Best Slow Motion Camera 2023: 10 Models for Different Budget Levels

Just a few years ago, the only way to capture quality slow motion footage was by investing in an expensive and pricey camera. But now, all thanks to the developments that have shaped the camera manufacture scene, you can easily shoot in slow-mo using your DSLR or even a phone.

And today, apart from sharing a list of some of the most popular cameras for slow motion videography, we’re going to provide you with a buying guide.

Some of the factors included in the buying include (but are not limited to):

• Shutter speed
• Focus
• Light

Slow Motion Camera: Comparisons

Here now is a brief list containing some awesome cameras that you can bank on. Note that you can always scroll further below for more details.

1. Sony-DSCRX10 III Cyber-Shot Digital Still Video Camera

Sony-DSCRX10 III provides versatility with its many features.

It is your go-to slow-motion camera designed with a High frame rate of up to 960fps (40x), providing a slow-motion mode to videos taken at high speed.

It operates using the BIONZ X engine which provides fast image processing, and noise reduction for superior stills and videos. Besides that, it has a focal length of 24mm-600mm giving you a wide zoomable range to suit different kinds of specialized photography from standard, landscape to ultra telephoto images.

The camera comes at a medium range price point. It is constructed with magnesium alloy for durability, additionally, it has dust and moist resistant features. 

Just as importantly, it features a maximum aperture of f/2.4-f-4 ideal for night and low light situations. More so, its autofocus speed of 0.09seconds is fast.

In addition, the Exmor RS 20.1 MP one inch CMOS Image sensor is large plus 4K for video assuring you of quality work. What’s more, it has a camera app for easy connectivity to mobile devices via NFC and Wi-Fi.

Pros

• It has a High frame rate speed of up to 960fps making it a perfect unit for all kinds of slow-motion scenarios
• It has many features to offer diversity to your photography and videography including standard, landscape, and portraiture
• It is zoomable with a varied focal length
• The maximum aperture fits night and low lit situations
• It has a large image sensor for more detail in your work

Cons

• There are cheaper cameras in the market

2. Panasonic-GH5 Lumix C4K Mirrorless Camera

It is a mirrorless camera and therefore it is small and compact.

The frame is constructed using magnesium allow full-die-cast armor for a lightweight (it weighs 1 pound) and yet durable unit. More so, it is weatherproof and operates in temperatures as low as -10 degrees Fahrenheit. In addition, it has weather sealing features on the dial, button and joint providing dust and splash proof features.

For slow motion, the camera’s 4K at 60fps with about 8MP resolution freezes to achieve exceptional slow motion effect.

More importantly, it is designed with a digital 10.28 MP live Mos sensor for a wide dynamic range.

With regard to price, it comes at a medium range price point, however, it is still quite pricey in comparison with budget-friendly models in the market.

Pros

• The camera offers exceptional slow motion effect at 4k, 60fps with the 8MP resolution.
• It is dust and splash proof
• It operates at quite low temperatures
• It is small and lightweight and great as a travel companion
• Various accessories including a weatherproof hard case and a Sony 64GB SD Card are provided
• It is a new model

Cons

• It is expensive

3. Sony-PXW-FS7 XDCAM PXWFS7 Professional Camcorder Camera

Sony-PXW-FS7 XDCAM PXWFS7 produces high-quality versatile images and is perfect for doing reality tv, documentaries and also good for still photography like magazines.

The frame is constructed from magnesium and is ruggedly built for longevity. It has seals which prevent dust and water from destroying the camera. More so, it has heat pipes to regulate the temperature of the camera.

Besides that, it is easy to mount other lenses on this unit for your convenience.

The camera weighs 12 pounds, which is a bit heavy for hand holding for prolonged periods of time. The good thing is, the camera is constructed with good hand-grip features which make up for the heavyweight.

The camera has 35 image sensors which is large and delivers excellent bokeh, in addition being good at low-light sensitivity and reduced image noise.

Best of all, the camera has a high frame rate (HFR) of 180fps achieved through continuous HFR in full HD. The HFR provides excellent slow motions at different frames per second. More so, it is good at quick motions too.

