Best Mirrorless Cameras for Video Shooting

Panasonic mirrorless cameras have long been highly valued by videographers. In terms of video shooting capabilities, only a few competitors can compete with them on equal terms. At the very dawn of 2023, a new video production guru appeared in the brand's assortment - the DC-S5 IIX model.

The camera relies on a 24.2-megapixel full-frame image sensor and an L² processor developed in collaboration with Leica. The sensor is located on a movable stabilizing platform that compensates for mirrorless camera movement along 5 axes. The matrix stabilization allows you to win the same number of shutter speed or exposure steps, and when using stabilized optics, its efficiency increases to 6.5 stops.

Panasonic has been developing its own contrast autofocus for many years, but the model under consideration also features phase autofocus. The hybrid focusing system operates at 779 points and performs well in object tracking mode. At the same time, the autofocus confidently recognizes people, animals and vehicles in the frame. By analogy with previous models, the camera has received an active cooling fan, allowing for longer continuous operation. Thus, in the 4K video recording mode from an APS-C area, you can shoot indefinitely, even at outside temperatures down to +40 °C.

The best part of the Panasonic DC-S5 IIX is, of course, video shooting. In Open Gate recording mode, the camera can read 6K video from the entire height of the matrix with an aspect ratio of 3:2. This opens up a wide scope for post-processing the footage with cropping of the video sequence. 4K from the full width of the matrix is written to a mirrorless camera at a frame rate of 30 fps, and from the APS-C zone - at 60 fps. The operator is given the opportunity to work with 4:2:2 subsampling and 10-bit color, an oscilloscope display and vectorscopes. Specifically, the IIX modification additionally has a RAW output, supports recording to a ProRes 422 and 422 HQ memory card, there is a USB-SSD output, direct wired and wireless streaming modes in 4K at 60 fps are implemented. The model has a dual memory card slot, with both trays designed for high-speed UHS-II SD cards. The Panasonic DC-S5 IIX offers a wider range of video capabilities than many of its top-end counterparts, and at a lower starting price.

Despite its compact dimensions of 121x72x54 mm and weight of less than half a kilogram, the Sony ZV-E1 mirrorless camera can give odds to many larger counterparts, especially in terms of video shooting capabilities. The model was released with an eye on the audience of bloggers and content creators.

The camera owes its full-frame matrix and advanced video capabilities to the serious mirrorless Sony A7s III. However, in an effort to make the model more accessible, there was no room for a viewfinder, mechanical shutter, or a second slot for a flash drive in the ZV-E1 design. The leading role in the camera is played by the full-frame Exmor R image sensor with back illumination. It provides a dynamic range of up to 15 exposure stops and works with light sensitivity up to ISO 409600. The matrix resolution is relatively low - 12 MP.

The model features five-axis stabilization based on sensor shift. The mirrorless camera is powered by a powerful Bionz XR processor, supported by a separate artificial intelligence module. Based on AI, the modes of active dynamic image stabilization, autoframing, creative zoom control, recognition of multiple faces, animals, vehicles and aircraft are implemented, and the camera also has a mode for shooting objects.

Out of the box, the Sony ZV-E1 supports 4K video recording at 60 fps in 10-bit 4:2:2 without cropping. After updating the firmware, the operator has the ability to shoot 4K video with a frame rate of up to 120 fps. Slow-motion videos in Full HD are recorded on the camera at 240 fps. The model also supports Cinematic Vlog, My Image Style, S-Gamut3, S-Log3, and you can work with LUT to display color correction in the camera. Video streaming via USB is allowed in 4K resolution up to 30 fps. A built-in three-capsule microphone with an omnidirectional pattern is responsible for high-quality sound recording during filming. The mirrorless camera has truly enormous potential and in skilled hands it can be realized 100%.

The Canon EOS R6 Mark II is equally suitable for both photographers and videographers. And while the camera is almost identical in appearance to its predecessor, the R6, it has been completely updated internally.

The key innovation in the mirrorless camera is the appearance of a new full-frame image sensor with a resolution of 24.2 MP. And although it is not multi-layered and without backlighting, the speed of reading data from the matrix has been significantly increased. Thanks to this, the camera is capable of continuous photography at a speed of up to 40 fps, using an electronic shutter. Moreover, in full frame resolution and RAW format. The Dual Pixel CMOS AF II autofocus has also been radically affected - in addition to the usual capabilities of focusing on eyes and faces, it now also has functions for recognizing dogs, cats, birds, horses, cars, motorcycles, trains and airplanes in the frame.

