Choosing the best 4K camera has become more difficult because it has become the new standard for video capture lots of different devices designed for many different users. If you want the best 4K camera for filmmaking, there's more to consider than just that magic 4K resolution.
It might not look much of a mystery. The best camera phones already shoot 4K, as do many of the best point and shoot cameras. But these are fixed lens devices with small sensors, which limits their versatility and performance. There are many nuances to capturing great quality video beyond simple resolution, and this requires features and controls you will only get on cameras designed for serious 4K filmmaking.
The other point is that there are many different videographers now, from stills photographers who are moving into video, through vloggers and YouTubers through to professional filmmakers.
If you're an enthusiast or pro photographer with clients who now want video as well as stills, you'll need a camera that can do both, and the latest pro DSLRs and mirrorless cameras are perfect for the job.
We have a whole guide on the best cameras for vlogging, but we've also picked out a couple of great 4K vlogging cameras to include in this list.
There are other ways to shoot 4K video, of course! We look at the best action cameras and the best camcorder categories separately.
So here we’ve gathered together the best 4K cameras for filmmaking across a range of price points, starting with hybrid stills/video cameras for photographers who work in both areas and with a special section for video-centric models to see what they do that’s different, and why many video pros will choose dedicated video cameras.
Fujifilm X-T3
Amazing 4K video capabilities in a great all-round camera
The Fujifilm X-T3 isn't just a great all-around mirrorless stills camera; it's also a spectacularly effective camera for 4K video. Most rival cameras can capture 4K video up to a frame rate of 30p (normal speed), but the X-T3 can shoot 4K at up to 60p, for a smooth 2x slow-motion effect. Not only that, but it can also capture the slightly wider Cinema 4K format at the same speeds.
There's more. Most 4K cameras capture 8-bit video internally to memory cards, but the X-T3 can capture higher-quality 10-bit video internally and, if you connect an external recorder, it can save video at a higher 4:2:2 colour sampling quality. To cap it all, the X-T3 comes with a high dynamic range F-Log mode as standard (missing or a paid extra on some cameras) and HLG (hybrid log gamma) mode via a firmware update. The only thing missing is in-body stabilisation, but many videographers will use a tripod or a motion-smoothing gimbal anyway.
Nikon Z 6
It's Nikon's cheapest Z-mount camera
There are lots of reasons to love the Nikon Z 6. It has the same build quality and controls as the more expensive Z 7, it can capture full-width oversampled 4K video, and it's better at high ISO settings. And thanks to some aggressive recent pricing by Nikon, it's a whole lot cheaper. Stills photographers might prefer the extra resolution of the 45.7-megapixel Z 7, but for 4K video, the Z 6 is clearly the better camera.
Nikon's in-body image stabilisation is really effective, and if you connect an external recorder, you can record high-quality 10-bit 4:2:2 footage – and Nikon also includes a high dynamic range F-Log mode for those who want the flexibility to carry out colour grading work later. The only things you don't get are 60p 4K capture (though it can do 1080 video at 120p) and a flip-around front-facing screen (it simply has a tilting mechanism).
Sony A7 III
Best 4K in the Sony A family
It's a measure of how quickly 4K capture technology is advancing that the Sony A7 III should find itself halfway down our list, as when it was launched, it was setting new standards for 4K capture amongst mirrorless cameras. But it's still the best A7 model for video all around, even including the video-centric A7S II, which was good for its time but now looks long overdue for a refresh.
The A7 III is a great all-around camera for any photographer who wants to move up to full-frame without spending a fortune and who wants a good 4K video camera too. The A7 III tops out at 30fps, but it uses the full sensor width with no crop factor to capture great quality 'oversampled' 4K footage and comes with an S-Log mode for high dynamic range scenes and colour grading later on.
Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II
Good video and highly effective stabilisation
When it comes to cameras with 4K video, Olympus has not built quite the same reputation as other Micro Four Thirds camera maker Panasonic. However, its OM-D E-M1 Mark II still offers some powerful video tools for stills shooters. It can shoot both 4K UHD (3840x2160) and Cinema 4K video (4096x2160) at 30 or 24fps and with a maximum bitrate of 237Mbps, which is pretty good for a consumer-orientated crossover camera and the best 4K camera in the Olympus range (we've yet to give the 4K video in the E-M1X a full test).
It also benefits from Olympus’s 5-axis in-body stabilisation system, which works alongside the optical stabilisation in certain newer Olympus lenses. The M.ZUIKO Digital ED 12-100mm 1:4.0 IS PRO is the perfect partner for this camera, combining an effective 24-200mm focal range with a constant f/4 maximum aperture and its own in-built stabilisation to provide a combined stabilising effect of up to 6.5 stops. The Olympus captures crisp, clear and natural-looking video with only slight rolling shutter effects, but it’s harder to get a cinematic depth of field with the smaller Micro Four Thirds sensor size.
Sony A6400
The A6400 is a handy all-round camera
On the surface, the Sony A6400 is just another variant in Sony's long-running A6000-series of cameras that first appeared in 2014, but with the company's latest high-tech AF system and a flip-over screen for selfies. But while these features might leave regular stills photographers unmoved, they are great news for videographers – especially vloggers – which is why we've included this camera in our list. Flip-over screens used to be considered a gimmick for selfie fans, but they're handy for vloggers who need to film a piece to camera.
The same goes for Sony's latest eye AF and eye AF tracking capabilities because when you're in front of the camera rather than behind it, you need to be sure it's going to keep you in focus. The A6400 is not the cheapest 4K vlogging camera, but it is very effective, and it's a pretty decent stills camera, too, especially for action subjects.
Panasonic Lumix G90/G95
Design for both stills photography and vlogging
The Panasonic Lumix G90 (G95 in the US) is a great stills and video camera for enthusiasts and vloggers. It's true that the Micro Four Thirds sensor is smaller than the APS-C sensors in some rival mirrorless cameras, but this doesn't seem to harm its performance. The handling and control layout are great, and the autofocus feels very snappy indeed. Panasonic is keen to push this model as a perfect hybrid stills/video camera that's also affordable, the only issue we'd have is with the price. It's a good camera but it's not cheap.
