15 Best Slow Motion Cameras to Buy in 2024

Recording in slow-motion is a creative and popular way to spice up your video content. In the past, finding a slow-motion camera was exceedingly difficult. However, today many cameras can capture spectacular slow-motion footage.

There is only one problem with this. How are you supposed to figure out which slow-motion camera is best for you with so many options available?

Fantastic 4K/120p slow-motion footage, eye- and face-tracking, and industry-leading image stabilization.

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That’s where we come in! After extensive research, we built this comprehensive guide on the best slow-motion cameras.

Whether you want a mirrorless, DSLR, or point-and-shoot camera, many options are below. Also, we have gone out of our way to include a handful of specialty items like action cameras, drones, and even slow-mo phones.

Here’s a brief overview of our top 9 slow-motion cameras.

What is the Best Camera for Slow Motion?

When choosing a slow-motion camera, here are some of the most important things to consider.

First, the camera needs to be capable of shooting at high frame rates. Slow-mo footage typically is considered anything shot at 60 frames per second (fps) or higher. Once you go over 120 fps, you have what is known as super slow-motion.

While there are no strict rules on when to use specific frame rates, I have found that some work better than others, depending on what you are filming. Here are my recommendations.

60p produces smooth results with little to no motion blur. While not overly slow, it creates a dramatic feel in movies and documentaries. It can easily be slowed down more or sped up in post-production. Moreover, 60p is ideal for B-roll (supplementary material), sports, and gamers.

120p is the standard for slow-mo video and should be your go-to frame rate. It has a cinematic look that filmmakers crave and is perfect for wide-angle, establishing shots. Additionally, it is great for moving subjects like when people or animals are running.

Super slow-motion frame rates are good for things that move faster than the eye can see—running water, flying birds, action sports, balloons popping, explosions, etc.

Other things to think about in slow-motion cameras are, what is the video resolution? Does the camera have in-body image stabilization? What memory card formats does the camera accept, or how much built-in storage does the device have? Plus, does the camera have a flip-up or fully-articulating screen?

How Do I Make My Camera Slow Motion?

Setting up your camera to capture slow-motion video is super easy. There are three simple steps to follow.

1. You first need to go into your camera’s custom settings menu and select your desired movie resolution (4K, 1080p, etc.).
2. Next, navigate to the recording settings and choose your preferred frame rate. If you don’t see the frame rate you are looking for, you are probably not in the correct resolution.
3. Finally, don’t forget to set your shutter speed to double (or as close to double as possible) your frame rate.

Once that’s done, you are ready to start recording your very own epic slow-mo movies!

15 Best Cameras Slow Motion Cameras to Buy

Now, with that out of the way, let’s find out which of these excellent slow-motion cameras will help take your movies to the next level!

1. Canon EOS R5

2. Nikon Z9

3. Sony Alpha a7S III

4. Panasonic Lumix GH6

5. Fujifilm X-T200

6. Nikon D850

7. Canon EOS 90D

8. Sony Cyber-shot DSC RX-100 VII

9. Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark III

10. Blackmagic Design Pocket Cinema Camera 4K

Best Slow Motion Camera for Filmmakers

If you are a filmmaker, one of the best slow-motion cameras is the Blackmagic Design Pocket Cinema Camera 4K. It is an advanced and affordable video camera released in 2018. Moreover, it is one of the most recommended cameras by professors in film schools.

In terms of slow-motion, it records 4K/60p and 2.7K/120p. Both high resolutions have excellent edge-to-edge sharpness and a noticeable cinematic look. In addition, with 13 stops of dynamic range, you have tons of room to play around, and color correct your footage in post-production.

The giant high-resolution five-inch screen makes composing and focusing unbelievably easy. Also, the vast array of ports lets you charge the camera while filming and recording videos to external devices. As a cinema camera, keep in mind that it has no still photo capabilities.

11. GoPro Hero10 Black

Best Slow Motion Action Camera

GoPro has been a household name for years. But their specialty action cameras never could genuinely compete with DSLR and mirrorless cameras. However, that all changed when they released the GoPro Hero10 Black in 2021.

It shoots 4K/120p and 2.7K/240p slow-motion videos directly in the camera. Moreover, its best-in-class, “HyperSmooth”
image stabilization technology is phenomenal. It virtually eliminates camera shake, even when filming bumpy action sports like mountain biking and surfing.

Thanks to a new larger sensor, the low-light performance of the Hero10 Black is significantly better than previous GoPros. It even has an excellent “Night Lapse” mode for creating time-lapses at night. It works great for sunrise and sunset videos.

Lastly, the GoPro Quick mobile app lets you instantly view, edit, and download your slow-motion creations to your phone. You can also post videos directly to your social media profiles like Instagram and Facebook.

