The 10 Best Face Tracking Cameras
This wiki has been updated 21 times since it was first published in January of 2019. Ensuring you focus on your subjects perfectly is easier than ever these days, even if they're in motion, thanks to well-designed face tracking cameras like the ones on this list. These can recognize facial features in the frame to identify people and follow them as they move. We've ranked the top models here by their image quality, autofocus speed, and additional capabilities. When users buy our independently chosen editorial picks, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.
1. Sony a7 IV
2. Canon EOS R
3. Nikon Z7
Editor's Notes
August 19, 2020:
In the case of the previously included Sony a7 III, we replaced it with the superior Sony a7 IV, which is an absolute beast with its megapixel count, and that shoots 4K without any pixel binning as a result. It's a bit pricer than the base a7 series, but it's worth it. Now, we're aware that Sony finally released an upgrade to the a7S line, but at 12MP, it seemed too much of a niche item for videographers, and its face tracking is said to be slightly inferior.
We also kept the Canon EOS R despite the release of the R5, mainly because it doesn't suffer from the overheating issues that have really hurt the image of that more recent release. The Panasonic Lumix SH1 solves this issue by actually integrating a fan system to keep its sensor from overheating, but as a full-frame offering from a company that's been dedicated to its micro four-thirds sector for so long, its native lens selection leaves a lot to be desired.
We added the Sony Alpha a6600, which is a compact, flexible mirrorless option that's based around an APS-C sensor and has a number of features that seem geared toward live streaming to social media. The other APS-C offering on our list, the Fujifilm X-T4, is better as a stills camera than for video, and users will find that some lenses will perform better in autofocus mode than others, which has been an issue plaguing the company for some time.
January 29, 2019:
More and more cameras these days feature some form of facial tracking, so much so that Sony has removed it from some of their most recent models, replacing it with eye tracking AF. Since the eyes are part of the face, and the effect is the same, those cameras still made the list. Other offerings from the big names like Nikon and Canon are among the best out there thanks in large part to so many years of autofocus R&D.
4. Panasonic Lumix SH1
5. Sony Alpha a6600
6. Canon EOS 5D Mark IV
7. Panasonic Lumix GH5S
8. Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III
9. Fujifilm X-T4
10. Sony DSC RX100 VII
Daniel Imperiale holds a bachelor’s degree in writing, and proudly fled his graduate program in poetry to pursue a quiet life at a remote Alaskan fishery. After returning to the contiguous states, he took up a position as an editor and photographer of the prestigious geek culture magazine “Unwinnable” before turning his attention to the field of health and wellness. In recent years, he has worked extensively in film and music production, making him something of a know-it-all when it comes to camera equipment, musical instruments, recording devices, and other audio-visual hardware. Daniel’s recent obsessions include horology (making him a pro when it comes to all things timekeeping) and Uranium mining and enrichment (which hasn’t proven useful just yet).