Best Budget Camera Phone 2015

If you're in a hurry and just want to find out what the best camera for filmmaking on a budget is, then I'd recommend the following!

Best Camera for the Filmmaker: Panasonic G85
Best Camera for the Hybrid Shooter (photography and video): Sony a6400 or Fujifilm X-T200
Cheapest 4K Camera for Filmmaking: DJI Pocket 2

As a filmmaker and videographer buying a new camera on a budget, it can be easy to get distracted by all the marketing hype out there showing off the latest and greatest in camera technology.

The good news is that because of these innovations across the camera market, there is a huge selection of great budget cameras for every type of filmmaker now. For an inside look into how I used the budget Sony a6500 to create my award winning short film Spirit of Matsu, make sure to take a look at my How to Make a Movie article too!

I understand that the total budget is relative to each person and what their goals are. To take this into account, I set a realistic budget for all the cameras in this review to a maximum of $1,300 for the camera body and its kit lens.

Here are the other criteria each camera meets in this article:

Criteria for Cameras in this Article:

Under $1300 with kit lens
At least 1080p resolution
A minimum slow motion frame rate of 60 frames per second (FPS) in 1080p
Usable autofocus system

Why Trust Me?

As with all of the Ultimate Guides I create, I have poured countless hours of research into this article to make sure you have all the information you need to make the best decision.

I have seen way too many camera articles that either don't cover everything you need to know or they're not updated frequently. Camera technology changes quickly, so to have the best information, you need the most updated information.

In my opinion, to truly understand what makes a good budget cinema camera, you need to have used them day in and day out in a variety of different situations.

I've been a professional filmmaker and photographer since 2018 and have been lucky enough to work on projects all over the world with brands such as Alaska Airlines, Kayak.com, Prague Tourism, Visa, Airbnb, and many more. If you're curious to see the full list of companies we've worked with, just head over to our Work With Us page.

I have used the budget-friendly Sony a6500 professionally for many years and even shot my award-winning short film Spirit of Matsu with the camera.

From these experiences working with what is considered a beginner filmmaking camera, I think I'm in a good position to help you find the best camera for filmmaking on a budget.

Most importantly, I'm just a message away. So, if you have any questions, just leave a comment below, email me at [email protected] , or send me a DM on Instagram @tom.shu .

P.S. I answer every question that is sent 🙂

Reviews of the 10 Best Cameras for Budget Filmmaking

1. Sony a6400

Normally, I would've had the Sony a6500 is this spot on the list, but it recently got discontinued. With that said, the Sony a6400 is just as good of a camera with nearly identical features. Plus, it's a newer Sony camera so you get some of Sony's most updated technology. The main difference is that it doesn't have the 5-axis image stabilization found in the Sony a6500.

Notes From The Field: To give you an idea of what this camera is capable of, the Sony a6500 is the camera I used to film most of my award-winning short film Spirit of Matsu . Although the Sony a6400 is slightly different from the Sony a6500, the video frame rates and the sensor are the same, so you'll still be able to get a good idea of what the quality of the video looks like.

Like the Sony a5100 from above, the Sony a6400 is small and compact and is packed with video features. With that said, you do get an upgraded weather-sealed body that's much more durable than the Sony a5100 or Sony a6100. For its video specs, the Sony a6400 can shoot in 4K up to 30 FPS and in 1080p up to 120 FPS. At its price point, the Sony a6400 is still one of the only APS-C sensor cameras with the ability to shoot in 120 FPS.

Yes, the Sony ZV-1 has the High Frame Rate (HFR) mode which gives you the ability to shoot in extremely high frame rates such as 240 FPS and even 960 FPS, but the sensor size is much smaller.

As with all Sony cameras, one of its biggest advantages is its autofocus speed and accuracy. What's nice is that since the a6400 is a newer model of Sony cameras, it comes with the latest autofocus technology. The Sony a6400 uses the classic Sony combination of 425 phase-detection and 425 contrast-detection points and improves on it with the addition of real-time autofocus tracking in video mode.

Another nice addition to this camera that separates it from the Sony a6100 is the inclusion of Sony's full catalog of picture profiles. This includes HLG (HDR), S-Log2, and S-Log3 picture profiles which will give you more dynamic range and make it easier for you to color grade your footage in post if you choose to do so.

There are of course downsides to this camera too. It's a bummer that this camera still uses the notoriously bad Sony NP-FW50 battery so the battery life isn't the best. Its LCD screen is also hard to see in bright light, and it doesn't have built-in image stabilization like the now discontinued Sony a6500 or the Panasonic cameras in this article.

With that said, this is still one of the best cameras for filmmaking given its video specific features, autofocus capabilities, and low light performance.

Notes From The Field: If you like what you see with the Sony a6400 and want to save a little extra money, the Sony a6100 could be a good choice. It has a less durable build and no flat picture profile options. However, it uses the same sensor as the Sony a6400 and a more expensive Sony a6600, so picture/video quality will be pretty much the same.

PROS:

Slow motion frame rate of 1080p at up to 120 FPS, which is one of the best in this article.
Great ISO range. One of the best low light cameras you can find in this price range with it's APS-C CMOS sensor.
Excellent autofocus with the 425 phase-detection and contrast-detection autofocus points that cover most of the frame. Plus, it's a newer Sony camera so you get the latest autofocus technology including real-time autofocus tracking.
Built-in intervalometer so you're able to shoot time-lapses without downloading additional apps or using an external intervalometer.
Full selection of picture profiles including HLG (HDR), S-Log2, and S-Log3, which will give you a greater dynamic range.
No 4k recording limit.
Crispy UHD 4K at 24 and 30 FPS.

CONS:

No built-in image stabilization versus the 5-axis image stabilization in the Panasonic cameras.
The SD card slot is located on the bottom of the camera so it's not as convenient to access if you're using a tripod or gimbal.
There is an additional crop when shooting in 4K (~1.05x in 24 FPS and ~1.2x in 30 FPS)
Still uses the Sony NP-FW50 battery which isn't the best.
It's hard to use the LCD screen under a bright sun and it only flips up.

2. Sony a6100

image of camera being thrown up against white background

You can call the Sony a6100 the budget version of the Sony a6400. So, if you like what you see with the Sony a6400, but want to save some money for a lens or other camera accessories you need, this might be a good choice.

Overall, they're very similar cameras with just a few minor differences. What's important to understand is that all the Sony Alpha APS-C cameras use the same APS-C sensor so the video quality, image quality, and video frame rates will be the same.

This also means that even though the Sony a6100 is the cheapest model, it still shares the same advanced autofocus system as the Sony a6400 and the flagship Sony a6600. The only difference is that the top-of-the-line Sony a6600 has eye autofocus when shooting video while the Sony a6100 and Sony a6400 do not.

The main downsides in going with the Sony a6100 versus the Sony a6400 are that its body is made out of plastic, it doesn't have weather protection of any kind, and it doesn't include picture profiles. Out of these negatives, the lack of picture profiles is probably the biggest shortcoming when it comes to filmmaking.

If you're on the fence between the Sony a6100 and Sony a6400 here are the main differences between the two cameras when it comes to features and specs.

Feature	Sony a6100	Sony a6400
Viewfinder Resolution	1.4 Million Dots	2.4 Million Dots
Body Material	Plastic and not weather sealed	Magnesium Alloy that is sealed against dust and moisture
Picture Profiles	None available	Full selection including S-Log

PROS

A cheaper version of the Sony a6400 which uses the same sensor and features the same great AF system.
APS-C size sensor camera with a great ISO range. It's easily one of the best low-light cameras you can find in this price range.
Excellent autofocus with the hybrid 425 point AF phase-detect and contrast-detect autofocus system.
The Sony E Mount ecosystem is one of the best and makes upgrading to a more advanced full-frame or APS-C sensor camera easy.
Up to 120 FPS shooting speed at 1080p.
Has a standard 3.5mm microphone input.
No 4k video recording limit.
Crispy UHD 4K video.

