Best Cameras For Filmmaking

If you’re looking for the Best Cameras For Filmmaking you can buy in (Summer) 2022, which is affordable, high quality and better performance, then you’re in the right place. In this guide, I have listed down the Best Cameras For Filmmaking in 2022.

We made this list based on our own opinion, research, and customer reviews. We’ve considered their quality, features, and values when narrowing down the best choices possible.

Best Cameras For Filmmaking in 2022

So, here are the Best Cameras For Filmmaking Of 2022. If you want more information and updated pricing on the products mentioned, be sure to check the links in each product we mentioned.

1. Panasonic LUMIX GH5 II

The Panasonic LUMIX GH5 II is the best camera we’ve tested for amateur filmmakers. Though it’s still a hybrid camera, it’s packed with advanced video features that make it an excellent choice for video work. It uses a Four Thirds sensor with in-body image stabilization for stabilized handheld shooting and weather-sealed construction so you can shoot outdoors without worry.

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It can record 10-bit 4k video internally, with Log recording and 4:2:2 subsampling to take full advantage of the camera’s dynamic range and give you greater latitude in post-production. It supports both regular UHD 4k and cinematic DCI 4k as well as anamorphic 6k, with frame rates up to 60 fps in 4k, giving you a range of shooting options to suit your needs. It includes a microphone input, headphone jack, and full-sized HDMI port that makes it easy to connect an external recorder.

2. Panasonic Lumix DC-S5

If you would prefer a camera with a full-frame sensor, check out the Panasonic Lumix DC-S5. Unlike the Panasonic LUMIX GH5 II, it doesn’t support resolutions like cinematic 4k or anamorphic “6k”, and it can only shoot 4k 60 fps video with a significant 1.5x crop. However, its full-frame sensor delivers better overall video quality, especially in low-light situations. It can record 4k 10-bit 4:2:2 video internally, but it also records 10-bit 4:2:2 video in 1080p, and it can output larger video files.

It has in-body image stabilization, and its autofocus system is better at tracking moving faces, though it’s less consistent with objects. The camera has a fully-articulated screen and headphone and microphone jacks, but instead of a full-sized HDMI port, it has a micro HDMI output. Unfortunately, it doesn’t support All-I compression for higher-quality video files.

Get the LUMIX GH5 II if you want more resolution and frame rate options, but if video quality and low-light performance are priorities, the Lumix DC-S5 is an excellent alternative.

3. Fujifilm X-T4

The best camera for videography that we’ve tested with an APS-C sensor is the Fujifilm X-T4. This hybrid stills/video camera offers excellent performance for both photography and video. It’s relatively portable, and it has a sturdy, weather-sealed magnesium alloy body and a fully articulated screen that makes it easier to shoot videos or vlogs.

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It delivers fantastic video quality in more controlled lighting conditions and has excellent internal recording capability, as it can capture 10-bit 4:2:0 video for more precise colors and outputs large, high-quality video files. You can record 4k and 1080p video at up to 60 fps, and it has a separate high-speed capture mode in 1080p that can capture footage at up to 240 fps for slow-motion playback. It also improves upon the preceding Fujifilm X-T3 by adding in-body image stabilization, which does an excellent job of reducing camera shake.

4. Nikon D780

The Nikon D780 is among the best DSLR cameras we’ve tested, and it’s also uniquely suited among DSLRs for video work, thanks to its hybrid autofocus system. When shooting in Live View, it uses an AF system borrowed from the mirrorless Nikon Z 6, giving you quicker focusing and coverage to the edges of the frame. If you shoot through the optical viewfinder, you get a more typical DSLR AF system with more accurate centralized focus points. All in all, it works very effectively to keep moving subjects in focus.

As far as video quality is concerned, the D780 yields fantastic 4k video quality in more controlled lighting setups as well as in low light, thanks to its high-resolution full-frame sensor. It captures oversampled 4k video at up to 30 fps and 1080p video at up to 120 fps if you want to incorporate slow-motion footage. It supports Log recording, and it can output 10-bit footage to an external recorder over HDMI to give you more to work with when color-grading.

5. SIGMA fp L

The SIGMA fp L is the best camera for filmmaking that we’ve tested with a compact design. This premium interchangeable lens camera is one of the smallest full-frame camera bodies you can get, with a minimalist, weather-sealed design. It feels remarkably well-built with die-cast aluminum covering its front and back and rubber accents for grip. That said, its screen is fixed, and if you prefer to shoot with a viewfinder, you have to buy an EVF attachment from SIGMA at an additional cost.

Despite lacking in ergonomics, the camera has several extra features that make it an attractive option for filmmakers, including a ‘Director’s Viewfinder’ mode as well as support for CinemaDNG RAW files and 12-bit 4:2:2 video output over HDMI. It can record in Blackmagic RAW and ProRes RAW when you connect an external SSD, which allows you to shoot in 12-bit at up to 30 fps in 4k and up to 100 fps in 1080p. The camera has several frame rate options to choose from depending on what recording format you use, and its overall video quality is good when shooting in more controlled lighting conditions.

6. Sony α6400

Of the cameras we’ve tested, the best camera for filmmaking on a budget is the Sony α6400. This APS-C mirrorless camera is portable and lightweight, making it easy to take with you on the go, and its sturdy magnesium alloy body is advertised to be weather-sealed. It feels very comfortable to use, and its screen can also tilt and flip out, making it easier to shoot from unconventional angles.

It records impressively sharp and well-rendered video in both 4k and 1080p, and video looks excellent even in low light, with minimal visual noise. If you like to incorporate slow-motion footage, it can shoot up to 120 fps in 1080p, though shooting at that frame rate incurs a slight crop. That said, it only shoots in 4k at either 24 fps or 30 fps, and the latter incurs a 1.22x crop. Like most Sony cameras, it features an incredibly snappy and reliable autofocus system that effectively keeps moving subjects in focus.