Five cameras with interchangeable lenses for shooting 4K video

The heir to the popular Panasonic Lumix DMC-G7 camera is sharpened not so much for photographing as for video recording in 4K format. It occupies the position of one of the most affordable cameras with interchangeable optics for high-level video shooting.

A 5-axis matrix image stabilization system has been used in the camera design, the main function of which is to compensate for camera vibrations along all axes in order to avoid getting smudged in the photo and make the movements on the video smoother. The stub can work both separately and in conjunction with an object on board of which an optical stabilization system is installed. With the introduction of matrix stabilization, the need to purchase additional accessories (tripod, steadicam, etc.) has significantly decreased.

Videos are recorded by the camera in a resolution up to 3840x2160 pixels (4K format). The maximum speed when shooting in UltraHD resolution is limited to 30 fps with a bit rate of 100 Mbit/s. In FullHD, videos are written at a frequency of 60 fps — in this the camera is no different from most similar solutions. For serious work with video, the camera equipment lacks only a port for connecting headphones, through which the operator could control the quality of sound recording.

The heart of the camera is a typical Micro 4/3 sensor with a resolution of 16 MP. Matrices of such a plan like good lighting, so it makes no sense to overly raise the ISO value when working with them in low—light conditions — the picture will inevitably be spoiled by noise already with ISO 1600. With a sufficient amount of colour (no matter if it is sunny or artificial), the picture turns out juicy, colorful and detailed.

In addition to a couple of words about the convenient rotary display, dust and water protection of the case, as well as the lateral location of the SD card slot, it is necessary to elaborate on a couple of interesting camera programme modes. The first useful function is called postfocus, and its meaning lies in providing the ability to select the sharpness zone on the finished image (by tapping on the touch screen). The second "bun" is the 4K photo-cutting function of highly detailed still frames in 8 MP resolution from a video shot at a speed of 30 fps. It is useful in the case when the rate of fire of the camera (9 fps) is not enough, which is often required in the reportage genre of photography.

The updated version of the Sony Alpha A6300 mirrorless camera has got a minimum of improvements in comparison with its younger brother. These include the appearance of a 5-axis matrix image stabilization system, a new image processing processor, and a touch display on board the camera.

The appearance of the camera has not changed — it looks exactly the same as the other two models of the six-thousandth series of Sony mirrorless cameras. A significant difference from its predecessors is the long-awaited installation of a touchscreen display, which, unfortunately, has reduced functionality. Tap on the screen, you can only select the focus point and zoom in on the photo. Neither flipping through the pictures when viewing, nor changing the shooting settings via a touch screen will work.

The real pride of Sony Alpha A6500 is the hybrid autofocus, dubbed "4D Focus". The sharpening system, which includes 425 phase-type and 169 contrast points, is able to adjust to the movement in the frame both when recording video and when taking serial photos at a speed of 11 fps. The enlarged memory buffer holds over 100 images in RAW format and about 300 JPEG photos. The combination of a 24.2-megapixel matrix and a fast image processing processor ensures high-quality results when shooting in low-light conditions at ISO values up to 6400.

The camera has everything you need for high-quality video shooting: support for recording video in 4K and FullHD formats (at 120 fps) using the XAVC S codec, Zebra, Focus Peaking, S-Log2 and S-Log3 modes. To complete the picture, only the headphone output is missing. In-camera stabilization during video recording works well, but if you compare it with a similar system on board the Panasonic Lumix DMC-G85, it is less effective, which is especially visible when walking.

Sony Alpha A6500 evokes two feelings. On the one hand, the camera acts as an excellent working tool for both photo and video shooting. And on the other hand, not everyone will agree to overpay $ 400 for the presence of matrix stabilization and an imperfect touch screen. After all, for the cost of a mirrorless camera, you can purchase a Sony Alpha A6300 and set aside the remainder for the purchase of optics.

The "chip" of most Panasonic mirrorless cameras are advanced video capabilities. The most huge potential in recording videos has a novelty of 2017 — the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH5 camera.

The camera got a 20-megapixel matrix and a nimble image processor, which made it possible to record video from the entire area of the matrix (the predecessor of the camera in the face of Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH4 4K videos were recorded with a small crop). In UltraHD resolution (3840x2160 pixels), a frame rate of up to 60 fps is available. And if you lower the frame rate to 30 fps, then the operator has the opportunity to record video in 10-bit colour with 4:2:2 colour subsampling. In fact, this allows you to do the deepest possible colour correction of the footage during its post-processing (if there is appropriate software). In the more familiar FullHD format for the masses, filming is carried out with a frame rate of up to 180 fps.

In the vast majority of cases, photo and video shooting can be done by hand — the 5—axis matrix stabilization system effectively compensates for camera fluctuations and operator hand trembling. If you get stabilized optics, it becomes possible to win more than 5 stops of exposure. More details about the principles of image stabilization are described in the framework of the material"Everything you need about image stabilization systems."