The camera can shoot video in 4K resolution at 60 fps from the entire matrix plane. Such recording is performed by resampling the video sequence from 6K. In this mode, continuous shooting is allowed for 40 minutes. The model can shoot in Canon Log 3 and supports internal recording up to 4:2:2 10-bit in H.264 or H.265 formats. When connected to an external recorder, you can squeeze 6K RAW video from the camera. Photos and videos are saved on UHS-II SD memory cards, for which two separate slots are provided.

The model is also notable for its matrix image stabilization system with an efficiency of up to 8 shutter speed or exposure stops. The camera's advantages include a high-resolution OLED viewfinder with a refresh rate of up to 120 Hz, a tilting 3-inch touchscreen display, and a dust- and moisture-proof body. The only complaint about the mirrorless camera is that the actual capacity of its memory buffer may potentially be less than stated. However, this problem can only be encountered during high-speed continuous photography with an electronic shutter. Using a slower mechanical shutter allows you to avoid buffer overflow problems.

The Panasonic DC-GH7 camera has rightfully become a true flagship among mirrorless cameras with a Micro 4/3 image sensor. And it is primarily aimed at videographers.

The model has a completely new 25.2 MP matrix with backlighting and phase sensors of the automatic focusing system. The camera's autofocus works much better in scenes with difficult lighting and when focusing on moving objects. In addition, "smart" AI algorithms help track people, animals and various vehicles in the frame.

The Panasonic DC-GH7 has an in-camera matrix image stabilization system. Its declared efficiency is up to 7.5 shutter speed or exposure stops. Video recording on a mirrorless camera is possible in formats up to 5.7K (5776x4336 at 30 fps) ProRes 422 HQ or ProRes RAW HQ. The footage is supposed to be saved on a CFExpress type B card. It is possible to simultaneously shoot on an external recorder via a full-size HDMI port. In addition, 4:2:2 10-bit 4K video recording is provided with a frame rate of 60 fps, and with 4:2:0 subsampling, the frame rate can be increased to 120 fps.

The camera has a cooling system with graphite plates and an active fan, thereby removing restrictions on the time of continuous video shooting. At the same time, the model has full dust and moisture protection of the case. In general, a wide variety of tools are presented here for videographers, including support for working with the Lumix Lab application for creating LUTs (author's color profiles). A separate line in the model notes the ability to record 32-bit audio with floating point when using an optional XLR microphone adapter. Panasonic DC-GH7 is a top mirrorless camera with an emphasis on video shooting.

A versatile tool for photographers and videographers, the full-frame mirrorless A7 IV from Sony's portfolio allows you to realize all your creative ideas.

The camera provides photographers with the highest level of detail in photos and a literally “endless” memory buffer — it can hold over 800 uncompressed RAW files when saving footage to a CFExpress type A card. The matrix “under the hood” of the model is made using back-illuminated technology. Its resolution is 33 MP, the native sensitivity range is from 100 to 51200 ISO units, and the dynamic range is declared at the level of as many as 15 exposure steps. Directly on the sensor are 759 phase detection sensors, supplemented by a 425-point contrast autofocus system. The camera focuses in the blink of an eye, and can recognize and track objects in the frame.

Mirrorless cameras of the Sony A7s series are usually designed for video shooting. However, the camera in question is also quite suitable for professional video production. Judge for yourself, the full width of the camera matrix provides 4K video at a frame rate of 30 fps, and in the 1.5x crop mode, video is recorded in 4K format at 60 fps. At the same time, 10-bit color representation and 4:2:2 subsampling are supported, there is S-Log3 with a range of up to 14 stops and even a proprietary S-Cinetone color profile.

The model provides matrix stabilization with an efficiency of 5.5 shutter speed or frame exposure stops, there is a touch screen on a rotating hinge and an OLED viewfinder with a resolution of 3.68 million pixels. Of course, the body of the mirrorless camera has reliable dust and moisture protection. The camera menu has pinpoint settings for everything - just dig into them and the level of the footage will definitely reach a new high-quality level.