10 Best Cameras for Headshot Photography in 2023

This is a guide covering the best cameras for headshot photography.

For those who are shooting portraits, it is important to have the right camera. The right camera will accentuate the person’s features.

Over the years, headshot photography has gained popularity.

Whether shooting photos for a client’s portfolio or a company website with their executive’s faces, it is important to have the right tools for the job.

We came up with some of the best cameras for headshot photography.

In a hurry? Here’s the quick rundown:

• ⭐ Best Overall Camera for Headshot Photography
  • Canon EOS 5D Mark IV

• 📷 Best Pro-Level DSLRs for Headshot Photography
  • Nikon D850
  • Canon EOS 5D Mark IV
  • Nikon D810

• 🔍 Best Mid-Range Mirrorless Cameras for Headshot Photography
  • Nikon D850
  • Canon EOS 5D Mark IV
  • Nikon D810

• 📸 Best Entry-Level Full Frame Cameras for Headshot Photography
  • Canon EOS R
  • Panasonic LUMIX S5

• 📷 Best APS-C Cameras for Headshot Photography
  • Canon EOS R
  • Nikon D780
  • Panasonic LUMIX S5

• 💸 Best Budget Camera for Headshot Photography
  • Panasonic LUMIX G9

How to Choose the Best Camera for Headshot Photography?

Resolution: A high-resolution camera will allow for greater detail and sharpness in your images, which is important for headshot photography where the focus is on the person’s face.

Autofocus: A camera with fast and accurate autofocus will make it easier to capture sharp images of a moving subject.

Dynamic range: A camera with good dynamic range will allow you to capture details in both the highlights and shadows of a face, which is important for capturing a person’s true skin tone and features.

Low light performance: Headshot photography often takes place in studios or other controlled environments, but sometimes you might end up in a situation where the lighting is not optimal, having a good low light performance can help you in those situations.

Lens selection: A camera with a wide range of lens options will give you more flexibility when it comes to composition, depth of field, and focal length.

Image format: Consider if you will be working with RAW files or Jpeg and choose a camera that can save the format that you work with.

10 Best Cameras for Headshot Photography

1. Canon EOS 5D Mark IV

Camera specifications:

• Body type: Mid-size SLR
• Max resolution: 6720 x 4480
• Image ratio: w:h 1:1, 4:3, 3:2, 16:9
• ISO: Auto, 100-32000 (expands to 50-102400)
• Image stabilization: No
• Touch screen: Yes
• USB: USB 3.0 (5 GBit/sec)
• HDMI: Yes (mini-HDMI)
• Microphone port: Yes
• Headphone port: Yes
• Wireless: Built-In
• Remote control: Yes (wired, wireless, or smartphone)
• Video modes: 4096 x 2160 (29.97p, 24p, 23.98p), 1920 x 1080 (59.94p, 29.97p, 24p, 23.98p), 1280 x 720 (119.9p)

I believe the best camera for headshot photography is the Canon EOS 5D Mark IV.

This camera is a great improvement from its predecessor. It comes with a new autofocus system, an improved sensor, and a wider ISO range.

It also comes with touchscreen controls making it easy to tweak your settings. 

The Canon EOS 5D Mark IV comes with superb capabilities that can give you superior quality shots even in lowlight situations.

When shooting human subjects, it is among the best cameras for headshot photography with its trademark warm tones and detailed results. 

By looking at the build of the Canon EOS 5D Mark IV, you’ll notice that it has a workhorse construction making it a trusty tool for pros for years.

This choice is quick and responsive whenever you’re shooting portraits, specifically headshots. 

Its autofocus is undeniably fast and accurate. However, the AF tends to lag in low-light when you’re dealing with low-contrast subjects. And, its flash speed is only at 1/200s.

Also, check out the best lenses for the Canon 5D Mark IV.

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2. Canon EOS R

Camera specifications:

• Lens Mount: Canon RF
• Max Resolution: 31.7 Megapixel
• Sensor Type: 36 x 24 mm CMOS
• Image Stabilization: Digital (Video Only)
• ISO Sensitivity Photo: 100 to 40,000
• ISO Video: 100 to 25,600
• Picture format: JPEG, Raw
• Microphone: Yes (Built-in stereo)
• Wireless: Yes Bluetooth, Wi-Fi

Another Canon option on our list is the Canon EOS R Mirrorless full-frame camera.

The Canon EOS R is a great pick for those who want an in-between a micro four-thirds and a DSLR. The Canon EOS R is a light full-frame camera that you can carry around. 

It can give you great results whenever you’re shooting human subjects.

In essence, the Canon EOS R is comparable to the image and video quality produced by the Canon 5D Mark IV.

However, it is somewhat within the price point of Canon 6D Mark II. 

