Occasionally you may find yourself strapped for cash and in need of either a new camera or a supplement camera for the other devices in your possession.
Being on a budget should not be a hindrance to your creativity and ability to capture the best video in high quality.
Regardless of whether you’re a novice in the field or a more experienced professional, there are plenty of filmmaking cameras that are available in the market and have the capability to effortlessly and effectively meet a videographer’s needs.
We scoured through the internet reading through thousands of reviews so you wouldn’t have to and thereafter tried and tested some of the cameras to give you what we consider to be the best inexpensive cameras for filmmaking.
DJI Osmo Pocket
Intro
The Osmo Pocket is a small but powerful camera that has been integrated on to a 3-axis gimbal stabilizer. The camera captures amazing footage and stunning stills thanks to its 1/2.3-inch CMOS sensor. Videographers will appreciate that at 100 Mbps the camera is capable of shooting 4K quality videos up to 60 frames per second. The camera brags f/2.0 aperture, 80° FOV, panoramic & night shot modes, face track & active track modes, optional Bluetooth and Wi-Fi monitoring. It also has a dedicated app that users can use to connect the camera to their smartphones and even edit the videos they have shot thereafter.
Pros
- It is small, compact, and extremely easy to move around.
- It is well designed, with an inbuilt touchscreen, buttons and sandstone handle that ensure a user’s experience is not compromised.
- Despite its small form factor, it is extremely versatile as it can shoot time-lapse, slow motion, hyper lapses and 4K videos.
- The camera is easy to use and takes a short setup time. In fact, most users claim they have been able to set it up in under a minute.
Cons
- Since the camera is integrated into the gimbal, its lenses are not interchangeable, and users are restricted to the camera’s 26-28mm (35mm equivalent) field of view.
- The durability of the camera could be improved.
- Its screen size is too small; however, users can attach their phones to the camera.
PANASONIC LUMIX G85
Intro
Bragging a solid magnesium alloy build, the Lumix G85 is a camera that delivers great bang for buck to its users. Capable of shooting 4K quality videos, it is equipped with in-body 5-axis dual image stabilization, 16-megapixel Micro Four Thirds sensor, a rear 3-inch vari-angle LCD touchscreen, eye-level OLED live viewfinder, 12-60mm Power O.I.S. Lens amongst other features.
With an electronic viewfinder that makes shooting at eye-level easy, this camera is ideal for filmmaking as it is quite resourceful when users need to shoot wide to telephoto zoom ranges
Pros
- Its world-class image stabilization capabilities mean that users can shoot videos while holding the camera in their hands without needing a gimbal or tripod.
- In addition to being weather-sealed, the camera is quite durable thanks to its sturdy magnesium body.
- The video quality is nothing short of outstanding.
- It does a great job of shooting stunning stills, particularly when shooting RAW.
Cons
- It is not ideal for shooting in low light due to the fact that its Micro Four thirds sensor is rather small.
- Its battery life could do with some improvement as a single charge only lasts for a few hours of shooting.
- When shooting 4K, the G85’s autofocus becomes relatively slow.
- The camera isn’t equipped with a headphone socket.
PANASONIC LUMIX G7
Intro
Delivering 4K UHD video quality and a variety of other 4K photo functions, the G7 is yet another impressive camera for individuals on a budget. The camera is equipped with a Four Thirds (17.3 x 13 mm) sized CMOS sensor, 3-inch Free-Angle display, ISO 100-25,600, ultra-high-speed AF, 8fps continuous shooting, Wi-Fi connectivity, built-in OLED electronic viewfinder amongst other things. It is one of the easiest cameras to use for filmmaking and is ideal for beginners looking to develop their skills.
Pros
- Because the cameras shutter is electronic, users get to enjoy faster shutter speeds and silent shooting.
- Both videos and photos shot using the Lumix G7 can be shot in 4K quality.
- Its electronic view finder is quite impressive.
Cons
- The camera’s processing speeds when shooting in 4K are slow and could be much faster.
- The buttons, dials, and camera’s top plate have a plasticky appearance that makes it look tacky.
- In comparison to other APS-C cameras, the G7’s dynamic range is rather limited.
- The battery life is poor as it is only capable of achieving 350 shots on a single charge.
- It lacks image stabilization.
- It is not weather sealed, and as such users need to be cautious of the environment, they use it in.
GoPro Hero 7
Intro
Capable of shooting 4K quality videos as 60 frames per second, the Hero 7 is a great filmmaking budget option as it provides users with great versatility, image stabilization, handling, and image quality.
Capable of shooting both HD and 4K videos at up to 240 frames per second and 60 frames per second respectively, videographers on a budget will certainly not be disappointed by the outcome they get from the Hero 7. From time warp video capturing, to live streaming, the Hero 7 can achieve a lot of things that many other filmmaking cameras are incapable of.
Pros
- Users do not require a gimbal as the camera’s HyperSmooth feature offers image stabilization.
- The camera is waterproof and quite durable.
- Users can use the camera manually if they prefer to do so.
- The battery life is quite decent, giving users up to 45 minutes when shooting 4K videos.
Cons
- The camera overheats, especially when continuously shooting 4K videos.
- The touch screen is rather small.
Final Thoughts
Our list above captures a variety of camera’s, and we hope that you have been able to identify what could be your next camera if you are on a limited budget. Nevertheless, keep in mind that your filmmaking endeavors are what will determine the type of camera you purchase and the final decision rests with you.