This is a high-end camera that requires you to dig deep into your pocket.

Pros

• It is the optimum camera for top-notch versatile videos and stills
• It provides excellent slow motion and quick motion
• It has a big 35 image sensor
• It is constructed for durability
• It offers many features to bring versatility to your videos and stills

Cons

• It is a premium camera with a very high price
• It is quite heavy
• It has many features which may take time to maximize

4. GoPro-Hero7 Black — Waterproof Digital Action 4K Camera

You will like the features of the GoPro-Hero7 Black camera. Firstly, It has a high frame rate of 1080p 240, which is perfect for slow motion for up to eight times the capture speed giving you an opportunity to relive epic moments.

Most importantly, it has other equally good features.

The camera is sturdily built and has waterproof features for durability. With 4K 60 videos and an image sensor of 12MP, you will get stunning videos and images. In addition, it is designed with gimbal-quality stabilization correcting camera shake for smooth videos.

The camera is a budget-friendly unit, giving you a good slow motion camera at an affordable option.

The camera weighs only 4.1 ounces (116.2 grams), which makes hand-holding and portability easy.

Further, it is devised with an easy to navigate touchscreen. More so, it has voice control and a photo timer for your convenience. What’s more, it has apps for connecting it to your smartphone for live streaming.

Pros

• It is a new model
• It has a high Frame rate of 1080 p 240 for excellent slow-motion videos
• Very smooth images due to perfect video stabilization correcting shakes
• It is reasonably priced
• It is has a rugged constructed with waterproof features
• It has live streaming features

Cons

• There are cheaper brands which are equally good at slow-motion

5. Panasonic-Lumix DMC-FZ1000 Gold Package

Panasonic-Lumix DMC-FZ1000 will make a perfect camera with its 100 fps which will give you dramatic slow motions.

The camera is designed to give high-resolution images, in addition, it has 4K video recording which is HD. Besides, it has a 16X optical zoom capacity and a variable aperture size. More so, it has a one-inch sensor with an MOS optical sensor resolution of 20.1MP which is quite large for high-resolution images.

The camera is reasonably priced, besides that, it has the manufacturer’s one year warranty. A purchase includes various accessories to enhance your videography and photography kit including a screen protector, cleaning kit, and camera bag.

The camera is constructed from plastic. Also, it weighs 6.1pounds, which is heavy, but the good thing is that it has a nice grip.

Furthermore, it is installed with the Panasonic app which enables transfer of videos or images using NFC or Wi-Fi to mobile devices.

Pros

• The camera’s frame rate of 100fps produces the best slow motion videos
• It is reasonably priced and a package includes many accessories
• It produces HD videos and high-resolution stills
• It is very affordable and a perfect bridge camera
• It comes with the manufacturer’s one year warranty
• It has a reasonably large sensor

Cons

• It is heavy for hand operation and portability
• It has no touch screen

6. Canon-PowerShot ELPH 300 HS 12.1 MP Digital Camera

Canon-PowerShot is a budget-friendly camera that comes at an extremely low price point making it a low-risk purchase.

It is a versatile camera offering various resolutions to suit your varying photography needs including HD at 30fps. It is designed with a frame rate of approximately 240fps which makes the perfect slow-motion videos.

It is has a 12MP CMOS sensor 1080p HD, 24mm wide-angle focal point with 5X optical zoom for versatility. Besides that, it has a Digic 4 Image Processor, which is Canon’s advanced image processing system delivering high speed and reduced noise.

Further, it features optical image stabilization for steadiness during motion.

Additionally, the camera has a 2.7 inch LCD display for your convenience. More so, the camera weighs a mere 5 ounces and has a slim design to fit in your pocket easily.

Pros

• It is cheap
• If offers versatility with the 5X optical zoom feature
• It is lightweight and portable
• Dynamic Image Stabilization

Cons

• It is quite an old model

7. Nikon – Coolpix P500 36x Nikkor Black Digital Camera

Nikon-Coolpix P500 will bring diversity to your videography and photography with its many outstanding features. It has a focal length of 22.5—810mm which is quite a wide zoomable range to offer different specialized kinds of photography and videography.

