Since launching my blog 5 years ago, one of the questions I’ve been asked the most is: “Which camera is suitable for shooting movies?”
This is of course an impossible question to answer from such a broad perspective, as everyone’s needs, budgets, and creative intentions are so different. Usually, when I’m asked for a camera recommendation, I throw the question right back to the filmmaker. I would ask – What type of projects are you shooting? What professional traits are important to you? Are you going to operate the camera yourself, or use a focuser? What is your target budget range? Wait wait wait wait
Often times, many independent filmmakers (especially those working on micro-budget productions) have similar needs. They were looking for a product that was affordable, offered great image quality, was easy to operate in a run and gun environment, and didn’t draw too much attention. In other words, they needed a tool that would make it easier for them to shoot guerrilla style.
So, with that in mind, I decided to list my top 3 cameras for guerrilla filmmaking.
here we go –
BLACKMAGIC compact camera
Who says a camera has to be brand new to make this list? Blackmagic’s pocket camera was originally released 4 years ago, but it’s still as relevant as ever – especially for guerrilla filmmakers. While newer Blackmagic cameras like the URSA Mini 4.6K and even the Micro Cinema Camera have largely stolen the spotlight, pocket cameras have some unique advantages that are hard to deny even today.
First of all, the image quality of this camera is absolutely incredible, and its color science is some of the best on the market for cameras under $10,000. But more importantly for run and gun shooters, this camera (as the name suggests) has a small footprint. It’s certainly small in size, and its physical shape is roughly similar to many of today’s digital SLRs or point-and-shoot cameras. This is very helpful when trying to blend in with a crowd and remain inconspicuous while shooting.
It has a super 16mm sensor size, which makes it ideal for single operators working on their own focus at the same time. Smaller depth of field = less room for error when focusing, but with a fast/long lens the camera is still able to provide a shallow depth of field when you need it. It also allows the use of small vintage Super 16mm lenses, which also helps keep the overall footprint small.
That being said, the S16 has a smaller sensor, which means it doesn’t have as strong a low-light performance as some of the other cameras on this list… so if you plan on shooting in low or no light, this might not be for you . But if you primarily shoot daytime footage, or can do night scenes with a few fast lenses and some minimal lighting, this camera will still suit your needs.
The biggest drawback of compact cameras (in my opinion) is their limited battery life, but there are many simple/DIY battery solutions that will allow you to power your camera throughout the day without having to replace the internal battery every hour, depending on how you shoot . Another consideration for some people is the lack of 4K recording capabilities, but honestly, that’s not a problem for me. I shot my latest work in 4.6K on a URSA Mini 4.6K and am in the process of mastering it to 2K, which is essentially HD, and I don’t regret it at all. If we shoot the video in 1080p or 2K, it won’t have any impact on the final product. So while 4K is certainly a good option, I would never say it’s mandatory for most independent filmmaking.
I also want to point out that an alternative to the Pocket cam is Blackmagic’s Micro Cinema Camera. But since it doesn’t have a display, and because it generally attracts more attention among the public due to its form factor, I’d still recommend pocket use for most guerilla shooting.
LUMIX GH5
This list wouldn’t be complete without mentioning the Lumix GH5, which is one of the most popular mirrorless cameras out there, and for good reason – it’s extremely versatile, feature-rich, costs relatively little, and offers Gorgeous images. All these factors naturally make it a contender for almost any type of production, especially run-and-gun/guerilla shooting, thanks to special features like internal stabilization.
While many cameras these days have built-in 5-axis IS (which means the sensor stabilizes the image inside the camera even when shooting with non-IS lenses), not all cameras have quite mastered the correct formula. After trying the GH5, as well as many other cameras on the market that offer IS, there is no doubt that the GH5 is at least in the top three on the market…and, this is crucial for guerrilla style shooting. The smaller your footprint is (without relying on bulky gear or other accessories), the better off you’ll be, and the available internal IS goes a long way toward achieving that goal.
Even leaving aside IS, there are very few mirrorless cameras/digital SLR cameras that have the technical capabilities of the GH5 in other aspects, such as focus peaking, internal Log color space, 400Mbps recording, and so on.
As with any camera, it’s not perfect in every way, and its color science in particular still leaves something to be desired (although it’s certainly above average even in that department). But for filmmakers who need a true all-around camera for maximum versatility in run and gun situations, the Lumix GH5 may be the camera for the job.
You can pick almost any feature of the GH5 (such as its low-light capabilities or dynamic range) and likely point to a competing camera that surpasses it in any given area. But what those competitors don’t do is put it all into one package, or at least not as well as the GH5 does…then again, it’s a true all-rounder.
Even its sensor size (Micro Four Thirds) provides shooters with an ideal medium between Super 16mm and Super 35mm. It’s still highly adaptable to a variety of lenses thanks to its mirrorless mount and small sensor, but it’s also capable of producing a very shallow depth of field and pretty solid low-light performance, especially when paired with the Metabones Speed Booster. Of course, as a small DSLR, the Lumix GH5 blends in easily when shooting in almost any environment.
Sony FS5
I’ve had my fair share of criticism of Sony on this blog over the years – mostly because of their lackluster color science (sorry Sony!) – but there’s no denying that they’ve done a great job of pushing the boundaries of technology. photographer and prosumer grade cinema cameras. Sony and Panasonic appear to have similar philosophies in this regard, as they both fully understand the value of versatility in today’s filmmaking landscape.
Many of Sony’s most popular cameras, such as the FS7 or A7 series, were clearly designed with this philosophy in mind… but in my opinion, the oft-overlooked FS5 is particularly suited to guerrilla filmmakers for a number of reasons –
The first is camera ergonomics. Single-lens or mirrorless cameras like the A7S have become all the rage in the past few years, but even with features like internal stabilization, they can still be tricky to operate in running scenarios. On the other hand, the FS5 is easier to shoot from an ergonomic standpoint and allows the director/DP to change settings more easily, have more control over camera movement, and shoot for longer periods of time without gear, all of which All thanks to the design of the camera.
The same argument could be made for Sony’s FS7, but again, since this list is all about guerrilla filmmaking, I prefer the FS5 due to its smaller footprint. It’s much smaller than its bigger brother but packs in many of the same features and in some cases even beats its more expensive counterparts.
While the FS7 outperforms the FS5 in some aspects (4K shooting vs. UHD on the FS5, higher bitrate recording, etc.), it’s also larger, heavier, and more expensive, but has nearly the same image quality. So for guerrilla shooters who want an all-in-one package that can really do it all, but don’t want to commit to a system as bulky or expensive as the FS7, the FS5 is an excellent choice.
The FS5 is still a larger camera than the other two on this list, but it doesn’t require any accessories, so when it’s paired with a small lens and used streamlined, it can fit in almost as easily as a GH5 or compact camera. After all, this is still a prosumer-grade camera you can buy out of the box, and it’s not unheard of to capture a deep-pocketed tourist walking around with one on vacation.
It’s also worth pointing out that the larger sensor (Super 35) on the FS5 makes it the best choice for shallow depth of field and more traditional 35mm film looks, not to mention its incredible performance in low-light conditions. Meanwhile, the FS5’s biggest drawback is its color science. In my opinion, it has the worst color science out of the 3 cameras on this list, so if you primarily shoot narrative content and are picky about color palettes and skin types, this might be worth considering . But if that’s not an issue for you, or you do a lot of documentary work, it’s a camera that’s hard to beat.
final thoughts
Oddly enough, the camera I personally use the most is not on this list. Not because they aren’t great tools, but because they don’t necessarily fit the bill of a perfect run-and-gun camera. For example, I absolutely love my Fuji X-T2 And it would be a pleasure to use it for guerilla shooting, but it doesn’t have internal IS and some of the other fancy features for filmmakers that make these other cameras the best choices for run-and-gun use.
Likewise, I took a lot of photos Big Bear Mini 4.6K Same thing, but compared to the FS5, its camera is larger, doesn’t perform as well in low light, and seems to draw more attention to onlookers. But it all goes to the point of this article: No one camera can do it all.
If you’re lucky enough to have multiple cameras, you can choose the tool you need based on your specific situation. In this regard, you don’t need a Swiss Army Knife camera that can do it all. However, if you’re shooting a lot of guerrilla material and need a tool that can support you in a variety of unpredictable scenarios, then the 3 tools on this list are all great choices in their own right.
What are your thoughts? Let me know if you agree/disagree with my top 3 suggestions in the comments!
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