Externally, the camera has become more like a DSLR than more compact system cameras. However, in the presence of dust and water protection, as well as frost resistance of the case, a dual slot for memory cards, many programmable keys and outputs for connecting third-party devices, a rotary touch display and a detailed electronic viewfinder with an impressive resolution of 1280x960 pixels, the dimensions of the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH5 cease to seem large.

The camera's autofocus system has 225 contrast-type points that cling to the shooting object in 0.05 seconds and do an excellent job in tracking mode. As for working at high ISO, Micro 4/3 cameras have not yet learned how to show outstanding results when increasing photosensitivity above the ISO 3200 value. Up to this figure, the amount of noise in the picture is at an acceptable level. A more affordable alternative to the "five" is the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH4, which, although it lost its position with the release of the heir, still remains a very good acquisition for photo and video shooting.

At one time, Canon EOS 5D Mark II opened the era of shooting video on SLR cameras. With the release of the Canon EOS 5D Mark III, the video recording on the DSLRs stepped over a couple more steps of evolution and began to be actively used at the professional level. The fourth generation of the "pyatak" is unlikely to create another revolution in this field, although it has learned to shoot videos in 4K format.

There are not so many fundamental changes from the predecessor model of the camera. Perhaps the main innovation in the hardware was an updated matrix with a resolution of 30.4 MP, which increased the detail of the images. Small details in the pictures are not as visible as a pair of 50-megapixel "monsters" Canon EOS 5DS and Canon EOS 5DS R, but the size of photos in RAW format does not exceed the 70 MB mark for a single file.

The operating light sensitivity value for the camera is ISO 6400. With a further increase in ISO, the image detail decreases sharply, but such high photosensitivity is required in extremely rare cases. The Canon 5D Mark IV autofocus system has 61 cruciform points in its composition. Focus on sharpness both in video recording mode and when photographing is done confidently and quickly. In addition, the proprietary DualPixel AF technology is provided to help the videographer in smooth cinematic refocusing.

Video shooting in full-format 4K resolution (4096x2160 pixels) is performed with a crop factor of 1.74x, which somewhat limits the scope of the camera, especially in conjunction with wide-angle objects. The image is not taken from the entire area of the matrix, but only from its central part. In addition, the minimum bitrate of 4K video recording is 100 Mbit/s, which will require acquiring high-speed CF memory cards. These features do not allow you to unlock the full potential of the camera when shooting video in ultra-high resolution.

Many videographers and photographers were waiting for the appearance of a touch-sensitive rotary display in the arsenal of the camera. But Japanese engineers have implemented only the tap control function, which helps to speed up many actions. And among the innovations in the secondary equipment of the DSLR, it is necessary to highlight the GPS module, with the help of which the coordinates of the shooting point are recorded in the EXIF of the image. Despite the reduced video capabilities and the high price tag, the Canon EOS 5D Mark IV is still one of the best in its class in terms of the set of characteristics and capabilities provided in photo and video shooting.

The Sony Alpha A9 full-frame mirrorless camera is built taking into account all the advantages of the Sony Alpha 7 line of cameras. It entered the market to compete with the top SLR cameras from "sharks" in the world of the photo industry — Nikon D5 and Canon EOS 1D X Mark II. And its first advantage over DSLRs is the presence of a 5-axis image stabilization system built into the matrix that works with all objects.

The camera can shoot long series of images at a speed of 20 fps, while more than 240 frames in RAW format are placed in the buffer. During high-speed "shooting", the auto-exposure and autofocus modules update information at a speed of 60 fps. By the way, the camera's automatic focus system is one of the most advanced on the market — 693 phase-type points cover 93% of the frame area and cling to the shooting object with lightning speed in almost all situations.

The ergonomics of the camera deserves some flattering words. A lot of physical control keys and an inclined touch screen allow you to change the shooting parameters in just a couple of movements. The dust- and moisture-proof Sony Alpha A9 case turned out to be exactly such that it was comfortable to use top-end optics (for example, objects of the G-Master series), which has rather large dimensions and weight. There is a dual memory card slot on the side of the camera, and access to the removable battery opens from below. Its battery life was pulled closer to the level of mirrors (650 images on a single charge).

Mirrorless has a huge potential for 4K video recording. Videos with a resolution of 3840x2160 pixels are created by reading the signal from the entire area of the matrix without skipping pixels in 6K format, which is later converted to 4K by the camera itself. As a result, it is possible to achieve impressive image detail and avoid the rolling-shatter effect. When shooting with a frame rate of 30 fps, the picture is recorded with a small drop (about 1.2x), whereas when the frame rate is lowered to 24 fps, it is not.

Sony positions its best creation as a tool for professional photographers. Therefore, some of the mirrorless video capabilities are forcibly reduced (there are no S-Log modes, you can't shoot in Cinema 4K format, etc.). But even without all this, Sony Alpha A9 is a real flagship, coveted by both real pros and advanced photo enthusiasts.