20 Best 4K Camera For Filmmaking (2022 Updated)

This is a cinema camera through and through. Beautiful picture, and that’s about about it. In order to use this thing, you have to rig it up. It absolutely needs some kind of external battery otherwise you’re looking at getting about 25 mins of run time on the native battery at full charge.

The battery meter is not accurate either so there’s no telling when it will turn off. You’ll need an ssd as well, as it eats through memory. This thing is really cheaply built so I highly recommend the tilta cage, it has a holder for the ssd and a handle that accepts a big Sony battery that gives you a more reasonable runtime.

You can also run it off a v mount, but then your pocket 4k becomes the size of a Red, which is not necessarily a bad thing. It also has a mount for a speedbooster which is a really great way to adapt your lenses but also adds another $250-500 You also have the option with the Tilta rig It’s going to cost you well over 1200 to operate this thing, but the image quality is totally worth it.

Definitely not something that you can use efficiently out of the box though. BRAW is fantastic and runs really well on an older computer, but get an extra hard drive or 5 because the files are pretty big.

I really like using the SSDs as a recording media, they’re plenty fast to get the max record quality and waaay cheaper than the SDs or CFs that work for it. Also a monitor is must as the screen doesn’t tilt.

I’ll probably upgrade to the 6k pro at some point but the pocket 4k is a really great camera.

This camera is a monster! especially for the price! I have owned and used this camera, and the pocket 6K for roughly 2 years now, and I have to say, its still running strong, and i have a hard time even considering another camera, due to the unique set of features black magic brought to the table with this camera.

People will complain about the form factor all day long on this guy, in my opinion, its not perfect, but its not nearly as bad a form factor as people seem to think, the screen on the back is huge! which essentially renders the need for an external monitor unnecessary, which when you need to run fast! this is a big deal, any gear you can cut from the setup time is a hugely helpful, and if you don’t need to setup a monitor! that is fantastic! Its width does make balancing the camera on most gimbals a pain, but the DJI RS2 will balance this bad boy no problem straight out of the box, so for me, its a mute point, given that is my preferred gimbal.

that being said, if your running on the ronin S, your gonna need counter balancing weights, which is annoying. People also comment on the plastic build, they don’t like it. I think it was a good move myself honestly, it had to either be carbon fiber, or plastic, to keep it this light weight, and we know corban fiber would have probably been cost prohibitive at this price point.

It may be plastic but I have dropped my camera dozens of times, and its held together quite nicely, not even hardly a scratch on it. Black magic raw, is by far the best thing about this camera, the file sizes are on par with, or smaller then, pro res, and provide everything you really need from a raw codec, its utterly fantastic! I am never going back to anything less then a compressed raw codec again after getting used to the incredible power of this insanely well built codec.

The sensor is very prone to infrared light pollution, I highly recommend getting an infrared cut filter for all your lenses if you do shoot on this camera, I did a bit of research, and rumor has it (no idea of this is true or not) that the sensor in this camera was originally designed for security cameras, so its sensitive to infrared light by default, and only has a weak internal infrared cut filter added by black magic.

I notice considerably better color off the camera with an infrared cut filter in place. If you decide to buy the pocket 6K its sensor is waaaaaay better when it comes to picking up good color information, and won’t require the infrared cut filters on your lenses.

Black magic advertised the 6K for its resolution, but the true value in the more expensive camera is just in the nicer more professional sensor in the camera. That being said, the sensor in the 4K is no slouch.

over all, this is a fantastic camera! I have the budget to shoot on cameras costing up to about 7 grand, and at the end of the day, this is my choice, not because of its affordable price (which I am not complaining about at all) but because its a small, light weight camera, that shoots raw, at high frame rates, has fantastic color (albeit with a few hacks you need to pull to get it there) it boots up fast, and it doesn’t over heat in Oregon when I am shooting for 7 or 8 hours straight on a regular basis.

The only thing I wish, is that black magic would come out with a model, exactly like this, but with a sensor with more like 15 stop of dynamic range. its the only weak spot on this camera is the dynamic range is falling behind the competition from he big boys.

I would gladly pay 3 times as much for a few extra stops black magic, hint hint.

This is my 2nd 4k (UHD) camcorder, first was the JVC LS300 using MFT to B4 adapter I had to be in 2x ext lens mode to fill the JVC sensor. Also used on my Panasonc AF100 in 2x ext mode. However, a huge plus is that with the same ‘dummy’ adapter I don’t need to be in 2x ext mode when atach to GBH1 ! Somehow my Canon J 21x fills the GBH1 sensor.

So far so good. Yeah, I know the chromatic artifacts. However, displaying the HDMI GBH1 output to a Zacuto Z Finder EVF requires some power ON sequence methods. If I power up GBH1 first and then power ON the Zacuto I avoid the EVF error, Unsupported Video Format 1080pYUV422.

By mistake I changed the GBH1 ‘downconvert HDMI default to menu setting of 4k30p and that disabled the camera ! I was then unable to get back into it’s menu settings. After an hour of online manual reading there is a sequence of GBH1 buttons held at once that resets the box back to default: Q-Menu, F2 and F4 (all at once) causes box to blink and reset back to defaults such as HDMI downconvert (I’ll never get off that setting again).

Another issue is B4 lens backfocus is super touchy, there is a critical sweet spot and it’s right near the end of the it’s adjustment; not a lot of leeway for error for backfocus.

When I decided to get a DSLM camera for a Christmas gift for my wife, I have to admit it was harder than I thought it would be. I did a lot of research and started out thinking I would go with the Sony A6000.

Being a Sony, the quality would not be in question. But after digging a little deeper I had a few doubts. The Sony could only use Sony lenses which are great but expensive. Also the less user friendly stability, anti-shake feature concerned me to some degree.

The Canon and Nikon were less advanced in my price range. All the reviews pointed at the Lumix. After I started digging into the Lumix G85, it checked off all the boxes. The camera is very solid yet very light.

