The best cameras for wedding photography have a distinct set of characteristics. First and foremost, they want quick and precise focusing, as well as the ability to shoot in low-light conditions, twin memory card slots, a sturdy sensor for the clearest photographs, and lastly, a quiet shooting mode.
In today's mirrorless world, it's becoming easier to find all of these characteristics in all price ranges. When it comes to the best cameras for wedding photography, you still have to be extremely picky, but the days of needing to purchase one of the pricey professional cameras are long gone. Indeed, sometimes buying intelligently is more important than shopping for features; you may be shocked to see a Micro Four Thirds camera on our list for a particular reason.
Whether you're just getting started or seeking to improve your existing setup, our selection of the best cameras for wedding photography includes APS-C and full-frame cameras that we think are ideal for the task. (In reality, entry-level cameras aren't actually suited for shooting weddings since they lack the correct mix of crucial functions.)
We divided the tutorial into three sections: getting started, upgrading, and professional. If you earn the most of your money from wedding photography, you'll probably want to start at the pro end with cameras, but it's worth scanning the whole list.
BEST CAMERA FOR WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY: TOP PICKS
My overall favorite here is the Canon EOS R5, which has practically everything you could want, including 8K video, which comes with a brilliant hack: you may shoot video of critical events, from which you can extract crystal-clear 35MP still photographs. It's the best of both worlds!
This one will put the cat among the pigeons, but my second pick is the OM System OM-1, which is, indeed, a Micro Four Thirds camera. You've probably heard a lot of bias and people arguing that they aren't professional cameras, particularly because they don't have a very narrow depth of focus. But that seeming disadvantage is really a major advantage in this case; have you ever photographed a wedding in a church or anywhere with poor lighting? Have you ever had to open your aperture so wide that just one thing is in focus? When shooting with the OM-1, you get double the depth of field!
And, while I understand that some people prefer DSLRs, my third choice is the magnificent Nikon D850, which is still the go-to camera for many professional wedding photographers and weekend warriors alike. Like every DSLR, it lacks a quiet shooting mode (yes, it has one, but it's impossible for the mirror to be silent), but it's a fantastic tool otherwise.
The best wedding photography cameras in 2024
Why can you rely on Digital Camera World? Our experienced reviewers spend hours evaluating and comparing goods and services, so you can find the best option for you. Discover how we test.
1. Canon EOS R10 camera
The best wedding photography camera for the money
SPECIFICATIONS
Model: Mirrorless
APS-C sensor
24.2 Megapixels
Articulating touchscreen with 1.04m dots
2.36m dot, 120fps viewfinder
Canon RF lens
Continuous shooting speed: 25 frames per second (with electronic shutter).
4K video resolution is the highest possible.
Intermediate/enthusiast user level
cons
- Professional features
- 4K-resolution video
pros
- There is just one card slot.
- There is no in-body stability.
The Canon EOS R10 is almost too wonderful to be true, but Canon isn't playing games! With a 24.2MP APS-C sensor, 4K resolution, and a burst rate of up to 23fps, it's ideal for wedding photography. It has the same lightning-fast and hyper-accurate Dual Pixel CMOS AF II as Canon's professional-grade cameras like the R3 and R5, which is astounding given the body costs less than $1,000.
It's also exceptionally lightweight, weighing just 429g, making it an excellent option for wedding photographers who need to shoot for 8 hours or more. The main disadvantage here, like with the X-S10 below, is that it only has one memory card slot. Personally, I believe that its other features compensate for it, but for other individuals, not having that piece of mind backup is a deal-breaker; if this is the case, go directly to the Z5.
2. X-S10 from Fujifilm
The best entry-level camera for wedding photography with stabilization
SPECIFICATIONS
- Model: Mirrorless
- APS-C sensor
- 26.1 Megapixels
- Fujifilm X-mount lens mount
- 3-inch vari-angle touchscreen with 1,040,000 dots
- Viewfinder type: electronic
- Maximum burst speed: 20 frames per second.
- 4K video resolution is the highest possible.
- 465g total weight
cons
- Image stabilization inside the body
- Complete phase-detection AF coverage
pros
- There is just one card slot.
- For video, IBIS is less effective.
The X-S10 is a departure for Fujifilm. The design is the most noticeable difference between this camera and the similarly priced Fujifilm X-T30. For starters, the handgrip is more obvious than on earlier X Series cameras, and the top plate has been simplified with a less frightening collection of buttons. New users will undoubtedly find this more straightforward, but experienced users will still appreciate the body-mounted controls and personalization.
The build quality is likewise superb, and the vari-angle display, which can fold in on itself, is a lovely addition. The X-S10 employs Fujifilm's outstanding 26MP sensor, which produces photographs with superb detail and beautiful color. Then there's the sophisticated 425-point system and superb 6-stop in-body image stabilization technology—and, most crucially, the family of film simulations, which allow you to be highly creative in camera. Again, I'm willing to take risks, but the single memory card may be a deal-breaker for you.
3. A Nikon Z5 camera
The best full-frame camera on a budget for wedding photos
SPECIFICATIONS
- Model: Mirrorless
- Full-frame CMOS sensor
- 24.3 Megapixels
- Nikon Z-mount lens
- 3.2-inch tilting touchscreen with 1,040k dots
- Continuous shooting speed: 4.5 frames per second
- EVF with 3,690k dots, 100% coverage, and 0.8x magnification.
- The maximum video resolution is 4K UHD at 30p.
- Enthusiast is the highest degree of user.
cons
- Excellent value for a full-frame camera.
- There are two card slots.
pros
- Only 4.5 frames per second burst
- 4K video crop
Think again if you thought your first camera for wedding photography had to have an APS-C sensor! Nikon's entry-level full-frame DSLR offers excellent value. It offers a continuous shooting speed of 4.5 fps, which isn't the quickest, but it'll do for most wedding circumstances. It includes a 24.3 MP CMOS sensor that can record not just gorgeous, color-accurate photographs but also 4K video with full-frame quality and dramatic depth of field.
The Z5 boasts twin UHS-II slots, so in the event of a card failure, your photographs may be securely backed up on the second. The 273-point hybrid autofocus system is quick and precise, and features like eye AF ensure that your portraits are always in focus. It's lightweight, weather-sealed, features USB-C charging capabilities, and has an ISO range of 100–51,200, so your photographs will still appear clean even at higher sensitivities. With the Nikon FTZ adapter, you may now utilize the vast array of current (and less expensive) Nikon F DSLR mount lenses.