CONS

No built-in stabilization versus the built-in 5 axis stabilization in the Panasonic G85.
There is an additional crop when shooting in 4K.
Still uses the Sony NP-FW50 battery which isn't the best.
No headphone jack.
It's hard to use the LCD screen under a bright sun and it only flips up.
No flat picture profiles which will give you less flexibility if you plan to get into filmmaking.
Plastic build and no weather sealing of any kind.

3. Panasonic G85

photo of black camera on a black background

Next up is another great inexpensive video camera for filmmaking from Panasonic, the Panasonic G85. It's very similar to the Panasonic GH4, so if you like what you read about the GH4, then this is another camera to consider.

With that said, there are still some pros and cons of both cameras so let's get into the details.

The first thing you'll notice about the G85 is how similar it looks and feels to the GH4. You get the same nice heavy-duty weather sealed body and similar ergonomics that made the GH4 so popular.

The biggest upgrade for the Panasonic G85 is that the autofocus system is much better than the GH4 and it has unreal in-body image stabilization.

It's not the best autofocus system on this list as the Sony phase-detect autofocus system is clearly better, but at least you can trust it in most situations.

The in-body image stabilization is pretty incredible. I have seen many clips from other filmmakers of handheld footage looking like footage shot on a gimbal.

As I said, it's not all positives with this camera.

The biggest downside is that there is no variable frame rate with this camera. With the GH4, you can pick different variable frame rates up to 96 FPS. However, with the G85 you can only choose to shoot in 24 FPS, 30 FPS, and 60 FPS. There's also no headphone jack and the battery life isn't as good as the Panasonic GH4.

With that said, this is still one of the best cameras for filmmaking especially if you're looking for a camera with built-in image stabilization.

PROS:

Better autofocus than the Panasonic GH4, but still not even close to the Sony phase-detect autofocus system.
Fully weather-sealed which is hard to find in a camera at this price range.
Amazing in-body image stabilization. Image stabilization is up to 5-stops if you use a native lens with image stabilization.
Full selection of picture profiles which will give you greater dynamic range and give you more flexibility to color grade your footage.
The SD card slot is on the side of the camera which makes it a lot easier to change if you have the camera on a gimbal or tripod.
Better in low light and at higher ISO levels than the GH4, but still not as good as the low light performance of the Sony a6400.
Since it is a Micro Four Thirds, there is a wide variety of lenses available from Panasonic, Olympus, Sigma, Tamron, and many more.

CONS:

The max slow motion frame rate is 60 FPS as this camera doesn't have a variable frame rate option like the GH4
The sensor is Micro Four Thirds, so it is much smaller compared to the Sony a5100, Sony a6400, Fujifilm X-T200, and Nikon D3500.
Autofocus and low light performance are still not as good as the Sony a6400.

4. Sony ZV-1

The Sony ZV-1 is Sony's newest 1″ sensor point-and-shoot camera and it improves on many of the downsides of the previous Sony RX Series cameras and the older Sony APS-C cameras like the Sony a5100 which we just went over.

Here are just some of the big improvements they made. It feels like Sony really listened to the feedback from their community when making this camera and tried to fit in as many upgrades as possible.

Side flip-out screen which is a first for a Sony camera.
Built-in ND filter which they removed from the RX100 VII that we will go over next.
No 4k recording limit vs the 15 minutes on the Fujifilm X-T200 or the 30 mins on the Panasonic G85.
A built-in hot shoe so you can connect an external microphone. The Sony RX100 VII does not have a hot-shoe.
Improves on the rolling shutter issue of the Sony APS-C cameras.
A built-in timelapse mode.

With these improvements, the Sony ZV-1 is one of the most powerful budget-friendly filmmaking cameras from Sony and comes with everything you need to get started filming straight out of the box.

