Best video camera for filmmaking on a budget. Best sony camera for filmmaking. Best budget camera for documentary filmmaking. Best cameras for filming and photography. Best camera for beginner film students. best DSLR camera for filmmaking.
The best film and video cameras for new filmmakers. From affordable DSLR to relatively cheap cinema cameras, here you’ll find the best options for your budget and needs.
If you’re looking for the best video camera, you’re in the right place. We’ve researched and tested all the best cameras in 2019 – check out our top five below.
The best camera for filmmaking on a budget is the one you already have. But it’s true that a film camera can make a huge difference in your ability to capture the shots you want and deliver them to your audience in their best form. If you want to get into filming, or just find one that works without breaking the bank, there are a few things you need to consider before you buy.
The best camera for filming documentary filmmaking on a budget is the A7s Mark II ($2,699 at B&H). This is an expensive camera, but it’s well worth the price considering the incredible image quality you get from its full-frame sensor. It can easily handle low light situations and has a super fast autofocus which is extremely important when filming interviews or documentaries.
If you’re new to filmmaking, you don’t want to spend money on an expensive camera that may or may not have all the features you need. By buying a more affordable entry-level model, you can get experience with your gear before investing in a more expensive piece of equipment.
The Sony A6300 Camera is one of the best cameras for documentary filmmaking, and with a wide range of features and the ability to film in 4K resolution, the Sony Alpha camera is a top choice for aspiring filmmakers on a budget.
The Sony a6500 is one of the best cameras for filmmaking on a budget. It’s great for documentary filmmakers and vloggers due to its affordable price, extensive features and operation, and top-notch image quality.
Best sony camera for filmmaking
What is the best camera for filmmaking on a budget? Many independent filmmakers love Sony’s Alpha line of cameras, especially since they have the ability to capture a 4K resolution. The Sony A7S II is considered one of the best all-around cameras for documentary filmmakers. It has incredible dynamic range and shoots in low light conditions (even without an expensive lens), which is ideal for many situations because it means you don’t have to use any additional lighting equipment that could be both uncomfortable and inconvenient.
If you’re looking to get started with filmmaking and don’t want to spend $1000+ on a pro camera, then this guide is for you. We’ve watched hours of video footage recorded with all types of cameras, so we can tell you which ones will give you the best bang for your buck.
You can now create the kind of film quality that used to be exclusive to big studio productions with a top-tier camera. This Sony mirrorless camera is as easy to use as an entry-level point and shoot, but has the power of a full frame DSLR at half the price. It’s perfect for both filmmakers and photographers, who need full control over exposure, dynamic range, and more
If you are looking for a good camera to take on your next trip, this is the one. I’ve been filming most of my life and have filmed all over the world with different cameras. This one is so light, it goes right in my backpack and I barely even notice it’s there. That’s what I love about it!
Best camera for filmmaking on a budget
4k mirrorless cameras are the best value option for getting started with creative low budget filmmaking. They’re affordable and fairly easy to use. They have larger sensors than most camcorders, which makes them better for low light shooting and creative shallow focus shots. And you can swap lenses. Instead of being limited to a single zoom lens, you can choose between different kinds of zooms and prime (non-zooming) lenses.
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Other types of camera can be better for other uses: prosumer or pro camcorders for news and events shooting; compact still cameras, or the tiny DJI Pocket, for travel; or cinema cameras for serious creativity and built-in pro features. What kind of camera do you need?
I’ve chosen cameras costing from $500 to around $2000. If you’re on a really tight budget, you could choose a used camera for under $300.
Looking for a camera to use professionally? I’d choose the Panasonic GH5 or GH5s.
I’ve now added eBay links so you can search for pre-owned cameras. This article has useful tips on buying safely on eBay.
Panasonic G85/G80
The Panasonic G85 (G80/81 in Europe) is the best-value camera you can buy for filmmaking, at around $700 with lens. I use one myself. It has a solidly built magnesium body with a tilt and swivel touchscreen, and the body and lens are weathersealed. The sharp 12-60 kit lens covers a useful zoom range, from wide to telephoto. The camera can shoot 4K, and HD at up to 60p slow motion. And it has very good image stabilisation, which makes for easy handheld shooting.
Cons? The sensor size is Micro Four Thirds, which is smaller than the Fujifilm and Canon cameras below. So it’s not as good in low light, though it’s better than older Panasonics. It doesn’t have a headphone socket, though you can rig up an audio output from the HDMI socket. Battery life is OK but not great (you can add a battery grip to double it, or use an adapter and an external battery). Autofocus is a bit slow, especially when shooting 4K. But its solid build, slow motion and image stabilisation make it a great choice.
More about the G85
Check price/buy Amazon | eBay
Fujifilm X-T3
Fujifilm’s X-T3 (around $1500 body only) has a larger APS-C sensor, so it’s better than the Panasonics for low light and creative shallow focus. It has great color rendition, good dynamic range, and pro video features at a relatively affordable price.
Its impressive features include very good low light performance, ultra-fast autofocus, and 4K slow motion. It can record high-quality 10bit files at 400Mb/s, and shoot in log mode. (Log mode compresses the highlights and shadows, so the camera can capture a greater range of contrast and the image stands up better to colour correction and grading.)
It doesn’t have in-body image stabilisation, and the screen tilts rather than swivelling fully. Battery life isn’t great, but you can power it over USB-C using an external power pack.
It’s also a very good camera for still photography.
Check price/buy Amazon | eBay
Fujifilm X-T4
The newer X-T4 costs more: it’s around $1700 body only. That gets you excellent 5-axis image stabilisation, a fully swivelling screen, a bigger battery, better autofocus and 10x slow motion in HD. You also gain ‘F-log assist’, which allows you to preview what the finished image will look like when you’re shooting in log mode. They’ve removed the headphone socket, but the camera comes with a USB-C to headphone adapter.
Check price/buy Amazon | eBay
Canon EOS M50
Canon’s M-series cameras and lenses are very compact but have fairly large APS-C sensors, excellent colors and very good dual pixel autofocus. You can fit standard Canon EF lenses with an adapter. The affordable EOS M50 (around $500 with kit lens) has an easy-to-use interface. Its portability makes it a good option for vloggers and journalists. It’s really designed for shooting HD: when it shoots 4K the dual pixel AF doesn’t work and the image is heavily cropped. It doesn’t have in-body image stabilisation, and there’s no headphone socket.
Check price/buy Amazon | eBay
Panasonic GH5 II
The Panasonic GH5 II mirrorless camera (around $1500 body only) has a lot of video features in a relatively small package. It has excellent in-body image stabilisation, good battery life for a mirrorless camera, and it can record a range of broadcast-quality 4K and HD formats. It includes ‘V-log’ recording (which was a paid upgrade on the original version). It’s solidly built and robust, and you can add a pro audio module. Cons? The MFT sensor is relatively small, so low light performance isn’t as good as some competitors. More about the GH5 II
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Panasonic GH5s
The pricier GH5S (around $2000 body only) is designed specifically for filmmaking, with more pro video features, better video quality and much better low light performance. It’s probably the best moviemaking camera under $2000. But it doesn’t have in-body stabilisation, and still images are limited to 10MP. More about the GH5S
Check price/buy Amazon | eBay
BlackMagic Pocket Cinema Camera 4K
The BlackMagic Design Pocket Cinema Camera 4K has plenty of pro features and excellent image quality at an affordable price. It costs around $1300 body only. It can shoot RAW and ProRes files at up to 60fps and has pro audio inputs. Like the Panasonic cameras it has a Micro Four Thirds sensor.
The downside are that its RAW and ProRes files are very large, it doesn’t have in-body stabilisation or an eye-level viewfinder, and battery life is poor. It’s very good value for creative filmmakers looking for very high image quality in controlled conditions, but I wouldn’t recommend it for beginners.
More about the Pocket Cinema Camera
Check price/buy Adorama | eBay
Fujifilm X-T30
This little APS-C camera has very good video quality for under $1200 including a 15-45mm kit zoom lens. Fujifilm also make good value fast prime lenses.
It’s recently been updated and the new version has improved video features: Full HD at up to 240fps, and a 30 minute record limit (the older version could only shoot 4K for 10 minutes).
Unusually for a camera at this price, it can shoot in log mode and in 17:9 DCI (digital cinema widescreen) aspect ratio. It can also record high quality 10-bit 4:2:2 to an external recorder. There’s also the option of shooting cropped Full HD video at up to 120fps slow motion.
There’s no headphone socket, but you can connect headphones via the USB-C adapter. It has focus peaking, zebras, and Film Simulation modes which emulate the look of traditional Fuji film stocks. But there’s no in-body image stabilisation or weathersealing, and the screen tilts rather than swivelling fully.
