If you ask a professional or any camera expert about which is the best camera for video, you'll probably get a different answer every time. It all comes down to what you want to use it for. The best camera for streaming won't be the same as a camera you'd choose for shooting a movie, your next vacation, or for launching an influencer career!
This guide is for anyone just starting out in video that doesn't know what camera to get. If you already know what you're looking for, you can jump straight to our dedicated buying guides to the best camcorders (opens in new tab), the best 4K cameras for video (opens in new tab), the best action cameras (opens in new tab), and more.
We've tested and reviewed a wide range of camera types and price points. We will walk you through all the options available, whether it's a camera phone (opens in new tab), action camera (opens in new tab)s, DSLR (opens in new tab), mirrorless camera (opens in new tab), or one of the best cinema cameras (opens in new tab). They all shoot video in completely different ways and some are much better all-rounders than others, so if you want to take pictures too it's worth keeping that in mind.
Video doesn't have to be difficult, so don't be put off by all the accessories, technical terms, or complex-sounding techniques. Remember, your first project doesn't have to be a masterpiece, the more you do, the more you'll learn.
Let’s help you find the best camera for video in 2023.
Best camera for video in 2023
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The Panasonic Lumix S5 II (opens in new tab) builds on the original Lumix S5 (opens in new tab)’s tough compact frame, class-leading 5-axis in-body image stabilization, and excellent color science.
The most significant new addition is a Phase Hybrid autofocus system that combines PDAF with Contrast Detect AF to provide 779-area metering. This means it's better at detecting and tracking subjects, especially in low light and backlit scenarios.
The Lumix S5 II gives you truly unlimited 4K/60p 4:2:2 10-bit recording internally, S&Q 4K/60p (a high-speed 60fps) and FHD/180p, as well as up to 6K, full sensor readout video recording, making it a highly versatile camera for content production. And at $2500/£2000, the LUMIX S5 II is astonishingly good value for money.
Read our full Panasonic Lumix S5 II review (opens in new tab) for more details
The Fujifilm X-H2S might be Fujifilm's most expensive X-series release yet but there is good reason for it. With a 26MP sensor, 4/6K video at 120fps, in-body stabilization, a vari-angle flip-out screen, and blackout-free shooting at 40fps, this is a camera truly aimed at professionals.
Fujifilm has removed several of the external exposure control dials in favor of a digital screen as found on the Fujifilm X-H1 but doesn't let that deter you, it still very much feels like a Fujifilm camera with its high-quality finish, good size grip, and familiar button layout.
If you're after more resolution, the Fujifilm X-H2 is identical to the X-H2S in terms of design but with a 40MP sensor and the ability to shoot 8K video (although you can't shoot as fast in burst mode).
Read our full Fujifilm X-H2S review (opens in new tab) for more details
With every iteration of its Lumix GH series, Panasonic has been inching closer to creating the perfect filmmaker's mirrorless camera, and the Lumix GH6 makes a damn good case for having cracked it. We recently handed it over to a professional filmmaker for their take on it, and the verdict was that the GH6 offers: "a compelling set of features that simply can’t be rivaled at its price point."
With internal Apple ProRes 422 and ProRes 422 HQ, internal Cinema 4K 4:2:0 10-Bit, and many more class-leading options, the Lumix GH6 is simply a beast when it comes to video. It comes with its intense data demands by adding in a CFExpress Type B card slot, as well as a UHS-II SD card slot. Its design is also filmmaker-focused, with a vari-angle LCD screen, and physical controls including a dedicated audio management button.
Plus, it's a hybrid camera that's no slouch on stills! You don't put 75fps burst shooting in a camera if you don't think anyone's going to want to take pictures with it, after all. While the Lumix GH6 is primarily a filmmaker's camera, its impressive stills credentials mean it's one of the best buys around right now for content creators who can meet its price tag.
Read our full Panasonic Lumix GH6 review (opens in new tab) for more details
Action cams are one of the simplest ways to get into video. There’s almost nothing to know. Apart from a handful of basic settings for the video resolution and frame rate, you just press a button to record and press it again to stop. What action cams lack in finesse they make up for in immediacy, impact, and their bulletproof go-anywhere attitude – and one name stands above all the others: GoPro.
Though launched without much fanfare and looking identical to the Hero10 Black (opens in new tab) in almost every way, the Hero11 Black is nevertheless a significant upgrade. That’s all down to its use of the all-new and improved image sensor that can capture versatile 8:7 content, stunning 5.3K video, and 27MP stills.
If you shoot a lot of slow motion, it can record at 240fps in 2.7K making it perfect for those smooth action shots. This is hands down the best GoPro on the market and its sensor could be the future of smartphone sensors (opens in new tab).
Read our full GoPro Hero 11 Black review (opens in new tab) for more details
The DJI Mini 3 is the company's latest sub 250g drone and the first to come with collision sensors as found in some of the more expensive models. It also includes a new camera gimbal capable of turning to capture images in portrait orientation.
The New 'DJI RC' remote is also now available which gives customers the option to use a screen rather than connecting via a photo. Choose from heavier batteries with longer fly time (although this will make the drone heavier) or stick to the classic batteries that ensure it weighs below that magic number.
With all the added benefits that come with the DJI Mini 3 Pro, it is considerably more expensive than previous models so if you're on a budget the DJI Mini 3 or even the DJI Mini 2 offers stunning image and video quality but lacks sensors and pilot assist.
Read our full DJI Mini 3 Pro review (opens in new tab) for more details
This is another variation of the action cam design that takes video into whole new areas. 360 cameras are essentially two 180-degree cameras fixed back to back that film simultaneously – and the camera merges both sets of images in real-time to produce seamless 36-degree ‘spherical’ footage. It’s amazing and disorientating at the same time. It doesn’t matter where you point the camera (!) because it captures everything around you.
Viewers can look around the full 360 scene in 360 viewers (YouTube can do this), or you can edit the video to produce a regular ‘flat’ movie where you can pan the camera and control where it’s pointing as you edit the movie. Our favorite right now for new users is the Insta360 One X2, which can fit in a shirt pocket, but there are lots of alternatives too.
Read our full Insta360 ONE X2 review (opens in new tab) for more details | Best 360 cameras (opens in new tab)
You don't have to invest in a dedicated video camera to shoot great video. Like other flagship smartphones, the iPhone 14 Pro can shoot incredibly well-stabilized 4K video of a quality that's perfect for vlogging and even indie filmmaking.
And if you mostly shoot video for social media, a camera phone makes recording, uploading, and sharing content very efficiently. The iPhone 14 Pro is one of the best. There's a useful new macro mode, along with an improvement to low-light shooting with the ultra-wide camera.
New picture styles are worth experimenting with, while the Cinematic video mode is a clever feature and nice to have if you're a budding movie-maker. As for camera hardware, Apple has gone for a quadruple-lens setup on the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro Max which include a 48MP 24mm f/1.7 lens, and an ultra-wide 12MP 13mm f/1.78 lens, a 2x telephoto 48mm f/1.78 lens and finally a 12MP 3x telephoto 77mm f/2.8 lens.
Read our full Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max review (opens in new tab) for more details | Best camera phones (opens in new tab)
Vlogging is definitely the New Big Thing in video, and it’s now wildly popular amongst a new generation of photographers and videographers – the current buzzword is ‘independent content creators, and the most talented and successful of these have become household names amongst their fans. If you're just starting out, we think the Fujifilm X-S10 has the perfect set of features, including in-body stabilization for jittery first-timers!
The excellent finish, build quality and handling gives this camera a very broad appeal, especially in this price sector, to produce perhaps the best combination of performance, quality, and value in the APS-C mirrorless camera market right now. It even has a vari-angle rear screen and this, combined with the X-S10's in-body stabilization and 4K video, makes it a great vlogging camera.
