Best Cameras for Forensic Photography in 2022 – All you need to know

best camera for forensic photography

In this article we are going to present which are currently the best cameras on the market for forensic photography.

If you want to read about our camera of choice for forensic photography click here.

Our camera of choice: If we have to pick a camera that is the most suitable for forensic photography, we would definitely choose Sony ZV-1.
It has all the needed features that are required for forensic photography and its price is quite affordable compared to its counterparts. Another feature that really stands out for this camera is its autofocus feature. It vastly outperforms other cameras in the same price range.

ALL-ROUND Choice TOP-END Choice
Sony ZV-1 Canon EOS M6 Mark II Fujifilm X-Pro3 Nikon D780 Panasonic Lumix DC-S1R










Total megapixels 21.0 34.4 27.1 24.92 50.44
Sensor size 13.2 x 8.8 mm 22.3 x 14.9 mm 23.5 x 15.6 mm 35.9 x 23.9 mm 36 x 24 mm
Max. image resolution 5472 x 3648 6960 x 4640 6240 x 4160 6048 x 4024 8368 x 5584
Buy on Amazon Buy on Amazon Buy on Amazon Buy on Amazon Buy on Amazon
Sony ZV-1 is One of the Best Cameras for  forensic photography.


Product description

Sony ZV-1 offers an amazing price/performance ratio. While being the least expensive camera on our list is still comes with a lot of useful features. It is perfect for anybody who is looking for great performance on a small budget. You will have a hard time finding a better camera at this price point.

You don’t have to worry, even though this camera has the lowest number of megapixels (20.1) on our list of recommended cameras. As the standard of photos is always excellent, you can hardly find any shortage of it. It has a standard sensor size of 13.2 x 8.8 mm with a good sensor resolution of 5492 x 3661. It has a solid image resolution of 5472 x 3648. It also has a wide ISO range going from 125.0 to 12800.0. Exposure compensation is ±3 EV (in 1/3 EV steps). The shutter speed of this model stretches from 30 sec to an impressive 1/2000 sec. This means that you will have a lot of control and flexibility over the lighting for your forensic photography masterpieces. The viewfinder is None.

It’s a lot of fun to work with and it takes high quality photos. Many characteristics are very similar to previous Sony models, which is useful to those of you who are familiar with this sort of camera. It would not only fit well as your main camera for forensic photography but also in other scenarios.

Although it is almost trivial that such a feature is included, let’s still mention that ZV-1 has a manual focus mode for more control. The camera’s shutter speed goes from 30 sec to an excellent 1/2000 sec. You will appreciate the extra control over the lighting this feature will give you on your photos. The screen is a standard size of 3in with 921,600 dots resolution. For connection to PC and file transfer, USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) is supported. An HDMI port comes integrated with almost any modern-day camera, and ZV-1 is no exception. Connect the cable and plug your camera into a TV or projector and let your audience enjoy your work on the big screen. If you are like us and don’t like to search for cables all the time, you will be pleased to hear this camera also has built-in WiFi. Transferring or accessing your file on your home network will be easier than ever. Sony ZV-1 is the lightest camera on our list, weighing only 294.0 g. If you are here for a light camera to easily carry it around, ZV-1 might be the one for you.

From the features we have listed you can see that it offers a lot of value. Therefore for those looking for a budget-friendly option, ZV-1 will not disappoint. Let it be moving or still objects, the camera will perform great, especially for forensic photography.

It was a hard decision, but for forensic photography, Sony ZV-1 is our recommended budget choice for the best camera. This camera would be the ideal option for you if you are unable to afford any of the high-end cameras on our list. It would be a smart move to buy this camera that you would not regret.

PROS
  • HDMI: yes
  • Sensor resolution: 5492 x 3661
  • External flash: yes
CONS
  • Built-in flash: no

Canon EOS M6 Mark II

Canon EOS M6 Mark II is One of the Best Cameras for  forensic photography.


Product description

If you are looking for an affordable camera that can handle most tasks, but you don’t want to spend too much, the Canon EOS M6 Mark II is an excellent value for the money. Of course, you can not expect the same performance as some of the higher-end models on this list. But we think that you would struggle to find a more capable camera at this price point.

The megapixels count on this camera is 32.5. The value is among the highest out of all cameras on our list. You will have no trouble taking a clear shot. The sensor size is 22.3 x 14.9 mm with a great resolution of 6983 x 4655. It also has an excellent max image resolution of 6960 x 4640. It has an ISO range going from 100.0 to 25600.0. Exposure compensation is ±3 EV (in 1/3 EV, 1/2 EV steps). The camera’s shutter speed goes from 30 sec to a great 1/4000 sec. This means that you will have a lot of control and flexibility over the lighting for your forensic photography masterpieces. The viewfinder is Electronic (optional).