It is water and dust resistant, it features anti-shake in both the camera and the lens, the menu is feature loaded yet fairly simple to navigate, and the micro four thirds format allows for the use of lots of other lenses by other manufacturers as well.

We were able to take great photos immediately! Focusing is fast and easy. The 16 megapixel rating was a concern as opposed to the 20 megapixel Sony, but after shooting l couldn’t be happier with the quality.

The shots are smooth and vibrant even after zooming and blowing up the subjects. The video is super with good sound and so easy to use. The battery life is very good and Wi-Fi pairing was a breeze as well.

In short, this is a perfect everyday use camera that is easy and fun. It is light and balanced and is feature loaded and I am a big fan and completely satisfied.

First let me say that I hate to see a review stating “AWESOME CAMERA FOR BEGINNERS” although this is true it may lead you to think its not for professional photographers and this camera is definitely for both.

I have shot pro for over 35yrs and I never get exited over a new camera, this is the first and only time I have paid money for anything but a NIKON and my first attraction to this camera was the ability to use my good Nikon glass on this camera and still retain stabilization.

Yes ! you can do that! This camera also will zoom and pan by itself without touching it and a host of other great features to many to write here. The Only complaint people who are super picky say is the auto focus is slow and thats not really true, they just dont know how to set it up.

is its auto focus as good as a nikon? YES. or a sony? NO but no camera is perfect in all respects because of patent rights. (Nikon, Sony, canon and Panasonic would have to work together LOL) This camera has THE MOST you can get for your dollar spent period.

Lens and body stabilization, 4K, pan, zoom, image stacking, after focus, wifi phone control, lightweight, water resistant, CLEAN HDMI OUT, MIC INPUT, various great video controls and sound controls and more.

I stepped up to this from 12 year old Sony. Wow what a learning curve ! I’ve only had it for a week but I’m learning bit by bit and day by day. I’ve learned that the 128gb memory card in 4K is not enough.

Yes there are 2 slots but I have it setup to duplicate the one on the other for safety sake so I would start out with at least 256gb cards or more. I seen how big a memory it can take. The camcorder comes with a small 36 page quick start manual but you have to go on line to download and print the full 8 1/2 by 11 146 page owners manual.

It’s not a light weight camcorder because of all the features it has. It comes with almost everything you will need except a Mini USB TO USB CABLE to save your videos and photos to your computer. It is well worth the price and if are not familiar with professional camcorders like myself, there is learning curve.

If you like new technology and can do your homework you will really enjoy this camcorder.

Purchased this camera used (9 rating) from B&H and could not be happier. Since I’m not live-streaming nor using it for other broadcast purposes, I didn’t need the XA45. I was primarily concerned about the smaller sensor, but was pleasantly surprised with low-light noise (not as bad as I had feared.

) Mic config set up and adjustments easy & quick, once you’ve done it a couple of times. Imagery excellent and menu systems user friendly. I’m a former TV news cameraman and really put time into comparing specs, reviews, features and the price tag of several different models & manufacturers.

If you’re considering a video camera for wedding shoots, interviews, events or just for fun, but limited in cash and don’t require the SDI out, AND prefer the XLR outs and the ability to control most all of the aspects of manual exposure, etc – this petite camera is definitely on your short list of contenders! Photos are of my XA40 rigged up for a 4-person panel shoot at a charity golf match.

Run & gun is as simple as disconnecting the HDMI cable and sliding the camera off the field recorder. Everything here purchased from the good folks at B&H!.

I film high school football and basketball. I use an AVtec XHD070 monitor with my camera because it is so much easier for me to see what the camera is seeing. I read reviews saying this camera would not support a monitor.

I read the Q & A which said it did. I got the camera yesterday and hooked every thing up and the monitor got nothing. I was heartbroken to say the least. The PDF file talked about watching clips already recorded and the monitor sprang to life.

It definitely plays video to a monitor. Still not satisfied I played around with it a bit and it DOES stream live to your monitor. You must set the HDMI scan mode to PsF. Set the Out Put Screen Display to OFF (otherwise you see everything that is on the LCD view screen) and you are ready to go.

The camera is great! Lightweight, and does AWESOME video! It does a lot of other things that I don’t really use. Happy with the price, happy with the camera!.

I bought this directly from the Sony store. I bought this after I watched the videos on the youtube channel ‘Amazing places on our planet’. I am very happy with my purchase. The 4K video quality is excellent.

Auto-focus is mostly accurate and almost instantaneous. Zoom is excellent and very useful when videographing wildlife. I enjoy seeing my travel videos on our 4K smart TV. The battery life is good. The touch screen is good and durable.

I even liked the overall build quality. It’s not built like a tank but yes, it is very durable. It survived in a variety of weather conditions; rain, snowfall, and extreme heat. However, the camera can fog.

So I always keep the camera in my well-insulated camera bag. I only wish the stabilizing was better. Overall, I am extremely happy with my purchase and highly recommend it. No needs to change the lens, No need to carry heavy equipment, and the camera is an excellent choice for run-and-gun filmmaking without compromising on quality.

A few years ago I purchased a Sony FDR-AX100 and I’ve been very happy with it. Now I’ve purchased a Sony FDR-AX700, which has many upgrades not present in my early-model AX-100. Pros – my top favorites – The autofocus seems faster and more accurate.

– Time lapse ability. – Slow motion ability. – Improvements to the hot shoe make mounting some non-Sony devices (like microphones) possible or easier. – Slots for two SD cards, with a variety of options.

– Shares the same model batteries as the AX-100. – Most buttons and controls in the same place as on the AX-100, so moving from the AX-100 to the AX-700 is pretty smooth. – Nice eye cup makes using the EVF outdoors in the sun a great option.

Cons The AX-100 had a button you could press to put the internal microphones in a mode where camera operator speech or sounds were greatly reduced – I used that feature a lot. It does not appear to be present in the AX-700.

The AX-700 has some controls moved to new locations, and some informational displays changed a bit, so when switching between the two camcorders there are some things to get used to. The ability to re-purpose some of the buttons is handy, depending upon how you are using the camcorder.

