Top 4K Video Cameras Review

Oct 05, 2015 06:30 pm / Posted by Charles Brown

Now high definition content has become a standard for consumers , just imagine how demanding video resolution requirements are in the field of professional videography. If you are one of those looking for the best and the latest pro camcorders available today, then take a good look at our list of the top 10 professional 4K video cameras

1. Sony FDR-AX100/B

The Sony FDR-AX100 blurs the line between professional and consumer camcorders and does so at an aggressive price point. It is small, easy to use, relatively affordable and it also has a large sensor, great lens and tons of manual controls.

Price: $1,698.00 (15 percent off MSRP)

Pros:

Incredibly sharp picture and zoom
Competitive pricing compared to professional equipment
Built-in ND filter
1 cm OLED Electronic View Finder

Cons:

Rolling shutter can look odd in some shots
Image stabilization not as good as other Sony models
Lacks 60p in 4K
Lens could be wider

2.Panasonic HC-VX870 / HC-WX970

Another huge 2015 release that we first caught sight of at CES is the Panasonic HC-VX870 and HC-WX970, the company's first UltraHD 4K camcorder. The reason both of these cameras share a slot in this list is because they are exactly the same camera down to one detail, which will be discussed further on.

Price: $697.99 (20 percent off MSRP)

Pros:

High Dynamic Range shooting for any lighting
5-Axis Hybrid O.I.S. + reduces shake, blur, and tilt
Powerful 20x optical zoom

Cons:

Controls can be somewhat confusing
Lacks 60p in 4K
Still not up to professional 35 mm lens size

3. Blackmagic Design Production Camera with EF Mount

The Blackmagic Production Camera 4K is built with a Super 35 size sensor that allows for full 3840 x 2160 Ultra HD 4K resolution images. The sensor which is optimally sized allows for minimal crop factor which means that you get really impressive shots from using your wide angle lenses. Not only that, you also achieve greater control over depth of field thanks to the size of the Super 35 sensor built into the camera. This camera is a must see for anyone looking for a hybrid solution.

Price: $2,876.69 (4 percent off MSRP)

Pros:

Super 35 mm lens for wide angle shots
13 stop high dynamic range
Uncompressed CinemaDNG RAW offers incomparable sharpness
Competes with cameras of a much higher price

Cons:

Non-removable battery limits field recording
Features 1/4 inch jacks instead of XLR ports for audio gear
Features Thunderbolt out instead of HDMI out
Ergonomics can make it challenging to hold without a mount

4. Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH4

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH4 4K Mirrorless Micro Four Thirds Digital Camera is a hybrid camera designed to be used for both professional photo and video use. The camera features a 16.05-megapixel Digital Live MOS sensor, as well as a 4-CPU Venus Engine which is capable of capturing JPEG and RAW stills at high resolution.

Price: $2,876.69 (4 percent off MSRP)

Pros:

Super 35 mm lens for wide angle shots
13 stop high dynamic range
Uncompressed CinemaDNG RAW offers incomparable sharpness
Competes with cameras of a much higher price

Cons:

Non-removable battery limits field recording
Features 1/4 inch jacks instead of XLR ports for audio gear
Features Thunderbolt out instead of HDMI out
Ergonomics can make it challenging to hold without a mount

5. Sony FDR-AX33

The Sony FDR-AX33 is a palm-sized Handycam camcorder that combines 4K video recording and Balanced Optical SteadyShot image stabilization to deliver clear, high-resolution video, even as you follow the action. It is equipped with a wide-angle Zeiss Vario Sonnar T* lens with 10x optical zoom and up to 20x Clear Image zoom and features an Exmor R CMOS sensor with Bionz X image processor that delivers Ultra HD (3840x2160) resolution video at 24 or 30 fps using Sony's XAVC S codec.

