The thin line between cameras and camcorders has practically disappeared. Current generations of video cameras with interchangeable lenses are widely used not only by amateur videographers but also by real professionals in their field (clip makers, advertisers, etc.). We have selected 5 Best Interchangeable Lens Cameras For Beginners with remarkable abilities in video shooting and we are in a hurry to share their ins and outs within the framework of this article.
Best Interchangeable Lens Cameras For Beginners
Canon EOS M6 II 15-45
Mirrorless of a strong middle link Canon EOS M6 kit 18-150 fell in love with many adherents of the genre of photography. In 2019, a model with the Mark II prefix was rolled out to replace it. It was one of the first Canon consumer cameras to offer full-width 4K video capture.
A 32.5 MP matrix with a crop factor of 1.6x is assigned to the role of the image sensor in the model. In her work, she is accompanied by a DIGIC 8 image processor. The camera confidently copes with work at high ISOs (up to 25600 units in normal mode and up to 51200 in extended range), makes 14 fps in sequential photography mode, accommodating 23 RAW files in the buffer or 54 JPEGs.
Onboard the model, you can see the proprietary autofocus system Dual Pixel CMOS AF. It reveals itself in all its glory when working in LiveView mode and when shooting movies. In total, 5481 focus areas are provided by tapping on the touch screen, along with which the camera supports focusing on the eyes with the ability to track.
As mentioned, video shooting is given to a mirrorless camera in a maximum resolution of 4K with reading data from the entire plane of the matrix (i.e. without image crop) . In parallel, the camera can output a 10-bit 4:2:2 signal via HDMI. A pebble in the garden of the model is the lack of a 3.5 mm headphone jack. Also, there was no place for a built-in viewfinder on the “carcass” of the camera; instead, it is often equipped with an external “peephole” on the hot shoe. Despite a couple of flaws, the camera is in demand among photographers and videographers, bribing the main thing democratic pricing.
Sony A6600 body
The history of Sony’s “six thousandths” series of cropped mirrorless cameras began in 2014. The ancestor of the line is still on store shelves, and the model with the name A6600 is considered the most charged camera of the family today.
The mirrorless camera has inherited the features of the appearance of previous cameras in the series, however, it has acquired a more protruding battery handle, which provides a comfortable grip for the camera in the hand. The increased internal space of the handle contributed to the adoption of a new large battery on board, on a single charge of which you can “shoot” over 800 frames.
At the head of the camera is a 24 MP APS-C sensor mounted on a movable stabilizing platform. The matrix stub will come in handy when shooting handheld in low light conditions and when recording videos. Video in the maximum resolution of 4K is recorded on a mirrorless camera from the entire plane of the matrix with a frequency of up to 30 fps and a bit rate of up to 100 Mbps. To control the sound, the operator is provided with a microphone input and an audio output for headphones. What’s more, the Sony A6600 supports S-Log2 and S-Log3 gamma curve profiles, as well as eye focusing for video shooting.
The automatic focusing system in the equipment of the model combines 425 phase-type sensors under the wing. “According to the passport”, the camera clings to the subject in 0.02 seconds. In burst mode with autofocus, the mirrorless camera develops a rate of fire of about 11 fps. This buffers 46 RAW files and 115 JPEG photos. If the camera supported UHS-II format cards, these numbers could be even higher.
The assets of the camera include four programmable buttons for quick access to settings and an inclined touch screen, tap on which the focus points are set. An alternative way to aim while shooting is the electronic viewfinder with a resolution of 2.36 million dots. The Sony A6600 will find a home in the photo equipment of advanced users who are eager to acquire a versatile camera for photography and video shooting.
Fujifilm X-T3 body
The Fujifilm X-T3 is the flagship of the Japanese APS-C family of mirrorless cameras, designed with professional photography and video in mind. And that’s why.
The elegant retro decoration of the camera hides a completely modern “stuffing” in the depths of the case: an X-Trans CMOS 4 image sensor with a resolution of 26 MP in the company of an X-Processor 4 chip . This pair provides low-noise results when shooting at high ISO (working sensitivity is considered to be values up to ISO 12800), high speed sequential shooting (11 fps with a mechanical shutter and 20 fps with an electronic shutter), as well as advanced video shooting capabilities.