Read our full Fujifilm X-S10 review (opens in new tab) for more details | Best cameras for vlogging (opens in new tab)
Although the Lumix S5 has now been superseded by the Lumix S5 II (opens in new tab) (at the top of our guide) it's still an excellent video camera – and now even better value. It has a tough weather-resistant body and delivers up to 6.5 stops of image stabilization with compatible lenses.
Borrowing many of the features and functionality from the Lumix S1H, the S5 is a tough camera to beat in terms of video at its price point. The dynamic range is outstanding – shooting in V-Log, the S5 is rated to deliver in excess of 14 stops.
Read our full Panasonic Lumix S5 review (opens in new tab) for more details
Vlogging is a perfectly respectable occupation, but if you create serious productions for clients and customers you may need to step up a gear with your equipment. Proper cinema cameras like this one are designed for video first and foremost, with video-specific features, controls, and connectors that regular cameras don't have. The good news is, it doesn't have to cost a fortune!
The Blackmagic Pocket Cinema 4K (opens in new tab) is a cine camera without the high price tag. It has a Micro Four Thirds sensor which means there are a huge number of Olympus, Panasonic, and third-party lenses available both brand new and secondhand.
It can shoot up to 4K 60p with no crop factor and has 13 stops of dynamic range. The one downside to the camera is it doesn't have a flip-out screen but if you're a serious filmmaker you'd probably want to invest in one of the best on-camera monitors (opens in new tab) anyway.
Read our full Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 4K review for more details | Best 4K cameras for filmmaking (opens in new tab)
Streaming is a relatively new way to shoot and share video, but it's really catching on. 'Streaming', whether it's to Facebook or YouTube or some other video-sharing platform, is sharing video live, as you shoot it, whether that's out in the field or in front of your computer hooked up to a camera.
Streaming from a phone is the simplest solution, but if you want a proper camera, the PowerShot G7 X Mark III is ideal. It was also the first camera of its kind with a microphone input – vital if you want clean audio, not to mention the ability to Livestream straight to YouTube.
This means that even if you’ve got an expensive cinema camera if you also have a G7 X Mark III you can create a fuss-free live setup without any expensive capture cards and a PC.
With its flip-out screen, the G7 X III also gives vloggers a clear view of themselves when they shoot, and thanks to its 20.1MP 1-inch stacked CMOS sensor and DIGIC 8 processor it’s also able to capture great stills, so your custom thumbnails can pop nicely.
Read our full Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark III review for more details | Best cameras for streaming (opens in new tab)
Once upon a time, camcorders were the go-to piece of kit if you wanted to shoot video. With a long zoom lens, a hand strap for ease of shooting, and a pop-out screen, they were perfect for recording video.
Well, don't worry, they haven't gone anywhere! While you can still buy amateur-orientated camcorders as you'd remember from the videotape days, there are also a lot of pro camcorders on the market that even have interchangeable lenses.
The traditional camcorder shape is still regarded by many pro videographers to be better for shoulder-mounted use and general handling. The FDR-AX43 is a great camcorder to start with.
It may be compact but it doesn’t skimp on features. Fronted by a Carl Zeiss Vario Sonnar T lens, the AX43's niceties include 10x optical zoom, 4K shooting (with super-down-sampling for 1080p displays), and a low noise Exmor R CMOS sensor.
Read more: Best camcorders (opens in new tab)
How we test the best video cameras
We test cameras (opens in new tab) both in real-world shooting scenarios and, for DSLRs and mirrorless cameras, in carefully controlled lab conditions. Our lab tests measure resolution, dynamic range, and signal-to-noise ratio. Resolution is measured using ISO resolution charts, dynamic range is measured using DxO Analyzer test equipment and DxO Analyzer is also used for noise analysis across the camera's ISO range. We use both real-world testing and lab results to inform our comments in buying guides.
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