What are the best reasonably priced cameras to take photos of the northern lights?

What are the best reasonably priced cameras to take photos of the northern lights?

The best cameras to use for the Northern Lights is one with a large sensor, large pixels and a lot of them which will allow you to print larger.

This means either a mirrorless or DSLR camera in either the APS-C or 35mm format. Both formats offer good assortments of lenses to capture the scene they way you want to, while offering the light gathering capabilities that you will need.

You will be using a tripod and a low ISO setting to keep the noise to a minimum.

Cameras to avoid are pocket cameras, smartphones, and bridge cameras. None have large enough sensors which, by default, will have the larger pixels required to capture low-light scene without noise. Only the mirrorless and DSLR cameras offer the gear and the exposure capabilities required.

So, which one? Any will be fine. I would prefer to get one that has the ability to capture 14-bit RAW files. Reason being is that you will be shooting scenes that will require a good deal of dynamic range, so getting a camera that can shoot not only RAW (Which all mirrorless and DSLRs do), but one that does it at a high bit level can make a huge difference.

FYI - the bit depth refers to how many shades from black to white the pixels can capture. All JPEGs, for example, are fixed at 8-bit files. Eight bit files have 256 shades (2 ^ 8 = 256). Since the bit depth increases exponentially, each additional bit doubles the tonality. Twelve-bit files have more than 4,000 tones, and 14-bit files have more than 16,000.

I believe all of the Canon DSLRs shoot 14-bit RAW. Nikon's 3xxx series doesn't have it, but the Nikon 5xxx and 7xxx series does, as does all 35mm format DSLRs too.

In mirrorless, the Sony A7S II has a huge 35mm sensor with only 12MP. However, because it has fewer pixels, each one is ginormous making the A7S II king of the low-light cameras. The Sony Alpha series has the added benefit of having IBIS in the A7R II and the A7S II. Plus they can be adapted to use any lens from any brand which provides for a huge selection of glass.

I personally would go for the Sony A7R II. It's got a full-frame sensor with 42MP to make HUGE prints or to crop in heavily. It's smaller than DSLRs making hiking with it easier. Plus the smaller size makes it convenient to bring it along to more places as opposed to the big and bulky DSLR. What is "resonably priced"? $5,000? $1,000? $500?
You get what you pay for. You can probably find second hand Nikon D90s or even D7000s. I was able to photograph the milky way, no reason you couldn't get the northern lights. BUT, it isn't going to be the camera doing all the work. You will need to know how ISO, Aperture, and Shutter Speed will be used to obtain these images. Also, be ready for some noise removal (or a lot, depending on your settings and any post processing). As Geek mentioned, what is reasonable? If you are loaded, I would go with the Nikon D810A and a Nikkor 14-24mm F2.8 lens (total combination over $5,000). But even then you won't get much if you do not know what you are doing. Any fully adjustable camera, either advanced point & shoot (bridge) or DSLR. That will set you back $500. Wide angle lens is nice to have.
Don't forget to add in a sturdy tripod, although, I've used a plastic bucket as a camera support. http://www.bhphotovideo.com/..._with.html" class='ext_link'>http://www.bhphotovideo.com/..._with.html

What is "resonably priced"? $5,000? $1,000? $500?
You get what you pay for.

You can probably find second hand Nikon D90s or even D7000s. I was able to photograph the milky way, no reason you couldn't get the northern lights. BUT, it isn't going to be the camera doing all the work. You will need to know how ISO, Aperture, and Shutter Speed will be used to obtain these images. Also, be ready for some noise removal (or a lot, depending on your settings and any post processing). As Geek mentioned, what is reasonable? If you are loaded, I would go with the Nikon D810A and a Nikkor 14-24mm F2.8 lens (total combination over $5,000). But even then you won't get much if you do not know what you are doing.

Any fully adjustable camera, either advanced point & shoot (bridge) or DSLR. That will set you back $500. Wide angle lens is nice to have.
Don't forget to add in a sturdy tripod, although, I've used a plastic bucket as a camera support.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1079152-REG/pentax_06424_k_s1_dslr_camera_with.html