The Best Cameras For Shooting Slow Motion Video

Slow motion video allows us to see the world in a way that our eyes can’t. It can create a fascinating, poignant, and dramatic effect, and enable us to revisit a fleeting moment.

Whether it captures the fluttering of a butterfly’s wings, the invisible intricacy of a skateboard trick, or an affectionate moment between bride and groom, slow motion video adds a powerful string to a videographer’s bow.

The catch, however, is that slow motion cameras require sophisticated and often expensive technology to operate effectively. The key is to find a balance between your budget, intended use, and required spec.

The main factor that informs the quality of slow motion video is frames per second (FPS) vs. resolution. Typically, the higher the FPS a camera can record at, the lower the resolution of the resulting footage. This means it takes better technology to record at higher FPS at higher resolutions. When it comes to slow motion features, this is the most influential factor in terms of price.

Bear this in mind when you’re shopping around and reading this article. Do you need a camera that shoots 960fps at 1080p for wedding videography, or would 180fps be adequate?

Whatever you want to shoot in slow motion and whatever kind of videographer you are, there’s a camera out there to fit your budget, intent, and required spec. Here are the best cameras for shooting slow motion video.

GoPro Hero9 Black

Price: £329.88 (or £379.88 for the bundle)

Ideal for: casual use, mounted use, or with action sports

GoPro products are the go-to option for many types of specialist photography or videography. The company’s cameras have so many bases covered and are unrivalled for versatility, multifunctionality, and value for money. GoPro cameras can handle both fast-paced action sports and underwater photography/videography with stunning ease, stability, and quality.

When it comes to shooting slow motion video, the GoPro Hero9 Black is the company’s best camera yet. It offers 240fps in full HD (1080p) resolution and HDR – all in the palm of your hand. Quite literally. Not only that, but GoPro peripherals mean you can film in all sorts of unique ways. For example, mounted to your body or a helmet, or on a selfie stick, which is digitally erased in the resulting footage. Its new and improved HyperSmooth 3.0 technology means that, even if your ride is bumpy, your video will be smooth as silk – even in slow motion.

The gamut of possibilities and features on the Hero9 Black makes it a formidable contender, whatever the camera category or photography/videography discipline. However, slow motion video on the Hero9 is more of a well-crafted, neat feature, rather than its dedicated function.

If you want something that yields great quality slow motion video for Instagram or YouTube, but you aren’t too hung up on the finer details, the Hero9 Black (or even the Hero8 Black) will be perfect for you.

Panasonic LUMIX GH5

Price: £1,299

Ideal for: wedding, nature, travel, and promotional videography/photography

The Panasonic LUMIX GH5 is suitable for professional wedding photographers or hobbyists looking for an affordable and solid all-in-one camera.

While many photography cameras also shoot video, the GH5 is more of a video camera that also shoots photography. As such, it boasts several features which are typically found in higher-range hybrid cameras and is easily one of the most advanced in its price range.

For slow motion, the GH5 can shoot in 4K resolution at 60fps and up to 180fps in full HD, each in 8-bit depth. It even gives you the option to record in 10-bit depth to capture over one billion different colours, albeit not in slow motion.

However, the combination of these high-quality features and its revered in-built stabilisation makes the GH5 one of the best slow motion cameras on the market. You could pay the same for a camera with comparable slow motion functionality and not have half as many extra features to play with.

The GH5’s practicality is unmatched at its price point. This means you’re not cutting corners to save room if you’re on an expedition or hike – you have everything a gimbal, DSLR, and slow motion camera could offer in one single unit.

Sony PXW-Z90

Price: £3,002.33

Ideal for: dedicated videography, broadcasting, and documentary

The Sony PXW-Z90 is a step up from the GH5. If the GH5 is deemed a consumer model, the Z90 strays into professional filmmaking and portable broadcast territory.

The handheld Z90 films in 4K at 60fps and full HD at 120fps but can go all the way up to 1000fps, with several increments in between. Of course, the resolution takes a hit at 1000fps, but it’s still good enough to be a viable shooting option.

Although the Z90 isn’t a dedicated slow motion camera, its slow motion features are extensive. That gives you flexibility both in terms of your chosen subjects and how you film them. Thus, the Z90 could be used to capture a macro shot of an insect’s wings or an F1 car going 200mph.

Given that portability and technological capability are usually at odds with each other, it’s refreshing to see a video camera that pushes the limits of both at once. Versatility in all dimensions is top of the bill where the Z90 is concerned. Speaking of which, it even offers streaming functionality for live broadcast. All you need is a 4G dongle or WiFi connection.

Kron Technologies Chronos 2.1-HD

Price: $5000 (roughly £3,850 after conversion*)

Ideal for: dedicated, professional-grade slow motion videography at a relatively affordable price and for all applications

Kron Technologies was founded on the principle that high-range slow motion video should be accessible to everyone. Its Chronos 1.4 camera was funded via Kickstarter, and at $3,500 has evened the playing field on high-end slow motion video camera technology.

Due to be released in October 2020, the Chronos 2.1-HD is a follow-up to the 1.4 and is hotly anticipated following the buzz its predecessor created. This time, however, the 2.1-HD offers 1000fps at full HD resolution, and up to 24,046fps at lower resolutions.

Amazingly, the camera is completely standalone, with one hour’s battery life and a whole suite of available peripherals. These include everything from lenses and macro rings to underwater housing.

Kron truly aspires to bring the portability of a traditional handheld camera to slow motion cameras. This is quite a feat considering some high-end slow motion cameras can be the size of shoe boxes.

Most miraculous of all, however, is the price-point, which makes the 2.1-HD (or 1.4) attainable for consumers, not just scientists, engineers, or television networks.

As is often the way with technology, it shrinks as it becomes more advanced. In turn, it becomes more accessible. In this respect, Kron aren’t so much ahead of the curve as drawing it.

Phantom v2512

Price: $150,000 (roughly £115,600 after conversion*) or £3700 per day to hire

Ideal for: dedicated, professional-grade slow motion videography, sports broadcasting, film, commercial production, and scientific use

Phantom is the undisputed champion of the slow motion video camera world. The v2512 is Phantom’s flagship model, which is capable of filming at 25,700fps at HD resolution – and this is its lowest setting. Incredibly, it can film at 1,000,000fps at 256x32 resolution. Granted, the resolution is small, but this is 1,000,000fps we’re talking about.

Phantom’s experience and proprietary technology means the v2512 represents the absolute bleeding edge in slow motion video technology. For slow motion replays in sports and motorsports broadcasts, explosions in movies, and macro shots of high-speed animal movements in nature documentaries, there’s no better choice.

YouTube’s The Slow Mo Guys are indebted to the Phantom range of cameras, too. Most of their videos make use of one or more from the Phantom range so that we (and their 14-million strong subscriber-base) can see what smashing a glass jug looks like at 343,000fps.

Given that the v2512 has the price tag of a modest terrace house, it’s worth bearing in mind that if you are intent on using one, you can always hire. For a behind-the-scenes look into how these incredible cameras are made, check out this video. 

Specialist photography insurance from Ripe Photography

As you can see, slow motion cameras don’t come cheap, even at the lower end of the scale. Whether you’re after the brand new Chronos 2.1-HD or the GoPro Hero9, you need to protect it.

At Ripe Photography, we offer specialist photography insurance that you can tailor to fit your exact requirements.

We cover your camera and accessories against theft and accidental damage whether you’re at home or out on a shoot. We even offer European and Worldwide cover.

Get an instant online quote and see what we can do for you.