These include standard, landscape and more so, portraiture. In addition, it has quick autofocus for your convenience.

It records high-speed activity in slow motion with its wide speed range including 120 fps, offering 1080 p at 30fps in full HD. Additionally, it has a built-in microphone for videos footage.

The camera has a short shooting distance of 0.4 inches to suit macro photography and videography.

For price, the camera is competitively priced in comparison with other similar brands in the market.

Further, it features a 12.1-megapixel CMOS sensor which offers high-speed and low-light performance without a flash. Best of all, it has 36X zooming range for versatility.

Just as importantly, it offers 1080 p for videos shooting. Not to mention that it has a VR image stabilization system to offer shake free videos and still images.

On top of that, it has advanced landscape and advanced night portrait modes for night shooting adventures.

Pros

• It is excellent for slow-motion, recording high-speed activities in slow motion mode
• It is reasonably priced
• It has a 36X zooming capacity
• It has a 12MP CMOS sensor
• The camera has VR image stabilization

Cons

• It is quite an old model

8. Sony-a7R III Mirrorless CameraLSI Image Processor ILCE7RM3/B

Sony-a7R III Mirrorless is a high-end camera that suits both professionals and semi-professionals because of all its features. The camera is great at shooting fast moving objects in moderate to high lit conditions, providing excellent slow motion.

To start with, the camera has a 42.4MP CMOS image sensor which is quite advanced. Secondly, it features a BIONZ X engine that has fast and quality image processing. More so, it has other equally outstanding features.

The camera weighs only 1.45 pounds which is small and compact like other mirrorless cameras for convenient travel and easy hand holding. In addition, it is comfortable to hold.

Besides that, it has a speed of up to 10 fps with AF and AE tracking. Also, it has high speed and precise autofocus even in low lit conditions. Furthermore, it has an electronic viewfinder.

The camera is capacitated to shoot 4K videos which are HD movies. More so it has Wi-Fi to help you connect to your mobile device conveniently.

Pros

• It is lightweight and therefore portable
• It has a 42.4MP image sensor
• It has weather sealing features
• Silent shooting for the best audio for videography

Cons

• It is expensive
• It is not operated using a touchscreen

9. Campark ACT74-Blue Action Camera WiFi Waterproof Sports Camera Accessories Kits

Coming at a very pocket-friendly price, Campark ACT74-Blue will make the best entry-level camera and also a good unit for semi-professionals with its high-tech varied features.

It weighs only 1.1 pounds and therefore it is very travel-friendly. In addition, the camera is waterproof up to 30m, with a waterproof case and is suitable for shooting various adventures including golfing, snorkeling, cycling, surfing, swimming, fishing and other activities water based or not.

Featuring 4K video recording at 30fps and takes still photos at 16MP it produces HD videos and high-resolution stills.

It provides various capturing speeds including 4K at 30fps, 2.7K at 30fps, 1080P at both60fps and 30fps which can be played back in slow motion mode for diversity in your photography and videography. Further, the camera has a loop, time-lapse and slow-motion modes at your convenience.

More so, It is devised with a 2inch HD screen and a 170 degrees Ultra wide angle lens. Also, its battery running time is up to 180 minutes. Most importantly, the camera has a Wi-Fi feature which assists in connecting to your mobile device.

Pros

• It is a perfect gift idea for kids
• It has excellent customer reviews
• There are various accessories provided
• It is waterproof and a good sports camera
• It is very pocket-friendly

Cons

• There are advanced models with more than twice the image sensor of this unit

10. Sony-a7S II 12.2 MP ILCE7SM2/B E-mount Camera

Sony-a7S II is a full frame camera with an electronic viewfinder. The combined features in this camera provide a dynamic range to suit differing photography and videography needs for versatility. 

It has a high-speed AF for precise autofocus for videos and stills. The 5-axis image stabilization reduces blur for sharp images.

In addition, it has a high-frame-rate of Full HD 1920×1080 with 5 times slow motion. What’s more, it has excellent low light and low noise features.

The camera features 4K video recording.

