The best portable professional video cameras

Best cinema cameras will deliver high-quality video, offer a wide range of codecs, and have a modular design, and interchangeable lenses

cinema cameras are designed for high-end professional video work. They are often used to shoot movies and TV programs but as the prices of 'industry standard' cine cameras drop, more and more videographers are choosing to use them. While the ability to shoot in 6K, 8K or even 12K is a welcome feature, the form factor, video codecs, and connections a cine camera has are very important.

 

 

We've excluded Arri and Red cameras from our list of best cinema cameras due to the fact they sell seriously high-end bits of kit that are a little out of the price range for most commercial filmmakers.

While many mirrorless cameras also offer very high-quality video, they are slightly different from cine cameras so they also haven't been included.

stills camera

For anyone looking for a stills camera that offers excellent video recording features, check out our guides on the best cameras for 4K video and the best cameras for video.

It's not on our list (yet) as we want to get our hands on one first, but DJI has recently announced the DJI Ronin 4D(opens in new tab) - an 8K or 6K cinema camera that is basically a flightless drone.

first cinema camera

It's the first cinema camera to include 4-axis stabilization which means it will absorb a lot of the movement from walking and running shots and it won't be so necessary to record sliding shots on a dolly.

This latest release from DJI goes to show how varied cine cameras are becoming and we're pretty sure it'll find its way onto this list soon enough.

To make the guide easier to digest, we've split it into two sections that cover different types of cinema cameras. They are:

• Full-size cinema cameras: What you would expect to see on a film or TV set, these cameras are pretty big once you add a lens, monitor, handle, etc and have lots of connection ports and mounting points for professional needs.

• Portable cinema cameras: Pioneered by Blackmagic, these professional-grade cameras may be smaller than a 'proper' cine cam but they are still mighty. Canon and Sony have also jumped on the bandwagon and released their own versions of a pint-sized cine cam.

1. Sony FX6

The Sony FX6 certainly gives you bang for your buck and it's packed full of sought-after features

SPECIFICATIONS

Sensor size: Full frame

Sensor resolution: 10.2MP

Card slots: 2x CFexpress Type A or SD/SDHC/SDXC card slots

Lens mount: Sony FE

Max shooting resolution: 4K

Display size: 3.5-inch touchscreen

EVF: No

 

REASONS TO BUY

+ Cheapest full-frame cinema camera ever
+ Advanced Alpha hybrid AF
+ 10-bit 4:2:2 4K/120p and 240fps HD!

REASONS TO AVOID

- No internal Raw recording or EVF
- No built-in image stabilization
- CFexpress Type A cards expensive

 

 

Canon EOS C300 Mark III

Impressive autofocus, excellent dynamic range and RAW output - it's a professional powerhouse

SPECIFICATIONS

Sensor size: 26.2 x 13.8 mm (Super35)

Sensor resolution: 4096 x 2160 (8.85 MP)

Card slots: CFexpress x 2, SDXC x 1

Lens mount: EF or PL

Max shooting resolution: 4K

Display size: 4.3-inch

EVF: (Optional)

 

REASONS TO BUY

+ Cinema RAW Light output
+ 4K up to 120fps, 2K up to 180fps
+ Dual Gain with 16 stops dynamic range

REASONS TO AVOID

- The C70 is similar and cheaper

 

Blackmagic Ursa Mini Pro 12K

One of the best value cameras considering it shoots in stunning 12K

SPECIFICATIONS

Sensor size: 27.03x14.25mm (Super35)

Sensor resolution: 79.6MP

Card slots: 2x CFast 2.0 slots, 2 x SD UHS-II slots

Lens mount: PL, optional EF or F

Max shooting resolution: 12K

Display size: 4-inch touchscreen

EVF: Optional

 

REASONS TO BUY

+ It shoots in 12K and nothing else does!
+ 8K and 4K are useful and beautifully filmic
+ Built like a tank to last for years

REASONS TO AVOID

- Super 35 is not full-frame
- AF is very limited
- Only records in Blackmagic Raw

 

Blackmagic Design URSA Mini Pro G2

If you can forget 12K the Mini Pro G2 delivers amazing dynamic range and will save you a few thousand

SPECIFICATIONS

Sensor size: 25.34 x 14.25 mm (Super35)

Sensor resolution: 4608 x 2592 (12MP)

Card slots: CFast x 2, SDXC x 2

Lens mount: Canon EF

Max shooting resolution: 4.6K

Display size: 4-inch

EVF: Optional extra

 

REASONS TO BUY

+ Excellent dynamic range
+ Convenient storage options
+ Built-in ND filters

REASONS TO AVOID

- Bulky when loaded up

 

DJI Ronin 4D 6K

An all-in-one package for those who want a cinema camera and a gimbal

SPECIFICATIONS

Sensor size: Full frame CMOS

Stabilization: 4 axis

Card slots: 1 x CF Express 1x DJI Pro SSD

Lens mount: DJI DL Mount

Max shooting resolution: 6K

Display size: 5.5in LCD touchscreen, 1920x1080

EVF: No

 

REASONS TO BUY

+ All-in-one package
+ Built-in ND filters
+ Solo or crew operation

REASONS TO AVOID

- A lot of learning
- Non-standard battery type
- Proprietary media need for 6K

 

 

Z CAM E2 Professional 4K Cinema Camera

These box-style cameras offer a smaller alternative to your standard cine cam

SPECIFICATIONS

Sensor size: MFT (Micro Four Thirds)

Sensor resolution: 10.28MP

Card slots: 1 x CFAST 2.0

Lens mount: MFT

Max shooting resolution: 4K

Display size: None

EVF: No

 

 

REASONS TO BUY

+ Small and light
+ Lots of lenses available
+ ProRes and Raw recording

REASONS TO AVOID

- Doesn't come with a battery
- No screen
- Only one card slot

 

 

Panasonic Lumix BS1H

The BS1H is a full-frame version of Panasonic's original box camera - the BG1H

SPECIFICATIONS

Sensor size: 35mm full-frame

Sensor resolution: 24.2 megapixels

Card slots: 2 x UHS II SD

Lens mount: Leica L

Max shooting resolution: 6K

Display size: None

EVF: No

 

REASONS TO BUY

+ 12-bit raw video when using an external recorder
+ Excellent low light performance
+ Live streaming capabilities

REASONS TO AVOID

- No screen
- Doesn't come with a battery

 

Panasonic AU-EVA1 5.7K

This Netflix-ready cinema camera is a full-fat alternative to the Lumix S1H

SPECIFICATIONS

Sensor size: 24.89 x 18.66 mm

Sensor resolution: 6340 x 3232 (20.5 MP)

Card slots: SDXC x 2

Lens mount: EF

Max shooting resolution: 4K

Display size: 3.5-inch

EVF: No

 

REASONS TO BUY

+5.7K downsampling works well

+Dual-native ISOs

REASONS TO AVOID

-Reflective screen

-Mediocre AF

 

 

Canon EOS C70

Canon's first RF cinema camera might not be as advanced as the C300 III but if you don't need RAW it's a winner

SPECIFICATIONS

Sensor size: 26.2 x 13.8 mm (Super35)

Sensor resolution: 4096 x 2160 (8.85 MP)

Card slots: SDXC x 2

Lens mount: RF

Max shooting resolution: 4K

Display size: 3.5-inch

EVF: No

 

REASONS TO BUY

+4K up to 120fps, 2K up to 180fps

+Dual Gain with 16 stops dynamic range

REASONS TO AVOID

-No raw output

-Cannot use PL lenses

 

Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 6K Pro

You'd have to have pretty big pockets to fit this camera in but it's a great bit of kit nonetheless

SPECIFICATIONS

Type: Mirrorless

Sensor: Super 35

Megapixels: 8.8MP (native 4K)

Lens mount: Canon EF

4K/6K frame rates: up to 60/50p

Standard ISO range: 400, 3,200

Memory cards: 1x SD/SDHC/SDXC UHS-II, 1x CFast

 

REASONS TO BUY

+Great value for the spec

+Built-in ND filters

+Blackmagic Raw and ProRes

REASONS TO AVOID

-

It’s not a small camera!

-No continuous AF, AE or IBIS

-Screen is tilt-only

 

 

Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 4K

Don't let the fact it's 5 years old put you off - for a budding cinematographer it's affordable and feature-full

SPECIFICATIONS

Type: Mirrorless

Sensor: MFT

Megapixels: Not quoted

Lens mount: MFT

4K/6K frame rates: up to 60/50p

Standard ISO range: 400, 3,200

Memory cards: 1x SD, 1x CFast

 

REASONS TO BUY

+ Excellent range of ports

+ Giant 5-inch touchscreen

+ Shoots RAW video

REASONS TO AVOID

- No flip-out screen

- No ND filter

- No continuous AF

 

 

Sony FX3

They're still pretty hard to come by but if you can get one it's totally worth the wait

SPECIFICATIONS

Type: Mirrorless

Sensor: Full frame

Sensor resolution: 12.1MP

Lens mount: Sony FE

4K frame rates: 120p max

4K sensor crop factor: 1x

Standard ISO range: 80-102,400

Memory cards: 2x SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS II)/CFexpress Type A

 

 

REASONS TO BUY

+ 4K 120p

+Active cooling

+ 627 AF points

+ Carry/filming handle included

REASONS TO AVOID

- Pricier than the A7S III

- Alpha design, not FX

 

TOP