if you are a photography enthusiast, then you might know the importance of having good light while you are taking photographs. It is extremely difficult to get the best picture quality if the lighting is not good. If you are taking pictures while it is a bit dark outside and you don’t have the perfect lighting equipment, then you will be needing a best camera for low light photography.
What is Point and Shoot Camera?
For those of you who don’t know what a point and shoot camera is, it is basically automated camera with auto focus and viewfinder so you can just point to an object and click away. These cameras are much cheaper than other cameras and easy to use as well. Point and shoot cameras are compact and much more portable due to their small body and lightweight.
How to Choose best point and shoot camera for low light?
Before you go to buy a best low light point and shoot camera, there are certain things you need to keep in mind. This will help you get the right product for your needs. If you are not aware of what you want out of your camera, then you won’t be able to get the best product which is worth your money. So, make sure to keep the below mentioned factors in mind as you go to buy the camera.
Wide Aperture
To get good picture quality with crisp colors you need to have a wide aperture. Aperture is responsible to get light inside your lens, so you can have better picture quality. A wide aperture makes sure your camera takes in a good amount of light, so you can get clear pictures. In addition to that a wide aperture also allows a quicker shutter speed. The quicker your camera’s shutter speed is the more detailed your pictures will be. So, it is always vital to look for a camera with wide aperture, if you want to get the best results in low light settings.
Image Stabilization
Image stabilization is a great feature which makes sure the pictures you take are steady and free from blurriness. Sometimes when you take pictures with your hands the result can get a bit blurry, because of the shakiness of your hands. Your camera should have image stabilization feature, which can ensure steady and clear images, even while you are walking or standing on a shaky surface. This can prove to be really good is your doing hand-held photography specially of dimly lit objects, or when it is almost dark out there.
High ISO
ISO simply means the sensitivity of your camera to the light. The higher you will raise your camera’s ISO the more-brighter images you will get. It is always important to look for a camera which can give you high ISO options. If you are looking to shoot pictures in a dim or low light environment, then having a high ISO is really important for you.
Large Sensor
A large sensor is really important to have in your camera to get great results even in lowlight settings. A large aperture can get more light inside your camera, so you can take clear pictures. It also impacts the overall feel of the picture and reduces noise or grains to provide clear final result.
Automatic Viewfinder
Automatic viewfinder determines the object or person you want to shoot, and automatically puts all the focus there without any kind of hassle. It lets you save time and get better snaps. You will not need to find the focus and view manually. It is a good thing to have in your camera especially while you are shooting in a low light setting. Most of the latest point and shoot cameras are equipped with a powerful viewfinder, which lets you just click away with precision and absolute ease.
Built-in Flash
If you are shooting in a low light setting or environment, then you will want to have some light support as well. There are times when you are in extremely dark environment and having a flashlight can help you out. But with the compact bodies of point and shoot cameras it is difficult to attach an external flash. Choose a camera which has built-in flashlight so you can click pictures even in the dark places.
Some Useful Tips
If you are new to photography, then you don’t have to worry about it at all. We are going to tell you guys about how you can get the best results, even while the lighting is not as good as you require. So let us not waste anymore time and get right to it.
Turn up the ISO
If you are shooting in a low light setting, then don’t be afraid to crank up the ISO of your lens. It increases the sensitivity of you lens to light, so you can get bright images. But this can cause additional grains and noise in your picture, but you don’t have to worry because it can be refined in the post afterwards. So, it is recommended that light is low you keep ISO high.
Shine Some light
Shooting in low light settings is not an easy task to do. Sometimes the light is even lower than you might expect which makes the visibility zero. In that case you will be needing to shine some light on the object or person you want to click picture of. But also keep in mind to bounce the light from a wall or a sheet to avoid hard and rough shadows. Direct light can reduce the quality of the picture and tend to make it flat. You can also use an external flashlight to take pictures in the dark.
Stabilize the Camera
When your shooting in low light setting you might have lowered the shutter speed, to get the light in your camera for a longer period of time. It can cause blurriness or ghosting effect at times. To avoid this, you need to keep your camera still and stable, which is a difficult thing to achieve especially while you are handheld shooting. Try to always use a tripod while you are taking pictures. It can help you avoid the shakiness which you might get through your hands.
Best Camera for Low Light Photography
Let us now get to our picks for the best low light cameras you can buy, to take pictures without any kind of hassle.