Canon makes a convincing case for offering one of the best mirrorless cameras for photography beginners and novices in the form of the EOS M6 Mark II. It’s user-friendly, with simple controls and a useful Guide Mode that helps with the basics. It will work very well as a camera for forensic photography.

As you would expect, the camera supports the manual focus option to give you even more control over your shots. The camera’s shutter speed goes from 30 sec to an excellent 1/4000 sec. You will appreciate the extra control over the lighting this feature will give you on your photos. The screen is a standard size of 3in with 1,040,000 dots resolution. For connection to PC and file transfer, USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) is supported. Canon EOS M6 Mark II comes with an integrated HDMI port that will allow sharing your latest photos on your TV or monitor. Your friends or family can enjoy your work from the comfort of the sofa. As you would expect from a high-quality camera, it comes with WiFi support. Transferring your work over your home network will be a breeze. Regarding the weight, with 408.0 g EOS M6 Mark II sits somewhere in the middle of our list. The weight should feel comfortable for most people to hold in hand even for extended periods.

After listing all of its characteristics, there is no doubt that Canon EOS M6 Mark II is a fine piece of modern technology. Combining both lightweight and durable housing with an outstanding range of features is the reason why this camera is one of the best when it comes to forensic photography. And not just that. It’s going to handle itself in any case. In comparison, the price is still very appealing.

PROS
  • USB: USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
  • Max. image resolution: 6960 x 4640
  • Screen resolution: 1,040,000 dots
  • External flash: yes
CONS
  • GPS: no
Fujifilm X-Pro3 is One of the Best Cameras for  forensic photography.


Product description

With Fujifilm X-Pro3, we are entering mid-range mirrorless cameras. This particular camera has excellent built quality and offers outstanding performance for its price point. It is perfect for anybody looking for top-notch performance and doesn’t want to break the bank. X-Pro3 will handle any situation you throw at it.

This camera has 26.1 megapixels that will result in crystal clear photos. The sensor size is 23.5 x 15.6 mm with a great resolution of 6277 x 4157. It also has an excellent max image resolution of 6240 x 4160. It also has the largest ISO set on this list, starting from 160.0 to 12800.0. Exposure compensation is ±5 EV (in 1/3 EV steps). The shutter speed of this model stretches from 30 sec to an excellent 1/32000 sec. You will appreciate the extra control over the lighting this feature will give you on your photos. The viewfinder is Electronic and Optical (tunnel).

As you can see, X-Pro3 is an excellent mid-price range camera. You can immediately notice that the camera is high-quality. The housing is protected with several different seals that protect the camera against water and dust. The handle is perfectly shaped, so you will have no problem holding the camera in one hand, even when you have a big lens attached.

Although it is almost trivial that such a feature is included, let’s still mention that X-Pro3 has a manual focus mode for more control. The camera’s shutter speed goes from 30 sec to an impressive 1/32000 sec. This gives you a lot of control and flexibility to get the perfect lighting. The screen is a standard size of 3in with 1,620,000 dots resolution. For connection to PC and file transfer, USB 3.0 (5 GBit/sec) is supported. The camera comes without an HDMI port. If this feature is important to you, please consider outer cameras on our list. If you are like us and don’t like to search for cables all the time, you will be pleased to hear this camera also has built-in WiFi. Transferring or accessing your file on your home network will be easier than ever. Fujifilm X-Pro3 has a reasonably normal weight of 497.0 g. It’s not the lightest or heaviest camera on our list. We think it has a very strong balance and a perfect weight for most of the photographers for their primary camera.

The specs on this mid-range model are just impressive. A well-deserving place among the best cameras for forensic photography. The X-Pro3 is versatile and will do great also for action shots or still photography. Fujifilm X-Pro3 manages to combine reasonable price with excellent specs, features, and real-life performance.

We have selected Fujifilm X-Pro3 as our highest suggested camera for forensic photography. It hits, in our view, the right balance between price and efficiency. Some of the higher-end versions on this list will certainly do much better under extreme conditions. But for most photographers, this camera is the perfect balance and hence our recommended choice.

PROS
  • External flash: yes
  • Screen size: 3in
  • Megapixels: 26.1
CONS
  • HDMI: no

Nikon D780

Nikon D780 is One of the Best Cameras for  forensic photography.


Product description

Nikon D780 is a professional digital camera recommended for more experienced and advanced users. It is very reliable in any situation or under any conditions. It is comfortable to hold with efficiently placed control buttons. If you have owned any previous models, getting used to this one will be a breeze.

