There are few things in this world cooler than slow motion footage! A great way to impress both friends and associates, many cameras are now adapting to the slow motion trend. As such, there are now a lot of slow motion capable cameras on the market and sorting through the choices can be overwhelming. When looking for a camera that is capable of slowing down footage, make sure to pay attention to the frames per second, or FPS. Additional specifications such as resolution and sensor size also impact the quality of your slowed down video! This is our list of the best slow motion cameras in 2019!

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Part 1: The 6 Best Slow Motion Cameras

1. Sony RX100 V

The Sony RX100 V is a powerful and high end point and shoot camera. Some may consider this statement a bit of an oxymoron, but with how technology has improved in recent times, this is very accurate! The Sony RX100 V is small, compact, and has everything already built into it for the layman photographer. However, the image quality is tremendous enough to make even the hobbyists happy with this nifty little model.

Firstly, The RX100 V can record movies for super slow motion at up to 960 FPS (which is 40x the normal frame rate). The camera calls this “Super Slow Motion Mode”. The resolution can go up to 4K and it can record up to a half hour of footage at a time. This being said, it should be mentioned that in order to achieve 960 FPS the resolution is scaled down to 1,920 x 1,080.

This is a 20 megapixel camera with a built-in ZEISS Vario-Sonnar T Lens. The camera also features an 11x zoom, great for catching moments that are happening far away.

The Sony RX100 V has excellent low light capability and is able to take whatever available light there is and make the most of it. Akin to Sony’s reputation, the autofocus tracking is very accurate and reliable (making sure whatever action you’re capturing is perfectly in focus).

Pros:

• Point and shoots are user friendly and easy to use.
• Small, lightweight, compact.
• Can record slow motion at 960 FPS.
• 20 megapixels.
• Built-in ZEISS lens with 11x optical zoom.
• Fantastic low light capability.
• Very accurate and reliable autofocus.
• WiFi capability.

Cons:

• Lacks the control of a DSLR or mirrorless camera.
• The 960 FPS requires a step down in image resolution.
• Pricey.

2. Canon PowerShot G16

One of the most cost-effective cameras on this list, the Canon PowerShot G16 is a point and shoot camera similar to the Sony above, but has different features. Less megapixels than the others on this list at only 12, this camera does feature full HD and WiFi capabilities. The built-in lens has 5x optical zoom and a lovely 240 FPS for video (slow motion or not!).

The HDTV playback is a nice feature, allowing you to preview the footage in beautiful full quality. Full HD mode is 1080p, which is considered true high definition. There is a great manual focus control if the camera focus begins to ‘hunt’ (searching for the subject) and the low light capability is superb. Both of these are not commonly found in point and shoots!

The camera’s build is robust and durable, great for outdoor adventures.

Pros:

• Point and shoots are user friendly and easy to use.
• Small, lightweight, compact. The build is robust and durable.
• Can record at 240 FPS and 1080p.
• 5x optical zoom in the lens.
• Fantastic low light capability.
• Very accurate and reliable autofocus.
• Manual focus override available.
• HDTV playback mode.
• WiFi capability.
• Inexpensive.

Cons:

• Lacks the control of a DSLR or mirrorless camera.
• Only 12 megapixels.

3. Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ1000 4K

This camera model pops up frequently on slow motion camera suggestion lists, and for right reason! A very well rounded point and shoot camera loaded with great features, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ1000 4K camera is both a budget-friendly and quality choice.

The built in lens is phenomenal with an impressive zoom, ranging from the wide angle 25mm all the way to the telephoto 400mm. The lens sits at an aperture of 2.8 to 4 depending on the zoom, and is a Leica lens! Leica is one of the most famous camera brands in the world, known for their superb quality.

For slow motion footage, you can capture high definition video at 60 FPS. Similar to the previous models, there is a slow motion mode called Creative Video mode in which you can capture high speed video up to 120 FPS. The camera sits at 20 megapixels, a nice quality.

There is an expandable ISO option which allows you to film in very dark conditions, an exceptional feature. The ISO expands all the way up to 25,600! The camera also has a built in 5-axis stabilizer.

Pros:

• Point and shoots are user friendly and easy to use.
• Comfortable size.
• 20 megapixels.
• Can capture high definition slow motion video. 4K capabilities.
• Incredible built-in Leica lens. 24mm – 400mm F/2.8 – 4.
• Fantastic low light capability with an expandable ISO to 24,600.
• Built in 5-axis stabilizer.
• Remote WiFi shooting.
• Cost effective. 

Cons:

• Lacks the control of a DSLR or mirrorless camera.
• Only 120 FPS for slow motion shooting (not bad at all, just less than others on the list).

4. GoPro Hero 5 Black

Arguably the best known name in sport video, the GoPro is a nifty little action camera that can be mounted to anything for wicked cool video. One of the smallest high power cameras you will ever see, the GoPro Hero 5 Black is only 1.5” x 1.5” x 1.4” inches. This is also the most affordable camera on the list. This camera can capture 2.7K of up to 60fps and 1080p up to 120 FPS.

This GoPro is waterproof and very durable, even without a case! It has a great built-in stabilization system and excellent quality. The touch screen is a nice added touch too. Unfortunately, it is limited in controls and features. But, the video quality and adaptability is notable enough to place this camera on the list.

Pros:

• Tiny camera that is mountable to most anything.
• Specializes in video and has enough FPS for slow motion.
• Waterproof and very durable.
• Internal image stabilization system.
• Good image quality for an action camera.
• Touch screen feature.

Cons:

• Very limited on controls and features.

5. Nikon Coolpix P500

This is an older model, but still holds up as a great slow motion camera. The Nikon Coolpix P500 has some great slow motion capability by recording at 120 FPS and offering 1080p at 30 FPS in full HD. This model also has a very good built-in microphone. The internal lens has a focal length of 22mm all the way up to 810mm, which is more than enough range for the majority of videographers and photographers! You can focus very close to the lens which is exceptional for macro slow motion shots. The Nikon Coolpix P500 also has a good internal image stabilization system.

Pros:

• Slow motion capability at 120 FPS with an offering of 1080p at 30 FPS in full HD.
• Great internal VR image stabilization system.
• It has a 36x zooming capacity with a lens that ranges from 22mm all the way to 810mm.
• Affordable.

Cons:

• An older model.
• Only 12 megapixels.

6. Panasonic VX981 Camcorder

Camcorders specialize in video, and as such, it is no leap to assume a camcorder would be included on the list! The Panasonic VX981 is a great contender for best slow motion camera. Comfortable to hold and not too heavy, the VX981 is very easy to use while still offering pro quality. A cool feature is this camcorder’s ability to record Ultra HD 4K video at 30 FPS. For slow motion capability, this camera can record from 120 FPS all the way up to 240 FPS.

There are in-camera editing capabilities as well for those that need a quick video done fast, and you can then transfer this to your phone via WiFi capability. You can also take high quality photographs while recording video!

Pros:

• A camcorder that specializes in video.
• Can record Ultra HD 4K video at 30 FPS.
•  For slow motion capability, this camera can record from 120 FPS all the way up to 240 FPS.
• In-camera editing features.
• WiFi capable.
• Can photograph while shooting video with no delay.
• Able to record in internal memory as well as external memory cards.

Cons:

• No 4K.

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Part 2: How to Buy the Best Slow Motion Cameras

1. What Type of Camera Do You Need?

There are many different kinds of camera that are capable of slow motion. From small action cameras like the GoPro to full fledged DSLRs, from mirrorless cameras to camcorders, the options are pretty endless. In regard to which camera you should be looking at, I would personally base it off of what your need and priority is.

If you’re looking for something small and a camera you can attach anywhere, an action camera like a GoPro is a great option! These cameras tend to be fairly easy to use, which is an added benefit. Many of the action cameras also include internal image stabilization, WiFi capabilities, and are extremely durable- all fantastic perks if you are into slow motion sport videos.