Some may find this a killer feature, while others may never use it. Personally, I like and use it. There are some differences in the size and shape when going from the AX-100 to the AX-700. The AX-700 is a little larger, and in particular, a little wider.

If you have a camcorder bag that your AX-100 fits nicely, you may find that the AX-700 does not fit it. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, as in my case it meant that I have two different size camcorder bags so a quick look at the bag tells me which camcorder is in the bag.

The AX-100 and AX-700 share the same batteries, so the batteries you have for the AX-100 will work great with the AX-700. Similarly, both camcorders use SD cards, and depending upon the codec you are using for recording, your existing SD cards will probably work well with the AX-700, but in some cases you may need to go to a higher-speed SD card to use some bitrates supported by the AX-700.

The second slot is also very handy! Instruction Manual Pet Peeve One change to make note of if you are a user of the AX-100 is that to get to the menu on the AX-700 you MUST press the “MENU” button which on the AX-100 is the “MANUAL” exposure button.

Similarly, on the AX-700 if you want to go to manual exposure you need to move a slide switch on the back of the camcorder below and to the left of the eyepiece. The location of the “MENU” button IS in the manual, but you don’t run across it until page 46 of the manual I have, or page 59 in the “Parts and controls” section at the end of the manual, UNLESS you are interested in taking photos, in which case you will find a reference on page 25.

Personally, I think pages 57 through 63 should be near the FRONT of the manual so if you are reading the manual front-to-back you will see the diagrams before you need to use the buttons, not at the end, right before the “Index”.

Also, there are index entries for a lot of switches and buttons, but there is NO ENTRY FOR THE MENU BUTTON, one of the most important buttons. Just as with the AX-100, with the AX-700 you will probably want a battery with a larger capacity, and there is one – the Sony NP-FV100A.

I’m not sure how long the NP-FV100A lasts with the AX-700, but with the AX-100 I have typically gotten from about 4 hours 10 minutes to 4 hours 35 minutes of continuous 4K recording with the flip out LCD display in use.

I’m very happy with my AX-700, and it makes great 4K recordings.

I bought the AX-53 4K Camcorder in 2020, and the only complaint I have between the two is that the AX700 requires you to use the Menu button a lot to perform some basic functions with the touch screen, like deleting videos.

The issue with this is that the Menu button is behind and under the touch screen making it hard to access. With the AX-53 model, the delete feature (and many others) are included in the touchscreen menu not requiring you to use physical buttons on the side of the camcorder.

This is just an annoyance, honestly and minor in comparison to the value gained by the hefty price difference. (2 memory cards is an essential plus) For a camcorder that I just need to sit on a tripod and record things, this is superior to the AX-53 in a few ways.

The AX-53 is superior in the field though due to its longer optical zoom and “moving lens” that’s mounted on a gyroscope, for one. I would also add that the ECMW2BT Bluetooth Microphone and Lavalier useable through the hot-shoe DOES actually work even though the touch screen pop-up warning says it doesn’t.

(just switch to Analog) I’ve tested it over 50′ away around corners and out of line-of-sight.

Coming from the c100/5D4/1DX2 I’ve been waiting a while for this camera. The reasons I bought this camera: 1080p @ 60p/120p, 4K options, codecs galore 10 bit/8 bit/420/422, face tracking/DP AF, XLR/Mini XLR inputs, ND built into the camera, RF and EF flexibility, SD Card media options (cheaper), battery life, size and weight, convenience of filming all over.

This camera will be great for someone coming from either a C100 or DSLR who wants one camera to do everything they need in practical video projects. I rarely shoot in 4K, but wanted the option to film in 4K without filling HDD’s and slowing down my workflow; the 4K codecs on this edit like butter (imac 2015 i7 maxed TF out).

The built in ND means cost savings; no buying filters for all of my lenses. Built in 24 bit 4 channel audio means I can run 2 inputs with 2 safeties and not have to worry about clipping; all in camera.

Built in XLR means I don’t need to bring my external recorder to run a shotgun mic overhead or wireless lavs; super convenient. Long battery life, no more swapping batteries every 30 mins (c100 users never had this issue).

So far I’m loving this camera, I really like the flexible options the top handle and shock mount allow, you can mount it in 4 different ways. I’m excited to starting working projects with this thing, having 422 10 bit with DGO will be great to work with.

The only weird thing is that the HDMI port is right where I usually put my left hand for support, I’ll have to work this out. Updates: 2/14/2021 I’m really enjoying the Super 35 and Super 16 crop options, this allows for getting a 2x magnification, really handy when using one lens.

I set to a button (menu mode0 mine to be able to change it quickly. Cons: The Sandisk Extreme Pro UHS-ii V90 cards give me warnings, I’m not sure exactly why, it is a bit annoying; not terrible yet, but annoying.

Perhaps you might want to consider a different card to avoid these alerts. They only show up when I change the recording settings. You can only program 2 buttons to be record buttons, as well as the screen, which isn’t the worst, but it would be nice to have one of the low buttons on the front to be able to program to record as well like the C100 could; having record button on the touch screen is a nice feature.

I’m loving the false color (I set it to zebra button), JPG photo mode, LUT view, tracking capabilities (set my button 9 to it). The footage has a really nice look to it. I plan on getting the EF-RF Speed Booster to really maximize the Resolution with my EF glass.

So far I’m really liking my upgrade. The footage is super flexible to grade; me coming from both RED Raw as well as Canon Log footage, the New sensor on the C70 with Clog2 is really nice. Auto ISO is amazing, I do with you could select it from the regular quick menu rather than setting it in the main menu; ie Manual or Auto.

Why not be able to select both from the quick menu? If you’re coming from a C100/ii you’ll be happy. The only different part is the ergonomics of the handle. However I’ve shot a full day with it, and no issues, I do miss the top handle record button though, it was a nice subtle feature.

The c70 enabled me to step into a true professional video workflow. As a hybrid shooter (relying on the r5 w/external recorder for video, that still overheated on 1/2 day shoots) it’s amazing to finally have a professional cinema body for video and not worry about overheating or bringing extra gear to record audio.

Getting the c70 has enabled me to eliminate an external video recorder and the file sizes are much easier to edit and way smaller in size. Having an external audio recorder is no longer needed since the c70 has built in 4-channel recorder with amazing pre-amps.

And the best for last, the dynamic range and image quality is the best I’ve ever edited with. Especially mind-blowing since the file size of xf-avc is a quarter the size of what the r5 recorded at. Will definitely buy another as my business grows.

I read reviews showing that low light was a problem but my definition of low light has been influenced by using FX3 and A7s3. What I would expect to be medium light levels still looks markedly worse in this camera than most other cameras and cameraphones.

It’s disappointing because I wanted to benefit from the form factor and convenience of this camera for documentary purposes. It’s fine outdoors but most of my subjects are in offices. I bought the Z90v to save time and speed workflow but it takes extra time to edit and I don’t like the results.

Wish the camera had an updated sensor and 4k codecs. I can push the image a little bit with the 4k setting on max bit rate but not enough to make it a viable option. Saw a reviewer stating this was the go-to for much of their footage despite having FX3/FX6/FX9 at their disposal.

I don’t know what they are shooting. Maybe they have light control at a level my application (setup window) doesn’t afford, or maybe they are amazing in post. I wish this worked for me but couldn’t get the results I need.

Hopeful B&H will fill my order for FX9 soon. It’s an awkward time to be a Sony doc shooter due to lack of available materials leading to supply chain issues. FX6 is on a 7-month backorder estimate from Sony, for example.

I hoped this would get me there.

Renting here is superb. Just how the device arrives is amazing. First, it ships in a cardboard box, then an inner hardshell case, then a protective cary case. Opening this, you immediately know that company cares about the equipment and you’ll be getting a well functioning device.

Renting this Sony for under $200 gave me what I couldn’t get anywhere else, professional level video of my son’s sporting event. Everything that you need is available from extra batteries to a digital copy (PDF) of the manual online.

But the most amazing thing was how early it was shipped to me without extra charge. It had been a while sense I had used this level of equipment and frankly was a bit ‘rusty’. I ordered this to arrive and use between WED – SUN, but it arrived MON before.

This gave me extra time to practice with the equipment well ahead of my shooting hours. Sending back was super easy, all laid out in a simple insert even including tape to affix to the boxes and return the item.

I had it shipped to and from a Fedex location which meant also super safe. I didn’t expect this level of customer satisfaction but Lensrentals delivered it, a very pleasant experience all the way around.

I’ll be using them again.

As an owner of a Sony FX9, a Sony FX6, and a Sony FX3, it is surprising that the camera I keep with me is my PXW-Z90V. It is compact, powerful, and equipped with all of the features and benefits I need to make a documentaries.

I am sad because it took me so long to recognize the powerful ability of quality camcorders again. I appreciate the benefits and quality of the higher quality cameras, however, they come with the need to carry more gear, extra batteries, and additional equipment in order to retrieve those benefits.

I love my PXW-Z 90V. It makes my job much easier as a documentary filmmaker.

I had one of these about 4 years ago and let go of it. I missed it for certain situations so much that I went and found a new one. I think the XC10 is an often misunderstood and underrated video tool.

It’s not typically an A-cam, but for someone that shoots a lot of event video and documentary work using Canon C100, this is an excellent second camera. Pro: It’s tiny, easy to carry, light enough for any gimbal or monopod, and easy to use.

The C-Log color profile matches very well to the C100 and C300, so b-roll shot with this is easy to grade in the same project as the larger cinema EOS cameras. The codec options are great, as are the built-in slow motion and time-lapse settings.

The workflow using MXF media is very simple. The batteries are cheap and readily available. The lens, while fixed, is very good and sharp. The dynamic image stabilization is REALLY good. For event footage, it’s just so darn easy to get consistently good shots with this little camera.

As long as your exposure and white balance are set correctly, it’s very forgiving and easy to grade. Con: I wish it had an EVF, as removing the loupe to use the touchscreen isn’t great. I typically just leave the loupe on the camera and use the joystick to navigate the screen.

I wish the lens was a constant aperture. I wish it had a waveform monitor like the C100, although I often connect it to an external SmallHD monitor which has waveform display options. Again, I think it’s important to understand what this camera is and what it isn’t.

It’s not going to be a primary camera for interviews. You’re not going to shoot a feature film on it alone. But sometimes, you need a little camera with really good color for that secondary shot, or to throw on a gimbal to get that shot that would take a lot of effort and rigging to get from a larger cinema camera, or to get up and running quickly because something is happening and you don’t have time to put on your lens and top handle and side handle – you just want to turn it on and get the shot.

That’s where the XC10 comes in. I like it so much I bought it twice.

except for my Canon C300 Mk II. This camera was highly criticized when it came out a year ago–mostly be people who never even tried it. One of the most respected and knowledgable people in video is Andrew Reid.

You can find his official web site on line. He was one who snubbed this camera for an entire year–as I did. Finally, he got around to using it and was knocked out. You can find his full review on his web site.

Here is part of his conclusion–and I ascribe to every word of it: “hen this camera came out nobody wanted to buy one. It has taken me a full 18 months to even contemplate it. I decided to try it in-store first and read many a report from people I trust on the EOSHD Forum.

The image has something about it. The colour is very Kodak Super 16mm and the look is very Bolex/Kern-Pilliard but brought into the 4K era. The mechanical zoom ring is a joy, the simplicity of handling once you appreciate how it should be used and particularly the 1080p mode are a pleasure.

The touch AF and tracking in 1080/60p is almost at Canon 80D level even without Dual Pixel AF and you rarely need to go into full manual mode at all to get the shot just as intended. The 5 axis stabilisation in 1080p especially is extremely powerful even for walking with, its a camera you can move aroundwith on a documentary without a second thought to rigging.

