If you are not color grading then 4:2:0 is acceptable. If you are color grading than you will want a camera that can record 4:2:2. Color sampling refers to how accurate the color capture on your camera is by the number of pixels it chooses to determine the color in a square area of your image. With modern cameras, if you want to color grade in post processing, you should aim to record at 10-bits or higher. Bit depth is the number of color options your camera can record with. Some cameras can record at higher bit rates onto internal memory and some require external recorders to film at higher bit rates. The bit rate of your video is the amount of data that gets recorded from your system over a given time period. Codecs are algorithms that compress your video data into a certain file type. We recommend that serious underwater video shooters consier frame frates as being the most important specification in their chosen camera.įinally, you will want to consider the codecs, bit rates, bit depth, color sampling, and picture profiles that your video camera can record in. Unless you have a tripod, you need to capture your video at higher frame rates and slow it down in post processing to get stable footage. This is because three dimensional underwater environments produce a lot more camera shake in a scene than topside video. High frame rates are absolutely essential for good underwater video. Top-of-the-line video cameras record at 4K resolution and 60 frames per second (fps) or even 120 fps.
The next most immediate specification to consider would be the frame rate that your video camera allows you to record in. Other cameras, especially high resolution cameras, may use pixel binning or line skipping to process the data from their sensor - resulting in slightly lower quality video.The worst video quality comes from cameras that “crop” the video by using only part of the sensor to capture footage. A sensor that has a one-to-one pixel readout (like the 12 MP Sony A7S III) will not downsample, but it will perform very well in low light as we mentioned before.
#Best professional digital video camera full#
The most ideal camera sensor is one that has a full pixel readout from a 35mm sensor (often shooting the initial video in 6K) that will downsample to 4K, adding additional details to the video. A higher resolution sensor also requires more processing. The Sony A7S III performs very well in low light because its sensor is "only" 12 megapixels. This is to keep every pixel on the sensor larger and collecting as much light as possible.
Generally, a video oriented camera will actually have a slightly lower resolution than you might find in a photo camera. However, APS-C, micro four thirds, and even 1" sensors produce very respectable video. As with photography, larger sensor sizes, like a super35 sensor, allow you to capture more light resulting in better dynamic range and quality in low light. You also want to consider the size of your sensor and how your camera processes the data from your sensor. When you film in very high resolutions like 8K, you are able to crop your video substantially in post processing, providing you with additional "broll" perspectives.īut as with photography, there's more to video than just resolution. You may even want to consider a video camera that can record 6K or 8K. The good news is nearly every new DSLR, mirrorless or compact camera features 4K recording capabilities. To start, being able to record 4K video is now a standard that is expected out of any respectable video camera. What makes the “Best Underwater Video Camera”? When shooting underwater video, or video in general, there are many factors to consider. Features to Look For in an Underwater Video Camera: