Published: October 15, 2019 | Last Updated: September 18, 2024
Choosing the right camera for a video production depends on what you will film. In short…
- Camcorders offer convenience and practicality, particularly for long shoots or documentary-style filming, but lack the image quality of other camera types.
- Mirrorless hybrid cameras balance portability and high-quality video and photography capabilities with interchangeable lenses and advanced features that cater to various shooting styles.
- DSLRs still offer great image quality and lens flexibility, especially for photography. However, they have mostly become obsolete for video production as hybrid mirrorless cameras have taken over.
- Cinema cameras deliver unmatched quality and control but are also more expensive and have a steeper learning curve.
What is a Camcorder?
Camcorders are cameras specifically designed for recording video. Due to their video-centric design, they have been a staple in news reporting, documentary filmmaking, and event videography.
One of the primary advantages of camcorders is their ergonomic design, which allows for extended handheld use. The body is typically lightweight and compact, featuring a rotating handle and easily accessible controls, making it ideal for run-and-gun filmmaking. Some even have built-in ND filters.
Good-quality camcorders often come with built-in parfocal zoom lenses, which are convenient because you don’t need additional lenses. However, this is also a caveat because it restricts the creative flexibility of interchangeable lens systems.
Read more on cine lenses and what parfocal means.
Additionally, camcorders are optimized for continuous recording, meaning they can record long, uninterrupted video sequences without overheating, a common issue in other types of cameras.
Their autofocus and image stabilization systems make them perfect for situations requiring quick adjustments, such as run-and-gun shooting.
Audio integration is another strength, as many camcorders feature built-in XLR ports for professional audio inputs and outputs.
When to use a Camcorder
Camcorders are a great tool for documenting events in longer and unbroken takes. Weddings, sports, lectures, workshops, and long interviews are all events where a camcorder is probably a safer choice.
However, since weddings and events often have periods with little light available, I recommend pairing a camcorder with a mirrorless camera.
Check out the FilmDaft guide to wedding videography.
Camcorders also have the benefit of recording while streaming. So, if you’re shooting an event or conference, an SDI port on a camcorder allows you to stream and record simultaneously. This is an advantage over recording and uploading after the fact for streaming, which is often the way to go if you use a DSLR or mirrorless camera.
The cons of camcorders
However, camcorders are often limited by smaller sensors, which generally result in lower image quality than DSLR, mirrorless, and cinema cameras. This is particularly noticeable in low-light conditions.
Moreover, camcorders lack the flexibility to create a cinematic look that larger sensors provide. For example, if you’re shooting product videos or commercials, achieving a shallow depth of field can be hard, which gives that coveted blurred background effect.
What is a Mirrorless Camera?
Mirrorless cameras are compact, versatile tools that compose images and videos. They offer a hybrid capability and excel at high-quality video recording and still photography.
Mirrorless cameras are more compact and lightweight than DSLRs, making them easier to carry and use for extended periods, particularly for handheld shooting.
Because they don’t have a mirror like DSLR cameras, they can use digital displays and electronic viewfinders. The electronic viewfinder lets you preview exposure and color adjustments in real time, offering greater control over the final image.
Flexibility in lens choices
One of the biggest strengths of mirrorless cameras is their ability to use interchangeable lenses. Their small flange distance (distance between the mounting surface of a camera lens (the flange) and the camera’s image sensor) makes it possible to adapt vintage lenses from other camera systems. This gives you many creative options to achieve different visual styles.
Mirrorless cameras often have larger sensors than camcorders, such as APS-C or full-frame, which result in superior image quality and dynamic range. This is especially useful in low-light conditions, producing less noise. However, even micro-four-thirds sensor cameras like the popular Panasonic GH-series pack a punch.
Many mirrorless models have advanced features, such as 6K or 8K video recording, high frame rates for slow motion, focus peaking, and in-body image stabilization (IBIS).
The caveats of mirrorless cameras
Despite these advantages, mirrorless cameras have shorter battery life than DSLRs because they rely heavily on electronic components like the viewfinder.
Some mirrorless models are also prone to overheating during extended recording sessions, particularly in resolutions above 4K.
