The Ultimate Guide to Video Camera for Beginners

The Ultimate Guide to Video Cameras for Beginners

Welcome to our guide for the finest beginner’s videography cameras. Smartphones have gone a long way in recent years. However, with larger sensors, better lenses, and more creative freedom, dedicated cameras still have a lot to offer the beginner photographer or videographer. We’ve picked together all of the best beginner-friendly alternatives in one helpful list, whether you’re seeking to enhance your snaps, video abilities, or both.

But first, let’s talk about the types of cameras that you are going to choose from so that you better understand your needs:

There are majorly four types of cameras.

  • DSLR- A DSLR camera is a digital camera with a single lens that allows light to enter the camera and be reflected either upwards or downwards into the viewfinder.

The mirror pops up out of the way when you push the shutter to snap the shot. The shutter then glides open, allowing light from the lens to travel straight to the image sensor, registering it as a photograph. This explains the acronym’s “SLR” part. Instead of utilising 35mm film, digital refers to the digital sensor.

  • Mirrorless-A digital camera with no reflex mirror is known as a mirrorless camera (the major component of the DSLR, which reflects the light up to the viewfinder). There is no optical viewfinder with a mirrorless camera, and the image sensor is constantly exposed to light.

It displays a preview of the image on the electronic viewfinder (EVF), often an LCD screen on the camera’s rear.

  • Point and shoot- A point-and-shoot camera, often known as a small camera and abbreviated as P&S, is a still camera designed for ease of use. Most feature built-in flash units and employ focus free lenses or autofocus for focusing. They also have automated systems for adjusting exposure settings and have focus free lenses or autofocus for focusing. People who do not consider themselves photographers but prefer easy-to-use cameras for pictures of vacations, parties, reunions, and other occasions use them for vernacular photography.
  • Digital camcorders-A lens captures and focuses light, an imager turns light into an electrical signal, and a recorder translates electrical signals into digital video and encodes them for storage.

Camcorders, sometimes known as video recorders or video cameras, were popular in the early 1980s. Professional videographers and filmmakers use camcorders to create commercial video segments and films. Amateur videographers are also fans of the gadgets.

Now let’s get started with the top 10 best videography cameras for beginners, we’ve made sure they’re in all budget ranges, so if you are a beginner who doesn’t want to spend a ton, you’re in the right place.

NikonD300

Nikon D300
Nikon D300

Key Feature

  • 24.2 MP DX-format (APS-C) sensor
  • Expeed 4 processor
  • Fixed 3.0″ 921k-dot LCD
  • 1080/60p HD video
  • 5 fps continuous shooting
  • 700 shot battery life
  • ISO range up to 12800 (25600 with expansion)

Pros

It has Optical Built-in Viewfinder along with 51 Focus Points

922k dots LCD Resolution 

6.0fps Shooting

Good Battery Life

Environmental Sealing

It also provides Timelapse Recording

Top LCD Display

AF Micro Adjustment (Fine Tune)

High Life Expectancy – 150000 cycles

Magnesium alloy body elements make build quality a lot better

It is also budget-friendly you can get it for around 400$.

Cons

No wi-fi connection

The body is a bit heavy

Low light performance is cheap

Sensor resolution is now (12.0MP)

Face detection focus is unavailable.

Our Verdicts:

According to my personal experience, this camera is an entry point in wildlife photography or videography. Buttons on the camera instead of a navigator make navigation between different modes easy and quick. Its ability to capture up to 8 frames per second further compliments its ability to click quick and precise shots. Although 14 years old, it still ticks all the boxes of today’s photography standard.

The Nikon D300 has better colour compositions, better highlights, shadows and even sharper pictures than most of the cameras available in the same range; the battery life is pretty good. The thing that you are going to struggle with while filming is that this camera doesn’t have auto stabilization.

Canon Rebel EOS T7

Canon Rebel EOS T7

Key Features

  • 24.1MP, APS-C sensor size (22.3 x 14.9 mm)
  • 3.72 µm square pixel unit
  • 3:2 aspect ratio
  • Canon EF lens mount
  • JPEG and RAW 14-bit
  • Eye-level SLR viewfinder
  • TTL autofocus with 9 AF points
  • ISO range 100-6,400 (12,800 expanded)
  • Shutter speed range from 1/4000 to 30 seconds
  • Exposure compensation: AEB -/+ 3 stops in 1/3 increments
  • Maximum full HD video resolution, 30 fps
  • 3.0-inch LCD, 920,000 pixels
  • Wi-Fi and NFC connectivity
  • Size: 5.08 x 3.99 x 3.06 inches
  • Weight: 15.06 oz.

Pros

Excellent image quality

Realistic colours and fantastic sharpness in the scene

popup flash unit

Good ergonomics

 Solid build quality

 Autofocus in videos responds well

 The button layout and size are good; it is not very heavy.

