The best cameras for your live stream
The best camera is the one you already have?
Make the most of what you already have, be it an old camera or even a smartphone.
Remember - content, audio and lighting are more important than the camera:
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Production value cannot compensate for a lack of compelling content.
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People are less forgiving of bad audio than bad graphics.
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A good camera cannot compensate for bad or insufficient lighting.
If you want better quality, you should invest in these products before investing in a new camera. We can help you with that.
Micro Four Thirds cameras
The Micro Four Thirds (4/3") sensor has become a great compromise between smaller sensors in most camcorders and larger sensors in most cinema cameras.
They often offer better image quality and lower light output than smaller sensors, while maintaining manageable depth of field.
If you also are looking for something inexpensive and don't need features like a smooth motorized zoom, one of these cameras might be the right choice.
Important: None of the Micro Four Thirds lenses I recommend have motorized (servo) zoom, so these cameras and lens combos are best suited for still shots.
Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 4K
Our tip for 2020 -
The picture quality and the various functions are unbeatable for the price.
Output up to 1080p60 while recording in high quality codecs like ProRes and Blackmagic RAW.
Apply your own LUT to the HDMI output for creative control.
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Outputs: HDMI (Type A - Full Size)
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Recording formats: Up to 4096 x 2160 at 60 fps
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output formats: Up to 1920x1080 at 60 fps
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My favorite feature: Versatility
Panasonic G7
Budget friendly solution
A popular option over the last few years and still my go-to choice for smaller budgets.
Clean 1080p HDMI output (when not recording) and no time limit on 1080p recording make this a wonderful offering.
The only camera in this range that also comes with a lens.
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Outputs: HDMI (Type D - Micro)
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Recording formats: Up to 3840 x 2160 (UHD) at 29.97 fps
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output formats: Up to 1920x1080 at 59.94 fps when not recording
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My favorite feature: price
Panasonic G85
Simultaneous recording and output
No recording limits - Record in any format as long as the camera has power and the memory card has enough space.
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Outputs: HDMI (Type D - Micro)
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Recording formats: Up to 3840 x 2160 (UHD) at 29.97 fps
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output formats: Up to 3840 x 2160 (UHD) at 29.97 fps
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My favorite feature: Simultaneous recording and HDMI output in all formats
Panasonic GH5S
Good in bad light
Outstanding low-light performance, superb image quality, and tons of useful features make this purchase worth every penny.
There are no recording limits - record in any format as long as the camera has power and the memory card has enough space.
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Outputs: HDMI (Type A - Full Size)
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Recording formats: Up to 4096x2160 at 59.94 fps
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output formats: Up to 4096x2160 at 59.94 fps
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My favorite feature: Top performance in low light conditions!
Micro Four Thirds lenses
These lenses will work with all of the cameras listed above.
Distances & Framing
Be sure to measure how far your camera is from your subject.
Below are some general numbers to help you determine which lens you may need:
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Full Shot (head to toe with a 1.80m tall subject)
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= mm.cf506distance to motif 80m.cf506bad
_cc781905-5cde-3194-bb3b-136bad = mm.cf50m distance to motif
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Medium Shot (From the waist up on a 6' subject)
_cc781905-5cde-3194-bb3b-136bad85b-18d_bad85mm distance to subject
100 mm = 7m distance to the subject
200 mm = 15 m distance to the subject
depth of field
Micro Four Thirds sensors are larger than most camcorder sensors.
This can often mean better photosensitivity,
resulting in better image quality with less noise.
However, the size of the sensor also affects the focal length,
which in turn affects depth of field (how deep the focus area is).
Below are some common scenarios,
to help you understand,
How lenses and subject distance affect depth of field:
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25 mm focal length (full shot - 4.50m distance to the subject)
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f/2.8 = 3m depth of field
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If the subject moves 1.5m or more forward or backward, it will appear out of focus
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f/5.6 = 6m depth of field
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If the subject moves forward or backward 3m or more, it will appear out of focus
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25 mm focal length (medium shot - 1.80m distance to the subject)
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f / 2.8 = 4.90m depth of field
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If the subject moves 20cm or more forward or backward, it will appear out of focus
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f/5.6 = 9.75m depth of field
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If the subject moves 40cm or more forward or backward, it will be blurred
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100 mm focal length (full exposure - 18m distance to the subject)
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f / 2.8 = 2.70m depth of field
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If the subject moves 1.30m or more forward or backward, it will appear out of focus
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f / 5.6 = 5.50m depth of field
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If the subject moves forward or backward 2.70m or more, it will appear out of focus
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100 mm focal length (medium shot - 7.60m distance to the subject)
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f/2.8 = 45cm depth of field
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If the subject moves 22cm or more forward or backward, it will appear out of focus
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f/5.6 = 91cm depth of field
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If the subject moves 45cm or more forward or backward, it will appear out of focus.
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With dem DOF simulator you can do your own depth of field and frame calculations.
Olympus 12-40mm f/2.8
Top pick for 2020
My favorite default zoom for Micro Four Thirds.
Extremely sharp and rich in contrast, even at f/2.8.
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full shot: 2.4m-7.3m
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Medium recording: 91cm-3m
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My favorite feature: Classic Olympus sharpness and contrast
Panasonic 100-400mm f/4-6.3
When you need a good shot of a distant subject.
It doesn't have a constant aperture, but it makes up for it with range.
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Full shot: 18m-73m
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Medium shot: 7.6m-30m
Panasonic 25mm f/1.7
A fixed focal length (ie no zoom) that is similar to a 50mm lens on a full-frame type sensor.
Our favorite lens for many occasions. The f/1.7 aperture helps in low light and can offer a shallower depth of field if desired.
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full shot: 4,6m
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Medium shot: 1.8m
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My favorite feature: Aperture f/1.7 at a great price
camcorders
A camcorder, specifically in this list, refers to a camera, recorder, and lens built into a solid unit.
If you want to use smooth motorized zooms, a camcorder is the best option on smaller budgets.
They typically can't match the image quality of the Micro Four Thirds cameras listed above, but they make up for it with their versatility.
Sony X70
Top pick for 2020
Popular in recent years, it still remains my number one choice.
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full shot: 2.7m -30m
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Medium shot: 1m - 12.5m
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Exit: 3G-SDI and HDMI (Type A - Full Size)
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recording formats: Up to 1920x1080 at 60 fps
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Output formats: Up to 1920 x 1080 at 60 fps
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My favorite feature: Clear Image Zoom provides 24x zoom in 1080p mode while maintaining image quality
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*HDMI and 3G-SDI outputs CANNOT be used simultaneously
Panasonic CX350
Advanced features
High-quality 10-bit recording formats, including HEVC.
The 20x optical zoom offers some of the best optical zoom ranges available.
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full shot: 2,1m -43,5 m
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Medium shot: 0.9 m - 17.5 m
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Exit: 3G-SDI and HDMI (Type A - Full Size)
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recording formats: Up to 3840 x 2160 at 59.94 fps
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Output formats: Bis zu 13840 x 2160 bei 59.94 fps (HDMI) oer 1920 x 1080 bei_cc781905-5cde- 3194-bb3b-136bad5cf58d_59.94 fps (3G-SDI)
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My favorite feature: 10-bit recording up to 400Mbps
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*HDMI and 3G-SDI outputs can be used simultaneously