This camera has 24.5 megapixels that will allow shooting crystal clearphotos. The sensor size is 35.9 x 23.9 mm with a great resolution of 6062 x 4041. It also has an impressive peak resolution with the 6048 x 4024 image. The ISO set of this camera is from 100.0 to 51200.0. Exposure compensation is ±5 EV (in 1/3 EV, 1/2 EV steps). The camera’s shutter speed goes from 30 sec to a great 1/8000 sec. You will appreciate the extra control over the lighting this feature will give you on your photos. The viewfinder is Optical (pentaprism).

It’s one of the best all-around cameras you can find right now. A superbly fast computer that takes full advantage of the advanced lens mount to produce fast autofocus lightning. Not to mention the remarkable contact between the camera and the lens. Nikon D780‘s location on the list of the best cameras forensic photography is certainly well earned.

Although it is almost trivial that such a feature is included, let’s still mention that D780 has a manual focus mode for more control. The shutter speed of this model stretches from 30 sec to an impressive 1/8000 sec. This gives you a lot of control and flexibility to get the perfect lighting. The screen is a standard size of 3.2in with 2,359,000 dots resolution. For connection to PC and file transfer, USB 3.0 (5 GBit/sec) is supported. Nikon D780 comes with an integrated HDMI port that will allow sharing your latest photos on your TV or monitor. Your friends or family can enjoy your work from the comfort of the sofa. As you would expect from a high-quality camera, it comes with WiFi support. Transferring your work over your home network will be a breeze. Nikon D780 has a pretty average weight of 840.0 g. It is not the lightest nor the heaviest camera on our list. We think it has a very good balance and a great weight for most photographers for their primary camera.

Remember when sometimes you buy something expensive in life, and it does not meet your expectations? Well, for sure, that won’t happen with Nikon D780. It is one of the more premium cameras on our list by price, but also by performance. From the specs we have listed, it is easy to see why this camera is on our list for forensic photography.

PROS
  • Sensor resolution: 6062 x 4041
  • USB: USB 3.0 (5 GBit/sec)
  • Manual focus: yes
CONS
  • Built-in flash: no

Panasonic Lumix DC-S1R

Panasonic Lumix DC-S1R is One of the Best Cameras for forensic photography.


Product description

Reliable and professional are the words to describe Panasonic Lumix DC-S1R. It is a wonder of modern age mirrorless cameras. It is the most premium camera on our list, but the value you are getting for the money is outstanding. The quality and the speed are superb and are definitely worth the price you are spending if you decide to purchase this model.

This camera is truly a powerhouse rocking a 47.3 sensor. Which is also the highest megapixel count out of all cameras on our list. The sensor size of 36 x 24 mm is higher than other cameras on this list with a sensor resolution of 8423 x 5615, which is the highest on this list. When it comes to maximum image resolution, with 8368 x 5584, this camera excels in this area. ISO range on this camera stretches from 100.0 to 25600.0. Exposure compensation is ±5 EV (in 1/3 EV steps). The Lumix DC-S1R also has an excellent shutter speed range going from 60 sec to a great 1/8000 sec. You will appreciate the extra control over the lighting this feature will give you on your photos. The viewfinder is Electronic.

Around its solid core, this camera is ready for unlimited creativity. The inclusion of in-body stabilization also expands the camera’s utility in low light, removing blur caused by camera shake at slow shutter speeds. Targeted more at photography pros, Lumix DC-S1R will prove its worth under any conditions.

It is worth mentioning that Lumix DC-S1R comes with a manual focus option as well. The camera’s shutter speed goes from 60 sec to a great 1/8000 sec. You will appreciate the extra control over the lighting this feature will give you on your photos. The screen is a standard size of 3.2in with 2,100,000 dots resolution. For connection to PC and file transfer, USB 3.0 (5 GBit/sec) is supported. If you want to share your latest shots with friends or family, the Lumix DC-S1R has got you covered. It features an HDMI port, so you will be able to connect it to your TV or monitor and display your work in front of the audience. As you would expect from a high-quality camera, it comes with WiFi support. Transferring your work over your home network will be a breeze. With 1020.0 g, Lumix DC-S1R is the heaviest camera on our list. You should take this into account if you are moving around a lot with your camera. For some, it might get a little heavy over time.

For those looking for the top of the top and are willing to pay the extra money, Lumix DC-S1R is the perfect option. It’s one of the best performing cameras for forensic photography, though costly. It’s the right camera for forensic photography, not just standard photography.

PROS
  • External flash: yes
  • Screen size: 3.2in
  • Manual focus: yes
  • Exposure Compensation: ±5 EV (in 1/3 EV steps)
CONS
  • Built-in flash: no

Conclusion

What to remember when selecting best camera for forensic photography?

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