Best Slow Motion Camera Reddit 2023

TLDR: If you are in a hurry the Sony RX10 IV is the Best Slow Motion Camera according to Reddit

Sony Cyber‑Shot RX10 IV with 0.03 Second Auto-Focus & 25x Optical Zoom (DSC-RX10M4), Black

• World’s Fastest AF acquisition speed of 0.03 sec. Optical image stabilization technology developed by Sony is valuable for handheld still and movie shooting, especially in low light or at the ultra-telephoto end of the zoom range up to 600 mm
• 315 phase-detection AF points covering Approx. 65% of the frame. Light etering mode- Multi pattern, centre weighted, spot (Standard/Large), entire screen average, highlight
• ZEISS Vario-Sonnar T 24-600mm3 F2.4-F4 ultra-zoom Lens

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Technically, the slow-motion effect is an illusion. But that could just as well be said for everything photographic or cinematic, which doesn’t in the least bit take away from the beauty of watching time slow down, or speed up as in a time lapse footage.

When I say slow motion, your first thought is probably a vision of Neo dodging bullets in The Matrix. But in fact the technique is much older. Its early popularization – especially of cutting between slow motion and normal-speed playback – is credited to Japanese director Akira Kurosawa’s legendary film Seven Samurai. Cut forward to Tarsem’s 2006 fantasy film The Fall – the slow-motion opening shot of a horse and its rider falling off a high bridge while Beethoven’s Symphony no. 7 plays on – and you get the kind of unforgettable scene that lingers in the mind for years.

Slow motion is a sure-shot way to add drama to daily occurrences, and equally to highlight the essence of an important scene. In truth, the creation of this ‘slowing’ effect depends upon incredibly high speeds. It requires thousands of still frames per second (fps) even to produce a 10-second slow-motion video of a ball dropping to the ground and rebounding.

The official term for the process of producing a slo-mo effect is ‘overcranking’, which can be traced back to the ’50s. As the name suggests, it involved a camera operator manually cranking the reel faster while shooting to increase the frame rate. This would later be played at a normal rate, the playback eventually seeming far slower than ‘normal’ action.

Slowing down time was a costly and time-consuming affair for directors who worked with analog film. These days it takes a high-definition camera to record a gorgeous slo-mo video of you doing nothing more significant than getting up from your dining table and walking to the fridge.

Do You Even Need A Slow Motion Camera?

Again, technically, the world’s best slow-motion camera would undoubtedly be New-Jersey based Vision Research’s ultrahigh-speed Phantom camera, which costs about the same amount of money as it does per annum to live comfortably in Boston. The Phantom v2512 has a price tag of $150,000 and shoots up to 1 million frames per second (to give you a frame of reference, the human eye processes motion at 24 fps).

Unless you are a professional filmmaker, you probably don’t intend to spend that much to capture slo-mo footage. And thankfully, for every unaffordable technology there are dozens of affordable options in the consumer market, and you might be interested in one of those.

Chances are, you already own a smartphone and have played around with the slo-mo effect at some point. But even the best of phones, such as iPhone 5s, are capable of capturing a most of 120 fps. This number more than doubles if you invest in a good consumer slow-motion camera. A decent one will get you up to 240 fps in Full HD quality, which you can further slow down with video editing software, and would cost a fraction of a pro slo-mo camera.

Slow-motion cameras are routinely used to shoot sports events, action films, wildlife documentaries and commercial advertisements. Closer home, they can turn out to be a real asset for recording your next adventure or for giving your vlogs that extra professional touch. And then of course, there’s the high you get from manipulating time; perfect for playing around with on a leisurely Sunday afternoon.

How Should You Choose A Slow Motion Camera?

Topmost for determining the strength of a slow-motion camera is its frames-per-second count. Besides frame rate – which should ideally be at least 120 fps at 1080p – an intelligent auto-focus function is essential as it isn’t always possible to shoot in slow motion on manual focus. Goes without saying that image stabilization matters too. The rest of the factors are pretty much the same as they are for selecting any good video camera.