It feels like Canon used the XC10 to develop some genuinely groundbreaking technology. Top it all off with a Canon C300 Mark II standard codec, 305Mbit, 4:2:2 colour, best image processing on the market resulting in the best colour and LOG profile you can buy for under $2k, 12-stop dynamic range and respectable low-light performance.

“.

I bought this as a “B camera” to my Canon C100 to film weddings. I realized how important it is to have everything set up quickly as a one-man-team, I simply couldn’t take the time to properly man a second camera, check critical focus, attach ND filters to the lens, or bring all the other lenses, gears and gadgets that are sometimes required for a second camera –which ultimately slow you down and can cause you to miss the important shots.

That’s where this camera comes in as a lightweight, portable, single-piece camera with a versatile zoom lens, built in ND filter that takes only seconds to operate, optional autofocus (allowing you to leave the camera to “do it’s thing” while you have the freedom to get the shots you need with your main camera.

) It also has the same color science and color profiles of the C100, including the ever-useful “wide dynamic range. ” My only grudge is that it is overpriced, and should be a $900 dollar camera rather than a sub $2,000 one.

But it’s usability and practicality are what make it so desirable. I would also recommend this as a great documentary camera: it’s small size makes it easy to go anywhere without drawing attention (it looks like a small DSLR or big “point and shoot” camera) it has a zoom lens that is equivalent to over 200mm on a full frame camera, and it has fairly good “low light” ability (up to 20,000 ISO) a zoom lens which works wonders for capturing events.

It’s sensor size is 16mm, the same as the Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera, so it has a fairly cinematic look to it as well. As I said, I wish the camera was a bit more affordable, but Canon is known to overcharge a bit, and once you use their cameras -rather than just reading about the “specs”- you have a bit better of an understanding on why the camera is uniquely useful and why they can get away with “charging what the market will bear.

“.

The camera is a good system. I am happy with the ability to capture images in a wide variety of light settings. It offers good image quality and relatively easy operation. There are a few things that I’d like to see improved upon like the hinge for accessing the lcd and controls is stiff and the menu items are not intuitive and could be organized better.

The batteries do not come with the system which is no big deal but they do add to the cost noticeably. The use of EF lens allows for a lot of good lens choices and use of existing lenses for my Canon cameras.

Overall, I haven’t found a camera that can do what this camera can for the price. I am looking to use this with students in the field for recording and in conjunction with a video production studio. I would recommend this camera and at this point plan to purchase a couple more of it or is slightly more expensive version for our setup.

The kit from Adorama had a few extras that beat the competitors pricing. The add ons were okay quality and will be useful getting started. I am happy with the purchase.

I will be retuning the BM4k. Audio issues, noise, FPN everything that the reviews warn about are all so true. Even In well lit situations, I experienced some of the former. On the flip side, the picture is amazing! If you can deal with the above issues and have an unlimited amount of storage.

and pretty deeep pockets for extras. This is the camera for you. If you are on a budget and need quick, solid file transfer, camera option etc. I’d find another Camera. I think there is a lot of potential here, it’s just not for me.

The Blackmagic Design Ursa Mini is a great way to get into high quailty 4K video. Easy to use menu system. Decent layout. The weight is good and an improvement over the orginal Ursa. Good image qualilty.

Little issues: Power button under the LCD screen. Audio knobs under LCD and need to not spin, but have stops. Could be better in low light, but does better than I thought. (I knew it wasn’t expecting low light performance.

).

I bought the Canon XC15 because I had previously used an XC10 and liked many aspects of the camera in particular the quality of video. I wanted to improve sound quality and workflow as I had often used external microphones with a Zoom and then synchronised in edit.

The XC15 resolves that by including a microphone adapter. I very much like the ease of use and uncomplicated menus that can be accessed by button, joystick or touch screen coupled by the excellent visual quality of the camera.

The weight of the camera suits me. I have very much liked the way I can move the handgrip to suit my shot and have found the stability. I also have used the viewfinder unit which comes in very handy for bright outdoor shoots.

To keep up with modern formats I also was keen to buy a 4K camera I often take advantage of the size in edit to move and crop into a sequence or take stills. The quality of 4K is noticeable but then so is the file size.

When I first used the XC10 I had to upgrade Adobe Premiere I didn’t have to this time but it is worth checking your workflow to prevent getting caught out. The only issue I have is that I would like a way in which I can maneuver the camera via a handle on top because the microphone adapter makes it a little more difficult to maneuver from the side.

However it is still a highly adaptable camera, great in low light conditions, quick to set up and very dependable.

I was looking for an affordable video option for commercial use for recording video ads. Works great, nice final product and simple to use. There are a bunch of custom features available and it has a high 4K footage at 305Mbps rate which gives you a lot of details compared to most DSLR/Mirrorless options.

The 2. 8 lens works well at getting a nice bokeh effect and it has a good usable zoom range. We film a lot of videos over the 29 Minute time frame limit of most 4K Cameras and with this unit we can just keep recording until card/battery run low which is a big advantage to us.

It is pretty bulky esp with the Audio unit attached.

Shooting docs with this thing is great, having access to analog dials for audio. It’s super lightweight and the Image Stabilization is the biz. I kept it on even on a tripod and there was no drift. The zoom feels great and the focus reads out in feet so you can always find where you are.

I recommend the Wide DR picture style if you’re not shooting C-Log. It has really great latitude but yet the contrast seems very natural, with no logarithmic look to it. The highlights and shadows both have plenty of gradation.

If you’re a fan of canon color and you need a B-Cam, you’ll be surprised at how well the image quality is out of this. Plus it takes standard LP-E6 batteries which keeps your shopping list light.

Lightweight, sturdy, handy controls, excellent images. I repeat. Excellent. Adapts to Pro tripods, plates, viewfinders and the like, with ease. (Got a couple of good fluid heads, Lilliput viewfinder.

etc. ) I admire this attention and professional courtesy VERY much. Fine lens, fine zoom, excellent white balance. Heck. All of the adjustment options are stupendous, advanced and effective. Complicated? A bit.