On the technical specs side, the camera is nearly identical to Sony's newest and much more expensive APS-C sensor camera, the Sony a6600. It has the same menu system, the same powerful video autofocus with real-time eye autofocus tracking, and object tracking capabilities. It also has the newest Sony color science giving your videos a better overall look.

I think one of the best parts of this camera is that it includes the popular High Frame Rate (HFR) mode found in the Sony RX series cameras. This will allow you to record at extremely high slow motion frame rates such as 240 FPS, 480 FPS, and even 960 FPS in 1080p.

The most important thing is that Sony actually priced this camera at under $1,000, which is pretty incredible!

You would think that with all of these new features and improvements, Sony would have priced it at a minimum of around ~$1,000 which is what other Sony RX series cameras have historically been listed at.

PROS

Same autofocus features as Sony's best APS-C and full-frame cameras which include real-time video eye autofocus tracking and object tracking.
Side flip-out screen and better ergonomics such as a bigger record button and built-in thumb and front grip.
Built-in ND filter which will make filming in bright conditions with a wide aperture much easier.
No 4K recording limit.
A built-in timelapse mode will allow you to easily capture time-lapses for your film.
Better internal audio with Sony's newest 3 capsule mic design. It also includes a dead cat that you can attach via the hot shoe.
Sony's newest color science for a better overall look.
Incredible selection of slow motion frame rates including the High Frame Rate (HFR) mode from previous Sony RX Series cameras.
Very good price point value especially when compared to older Sony RX Series cameras.

CONS

It's still a 1" sensor camera so you will not have the best low light performance.
It's not an interchangeable lens camera so you will have to stick with this lens which has a full-frame equivalence of about 24-70mm.
The SD card slot is located on the bottom of the camera so it's not as convenient to access if you're using a tripod or gimbal.
The battery life is not as good since it is a smaller camera.

5. Fujifilm X-T200

I actually didn't know about the Fujifilm X-T200 until one of you suggested I check out this camera and after taking a look, I got to say, this really is an awesome budget filmmaking camera.

It's pretty crazy how much Fujifilm was able to squeeze into this little camera especially considering it's usually at a lower price point than the Panasonic GH4, Panasonic G85, and Sony a6400 which are pretty cheap cameras already. They're also the X-T200's biggest competitors.

First off, let's talk about the positives of this camera and see how it stacks up with the two Panasonic cameras and the Sony a6400. The most obvious difference between the Panasonic cameras and the Fujifilm X-T200 is the sensor size difference as the X-T200 sports an APS-C size sensor vs the Micro Four Thirds size sensor in the Panasonic G85 and Panasonic GH4.

Like the Sony a6400, this difference in sensor size will give you better performance in low light conditions and you'll be able to shoot at higher ISOs without worrying about introducing too much grain into your video footage.

On the video side, the Fujifilm X-T200 isn't bad either. Yes, it's not as powerful as the Panasonic cameras or Sony a6400, but it still gives you a flexible set of video options to create a beautiful film. For video frame rates, it can record in UHD 4K at up to 30 FPS and the best part is that there's no additional 4K crop in either 24 FPS or 30 FPS as you see with the Sony a6400 (1.2x 4k crop in 30 FPS).

For slow-motion frame rates, the X-T200 can also record in 1080p at up to 120 FPS, which is better than the 96 FPS found in the Panasonic GH4 or the 60 FPS found in the Panasonic G85.

Additionally, as with all other Fujifilm cameras, you get access to its popular film simulation modes. This is a great cinematic feature to have as it will give you the ability to simulate 11 different classic film looks from Fujifilm film stock such as Provia, Velvia, and Classic Chrome without the need to apply LUTs to your footage.

