perfect for any lighting you’ll face in the live-show realm.

Canon EOS R

The Canon EOS R is the latest edition to the EOS system; it is designed for optical Excellence and has a promising future, versatility being the key feature. Even in dark areas, the picture quality is very clear. It has 4k that makes it easy to share, and the touch screen LED is adaptable and simple to shoot in various situations.

In Canon EOS R the autofocus is extremely good, it protects the sensor when the camera is turned off. It is very convenient to handle, the menu system of Canon is very simple. The lenses are lightweight and the battery life is also good. The photos can be transferred fast using wifi transfers. But, it needs dual DD cards and also a joystick. Eye-detection or face recognition can be improved.

Nikon Z6 Camera

The Nikon Z6 is the most creative camera that has an amazing electronic viewfinder along with 100% frame coverage, the display at the top depicts the setting at one glance, robust weather sealing, extended battery life, it has a comfortable hand grip for holding, it works well with Nikon F mount lenses by using Nikon FTZ adapter. It creates a balance between low-light performance, speed, and resolution. It gives a revolutionary optical performance. The setting information is displayed on the rear LCD.

Nikon D7500

This is designed for professionals with Nikon’s new autofocus system that makes it possible for shooting effectively. It has certain new tricks like the tilting screen, built-in wifi transmission, latest design 24.3MP sensor. It produces clean files even at ISO 6400. It also has built-in Wi-Fi connectivity, shows the exposure shooting and time-lapse shooting.

There are plenty of buttons to change the ISO of the camera. Even though it is made of a plastic body, a large portion of the D7500 is covered with leather that makes it soft and fine to hold. The majority of buttons give easy access to most of the settings.

Fujifilm X-T3

This being a high-performance premium camera designed to satisfy your videography and photography needs. Fujifilm X-T3 comes with a brand new 26.1 MP X- Trans CMOS 4 sensor. The picture quality is amazing, it comes with dual SD card slots, has versatile RAW files. The robust magnesium alloy body can withstand even the toughest situations. It gives a film simulation mode with various gradations and color tones.

The viewfinder can help you to find precisely your focus positions and to identify the subject movements. The enhanced AF processing improves performance with eye and faces detection. It also has a 4K video recording. The MKX cinema lens will improve the video footage quality. It also features manual rings for adjustments to aperture, zoom, and focuses to function comfortably.

Sony a7 III

Sony a7 III is the also best mirrorless camera with flip screen that has prolonged battery life. The autofocus in this camera is outstanding even in darkness. It offers fair versatility and resolution. The dynamic range is excellent. The pixel being bigger gives more light compared to the traditional cameras.

The axis in-body image stabilization allows shooting at 4k video recording. The camera’s stabilizing results can be seen by magnifying the image, and while shooting the movies, it can be put in movie mode. It is simple to connect to smartphones. You could even personalize your camera by using the play memories camera app.

Nikon D5300 Camera: Recommended Pick under $500

It has all the components that are needed to capture the picture. To further improve the picture quality of the images, Nikon D5300 has all the accessories. The 39 point autofocus enables defining the details of each picture that has been captured. Various focus modes can be selected.

It works very well, even in areas where light is dim. Even the most delicate details can be recorded by using a CMOS sensor. For video shooting, the camera can be set at any angle at your convenience. The built-in GPS provides and can store information as you travel.

Pentax K-1 Mark II

The PENTAX K-1 MARK II camera is one of the best cameras that are used for concert photography. It can certainly give other cameras tough competition with its staggering functions and amazing features. It can reduce the noise in the environment while you shoot a video, thereby minimizing the level of disturbance.

The build-in quality is very good and is easy to handle. All its features make it simple to use for beginners and professional photographers for capturing the beautiful moments at concerts.

Now that we’ve shown you the top picks out there, let’s talk about a few things you should look for before buying one.

Things To Consider Before Buying a Camera For Concert Photography

Budget

This is one of the key aspects to look at while you are purchasing any sort of camera. To get your first few gigs as a beginner with a budget of around $500 or so, the Nikon D3500 and the Sony A6000 are solid picks. If you are a professional, go with Canon 6D Mark II or any other cameras recommended above.

ISO Range

Not all gigs are lit up like an Aerosmith show and small club shows can be challenging. That said there’s no reason why a modern camera with a good lens can’t produce good to reasonable results in the dimly lit venue.

The first thing to consider is how high iso can your camera go before the noise is unusable test your own camera in low light and find out. There are lots of noise reduction changes you can make in post-production but I would try and avoid having to overuse this.

From my experience, the effect can make people look like they’re made of wax and your photography will look like they’re melting if overused. This is where the majority go wrong. Before buying a camera for shooting photographs in a concert, ISO range is the main battle. However, do keep in mind that the camera with the highest ISO range is not necessarily the best.

Always go for cameras that can capture good quality pictures at a high ISO range. Even if the ISO range of your camera is between 100 to 128000, it’s nothing great. What matters is that it should be able to capture pictures without digital noise at ISO 128000.

Flashlight

Getting to the back of a venue through thousands of people is never easy, regardless of the style of music you’re shooting. So, use a flashlight or what can be also be called the crowd separation device. Shine a bright light at someone, and they’ll get out of the way. It’s that simple. It also stops you from falling over stuff in the dark. I never shoot a show without a flashlight in my pocket. You can also help add light if needed.

Know when to press the button

When you first get access to a big gig, the temptation is to hose down every second of the performance. You can do that, of course, but you will discover a high percentage of images will be dark, out of focus, and probably not usable, and an unreasonable amount of time will be spent editing through all your images. This may sound obvious, but be patient and wait for the right moment to shoot.

Focus on the lead singer, find a good angle where the mic isn’t obstructing their face, and watch what the lights are doing. When the light looks good, and you have a reasonable exposure, and the artist looks half decent, then shoot. If not, try and wait. That’s it. If something spectacular happens, like the singer jumps into the crowd or blows a kiss at your camera, just keep shooting.

Conclusion

This article has provided all the detailed information about the best cameras for concert photography to capture the wonderful events. The features of these cameras are emphasized. Check out the one that suits your budget and your requirements.