Read the manual. It is one of the best you I have seen and will download to your phone. 4K files are AVID-compatible and excellent. Your project will go from shoot to payday in a pleasant and speedy manner.

Chips are reasonable and hold a surprising amount. I would give 5-stars, but longevity, reliability and repair is a significant issue for me. Will get back to you Recommend? Yes! (Great bag).

Pros: 4k, xl audio, touch screen, touch screen focusing, high bit rates and multiple formats such as 200/mbs 1080/60p, variable white balance, several preset buttons for quick access. Cons, poor focusing in auto mode in medium to low light settings when filming fast moving subjects such as dances and sports, No facial recognition for auto focus, 4k lens crops.

Low light features are okay. The price is what makes this camera a great choice. I would not recommend it for sports or fast dances though unless you are shooting in bright settings or your depth of field (distance from subject ) 20 feet or longer so you can be on manual focus as the auto focus gets a B- score for hunting at times.

Just got it 2 weeks ago and so far very happy. Build quality is really good. Took it to a friend who does professional videos for a living and he said it was a great camera for the price range. I researched the heck out of cameras before I settled on this one, I believe this gives the most bang for the buck without going broke.

I also researched the heck out of companies to buy from and Adorama had the best deal around. Would I recommend this camera & Adorama. All Ready Have! :).

This camera is amazing!!! There’s reviews that it doesn’t handle low light well, but all you need is an F1. 4 lens and staying at ISO 200 and it looks great! Highly recommend this global shutter camera.

This is the best camera for a production crew to work on. Your AC is happy, sound person dialed in and the DP is quick. The menu and pic quality is amazing. I highly recommend you check the reviews and YouTube for more info.

I was not a fan of the mini and went with the larger ursa.

I’ve had this camera for a little over 3 months now. I have covered this camera extensively on my YouTube channel (Muon Video. ) Of the things I discuss is how glass makes such a massive difference. Like many others, I used the FX6 along with the 24-105 f/4 and it simply didn’t make any sense in that it is NOT a servo video lens, but a stills lens.

Cheeky move by Sony perhaps? So the servo lens you want is not even the more recently released, $5000, 16-35mm servo lens, but instead — the sub-$3K, 28-135mm f/4. And yes, the 28-135 f/4 power zoom is a seven year old lens, but with autofocus improvement in Sony bodies, it makes entirely more more sense on this camera.

Plus, the lens stabilization works fairly well. I would even say better than the 24-105 (perhaps that’s also due to the weight. ) So with all this lens talk out of the way, let’s get to the camera. Highlight features include 4K 60P, and 4K 120P along with the simply terrific internal ND filter system that works near flawless (save for the auto-ND feature that sometimes exposes for the space, instead of the subject.

) In a world where 6K, or 8K resolution video steals headlines the most — the internal ND filter system has been my favorite feature on this camera. Filming is easy, and not too complicated apart from the learning curve of the menu system that seems almost intentionally technocratic, and unintuitive.

Things that could be better on the FX6 (mainly hardware issues): – No XLR input on the body alone. Meaning that you give up audio when you detach the top handle (aside from scratch audio on the body.

) – Also the included monitor isn’t the best quality (as is the case with Sonys. ) – The mic holder is limited. Thankfully, I have a Sony mic from the XLR accessory for the FX3 and A7S3 — that mic fits like a charm.

But my other, higher quality mics do not. Also the mic holder could be stronger material-wise (I have a substitute mic holder on order from Sideways to circumvent this. ) Comparing the FX6 and FX9, the FX6 is extraordinarily light (2 lbs), which I find a huge plus versus the FX9’s over double the weight (4.

4 lbs. ) The FX9 does offer 6K, and more detail with broadcast features, for me the FX6 does the job though, and it doesn’t require that massive brick on the end of it for RAW. You can attach a Ninja V+ via SDI and do RAW that way on the FX6.

Overall, loving this little cinema camera.

I waited about two and a half years to purchase a cinema camera, and finally settled on the FX6 earlier this year, which I’ve owned for a couple weeks now, after waiting for it on backorder for months.

My greatest apprehension with Sony cameras in the past has been their notoriously awkward color science. But their new cinema line of cameras now seems to render this apprehension obsolete. The colors produced by the FX6 and its siblings are at long last beautiful, tastefully subtle, with natural, pleasing skin tones.

The specs of the FX6 check nearly every one of my needs, from its full frame 4K sensor, to internal ND (now variable), to 4K 120fps, to 10 bit 422, to SDI output, on board TC input, to its fully modular gimbal-friendly body design, there is really no other camera better suited for my variety of work.

There are of course minor pet peeves, such as Sony’s famously poorly organized menu system, and the fact that we can not attach an XLR audio input into the camera without the proprietary top handle attached, the noisiness of activating the variable ND, etc.

However, these are very minor issues compared to what the camera has to offer, and there is after all no perfect camera. You will naturally learn the menu system, and these pet peeves can be adapted to.

The strengths of this camera vastly overshadow its drawbacks. If I could give it any rating I’d give it a 4. 7 out of 5 stars. But for the purposes of this review, I’m rounding up. It’s a keeper.

Great zoom, great image quality, user-unfriendly networking and poor support. First, the HC app for remote control won’t reliably connect. It worked once and now I cannot get it to connect even after resetting and going through the EXACT same procedure as before.

Worse, the basic setup info supplied by panasonic (hard to find) instructs me to connect thru a network access point (router) using DHCP. and by that method, every time I restart the camera, it assigns a new IP address which means I must re-enter that IP into the app in order to connect.

an annoying waste of time. And it’s not even working now. Q to Panasonic: Why not provide a setup that, once paired, remembers the settings and allows the app finds the camera? Sure, it’s supposedly possible to create a static IP, but I’m not an IT genius so it’s beyond me, and Panasonic won’t explain this.

Can I do a “Direct connection”? Looks like it in the camera menu, but ZERO explanation of what the terms mean and no walk thru for this anywhere. FAIL! Contacted panasonic support they just gave me the basic set of instructions again.

