Best Mirrorless Cameras for Video Shooting

One of the best hybrid cameras for both photo and video shooting is rightly considered to be the full-frame mirrorless Sony FX3. However, you'll have to shell out a pretty penny for it. The Sony FX30 model, fully unified with its bigger cousin in terms of body dimensions and ergonomics, will cost much less.

The camera received a new 26-megapixel BSI CMOS sensor with fast data readout, which is critically important for video shooting. The image sensor is of APS-C format, meaning its crop factor is 1.5x relative to full-frame sensors. The matrix covers a native sensitivity range from 100 to 32000 ISO units. Plus, the mirrorless camera is equipped with an in-body image stabilization system with a claimed effectiveness of up to 5.5 stops of shutter speed or exposure.

Video recording on the Sony FX30 is carried out at up to 4K resolution at 60 fps by oversampling video from 6K format. With an image crop of 1.62x, the frame rate increases to 120 fps. The operator is offered S-Cinetone, S-Log2, and HLG profiles for HDR video shooting, and custom LUTs are also supported. Video files are recorded with a color depth of 10-bit in 4:2:0 and 4:2:2. 16-bit RAW video shooting on an external recorder is possible. The camera body has numerous 1/4" standard tripod thread holes, providing flexibility in mounting additional accessories.

Photo shooting capabilities of the model are much more modest. For instance, it does not support burst shooting and cannot record uncompressed RAW images. The mirrorless camera features an electronic shutter, and there is no viewfinder. The camera's autofocus system can automatically focus on the eyes of people and animals, and for the video shooting mode, a focus breathing minimization effect has been provided. Additionally, the Sony FX30 has been endowed with reliable dust and moisture protection for operation in adverse environmental conditions.

Mirrorless Panasonic cameras have long been highly valued among videographers. In terms of video recording capabilities, they have few equals among competitors. At the very start of 2023, the brand's lineup introduced a new video production guru — the DC-S5 IIX model.

The camera relies on a 24.2-megapixel full-frame sensor and a collaboration-developed L² processor, developed in cooperation with Leica. The sensor is placed on a movable stabilization platform, providing compensation for the mirrorless camera's displacement over 5 axes. The stabilization system offers up to 5 stops of shutter speed or exposure gain, and with stabilized optics, its effectiveness increases to 6.5 stops.

Panasonic has been developing its own contrast autofocus for many years, but phase autofocus has also appeared in this model. The hybrid focus system operates through 779 points and excellently performs in object tracking mode. Additionally, autofocus confidently recognizes people, animals, and vehicles in the frame. Just like previous models, the camera features active cooling, allowing for extended continuous operation. In 4K recording mode from the APS-C area, shooting can be conducted unlimitedly, even at ambient temperatures up to +40 °С.

The highlight of the Panasonic DC-S5 IIX is, of course, video shooting. In Open Gate recording mode, the camera allows reading 6K video from the full height of the matrix with a 3:2 aspect ratio. This provides vast possibilities in the post-processing of captured material with video cropping. 4K video from the full width of the matrix is recorded on the mirrorless camera at a frame rate of 30 fps, and from the APS-C area at 60 fps. The operator can work with 4:2:2 subsampling and 10-bit color, oscilloscope display, and vector scopes. Specifically, the IIX modification additionally features a RAW output, ProRes 422 and 422 HQ memory card recording, a USB-SSD output, and direct wired and wireless streaming modes in 4K at 60 fps. The memory card slot in the model is dual, with both slots accepting high-speed class UHS-II SD storages. Panasonic DC-S5 IIX offers a wider spectrum of video capabilities than many top competitors, and at a lower initial price.

Mirrorless Fujifilm cameras usually stand out with elegant retro design compared to their peers. The X-H2S model, which focuses primarily on video recording, is no exception.

The camera features a multi-layered X-Trans CMOS 5 HS APS-C format image sensor with back-illumination. Together with the X-Processor 5, it enables very high data readout speeds. No joke, when photographing with an electronic shutter, a shooting speed of up to 40 fps with working autofocus is achieved. Up to 175 RAW-format frames can be held in the buffer. The autofocus system on the mirrorless camera can recognize people, animals, birds, cars, motorcycles, and airplanes in real time.

