Last Updated on December 5, 2023 by Sharon Advik
Cameras required for movie-making differ significantly from those used by casual videographers.
There have to have certain specifications in the camera to approach the highest level of recording with cutting out blurs, lag, and noise.
Moreover, a more filmic, graphically pleasing, and cinematic feel is required for professional movie-making that can’t get in a standard camera that works at a low frame rate and HD resolution.
So, I always go for 4k or 1080p cameras that give 60 fps at the least.
In the proceeding articles, I have written about some cameras exclusive to movie makers.
Which are the Best camera for filming movies?
Here are my recommended top 7 Best camera for filming movies:-
Panasonic G85: (best camera for filming movies)
Inspired by the most fantastic underwater movie of all time, “The Aquaman,” I decided to play a little with my skills and make a film with a daring element.
So, I decided to watch an underwater movie about a mermaid who discovers she is a human, cursed into living underwater.
It was a children’s movie, so it had a tone of exciting underwater scenes.
Apart from the computer simulations and VFX, I shot the scene in reality with my Panasonic G85.
The film came out so good that it got about ten million views on YouTube and very positive feedback because shooting underwater is challenging.
This camera has proven excellent movie-making equipment, even in highly sweat-breaking themes.
Features:
- Sensor: four-thirds of MOS
- Effective Pixels: 16 MP
- ISO: 200-25600
- Shutter speed: 1-1/16000
- Video resolution: 4k
- Image stabilization: yes
- Dimensions: 129.5* 88.9*73.7 mm
- Weight: 503g
ISO/Shutter speed
The first underwater shot of the movie was the lead actress “Mermaid” swimming up the surface. It was an authentic scene, and I had to keep the ISO in a range that stayed fine when the mermaid came up in light, so I kept the ISO at 500.
I shot this scene at a shutter speed of 1/120, but for the scenes where less motion was involved, I kept the shitter at 1/48.
Aperture/Depth of field
I had to increase the f stop to 22 in some shots where a vast under-ocean view was required because getting the whole field was desirable.
In some scenes where only conversations were involved, I kept the aperture between f/2-f/10.
White balance/Frame rate
This camera has no underwater white balance preset, but the Auto White Balance mode works fine.
Frame rates are the most important in shooting movies, and for this particular, I kept using between 30-60 fps as required by the scene.
Why is this camera the best?
The details of every scene come out detailed with the 16-megapixel micro four-thirds sensor that doesn’t have a low pass filter for ultra-rich image and video quality.
The camera gives a tremendous performance in a body that weighs nothing compared to similar devices.
Conclusion
The 4k ultra-HD video quality makes it convenient to shoot with perfection, and the viewfinder lets you correctly attain the frame.
It is the best camera for filming movies with its 5-axis dual body image stabilization, so no matter if it’s underwater or above a rough surface, there won’t be any shakes.
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Fujifilm X-T4: (best camera for filming movies)
“Skull Island” was a movie I was working on in Australia when my camera fell in the water while I was shooting a scene from a boat.
It was the middle of Victorian waters, and I was so anxious about a delay in the shooting.
I urgently needed a camera to complete the boat scenes. Fortunately, the assistant director of the film had Fujifilm X-T4, and to my surprise that a camera like this worked exceptionally well for a movie that was aiming to be nominated for Cannas Film Festival.
After completing the shoot, comparing the results of the shoots I took before with T4 blew me away with its excellent performance.
Features:
- Sensor: CMOS
- Effective Pixels: 26.1 MP
- ISO: 160-12800
- Shutter speed: 4s-1/32000s (P mode)
- Video resolution: 4k
- Image stabilization: yes
- Dimensions: 134.6*92.8*63.8 mm
- Weight: 607g
ISO/Shutter speed
Different situations call for other actions, and when I was shooting the boat scene outside of the Skull, I kept the ISO at 100, but when the scene was being shot inside the dome of the skull, I had to increase the ISO to 1000.
However, the shutter I used to shoot reminded 1/48 for the most part.
Aperture/Depth of field
The camera has an aperture of f/1.8-f/22 that I utilized in various ways.
For the simple talking scenes focused on the characters, I kept the aperture between f/6-8, and for more graphically advanced views of Skull Island, I used f/16 for a full field view.