As with all cameras, there are some downsides to the Fujifilm X-T200. The 2 biggest negatives with this camera are that it only has electronic image stabilization versus the 5 axis image stabilization in the Panasonic cameras, and there is a 15-minute recording limit when shooting in 4K (versus 30 min recording limit in the Panasonic G85)

Notes From The Field: If you like what you see with the Fujifilm X-T200 and would benefit from a flat F-Log profile, an even higher DCI 4k resolution, and the ability to externally record 10-bit 4:2:2 video then the Fujifilm X-T30 might be worth considering. With that said, at its current price point, the Sony a6400 is slightly more attractive as it has a better screen design, no 4k recording limit, and slightly better video autofocus performance.

PROS:

Very good value for the price with a variety of different recording modes and an APS-C size CMOS sensor.
4K UHD Video and slow motion frame rate of 1080p at up to 120 FPS.
Access to Fujifilm's popular film simulation mode which gives you the ability to simulate 11 classic film looks based on Fujifilm film stock.
Autofocus performance and low light performance is very good
No additional crop when shooting in 4k 24 FPS or 30 FPS versus the additional 1.2x crop on the Sony a6400 when shooting in 4k 30 FPS.
A fully articulating flip screen makes it a lot easier to see what you're shooting from all different angles.

CONS:

A lack of built-in 5 axis image stabilization like the Panasonic cameras, however, it does have electronic image stabilization.
There is a 15-minute recording limit when shooting in 4k.
The SD card slot is located on the bottom of the camera so it's not as convenient to access if you're using a tripod or gimbal.
No option to shoot in a flat picture profile which will make coloring your video harder in post-production.

6. DJI Pocket 2

image of person holding up a pocket camera in front of plants

The DJI Pocket 2 is DJI's newest pocket gimbal and it improves on many of the popular and unpopular features of the original model. The newest additions make this one of the cheapest and best 4k video cameras available.

Here are just some of the improvements that were made:

Ability to shoot in 1080p at up to 240 FPS. This is double the slow-motion frame rate of the previous generation.
A wider 20mm equivalent lens vs the 26mm lens of the original camera.
Larger 1./1.7-inch sensor vs the original 1/2.3 inch sensor.
64-megapixel photos vs 12-megapixels.
Improved autofocus with Hybrid AF 2.0.
Attachable mini control stick which gives more precise control.
And many more…

To give you an idea of how the DJI Pocket 2 performs, I put together this cinematic short film about making Lunar New Years Dinner and this cinematic test with footage taken during my road trip through Washington State and Oregon.

Since the price of the base model of the DJI Pocket 2 and the original DJI Pocket Gimbal are so similar, it's a no brainer to get the new version.

If you already have this camera, it might be worth considering the upgrade too considering the Osmo Pocket 2 doubles your slow-motion frame rate, has a larger sensor, and uses an improved autofocus system.

Now let's dive a little more into what you get with the DJI Pocket 2.

For video frame rates you're able to shoot in 4k or 2k at up to 60 FPS, which is pretty incredible and is the only camera in this article other than the iPhone that can do this.

On the slow-motion side, there is a dedicated slow-motion mode that will allow you to shoot up to 240 FPS in 1080p. The only other camera with high frame rate options such as 240 FPS is the Sony ZV-1 and it's double the price.

The best part about this camera is that DJI took the feedback seriously and improved on all the negative aspects of the previous model. I think two of the most notable improvements are the wider lens and the improved audio quality.

The camera now comes standard with a 20mm equivalent lens. This is an important change as many vloggers found the previous 26mm lens a little too tight for vlogging. Now with a 20mm lens + 2 different zoom options (4x and 8x), you have a much more flexible lens when it comes to focal lengths.

For audio, the Pocket Gimbal now has what DJI calls DJI Matrix Stereo. This is a set of four different microphones on the handle which will dynamically record sound based on the direction you're shooting in or if you're zooming in or out. It's an innovative solution to audio and one to take a second look into especially since audio is so important in filmmaking.

When it comes to the overall value proposition of this camera, it really depends on what you're looking for. If you want something that is a tiny filmmaking powerhouse that you can easily fit in your pocket, this might be a good fit for you.