This includes a solid build meant to last for a long while and withstand exposure to rough terrains and climatic conditions; a user-friendly interface for ease of use; high resolution, as in 4k, and true color reproduction; and high-end lenses for better image quality. Cameras are possibly the fastest-evolving of all affordable technologies in the world today, and really, the sky – and your bank balance – are the only limits to how good it can get.

Best Slow Motion Camera Reddit 2023

A good camera needn’t cost a fortune. To make your video-hunt easier, we’ve rounded up the best slow-motion cameras available in the market today. Ones that fit into different budgets and are suitable for a variety of uses depending upon your level of expertise. Most of the models listed in this article are great cameras regardless of their slow-motion capacity, but they are especially good for it too. Read on to know more about the high-speed gadgets that can alter the speed of time.

1. Sony RX10 IV – Best Slow Motion Camera According To Reddit

Japanese brands continue to enjoy undisrupted monopoly over image-making technologies. Sony is, of course, the one that started it all. Since the release of the first RX bridge camera in 2012, this series has done exceptionally well for bridging the gap between a point-and-shoot and a bulky DSLR.

What makes it the perfect choice?

You’d probably never want to lug a heavy camcorder after you have seen the kind of video quality that a camera as light as DSC-RX10 IV has to offer. This one would do great even on a ‘best video cam’ list, but since we are focusing on slow motion here, lets start with the statistic that matters most – 960 fps. Yep, this camera is the fastest on our list, letting you choose between 240, 480 and 960 fps in Full HD (1080p). All you have to do is turn the mode dial to High Frame Rate mode, and you are on your way to ultra-telephoto coverage that’s up to 40x slower.

It’s a 2019 model that will take you as close to pro-level footage as is possible at an affordable price range. What makes the Sony RX10 IV especially good for slo-mo is its 0.02-second high-speed Auto Focus, which means you focus in the same amount of time as it takes to press the button, and hence without any blur.

Recording in 4K resolution is a breeze with the Sony RX10 IV; it’s one of the many reasons why this is a great camera over and above its slo-mo capabilities. With 100x digital optical zoom to get up close and personal, a 24-600mm zoom lens that supports wide-angle, telephoto as well as macro photography, nine-blade aperture unit and yes, image stabilization for handheld shooting, it seems made for slow motion.

Who is this for?

Sony Cyber-Shot RX10 IV is a great investment for sports enthusiasts and those generally looking to record any kind of fast-paced action. Vloggers, in particular, will not be disappointed by the amazing end quality.

2. GoPro Hero11 Black – Best Slow Motion Action Camera According To Reddit

What Reddit Thinks About This GoPro:

u/Gilbert_Reddit – I have the 8 and it is an absolute monster. One of the lightest/most compact cameras capable of 4k60 or even 1080/240. Stabilization has always impressed and its a camera I still use to this day. The 8 is far more wearable in my opinion as the 11’s weight sometimes causes it to droop when I attach it to my bike or a chest mount. It is also more discreet and fits about anywhere.

I also have the 11 and will say it outdoes the 8 in a lot of ways. I didnt think stabilization could get better but this camera really shot up the bar. When walking and recording my kid, a degree of clunkiness would show with the 8 but not anymore with the 11. The sensor is larger so it gives the camera’s computer more area to bump around. The UI is so smooth and the camera powers right up to begin shooting (even with quick capture turned off). Timewarp 3.0 allows you to pause your timewarp and actually get audio in your slowed down recording (8 doesn’t). The largeness/heaviness of the camera allows for a better handheld experience when I want to try and be cinematic recording my daughter. 10 bit color means it is capturing a billion colors compared to 16 million from the 8, allowing for more contrast and range when editing. 4k120 and 2.7k240 allows for 8x slow motion that I can actually crop and make better effects with in After Effects.

GoPro is a league apart from the others. The fact that it was born of a desire for cost-effective equipment to create high-quality action photos says something about its success. GoPro lives up to its name – making it possible for the most amateurish of us to record our wildest adventures in motion.

What makes it the perfect choice?

As far as slow motion video goes, I’d say the GoPro Hero11 Black is the best budget camera you could hope for. And not only that, it might well be the best even amongst GoPro’s entire product lineup. Slimmer, sturdier, more streamlined body with in-built, foldable mounting arms – all of it buzzing with more software features than can be counted here. GoPro is what you get when a gadget is made with a single clear purpose in mind.

Since GoPro’s main purpose is to record action, it scores exceptionally high on our slo-mo ratings. You can get Full HD at up to 240 fps, 2.7K at 240 fps and 4K at 60 fps. That’s unbelievably fast for its tiny size and comparatively small price, but I’ve taken the Hero8 Black on enough journeys into national parks to vouch for its ability to record a baby pelican’s first flight with a thunderstorm raging.

Two other typically-GoPro features that add to Hero11 Black’s slo-mo arsenal are HyperSmooth 2.0 and TimeWarp 2.0, both an improvement on the original versions. HyperSmooth 2.0 provides image stabilization like never before – by predicting your movements – while TimeWarp 2.0 auto-detects increase in activity and accordingly hikes up the frame speed (up to 30x). Low light shooting, noise reduction and live streaming make GoPro Hero11 Black a steal.

Who is this for?

When GoPro says ‘fully water-proof’ or ‘doubly shock-proof’, it means business. There are adventurers, outdoor enthusiasts, surfers and easy riders who swear by GoPro. Go ahead, rough it up. This is the very best of slo-mo on the move, with the smallest of price tags.

3. Panasonic Lumix GH5S – Best Slow Motion Mirrorless Camera

Panasonic has kept up with the times, going on to produce several contenders for high-speed shooting that adds up to gorgeous slow-motion effects. We had a tough time deciding between the Lumix GH5 and the Lumix FZ1000. Lumix FZ1000 is undoubtedly the more affordable one, but while it was originally introduced to the market as a slo-mo camera, 120 fps doesn’t quite impress us. Not in these times when a smartphone can muster up that speed. This is why we decided to not scrimp and went for the best in their stable – the Lumix GH6. Slightly more expensive than Lumix GH5, but then it will cover your slo-mo as well as all other HD motion needs.

What makes it the perfect choice?

Unlike the other cameras on this list, the Panasonic Lumix GH6 is a mirrorless camera – i.e., it has an electronic viewfinder but with interchangeable lenses (fondly referred to as ‘EVIL’ amongst the photographer community). What this means is that with this camera you can start to get serious about how you want your final footage to look.

Why we like the Panasonic Lumix GH6 is because it is equally good at recording normal as well as slo-mo video. You can get great 4k footage at 60 fps and 1080p at 240 fps, and that’s not even it. The image quality is brilliant thanks to its dual image stabilization, low-light conditions are captured without a hint of noise and the autofocus is fast enough to skip every chance of blur. The cherries on the cake are the pre-installed V-logL and 4k HDR Hybrid Log Gamma options, which means that provided you know your cameras, you can even broadcast the material shot.

Add to the above a completely weather-sealed body and dual batteries (the additional one in the grip) and you are ready for extended shooting sessions at amazingly high speeds. If all of this sounds good, you’d be happy to know that Panasonic has slashed its prices significantly in recent years, so you will actually be saving on over $600 on the original price.

Who is this for?

The Panasonic Lumix GH6 is a great overall buy as the 4k quality is excellent, but of course professionals would be able to get the most out of this camera. As far as slo-mo goes, aspiring cinematographers and full-time vloggers would love this compact piece of visual tech.