Movies on the Fujifilm X-T3 are recorded in DCI (4096×2160 pixels) and 4K (3840×2160 pixels) formats with a frequency of up to 60 fps and a bit rate of up to 200 Mbps. At the same time, support for in-camera 4K shooting 4: 2: 0 10 bits is declared directly to a fast UHS-II memory card. Video 4:2:2 10-bit camera records to an external recorder via HDMI. When recording an ultra-high resolution video sequence with a maximum frame rate, the crop factor of the picture is 1.18x, and the duration of the video rests on a 20-minute “ceiling” (to avoid overheating of the matrix). For greater convenience in matters of video recording, connectors for connecting an external microphone and headphones are added.
According to an established tradition , separate wheels for controlling shutter speed, ISO and exposure compensation are placed on the upper end of the mirrorless body. The camera also supports touch control by tapping on the rotary screen and is equipped with a high-definition OLED viewfinder with 3.69 million dots . The entire field of the frame is covered by a 425-point automatic focusing system. To complete the picture, the model lacks only a matrix stub, so videographers will need to buy stabilized optics or a specialized steadicam to pair with it.
Sony A7s II body
“Eska” in the second generation of a series of full-frame mirrorless Sony Alpha 7 is, in fact, a unique camera that has no direct competitors among colleagues in the shop. It has practically no equal in the width of the dynamic range of the image and when working at high ISO, especially in matters of video shooting.
The secret to a mirrorless camera’s performance at ISO speeds that others can’t reach is the use of a full-frame image sensor with a resolution of 12.2 MP. Each individual pixel in this matrix is much larger than usual and absorbs more light , which leads to low-noise results when shooting at high ISOs. The native sensitivity range of the matrix is measured in the range from 100 to 102400 units, it can be extended by software to ISO 50-409600. In practice, the camera distinguishes hitherto invisible objects in the frame almost in complete darkness.
The second strong trump card in the model’s sleeve is video shooting at the “Pro” level. The mirrorless camera supports recording 4K videos in XAVC S format with a bit rate of up to 100 Mbps directly to a high-speed memory card. Assisting in smooth footage is a 5-axis matrix stub that helps compensate for over 4 stops of exposure.
The model is assembled in a dust- and moisture-proof case, the onboard equipment of which provides for an OLED viewfinder with a magnification of 0.78x, an inclined screen with touch control, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and NFC wireless communication modules. Only a short autonomy slightly spoils the impression of the camera, but by the standards of mirrorless cameras, the Sony A7s II demonstrates very average performance “according to the ward”. Compatible with NP- FW50 series batteries.
Panasonic DC-S1H body
Panasonic has proven its love for video with the GH line of cameras, which has dramatically reduced the cost of entry into the video production arena. The Panasonic DC-S1H full-frame mirrorless camera opens up even wider horizons in the video genre.
This camera completely blurs the line between cameras and professional film cameras. Its exclusive “trick” is support for video recording in ultra-high-resolution 6K (5952×3968 pixels) from the entire plane of the image sensor. Such shooting is done with frame proportions of 3:2 and a frame rate of 24 fps. In 16:9 format Panasonic DC-S1H records videos with frame rate up to 30 fps in maximum resolution of 5.9K (5888×3312 pixels). 4K video is recorded on the camera at up to 60 fps and in a 10-bit 4:2:2 color grid.
There are no restrictions on the duration of the video recording for the model. All thanks to the introduction of an active cooling system into the design of the chamber, which avoids overheating of the matrix. Also in the Panasonic DC-S1H, a 5-axis matrix image stabilization system has been implemented. Together with stabilized optics, the camera provides up to 6 stops of exposure when shooting handheld or in low light conditions. Complementing the picture is homegrown Depth from Defocus autofocus with face and eye-tracking modes.
As far as the “seating” of buttons and control wheels around the perimeter of the “carcass” of the camera, everything is fine. The only “but” is the solid weight of the camera (more than 1 kg without a body kit). The swivel screen on the rear and a small display for displaying key shooting parameters on the upper end add to the ease of handling the model. A separate mention is made for a paired slot for SD cards with support for the UHS-II standard. The Panasonic DC-S1H is an expensive full-frame pro tool for those who have grown out of shooting video with a camera and are eager to realize their talents in the video production segment.
