In this article, we take a look at 5 best cameras for filmmaking under $1000. If you are on a tight budget the following cameras will get the job done at an affordable price.
Bear in mind this is only a fun comparison of the specs of the available cameras under $1000 price range. Please treat it as such. There are many variables that come into play.
Here are the cameras considered for this comparison:
- Sony Alpha a6400 (Amazon, B&H)
- Fujifilm X-T30 (Amazon, B&H)
- Fujifilm X-S10 (Amazon, B&H)
- Nikon Z5 (Amazon, B&H)
- Canon EOS RP (Amazon, B&H)
Sony Alpha a6400
Sensor size
The Sony Alpha a6400 (Amazon, B&H) has an APS-C (23.5 x 15.6 mm) sensor, which is close enough to Super 35mm.
Resolution and frame rates
The Sony Alpha a6400 can shoot in 4K (3840 x 2160) UHD at 30p in 8 bit 4:2:0. It does not shoot RAW but you can shoot in S-Log2 and S-Log3.
4K is supposedly downsampled from 6K footage. The best codec available to record in is XAVC S 4K. Maximum fps in 4K is 30 fps. You get 120 fps in 1080p.
The data rates range from 60 Mbps to 100 Mbps.
ISO range for video
The Sony Alpha a6400 has an ISO range of 100 to 32,000 for video. Low light shoots should not be doable, but considering this camera has an APS-C sensor it will not be as great as a full frame sensor.
HDMI output
To record 4K (3840 x 2160) UHD at 30p with 8-bit 4:2:2 you will have to record externally using a recorder like the Atomos Ninja V and an HDMI Type D to Type A cable.
Lens mount
The Sony Alpha a6400 has an E-Mount. It is compatible with every E-mount lens out there. There’s one for every party!
Memory Card
Sony suggests a Class 10 or higher SDXC card for XAVC S 4K. UHS-II or higher is required for 100 Mbps recording.
Recording time limit
None! This is impressive for this price range. You can record in 4K until the battery dies or the card fills up.
Battery life
The Sony Alpha a6400 gives you 125 mins of continuous recording and 70 mins of intermittent recording.
Image stabilization
None! You will depend on the OSS in the lens or use other stabilizing gear, such as a gimbal or a tripod. This might be problematic for many beginners.
Audio
The Sony Alpha a6400 comes with an in-built 3.5mm headphone and microphone jack. You can buy an audio kit that is sold separately for the Sony Alpha a6400. The audio kit will help you record sound professionally.
Size and weight
The dimensions are 120.0 mm (W) x 66.9 mm (H) x 59.7 mm (D) and the camera weighs around 403g. While it is pretty lightweight and compact, adding on accessories will change that.
Fujifilm X-T30
Sensor size
The Fujifilm X-T30 (Amazon, B&H) has an APS-C (23.5 x 15.6 mm) sensor. This is close enough to Super 35mm.
Resolution and frame rates
The Fujifilm X-T30 (Amazon, B&H) can shoot in DCI 4K (4096×2160) at 30p in 8-bit 4:2:0. It does not shoot RAW but you can shoot in F-Log.
The 4K is supposedly downsampled from 6K footage. Maximum fps in 4K is 30 fps. You get 120 fps in HD.
The data rates range from 50 Mbps to 200 Mbps.
HDMI output
The external output is 10-bit with 4:2:2 color space up to DCI 4K 29.97 fps.
ISO range for video
The Fujifilm X-T30 has an ISO range of 160 to 12,800 for video. Low light shoots should not be a problem, but it won’t be as good as the Sony a6400.
Lens mount
The Fujifilm X-T30 (Amazon, B&H) has an X-Mount. X-mount lenses have enough versatility to suit your needs.
Memory card
Fujifilm suggests an Class 10 or higher SDXC card for 4K movie recording. UHS-II or higher is required for 200 Mbps recording.
Recording time limit
With 4K DCI at 30 fps you will only be able to record up to 10 mins continuously. The maximum amount of recording you can get without an external recorder is 15 mins (in 1920 x 1080 at 30 fps). If you want to shoot at 120 fps, then you only get 6 mins of continuous recording.