White balance/Frame rate
There was a lot of orange color overlapping the whites because the studio light has a warmer heat source, so I had to change the settings from Color Temperature.
I shot the whole boat scenes and the scenes inside the Island at 24 fps for more realistic views.
Why is this camera the best?
Fujifilm is always at the top regarding brilliant imagery in motion.
The camera enables strikingly eye please 4k videos at a high bit rate to ensure the work goes well.
Moreover, The ETERNA bleach bypass film simulation modes extend the creative control of the makers.
Conclusion
X-T4 is the best camera for filming movies with its uncompromising quality due to the fourth generation X-Trans CMOS and the X- processor that makes it possible to shoot without limitations.
Moreover, the 0.5-inch and 3.69 M dots viewfinders always have something precise to show with their 100 % view coverage so that the movie creators don’t miss a thing.
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Panasonic GH5S: (best camera for filming movies)
After experimenting with photography for around 15 years, I decided to start a career as a movie maker. For that, I got my first shoot via a local production agency in California.
It was a perfect platform to make a way to Hollywood, but they wanted me to shoot a short movie before allowing me to shoot something big.
As I was switching the fields, I also wanted to change my photography camera to a proper movie camera, and after that digging the Internet, I got Panasonic GH5S.
I could successfully film a movie for the agency and, they genuinely liked my work; now they are giving me a real chance in an upcoming Hollywood movie and, I’m very excited about it.
Features:
- Sensor: Four-thirds of MOS
- Effective Pixels: 10.28 MP
- ISO: 160-51200
- Shutter speed: 60-1/8000s
- Video resolution: 4k
- Image Stabilization: yes
- Dimensions: 138.5*98.1* 87.4 mm
- Weight: 660g
ISO/Shutter speed
The movie was about homeland security and how they often tackle crimes in the US.
For most of the shoot, both the studio lights and sunlight in case of the outdoor shooting were enough, so I used ISO between 100-200.
As for the shutter, while I was shooting stander scenes, I kept the shutter at 1/50, but in the action scene where the fight and car driving were involved, the camera allowed me to use the shutter at 1/60-120.
Aperture/Depth of field
The real ice breaker of movie shooting is an aperture that provides genuine to the scenes.
I kept the aperture at f/5-8 because a low frame was required while shooting the office scenes, but when I had to take a wider field, I increased the f-stop to 16.
White balance/Frame rate
White balance management is another trick that plays with the intricacies of camera perception for RAW color footage, so I changed the white balance settings according to the light sources, for example, Fluorescent for corresponding studio lights.
I used frame rates from 24 to 60 on various occasions shooting.
Why is this camera the best?
More than just a camera, it’s a movie-making giant with a very professional feel to movies. Its 10.2-megapixels micro four-thirds sensor and surface sensitivity to light gathering provide exceptional performance even in low light scenes.
Conclusion
This camera binds you to the highest possible quality with essential features such as 4k HDR hybrid log gamma, V log L and internal SD card, allowing high eminence to be recorded in 4k in sleek time.
It opens a new door to a more modern touch of clarity in the videos, making GH5S the best camera for filming movies.
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Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 4K: (best camera for filming movies)
My friend has made his career in direction, and he is often directing for various short film channels on social media.
About a month ago, we were looking for a cameraman to shoot a horror film, and I was looking for a chance to shoot a movie.
As he works for channels that have subscribers in millions, he wanted the work to be outstanding.
His only problem was a small budget, so he asked me to shoot with whatever I had.
I had just bought Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 4K these days, so I started the work.
Finally, the film came out incredibly unique and was appraised by many critics.
Features:
- Sensor: Four-thirds of CMOS
- ISO: 100-25600
- Shutter type: Electronic rolling shutter
- Video resolution: 4k
- Image stabilization: yes
- Dimensions: 177.8* 96.5* 86.4 mm
- Weight: 680. 38g
ISO/Shutter speed
The film takes place in a forest because it is about black magic, and a lot of darkness is involved for an appropriate backdrop.
Hence, I had to keep the ISO at the highest range of about 3000, and the camera successfully permitted that.
