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Concert Photography is a tricky business. It’s hard to capture the energy, power and subtleties of a live performance. Without the right gear and knowledge, concert photos can feel flat and lifeless.
Firstly, musicians and singers never stay still for long. Then you have lights that are often dim and constantly changing. And sometimes, you might not be very close to the stage.
These are the things you need to consider when looking for best cameras for concert photography. You need to think about your focusing system. And you need to know your camera can deal with low light situations. ISO and shutter speed are very important factors.
What is the Best Camera for Concert Photography?
When it comes to cameras for concert photography, you need to think about what is best for you. What type of concerts are you shooting? A rock concert has different conditions than a symphony. And you have to think about your budget.
We’ll help you find exactly what you need. Here are our top picks for the best camera for concert photography in 2022:
- Nikon D7500
- Canon EOS R5
- Sony a7S II
- Fujifilm X-T4
- Canon EOS 90D
- Nikon D500
- Panasonic Lumix DC-S5
- Sony a6000
- Pentax KP
- Sony a7 III
- Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II
- Canon EOS 6D Mark II
- Fujifilm X-T30
- Panasonic Lumix DC-GX9
- Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark IV
15 Best Cameras for Concert Photography (in Detail!)
Nikon D7500
- Resolution
- 20.9 MP
- Sensor
- APS-C
- Video
- 4K
- Weight
- 720 g
Trade-Offs
- Images not as sharp as other cameras
- Limited to crop sensor (DX) lenses
- No USB charging
- Just one memory card slot
Canon EOS R5
- Resolution
- 45 MP
- Sensor
- Full Frame
- Video
- 8K
- Weight
- 680 g
Highlights
- Large 45MP sensor
- A high frame rate of 20fps
- 8K/30p Ultra-HD video
- In-body image stabilization
Trade-Offs
- Expensive
- Complicated autofocus setup
- Noise reduction applied to RAW files
- Hard to customize
- Overheats shooting video
Sony a7S III
- Resolution
- 12.1 MP
- Sensor
- Full Frame
- Video
- 4K
- Weight
- 699 g
Trade-Offs
- Pricey
- Low 12.2 MP resolution for photos
- Poor battery performance
- No 8K video
Fujifilm X-T4
- Resolution
- 26 MP
- Sensor
- APS-C
- Video
- 4K
- Weight
- 607 g
Highlights
- Nice frame rate of 15fps
- 6.5 stops of image stabilization
- 4K video (DCI or Ultra HD) up to 60p and added features
Trade-Offs
- Expensive for an APS-C camera
- Autofocus speed and accuracy depends on the lens and the subject
- Unreliable face and eye detection
- No external battery charger provided
- Limited video recording time
- No subject tracking in video mode
Canon EOS 90D
- Resolution
- 33 MP
- Sensor
- APS-C
- Video
- 4K
- Weight
- 701 g
Highlights
- Excellent 32.5 MP Sensor
- Decent frame rate of 10 fps
- 4K / 30p Ultra HD video
- 1,300-shot battery life
Trade-Offs
- Unreliable autofocus when using the optical viewfinder
- 4K video has a soft focus
- No in-body image stabilization
- Limited video codecs and frame rates
Nikon D500
- Resolution
- 20.9 MP
- Sensor
- APS-C
- Video
- 4K
- Weight
- 860 g
Highlights
- Great low-light performance
- Weather-sealed
- 4K video with ports for external sound recording
Trade-Offs
- Low resolution for an APS-C Sensor
- No advanced bird or animal AF
- Slow AF in Live View
- Heavy DSLR body
- 4K video is cropped
Panasonic Lumix DC-S5
- Resolution
- 24.2 MP
- Sensor
- Full Frame
- Video
- 4K
- Weight
- 714 g
Highlights
- Lightweight and portable design
- Image stabilization for camera shake
- Dual memory card slots
Trade-Offs
- Slow-burst shooting
- Short battery life
- Poor autofocus within camera class
- Limited L-mount lens range
Sony a6000
- Resolution
- 24.3 MP
- Sensor
- APS-C
- Video
- Full HD
- Weight
- 344 g
Highlights
- Unbeatable price
- Superb JPEG image quality straight out of the camera
- Built-in Wi-Fi to transfer files
Trade-Offs
- Lags on startup
- No 4K video
- No touchscreen
- No silent shutter
- No in-body stabilization to counter camera shake
Pentax KP
- Resolution
- 24 MP
- Sensor
- APS-C
- Video
- Full HD
- Weight
- 703 g
Highlights
- Fantastic ISO range and low-light performance
- 5-axis in-body image stabilization
- Robust, weather-sealed body
Trade-Offs
- No 4K video
- No touchscreen
- Unreliable mobile app
- Disappointing battery life
Sony a7 III
- Resolution
- 24.2 MP
- Sensor
- Full Frame
- Video
- 4K
- Weight
- 650 g
Highlights
- Quick and accurate 693-point AF
- Lightweight for portability
- Reduced image noise with high ISO sensitivity
Trade-Offs
- Noise reduction can remove details
- Front heavy with big lenses
- Menu system is difficult to get used to
Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III
- Resolution
- 20 MP
- Sensor
- Micro Four Thirds
- Video
- 4K
- Weight
- 580 g
Trade-Offs
- Relatively low sensor resolution
- Not the best when pushing the high ISO range
- Unreliable subject tracking
- No vehicle and train recognition AF modes like the E-M1X
- Complicated menus
- Relatively short 420-shot battery life
Canon EOS 6D Mark II
- Resolution
- 26.2 MP
- Sensor
- Full Frame
- Video
- Full HD
- Weight
- 453 g
Highlights
- Fantastic image quality
- Impressive 45-point AF system
- Built well and nice to handle
- Handy built-in Wi-Fi and GPS
Trade-Offs
- Low dynamic range
- Relatively limited video capabilities
- Only one memory card slot
- No USB charging
Fujifilm X-T30
- Resolution
- 26 MP
- Sensor
- APS-C
- Video
- 4K
- Weight
- 383 g
Highlights
- Superb 26 MP APS-C sensor
- 4K / 30 fps and Full HD / 120 fps video
- Fast AF system with broad coverage
Trade-Offs
- No in-body image stabilization
- Time limit on video recording
- Body is not weather sealed
- Slow buffering with RAW capture
Panasonic Lumix DC-GX9
- Resolution
- 20 MP
- Sensor
- Micro Four Thirds
- Video
- 4K
- Weight
- 450 g
Highlights
- Great value for price point
- Lightweight, compact body with stylish retro design
- Best-in-class Dual Pixel autofocus
Trade-Offs
- Awkward placement of quick-menu (Q) button
- Not weather sealed
- Limited 260-shot battery life
- 4K video is cropped and rolling shutter is noticeable
Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark IV
- Resolution
- 20 MP
- Sensor
- Micro Four Thirds
- Video
- 4K
- Weight
- 383 g
Highlights
- Affordable and beginner-friendly
- Built-in image stabilization for video and low light
- Excellent 4K video features
Trade-Offs
- Small sensor
- AF has slow continuous shooting
- Contrast-detection AF system is slower than phase-detection systems
- No microphone and headphone jacks
- Plastic body and isn't weather sealed
Our Verdict
Concerts can be amazing experiences. But it’s not always easy to capture the electric atmosphere with your camera. That’s why you need the right gear if you want to take concert photography more seriously.
We’ve provided a list of the best cameras for concert photography in 2023. There are cameras for all skill levels and budgets. You just need to think about which camera is best for you!
If you are still unsure which camera to go for, get inspired with these popular camera comparisons:
