Do you want to bring virtual or immovable objects into life without code or work on computers? If it's a yes, the best option will be to use the stop motion camera. It allows you to capture multiple shots while moving the said object in small incremental. Each snap taken is within the individual frame to ensure that the object's state can be combined to animate the overall motion.
Once you get all the pictures, you need to compile them together to create a complete animation. Professional photographers use light cameras to handle and can easily capture the frames with maximum accuracy and precision. Besides, the shutter speed and autofocus features need to be at their best. This will help you take the best shots with maximum clarity and almost zero blurriness.
Although all cameras cannot be used for stop motion animation, the list is quite long. Finding the right model from so many options is not easy. If you make a slight mistake, your investment will go down the drain, but you won't be able to take the snaps properly. Keeping this in mind, we have listed the top five stop motion cameras in this below section that have outshined several other competitors and become the best in 2022.
1. Canon EOS 5D Mark IV
If you want to take accurate and clear shots for animation, this is the best camera for stop motion. Canon has outdone itself by incorporating a plethora of new and upgraded features that make photography further easing. This camera will remain protected from different weather stressors by featuring more seals around the shutter button, lens mount, and battery door. It is equipped with the LP-E6N Lithium-ion battery; you can take approximately 900 still shots and 300 live shots per charge cycle.
One of this camera's main upgrades is the incorporated Q-menu that appears on the display screen with all control features. You can easily customize these settings and develop the desired changes that will help you take the shots perfectly. You can also customize ten dials and buttons to set the perfect settings for stop-action snaps.
It features dual-pixel autofocus to capture lights from both left and right frame halves and merge all pixels to obtain the most accurate shots. One of its salient features is the availability of direct operation and file transfer to other devices over WiFi or the Canon Connect application. Featuring a RBG+IR metering sensor having 300K pixels, the camera can easily track all subjects in viewfinder mode.
Price: $2699
Where to buy: https://www.amazon.com/Canon-Mark-Frame-Digital-Camera/dp/B01KURGS9E
Main selling points
- Comes with six present features for autofocus
- Zone AF helps track moving objects with respect to nine zones
- Compatible with both lowlight and daylight shooting
- A low pass filter eliminates chromatic aberrations
- Comes with 61 autofocus points for more picture clarity and accuracy
Specifications
- Screen size: 3.2 inches
- Focus type: manual and autofocus
- ISO range: 32000
- Resolution: 30.4 megapixels
- Frame: Full-frame sensor
- Viewfinder type: Optical
Pros
- Does not make too much noise that can interfere with the shot quality
- Features a fast action CMOS sensor for improving both video and picture quality
- 0 fps speed of continuous shots
Cons
- Not suitable for all lens types
Best for which kind of users: Suitable for professional photographers
2. Nikon D3300
Thanks to the outstanding features and lightweight design, this is the best stop motion camera you can find on the market. It features a 24.2 MP CMOS sensor to capture photos with utmost precision and accuracy. Thanks to the 5 fps continuous shoot rate, taking incremental pictures for stop motion animations won't be difficult. The optical low-pass filter will further help you get accurate shots without dealing with chromatic aberrations.
Thanks to the wide ISO range, you can take shots in light conditions, from illuminated rooms to lowlight nature. Incorporating the EXPEED 4 processing engine offers an impeccable burst rate of 100 images in the JPEG format. The 3.0-inch display screen offers a wide-angle view to help you view the scene in front and get the perfect shot of incremental.
The Easy Panorama mode has made this the best camera for stop motion. It will help you capture high-quality panoramic shots with ease. When you need to capture a scene with multiple elements involved, use the shutter mode so that the perfect moment can be captured with ease.
Price: $328
Where to buy: https://www.amazon.com/Nikon-Digital-Focus-S-18-55mm-3-5-5-6G/dp/B00HQ4W1QE
Main selling points
- Comes with seven shooting modes like sports, night portrait, landscape, and more
- A 3D tracking system with 11 autofocus points
- Optical zoom up to 3x
- Configured with multiple settings for image effects
- Blurs background when operated with higher autofocus settings
Specifications
- Screen size: 3 inches
- Focus type: manual
- ISO range: 25600
- Resolution: 24.2 megapixels
- Frame: APS-C
- Viewfinder type: Optical
Pros
- Low pass filter for reducing chrome blurs and bleeds
- Easier to use for beginners
- Panoramic and Guide shoot modes
Cons
- Autofocus is not present explicitly
- Doesn’t feature a touchscreen display
Best for which kind of users: This is the best camera for stop motion if the buyer is a beginner in using DSLRs.
3. Canon EOS Rebel T7i
If you don't have any experience taking pictures with DSLRs, the Canon EOS Rebel T7i is the best camera for stop motion animation. It is reinforced with a 24.2 MP sensor for capturing standard quality images without any blur or color bleeds. Furthermore, the low pass filter ensures no color has become distorted, no matter the light condition.
It boasts 45 focus points, all of which are cross-type and hence ensure that the captured pictures can have sharp and prominent elements. Thanks to the deep grip, you can exercise maximum control over the camera movements without fearing losing control over them. The two major buttons that you can customize are the negative magnifying glass and SET.
This stop motion camera comes with a live view autofocus system so that you can take accurate shots with all the involved elements within the focal range.
Price: $875.91
Where to buy: https://www.amazon.com/Canon-Digital-Camera-3-Inch-1894C002/dp/B06VT2NQD8?th=1
Main selling points
- Comes with sensor dust reduction to remove small dots on captured images
- ViewFinder coverage is approximately 95%
- 6 fps continuous shoot camera speed
- The LCD screen can be tilted to better view the scene to be captured.
Specifications
- Screen size: 3 inches
- Focus type: manual and autofocus
- ISO range: 25600
- Resolution: 24.2 megapixels
- Frame: 95% frame angle
- ViewFinder type: Pentamirror
Pros
- Outstanding battery performance
- Comes with a lens dust cover
- Boasts WiFi connectivity with smart devices
Cons
- Can make slight noise while capturing the shots
- Doesn’t come with varied customization for buttons
Best for which kind of users: Beginners who want to take accurate shots of non-moving elements.
4. Nikon D7200
If you want to shoot pictures with multiple modes, this is the best camera for stop motion animation. Some of the popular modes are landscape and portrait, close-ups, selective color, miniatures, and so on. The camera can produce some of the best pictures with a CMOS sensor with a capture resolution of 24.2 MP, with all small details captured prominently. This is why you won't have to worry about the incremental images having blurred differences.
Unlike other Nikon cameras, D7200 has 51 autofocus points to ensure all shots are accurate with excellent sharpness and image clarity. Apart from this, the 6 fps continuous shooting speed enables photographers to take multiple images at once so that you can choose the best shot. Nikon has done a wonderful job incorporating EXPEED 4 image-processing chip that can take clear shots without any distortion or blurredness. But that's not all! This camera comes with AF coupling and contacts to ensure that the lens can easily focus on point objects with ease.
As the camera comes with a WiFi feature and NFC, you can instantly share the taken shots with the connected device on the network. It comes with a weather-sealed construction to ensure that you can easily shoot pictures outdoors, regardless of the climate.
Price: $549.95
Where to buy: https://www.amazon.com/Nikon-D7200-DX-format-DSLR-Black/dp/B00U2W45WA?th=1
Main selling points
- 6 frames for continuous shooting mode
- 3D col0or matrix sensor for controlling the color intensity and brilliance
- 5x crop factor in ensuring images are captured according to the requirements
- Dual SD card slots for storage
- The shutter system rated at 150,000 cycles
Specifications
- Screen size: 3.2 inches
- Focus type: manual
- ISO range: 25600
- Resolution: 24.2 megapixels
- Frame: APS-C
- Viewfinder type: Optical
Pros
- Doesn’t make too much noise, thanks to the high ISO performance
- Comes with a tighter pixel arrangement to ensure clarity in dynamic pictures
- RGB and IR capture features ensure that all colors remain vibrant and bright
Cons
- Doesn’t come with a GPS
- No feature to control the LCD brightness
Best for which kind of users: Intermediate photographers have knowledge about DSLRs but have yet to use high-end and modern camera features
5. Nikon D500
Do you want to use the best camera for stop motion for wildlife or sports? If yes, then this Nikon D500 camera is the best choice. The incorporated features and specifications are completely justified for the price it has. It comes with a CMOS sensor but has a 20.9 MP resolution in DX format, making it more feasible than other 24.2 MP cameras. This will allow you to take perfect shots of elements located at a distance and prevent image distortion and blurredness.
As the camera comes with EXPEED 5 image processor, you won't have to worry about the image quality or any other thing like distortions, lags, and focus. Since the camera screen is approximately 3.2 inches, you won't have to worry about squinting your eyes to set the camera's orientation and get the perfect shot as per your requirement. One of the salient features of the camera is the tiltable LCD screen that will help you move the screen as per your desires and have the best shot.
Thanks to in-built connectivity features like NFC, WiFi, and Bluetooth, you can share all the captured images or recorded videos to any device on the network. The best part of the camera is its continuous shooting rate of 10 frames per second, ensuring you can easily capture 200 frames without any problem.
Price: $1288.99
Where to buy: https://www.amazon.com/Nikon-D500-DX-Format-Digital-Body/dp/B01A7Q0J3Y
Main selling points
- 180 K RGB pixel sensor to ensure all captured shots can have optimal color and brilliance
- Shutter speed of 1/8000s for easier captures
- Multiple autofocus modes like single point, dynamic points, auto-area, and group area
- Autofocus sensitivity ranges between -4 and +20 EV
Specifications
- Screen size: 3.2 inches
- Focus type: Autofocus
- ISO range: 51200
- Resolution: 20.9 megapixels
- Frame: APS-C
- Viewfinder type: Optical
Pros
- Multiple connectivity options for faster image transfer
- Excellent body grip and weather-sealed construction
- No noise will be produced, and hence pictures will have more clarity
Cons
- The LCD doesn't feature a touchscreen
Best for which kind of users: Wildlife and sports photographers (professionals)
Conclusion
Finding the best camera for stop motion animation might not be easier. But since now you have given options in hand, you won't have to face any more problems deciding which one will be ideal for you. Ensure to go through all the features to check if the autofocus range, shooting modes, low pass filters, sensors, and other technical details match your requirement area. Apart from this, you also need to ensure that the camera's quality is excellent and won't cause any slipups or loss of control.
Sometimes, the lenses might have lower resolution. But if the chosen camera features a higher autofocus range or shutter performance, it will be the best camera for stop motion. If you usually take outdoor photographs, ensure that the camera body comes with excellent seals so that you won't have to worry about the best shots you could have captured if the weather was up to the mark. Most stop motion cameras have in-built WiFi and NFC system so that you can transfer the images easily to any other device connected with the network.