Cons

Limited speed in burst mode.

Not enough upgrades from its predecessor

The LCD screen has a 4:3 aspect ratio, while the image sensor’s aspect ratio is 3:2.

No tilt or touch features on the LCDs are available.

Our Verdict

This camera is said to be one of the best cameras in its price point because of the sensor; it shares the same sensor cannon80D, a premium Canon product. It is excellent for casual photography, and it captures beautifully because of its superb colour grading. However, it lacks a bit when it comes to capturing movements or taking rapid shots due to its shutter speed being 3fps and lacks a bit in shallow light situations. Overall, it’s a good camera at its price point for casual photography and videography.

Panasonic HC-V180K

Panasonic HC-V180K

Key features

  • Full HD 1080p recording50x Stabilized Optical Zoom and 90x Intelligent Zoom
  • 1/5.8-Inch BSI Sensor
  • 28mm Wide-Angle Lens
  • Touch screen LCD
  • Star2-Channel Zoom Microphone
  • Star-Level Shot Function.

Pros 

Image stabilisation in such a low-cost camera

Improved lens and microphone.

Very light, easy to start making blogs from

AVCHD recording at 28 Mbps is now available

Built-in Wi-Fi

The time-lapse feature is pretty cool.

Cons

Lacks manual control

The live video streaming option is unavailable.

Sony Alpha A-6000

A black camera with a lens

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Key features

  • 24.3-megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor
  • Bionz X image processor
  • Hybrid AF system with 25 contrast-detect 
  • Built-in flash 
  • ISO 100-25600
  • 11 fps continuous shooting along with subject-tracking
  • 3-inch tilting LCD 
  • OLED electronic viewfinder with 1.44M dots
  • Area-specific noise reduction
  • Full HD video recording at 1080/60p and 24p; clean HDMI output
  • Wi-Fi with NFC capability 
  • 4.72W x 2.63H x 1.78D in.
  • 10.05 oz (Body Only) / 12.13 oz (With battery and media)

Pros

Very fast autofocus

Amazing ISO image quality

Sharp OLED EVF

Tilting display

In body flash and multifunction hot shoe

Wi-Fi with NFC

1080p60 video capture for amazing video quality

AF speed

Very high-resolution sensor

It is one of the best budget mirrorless cameras.

Cons

Slow start-up

No touchscreen

The silent shutter option is not there

Lacks analogue mic input

No miniature effects.

Our verdict 

Sony a6000’s camera came out seven years ago but is still a great choice when it comes to entry-level DSLRs because of its amazing specs. It’s an ideal choice for sports or wildlife photography as it has a shutter speed of 11fps. And It has decent colour grading, but the processors are a bit lagging. It has reliable autofocus of 179 focus points. Overall, this is a decent product at its price point.

FUJI X-M1

A black camera with a lens

Description automatically generated with medium confidence

Key features

  • 16.3MP APS-C X-Trans CMOS Sensor
  • Includes 16-50mm XC Lens
  • 3.0″ 920k-dot LCD Tilt Monitor
  • Built-in wi-fi Connectivity
  • Full HD 1080p Video with Stereo Sound
  • Focal Plane Shutter
  • 100-25600 ISO Sensitivities
  • Magnesium Alloy Body

Pros

Built-in Wireless (wi-fi)

Articulating Screen

Face Detection Focusing

49 Focus Points

920k dots LCD Resolution

6.0fps Shooting

330g Light Body

Flash Sync Port

Compatible with fast UHS-I cards

Cons

low battery life

Sensor shift Image Stabilization feature is not there

No Touch Screen

No Built-in Viewfinder or external viewfinder.

Our reviews

It’s a pretty old but a good camera. It’s a small camera. Hence, it’s handy and convenient to carry. Its built is plasticky and cheap and does not have satisfactory responsive buttons. The shutter is lagging. But that’s where the cons end. This has an old sensor but still produces high-end 4k pictures, 49 focus points, and reliable autofocus.it is great for capturing landscapes plus, it has a pretty flexible flash which can bend backwards to several degrees, making it ideal for low light photography.

Nikon z6ii

Nikon z6ii

Key features

  • 24MP full-frame BSI-CMOS sensor
  • Continuous shooting up to 14 fps 
  • Full-sensor UHD 4K video 
  • Two card slots (1x CF express/XQD, 1x UHS-II SD)
  • 3.69M-dot EVF 
  • Tilting 2.1M-dot touchscreen
  • USB-C socket for powering the camera
  • Battery rating of 410 (LCD) shots per charge
  • Connectors allow battery grip with portrait orientation.

Pros

Amazing video and image quality

Polished handling

5-axis IS system

14fps burst shooting

Best-in-class build quality.

Cons

Other, more sophisticated AF systems

It’s a tilt-angle display, not a variable-angle display.