The shooting took place at 1/48 shutter speed, but in the scene where the heroine was running in the woods after seeing paranormal activity, I increased the shutter to 1/120.
Aperture/Depth of field
The depth of field required for movies that comprise the storytelling instead of focusing more on the props needs an aperture range of f/6-10.
However, in one shot from the helicopter that I took for the aerial view of the forest, I kept the aperture at f/16.
White balance/Frame rate
Forest has humid weather, and even with shooting lights, there is a bit of cooling of the light source involved, so I had to go for Color temperature settings and set it to a warmer end for perfect white balance.
I shot the movie from multiple aspects, so equally altered frame rates were required; therefore, I used between 24-60 fps.
Why is this camera the best?
Blackmagic is the name of versatility within a relatively lightweight build.
It has fantastic features such as 4k resolution, a 4/3 size sensor, and a 13-stop dynamic range for a more Hollywood feel to the videos.
The 5-inch touchscreen makes it easy to focus, frame and change the settings.
Conclusion
This camera lacks nothing required for professional recordings, such as a built-in SD/UHS-II or Cfast 2.0 recorder for Blackmagic RAW or ProRes recording.
Moreover, the MFT lens and built-in microphone are top-rated in the list of the best camera for filming movies.
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Canon XA40: (best camera for filming movies)
Generally, cameras used for filming movies have to have very high-end features to break the limitations of shooting.
Because one movie can have multiple shooting styles and scenes, the camera must be efficient enough to overcome the strain of variety.
Canon XA40 is one of those cameras that can do it all.
I have been using this camera to shoot movies from action to drama, providing the reliability I need to do the work.
An excellent device to shoot anything, anytime and anywhere.
Features:
- Sensor: 1/2.3 type CMOS
- Effective pixels: 8. 29 MP
- Gain: 0- 24 dB
- Shutter type: 1s-1/2000s
- Video resolution: 4k
- Image stabilization: yes
- Dimensions: 131* 180*231mm
- Weight: 725.74 g
ISO/Shutter speed
I admire the camera’s Gain, ranging from 0 to 24 dB.
It gives excellent performance when I am shooting lowlight scenes by amplifying the video signals and making it possible to brighten the video when required.
The camera’s shutter speed is also excellent, with a 1s-1/2000s range that helps shoot stander and more decisive scenes with equal command of the fluidity.
Aperture/Depth of field
While shooting, the subject’s distance from the camera is also essential in providing the desired depth of field, so I choose the aperture accordingly.
I keep the aperture at f/5.6 for shoots from far away, but for closeup scene that requires a good background view, I keep the aperture at f/8.
White balance/Frame rate
The camera has an excellent range of white balance modes, but I always go for Auto White Balance, a potential elimination of suppression hues.
I shoot the film at 24 fps for a more life-like appearance, but the camera has enough room for higher frame rates when recording action sequences.
Why is this camera the best?
The bar to exclusive filmmaking has been increased by an incredible 4k camcorder installed with a 4k CMOS sensor for better light production, DIGIC 6 processor for faster speed, and a 4k video lens for more capturing efficiency.
Conclusion
Canon XA40 is the best camera for filming movies with its 4k video recording ability at 24/30 fps, more realism, and more engaging content.
Moreover, the camera also supports MP4 format and 4:2:0 8-bit internal recording.
The 4k lens comes with 20x magnification capabilities and optical image stabilization for no shakes while catching up with the action.
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Canon EOS R7: (best camera for filming movies)
My brother wanted to be a movie maker, and when he started his production studio, he decided to make me the Videographer.
I have a long time of experience in the movie industry, and it was good to start working with someone so personal.
I wanted my brother’s movies to be the best, so I purchased a new camera because my older one was about to break.
After a detailed analysis of what to look for in a good movie camera and using my ability to check the results, I bought Canon EOS R7.
Nonetheless, It’s a device worth a chance for movie makers.
Let’s look at some of my favorite scenes from the first movie I shot that runs around a countryside girl trying to make a life in New York.
Features:
- Sensor: CMOS
- Effective pixels: 32.5 MP
- ISO: 100-32000
- Shutter type: 30s-1/8000s
- Video resolution: 4k
- Image stabilization: yes
- Dimensions: 132.0* 90.4*91.7 mm
- Weight: 530 g
ISO/Shutter speed
I kept the ISO at 500 because most of the shots took place indoors, but I used native value for outdoor shoots, such as when the movie starts, and the girl comes out of the bus.
