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THE BEST CONSUMER (AND PROFESSIONAL) 4K CAMERAS
In the last few years it has become quite obvious that high-quality video is not just restricted to industry professionals, with the rise of camera phones and affordable yet high-quality video cameras becoming more accessible to the public, nothing stops you from creating your very own Citizen Kane. Here are some of the best 4K video cameras on the market right now.
Sony Alpha A7S II
Although one of the older models on the list, the Sony Alpha A7S II is still seen by many as one of the best video-shooting stills cameras on the market. With its superb dynamic range and fantastic handling of low light situations, the A7SII is perfect for anyone wanting to shoot on a budget. It is also one of the smaller cameras on the list and is a joy to control, which is perfect for run-and-gun type filmmaking. And with the A7S III on the horizon expect the price to come down considerably as well. Sadly the A7S II only records in 8-bit rather than the broadcast standard of 10 or 12-bit, but it’s a minor gripe in an otherwise great little camera.
Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 4K
One of the best 4K cameras on the market, Blackmagic has really been delivering on their initial promise from years ago. The Pocket Cinema comes with a fantastically sharp and huge touchscreen built-in, eliminating the need for an external viewer. The range of connections on-board is also class-leading, and the fact there’s a dual card slot trumps much pricier cameras like the EOS R. That’s not forgetting decent onboard audio recording capabilities and the cherry on top is the inclusion of a license to DaVinci Resolve Studio, many editors go-to editing software these days. Although not as user friendly to the newcomer, the Pocket Cinema has all the qualities to film your next epic movie. The only big downside is the rather poor battery and the lack of a dedicated stills sensor.
Panasonic Lumix GH5
Arguably the most versatile camera on the list, the GH5 is perfect for those wanting to shoot both stills and video, and the video specification is still very impressive, allowing you to shoot Cinema 4K (4096 x 2160) at 60p with a bit rate of 150Mbps, while Full HD video can be captured up to 180fps. The GH5 also offers color subsampling at 4:2:2 and a color depth of 10-bit, delivering greater color information and richer graduations. The ISO range is rather limited compared to others on the market and it is considerably bulkier in size compared to the compact A7S II but that will come down purely to personal preference.
Panasonic S1
Panasonic has always been a big-time player when it comes to professional film and video equipment, and they have brought that expertise to a consumer level as well with the release of the new S series. The S1 film 4K UHD footage using the whole width of its full-frame sensor and offers full pixel readout at up to 30p. It can also record 10-bit 4:2:0 footage internally using the HEVC/H.265 codec. Videos can be shot in 4K at up to 60p) and there are several gamma curve profiles on-board, including Hybrid Log Gamma. This all equates to a guaranteed beautiful picture. The biggest drawback is the sub-standard Auto Focus that might be a big issue for first-time filmmakers.
Nikon Z6
The Z6 is Nikon’s first foray into the competitive full-frame mirrorless camera market and it is an impressive first showing. The Z6 shoots oversampled 4K footage without a crop and the presence of both sensor-based and electronic VR means that the camera does a great job to keep things stable. The 10bit N-Log shooting option gives you a great option for grading when in post-production. Sadly there is no 4K 60p option currently and also only a single XQD card slot which may be an issue for videographers that like to film for longer periods without having to dump footage.
Fujifilm X-T4
Fujifilm has finally caught up to the rest of the pack when it comes to 4K video performance in its stellar new X-T4 model. The new Fujifilm release features in body image stabilization that allows for beautiful stable shots when handheld. It also features a 26.1MP back-illuminated APS-C sensor that makes the X-T4 a fantastic option for consumers looking for a quality video and stills camera. It also features Cinema 4K movies up to 60fps, 10-bit internal recording, and up to 400Mbps bit-rate and with F-Log and HLG profiles included as standard. The Fujifilm X-T4 is a fantastic performer on both the video and stills front and a great all-round choice for any buddy videographer out there.
Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark III
Another great all-rounder on the list and a great option for newcomers. The Mark III shoots Cine 4K video at 24fps (237Mbps) and Full HD at up to 120fps, with an OM-Log 400 color profile that at times delivers amazing visual quality. Powerful image stabilization keeps footage smooth and sharp, while capable continuous autofocus with face and eye-detection proves impressive. The build is impressive and feels solid yet the handling of low light situations is a bit of a letdown.