Price: $999.00

Pros:

B.O.SS image stabilization
More affordable 4K quality
30% smaller and 20% lighter than the AX100

Cons:

Smaller image sensor than previous model
Lacks 60p in 4K
Still not up to professional 35 mm lens size

6. Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ1000

Professional photo performance with exceptional moir suppression, 4K 24p cinematic video (4096x2160), plus 4K 3840x2160 30p/24p, High speed 49 area auto focusing in photo or video, perfect for hybrid photography, and Durable magnesium alloy body and exceptional shutter life meets the demands of professional use.

Price: $795.26 (12 percent off MSRP)

Pros:

5-Axis Hybrid O.I.S. + reduces shake, blur, and tilt
Fast power on and autofocus
Competitively priced

Cons:

High crop factor
Low light performance could be better
No audio monitoring capabilities

7. Leica D-Lux Digital Type 109

The black Leica D-LUX (Typ 109) Digital Camera is a compact point and shoot camera that is built around a large, 12.8MP 4/3" MOS sensor which allows for greater depth of field than is possible with smaller-sensor cameras, plus more effective light-gathering ability per pixel. As a result, subjects can be better isolated within the frame and more details are apparent in darker areas of the image with less noise. UHD 4k Technology Video and MP4.

Price: $1,195.00

Pros:

Built-in ND filter
Compact form factor
Optical image stabilization

Cons:

No external mic input
Not the best value for the price
Limited output formats

8. Sony Alpha 7S Compact Interchangeable Lens Digital Camera

That latest in Sony's Alpha series of Digital Single Mirror cameras is the 7S, which offers a couple key upgrades from its previous model, including a full range sensor and 4K video recording. Like the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH4, the other mirrorless camera on this list, the 7S manages to fit enormous picture power into a small package, albeit more sensor in an even smaller package than the GH4.

Price: $2,498.00

Pros:

15.3-stops dynamic range for fantastic low light performance
Compact form factor
Full size image sensor

Cons:

Only records 4K to external SSD
Low megapixel count can be limiting for stills
Limited lens options

9. GoPro HERO4 BLACK

HERO4 Black takes Emmy Award-winning GoPro performance to the next level with our best image quality yet, plus a 2x more powerful processor1 that delivers super slow motion at 240 frames per second. Incredible high-resolution 4K30 and 2.7K60 video combines with 1080p120 and 720p240 slow motion to enable stunning, immersive footage of you and your world. Protune& settings for both photos and video unlock manual control of Color, ISO Limit, Exposure and more. Waterproof to 131 (40m) with 12MP photos at 30 frames per second and improved audio,1 HERO4 Black is the ultimate life-capture solution for those who demand the best.

Price: $499.99

Pros:

Weatherproof and durable
Has great (nonprofessional) accessory support
Improved image processor
Protune manual settings

Cons:

Mediocre battery life
Smart phone re required for playback and menu navigation
Can overheat if used for extended periods
Only supports up to 64GB of memory

10. Sony FDR-X1000V 4K Action Cam

Introducing 4K recording plus 120 fps Full HD slow-motion capture to the Action Cam line is the FDR-X1000V from Sony. This versatile, splash resistant camcorder is designed to go wherever you do - whether on a mountain expedition or just for a walk in the park. Featuring Wi-Fi, the camera can be operated remotely using a mobile device or with the separately available RMLVR2 Live-View Remote. It features a water-resistant design and simple one-button operation. Video is recorded to a separately available microSD card, with the option for web-friendly MP4 and professional XAVC S compression.

Price: $448.00 (10 percent off MSRP)

Pros:

SteadyShot image stabilization
Weatherproof and durable
Features audio in and HDMI out

Cons:

Sensitive record button
Mediocre battery life
Odd menu navigation

When it comes to both features and price, these top 10 4K cameras can be in the list that consumers should consider.

Tip & Trick:

Although 4K becomes more and more popular, not every HD TV, multimedia player, video editing tool, etc can accept it. In this case, you will need a a 4K video converter. iFastime Video Converter Ultimate is a professional 4K video software which can convert 4K to 1080p H.265, M3U8, MP4, MOV, MKC, AVI , etc with high video quality. It also can directly transcode 4K camera video to iPad Pro, etc devices or video editing programme..