How to Choose the Right Camera for Filmmaking: 7 Tips

Want to get started in filmmaking? A camera is the most important thing you'll need. Here's how to pick the right one.

Have you decided to become a filmmaker? If so, congratulations! Filmmaking is an exciting activity, regardless of whether you want to make a career out of it or you’re happy with keeping things as a hobby. But choosing the right camera is essential, and many beginners get this part wrong.

If you choose a filmmaking camera that doesn’t fit your needs, you could hold yourself back from achieving the type of footage you want to capture. Moreover, you find yourself stuck with something too big to carry around—making you less likely to use it and stick with filmmaking in the long run.

What should you look out for when choosing the right camera for beginner-level filmmaking, though? Let’s find out.

1. Think About Your Filming Style

Finding your style in photography takes years, if not decades—and the same is true for filmmaking. Nonetheless, you probably have a good idea of the types of videos you’d like to create in the beginning. If you don’t, you’ll probably notice a consistent theme among the prominent YouTubers that you watch.

While any camera is better than none, the reality is that your gear does matter to an extent. Different manufacturers’ devices produce a wide range of image types, and while you can make necessary adjustments in post-production, your job is much easier if you pick a tool that matches your needs.

To find the best camera for your filming style, you’ll find various overviews of different makes and models on YouTube. Alternatively, you can pick one that meets your other requirements and change it later down the line if necessary.

2. Consider Camera Profiles

This point somewhat ties in with the above. Many photographers later add filmmaking to their skillset; if you’re one such individual, you’ll already have a degree of familiarity with different camera manufacturers having varying profiles.

You will find multiple profiles in your camera, and you can apply these when shooting. Many filmmakers like to adopt a neutral tone, so they’ve got more to work with in the post-production phase, but you’ll find all kinds of effects.

Again, you’ll find a range of resources online about different manufacturers’ color profiles.

3. Choose a Body With Interchangeable Lenses

These days, beginner filmmakers have a huge range of choices when picking a camera body. Many vloggers begin with a standard point-and-shoot with a fixed lens, such as the Canon G7x series. And while these devices are excellent if you’re on the go—or you simply want to do talking head videos—you’re limiting your creativity by only using one lens.

If you’re serious about filmmaking, and you want to learn as much as possible, you’ll want to strongly consider choosing a camera body with interchangeable lenses. Pretty much every major manufacturer will have a series of cameras and lenses to choose from, and you can pick your preference from zoom and prime lenses.

If you’re already a photographer, and you’ve built up a decent lens collection (along with having a good camera body), you can use the video mode on your current camera for shooting B-roll. You’ll still need to learn about color correction and color grading for video, but you’ll save yourself a lot of money compared to purchasing an entirely new set when you might not need to.

4. Don’t Ignore Pricing

Speaking of money, understanding your budget is critical when choosing the right camera to begin your filmmaking journey. You’ll quickly learn that filming cameras can get expensive, and that’s only talking about the bodies; many lenses are just as pricey (if not more).

When choosing a camera for filmmaking, you do not want to put yourself in debt by choosing something out of your budget. Stop and think about how much you’re willing to spend, and limit your search options within that range. Remember: you can always upgrade later once you’ve learned everything you can with your first camera.

Whether you’ve got a lot of money to spend or you’re on a tighter budget, you can save a lot of money by purchasing second-hand items instead of brand-new ones. You’ll also reduce waste and, as a result, promote sustainable practices.

5. Consider Additional Accessories

If you’ve been a photographer or a filmmaker for a while, you’ll know that the camera and lenses are only the beginning of your spending. Purchasing extra batteries is a wise idea, especially if you plan to spend many long days when you won’t have access to plug sockets.

Since you’re buying a lot of expensive equipment, you should also think about getting adequate insurance to cover you if something goes wrong. Below is a selection of other accessories to think about including in your budget:

• A waterproof camera bag
• Additional lighting
• Rain covers for your cameras and lenses

6. Do You Even Need a Camera, to Begin With?

If you want to have a prolonged career in filmmaking, you’ll need to purchase a camera. But in your early days, you should think about whether you need one; in some cases, you might already have an ideal solution in your pocket.

Many smartphone cameras these days are excellent for both photo and video. You can often shoot in various qualities with the latter, including 1080p and 4K. Some newer iPhones can rival the image quality that you’ll find on many beginner cameras.

If you’re not sure whether you want to stick with filmmaking for the long run, or you haven’t saved up enough for your camera, consider starting with your smartphone and upgrading once you’ve got the means to do so.

7. Consider User-Friendliness

Of course, image quality is one of the most important factors when choosing your first filmmaking camera. However, you’ll also want something that doesn’t have as big of a learning curve—especially if you have little or no prior experience with a non-smartphone camera.

Filmmaking cameras at the lower end of the pricing scale typically have fewer features, which might seem limiting. But at the same time, you’re better off learning the basics and progressing your skills once you become more comfortable with your craft.

Pick Your First Filmmaking Camera Wisely

If you’re looking to get into filmmaking, you’ll need to consider several factors before committing to a camera purchase. Pricing is crucial, and so is image quality—but they aren’t the only two essentials to consider.

Buying a filmmaking camera usually requires purchasing extra accessories to help you work more efficiently. On top of that, you’ll also need to think about the style you’re aiming for—and how your camera will affect it.

If you keep these tips in mind, you’ll choose a better camera to start your filmmaking journey.