More importantly, it weighs only 2.98 pounds making it portable. In addition, it has an optical sensor resolution of 12.2MP full-frame Exmor CMOS. More so, it is designed with Bionz X image processing engine for clear images.

Furthermore, it has a built-in Wi-Fi that easily connects to mobile devices using the provided free mobile PlayMemories app. Other features provided by the PlayMemories app include motion and time lapse for the best slow-motion effects.

Pros

• The free PlayMemories app provides excellent slow-motion effects
• It is excellent in low-light situations, thanks to the extra large pixels
• Excellent Image Stabilization for videos because of the 5-axis IS feature
• High-quality image processing using the camera’s Bionz X engine

Cons

• There is a new model, namely Sony a7S III
• It is quite pricey

Tips for Using a Slow Motion Camera

Don’t know where to begin with your slow motion camera? Here are several tips to help you get started.

A Tripod is your Best friend

The most important thing when filming in slow motion, is to have your camera as still as possible. Your hands can shake and this will compromise the quality of your footage.

If you are serious about capturing in slow motion, getting a tripod is of great importance because it will keep your camera still.

Know When to Use Manual/Automatic Mode

You can set your camera to record in slow motion manually or automatically although there are some drawbacks to automatic mode.

For instance, gradual, slow movements within your target box do not always trigger automatic recording.

Aside from that, small objects will usually fail to initiate slow motion recording. This then means that if you are looking for more control, you may want to record manually.

Manual recording allows you to record at will and improves your chances of capturing moments accurately.

Interchange between Multi and Single-Take

Most cameras will offer the option of Multi-take recording to increase your chances of capturing the right moments.

What this means is that you can capture a few spurts of slow motion in a single recording. If you select Multi-take simultaneously with auto record, your slow motion clips will be recorded and will only cease when you stop recording.

With manual, recording even if it works the same way, you will have to tap on the shutter manually whenever you want to capture a scene in slow motion.

As the name suggests, Single-Take only captures one clip and will automatically stop recording soon after.

The good thing about that is that you get to save space since Multi-take clips are usually larger. Automatic cut-off will happen whether or not you are on manual or automatic recording.

Resize the Target Box

For automatic recording, the target box appears smaller by default. Fortunately, it is easy to resize it to increase your chances of detecting even the slightest of movements.

Press on the target box for a while until its corners appear and once you get your desired size, just tap anywhere outside these corners to reinforce the change.

Aim for Natural Lighting

Slow motion mode functions best under natural lighting owing to the total amount of frames it seizes. Artificial light tends to glimmer at super high speeds even though it is not noticeable to the naked eye.

The slow motion mode in your camera is sensitive to this and makes your target appear considerably darker even when a room is well lit.

Cut your Videos for Faster Action

You want to trim your videos to make them smaller and easier for quicker sharing and this is extremely easy to do.

To trim, open your video of choice and tap the scissors icon you will see on the screen. Once you do that, a reel will appear and you can choose your starting and ending point by dragging your finger.

After you are satisfied with the length of your clip, tap on the ‘save’ option.

The Buying Guide For Slow Motion Camera

Enough with the reviews, let us now focus on the factors that you need to keep in mind. And by adhering to this, you’ll be able to get a camera that does the job, just the way you like it.

Speed

Shutter speed is highly important for slow motion shots. The faster the fps the better. Anything with 15fps and above would be a perfect bet.

Light

Unfortunately, the faster the shutter speed, the more the light needed to make the subject shine. So, you want to go with a wide aperture and better sensors as well.

Stability

It’s always a good idea to get a camera that comes with built-in image stabilization features. This is especially important for long clips.

Which One Is The Best?

The Panasonic-GH5 Lumix C4K Mirrorless Camera is what in our opinion provides the best value for money. It has a wonderful Dual Native ISO which enables for an extension of up to 204,800 ISO.

What’s more? It has a wonderful MOS sensor which packs 10.28MP. And that’s on top of it providing a commendable 4K 60FPS burst. So you get awesome 4K quality even when recording fast moving objects.

Final Thoughts

While there’s nothing like a perfect camera for anything, we believe that the list provided above is as awesome as awesome can get! So, just look around and, hopefully, you’ll find something that’s just enough for your needs.