Canon PowerShot SX620
Optical Zoom | 25x Optical Zoom (25–625mm) |
Image Stabilization | Intelligent IS |
Sensor | 20.2 Megapixel CMOS sensor |
Image Processor | DIGIC 4+ Image Processor |
First up on the list is Canon PowerShot SX620 which is a great masterpiece by Canon. Canon has always been providing good quality products, to its customers all around the world for quite some time now. Every time you go for a Canon camera you are always guaranteed to get the best products, which are worth every penny you spend. And this time is no difference as well. PowerShot SX620 is equipped with a 20.2 MP CMOS sensor, which can take clear pictures. It also has an intelligent image stabilization feature, so you can get steady pictures even while you are moving or standing on a shaky surface. With the 25X optical zoom you can take pictures of faraway objects with ease and without compromising on the quality. You also get a DIGIC 4+ image processor which can give you great results, even in low light environment. The body and design are also really compact and portable, which give you the freedom to carry this camera around with you no matter where you go. You can even put this camera in your pocket easily.
PANASONIC LUMIX FZ1000 4K
Sensor | Large 1 inch 20.1MP MOS sensor |
Lens | Leica DC lens – 25 400 mm(16x) F2.8 4.0 |
Image Stabilization | Hybrid O.I.S. + with 5 axis corrections |
Auto Focus | Quick AF with LUMIX DFD Focus Technology |
Next up is Panasonic LUMIX FZ1000 4K which is equipped with a large 1 inch 20.1 Mega Pixel MOS sensor. It takes surprisingly detailed pictures which are stunning every single time. The video shooting quality is also pretty good, and you can shoot up to 4K videos on this camera. It gives you the freedom to just point where you want to shoot and click away, thanks to the auto focus technology. Hybrid O.I.S along with 5 axis corrections makes sure your pictures are steady and stable. It eliminates any possible shakiness or blur from the equation to prevent any lack in quality. The body is a bit bulkier than other cameras, but it is still not that huge. Plus, it is really strong build and can take a good amount of beating. The durable body of this camera can withstand bumps, falls, and pressure with ease.
Sony RX100 Mark VI
Auto Focus | World’s fastest (0.03 sec) hybrid AF system |
Battery life | Up to 330 shots / 165 minutes |
image stabilization | Optical IS |
Sensor Resolution | 20.1 megapixels |
Sony RX100 Mark VI is a great point and shoot camera with a popup flashlight, so you can get the best pictures even in the darkness of night. It is equipped with the world’s fastest hybrid autofocus system which takes only 0.03 seconds. You can never miss a single shot thanks to the fast autofocus function. It has a 20.1 MP sensor so you can take clear and crisp photos. You also get an optical image stabilization feature which gives you steady pictures free from blur. The battery time of this camera is also pretty decent. It gives you battery life of up to 330 shots or 165 minutes. With a slim and compact body, Sony RX100 Mark VI is also really easy to take with you wherever you go. It fits perfectly in your pocket and leaves a lot of space for other stuff as well. If you are always on the move or travelling, then this is a good fit for you.
Canon PowerShot g7x mark III
Sensor | 20. 1 Megapixel 1. 0” stacked CMOS sensor |
Image Processor | DIGIC 8 |
Optical Zoom | 4. 2x optical zoom (24-100mm f/1. 8-2. 8) |
Image Stabilization | Optical IS |
ISO | 125–12800 |
Canon PowerShot g7x mark III features a 20.1MP CMOS sensor which is able to give you great results. You get the best DIGIC 8 image processor to provide you best quality every single time. You can also take clear pictures from a distance with ease. This camera offers 4.2x optical zoom so you can take detailed pictures even when you zoom. It also features optical image stabilization so you can take steady pictures in a carefree manner, even while you are moving. You get ISO range of 125-12800 which is really good. It is quite durable as well so you can take it with you even while you are shooting at the most unwelcoming environments. The ergonomic design of this camera can let you hold it all day long without getting sore hands or wrists. It is also choice of many tourists and vloggers, who are always travelling and clicking pictures of their journey.
Bottom Line
Well, there you have it this was our list of the best point and shoot cameras for low light photography. All of these cameras are perfect for your photo sessions and can provide decent results in minimum light. We also added in a buyer’s guide, so you can make up your mind the right way before you go to buy a best low light point and shoot camera. You will also find some useful tips so you can take your photography skills to the next level. So, make sure to keep in mind the above-mentioned points, if you wish to get the best point and shoot camera for low light, which is worth every penny you spend.