jblinvest

Hello. I'm looking to purchase a low light camera under $500.00. Any recommendations? What is a sensor and what numbers are good? Currently I have a canon powershot sx60 and does not do well in low light. I see the background noise
Thank you
Lynette

jdub82 Loc: Northern California

Welcome to the UHH forum! The Canon SX60 Bridge Camera has a great zoom range, but a small sensor size which makes it great for taking pictures with good lighting, but not so great in low light. (I have its predecessor the SX50, which has the same limitations). Most newer DSLR's will typically perform better in low light than your current camera, due to a larger sensor size. However, Canon's lowest priced entry level DSLR the T7 has a older processor in it and is only able to shoot up to ISO 6400. This is the same as the SX60, though the DSLR may still give you slightly better performance in low light overall. ISO measures the light sensitivity of the camera's sensor.

If low light performance is your goal, you may want to spend just a bit more to get a camera that meets your needs. The Canon SL2 can shoot up to ISO 25600 with the newer Digit 7 processor. However, the body sells for $549.00 new without lenses. You'll need a couple of lenses.

You might consider a refurbished Canon T6i, which is rated to perform well at 12800 ISO. They are selling a refurbished T6i on the Canon website for $448.00 with an 18-55mm STM kit lens. They are also offering the SL2 refurbished for $449.00 with the 18-55mm STM kit lens. Canon gives a full one year warranty on their factory refurbished cameras. If you are able and willing to spend more, you might also consider looking at the the Canon T7i, or the 77D which also have the Digic 7 processor, more advanced features, and great low light performance compared to the SX60. These cameras would cost significantly more than your current budget, and require purchasing lenses of course.

The Nikon D3400 would be another very good budget friendly option, and it can shoot up to ISO 25600, like the Canon SL2, T7i, and 77D. This entry level Nikon would give you much better low light performance than your current camera. B&H Photo Video is offering a new Nikon D3400 with two kit lenses right now for just $496.00. This is a great value. You may want to visit a camera store or a Best Buy and handle each camera, before you make a final decision. Happy hunting!

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

Can you define your understanding of low light? What do you mean by background noise? Post an example of something you've tried to do and aren't happy with.

A clean used D3 or D700 will outperform any smaller sensor camera in low light and they will be in your budget of around $500. You'll still need to buy lenses.

You will need to learn about post processing and noise removal.

MACT Loc: Connecticut

If your subject is static, then one option is to merge several shots to remove the noise.

Logan1949

Use the search function on this site and look for "sensor size chart". You can print the chart at the bottom of that page on 8.5x14 inch paper. I have a Sony HX400V camera that zooms the equivalent of 24-1200mm; not as good as your Canon SX60, but they both have the same 1/2.3" sensor size. And yes, the Sony HX400V is also not good in low light situations.

These cameras are in the superzoom or bridge-camera category, which have only one non-interchangeable lens. The sensor converts incoming light into the picture elements (pixels, or megapixels). Because the sensor is so small the camera can use smaller, lighter (weighing less) lenses to zoom in to fantastically close distances.

I "upgraded" the Sony HX400V to a Sony RX10iii which has a 1" sensor. The lens is 3 times larger and it will only zoom to an equivalent 24-600mm, but it is moderately good in low light situations. But the price was 3 times as much (less than $1500). This is the problem with larger sensors: The lenses are also much larger, and do not reach very far in terms of millimeters of zooming. Also, these lenses cost many times the price of the superzooms.

Those sensors with fewer megapixels in the same sized sensor will work better in lower-light situations. For example: the Sony A7S series has a full-frame (36x24mm) sensor, but with only 13 megapixels it works much better in low light than the A7R with 42 megapixels. Instead of a larger sensor (with larger lens), you may want to look for a superzoom camera with the same sized sensor (and same zoom lens), but only 8 megapixels (instead of the 16 megapixels in the SX60)?

Or check out this year-old link: https://thewirecutter.com/reviews/best-superzoom-camera/

Bison Bud

In your budget range the refurbished Canon T6i would be a significant step up from your current bridge camera! However, there are cameras that will do far better in low light out there, they just cost many times your current budget. Generally speaking, the bigger the sensor the better the low light performance, but even that does not cover all the variables, such as lenses with large maximum apertures, pixel size, noise levels of particular sensors, etc.

miket22 Loc: Northern Massachusetts

Try looking at the Linux lx10. 1" sensor close to $500. You can rent one to try first.

miket22 Loc: Northern Massachusetts

Try looking at the Linux lx10. 1" sensor close to $500. You can rent one to try first.

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

Sony RX100 II has a built in 28-100 Zeiss T* 1.8 lens. I believe you can still buy the camera new for about $49.00 over your budget.
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/984408-REG/sony_dsc_rx100m2_b_cyber_shot_dsc_rx100m2_digital_camera.html?sts=pi
And I have an extra one that I could let go for less.

miket22 Loc: Northern Massachusetts

Sorry my spell check did me in. Look at a Panasonic Linux lx10/15.

achesley Loc: SW Louisiana

I went a totally different direction for shooting at indoor event for friends as the Walk Around guy shooting the action and non posing shots. Flash is a no no doing this and a small camera is your friend. My weapon for this is a refurb G16 Canon I picked up several years ago and it does a great job for me and my friends , many times, preferred my collection over the paid pro photo takers. I have an SX50 but it don't like low light even though with the same sensor as my G16.
Just another bit of info for you to think about. ;-)

jackpinoh Loc: Kettering, OH 45419

Look for a used A6000 with lens included.

Hsch39 Loc: Northbrook, Illinois

miket22 - You mean Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX10

gvarner Loc: Central Oregon Coast

Did you mean "what is a sensor" in literal terms or which sensor is better for low light situations? A physically large sensor is better in low light than a smaller sensor because it gathers more light. For a DSLR, a full frame sensor meets that test.

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

Take a look at this tool: http://www.photonstophotos.net/Charts/PDR.htm The tabulation at the bottom of the chart gives an excellent comparison of the low light, high ISO capabilities of various bodies - you can then compare them to your budget. Don’t overlook the possibility of a used, older full frame body or at least an APS-C sized sensor if you can fit both it and a lens into your budget. In terms of low light performance, sensor size DOES matter, and everything else, such as age of the technology being equal, bigger is better.