Original X-T30
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X-T30 II
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Used Canon DSLRs
If you’re on a tight budget, used older models of Canon’s video SLRs such as this T4i, or the more expensive 70D, are the best choice. Unlike the other cameras here, they aren’t mirrorless and can’t shoot 4K. But they have good colors, relatively large APS-C sensors, and a good range of affordable lenses. They are also very good for still photography. Search on eBay
Alternatively, you could opt for one of the mirrorless EOS-M series, or a camcorder. Other options under $300 on this page.
The 5 Best Cameras for Filmmaking on a Budget
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Phone cameras shoot slow-motion and 4K now, professional video cameras are going for less than $2000 and thousands of people are vlogging every day. But with so many options on the market, it’s hard to know where to start. From a filmmaker who has tried and tested dozens of cameras, here are his picks.
WORDS AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY DOMINIC GOULD
There’s a saying that goes “the best camera is the one you’ve got on you”. This is true in that any camera is better than no camera, and we’ve all got to start somewhere. But in the same way you wouldn’t put screws in with a hammer, there are certain cameras you wouldn’t use for certain situations, and others that would excel in those same situations.
Included in this article are cameras that I’ve personally used for a variety of projects; music videos, events, weddings, interviews and other personal projects. Some of these cameras are great for music videos but terrible for weddings, and vice versa. Whether you’re a hobbyist or professional, there’s something on the list for you.
Every camera listed is less than $2500 which, although is the price of a car in some cases, in the world of video cameras, it’s on the lower end of the price spectrum, and roughly what you’ll need to budget to get the tech specs needed for professional quality video.
The tech specs I’ll be comparing are sometimes a little tricky to get your head around so before I dive into the list of cameras, I’ll break down the 7 elements that to me, make an effective video camera for filmmaking on a budget.
4K RESOLUTION
Most people don’t watch videos in 4K on YouTube and even less people have screens that support 4K, but I still think it’s important for filmmaking on a budget. The main reason is that it gives you freedom to move your frame around when you’re editing. You can crop in and add zooms or pans that you couldn’t do when you were shooting. This is especially useful for weddings and events where you’re shooting on the fly and don’t have time to set up your shots. As well as interviews or similar situations where you need two angles with one camera by using the same clip but cropped in on different parts of the frame.
INTERNAL STABILISATION
Some cameras have in-built stabilisation, making handheld shooting nice and smooth. This is extremely useful for events and weddings where you don’t have the luxury of setting up your shot and how you want to move through the space. Internal stabilisation will take the camera shake out of your footage and allow you to make creative shots with free-flowing movement.
FULL FRAME SENSOR
Some cameras have bigger sensors than others. In general, the bigger the sensor is, the more depth of field you can get with your lens and the better your camera will perform in low light. Full frame sensors are great for environments where you can’t control the lighting yourself, like weddings or live music. You can comfortably crank your ISO to 2000 or more and your footage will still hold up just fine.
LOG PICTURE PROFILE
Log picture profile is a flat, almost grey looking filter that pulls down the bright parts of your shot and brings up the dark parts. This means you retain all the information in your exposure and have more room to play around with your tone and colour when you’re editing. This is something that’s important in pretty much any kind of filmmaking and you should definitely learn how to work it, unless your camera shoots Raw.
RAW RECORDING
Raw recording basically just means your footage isn’t being compressed. This means the files are much bigger but also means you don’t lose any data. Raw footage is much easier to colour grade and just looks better in general. You’ll also be able to change your white balance and ISO when you’re editing, thanks to this you’ll be able to transform your footage in editing to get a specific look without losing any quality.
HIGH FRAME RATE (SLOW MOTION)
With some cameras, when you shoot 50fps or above to do slow-motion shots, it will crop in or downgrade the resolution to 1080p or 720p in some cases. There are some higher end cameras that can shoot slow motion at full resolution without crop but it’s something you’ll have to pay for as most low budget cameras are not equipped to deal with the data-rates and file sizes of shooting full sensor resolution in a high frame rate. Not a deal breaker but if you want high quality slow mo it’s definitely something to consider.
EFFECTIVE AF
Every camera on this list has autofocus, but some fall short of being effective in a professional scenario. Some cameras will focus back and forth and change the exposure to help get focus and this of course ruins your shot. Cameras with effective AF track smoothly between the subjects you’re centered on and you’ll always find your focus without even thinking about it. This is determined by the way the cameras utilise the sensor to focus automatically and also by how many “AF Points” the particular camera has, as well as the quality of lens you’re using, some have faster AF motors than others. Good AF in my opinion is crucial for events, live music or weddings so if that’s your game it’s gotta be at the top of your priorities.
I made this little table with the cameras I’m talking about and their related specs:
Canon 5D Mark III
Great for: exploring lenses and shooting Raw footage on a budget.
The Canon 5D Mark III is the underdog on this list although I still thought it deserved a mention. I used it on the Citrus Daze music video shown below as it was my first music video and I was working on a tiny budget but I still wanted to be able to manipulate colour.
This camera is unique amongst the list as there is an online plugin that turns this camera into something that Canon never intended. You can download a plugin online called Magic Lantern that gives the camera Raw recording. Canon equipped the sensor with Raw capabilities but don’t let people use it (probably so they can keep selling their $10,000 cinema cameras…) but a third party software company called Magic Lantern found a way to hack the camera sensor to allow it. Canon obviously aren’t too happy about it so they won’t repair your camera if something goes wrong once you’ve added the plugin but I personally think it’s definitely worth doing, it’ll take the video quality to a level beyond that of every DLSR on the market and will give you a professional look on a budget.SHOP ON AMAZON
On this list the Canon 5D Mark III is the oldest, cheapest, and on paper seems like a poor choice for filmmaking. It doesn’t shoot 4K, doesn’t have internal stabilisation and doesn’t have log picture profile. What it does have though is a ridiculous amount of lens options. Pretty much every professional video lens made in the last decade has come out in Canon’s EF mount. This means that, in my opinion, this camera is the perfect starter camera to learn about lenses, which is crucial when getting into filmmaking. Being able to play with lots of lenses will help you develop your style and find your voice as a filmmaker. A perfect lens to start with is the Canon 24-105mm f4 L series, it’s sharp as hell and covers pretty much everything you’ll need to shoot.https://player.vimeo.com/video/383270786?autoplay=0&autopause=0
Sony A6500
Pocket sized, affordable, lots of internal tech and great for vlogging.
The Sony A6500 is a Mirrorless APS-C camera. There are a few things that make the A6500 stand out. For one, it’s tiny. Without a lens on, it fits in a jacket pocket. But don’t let the size fool you, the small size makes it a great option if you’re putting your camera on a gimbal or stabiliser. It also packs a huge punch when it comes to software. It shoots 4K so you’re able to crop in and reframe when editing, it can shoot 120fps slow motion (5x slower), it has internal stabilisation so it’s easy to shoot handheld, it has a log picture profile which makes it easier to colour grade and it has good autofocus if you’re shooting on the fly. With all of these combined, I think it makes a perfect camera for vlogging or travel/lifestyle videos.SHOP ON AMAZON
“Without a lens on, it fits in a jacket pocket.”
The downside to the camera is the sensor size, having an APS-C sized sensor, it struggles to provide clean footage above 1600 ISO. So I wouldn’t recommend this camera for filming weddings or events as you’ll often have to go to 2500 or 3200 ISO to make up for the lack of light. This camera can be purchased for under $1000 brand new, although be wary that Sony lenses are on the pricier side, I’d recommend getting a good third party zoom like the sigma 18-35mm Art lens with a lens adapter if you’re on a budget.
There are a few other manufacturers that make APS-C mirrorless cameras at the same price range like the Fujifilm X-T2 or Canon M5 and although they’re great cameras, the Sony A6500 has everything these cameras have combined plus more.https://player.vimeo.com/video/433329506?autoplay=0&autopause=0
Sony A7III
The do-it-all events camera and low light extraordinaire.
Stepping back into the world of full frame cameras, we have the Sony A7III. This camera takes all the great software from cameras like the A6500 and puts them behind a full frame sensor with incredible low light ability. The Sony A7III and A7SII can shoot at ISO 3200 without generating any grain or noise and even up to 6400/12800 with just the tiniest bit. The A7III shoots 4K at normal speed, 120fps in 1080p, it has log picture profile options, it has super quick AF – one of the quickest out there and it has in built stabilisation. And all of these features are in a camera body that’s small enough to put on almost any gimbal on the market.
It’s a little on the pricey side as you’re paying for great photography features in the same package (Eye locking AF, updated sensor, 10fps continuous shooting) but a new body can be purchased for under $2000. It’s close to a perfect camera for weddings, events and live music thanks to the autofocus speed and low light ability.SHOP ON AMAZONhttps://www.youtube.com/embed/79I4lHcEUx4?autoplay=0&enablejsapi=1&wmode=opaque
Canon EOS R
Long battery life, great colours and the best autofocus out there make this camera great for documentary filmmaking.