The build is also excellent. It is surprising that even if it has a small design, it is still built somewhat like a tank designed for pros.

The autofocus is also something that makes this camera stand out. If used in a scenario with good lighting, you will notice that the autofocus will give you a high hit rate percentage. 

Unfortunately, even if it gives warm tones and great details when shooting portraits, ergonomics can be a bit of a struggle.

It is unpopular for its lagging interface and the hard-to-use controls that will get the user to miss some moments. 

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3. Nikon D850

Camera specifications:

• Body type: Mid-size SLR
• Max resolution: 8256 x 5504
• Image ratio: w:h 1:1, 5:4, 3:2, 16:9
• ISO: Auto, 64-25600 (expands to 32-102400)
• Image stabilization: No
• Touch screen: Yes
• USB: USB 3.0 (5 GBit/sec)
• USB charging: No
• HDMI: Yes (mini HDMI)
• Microphone port: Yes
• Headphone port: Yes
• Wireless: Built-In
• Remote control: Yes (wired, wireless, smartphone)
• Video modes (only a few mentioned here):
  • 3840 x 2160 @ 30p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM
  • 3840 x 2160 @ 25p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM
  • 3840 x 2160 @ 24p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM

The Nikon D850 FX-Format DSLR is a good pick for those who don’t like the warmer tones produced by Canon cameras on our list.

At the opposite of the spectrum, the Nikon D850 FX Formal DSLR gives cooler tones.

Some photographers prefer to use this on their subjects because it doesn’t capture the blemishes of their subjects. But at the end of the day, it is still a matter of preference. 

This is powered by a CMOS sensor responsible for superior image quality and its ability to gather light efficiently. 

You get 45.7 megapixels for the Nikon D850 with up to 9 frames per second of continuous shooting.

It also comes with built-in WiFi and Bluetooth that transfers files easily on your laptop or your smartphone. Unfortunately, the WiFi feature isn’t the best. It can be a bit sluggish. 

It is also worth mentioning that it has fast and accurate autofocus functionality.

Plus, it is a handy tool as well if you are shooting videos given that it can shoot 4K videos. 

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4. Nikon D810

Camera specifications:

• Body type: Mid-size SLR
• Max resolution: 7360 x 4912
• Image ratio: w:h 5:4, 3:2
• ISO: Auto, 64-12800
• Image stabilization: No
• Touch screen: No
• USB: USB 3.0 (5 GBit/sec)
• HDMI: Yes (mini-HDMI)
• Wireless: Optional
• Remote control: Yes
• Video modes: 1920 x 1080 (60p, 50p, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p)

The Nikon D810 FX-Format DSLR is another great option for people who are trying to find the right gear for shooting portraits and headshots.

The D810 has a 36.3MP FX-Format CMOS sensor. It has a native ISO of 12800 but it can still be extended to 51200.

This DSLR can also shoot at 5 fps meeting most of the requirements for shooting portraits.

With these specs, it can stand out from our list of best cameras for headshot photography. 

Aside from its ability to shoot great quality images, it is important to note that there are features that make the shooting experience enjoyable.

It comes with fast autofocus and a focus tracking feature that allows photographers to make fewer mistakes whenever they are dealing with a moving subject.

And when it comes to its construction, the build feels durable, making it a great choice as your daily camera. 

The biggest turn-off with the D810 is the absence of a low-pass filter. The images are affected especially in low-light conditions.

But overall, this is a great upgrade if you’ve used the D800. You get better focus and easy usability on top of high-quality shots. 

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5. Nikon D780

Camera specifications:

• Body type: Mid-size SLR
• Max resolution: 6048 x 4024
• Other resolutions 3936 x 2624 (DX crop)
• Image ratio: w:h 1:1, 3:2, 16:9
• ISO: Auto, 100-51200 (expands to 50-204800)
• Image stabilization: No
• Touch screen: Yes
• USB: USB 3.2 Gen 1 (5 GBit/sec)
• USB charging: Yes
• HDMI: Yes (mini HDMI)
• Microphone port: Yes
• Headphone port: Yes
• Wireless: Built-In
• Wireless notes 802.11b/g/n + Bluetooth 4.1
• Remote control: Yes (via wired, wireless or smartphone)
• Video modes (only a few mentioned here):
  • 3840 x 2160 @ 30p, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM
  • 3840 x 2160 @ 25p, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM
  • 3840 x 2160 @ 24p, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM

Another robust Nikon DSLR on our list of best cameras for headshot photography is the Nikon D780.

The Nikon D780 can easily make it easy for photographers to shoot portraits. 

Using a 24.5MP backside-illuminated FX full-frame image sensor, you get highly detailed results with accurate colours.

It has a remarkable light gathering function giving well-detailed shots. It has a 51-point AF system when you use the viewfinder.

And also, it comes with a 273-point-phase detection AF when you are using your touchscreen LCD. 

Its touchscreen LCD can be tilted. This makes it easy to shoot even in weird angles.

Even if it’s not exactly something that is always needed when shooting headshots, this is a good addition for professional photographers who also shoot videos and take on other projects. 

This camera can also cope with different climates. It means that you can take it in cold or hot conditions and expect the D780 to still work. 

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6. Sony a7R III

Camera specifications:

• Body type: SLR-style mirrorless
• Max resolution: 7952 x 5304
• Image ratio: w:h 3:2, 16:9
• ISO: Auto, 100-32000 (expands to 50-102400)
• Image stabilization: Sensor-shift
• Touch screen: Yes
• USB: USB 3.2 Gen 1 (5 GBit/sec)
• HDMI: Yes (micro HDMI)
• Microphone port: Yes
• Headphone port: Yes
• Wireless: Built-In
• Remote control: Yes (wired, wireless, smartphone)
• Video modes (only a few mentioned here):
  • 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 100 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM
  • 3840 x 2160 @ 24p / 100 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM
  • 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 60 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM

For mirrorless aficionados, the Sony A7R III Mirrorless Camera is a serious candidate. It’s a lighter option compared with DSLRs on our list of best cameras for headshot photography.

The Sony A7R III offers superior image quality not to mention it also comes with a fast burst shooting speed that is all practical for shooting portraits.

It has a 42MP full-frame sensor and can shoot up to 10fps. 

It also comes with dual card slots since you can record stunning 4K videos with the A7R III. The only thing that you might not like about this camera is the limited touchscreen controls. 

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7. Sony a7R IV

Camera specifications:

• Body type: SLR-style mirrorless
• Max resolution: 9504 x 6336
• Image ratio: w:h 1:1, 4:3, 3:2, 16:9
• ISO: Auto, ISO 100-32000 (expands to 50-102800)
• Image stabilization: Sensor-shift
• Touch screen: Yes
• USB: USB 3.2 Gen 1 (5 GBit/sec)
• USB charging: Yes
• HDMI: Yes (micro-HDMI)
• Microphone port: Yes
• Headphone port: Yes
• Wireless: Built-In
• Remote control: Yes (via smartphone)
• Video modes (only a few mentioned here):
  • 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 100 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM
  • 3840 x 2160 @ 25p / 100 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM
  • 3840 x 2160 @ 24p / 100 Mbps, XAVC S, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM

The Sony a7R IV is an improved version of the a7R III.

This comes with a 61MP BSI sensor that is beyond the resolution of most cameras in today’s market. Many consider this as the top choice if you’re after resolution. 

One thing that is significantly improved with the Sony a7R IV is its ergonomics.

Users will feel more comfortable shooting in different situations. Also, it comes with improved weather sealing making it more reliable in different weather conditions. 

As a camera for headshot photography, this is something that can give you great results not only because of its resolution.

You also get fast and accurate autofocus making sure that photographers make fewer mistakes.

It also comes with a system that is programmed to track people’s faces.  

Its phase detection covers up to 74% of the entire sensor. Its predecessor only covered 68% of the sensor. 

Also, check out the best lenses for the Sony a7R IV.

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8. Panasonic LUMIX S5

Camera specifications:

• Body type: SLR-style mirrorless
• Max resolution: 6000 x 4000
• Image ratio: w:h 1:1, 4:3, 3:2, 16:9
• ISO: Auto, 100-51200 (expands to 50-204800)
• Image stabilization: Sensor-shift
• Touch screen: Yes
• USB: USB 3.2 Gen 1 (5 GBit/sec)
• USB charging: Yes (Power Delivery supported)
• HDMI: Yes (micro HDMI)
• Microphone port: Yes
• Headphone port: Yes
• Wireless: Built-In
• Remote control: Yes (wired or via smartphone)
• Video modes (only a few mentioned here):
  • 3840 x 2160 @ 60p / 200 Mbps, MOV, H.265, Linear PCM
  • 3840 x 2160 @ 50p / 200 Mbps, MOV, H.265, Linear PCM
  • 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 150 Mbps, MOV, H.265, Linear PCM

The Panasonic Lumix S5 has the same 24MP full-frame sensor as the S1 but with a slightly smaller body.

Also, even if it’s a full-frame camera, it comes with a smaller construction than the GH5. A lot of videographers love the S5 considering its ability to shoot 4K videos. 

However, this should also be considered as one of the best cameras for headshot photography despite its somewhat not-too-impressive resolution on paper.

When used for portraits, it offers a dynamic range that can go against the other cameras on this list.