Major fail. I bought a wired remote. Only basic functionality, can’t navigate menus, etc. Sure this will meet basic needs, but even my old Canon XA10 came with a nice wireless remote that would allow me to delete outtakes, etc.

Very dissapointed.

This camera has some bizarre 1-star reviews and it clearly was not understood by the 4 reviewers of it, so this is a real review from someone who has been making films for 40 years from 16mm to 35mm and now 4K digital.

This is not a toy, or a livecast yourYouTube toy. It also isn’t quite a full-scale Hollywood movie camera but only because the lens is fixed. It’s the same engine and sensor needed for movies, but you can’t put different lenses on it so it is in that category of outstanding quality for commercial and corporate use — and yes, you can make big screen movies with it.

First, it’s not cheap. If you are a YouTube star, get a ring light and 79 4K China fixed lens toy and that is more than you’ll need. This is touching 4k and it has feature that lesser video cameras in the same price range lack.

First. Lens. The lens is a stunner. From an excellent wide angle about a 24mm on a standard camera but no real distortion that zooms to 20X with amazing detail and color accuracy. It’s a sophisticated lens if you just have one.

It does macro wonderfully, and it lets in a lot of light. Second. Sensor. This has a top-notch 1-inch sensor that allows low-light shooting, and stunning detail without noise in daylight or lit shots.

The color accuracy is excellent and it’s the key to getting true movie quality video. Third. It’s big. This is barely a handheld. It can be done, but as shown here I use a shoulder bracket or tripod as it is large and starts to feel heavier as time goes on in a shoot.

The size allows that massive lens and large sensor enough room to work together properly, and have plenty of room for controls as buttons rather than few buttons and doing adjustments on the touch screen.

Fourth. Manual Everything. Although it has full auto modes and scene settings, if your doing real filming manual control is essential. Every function is capable of manual control including audio, gain, low pass filters, neutral density filtering, time code in and out, plus focus, i.

First, I like like shooting wildlife ( birds mostly ) and occasionally doing a pro video ( making money ) so my needs may not be your needs. I read reviews from others who love or hate the camera. Figure out what you need first, also what you can afford then go shopping.

I researched many cameras before deciding on this one. Pros, small light weight, incredible zoom, plenty of high bitrate choices, 4K 60fps, reasonable picture quality in reasonable light for what I would consider a reasonable price.

Cons – can’t get it to shoot Mp4 format 100 megabits even with a 300 MB/s SDXC card, shoots MOV at 200 megabits no problem but no Mp4? Of course not good in low light. Did I mention the manuals have much to be desired? Took me forever to figure out how to turn the focus peaking on.

That being said I won’t send camera back because it doesn’t like to shoot Mp4’s at high bitrate of 100 megabits, the highest bitrates are MOV anyways. But I recommend this camera for people who are looking for great picture quality, great zoom , lots of pro settings for when the need arises.

Again, it is not disappointing me.

During all the years that I been as a videographer, I have always been a panasonic user. All the cameras I owned have been from this brand and I was completely satisfied until I bought the HC-x2000. The performance of this camera in low light is worse than my cell phone.

It’s not about settings, I been working with cameras for many years. The tiny sensor of this camera doesnt give too much. If you work at a professional level and you plan to record indoors or in any other place with low lighting, this camera is not for you.

Not only is it bad at low light, but it also loses sharpness a lot. If you work in exterior or during the day it’s acceptable after making some adjustments. Unfortunately the factory presets are useless too.

At the end, I returned this camera and exchanged it for the Panasonic AG-CX350 In my opinion this camera is only for beginners.

This is a good camcorder, even shot at low light. I usually use camcorder to shot performance or show at room with regular light or studio. It performs good. The video shot looks clear and sharp. The color of objects looks full and of reality.

Though the manual reads too long, it is clear. In general, I like it and satisfied with its performance. I’d like tp give it 5 stars.

I use this product for short indie films and freelance work, including weddings. First off, this cameras images are amazing! The dynamic range is more than impressive to the point where I’m getting perfect images after post when shooting 8 stops overexposed.

However it has flaws many of which might easily be fixed with future firmware. Others are just bad design, like how you can’t fit the camera on a tripod with its wonky Arm/handgrip attached. Also I’m not a big fan of the viewfinder and how it’s attached.

There are other things, but no camera is perfect. Overall, I am happy with it. Hopefully it holds its value and uses!.

I rent a decent amount of professional video production equipment (cameras, lenses, extra media cards, batteries, gimbals, etc. ) from Lensrentals. com and all the equipment is always in excellent condition, arrives on time and the price can’t be beat.

This beauty changed my business. We went from small non-profit videos to commercials for great clients such as The Home Depot, Ford, Coke and AutoZone.

I’ve done video production since 1990 and owned dozens of cameras. I need a camera that can handle any situation. While not perfect, this is an excellent general purpose camera. First, the negatives about the camera.

Unlike my NX5R, the menu button is on the top of the camera. This makes it harder to change settings when on a tripod. I loved the dial in white balance wheel on my NX5R. The 150 won’t let you dial in a white balance on the fly like the NX5R.

You have to go into the menu to do a custom white balance setting. My NX5 had the headphone switch on the back of the camera to monitor either channel or a mix. With the 150, you have to go into the menu for headphone settings.

There are more good things about the camera than bad. It uses the much cheaper, Sony NP batteries and standard SD cards. The viewfinder is excellent. It has face detection and better auto focus than my previous cameras.

The picture quality is excellent with a wide range of codecs. I saw some posting that this camera is not good in low light. It does fine in low light. However, the 150 is not like other cameras I’ve had that grain up when you gain over 12DB.

I’ve had a clean image even at 30DB. I’ve had great images shooting weddings, seminars, dance recitals and news footage. Overall, this is one of the best general purpose cameras in the $3000 price range.

I bought this camera a few days ago from a used department and was very lucky saving $400 for actually a new camera. Two month ago I bought a brand new Panasonic AG-UX180, but later on returned it, because wasn’t sure I made a right choice.