12. DJI Pocket 2

Most Unique Slow Motion Camera

The DJI Pocket 2 is a one-of-a-kind slow-motion action camera that debuted in 2020. It has a 64MP image sensor and a three-axis built-in gimbal. Effectively, it is an affordable pocket-sized steady-cam for beginner and intermediate videographers.

It has 4K and 2.7K resolution options of up to 60 fps frame rates. For 120p and 240p frame rates, the resolution drops to a respectable 1080p Full HD.

While all of that is great, the real magic of this new camera is its object tracking capabilities. The “Active Track 3.0” technology seamlessly locks on and follows subjects, regardless of how they move. A Motionlapse mode also allows you to create stunning moving time-lapses.

Two more advanced features are Story mode and AI Publisher. Story mode lets you select from pre-made templates and music to create fun reels perfect for Instagram. Alternatively, if you can’t be bothered with editing, the AI Publisher automatically makes the movies for you.

13. DJI Mavic Air 2

Best Drone for Slow Motion

Commercial drones have opened up a whole new world of possibilities for aerial videographers. While there are many excellent drones, in terms of slow-motion, nothing rivals the DJI Mavic Air 2 that launched in 2020.

It shoots amazing 1080p Full HD slow-mo videos at 120 and 240 fps. Additionally, it can capture 4K slow-motion video at 60 fps. Furthermore, thanks to the built-in three-axis gimbal, videos are remarkably smooth. Slow-mo settings are ideal for landscapes and wide establishing shots.

Another killer feature of the Mavic Air 2 is the intuitive flying modes. They use AI technology to lock onto and track moving subjects. These capture modes are brilliant for following cars, people, and animals.

Finally, thanks to a new battery, the flight time has risen to roughly 34 minutes. The improved battery life means more time in the air, better productivity, and more epic slow-mo footage.

14. Sony Xperia 1 III

Best Slow Motion Phone for Professionals

For professional photographers and videographers who want to shoot with a phone, the Sony Xperia 1 III is in a league of its own. It came out in 2021, and everything about it screams luxury.

First off, it boasts four high-quality rear Sony Zeiss cameras. The equivalent focal lengths of the four slow-motion cameras are 12, 24, 70, and 105mm. The maximum apertures of the lenses are f/1.8-2.7 and help deliver excellent low-light performance. Additionally, they create beautiful bokeh effects in pictures and videos alike.

Looking at slow-motion, it records 4K videos at speeds of 120 fps. If you switch to Full HD, that number jumps to 240 fps. The phone’s “SteadyShot” in-body image stabilization further improves the image quality of its videos.

However, the manual controls genuinely make the Xperia 1 III unique. For both photos and videos, it gives you complete control over the shutter speed, aperture, and ISO. Also, the multiple color profile options make color grading easier in post-production and align perfectly with professional software like Adobe Premiere Pro and Final Cut Pro.

15. Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra

Best Slow Motion Phone for Social Media

Last but not least, we have the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra. It went on sale in early 2022 (replacing the Galaxy S21 Ultra). Digital content creators immediately fell deeply in love. It’s a direct competitor of the Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max, but the S22 Ultra reigns supreme for slow-motion capture.

It records super slow-mo footage at mind-boggling frame rates as high as 960 fps. At that speed, the footage has a standard HD resolution. However, at other frame rates, the max video resolution is 8K.

8K and 4K files take up massive amounts of memory. Luckily, you can upgrade the S22 Ultra to include 1TB of internal storage. Also, thanks to a faster chip and its Android 12 operating system, it’s lightning-fast.

On top of that, it includes an upgraded S Pen. The stylus is excellent for editing photos and videos and increases workflow speeds dramatically. The S22 is ideal for creating content for social media platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.

Our Verdict

Whether you want to include slow-mo footage in a film you are making or upload a clip to Instagram, owning a slow-motion camera will help make your work stand out. But our top choice remains the Canon EOS5 due to its solid features across the board.

Fantastic 4K/120p slow-motion footage, eye- and face-tracking, and industry-leading image stabilization.

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While you can’t go wrong with any camera on this list, all of them are unique in one way or another. So, with that said, here is a quick summary of what we learned above:

• What is the best mirrorless camera for slow motion? The Canon EOS R5
• What is the best DSLR camera for slow motion? The Nikon D850
• What is the best point-and-shoot camera for slow motion? The Sony-cybershot RX-100 VII
• What is the best phone for slow motion? The Sony Xperia Pro 1
• What are the best slow-motion cameras for people on a budget? The Fujifilm X-T200, GoPro Hero 10 Black, and DJI Pocket 2.