It also comes with great details especially when you shoot with a tripod. This is also equipped with image stabilization which also works well when you don’t have a tripod. 

Examining the construction of the S5, it comes with a durable design. It is sealed from dust and splashes making it handy even in outdoor environments.

The only downside to this camera is that its tracking focus only works up to 6fps. 

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9. Panasonic LUMIX G9

Camera specifications:

• Body type: SLR-style mirrorless
• Max resolution: 5184 x 3888
• Image ratio: w:h 1:1, 4:3, 3:2, 16:9
• ISO: Auto, 200-25600 (expands to 100-25600)
• Image stabilization: Sensor-shift
• Touch screen: Yes
• USB: USB 3.0 (5 GBit/sec)
• USB charging: Yes
• HDMI: Yes
• Microphone port: Yes
• Headphone port: Yes
• Wireless: Built-In
• Remote control: Yes (wired or via smartphone)
• Video modes (only a few mentioned here):
  • 3840 x 2160 @ 60p / 150 Mbps, MP4, H.264, Linear PCM
  • 3840 x 2160 @ 30p / 100 Mbps, MP4, H.264, AAC
  • 3840 x 2160 @ 23.98p / 100 Mbps, MP4, H.264, AAC

The Panasonic Lumix G9 has advanced features that can come in handy whenever you are shooting portraits and people as your subjects.

For one, it has a 20.3MP resolution micro four-thirds sensor.

Now, if you feel that you don’t think that 20MP gets the job done, it comes with a high-resolution special mode that can give you 80MP in RAW recording.

What it does is shoot the 20.3MP sensor 8 times and create a single image. 

As far as usability is concerned, The Lumix G9 makes shooting photos fun. It has 5-axis dual image stabilization that allows users to enjoy shooting without a tripod.

Also, the LCD allows the user to easily see the settings. 

The construction of the Lumix G9 is also something that can give you the confidence to use it outdoors in different weather conditions. It is dust, splash, and freeze-proof perfect for different climates.

This camera also allows users to use two memory cards at once since it has 4K video capability.

But even if you’re just shooting photos, this still comes in handy since you have more space where to save your files especially when you want to use the high-resolution mode. 

But if you’re leaning towards the Lumix G9, there are a few things that you might want to consider.

For starters, 20.3MP isn’t exactly outstanding by today’s standards. Also, the ISO range isn’t as broad as you’d expect, which can also be a limitation when shooting portraits. 

What makes the Lumix G9 popular is the fact that it is cheaper than other choices in the market. And at the end of the day, it gets the job done when shooting portraits.  

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10. Canon EOS R5

Camera specifications:

• Body type: SLR-style mirrorless
• Max resolution: 8192 x 5464
• Image ratio: w:h 1:1, 4:3, 3:2, 16:9
• ISO: Yes, 100-51200 (expands to 102400)
• Image stabilization: Sensor-shift
• Touch screen: Yes
• USB: USB 3.2 Gen 2 (10 GBit/sec)
• USB charging: Yes
• HDMI: Yes (micro HDMI)
• Microphone port: Yes
• Headphone port: Yes
• Wireless: Built-In
• Remote control: Yes
• Video modes (only a few mentioned here):
  • 8192 x 4320 @ 30p / 1,300 Mbps, MOV, H.265, Linear PCM
  • 8192 x 4320 @ 24p / 1,300 Mbps, MOV, H.265, Linear PCM
  • 8192 x 4320 @ 23.98p / 1,300 Mbps, MOV, H.265, Linear PCM

The Canon EOS R5 is known for its 8K video resolution making it a good choice among professional videographers.

But is it something that can come in handy for photographers? Definitely. 

The Canon EOS R5 made its debut in 2020. It comes with a 45MP sensor and a Digic X image processor, which is the same processor found in the 1D X Mark III DSLR.

You get superior quality shots with the EOS R5. If you prefer getting warm tones and detailed facial features in your portraits, then this is the camera for you. 

It also features 12fps with its mechanical shutter. However, that can go up to 20fps with its electronic shutter.

The AF tracking system is also impressive as it comes with almost 6000 AF areas around the sensor. 

Canon also built the EOS R5 for different weather conditions. And when it comes to its controls, it feels similar to the Canon EOS R.

However, it has been improved a bit. Canon removed the touch bar and replaced it with a joystick. 

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FAQ

Concluding Remarks

Hope you enjoyed this buyer’s guide on the best cameras for headshot photography.

There are lots of options to choose from just by looking at our list of best cameras for headshot photography.

You’ll need to consider not only the specifications of the camera but also your budget.

You want to ask yourself if the price tag and specs are worth it? Also, does it have enough lens options that can help you shoot portraits, specifically headshots?  

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