If an action camera is not really your forte, but you’re not a full-fledged photographer (yet!), a point and shoot camera may be the way to go. Point and shoots have the benefit of being extremely user friendly. Point and shoot cameras really are ready to be “pointed and shot” right out of the box. These nifty little machines are also more compact than the majority of cameras. With this does come a downside, these cameras are primarily automatic and don’t give the photographer a lot of manual control. Since point and shoots have everything built-in, there is no reason to carry a lot of equipment.

For those more heavily into photography, a DSLR or mirrorless camera will be much more your speed. Both of these are professional-grade machines, capable of capturing very high quality and professional footage, and slow motion with these are a breeze as the majority are very fast cameras. Both DSLRs and mirrorless cameras tend to have the same features and capabilities, such as very fast frames-per-second, large resolution, manual controls, and awe-inspiring autofocus. The key differences between a DSLR and a mirrorless camera is size, weight, battery life, and resolution. Mirrorless cameras are always lighter and smaller because of the lack of mirror, but their battery lives tend to suffer due to the electronic viewfinder and LCD screen needing to be on at all times. Mirrorless cameras can pack a big punch, as their new technology allows a slew of brilliant features and high resolution.

However, mirrorless and DSLR cameras are intended more for photography than video… so you’ll find them less on recommendation lists for video (as is the case here).

A camcorder is ideal for those that shoot video only.  In a camcorder, filming is its number one feature (if it is able to take photographs, that is more of an afterthought). As such, camcorders are calibrated and designed specifically to take brilliant videos, akin to a large cinema camera in a small and easy-to-carry package. A big benefit to a camcorder is the ability to save videos to the actual machine itself as well as a memory card. Many camcorders have a built-in memory to allow you record for longer periods of time (or record when you don’t have a memory card with you). Most other cameras do not have this nifty feature. Knowing that users tend to record for a long time, camcorders don’t have overheating issues like other products may. However, camcorders can be a bit bulky.

2. Why Frames Per Second Matter.

The frames-per-second, or FPS, is how many frames can be shot per second. Every second that you hold down the record or shooting button, a burst of images are being taken. The more frames you can capture, the smoother the footage will be. The standard good quality recorded footage will have between 30 and 60 frames per second. However, frames per second can go all the way up to 240 and up! In order to catch action, you’re going to want a camera that can shoot a minimum of 60 frames per second.

Why is this important for slow motion? Well, you see, you need to be able to have enough frames to slow down. If you want to capture slow motion footage, anything below 60 will not be able to be slowed down. As such, you’re ideally going to want to look at cameras that go even faster than 60 to give you more slowing-down capability.

3. HD Resolution or 4K- What Should You Invest In?

Video quality is made up of two components, the frames rate (also called FPS) and the resolution. We just covered the FPS above, so let’s chat about resolution!

Resolution represents the number of horizontal lines a video has from top to bottom. The more lines, the better the video looks when broadcast somewhere, like a television screen. The smaller the resolution number, the lower the quality. If the quality is low, you won’t be able to show it on a very big screen. The larger the number, the higher the quality, and the larger screen you can use to showcase your awesome snowboarding capture.

The most common video resolutions are 360p, 480p, 720p, or 1080p. 360p is lower quality than 1080p, to show the range. 360p videos tend to be used for cell phone viewing, 480p are generally the resolution of DVDs, 720p is where high-definition begins, and 1080p is actual true high definition.

However, in recent years new resolutions have come out, such as 4k. 4k is unique in being calculated based on the number of pixels versus the number of line.s 4k is considered significantly higher resolution than 1080p. The image tends to look more hyper realistic and less cinematic.

Now, there are two catches to 4K that many like to conveniently forget to mention. The first is that most computers and software cannot process actual 4K. The footage either crashes the computer or is converted into a lower resolution without your knowledge. The second catch is that still, to this day, 4K is not standard- as such, you’ll seldom really find someone with a television or computer screen that can even view real 4K footage.

