For someone looking to get a decent video camera for personal use, the options available have never been better. But this choice can also be confusing—should you opt for a classic camcorder style camera, a DSLR that can shoot video, a compact mirrorless camera or even an action cam?
Your choice of camera should be guided by the type of videography you intend to do. For example, if you do a lot of sports or outdoor activities—a rugged, waterproof action camera such as the GoPro 7 or the Xiaomi 4K Action Cam will best suit your needs. If you like to film a lot of footage and sound is important to you—a camcorder could be the best option, as many come with built-in internal hard drives and decent onboard microphones. If you’d like the ability to combine video with stills photography, then a DSLR or a mirrorless camera is the way to go.
So here is our list of the top ten consumer video cameras you can buy in Singapore today.
1. GoPro Hero 7 Black
Most people know how to film videos on their smartphones. It’s quick and straightforward to do. The GoPro offers similar ease of use. There is no need to focus, and the wide lens captures everything. The newest models have internal stabilisation for smoother pictures and don’t even require an extra housing for waterproofing (although it is still recommended for serious diving). Best of all, it is very compact, so it’s easy to have it with you all the time.
2. Xiaomi Action Camera 4K
Much less expensive but similar in specs is the Xiaomi Action Cam 4K. It offers internal stabilisation (HD only), or you can use their handheld gimbal for even smoother camera work. It isn’t natively waterproof and the picture quality, while good, is not quite up to GoPro standards.
3. Fujifilm XT-3
In the mirrorless market, Fujifilm has made quite an impression with their XT-3 mirrorless offering. It offers very high-quality video (up to 4k 10 bit at 400Mbps), excellent auto-focusing and a classic retro-style design with lots of physical controls and dials.
4. Sony a6400
The 6400 model replaces the 6300 and comes with many improvements, including very effective focus tracking and a more user-friendly menu system. It has an APS-C sensor, which allows for lovely shallow depth of field images and video.
5. Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 4K
If you are looking for a camera with more professional level features, the latest release from Blackmagic fits the bill. It records beautiful 4K footage in edit friendly codecs like ProRes and even RAW. It has a large 5-inch display and a very intuitive menu system.
6. Canon EOS 5D Mark IV
If you already have a significant investment in Canon lenses, the EOS 5D Mk IV offers a glorious full frame sensor and 4K recording.
7. SONY AX700
This Sony camcorder offers a large 1-inch sensor and high frame rates for dramatic slow-motion shots.
8. PANASONIC HC-VX1
A cheaper option than the Sony AX700 if you’re after a traditional camcorder style camera, is the Panasonic HC-VX1. It has a smaller 1/2.5 inch sensor, a long 24x zoom and internal stabilisation.
9. Panasonic GH 5
The GH5 is a highly regarded mirrorless camera that offers best-in-class video quality, five-axis stabilisation and high-quality mic preamps.
10. Olympus TG-5
Somewhat different to the other cameras in this list, the Olympus provides an unparalleled level of ruggedness that is waterproof, shockproof and crushproof. The Olympus has pro features like 4K, a fast f2.0 lens and microscope modes for close-up photography.