Our verdict

It’s a great camera at its price point. With higher fps and autofocus on point, it’s great for wildlife and high-octane sports photography. It’s great for low light photography as well as studio conditions. The main highlight is the two processors in this camera; it can produce amazingly high-resolution pictures.

Panasonic Lumix G7

Panasonic Lumix G7

Key features

  • f=14mm to 42mm 35mm camera equivalent 28mm to 84mm
  • 16 MP effective pixels
  • Wide angle with face detection
  • Live MOS sensor 17.3 x 13.0 mm
  • OLED Live View Finder 2,360k dots
  • Approx. 1.4x / 0.7x 35mm camera equivalent with 50 mm lens at infinity -1.0 m-1 viewfinder magnification
  • TFT LCD 3-inch display

Pros

Generally, very good image quality

Very good high ISO performance 

Excellent handgrip

Superb EVF

Responsive touchscreen display

The electronic shutter enables silent shooting and fast shutter speeds

4K video/4K Photo

Cons

In 4K picture settings, processing rates might be quicker.

The top plate, dials, and buttons are all made of plastic.

EVF previews are low resolution in 4K picture mode.

Burst mode slows down to 6.6 fps when shooting a RAW file.

Our verdict

This is a great camera for budding videographers and photographers, given that it’s a quality product that is budget-friendly with specs such as 4k footage shooting in 24 and 30 fps. The built quality is solid button response is good and interacting with it and changing the settings in the menu is pretty easy. Overall, it’s a user-friendly camera, and you can have a lot of fun capturing moments with it.

Go Pro Hero Session

Go Pro Hero Session

Key features

Pros

  • 1 x USB Micro-B For charging/file transfer
  • Rechargeable Lithium-Ion Battery Pack, 3.8 VDC, 1030 mAh
  • Supports 1080p60 / 1440p30 (4:3) Video
  • Capture 8MP Still Photos
  • Ultra-Wide-Angle Glass Lens + Super View
  • Waterproof to 33.’
  • weighing just 2.6 ounces
  • 1080p video up to 60 fps.

Pros

Compact, low-profile design, very light

easy-to-use, always-on operation.

Great video quality.

Improved audio.

Waterproof without bulky housing.

Cons

There’s no live recording preview

Quite expensive.

Our verdict

This is an action camera so it will be used in not such pleasant conditions as well; well, it’s no wonder it’s built tough to withstand these conditions with a rubber-coated body. It is waterproof and can go up to 10mtrs deep underwater with it. It has standard specs for its price point, such as 1080pixels and high-resolution videos. Its one-button interaction is quick and convenient. hence all that said, it’s pretty overpriced at its price point but a decent product nerveless which does the job well.

Pentax K-70

Pentax K-70

Key features

  • Actual resolution: 24.7 Megapixel Effective: 24.2 Megapixel (6000 x 4000)
  • 23.5 x 15.6 mm (APS-C) CMOS sensor type
  • Electronic Front Curtain Shutter 1/6000 to 30 Seconds
  • 100 to 204,800 iso
  • -5 to +5 EV (1/3, 1/2 EV Steps) exposure
  • 14-bit depth with 3:2 aspect ratio
  • Full HD (1920 x 1080) at 50i/59.94i Full HD (1920 x 1080) at 24.00p/25p/29.97p HD (1280 x 720) at 50p/59.94p recording modes
  • 921,000 Dot resolution LCD display
  • Automatic and manual focus

Pros

Excellent still image quality, especially when shooting Raw

Weather sealed

Class-leading lowlight AF

100% coverage optical finder

Built-in Wi-Fi

Solid build quality

Cons

Slow kit lens

Disappointing continuous autofocus in video

Out of date autofocus system

Small RAW buffer

Poor JPEG compression

No wireless flash controls.

Our reviews

This camera has an amazing picture quality for its budget, and it has an excellent colour range; it produces a sharp image. It’s pretty solidly built for its price point and is value for money.

Canon PowerShot G7x Mark II

Canon PowerShot G7x Mark II

Key features

  • 20.1MP 1″ CMOS Sensor
  • DIGIC 7 Image Processor4.2x Optical Zoom f/1.8-f/2.8 Lens
  • 24-100mm (35mm Equivalent)
  • 3.0″ 1.04m-Dot Tilting LCD Touchscreen
  • Full HD 1080p Video Recording at 60 fps
  • Built-In Wi-Fi 
  • ISO 12800, up to 8 fps Shooting
  • Intelligent Image Stabilization
  • Manual Control Ring
  • Time-Lapse Movie

Pros

Good colours and sharpness

Low light photography exceeds expectations

Easy to use

Good battery life

Good built quality 

Cons

Autofocus performance has a few weak areas

Fine details lack definition.

Conclusion

Take reference of this guide to find the correct match for you a camera that even as a beginner satisfies you in every aspect of photography or videography you try. I hope this helps.

Feel free to drop questions or reviews of these cameras.

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