The Canon EOS R is Canon’s first move into full frame mirrorless territory, a genre that Sony absolutely dominated up until 2019. The EOS R beats out the Sony A7III in a few aspects but falls behind in others. Canon have always boasted the best “in-camera colours” and after using both the EOS R and the A7III I wholeheartedly agree. Without colour grading footage from the Sony it looks a bit lifeless whereas the Canon footage pops off the screen without any adjustments. If you’re shooting log, which both cameras have, then that’s nothing to worry about. Another great thing about this camera is the autofocus, it’s the fastest and most accurate I’ve ever used. If you’re a point-and-shoot kind of filmmaker, this autofocus will make your life a whole lot easier. The battery life on the EOS R is great too, it takes the same batteries as the 5D III so they’re easy to come across and super cheap.SHOP ON AMAZON
If interviews or documentary work is your lane, then the EOS R is a great camera. The battery life paired with the autofocus and great natural colours makes it the perfect camera to go out and shoot without any worries.
It’s not all sunshine and rainbows in the Canon mirrorless world though, there are a few dark clouds. If you’re shooting in 4K on this camera it crops in your field of view by about 1.7 times. This means your 24mm lens is now a 40mm lens, which is super annoying. When I owned this camera I only ever shot in 1080p which was a little frustrating at times but not nearly as much as a huge crop that kills your wide angle lenses. On top of this crop, the camera only shoots 100fps slow motion in 720p, so if you want slow-mo you’re losing quality.
And if you thought Sony lenses were expensive, the EOS R came out with a brand new lens mount named RF, which only has a few lenses out so far and they cost an arm and a leg each. I highly recommend getting the Canon adapter to use the older EF lenses instead.
Blackmagic Pocket 4K
The cinematic game-changer, the most high-end look you’ll be able to achieve with less than $2000.
Now we’re up to the camera I currently own, the one they’ve all been leading up to. The Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 4K (bit of a mouthful I know, let’s just call it the BM4K). This camera stands out from the rest as it is a cinema camera, not a DSLR or Mirrorless. This camera is in no way at all designed to take photos, it’s designed specifically for filmmaking on a budget. It records Raw video, which is completely uncompressed unlike the other cameras on this list (apart from the 5D III with Magic Lantern) and will give you the ability to colour grade like crazy without losing quality and adjust your white balance, ISO and contrast in raw controls when you’re editing so you don’t lose quality like you would just altering the exposure in regular colouring. Another reason why I think this camera is the best camera for filmmaking on a budget is the menu system. It’s super simple, has everything you need laid out exactly where you’d expect it to be and is really quick to change settings.
The BM4K can shoot 50fps in 4K, making it the only camera that can shoot 4K slow-motion, and it can shoot up to 100fps in 1080p. It has all the exposure and focus assist features you could possibly imagine too, making it super easy to get your shots ready.SHOP ON AMAZON
“The BM4K for me is the perfect camera for music videos, short films or commercials.”
One downside to this camera is that it has a micro four thirds sensor, which is smaller than that of the APS-C sensor in the Sony A6500. This means that if you put a 24mm lens on, it will become a 45 which is a bit ridiculous. This can all be avoided however with a speedbooster lens adapter. This is a lens mount converter with a piece of glass inside which amplifies the light coming through the lens, which reduces the crop of the camera to about 1.2/1.3 and also gives you an extra stop of light on your aperture which can be handy. This of course means you have to spend some extra cash on the speedbooster, which will set you back between $300-600.
The BM4K also chews through batteries like there’s no tomorrow, I have 9 batteries for it and will charge them constantly throughout the day when shooting. This is something to consider for you if you shoot weddings or interviews where a battery could die at a crucial moment like exchanging vows or something like that.
The BM4K for me is the perfect camera for music videos, short films or commercials thanks to the control of colour and the look you can achieve with a camera that goes for under $1300 brand new.https://player.vimeo.com/video/433100281?autoplay=0&autopause=0
TO SUM UP
Ultimately there is no perfect camera. Like I said at the start, the best camera is the camera that works for you. For me, one year ago it was the EOS R as I was mostly doing events and live music, whereas now for me it’s the BM4K as I’m mostly doing music videos. If I was a wedding filmmaker, I’d be choosing the Sony A7III and Sony A6500 without question. If I was just starting out and experimenting, I’d choose the 5D Mark III thanks to the cheap raw recording and lens options. You have to consider what type of filmmaking you are doing most and what camera will be the most effective for you.
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Dominic Gould
dominicgould.com
@domnotdom
Dominic Gould is a director, photographer and cinematographer from the Gold Coast, Australia. He mainly dabbles in music & documentary work. He has a huge appetite for content creation as well as servo pies, Peep Show and talking in third person.