However, you obviously can't change lenses with this camera and it's not as easy to use for photography so if those features are important to you, another camera is probably a better fit.

If you're looking for more information about this camera and my first hand filmmaking experience, make sure to check out my DJI Pocket 2 Review article too. In the article, I share my thoughts on why I think the camera is worth it and include 10 of my favorite tips to optimize the performance of this camera.

PROS:

One of the best cameras for filmmaking if you're looking for a compact, cheap and all-in-one tool.
Larger 1./1.7-inch sensor vs the original model which will give you better low light performance and quality.
Very good 4k, 2k, and slow motion video frame rates especially given its small size.
Able to shoot slow motion in 4k up to 60 FPS, which most cameras in this budget are not able to do.
Three-axis stabilization for amazingly smooth footage.
Cool intelligent modes such as active FaceTrack, Timelapse, and Panorama.
20mm lens that will be wide enough for vloggers and for capturing more in a shot.
You can also buy additional accessories such as the wireless microphone transmitter and Do-It-All Handle to customize your set up even further.

CONS:

You have to connect your mobile phone and go through the DJI registration process to use the camera.
Even though it looks and feels like it should be weatherproof, it's not.
Not meant to record for long periods of time in a single shot.
No ability to change lenses.
The 1/1.7 inch sensor is smaller than the Micro Four Thirds and APS-C size sensors in the other cameras.

7. Panasonic GH4

photo of black camera in front of white background

When you open the box of the Panasonic GH4, you'll be immediately impressed by how well it is made. Although it's another mirrorless camera, it has the look and feel of a much more expensive 'classic DSLR.' It has a solid weather-sealed magnesium body, which feels great in your hand.

For filmmaking, the extra bulk helps make it easier to handle when shooting especially compared to the smaller cameras we have covered.

One of the best parts about the build of the camera is that the screen fully articulates, so you can easily maneuver it in a variety of different positions.

This is aMicro Four Thirds camera, but don't let that fool you into thinking it doesn't have the professional filmmaking capabilities.

The camera is a great all-around filmmaking tool that is capable of recording in Ultra HD 4K at 30/24 FPS and Cinema 4k at 24 FPS.

If you want to throw in some slow-motion action into what you're shooting, you also have the ability to film in slow motion frame rates up to 96 FPS at 1080p, which is pretty good.

When compared to the Sony cameras that we have gone over, the Panasonic GH4 has none of the overheating issues the Sony cameras have. The battery life is also much better.

The big downside with the GH4 is the autofocus system. The camera uses a contrast-based autofocus system, which performs significantly slower than the phase-detect autofocus system the Sony cameras have.

If you rely on autofocus for your filmmaking, this will be the main deal-breaker with this camera.

PROS:

Solid-body, camera feel, and overall ergonomics.
Battery life is very good.
The screen fully articulates and is much better than the Sony cameras. This makes it a lot easier to see what you're shooting in bright lighting conditions.
The SD card slot is on the side of the camera which makes it a lot easier to change if you have the camera on a gimbal or tripod.
HDMI output. It allows you to record directly to an external recorder at a 4:2:2 sampling rate (professional standard), which is a nice option to have. (source).
A full selection of picture profiles which will give you greater dynamic range and make it easier to color grade your footage.
Pretty good slow motion frame rate of 1080p at up to 96 FPS.
There are no overheating issues like the Sony cameras.

CONS:

No in-body image stabilization like the Panasonic G85.
The autofocus system on this camera is much worse than Sony's.
The sensor is Micro Four Thirds, so it is much smaller compared to the Sony a5100, Sony a6400, Fujifilm X-T200 Nikon D3500.
Poor low light performance. The footage is noticeably grainier than the Sony a6400 and Panasonic G85 at higher ISO values in low light situations.
The slow-motion frame rate only goes to 96 FPS compared to 120 FPS on the Sony a6400 and 960 FPS on the Sony ZV-1.
You will have a heavy crop since the sensor is Micro Four Thirds.