This can prove to be a major problem if you choose to record internally. While doing a short film where you have some control over you recording lengths this shouldn’t be a major issue, but it’s definitely a major negative compared to the other cameras on this list.
Battery Life
The Fujifilm X-T30 gives you 45 mins of recording time. If you choose to use face detection, it will be worse.
Image stabilization
None! You will depend on the image stabilization in the lens or use other stabilizing means, such as a gimbal or a tripod. This can be problematic for many beginners.
Audio
The Fujifilm X-T30 comes with an in-built 2.5mm microphone jack. No one actually uses 2.5mm jacks for microphone recording. The majority of mics come with 3.5mm jacks. So you will need a converter for that as well.
Ergonomics
The dimensions are 118.4mm (W) x 82.8mm (H) x 46.8mm (D). The. camera weighs around 383g (including battery and memory cards). While it is pretty lightweight and compact, adding on accessories will change that.
Film simulation
As you might have noticed, there are lots of cons with the X-T30. So why bother?
One of the many reasons why Fujifilm has such a strong consumer base, despite its shortcomings, is the ability to recreate their old film looks. Fujifilm and Kodak were the two major companies making film (for both stills and cinema).
Fujifilm’s colors are renowned across the globe and many people choose Fujifilm just for their color science. The ETERNA look has been used notably in many films and loved by avid Fujifilm users all over the world.
This, and the great color science and data rate, is why the image quality on the X-T30 is to be taken seriously.
Fujifilm X-S10
Sensor size
The Fujifilm X-S10 (Amazon, B&H) has an APS-C type (23.5 x 15.6 mm) sensor, close enough to Super 35mm.
Resolution and Frame Rates
The Fujifilm X-S10 (Amazon, B&H) can shoot in DCI 4K (4096×2160) at 30p in 8-bit 4:2:0. It does not shoot RAW but you can shoot in F-Log.
Maximum fps in 4K is 30 fps. You can go up to 240 fps in HD. This is one area it has a leg up over the X-T30.
The data rates range from 50 Mbps to 200 Mbps.
ISO range for video
The Fujifilm X-S10 has an ISO range of 160 to 12,800 for video. Low light shoots should not be a problem, but it won’t be as good as the Sony a6400.
HDMI output
The external output is 10-bit 4:2:2 up to DCI 4K 29.97 fps.
Lens mount
The Fujifilm X-S10 (Amazon, B&H) has an X-Mount. It is compatible with every X-mount lens out there.
Memory card
Fujifilm suggests a Class 10 or higher SDXC card for 4K movie recording. UHS-II or higher is required for 200 Mbps recording.
Recording time limit
The Fujifilm X-S10 will only record up to 30 mins of footage continuously at 4K 30 fps. At 120 fps you only get 6 mins of continuous recording. At 240 fps, you only get 3 mins of continuous recording.
As with the X-T30, unless you can control your take lengths, this is a major con.
Battery life
The Fujifilm X-S10 gives you 40 mins of recording time. If you choose to use face detection, it will be worse.
Image Stabilization
The Fujifilm X-S10 (Amazon, B&H) has a 5-axis in built image stabilization system. Fujifilm claims that this provides 6-stops of image stabilization.
This is a useful addition for videographers who want to do run and gun shoots. This is one area where the X-S10 outshines the X-T30.
Audio
The Fujifilm X-S10 comes with an in-built 3.5mm microphone jack. While this can help you can record better audio than a scratch mic, you will still be missing the professional level of audio recording. Still, better than the X-T30.
Ergonomics
The dimensions are (W) 126.0mm × (H) 85.1mm × (D) 65.4mm. The camera weighs around 465g (including battery and memory cards). While it is pretty lightweight and compact, adding on accessories will change that.
Film simulation
You get all the Fuji colors as with the X-T30. Here are some examples:
- Provia
- Velvia
- Astia
- Eterna
- Eterna Bleach Bypass
- Acros (B&W)
- and more.
A Grain Effect mode is also available to replicate the look of old film photos with an organic textured appearance.
Nikon Z5
Sensor size
The Nikon Z5 (Amazon, B&H) has a full frame sensor (35.9 mm x 23.9 mm). This is one of the few cameras in this budget to have a full frame sensor.
Resolution and Frame Rates
The Nikon Z5 (Amazon, B&H) can shoot in 3840 x 2160 (4K UHD) at 30p in 8-bit 4:2:0. The 4K recording does come with a heavy crop of 1.7x. That crop factor is bigger than an APS-C crop factor!
Maximum fps in 4K is 30fps. You only get 60 fps in 1080p.
The data rates range from 50 Mbps to 144 Mbps.
ISO range for video
The Nikon Z5 has an ISO range of 100 to 25,600 for video. Low light shoots should not be a problem with the full frame sensor.
HDMI output
The Nikon Z5 lacks the ability to output 4K 10-bit 4:2:2 in N-Log.
Lens mount
The Nikon Z5 has a Z-Mount. It is compatible with every Z-mount lens out there.
To read more about Z-mount and its lenses, we suggest you read the following article.
Memory card
The Nikon Z5 has dual memory card slots. Nikon recommends a UHS-II compliant SDHC for 4K recording.
Recording time limit
You can only record up to 30 mins of footage continuously.
Battery life
The Nikon Z5 gives you 115 mins of recording time. The recording time increases if you use the monitor instead of the viewfinder (by 5 mins).
Image stabilization
The Nikon Z5 (Amazon, B&H) has a 5-axis in built image stabilization system.
This is a useful addition for videographers who want to do run and gun shoots. This can help you be independent of a gimbal or a tripod.
Audio
The Nikon Z5 comes with an in-built mic to record your audio, but that is about it.
Ergonomics
The dimensions are (W) 134 mm × (H) 100.5 mm × (D) 69.5 mm. The camera weighs around 675g (including battery and memory cards). The Nikon Z5 is the heaviest camera on this list.
Canon EOS RP
Sensor size
The Canon EOS RP (Amazon, B&H) has a full frame sensor (35.9 x 24.0 mm). It is one of the few cameras in this price range that has a full frame sensor.
Resolution and frame Rates
The Canon EOS RP (Amazon, B&H) can shoot in 4K UHD (3840 x 2160) at 24p in 8-bit 4:2:0.
Maximum fps in 4K is 24fps. You only get 60 fps in 1080p.
The data rates range from 26 Mbps to 120 Mbps.
HDMI output
The external output is 8-bit 4:2:2 up to 4K UHD 23.97 fps.
ISO range for video
The Canon EOS RP has an ISO range of 100 to 12,800 for video. Low light shoots should not be a problem. A full frame sensor helps out a lot here.
Lens mount
The Canon EOS RP (Amazon, B&H) has an RF-Mount. It is compatible with every RF-mount lens out there.
To learn and find your RF lens, we suggest you read the following article:
Memory card
Canon suggests a UHS-I or UHS-II for 4K movie recording.
Recording time limit
At 4K UHD 24 fps you will be able to only record up to 30 mins of footage continuously.
Battery life
The Canon EOS RP has not mentioned the battery life for video in their official website, but it’s nothing to write home about.
Image stabilization
None! You will depend on the image stabilization in the lens or use other stabilizing means, such as a gimbal or a tripod. This can be problematic for many beginners.
Audio Specs
The Canon EOS RP (Amazon, B&H) comes with an in-built 3.5mm microphone jack. While this can help you can record better audio than a scratch mic, you will still be missing the professional level of audio recording.
Ergonomics
The dimensions are (W) 132.5mm × (H) 85.1mm × (D) 70.0mm. The camera weighs around 485g (including battery and memory cards). While it is pretty lightweight and compact, adding on accessories will change that.
That’s it! If you want to know what cameras and lenses we recommend, check out our recommended gear page:
Hope this article helps you make an informed decision for your filming needs. Let us know in the comments below!
