Best cameras for video recording in 2024 that will meet all your filming needs

Best for: a great cine package

From Sony’s Cinema Line, this compact movie camera does away with the optical viewfinder you’d usually find on a mirrorless camera, but adds some interesting video-specific extras. The 10.2MP full-frame sensor can shoot 4K at up to 120fps, can record footage with 10bit colour internally or 16bit to an external recorder, and has an improved heat dissipation system to prevent overheating and camera shutdown.

It’s covered in extra mounting holes for accessories and keeps the fast autofocus, E lens mount and in-camera image stabilisation from its Sony Alpha cousins. Small and light, it’s a good choice for using on a stabilising gimbal mount or drone, and the package comes with an XLR handle which adds an interface for high-quality microphones.

Best for: high speeds

A touch on the pricey side for an APS-C camera, but the X-H2S’s video capabilities will be worth the cost if you can use them. The 16MP sensor is a stacked model with fast readout speeds, and this helps drive a 40fps framerate when shooting stills. In video mode, however, you’ll be able to shoot 4K at 120fps and 6.2K at 30fps, all with 10bit colour depth and internal ProRes recording.

Fujifilm’s cameras tend to be small and retro-styled, and the size of the X-HS2 helps make it a video powerhouse that’s easy to mount and use.

Best for: full-frame wireless streaming

A full-frame hybrid camera with excellent video features, the Lumix S5 IIX launched in early 2023 and is the first Panasonic camera to feature distance-aware phase detection autofocus, which is great for tracking subjects in videos. There's AI-trained subject recognition too, along with internal image stabilisation for the 24MP sensor.

Internal recording can hit 10bit 6K30 or 4K60, but if you use an external SSD you can push this to 5.8K Apple ProRes. Notably, the Lumix S5 IIX uses its full sensor width to shoot video with for its 6K option, instead of cropping in, though it does this for 4K60. Wireless streaming is included, making this a good choice for the YouTube or Twitch crowds, but for more cinematic uses, there's support for anamorphic lenses and four-channel audio (with an adapter).

Best for: vlogging and more

A compact full-frame camera capable of shooting 4K/120 and getting the benefit of the large range of lenses available for Sony’s E mount, the ZV-E1 offers 10-bit 4:2:2 recording with S-cinetone and S-Log 3 cinematic profiles.

Its advanced AF uses Sony’s AI processing to recognise subjects such as humans, birds or cars and lock onto them, and the auto framing function ensures the subject stays centred. Its digital audio interface and USB streaming capabilities add to its flexibility, and you can even use it for 12MP stills.

Best for: high-res pro use

If you need - or just want - 8K then this is a great way to get it. The R5 is a hybrid camera designed to be a jack of all trades, and this cinema-focused variant (distinguished by its red shutter button and ‘C’ branding) completely changes the interface in video mode to give you the same options as Cinema EOS motion picture cameras.

It offers 8K RAW internal recording, plus 4K DCI full-frame up to 120fps, and has an active cooling system to extend recording life. Add this to the RF lens mount and you’ve got the ideal serious video camera.

Best for: taking anywhere

Nikon’s video-focused mirrorless camera takes things down a notch in terms of features and price, but remains an ideal hybrid camera for vloggers and content creators. The Nikon Z 30 features a 20.9MP APS-C sensor and has a built-in microphone with a wind reduction mode plus full-time video AF.

The 4K/30 and 1080p/120 recording modes mean it’s flexible for YouTube use, and it also sports wireless connectivity and a vari-angle touchscreen that can flip all the way around for you to record yourself. It’s also a compact camera body which, with one of the smaller Z-mount lenses attached, can fit in a small bag wherever you’re going.

Best for: keeping in your pocket

The 200MP main wide-angle camera on the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra takes some excellent still images, and it’s really good for video too. It’s capable of shooting 8K at up to 30fps, but perhaps more interesting is the ability to capture 4K video at up to 120fps for high-res slow-motion effects. You’ll need a lot of storage to hold so much video data, and up to 1TB of internal capacity is available.

The S24 Ultra’s cameras are optically stabilised and use phase-detection autofocus. The phone also has a dual-recording feature that captures footage from the front and rear cameras simultaneously, perfect for vloggers documenting an event as they can walk and talk without a complicated camera setup.

Best for: action shots

An action camera that captures unusually shaped video, the GoPro Hero 12 Black has a 27MP sensor in an almost square 8:7 aspect ratio and an ultrawide lens. It can capture full-sensor 5.3K video at up to 30fps for you to crop into later, or traditional 16:9 or 4:3 ratios too. It can even do portrait 9:16 if that’s what you need.

This latest version of the Hero also increases the battery life, adds the ability to shoot in 10-bit Log video with timecode syncing, and pops a standard tripod mount on the bottom so you don’t need to fiddle with an adapter. It’s a welcome update.