Best Camera Settings for Car photography

What Are The Best Camera Settings for Car photography?

Do you want to take your car photography skill to the next level? Whether you are selling your car or click some quality shots to share with your clients or car dealers, a proper camera setting is essential. But what are the best camera settings for car photography?

The best camera settings for car photography depend on when and where you are capturing photos. In general, f/2.8 aperture, 1/80 seconds of shutter speed, and an ISO of 100 is the ideal camera setting for taking stunning car photos.

Continue reading till the end to learn everything about the camera setting and car photography and capture pro-level pictures.

Best camera settings for car photography

Here we collected a few special tips for camera setting for car photoshoot in different weather.

Aperture: f/14 to f/28
Shutter speed: 5 to 10 seconds
ISO: Below 500

People often ignore taking car photos at night due to lack of lighting. But it can give a great sight of the car. The best time for car photography is after sunset when it is still evening. If you are shooting at night, try to find a light color temperature source to show your car properly.

Depending on the lights available, set your camera aperture from f/5 to f/11. Nighttime photography requires a slow shutter speed. 5 to 10 seconds will be the best shutter speed for car photography at night.

Although photographers tend to increase the ISO to get better light, that’s not a wise decision. Higher ISO will likely cause grains. Try to keep it below 500.

Pro Tip: A longer exposure means holding the camera still for a long time. Try to use a tripod to stabilise the camera while shooting in the evening or at night.

Aperture: Bellow f/5.6
Shutter speed: 1/200 to 1/80 seconds
ISO: 100-200

Cars are for driving, and motion photography can be one of the best ways to capture them. Call your friends and ask them to help you out.

While capturing a moving object, a wide aperture works well. But do not go above f/5.6 as there is enough source of light in the day.

The car will pass the eye of the camera in the blink of an eye. That’s why you need to keep the shutter speed fast with panning to capture amazing shots. 1/200 to 1/80 of a second is the best shutter speed. Try to keep the ISO low and use the natural light source. 100 to 200 ISO is absolutely fine to get professional car photos.

Pro Tip: Instead of only waiting for the car to pass your camera, you can use a second car. Get in that car, and capture photos from there while your friends are driving. Be cautious that your friends do not get distracted.

Aperture: f/2.8 to f/4
Shutter speed: 1/100 to 1/40 seconds
ISO: 100-200

Many people do not realize this, but indoor photography can also be a great way for car photography. You also can use a product photo studio.

For indoor automotive photography camera settings, use aperture below f/4. A fast shutter speed is preferable, but not too fast. Try to keep it between 1/100 to 1/60.

The light source can vary from place to place. Depending on the lights available, set ISO from 100 to 200.

Pro Tip: Take pictures of your car from different angles for greater visuals. Show off different parts of the car. Try to focus on geometric shapes, as you will find a lot in a vehicle.

Aperture: f/2.8 to f/4
Shutter speed: 1/125 to 1/60 seconds
ISO: 100-20

This is the most common way of doing car photography, and you are most likely to photograph your car outdoors. You can capture some stunning shots if you choose your background carefully.

Using a narrow depth of field will give you an amazing bokeh effect by blurring the background—narrow means f/2.8. If you want to tell a story through the background, f/4 to f/8 is a better option.

Keeping the shutter speed fast and ISO low will give you sharper images. Shutter speed of 1/125 to 1/60 is good, while the best ISO setting is 100.

FAQ's for Best camera settings for car photography

1. What is car photography called?

Car photography is also known as automotive photography. Depending on the purpose of the photoshoot, many people also call it static shots, panning shots, rig shots, studio photography, etc.

2. What is the best camera for car photography?

You can start car photography with almost every camera. DSLR and mirrorless models usually provide the best results. Sony A9, Nikon D850, and Canon 7D Mark II are some of the best cameras for car photography.