I kept the shutter speed at 1/48 because I wanted very clear shots, but for some scenes that included motion, such as the girl trying to cross the traffic-packed road, I kept the shutter at 1/120.
Aperture/Depth of field
I shot many scenes at aperture f/8, but one scene is very close to my heart where the girl slaps the store owner who tries to harass her.
Other than that, I also love the scene from a park where I focus on the butterfly creating the bokeh of the sun and the girl coming towards the garden at 1/1.8, and then slowly increasing the f-number to include the whole scene.
White balance/Frame rate
I used the Direct Sunlight mode for outdoor and Indoor shoots and the Fluorescent mode to correct the white balance.
The frame rates were about 30 fps because I like a more cinematic feel in my movies.
Why is this camera the best?
Great camera, outfitted with the advanced dual-pixel CMOS AF II that keeps track of the subject no matter the position and makes it possible to bring the wildest imagination to reality with high-end movie production.
Conclusion
The camera with a 32.5 MP sensor, 4k video quality that lets the frame rates be the highest at 60 fps without cracking, and a DIGIC X processor to make the readout speed even more fast is rated as the best camera for filming movies, and nothing can take that away.
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Canon VIXIA HF R800: (best camera for filming movies)
Although the market is overflowing with cameras for movie marking, casual videography, and photography, it’s very overwhelming from time to time to choose the correct one according to the requirements.
Therefore, I always suggest my followers go for cameras with features to meet every aspect of still and moving image-making.
Canon VIXIA HF R800 is one of those divine gadgets that can provide the ease to shoot movies and make stills alike.
I have relayed on this camera for shooting movies while working in the industry.
It’s fantastic to film professional movies even when high action and motion are involved. Also, it’s remarkable to get the stills whenever required.
Features:
- Sensor: CMOS
- Pixels: 3. 28 MP
- Shutter type: 1/2000 (movies)
- Video resolution: Full HD
- Image stabilization: yes
- Dimensions: 53.0* 58.0* 116.0 mm
- Weight: 235 g
ISO/Shutter speed
I was once working on an action movie, and there was about moving around, fighting, and running, so I used to keep the shutter at 1/120 and Gain at the higher end most of the time.
However, for movies that have a more dramatic and romantic script, I used to keep the shutter at 1/48 and Gain according to the light.
Aperture/Depth of field
As action movies need the background when the fight is happening or the characters are running wild, I had to keep the aperture at f/4.5 to get a good field view, but when I required a small frame, I would keep the aperture at f/1.8-2.8.
White balance/Frame rate
AWB is the best setting for getting perfect white balance in this camera; however, choosing preset would also be fine.
For action movies, I always used a higher frame rate, such as 60 or 120 fps, to get fluid transitions between the scenes, but for simple scenes using 24 fps was more fitting.
Why is this camera the best?
Fantastic camera to capture magnificent videos in Full HD.
One of the camera’s most exciting features is its 57x zoom that lets the barrier break without compromising the picture quality, and the backlight correction helps to capture perfect shots.
Conclusion:
The device has substantial specifications to regard it as the best camera for filming movies, such as a 3. 38 megapixels full HD sensor, DIGIC DV 4 processor, and MP4 format support.
The camera also possesses a removable SD card to record the videos directly.
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CONCLUSION:
Alright, guys, that concludes all the cameras we will discuss today in this article.
Do you guys have any experience with these cameras? What are your thoughts on them?
Which is your Best camera for filming movies?
Is there a camera I didn’t mention in this article that you love using for macro photography?
Would you please leave your thoughts and comments below?
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I am a Professional and Certified Digital Photographer born in the USA. I have been in this field of photography for 22 years, and in these years, I have used many photography lenses and Cameras, which I want to share here on this website about my experience. The idea for Bestoflens.com is to provide honest information about different Lenses and Camera products in the format of a “Best lenses for AYZ” list. I want this website to be the last destination for people to pick the best Cameras and lenses to fit their needs. You can find our unbiased reviews here on Bestoflens.