That being said, as a buyer note, I always tend to go for the highest quality because you can always decrease the quality if you need to (but you can’t increase quality). You never know if 4K will become standard one day or not.

4. Sensor Size and Video.

Cameras come with two different kinds of sensors: full frame and crop sensor (also known as APS-C). As the name implies, one is larger than the others. Here is the breakdown on what sensors are:

To make it simple, a sensor in a camera collects light information and renders an image on to your screen. Sensors can be weak or powerful and different sizes. In layman terms, the full frame sensor captures the entire picture that you see on your screen or viewfinder, and the crop sensor takes a somewhat ‘cropped’ version of that screen.

For cameras that have interchangeable lenses, it is important to note that crop sensor lenses only work on crop sensor bodies, but full frame lenses work on both full frame and crop sensor bodies.

In the case of video, the sensor size affects a lot. The larger the sensor, the more light can be collected and the more capable you are of filming in difficult lighting situations. The sensor also affects the megapixel count, which in turn affects the size of the video output, which in turn to that, impacts the quality of the footage. The sensor also affects the look of the video. For example, crop sensors mimic the style of 35mm, which is a historic filming style. Full frame is what you’d see major films shot on.

5. A Lot of It Is In The Editing Software

Some cameras may have a slow motion feature included in them, but the majority do not. As such, to actually slow your footage down, you’ll need computer software to do so. This is a very common oversight by many people who are looking at cameras for the first time! The misconception is that the camera will slow the footage down for you. Not true! This is a manual technique in a computer through software.

There are many programs on the market, both free and paid, that will slow footage down for you. Industry standard are the Adobe softwares, such as Premiere (for video editing), but there are plenty more out there.

As well, you really don’t want the camera to edit anything for you, such as a slow motion effect. This is because when the camera edits something in-camera, this becomes known as a “destructive file”. What this means is, once the effect is applied, there is no undo button and the file becomes “destroyed” because you cannot reverse what you had just done.

6. More Features to Look For:

As well as the aforementioned information to keep in mind, here are some extra features to look for when deciding on a camera capable of slow motion. Although you can get away without some of these additional features, having them is a great perk.

• Weather Sealing:  You likely won’t be filming in perfect conditions. Many slow motion enthusiasts are into capturing sports or some cool outdoor endeavor. As such, you don’t want a little rain shower or gusty wind preventing you from capturing an iconic moment. A durable and weatherproof body will ensure you can film no matter what the conditions are.

Look for silicone weather sealing around important attachments and components, and be very attentive to what material the camcorder body is made of. You want to look for materials that are shock absorbing and weather resistant.

• Image Stabilization: Humans just can’t hold very still naturally. As such, having image stabilization is pretty convenient if I do say so myself. Shaky footage is never fun to watch, even if it is smoothed out via slow motion.

Image stabilization is a mechanical system inside of a camera that aims to remedy camera shake. This technology is meant to remedy any bump, shake, or other physical movements that may occur. These systems can range from an internal gyroscope to a computer stabilizing the recording as it is being recorded.

• WiFi, Bluetooth, and Other Connective Capability: Being able to share the footage right on the fly is a great benefit (to both you and your social media presence!). Some models have built-in WiFi, Bluetooth, or NFC technology that can synchronize with your cell phone, tablet, laptop, and more. Some brands even have exclusive apps that allow you to use your cell phone as a remote control for the camera.

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Conclusion

Although all of the cameras on this list are very different from one another, our favorite all around slow motion camera is the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ1000 4K. This camera is applicable for a variety of situations, and allows you to switch to photographing as well. The expandable ISO paired with the advanced internal image stabilization system allows you to shoot in extremely difficult conditions with precision and ease, something that is very hard to find in other cameras! The built-in lens makes for an incredibly adaptable camera.

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