8. Nikon D3500

image of black camera in an office setting

This is the only Nikon on this list, but it's a good one for those of you on a low budget.

Many people agree the Nikon D3500 is one of the best body and kit lens combos for its price range. You can usually find the combo for under $500 before tax, which is hard to beat, so let's see how it stacks up.

The first thing to point out is that the camera comes with a 24.2MP APS-C sensor, which is great for this price range.

It's a very compact size for a DSLR camera. I also really like how many different buttons and dials are on the camera. This makes navigating the menu system and changing settings much easier than the Sony a5100.

Similar to the Sony a5100, the biggest downside is the Nikon D3500 does not shoot in 4k. It does go up to 60 FPS at 1080p, but nowadays the ability to shoot in 4k is more of the norm; even at this price range.

The negatives for filmmaking don't end there. The next big bummer is the screen on this camera. The screen does not flip out in any way and there are no touch capabilities, which will make it more difficult to film from different angles.

It's a bummer Nikon did not include at least a flip-out screen because the rest of the cameras have a screen with some movement.

One of the stand-out features is the Nikon range of glass that's available to this camera. There are lenses to fit every budget and possible needs any filmmaker might have. It might not seem important at the start, but the sheer range of glass available new and secondhand is a plus to any videographer.

PROS:

Good value for the price especially with the APS-C CMOS sensor.
Since it is a Nikon, you have a great range of lenses available.
Good ergonomics with a variety of different buttons and dials, which makes navigating the menu easier.
The SD card slot is on the side of the camera which makes it a lot easier to change if you have the camera on a gimbal or tripod.
The autofocus is pretty good, but it's nothing compared to the Sony cameras.
The video quality is pretty decent.

CONS:

No 4K video and slow motion frame rate is only up to 60 FPS in 1080p.
Video recording limit of 30 minutes.
Lack of flip-out screen and touch capabilities on the screen which will make it more difficult to film in different positions.
Made more for photography. There is no dedicated video mode or button, so you have to go into a sub-menu to find the different video modes available.
No mic jack so it will be more difficult to record sound if audio is important in your film.
Lightweight and cheaper plastic feel to the camera.

9. Canon EOS M50

Notes From The Field: Canon just released the new version of this camera, the Canon EOS M50 Mark II. Brand new, it's about $50 more than the current model. The big difference between the Mark II and this camera is a slightly improved user interface and the addition of a clean HDMI feed straight from the camera. The clean HDMI feed will make it much easier to live stream with the camera. Other than these two changes, nothing else has changed. So if you might live stream or could see yourself using the camera for video calls it would make sense to get the Canon EOS M50 Mark II. However, if you don't see any benefit from this, and like what you see already, then there isn't any reason to spend the extra money.

This is the only Canon on our list and is a decent budget filmmaking choice if you want to get into the Canon ecosystem. Of course, Canon offers one of the best selections of native lenses in the market for filmmakers, so you'll easily be able to find lenses for how you work.

Add that to the famous Canon colors and you have a great starting point to capture some cinematic footage.

The main question at this price range is how does it compare with the Panasonic GH4, Panasonic G85, and Sony a5100.

The first thing you'll notice about the camera is its plasticy build. The ergonomics are ok, but there is a noticeable lack of buttons and dials on the camera, which makes it a little difficult to switch settings quickly.

What I like about the Panasonic cameras is that there are two separate dials for exposure. So, with one dial, you can change your shutter speed and with the other dial, you can change your aperture.

The Canon EOS M50 only has one exposure dial, so you'll have to go through the menu system to change between aperture and shutter speed. It does slightly beat out the Sony a5100 menu system, though.

What's bad about this camera is its video capabilities compared to the Panasonic cameras and even to the Sony a5100 to some extent. Although the M50 has the ability to shoot 4k, it's pretty hard to use and the camera does not have in-body image stabilization.

In 4k video mode, the dual pixel autofocus is disabled, so you're only able to use its mediocre contrast autofocus system. When you're shooting 4k, the autofocus clearly hunts around to try to find the focus point, which I think is pretty unusable.

I'm still not sure why Canon had to do this.

At slow motion frame rates, the M50 doesn't really compete with the Panasonic cameras or the Sony a5100. With the M50, you can shoot up to 60 FPS, but it drops the resolution to 720p.

The one positive is that in 1080p, the dual pixel autofocus of the M50 is actually pretty good and performs better than the autofocus in the Panasonic cameras. The video quality is usable too.

Even so, I think it's pretty clear that the Panasonic cameras are a better choice at this price range.

Notes From The Field: The Canon M6 Mark II could be a good fit if you like what you see with the Canon EOS M50, but would like a usable 4k video mode. The Canon M6 Mark II is considerably more expensive than the Canon M50, but you get 4k with no crop and dual pixel autofocus plus 1080p at up to 120 FPS. With that said, it's at a higher price point and the 4k quality is not as good as the cheaper Sony a6400.

PROS:

Very easy to use camera that gives you great looking 1080p footage.
APS-C size CMOS sensor versus the Micro Four Thirds or smaller sensor of other cameras
Since it is the Canon camera, you know you are getting a camera that can capture great colors.
The dual-pixel autofocus in 1080p video mode is pretty good.

CONS:

The ergonomics are not as good as the Panasonic cameras in this article and it has a plasticky build.
Recording limit of 30 minutes.
Dual-pixel autofocus does not work when shooting in 4k.
The 120 FPS frame rate is only available in 720p.
The SD card slot is located on the bottom of the camera so it's not as convenient to access if you're using a tripod or gimbal.
At this price range, the Panasonic cameras are a much better choice.

10. iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max 256 GB

photo of iphone with iphone box with blurry background

With the release of the iPhone 12 and iPhone 11, the iPhone XS is now an, even more, budget-friendly option for your main filmmaking camera.

Yes, the iPhone XS isn't as good of a camera when you're looking at it from a camera technology standpoint. However, I still think the iPhone XS can hold its own and it's definitely still more than capable of capturing cinematic footage for your films.

As you know, the best thing about using an iPhone as your main filmmaking camera is that it's so much more than just a camera.

With all the different apps and functionality of the phone, it can be your sound recorder, sound mixer, video editor, and even location scout. You could literally take out the iPhone, download a cinematic video app like Filmic Pro, and be ready to go.

Then after you're done shooting, you can use another app like iMovie or Adobe Premiere Rush to edit your film together.

There are two 12 megapixel front-facing cameras, one wide-angle with f/1.2 aperture, and a 2x telephoto lens at f/2.4. They can both shoot 4K video up to 60 FPS and you can even shoot slow motion in 1080p at 120 FPS and 240 FPS, which is better than most of the cameras on this list.

For video, there is optical image stabilization, which is surprisingly good, so you can get decently smooth footage even without a gimbal.

The downside is that it's still a phone camera. So, compared to the other cameras in this review, you won't get as good of dynamic range, it won't be as good in low light situations, and you won't really be able to change lenses.

Another thing to think about is if you're a Windows user and plan to edit your video on your computer. Since Apple products have their own ecosystem, file transfer between the iPhone and your Windows computer can be frustrating.

PROS:

Can record 4K video in real-time and slow motion frame rates up to 60 FPS.
So much more than just a camera since it's one of the best mobile phones on the market.
Improved high dynamic range (HDR) compared to the iPhone X, so you can better expose in dynamic light situations.
You can shoot and edit all on one device.
The optical image stabilization is surprisingly good.

CONS:

First and foremost, it's still a mobile phone, so you don't get the full flexibility of a camera.
For the most part, the memory is internal to the phone. You can add external memory, but it is bulky.
Apple products don't work as well with other products outside its ecosystem which can make file transfer a hassle.
For the price range it's at you could get most of the other cameras in the article.