Another limitation is the recording time caps, with many mirrorless cameras restricting continuous video recording to around 30 minutes.
What is a DSLR camera?
Digital Single-Lens Reflex (DSLR) cameras are traditionally designed for still photography, but some models (like the Canon D-series) have become popular for video recording over time.
Like mirrorless cameras, DSLRs support interchangeable lenses, offering flexibility for different shooting conditions and styles.
With large sensors—typically APS-C or full-frame—DSLRs deliver excellent video quality and impressive low-light performance. They can also achieve that cinematic-looking shallow field depth and bokeh.
DSLRs are known for their robust, durable design, which makes them reliable in challenging shooting environments. They use an optical viewfinder, which allows for real-time, lag-free composition, which is particularly useful in bright lighting conditions or when filming fast-moving action.
DSLRs generally offer longer battery life than mirrorless cameras because they rely less on electronic displays.
The downsides to using DSLR cameras for video production
DSLRs are bulkier and heavier than mirrorless cameras, making them less convenient for long handheld shooting or travel periods.
Additionally, the optical viewfinder does not provide a real-time preview of settings like exposure or focus peaking, which makes adjustments during filming more challenging.
Many DSLR models also have slower autofocus during video recording (if they even have autofocus) than mirrorless cameras, making them less practical for dynamic, fast-paced shooting scenarios.
Because of these limitations, DSLRs have become mostly obsolete for many types of video productions. But they still hold value if your focus is mostly photography or timelapse photography/video.
What is a Cinema Camera?
Cinema cameras are professional-grade tools engineered specifically for high-end filmmaking.
Thanks to their large sensors (often Super 35mm or full-frame), cinema cameras can capture footage with outstanding detail, dynamic range, and color accuracy, making them the preferred choice for feature films, commercials, and other high-production-value projects.
Flexibility and Reliability
One of the major benefits of cinema cameras is their support for interchangeable lenses, allowing you to use specialized lenses that provide precise focus control and superior image performance.
Additionally, these cameras support professional codecs and formats, such as RAW and ProRes, which offer maximum flexibility in post-production for color grading and visual effects.
Cinema cameras also have features such as timecode synchronization and LUT (Look-Up Table). However, these capabilities can also be found in some video-focused mirrorless hybrid cameras or achieved using an external recorder.
Cinema cameras are popular in the professional world of commercials and movie-making due to their robust design and reliability. These kinds of shoots require many repeatable takes, so you need to trust that the result will look the same each time.
It also comes down to conventions. For example, if you’re used to working with a RED or an ARRI camera, you can move from one production to the next and know exactly what to do because those are the most common cameras in this line of work.
Cinema cameras don’t come cheap!
Despite their superior performance, cinema cameras have a high price tag, making them less accessible to amateur filmmakers. They are also more complex to operate, requiring a higher level of technical expertise—some even require a crew of two or more people.
In addition, cinema cameras are typically larger and heavier than other camera types, making them more suitable for tripod, dolly, or gimbal use rather than handheld shooting.
The high-resolution footage captured by cinema cameras also demands powerful computers and extensive storage space, increasing post-production costs and time.
A short note on ENG Cameras
One type of camera I haven’t touched upon is the ENG camera. ENG stands for Electronic News-gathering. ENG cameras are portable between camcorders and cinema cameras (although they’re often quite large).
ENG cameras are designed to record high-quality video in a compact and stable package. They are not intended to create artful images but to capture documentary and news footage.
Summing Up
The decision on which camera to use for video production depends on the project’s specific needs.
Camcorders offer convenience and practicality, especially for long shoots or documentary-style filming, though their image quality is not on par with other camera types. Mirrorless cameras balance portability and high-quality video, offering interchangeable lenses and advanced features suited for various shooting styles.
DSLRs, while bulkier, still provide excellent image quality and flexibility, making them a reliable choice for photography and timelapse videos. Finally, cinema cameras represent the pinnacle of video production tools, offering unmatched quality and control but at a higher cost and with a steeper learning curve.
Up Next: What is an external monitor?
