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 your career as an influencer!
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, the best cameras for filmmaking, the best action cameras, and more.
Here at Digital Camera World our experts have tested and reviewed a huge range of camera types and price points. I will walk you through all the options available, whether it's a camera phone, mirrorless camera, or one of the best cinema cameras – and tell you our favorites. 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…
Gareth Bevan
Gareth is the Reviews Editor at Digital Camera World, and the person in charge of approving all the latest camera-related tech. With several years of experience as a photographer and videographer, shooting for some household names, he has learned a thing or two about working with cameras and the photography industry. Outside of this, expect to find him cycling around London, or deep in a Netflix binge.
Best overall
Mirrorless cameras are the most popular choice for serious video shooting – offering you an interchangeable lens system that means you can pick the right lens for what you are shooting. Read more below
Best action camera
If you're looking for a great camera that can capture all the action on your latest adventures then you really can't beat a GoPro, especially the Hero11 Black with its 27MP stills and 5.3K video. Read more below
Best for aerial video
If you simply want the best video from the air, with all the modern tech then DJI is THE name in drone, with the DJI Mini 3 Pro taking the crown for 4K aerial video. Read more below
Best for 360 video
if you want to record the world in stunning 5.7K resolution in mind-bend 360 video then look no further, the Insta360 One X2 is the best in the business. Read more below
Most versatile
If you want a compact camera that's great for video, but also not too shabby at taking stills either then the X-S20 from Fujifilm is the best versatile camera on this list. Read more below
Best phone for video
While the iPhone 14 Pro is a generation old, for the price, performance, and of course convenience, it is the best phone for video on the market. Read more below
Best for live streaming
Most cameras can be set up for live streaming, but this Canon compact can do this without the need for a capture card - and unlike your webcam it has a quality built-in 4x zoom. Read more below
Best camcorder
The big advantage of a camcorder is that it comes with a big zoom built-in - making it great for subjects such as sport. Another plus is that the form factor is custom-made for videomaking. Read more below
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Max continuous shooting speed: 30fps (electronic shutter)
Max video resolution: 6K (Full-sensor readout)/29.97/25/24/23.98p
Reasons to buy
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Value for money
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Best-in-class stabilization
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Professional video functionality
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Unlimited recording
Reasons to avoid
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No tally lights
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No CF Express card slot
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Flip-out screen blocked by cables
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Lenses add to cost
Mirrorless cameras are the most popular choice for serious video shooting – offering you an interchangeable lens system that means you can pick the right lens for what you are shooting.
The Panasonic Lumix S5 II is our top pick for videographers - but its full-frame sensor make it a great camera for shooting stills too. It builds on the original Lumix S5’s tough compact frame, class-leading 5-axis in-body image stabilization, and excellent color science.
In my review, the most significant new addition to this camera is the Phase Hybrid autofocus system that combines PDAF with Contrast Detect AF to provide 779-area metering. The S5 series was always a favorite, but this newer model is now much, much better at getting the focus right on low-light and moving subjects.
We were also impressed that the Lumix S5 II gives you truly unlimited 4K/60p 4:2:2 10-bit recording internally - and FHD/180p for slow-motion effects- making it a highly versatile camera for content production. And at $2500/£2000, we think the Lumix S5 II is astonishingly good value for money.
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.
It looks very similar to earlier GoPros but what we love is that it has an 8:7 - that makes it much easier to edit your videos for vertical TikTok use, as well as for standard 16:9 platforms. What's more it produces stunning 5.3K video, and 27MP stills.
There is a more recent GoPro Hero 12 Black - but we don't recommend this as not only is it more expensive, it also has stripped out the GPS feature, which is great of adding things such as a speedometer display in post production
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 - but its fixed lens means it does not give you the range of angles of view of alternative video cameras.
The DJI Mini 3 is one of the best sub-250g camera drones - and the first to come with collision sensors as found in some of the more expensive models - making it easier to fly than many of its rivals. We also love that it includes a new camera gimbal capable of turning to capture images in portrait orientation (handy for TikTok).
The new 'DJI RC' remote is also now available, allowing customers to use the remote's built-in screen rather than connecting via their phone. 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 we suggest considering the DJI Mini 3, which offers stunning image and video quality but lacks sensors and pilot assist.
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 360-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). More usefully 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; this feature is brilliant for single-camera productions, allowing you to present to camera and also show what you are looking out.