After testing my new Sony camcorder, I can compare two cameras that belong to the same price and quality segment. Sony z150 is a bit smaller and weighs with battery 2300 grams. Lens is great and gives a warm and sharp image.

On another hand Panasonic UX180 has better zoom range. Its image looks colder than Sony, without a renown Sony’s juicy saturation. I respect Leica’s lens very much, but here I give more credits to Sony’s G-lens.

Second, z150 LCD and viewfinder definitely superior over ux180. Sony’s manual WB control much better and overall its control interface more user friendly. The image resolution of both cameras is virtually identical.

Built in microphone of z150 is excellent. But Sony is not well balanced when a camera operator shoots handheld. Panasonic from this point of view is more preferable. Nothing is perfect in real world, both cameras deserve high grades.

Sony is $300 more expensive, and I think it is justified. Sony PXW-Z150 is worth the money you pay for it.

I purchased this Camcorder about 4 Years ago. I going to explain the Good, and Bad. Good: This is a very good Camera for Run and Gun Situations. I do have a Canon C200, which you can change your Lens.

With Z150 You can not change the Lens, but you can Zoom-In and Out very fast, especially when using Digital Extender. If you want the same Focal Length as a Cinema Camera, you need to spend Thousands Of Dollars on Lenses.

Video Quality is very good. Light Weight. Zoom and Focus Ring is very Smooth Good for Interviews. Bad: This camera performs very poorly under Low-Light. I do have a very old Camcorder, that I purchased many years ago, it performed better than this Camcorder.

When Zoom-In all the way, you cant shoot Under F-4 Fstop. With my DSLR Camera and my C-200, I can add an 85mm F1. 2, and have a great Shallow Depth Of Field. With Z-150, with the F-Stop of F-4, you cant have a great Shallow Depth Of Field.

The LCD Screen is very Small. No Sound when using Night Shot. Menu System Is all the way up In the top of Camcorder, Instead of being In the Side. If you are shooting with a very High Tripod, you can not reach the Menu.

Menu Navigation Is not friendly at all. Overall, is not a bad Camcorder, but Sony Could have done better with this Camcorder.

A Professional product. DSLR and mirrorless are all the rage for video-making; virtually every influencer on Youtube and other social media are pushing them. To work as video cameras most of these need to be rigged in ways that end up costing quite a bit, yet have less functionality than made for the purpose items such as this CAMCORDER.

I’m happy with the purchase. Many would be better served for their studio needs with these camcorders in lieu of much limited cobbled-in DSLR or mirror-less based solutions. Would have liked separated HDMI and SDI outputs.

This way one could use an inexpensive field monitor with the menu on it and a clean output to SDI for recording. The LCD monitor is small and dimmed. The EVF is. not that great either, not much else to complain about.

And the items were shipped rapidly. No issue with processing. Well packed for shipping. Will buy again from them.

I bought this camera a few months ago as an upgrade to my D750 but waited until now to rate it to have some real experience to be able to report on. There is nothing I dislike about this camera. Here is why I love it vs.

the D750 which I loved to use too: Features: I use photo stacking for Macro and find the Nikon set up on the D850 easy to use. There are other features I have yet to explore. Focus Area Coverage: It is much wider than the D750, so it is easier to use off center focus points.

I always thought this was the worst thing about the D750 so am happy this was improved here. Build Quality / Weather Sealing – the D850 is a more solid camera that is a bit larger. Viewfinder – Excellent size and coverage.

AutoFocus – fast and accurate Image Quality – Excellent – so far I have not seen a big improvement over the D750 but have not tried making any large prints. – The only downside to this camera is the huge Raw file sizes which load up your computer memory.

I’m going to try Raw Lossless Compressed to reduce file size. Overall, this is the best camera I’ve ever owned.

I have been using this camera for the past 2 years almost every day. You can shoot this camera with almost anything: YouTube content, short films, documentaries. It delivers rich blacks, a good highlight roll-off (for its price) , a wide dynamic range, auto VND, good autofocus (although sometimes need to turn on and off to find its focus), good jelly handling (panning fast left and right; almost like a global shutter) constant FX9 software updates, and more.

The downside of the camera is that there is once while I was shooting a shortfilm with a super 35 lens with s35 mode, yet when recording it shows crop width just fine but when the footage gets imported to a pc is actually gets a little wider than what was shot.

I am not sure why it does because it only happened once. Maybe it was a bug. Yet it still is a frustrating experience as the director and the producer may think twice about hiring you again. Just a little note.

PS: The camera can almost mimic an Alexa Mini with good Color Grading after post. Just slightly sharper (digital looking)in the image. Not as Sharp as the RED cameras though. Sincerely, FX9 User.

I’ve had this cam for over a year. It’s been basically flawless. The image is fantastic. The handling is really good. The menu could use a complete overhaul – but it’s not something that you deal with during a shoot really.

It has been reliable. The media is reliable. It’s solid in low light. If you want to shoot wide open in the day you’ll need to add some extra ND. We’ve used it for commercials, unscripted TV, corporate videos, brand films etc.

and it’s been great at all of it. If I could give 4. 5 stars I would, simply because they could improve the menu and add some extra internal ND for daytime.

I would highly recommend this camera as a rental for specific jobs that aren’t run and gun. The image is fantastic. The project I rented this for was a mix of interviews and docu-style run and gun shooting.

I was a 1-man-band and would not recommend the FX9 for solo operator, one-man-band shooting/producing, especially if it’s a fast paced, unknown environment. I was constantly hung up on trying to quickly change lenses with the new locking mount, though I do love how secure it feels and think it would be excellent for studio shoots on big PL lenses.

Other struggles include the slow and fumbling task of switching to higher frame rates and the power consumption was surprisingly higher than I thought it might be. I had plenty of batts, so no big deal, but wow.

Again, there are perfect projects for this camera, just not the one I rented 2 FX9’s for. In a more controlled environment, with some supplemental camera support or an assistant – it would probably be perfect.

Last quick note, the auto-focus was pretty great. Better than I thought. Colors are fantastic. Plenty of dynamic range.