The ceiling of video recording quality on the camera reaches 10-bit 4:2:2 at a frame resolution of up to 6.2K at 30 fps. Full-width matrix allows for 4K video shooting at 60 fps, and with a 1.29x crop and without sound — slow-motion 4K video up to 120 fps. Fujifilm X-H2S supports 8-bit H.264, 10-bit H.265, ProRes 422HQ, 422, and 422 LT. Via HDMI port, 4K ProRes RAW or BRaw with up to 120 fps frame rate can be output to an external recorder. In-camera material saving is performed on CFexpress type B memory cards or UHS-II class SD — the camera has a dual slot for storage. In video recording mode, the operator has access to the delights of an advanced autofocus system and in-body stabilization, capable of compensating for up to 7 stops of shutter speed or exposure.

Despite lacking a full-frame matrix "under the hood," the camera turned out to be quite large. Immediately visible as a pro tool for photo and video production. Equipment includes a high-resolution OLED viewfinder with a refresh rate of 120 fps, a touchscreen twist screen, and an additional info display for visualizing shooting parameters on the top edge of the body. By the way, the mirrorless camera's body has reliable dust and moisture protection. In Fuji's portfolio, the camera occupies one of the top spots of honor, especially in terms of video recording capabilities.

The full-frame cameras of the Sony A7s line have always been characterized by their pronounced focus on the professional video production segment. In 2020, the third edition of the mirrorless camera from this family was released.

In the model, a back-illuminated image sensor is installed. Its resolution is relatively modest — 12 MP. However, thanks to the large size of individual pixels, the Sony A7s III can boast a remarkably high peak sensitivity threshold (ISO 409600). The camera's lower ISO limit is set at 40 units. The mirrorless sensor is installed on a stabilizing platform — the in-body stabilization effectively works up to 5.5 stops of shutter speed or exposure.

The camera's potential is all about video shooting. The trendy 8K support is not foreseen in the model; instead, 4K videos are recorded on it with full pixel readout and without binning at 60 fps. Recording duration without overheating can reach 1 hour. With an increase in frame rate to 120 fps, 4K video shooting is performed with slight cropping (1.1x). In-camera video recording on SD UHS-II or CFexpress type A cards is implemented with 4:2:2 subsampling at 10-bit color depth. In XAVC-S-I mode, the recording bitrate reaches 500 Mbps, XAVC-HS with H.265 compression is about 200 Mbps. From the HDMI 2.1 port, the mirrorless camera outputs a 4K video stream at 60 fps as 16-bit ProRes Raw. Additionally, the operator is kindly offered gamma curve profile S-Log 2 and S-Log 3 with a dynamic range breadth of up to 15 stops.

The mirrorless camera's autofocus works on a hybrid principle: it combines 759 phase detection points and 425 contrast zones. The focus system can recognize people's eyes and faces, as well as the eyes of animals. Also, for the first time, the camera features a turnable screen with touch control (previously, the display only had adjustment in the tilted plane). The model's OLED viewfinder boasts a resolution of 9.44 million pixels, being one of the best in its class. The Sony A7s III is a professional camera with a focus on video shooting, thought out to the smallest detail.

C stands for Cinema. The appearance of this index in the modified version of the full-frame mirrorless camera Canon EOS R5 opened up extensive opportunities for videographers.

The camera is entirely oriented towards the advanced cinema production segment. Meanwhile, the model is assembled in a compact and lightweight body — its dimensions are 142x101x111 mm, and its weight with the battery is around 770 g. The model's functional buttons received double labeling (for photo and video modes respectively), and additionally, the mirrorless camera has auxiliary ports for video production (including a hot shoe with a multi-interface).

Canon EOS R5 C is equipped with a 45-megapixel full-frame sensor, but compared to the original R5 model, there's no in-body image stabilization system here. In return, the camera got active cooling, eliminating the limits on continuous video recording duration in any of the modes. Video shooting is possible at a frame resolution of up to 8K at 60 fps. In the traditional 4K format, a high frame rate of up to 120 fps is available to the operator.

If you dig deeper, the model supports in-camera recording up to 4:2:2 10-bit in H.264 or H.265. Additionally, it provides for the 12-bit Cinema Raw Light format, Canon XF-AVC codec, Canon Log 3 gamma-curve profile, and also features a timecode connector for synchronization with professional multi-camera video production systems. Special respect is due to the advanced autofocus based on Canon's proprietary Dual Pixel CMOS AF II technology with object recognition features. Canon EOS R5 C is top-tier for serious video production.