Digital Video Cameras
Which video camera is best for you?
Canon, Sony, Panasonic/Lumix, Black Magic, Nikon. With so many brands, models and levels of features available, where do you start when choosing a video camera?

Digital video cameras come in all shapes and sizes and are everywhere these days:
The sheer choice of video cameras available is becoming greater all the time. How do you know which will do the job effectively for you?
Do you want to film your antics on the ski slopes of southern France? Maybe record your wild days skydiving with mates from 14,000 feet? Perhaps you want to create your own "how to" videos for YouTube or to sell to the public? Maybe you simply want a high resolution, 4K video camera to record forever your wonderful, growing family as time goes by!
Whatever you need a video camera for, buy the right one that works for you
I personally love video. I always have since my photography tutor took our class to the local television studios in South East Kent. We were allowed to use the TV cameras including headphones and then play with the mixing desk. I was just 15,
We were shooting a short film for the "Young People's National Film Festival" at the National Film Theatre on the South Bank in London. I was in heaven but why did no-one notice my love for photo and video back then in the early 1980's!


Click for larger images
Since then, I have always had some way of recording family events. Whether it be a stills camera or cine/video camera. I still have all that footage and all those photos to hopefully look at and reminisce over in years to come. Here I am in 1985 on the day of Live Aid. I was filming my grandparent's golden wedding anniversary from the roof. However, that footage was lost when my father taped over it with a western movie!!!
The digital video cameras I currently own include everything from the smallest helmet camera to a professional grade, High Definition Handycam.
My current list of video (and stills) cameras
All of these camera suit me for different purposes except for my very old ones (not listed). Those are now book ends ornaments in my office!
As at 2024, the top 2 are the ones I use the most with the GH7 taking a top spot when I buy it. The amazing Panasonic S1H and S5iiX for up to 6K RAW video and some stills. The drones are all good for up to 5.1K Pro Res video and high quality stills.
Below are some of my favourite aerial clips using my (now dead) DJI Inspire 1. The poor thing died at sea whilst filming an advert in December 2020:
Sample, and More Recent Panasonic S1H Footage
One early, overcast morning I was inspired by a photo my wife took of some wheat in our garden. I grabbed the Panny with 105mm macro lens and spent an hour filming it...
Dedicated Digital Video Cameras
Let's start at the higher end. These are the cameras that are broadcast quality. The types that are used for Netflix and BBC programmes. Sadly, they come in at premium prices too. Take the beautiful PMW-FX9 for example...
Priced at nearly around £10k body only, it is a lot of money. However, you get a lot of bang for your buck including:
The reason I say "like my S1H or Panny's" above is this. The GH7, S5iiX and S1H are significantly cheaper than the Sony FX9 above. There are obviously other differences but for the average Joe wanting to shoot amazing quality video, you don't need to break the bank!
Anyway, this isn't a review page so I will leave it there. I'll just say that you should only look at these pro cameras if you work needs it. To be honest, there are way smaller cameras at much lower prices that come close to this quality.
DSLR vs Mirrorless for Video
If you could see on a 4K monitor, the footage from the excellent Panasonic GH7, RAW, 10-bit, 6K, or the S1H/S5iiX, or the Canon R5 Mark ii, you would be amazed. I can almost guarantee that most people couldn't tell the difference between those and the FX9 above. Especially when using Canon's L glass like I do.
However, the aging Lumix S1H cost around £3600 at launch (although some second hand cameras at great prices are in abundance in 2025) and the GH7 comes in at less than $2,200 right now (2025)! A GREAT buy considering what you get.
Panasonic broke the mould when they released the GH4/5's as they (still) produce stunning 4K footage for a very reasonable price, even in 2025. I absolutely loved my GH5 and used it a lot (stills and video) but is now sold and the Panasonic GH7 is now a go-to camera for many amateur and professional filmmakers.
In fact, if you have some old Canon lenses and something like a Metabones Speedbooster adapter, check out the video below. Amazing!
Canon Could (n't)
Canon on the other hand just couldn't seem to get it right at first. I own the Canon EOS 5D Mark IV but only for stills and the occasional video. It's 4K video is great quality but a pain to work with. The worst thing for me though is the rolling shutter. It can make clips 100% unusable and the file sizes are huge and heavy going to work with.
In (2018), they released their first 4K mirrorless camera, the Canon EOS M50, and to be honest it was a bit of a let down. It has some nice features including a fully articulating screen but I couldn't help feeling it was a bit behind the times even at launch.
I don't think it is anywhere near the quality of other 4K video cameras in this bracket. However, it was priced at around $579 so not all bad.
At the higher end, the Sony A9 iii with the first Full Frame Global Shutter ($5,998) and recently released Sony A7 IV ($2,098) are stunning. Too much to go into here but I can see myself migrating to Sony in the future. It is so tough out there people!
Canon Can with the Canon EOS R5 Mark II!
Since writing this, Canon have release the mirrorless Canon EOS R5 Mark II (around $4,299). A veritable beast of a camera shooting;
- 45MP full-frame CMOS stacked sensor
- Dual Pixel Intelligent AF
- 8K RAW video up to 60p
- Up to 4K/120p
- 30fps max shooting speed
- In-camera upscaling
- 8.5 stops image stabilisation
Stunning and well worth a look if you are serious about shooting video.
Best Drones for Video and Stills
Selfie taken with the DJI Mavic 3 Pro Cine
I fell in love with flying drones with the DJI Phantom 2 back in 2015. Since then, drone work has been a major part of my career and will hopefully be so going forward. I am constantly checking the weather to see:
- 1If it is suitable for flying
- 2If there are some cool weather fronts such as mist, fog, sunrises/sunsets to film
- 3Well, any excuse to fly really...
Best Consumer/Prosumer Drone
If you are an amateur or someone looking to start a video business, take a look at the DJI Mini 4 Pro. This camera weighs less than 250g so you don't need any licenses to fly commercially (as at early 2025). However, the image quality and features are unbelievable for such a small and capable drone.
Best Professional (and affordable for most businesses) Drone
I am currently flying the DJI Mavic 3 Pro Cine as at the end of 2024. It shoots stunning 5.1k video in Pro Res and up to 4k 120fps for super slow motion. With three cameras (24mm wide, 70mm tele and 166mm tele), shooting video and stills with this beast is so much fun. Clients love the fact that it shoots Pro Res in full LOG.
However, it is rumoured that in April 2025, DJI will be announcing the update...the DJI Mavic 4 Pro and it looks incredible (and yes, I will be upgrading)!
In my opinion, the two drones above are the leaders for sub 250g and professional drone video (and stills) for most small to medium media businesses. I would 100% recommend that you start with the DJI Mini 3 Pro or DJI Mini 4 Pro to get started.
Digital Video Cameras and You
So, what video camera is good for you? There are new cameras being released all the time with more and more advanced features. Sony seem to be taking the video world by storm with their amazing sensors but don't be put off. Don't wait for the next best camera. Try not to be dazzled by all this tech. Simply work out what you need and find the right camera to suit those needs. Failing that, just work with what you already have!
I hope the above helps you to firstly make the choice about which "style" of camera you need and then you can set about choosing one of many digital video cameras within your budget that will satisfy your needs. Check out the reviews at Amazon for the various cameras below as a good place to start.
Please leave any comments or questions below : )