Cinematic Gear: Budget Cameras for Filmmakers Unveiled

You might think that you need a lot of money to get started with filmmaking. There’s all the planning, personnel, and software, not to mention the equipment. 

But that doesn’t have to be the case. There are some great affordable cameras for filming if you know what to look for. In this article, I’ll share the best cameras! 

Plus, you’ll find my tips on how to choose the best budget video cameras in my buying guide. So, if you’re looking for a low-budget filmmaking camera, read on. This article could be your entryway into a new and exciting career or hobby! 

Best Budget Filmmaking Camera Buying Guide

If you’re new to filmmaking, buying your first camera can be pretty overwhelming. So, it’s helpful to know what to look for when shopping for the best affordable cinema camera.

Here are the essential features of a budget filmmaking camera:

Video Quality

Firstly, video quality should be your number one concern. And that means looking for superb image quality and 4K video if possible. 

The next thing to find out is how many frames per second the camera can shoot. The general rule is that the higher, the better. 

And the final crucial factor is the sensor size. The larger the sensor, the more accurately it can capture video.

User-Friendly Design

As a beginner, you don’t want a camera that’s overly complicated. I’m guessing that you’d rather not spend days reading through the manual. Instead, you want to get out there and start making films! 

So, you’ll need a camera that’s simple and intuitive. It should be straightforward, with a user-friendly design and interface. 

While you want all the necessary features, they should be easy to access. It doesn’t need to be a super-advanced and finicky camera to allow you to produce amazing films.

Low Light Capability

You can’t always shoot on a bright, sunny day. So, you should look into how your chosen camera fares in low-light situations. That generally means a camera with a larger sensor. 

Battery Life

When you’re mid-way through shooting a scene, you don’t want your camera to run out of battery. So, look for cameras with longer battery lives. That will save you a lot of headaches and wasted time down the line.

Top 3 Affordable Cameras for Filming – A Quick Comparison

TL;DR? Here are my recommendations for the best cameras for beginner filmmakers. These carefully selected cameras provide everything you need without breaking the bank. 

The best low-budget camera overall is the Panasonic Lumix G85. Here’s the low down on this amazing low-cost video camera:

• You can film 4K video on this low-cost camera
• It offers outstanding value for money and is ideal for beginner filmmakers
• It has a weather-sealed build to protect it from the elements
• It’s not the best camera for low light conditions

But if you have a little more to spend, the Blackmagic is the best low budget camera. Here are the pros & cons of the Blackmagic Design 4K video camera:

• It’s very lightweight, compact, and portable
• But it’s also very powerful and allows you to capture amazing videos
• You can record 4K video easily
• It’s not cheap – it will be out of some people’s budgets
• It doesn’t have an eye-level viewfinder
• There’s no built-in image stabilization

The best camera for beginner filmmakers is the Canon EOS 50 (at least in my opinion!) Here’s what you need to know about this camera:

• The Canon EOS M50 is very affordable, making it perfect for anyone on a budget
• It’s simple and straightforward to use, so it’s perfect for beginners
• The tracking and autofocus are fast and accurate
• You have the option of recording in 4K, HD, or in slow-motion
• You can use it for film and still photography
• It doesn’t have any image stabilization
• There’s no headphone socket on this camera

Best Cameras for Beginner Filmmakers

Here are some of the best cameras for you. Whether you want to film vlogs, tutorials, or documentaries, you’ll find the right camera for you on this list! They come at a range of prices to match your budget, but each provides great value for money. 

Browse through, and let me know which one you choose in the comments below! 

Panasonic LUMIX G85 4K Digital Camera

Best Budget Camera for Film-Making

(Image credit: Panasonic)

The Panasonic Lumix G85 is an excellent camera for beginner filmmakers. It’s reasonably priced and allows you to capture fantastic video quality. So, you get superb value for money for this price. 

Thanks to its robust, weather-sealed build, this camera can withstand all elements. So, it should last you a long time. Plus, it provides more flexibility in shooting no matter the conditions. 

The Lumix G85 is capable of 4K video and can record in HD at up to 60 frames per second. It also boasts great image stabilization. So, you can film freehand and still have smooth, clean shots. 

(Image credit: Panasonic)

The tilt and swivel touchscreen makes shooting video easier and smoother than ever. So, you have more control and options over how you shoot.

While this camera does have autofocus, it’s not the most impressive. It can be a bit laggy at times.

However, it does only have a micro four-thirds sensor. That means this camera isn’t the best for filming in low light, as your videos may come out a bit grainy. 

Despite this, it’s a fantastic camera for movie-making. You can easily shoot all sorts of videos on this, making it ideal for beginners. 

Specifications:

• Type: Mirrorless
• Sensor: Micro Four Thirds
• Megapixels: 16 MP
• Monitor: 3-inch LCD
• Max burst speed: 40 fps
• Max video resolution: 4K

Pros:

• An affordable camera for new filmmakers
• Provides excellent value for money
• Can shoot 4K video
• The 3-inch tilt-and-swivel touchscreen is useful
• It has excellent image stabilization

Cons:

• The autofocus is quite slow 
• It’s not the best camera for low-light shooting

Check price on

Amazon

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Fujifilm X-T3 Camera

Best Affordable Camera for Low Light Filming

(Image credit: Fujifilm)

If you’re looking for a versatile video camera for all conditions, the Fujifilm X-T3 fits the bill. It has a large APS-C sensor, so you can film effectively even in low light. 

So, what else does this camera have going for it? Firstly, it has superb color accuracy and a great dynamic range. The video quality is excellent, making the X-T3 suitable for pros and hobbyists. 

(Image credit: Fujifilm)

This camera holds its own for still photography and video recording. That makes it an ideal one camera for all your needs. 

The autofocus is speedy, streamlining your filming. But the lack of built-in image stabilization leaves something to be desired. And while it has a tilting screen, you can’t swivel it at all. 

(Image credit: Fujifilm)

One more thing to note is that the battery life is pretty short. But you can pair it with an external battery pack via USB cable if necessary.

The Fujifilm X-T3 is another strong contender for the best filmmaking camera on a budget. The price is reasonable and provides all the specs and features you need. 

Specifications:

• Type: Mirrorless
• Sensor: APS-C
• Megapixels: 26.1 MP
• Monitor: 3-inch LCD
• Max burst speed: 30 fps
• Max video resolution: 4K 

Pros:

•  A fantastic camera for shooting in all conditions, including low light
• It has excellent autofocus and color accuracy
• You can record 4K and HD video 
• It offers shooting in log mode 

Cons:

• No built-in image stabilization
• It isn’t weather-sealed
• It doesn’t have a headphone socket

Check price on

Amazon

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Canon EOS M50 Mirrorless Camera

Best Budget Canon Camera for Filmmaking

(Image credit: Canon)

The Canon EOS M50 is ideal if you want to start filmmaking on a budget. You can make amazing videos without carrying a lot of gear or breaking the bank. 

This affordable camera is perfect for shooting in HD. You can also record in 4K, but the downside is that you can’t use the dual-pixel AF in this mode. So, the image ends up getting cropped and doesn’t look as good. 

The EOS M50 has excellent tracking and speedy autofocus. That can greatly improve your video quality. And it’s easy to connect with this camera via Bluetooth or WiFi to download your files.

(Image credit: Canon)

It’s also very lightweight and compact. But despite this, it has a decent-sized sensor. So, it’s versatile and capable of filming in almost all conditions. 

There are a few downsides to this camera. For example, it doesn’t have any built-in image stabilization and lacks a headphone socket. 

But overall, it’s still one of the best Canon cameras for film. And it’s also a real bargain at this low price. So, if you’re a beginner filmmaker, this camera is well worth your consideration! 

Specifications:

• Type: Mirrorless
• Sensor: APS-C
• Megapixels: 24.1 MP
• Monitor: 3-inch touchscreen LCD
• Max burst speed: 10 fps
• Max video resolution: 4K 

Pros:

• A low-cost camera that is ideal for recording HD videos
• This compact small filming camera is lightweight and portable
• It has a great sensor, so you can film in low light

Cons:

• It doesn’t have in-built image stabilization 
• The max burst speed is slower than other cameras on this list 

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Amazon

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Blackmagic Design Pocket Cinema Camera 4K

Best Low-Cost 4K Camera for Beginner Filmmakers

(Image credit: Blackmagic)

The Blackmagic camera is an amazing compact pocket camera. It would be easy to be fooled by its small design, but it’s actually a fantastic camera. 

This camera is popular among professional filmmakers, and it’s not hard to see why. It has great features, including a full-sized sensor and 4K recording. It can capture up to 60 frames per second. And it also has a large, user-friendly 5-inch touchscreen LCD. 

Despite being small, it’s pretty robust and hard-wearing. That’s all thanks to the carbon fiber composite build. You can pair it with lightweight, compact lenses, ensuring that you can take it anywhere. 

(Image credit: Blackmagic)

Now, it is worth mentioning that the Blackmagic camera doesn’t have the longest battery life. It also lacks an eye-level viewfinder. One other disappointment is that it doesn’t have built-in image stabilization. 

However, this camera isn’t cheap. But I still think it’s reasonably priced for what you get and what you can do with the Blackmagic. 

It’s quite an investment, and it also has quite a learning curve. So, it’s better for professionals and experienced filmmakers. But when it comes to video quality, this powerful little camera doesn’t disappoint. 

Specifications:

• Type: Digital film camera
• Sensor: Micro Four Thirds
• Megapixels: N/A
• Monitor: 5-inch touchscreen LCD
• Max burst speed: 120 fps
• Max video resolution: 4K

Pros:

•  One of the best cinema cameras around
• It’s compact and portable but also hard-wearing
• You can record jaw-dropping videos with this camera
• It has superb dynamic range, color accuracy, and performance in low light
• The four microphones allow you to capture flawless audio 

Cons:

• It’s pretty expensive
• It doesn’t have an eye-level viewfinder
• The battery life isn’t very long

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Amazon

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Sony Alpha A6600 Mirrorless Camera

Best Budget Mirrorless Camera

(Image credit: Sony)

The Sony Alpha A6600 is another outstanding camera on a budget. It can give the Blackmagic cinema camera a run for its money. 

This model was released in August 2019, so it’s still quite a new camera. But it doesn’t have the hefty price tag that comes with a new release just out this year. So, in comparison, the price is reasonable and provides good value for money. 

(Image credit: Sony)

There’s a lot to say for the Alpha A6600. Firstly, it has stellar autofocus. In fact, it’s one of the fastest autofocus on a camera at just 0.02 seconds. Real-time tracking is also a real bonus when you’re filming. 

The Alpha A6600 also has an advantage over many other mirrorless cameras. It has image stabilization built-in, making for a smoother filming experience. 

Despite all these features, it’s still very lightweight at 1.1 lbs. As a result, it’s easy to take anywhere without weighing you down. 

All these factors combine to make the Sony Alpha A6600 one of the best cameras for filmmaking.

Specifications:

• Type: Mirrorless
• Sensor: APS-C
• Megapixels: 24 
• Monitor: 3-inch TFT monitor
• Max burst speed: 11 fps
• Max video resolution: 4K

Pros:

• Superb camera for still and film photography
• It’s ideal for filmmaking on a budget
• The autofocus and color accuracy is excellent

Cons:

• It’s very expensive so that it will be out of some budgets
• It only has one memory card slot

Check price on

Amazon

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Movie Cameras for Beginners FAQ

The Wrap Up

Filmmaking is a rewarding hobby or even a new career path. But you don’t need a lot of money to get started. You can start making films even on a smaller budget. 

With these beginner filmmaking camera recommendations, there’s nothing to hold you back! So, take your pick, and let me know how you get on with your new camera! 

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