Best Cameras For Northern Lights Photography

To start, let me just say that virtually any DSLR or mirrorless camera body will produce photos of the aurora if the correct settings are used.

A camera needed to shoot the Northern Lights needs to have some basic requirements:
1 – The ability to photograph in manual mode: The most important feature. We need to manually adjust basic settings for Northern Lights photography like the aperture, ISO, and shutter speed.
2 – The ability to photograph in RAW files: It’s essential to shoot in RAW files in order to access the full potential of the camera and capture as much detail of the aurora as possible.

Some other things to consider when buying a digital camera for the Northern Lights are the following:
Ideally, you want to look for a camera with a low megapixel count in the largest possible sensor to capture light more efficiently.
The battery life is important, especially during the cold northern lights nights. You will go through more batteries in this type of shooting.
A good weather-sealed camera body is the best guarantee to withstand the cold conditions the winters can present.
Focus peaking in mirrorless cameras makes focusing much easier. It’s not a game-changer. There are other ways to focus that we will address in a later post.
Having the opportunity to charge the camera battery with an external USB is very useful
A fully articulated or tilted LCD screen is very convenient… and save your back.

My Cameras I use for aurora photography are:
Full Frame Mirrorless Nikon Z7ii – Learn More
Full Frame Mirrorless Nikon Z9 – Learn More

Below I have listed the cameras that I would suggest you consider investing in for Northern Lights Photography

Best Canon Cameras For Northern Lights Photography

CANON EOS RA (MIRRORLESS) – Capture the intricacies of a starry night sky with the new EOS Ra camera – Canon's first full-frame mirrorless camera dedicated to deep sky and night sky photography. Building on the success of the EOS R, the EOS Ra offers 30x magnification in both the viewfinder and in Live View shooting for more accurate focus and roughly 4x more transmission sensitivity of hydrogen-alpha (Hα) rays (656.3 nm) for more vivid, deep-red hues of nebulae, making it ideal for astrophotography enthusiasts. Sharing many of the same advanced features of the EOS R, including a 30.3 megapixel CMOS sensor, a high-precision electronic viewfinder (EVF) and Dual Pixel CMOS AF with 5,655 manually selectable AF positions**, the EOS Ra is capable of capturing and pinpointing dim stars that are difficult to see with the naked eye. A Vari-angle LCD touchscreen allows for comfortable composition at any angle and easier framing when shooting vertically, especially when the camera is mounted to a telescope. Featuring 4K video recording at up to 30 fps, along with 4K time-lapse capabilities, the movement of stars across the night sky can be recorded in brilliant clarity and detail. With a trusted design that's been specifically enhanced for astrophotography^, the EOS Ra proves the age-old adage is true: the sky's the limit!

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CANON 5D MARK IV (DSLR) – The EOS 5D Mark IV camera builds on the powerful legacy of the 5D series, offering amazing refinements in image quality, performance and versatility. Canon's commitment to imaging excellence is the soul of the EOS 5D Mark IV. Wedding and portrait photographers, nature and landscape shooters, as well as creative videographers will appreciate the brilliance and power that the EOS 5D Mark IV delivers. Superb image quality is achieved with Canon's all-new 30.4 Megapixel full-frame sensor, and highly-detailed 4K video is captured with ease. Focus accuracy has been improved with a refined 61-point AF system and Canon's revolutionary Dual Pixel CMOS AF for quick, smooth AF for both video and Live View shooting. Fast operation is enhanced with Canon's DIGIC 6+ Image Processor, which provides continuous shooting at up to 7.0 fps*. Built-in Wi-Fi®**, GPS*** and an easy-to-navigate touch-panel LCD allow the camera to become an extension of you.

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Shop In Canada – Learn More

Best Nikon Cameras for Northern Lights Photography

Best Sony Cameras For Northern Lights Photography

Best Lenses For Northern Lights Photography >