4. Blackmagic Design Pocket Cinema – Slow Motion 6K Camera

Who says we must stick to the old granddaddies of image-making? Move over Japanese mafia, we’ve been pleasantly surprised by an Australian video champion – one inspired by Hollywood! Blackmagic Design specializes in creative video technology, producing broadcast and cinema hardware since 2001. They hit a chord with budget videographers and video enthusiasts with their Pocket Cinema series, giving us feature-film quality in the form of compact handheld digicams. The Blackmagic Design Pocket Cinema Camera 6k is the most expensive on our list, and the most gorgeously cinematic, may I add.

What makes it the perfect choice?

Unless your plan is to break frame-rate records, this one will give much better results even at seemingly unimpressive frame rates. With the Blackmagic Design Pocket Cinema Camera 6k you can shoot in 6k at 50 fps and 4k ProRes at up to 120 fps. And don’t be quick to judge, because there’s more to slo-mo quality than just the frame rate.

Ever wondered what the technical reason is for feature films looking so flawless all the time? It’s the deeper colors, higher precision, and wider contrasts between your brightest and darkest tones – what is officially known as ‘dynamic range’, and of which the Blackmagic Design Pocket Cinema Camera has 13 stops (the only other camera on this list that comes close is the Panasonic Lumix GH5S at 12 stops). You’ve got to check out some of the slo-mo videos made on this camera to believe the colors.

The Pocket Cinema Camera comes with dual ISO (reaching up to 25,600) that ensures minimal noise and grain – so that your night footage is better than anything a regular video camera can produce – and a larger 6144 x 3456 Super 35 HDR sensor to allow using larger lenses for shallower depth of field.

Best part? Blackmagic Design’s RAW recording means your footage will be that much easier to polish in post-production, allowing you to adjust exposure and re-frame, crop or widen the shots without any compromise on image quality. All the better because it comes with a full version of their trademark DaVinci Resolve Studio for free!

Who is this for?

I wouldn’t recommend the Blackmagic Design Pocket Cinema Camera for beginners, but advanced users would love the amazing array of features in this compact a shape and for such a reasonable price. Ideal for budget filmmakers, videographers and broadcasters on a shoestring budget.

5. Canon PowerShot G7X Mark III – Cheap Slow Motion Digital Camera

Going back to the world of point-and-shoots, we can’t help but include Canon’s PowerShot G7X Mark III, especially since it upped its game from 60 fps to 120 fps. Its predecessor – the G7X Mark II – was rolled out as a replacement for Canon PowerShot G16, which we kind of liked, and so here we are.

What makes it the perfect choice?

This isn’t the brand best known for slo-mo, but there are people who swear by Canon colors and its easy interface, and for that reason it deserves a closer look.

Canon PowerShot G7X Mark III can shoot up to 120 fps in Full HD, combined with uncropped UltraHD 4k recording and with a solid 20.1MP sensor. Like I said, it’s not the highest frame rate, but this is amongst the best image quality you can expect for this price. As in most Canon cameras, the build is solid, interface familiar and the 24-100mm lens has a decent 4.2x optical zoom. Essentially, you can do a whole lot of video stuff without the trouble of hauling lenses.

The G7X Mark III is designed keeping vloggers in mind, and that is how it distinguishes itself the most astutely. It comes wifi-enabled, so you can count on Live Streaming to most social media platforms, as well as vertical video and USB C support.

Who is this for?

Existing Canon users will obviously find it easiest to adjust to, but vloggers is whom the Canon PowerShot G7X Mark III is aimed at. It’s a mid-range camera that will take care of all your live shooting needs. I’d recommend it for those of you looking for an affordable tech to take on long journeys.

What Is The Best Slow Motion Camera Reddit In 2023?

Next to the bustling universe of regular video cameras, the slow-motion cameras are a bit of a niche. There are only so many models out there that do justice to slo-mo video quality at affordable prices, and we’ve covered the best of them in this list. Each caters to a different budget and end user, so the final choice depends on your personal requirements, shooting style, your existing gear and of course, the bucks you are willing to spend on all this. What we can promise is that these show up in our tests and research as the top 5 slo-mo cameras – meant to slow your chosen moments in HD.

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Last update on 2023-09-29 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API