Our favorite 360 camera right now for new users is the Insta360 One X2, which we love as it small enough to fit in a shirt pocket.
Screen: 3-inch 1.84 million dot vari-angle LCD touchscreen
Viewfinder: 2.36 million dot
Max continuous shooting speed: up to 30fps (1.25x crop) or 20fps (no crop)
Max video resolution: Up to 6K30P 4:2:2 10-bit internal, 4K60P, 1080HD240P
Reasons to buy
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Small and compact size
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6K30P video in 4:2:2 10-bit
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Subject recognition and tracking autofocus
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Bigger battery
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Vari-angle screen for vlogging
Reasons to avoid
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Vlog mode isn’t well explained
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Price might be too much for some (and lenses cost extra)
In our field test, I found that Fujifilm X-S20 is the perfect camera for most people. I love its very straightforward controls, excellent fully automatic modes, it’s small and compact size, and its deceptively powerful processor capable of 6K video and subject recognition tracking. Photo enthusiasts, content creators, and vloggers will find a lot to love - making it such a great all-round choice.
The price is a little higher than the previous version, which might put some people off, although, for the cost, you are getting a considerably capable mirrorless camera that is more than enough for most users’ needs.
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. We found the macro mode really usefu - and we noticed 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. But it does lack the longer lenses of some its rivals, including the more recent (and more expensive) iPhone 15 Pro.
Streaming is become an increaingly popular way shoot and share video. '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 that's easy to carry around, 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. And unlike with mirrorless cameras, the zoom lens is built-in - offering a 4x zoom range at no additional cost.
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.
Camcorders peaked in popularity in the 1990s, but it is a mistake to think they don't have their advantages for videomaking in the modern era. Unlike mobile phones or mirrorless cameras, camcorders have huge built-in zooms - making them great for shooting sport, wildlife and current affairs. What's more they are designed for the needs of the moviemaker - so the electronic viewfinder and the screen fall naturally to your eye and eyeline.
The Canon HF G70 is one of the best camcorders around right now with an impressive 20x zoom that will take you from 29mm wideangle to 600mm telephoto using the motorized rocker switch so you can frame up each shot as tightly as you need it.
We test cameras both in real-world shooting scenarios and, for DSLRs and mirrorless cameras, in carefully controlled lab conditions. Our team of reviewers have tested hundreds of different cameras, of different types - and for us we are looking for great looking video footage, something that is designed well so that its features can be used easily, and something that offers good value compared to its rivals. 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. Action cameras, phones, compacts and camcorders are assessed using our field tests alone, but footage is assessed by our expert reviewers in a variety of different lighting conditions.
All of the video cameras in this guide can shoot 4K video - and some can even shoot video in even higher resolution. 4K is a measurement of the maximum detail that can recorded - very roughly 4000 dots across (but usually slightly less). As many people play back footage on screens with lower resolutions, 4K is not essential. However, the higher the resolution, the more scope you have to crop the image during editing – and it is also a useful to help future-proof you for the ever-improving quality of screens. A 6K camera can shoot video with a horizontal resolution of approaching 6000 pixels. All cameras also allow you to record at a lower resolution - such as 1080P or 2K (which gives you a resolution of 1920x1080 pixels) - to allow you to achieve smaller file sizes, or allow you to use faster frame rates (for slow-motion effects).
Are DSLRs good at shooting video?
All recent DSLR cameras can shoot video - and the best SLRs for videos can do this well. But the design of DSLRs means that more modern mirrorless cameras are better adapted to shooting video, making these the obvious choice over DSLRs for anyone starting out. DSLRs and mirrorless cameras both allow you to change lenses - so you can choose your lens to shoot your subject. But this does mean that the lens is a separate purchase - which can easily cost as much as the camera body itself.
Isn't my phone good enough to shoot video?
Recent phones can shoot video to a very high standard - and some people even use them professionally. However, the size and shape of phones does not make them particularly easy to use for serious videomaking. They also provide fewer lens options than mirrorless cameras with their interchangeable lenses - or camcorders with their big built-in zooms.
Gareth is a photographer based in London, working as a freelance photographer and videographer for the past several years, having the privilege to shoot for some household names. With work focusing on fashion, portrait and lifestyle content creation, he has developed a range of skills covering everything from editorial shoots to social media videos. Outside of work, he has a personal passion for travel and nature photography, with a devotion to sustainability and environmental causes.
