There’s good news and bad news: the bad news is that if you want to capture mostly video, you could definitely buy the “wrong” camera for your needs. There are so many cameras on the market today, in a wide variety of price ranges, and not all of them are capable of the best video quality, let alone optimized for video recording. The good news is, these cameras in particular aren’t just digital cameras that happen to record video, they’re fully dedicated to videography, or highly versatile and capable of excellent stills and video.

With that being said, let’s dive in!

Things To Consider When Shopping For A Good Camera For Video

There are a lot of things to consider when looking for the best camera for videography. You don’t just think about the usual photography-related things, such as megapixel count, ISO range, and frames-per-second. You must consider the video resolution, quality, and more in-depth factors such as bitrate. Plus, of course, there’s an entirely new realm of audio recording, too!

Video Resolution & Quality

This one is relatively straightforward: You usually get either 4K or 8K, and you usually get either 30p, 60p, or 120p. (the “p” is FPS, or the video framerate) However, there are also some more subtle, subjective things that can’t be measured as easily on a spec sheet, such as, how sharp is the video detail itself. How good is the color reproduction? What is the video dynamic range like? These are things that you will only know by either testing out the camera for yourself or reading/watching an in-depth review.

Bitrate & Other Quality Numbers

Another aspect of video quality that can be both obvious on paper and yet visibly subtle is video bitrate and other quality settings. We could write an entire article on the different settings, such as 10-bit, 4:2:2, and Megabits per second… All we can say in this overview is that the differences may be subtle or invisible to the untrained eye, but you do get what you pay for, and sometimes these specs can make a difference that adds many hundreds of dollars to a camera’s price. (In other words, don’t pay a ton extra if you don’t need it, but if you do, then you should save up for it!)

Audio Quality

This is one subject that photographers are not going to be familiar with at all. Audio quality is very important to creating good video, and it can be quite a challenge. The primary thing to look for, at a minimum, is a camera that offers an audio port. It’s not much, but it’s definitely essential for anyone interested in serious videography.

Beyond that, you can look at settings regarding audio compression, and/or other input options such as timecode or XLR adapters, etc.

Image Stabilization

If you thought image stabilization was important for capturing hand-held still photos at certain shutter speeds, wait until you try videography! Stabilization is indeed very necessary; in fact, it will often make or break your footage depending on how you’re handling the camera. Simply put, if you’re doing anything besides a completely static shot from a tripod, you’ll want optical, mechanical sensor-based, and/or even electronic digital stabilization for smooth video motion.

Value

Value is highly relative for videographers. On the one hand, you can make great money as a famous YouTuber or influencer making videos on your phone, and yet, on the other hand, if you want to be an indie filmmaker, you may find yourself looking for “affordable” cinema movie cameras.

Thus, as long as you follow our guidelines and consider your personal goals very carefully, you’ll find a good value video camera anywhere from under $1,000 to over $5K or even $10K.

Portability

Unless you specifically like to bolt as many extra bells and whistles onto your “video rig” as possible, most videographers want portability to be on their side. While there’s nothing wrong with the former, (we’re all camera geeks here!) …the latter is what we are considering the most when we make our recommendations.

Thus, all of the cameras you’ll find on this list are relatively portable, with minimal requirements for added-on accessories.

For those of you who are going to be working in hot conditions often, you’ll especially appreciate our recommendations that have a built-in cooling fan, the Panasonic S5 IIX, and the Canon EOS R5 C.

Battery Life

Once again, if you’re used to only ever capturing still photos, and especially if you’re old enough to remember how much battery life you could get from an SLR or DSLR with an optical viewfinder, you may be shocked to learn just how quickly video filming can eat through your batteries!

Therefore, it is very important to consider battery life when looking for a good video camera. Thankfully, all of our recommendations, save one or two, are also compatible with direct USB power, which offers you virtually limitless filming time.

Lens Selection | Video Zoom Function

Last but not least, here’s a bonus consideration for you: a camera needs a lens, of course! Each lens mount is different, and some mounts offer more lenses that are suitable for videography than others. That being said, every mount can certainly “get the job done”.

We strongly recommend considering a mirrorless video camera system that offers specialized “power zoom lenses, with electronically controlled zooming functionality. They can be relatively affordable or very expensive; for example, the new Sony 16-35mm f/4 PZ ($1198) for full-frame, and the Sony 18-1110mm f/4 PZ ($3,648) for APSC sensors.

Now that we have covered what to look for, let’s dive into our recommendations! We have mostly organized them by price, however, do note that we have also added a few feature-oriented categories, such as which cameras offer 8K

The Best Budget Video Camera: A Phone?

If you’re trying to find the best camera for filmmaking on a budget, (and not merely a cheap vlogging camera!) …then the good news is you may already own it! Indeed, your phone may provide the best video quality available. A Google Pixel Phone, for example, comes in various different forms that can range in price from $299 to $899.

So, while we acknowledge that camera phones are getting better and better, let’s be honest: you’re probably here because you already know you want a CAMERA, not a phone. You love the craft of photography and/or videography, so the tool itself is part of the creative process. With that in mind, let’s dive in!

Best Camera For Video Under $1,000

Sony ZV-1 ($718, B&H | Amazon)

This is a rather bare-bones video camera, aimed more at vloggers than filmmakers. That being said, its features and design do indeed give you the feeling that you’re working with a “tiny movie camera”. We’re recommending it first because it’s one of the few video cameras to include a lens; most of the cameras we are about to recommend will actually cost much more than their body-only price range. Just something to keep in mind!

The Sony ZV-1 does omit a viewfinder, however, unlike its E-mount sibling, the Sony ZV-E10 which lacks in-body stabilization, the ZV-1s’ built-in lens offers optical image stabilization. Also, another feature that makes it user-friendly to first-time videographers is the included “deadcat” (fuzzy windscreen) that helps you get significantly better audio quality before you are able to invest in an external microphone.

Sony ZV-1 Specifications:

• 4K, 29.97p, 4:2:0, 8-bit
• 4K, 29.97p, 4:2:2 8-bit via HDMI
• Sony S-Log 2, S-Log 3, HDR-HLG recording modes
• 24-megapixel APSC sensor, Sony Real-Time Face/Eye detection & tracking

Nikon Z50 ($896, B&H | Amazon)

One of the best values for photographers, Nikon cameras in general always offer an excellent user experience. The Nikon Z50 handles beautifully and is surprisingly compact and lightweight considering its rugged build quality. This is also one of the only interchangeable lens cameras we’re recommending that includes a lens in its budget!

The video specifications are on the lower end compared to its competition, but for those who want a camera that feels the most like a camera, we recommend the Z50. If you are specifically looking to do almost nothing but vlogging and selfies, however, you might prefer the Nikon Z30 instead.

Nikon Z50 Specifications:

• 4K, 29.97p, H.6264/MOV/MP4
• 30-minute recording limit
• 20-megapixel APSC sensor

Read our full Nikon Z50 review here!

Nikon P950 ($796, B&H | Amazon)

This camera is exclusively for those videographers who want absolutely incredible telephoto reach. Indeed, its “plain” video specs of 4K, 30p, and limited compression quality options are not its strong point; the impressive strength lies with its zoom “each” which is equivalent to a staggering 2000mm. With digital cropping from the P950’s 16-megapixel, 1/2.3″-type sensor, the reach extends to ~3000mm.

This camera is perfect for making videos of birds, wildlife, or any extremely distant subject, and the results are simply unmatched without spending many thousands of dollars on lenses for other camera systems.

Nikon P950 Specifications:

• 4K, 29.97p, H.264/MP4
• 30-minute recording limit
• 16-megapixel, 1/2.3″-type CMOS sensor
• 24-2000mm optical zoom lens (83X), optical VR

Click here to read our full Nikon P950 Review!

Canon EOS R10 ($879, B&H | Amazon)

Canon has announced a plethora of new RF-mount mirrorless cameras recently, and many of them are affordable, entry-level cameras. The Canon EOS R10 gets our top recommendation instead of the others (namely the Canon EOS R50) because it offers a few more controls and features. Although the video specs are rather similar across the board for most Canon cameras between both the sub-$1K and sub-$1.5K categories, the R10 offers an excellent overall experience to users.

Canon R10 Specifications:

• 4K, 29.97p, HDR-PQ, 4:2:2 10-bit
• 4K 59.97p (with crop)
• Dual Pixel CMOS AF II
• 24-megapixel APSC sensor, 23 FPS raw photos

Best Video Camera Around $1,500

We do highly recommend stretching your budget for a good video camera up to about $1,500 if you can afford it. (Also, keep in mind that for all of these cameras, you’ll need to buy lenses, too!)

In this price range, you’ll get a lot of additional features that are really useful

Canon EOS R7 ($1499, B&H | Amazon)

This is one of Canon’s best APSC sensor mirrorless RF-mount cameras, and for the price tag, it is quite impressive.

What sets it apart from other, more affordable options is the balance of good ergonomics and physical controls, whereas many cameras that are more affordable tend to omit lots of controls. The Canon R7 includes in-body image stabilization and dual (SD) memory card slots.

Canon EOS R7 Specifications:

• 4K, 59.97p, 10-bit, 4:2:2
• HDR-PQ, C-Log 3
• 32-megapixel sensor, 30 FPS stills w/ electronic shutter

Panasonic GH-6 ($1,679, B&H | Amazon)

This little Micro Four Thirds camera is simply the most professional, advanced option in its price range. Normally costing a little over $2,000, it wouldn’t technically qualify for this price category. However, you should be able to find it for $1,697 (or less) when instant rebates/savings are available. With this in mind, we absolutely must recommend this gem of value and performance.

The Panasonic GH-6 offers 4K, 120p, and 5.7K 60p video, as well as ProRes 422 HQ. The GH-6 also includes built-in active cooling, dual card slots, and an impressive 7.5 stops of sensor stabilization. The body itself is professionally built in terms of both durability, weather-sealing, and ergonomics & controls.

Panasonic GH-6 Specifications:

• 5.7K, ProRes, 4:2:2 10-bit
• 4K, 120p, 4:2:2 10-bit
• External Raw 12-bit via HDMI
• 3.68M dot EVF
• 75 FPS 25-megapixel raw stills bursts (AFS) (only 8 FPS with AFC)

Best Camera For Video Under $2,500

Sony FX30 ($1,798, B&H | Amazon)

With the FX series, Sony has blended their professional cinema camera line with their professional (and consumer) photography camera line. The FX30 is their most affordable “cinema-style” camera, with an APSC E-mount and a mix of similarities with many other Sony cameras. It contains an excellent 26-megapixel BSI CMOS sensor and offers 4K at up to 120p. Or, it even offers 16-bit raw output, too!

The Sony FX30 body itself is a blend between the respectable Sony A7-series line and the Sony Cinema line. The ergonomics are highly customizable with attachment ports everywhere, and a rugged overall design.

Panasonic FX30 Specifications:

• 4K, 120p, 10-bit 4:2:2 XAVC S-I
• Oversampled 6K-to-4K, 60p
• External Raw 16-bit
• S-Cinetone, S-Log 3, HLG, 14 stops dynamic range
• Dual card slots, in-body image stabilization, professional weather sealing

Fujifilm X-H2S ($2,499, B&H, Amazon)

For one of the most well-rounded video cameras on the market, you can’t go wrong with the Fuji X-H2S. It’s one of the few cameras to offer 4K 120p video, let alone in its price range! The Fuji exclusive X-Trans Stacked BSI sensor offers incredible image quality, with 26 megapixels and 40 FPS for still photographers as well.

NOTE: This camera’s sibling, the Fuji X-H2, is also on this list, but only because it’s an affordable way to get to 8K. We recommend this camera more, for those who don’t absolutely require 8K, because its sensor readout speed is much faster, virtually eliminating “rolling shutter” effects.

Fujifilm X-H2S Specifications:

• 6.2K, 30p, 3:2 open-gate
• 4K, 120p, 4:2:2, 10-bit
• External Raw via HDMI full-size port (both ProRes and Blackmagic RAW)

Best Camera For Video (Over $2,500)

Sony A7S III ($3,498, B&H | Amazon)

The Sony A7S III is their dedicated video camera that is visually almost identical to its A7-series siblings. With a 12-megapixel sensor that is actually pixel-binned from an 8K sensor, however, the detail you get from the video files is truly impressive.

The full-frame sensor only delivers a 12-megapixel resolution, however, so it’s significantly less well-suited for still photography than the Sony A7 IV. (More on this one soon!)

Sony A7S III Specifications:

• 4K, 120p, 10-bit, 4:2:2 internal video
• 16-bit raw output
• XAVC HS and XAVC S-I codecs, offering wide range of video compression quality options
• No recording time limit
• Incredible high-ISO performance

Sony FX3 ($3,899, B&H | Amazon)

This is Sony’s truly dedicated video camera, with a much different body style than the aforementioned A7S III. It shares the same sensor, and has IBIS, and dual card slots, however, after that, it becomes quite different. It lacks an electronic viewfinder but adds an XLR adapter, and the camera comes in a kit with a very nice XLR adapter itself.

Sony FX3 Specifications:

• 4K, 120p, 10-bit, 4:2:2 XAVC S-I
• 16-bit raw output
• Rugged, squared body for “rig” style attachments
• XLR adapter with audio controls

RED Digital Cinema Komodo 6K Digital Cinema (Canon RF, $5,995, B&H)

As one of the leaders in digital movie cameras, RED is at the top of the pile in terms of both performance and cost. It’s not cheap at $6K, but that’s still one of the most affordable cameras RED makes! At first, the specs of 6K 40p or 4K 60p may not sound like the camera is very special. However, you’d be wrong, as its entire physical body and other specs are totally optimized for high-end videography. In addition to recording raw video with 16 stops of dynamic range, it offers even more subtle features such as a global shutter, shutter angle settings, and multiple raw recording options.

Red Komodo 6K Specifications:

• 6K, 40p, REDCODE RAW
• 4K, 59.94p, REDCODE RAW & ProRes 4:2:2
• External 4K, 59.94p, 4:2:2 10-bit

Best Camera For 8K Video

Fujifilm X-H2 ($1,999, B&H | Amazon)

Fujifilm’s X-H2 is the high-megapixel version of their current flagship camera. (The X-H2S) With a 40-megapixel sensor, it’s one of the highest-resolution APSC sensors on the market. It’s also one of the lightest, most compact, and most affordable cameras to offer 8K video, too!

NOTE: as we mentioned earlier, f you don’t need 8K and are okay with 6.2K video, we highly recommend this camera’s faster sibling, the Fuji X-H2S, which has far less rolling shutter effect.

Fuji X-H2 Specifications:

• 8K, 30p, 10-bit,
• 4K, 60p, 10-bit,
• 7-stop in-body stabilization

Sony A7R V ($3,898, B&H | Amazon)

This is Sony’s current resolution champion. It’s a popular choice for landscape photographers, with its 60-megapixel full-frame sensor, but it also records 8K video. While the 8K video specs themselves aren’t very impressive, the A7R V gets a recommendation in the 8K category for any videographer who does a lot of subject/face tracking with autofocus. Why? Because this is Sony’s first camera with a completely separate, dedicated, AI-based subject tracking processor, and it works shockingly well.

Sony A7R V Specifications:

• 8K, 24p, 10-bit, 4:2:0
• 4K, 59.97p, 10-bit, 4:2:2
• External 4K 16-bit Raw Output, S-Log3/S-Cinetone
• 61-megapixel raw still photos, up to 10 FPS
• AI-based subject tracking dedicated CPU

Best Camera For Raw Video

Since raw video is the other specific feature that many aspiring videographers may be interested in, this list would not be complete without a specific mention. Note that these cameras also fit perfectly into their respective price categories, too!

Blackmagic Pocket Cinema 4K ($1,295 – $1,799, B&H | Amazon)

This is quite possibly the most popular video camera for raw video capture, and for good reason. With a Micro Four Thirds sensor, the price tag comes in at a mere $1,295 without any accessories, or just $1,799 for a kit with an external HDMI monitor. The giant LCD on the back of the Blackmagic Pocket Cinema is already the biggest one around, though, and offers desirable features such as waveform histograms and numerous controls & connections of a dedicated video camera.

Blackmagic Pocket Cinema 4K Specifications:

• 4K, 60p, DCI RAW
• ProRes 422 HQ RAW
• 422 10-bit via HDMI
• 12-bit raw via USB
• 4:3 Anamorphic
• 5” touchscreen

Sigma fp ($1,899, B&H | Amazon)

As one of the only other mirrorless cameras to fit the video “rig” form factor instead of looking like a camera, the Sigma fp is truly unique. It’s tiny, with no electronic viewfinder, no stabilization, …not even a grip! However, for an aspiring filmmaker, it packs a punch with its truly stunning image quality.

Also, the Sigma fp presents the perfect transition for photographers who may be used to working with raw still frames, and feeling intimidated by the thought of learning the even more advanced process of color grading raw video footage in a different software: its “RAW” is actually just a folder of individual frames separately saved as DNG files, so you can do your color grading in Adobe Lightroom!

Sigma fp Specifications:

• Full-frame sensor with unique 12-bit DNG file raw video recording
• DNG frames can be color graded in Lightroom as if they were still frames!
• Unique “shutter angle”
• Metal heat sink frame offers impressive silent heat dissipation abilities

Canon EOS R5 C ($4,399, B&H | Amazon)

Similar in many ways to its namesake the Canon EOS R5, the Canon EOS R5 C is a “Cinema” line version with as many bells and whistles as possible. The Canon R5 already offers 8K and RAW recording, thanks to its impressive 45-megapixel sensor, but this camera adds features such as a built-in cooling fan, waveform monitoring, and other slight ergonomic and interface redesigns that make this camera truly a “mini movie camera”.

Canon EOS R5 C Specifications:

• 8K, 60p, Cinema RAW
• 8K, 30p ProRes raw to an external recorder
• 4K, 120p, (slow-motion) 10-bit 4:2:2
• Waveform monitor
• Multi-function audio shoe
• Built-in cooling fan

Conclusion | Best Camera For Videography

We can thank digital photography itself for these amazing video cameras, and the evolution from stills to video over the last decade-plus. The best video cameras that were made specifically for video capture from just a couple of decades ago are completely blown away by photography-related cameras today!

In order to get the best value for your investment, however, It is still very important to consider how much videography VS photography you will be doing. Answer that question for yourself before you make a purchase! The cameras we have mentioned above will provide you with the absolute best performance and value for many years to come.

What is Audiio?

Launched in 2020 by former Universal Music Group artist Clay Jones and industry friends , Audiio.com has had over 1.5+ million licensed tracks downloaded by subscribers and is serving customers in more than 100 countries.  Here’s a quick introduction to Audiio and some of the upcoming 2023 features.

In 2022, the company quadrupled their “Audiio Pro” subscriber base, which allowed them to reinvest the earnings into catalog expansion.  They added thousands of additional songs and sound effects and signed “major sync artists that have previously only been available to major ad agencies and Hollywood entertainment studios,” according to the company.  Here’s what to expect in 2023 from the company.

SafeSync Launching in February

Nothing is more annoying than getting a copyright claim for music that has been legally licensed.  Audiio plans to solve that problem with SafeSync, the company’s music-tracking technology, which will launch in February.  SafeSync uses music-tracking technology covering distribution channels from social media to television to secure every license generated. This feature helps protect Creators and their clients from potential copyright issues and claims.

Mobile App Coming in Q1

More and more content creation is happening on the go with the use of smartphone apps and technology.  In the first quarter of 2023, Audiio will release a mobile app to enable content creators to search and download songs on the go.  Content creators know that inspiration can happen anywhere and at any time, whether it’s in bed or on a morning jog, so having access easy access to the catalog of music on a mobile device can be a game changer for many users.

Referral Program

Audiio is also releasing a unique type of referral program.  According to the company, “by inviting friends and colleagues to join Audiio, users will be able to unlock a lifetime of access to the platform’s extensive library of music and sound effects.”

Sound Effects Catalog

Audiio currently offers thousands of options in their Audiio Sound Effects Catalog, and the platform is going to double the size of its sound effects catalogs by the end of the year.

The platform is expanding its offering with thousands of fresh sound effects, crafted by skilled professionals.

New Website

Lastly,  Audiio.com will be launching a new, feature-rich version of their website soon, with features that help users find the right music as quickly as possible including similar songs, lyrics, original music and more.

Audiio Pricing

For its anniversary and to celebrate the new announcements for 2023, Audiio.com is offering its Audiio Pro and Lifetime music subscriptions at discounted rates.  Particularly appealing is the $199 Lifetime Music offer, which could be a huge money saver down the road as the catalog continues to expand and you’ve already paid up front.

Music is responsible for setting the tone of your film or video. So if you’re serious about creating something that speaks to your clients and audience, you want to be sure you get the right song. In this post, we’ll share with you a list of some of the best music licensing sites, offering up a ton of royalty free songs & sound effects for your next project.

List updated Feb 7th, 2023

Epidemic Sound

Having launched in 2009, Epidemic Sound is one of the “old blood” of music licensing companies. They’ve got a massive library of songs available covering a plethora of genres covering everything from the mainstream market to some more obscure indie genres as well. You can license tracks a single at a time, but they also offer a subscription service which seems to be based off of your monthly YouTube channel views. Meaning, if you’re just getting your channel started, it’s a great option for you!

Artlist

Artlist.io offers a yearly and monthly subscription instead of a per song licensing fee. Given you can download at will with this subscription, if you’re creating a ton of slideshows or videos, this is the ultimate resource for you!  Here are their pricing plans this year:

Social Creator – Perfect for any type of social media content creator.

• Covers all your own social channels
• Yearly: $9.99 per month ($119.88 billed annually)
• Monthly: $14.99 per month

Creator Pro – Covers everything from personal to commercial projects

• Yearly: $16.60 per month ($199 billed annually)
• Yearly: ( Music & SFX): $25 per month ($299 billed annually)

Teams –  Build your creative vision, together

• Yearly starting at $28.20/month billed annually.
• Admin tools, easy management. Unlimited creative assets, unlimited downloads
• License cover up to 7 team members
• 15% discount per user

Audiio

Audiio  was launched in 2020 by former Universal Music Group artist Clay Jones and industry friends. Audiio.com has had over 1.5+ million licensed tracks downloaded by subscribers and is serving customers in more than 100 countries.

Unique Features:

• Lifetime Plan – One of the only Music Licensing Platforms with an unlimited lifetime plan.
• SafeSync – Helps avoid annoying copyright claims.
• Mobile App – Browse music for your next project from anywhere.
• Sound Effects Catalog – Download sound effects (in addition to their music)

Read about Audiio’s recent announcements here.

Musicbed

Musicbed comes loaded with practically any genre and style of music you can think of! Featuring mostly independent bands, composers, and musicians, Musicbed brings these indie creators music to the masses in a very affordable licensing rate. So much so that they have a reputation for having one of the best audio libraries in the market! Musicbed offers song licensing in both a per song purchase or subscription membership levels.

Soundstripe

LIke the previous entries in this list, Soundstripe operates on a subscription model instead of a per song licensing system. Everytime you download a song, you get a single-use license. Meaning, you can use it on your project for as long as you want, even after you cancel your membership. You can get unlimited music access for as low as $11.25 a month!

ALIBI Music

ALIBI Music, launched in 2011, features an extensive library of some 300,000+ professionally composed audio files, including stems, alt versions and cutdowns. With fresh, relevant music that’s frequently updated and tracks structured specifically for storytelling, it’s no wonder ALIBI is a trusted partner to top players in the film, television, advertising and video game industries. The company also features affordable subscription plans for indie creators and small businesses.

Recently, ALIBI unveiled a powerful new website and Adobe Premiere Pro extension loaded with intuitive search tools like the Power Player, tap tempo and negative search to help find the perfect tracks.

Tunepocket

TunePocket is a royalty free music subscription library that offers affordable, one-click music licensing solution for video creators. You can choose between the unlimited download subscription and pay-as-you-go membership with no recurring fees. With all-in-one royalty free license you can use the music in personal and business projects, including vlogs, promotional videos, advertisement, social media ads, film, documentary, games, presentations, events, monetized YouTube channels, as well as paid freelance work.
Get 10% off any new plan and take advantage of unlimited royalty free music download from $7.50 / month (billed annually.

Commamusic

Commamusic boasts a premium stock music library at affordable licensing rates. This is backed up by the fact they own every track in their library, promising royalty free music with zero copyright claims! Commamusic seems to be a monthly subscription based service with rates as low as $12 a month, but, they do offer a premium “large company” services that requires a customer service contact to get started should you need something a little more big budget and scale.

Premium Beat

Premium Beat is part of the Shutterstock family, meaning it’s one of the larger marketplaces out there. Housing a large selection of both classical and modern audio tracks, quality is more important here than quantity. The interface is easy to navigate making it very easy to find the very specific niche song you’ve been looking for for your project! Licensing is available in two levels (Standard & Premium) where the base is limited to web-based/non commercial and the premium level is for everything else.

Triple Scoop Music

I’ve had the pleasure of meeting the founder of Triple Scoop Music a few times over the years and his site happens to be a favorite among a lot of photographers out there. With over 45,000 hand-picked songs and over 2,000 independent artists, you’ll be sure to find the perfect song to make the very best first impression with your project. Triple Scoop offers several subscription packages ranging from Podcast only all the way up to commercial use, as well as the ability to grab single songs under various licensing models.

Songfreedom

Looking for something a little more mainstream & recognizable in your music licensing? SongFreedom may be for you then! Featuring recording artists like Jason Mraz, Christina Perri, Jason Derulo, and Regina Spektor along side of a massive library other tracks. There’s something for everyone at Songfreedom. The catch however, is you can’t license the music here to make a music video, and additional charges apply if you use them for commercial use. So be sure to read the fine print!

Marmoset

Based in the Pacific Northwest, Marmoset boasts a roster of “rare and emerging independent artists” with a library of songs that seem to be aligned exactly in sync with the budding cinematographer. Marmoset lets you search it’s song library by mood, vocals, story, character and more. Effectively letting you find the perfect track for the tone of your project project. The licensing is broken down into some pretty specific use cases based on personal, commercial, and small business projects with respective pricing and usage rights for each.

Musicvine

Music Vine has a couple of cool new search features for filmmakers, allowing searches based on style categories to match the tone of your scene. Things like Production Type, Movie Genre, and Footage Style are some of the options to filter/search by. Giving filmmakers a much more comprehensive view of the songs available to them to best match their projects. Songs you download have multiple license types available to ensure you get the coverage you need.

Pond5

Primarily known for their stock video clips, Pond5 also has a substantial music collection and sound effect library as well! You can search their library of over 900,000 songs and while they don’t offer any free tracks, you can pick up a song as you like without any need of an account. You can search by Price, Public Domain, and Non P.R.O. tracks so you can avoid having to pay performance royalties. However, with their membership plans you can also download tracks from a “pre-curated stock music library” and use in perpetuity.

We hope you find this list helpful and you can find the right music source for your next project. Let us know if we missed anything by leaving a comment below and we’ll keep this post as up to date as possible. If you have any other recommendations, please comment below with your favorites!

We’ve now entered a time when drones are a perfect accompaniment to any traveler. Whether or not you have a solid foundation or background in photography or cinematography, there is a drone on the market for you. From children’s toys to epic Hollywood film drones, it is safe to say that they are here to stay and have made themselves somewhat of a household object. So how does one innovate to get to the next level?

DJI Mavic Air 2S Review Outline

• Specs
• Ergonomics & Aesthetics 
• Speed & Performance
• Video Samples
• Camera Quality & Capabilities
• Image Samples
• Conclusion

The DJI Mavic Air2S is a product of technological evolution. It also is an exquisite love letter to drone enthusiasts and fans of DJI because they watch, revise, and execute when it comes to consumer satisfaction and product development. Take a look at the specs:

DJI Mavic Air 2S Specs

• 31 minute flight time
• 3-axis Stabilization Gimbal
• 1″ CMOS Sensor, 20 Megapixel Resolution
• 5.4K/30fps, 4K/60fps
• DNG / JPEG / Raw
• Max Speed: 13.4 mph / 6 m/s
• 21.0 oz  Weight (~.1.3125 lbs)
• Price – $999 – ( Adorama | B&H | Amazon | DJI )

Before I dive into a more detailed review, I think it’s imperative to know that it’s rare to find products that surpass your expectations past the initial teaser trailer or spec list. This is one of those products. Of course, DJI as a company has a standard to uphold but to consistently surpass the expectations of their consumer and build better products time and time again takes a deep understanding of trend, market behavior, and tech. That level of perfection is clearly visible in their products and the DJI Mavic Air 2S did not come to play.

Ergonomics & Aesthetics

I had the opportunity to travel with this drone and I knew it would be the perfect companion for its size alone. When photographing destination weddings, I make it a point to consciously select which gear comes with me and what stays home because the last thing I need is to carry a whole bunch of gear with me when I don’t need it. The compact and lightweight characteristics of the DJI Mavic Air 2S seriously shocked me. I pack my Spyder Holster belt in my check-in suitcase and 2 batteries, the remote control, and the drone fit in one pouch meant for a 70-200mm lens. Think about that for a second. You could be carrying a drone on a BELT … and no one would even know.

After flying the Mini 2, it’s so hard to go back to the OG Mavic Pro remote controller (first-world problems for sure). It felt like second nature using the Air 2S controller, mainly after intensely training in Mario Kart on my switch. These twist-off knobs make it even more travel-friendly and convenient to take anywhere.

[Related Reading: DJI Mini 2 Review]

Speed & Performance

After flying the Mini and struggling a bit to spot it in the sky, the Air 2S was a bit easier to find. Although, I did find myself searching or trying to listen for the sound for quite a bit of time. Over the years, DJI’s noise-reduction technology has improved so much that people around me didn’t even hear my launch sometimes. There were a couple of things that stood out to me that differed from previous DJI products:

Jerky Movement on Sport Mode

When switching over to Sport mode I found that drone to be a bit too jerky on the reverb. It made me a little wary to fly it close to objects knowing it might have a small bounce when stopping in motion. That being said, with an extremely advanced sensor system, that is unlikely to occur. 

Can Likely Take a Hit

It has the ability to perceive its environment in four directions: up, down, forward, and backward which means it is highly unlikely that you can crash this drone unless you are just being irresponsible.

Battery Life

If you plan on using this drone as a hobbyist, the battery life is plenty sufficient. I found that when I took it out for portrait sessions, I wanted a little bit more juice or ended up using both batteries. This is a pretty typical flight time (30 mins on a full charge) for most of DJI’s newer products, but I think this would be the next big innovation for me, personally. I don’t love having to charge multiple batteries and making sure I have enough to last for a session.

Delivers the Most Accessible Cinematic Drone Footage

With mobile phones now delivering 4K/60 fps, this drone makes a perfect partner for the most affordable, beginner cinematographer kit. If you’re just scratching the surface and trying to put together vlogs, YouTube content, this is the perfect addition to your kit. There has never been a time like there is now to dive into video and video editing, or a greater need, and the Air 2S gives users the tools with an extremely low learning curve.

[Related Reading: A Skeptics DJI Mavic 2 Zoom Review]

DJI Mavic Air 2S Video Sample

 

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DJI Mavic Air 2S Camera Quality & Capabilities

I had the opportunity to fly this drone in a variety of weather conditions, temperatures, and terrain. To put it through its paces, I also packed it on several destination shoots to see how it could travel and how easy it would be to fly with no guidance or handbook.

What I found most interesting was the burning need to have an aerial perspective with me at all times for wedding photography. So often I find myself drowning, needing inspiration or creativity at wedding venues and locations I frequent. After spending a year away from photographing weddings and engagements, the 2021 wedding season has been a huge struggle for me. Having this tool has provided such a unique way to expand on my creativity and create imagery that encapsulates my vision in a way my DSLR never could.

DJI Mavic Air2S Image Samples

DJI Mavic Air 2S Review: Conclusion

While it’s clear that the DJI Mini 2 was intended for beginners, it’s harder to distinguish that niche group for this drone. The DJI Mavic Air 2S contains specs that professionals need and want when it comes to cinematic production and resolution. There are two types of consumers I see this working for specifically:

• The skilled nomad: Content creators, travel bloggers, or travel enthusiasts – this drone was meant for you. This drone is packed with features like Mastershots, high resolution, and portability. It’s an essential tool for those wanting to document their memories with a unique perspective & refined quality.
• The ones that are ready to move up the professional ladder: this purchase should feel like the equivalent of graduating from college and pursuing a master’s degree. This is the perfect companion for those that want aerial footage to pair with their handheld DSLRs or mirrorless cameras. It’s a great upgrade for those that purchased the original Mavic or Mavic Air.

You can purchase the DJI Air 2S for $999 or the Fly More Combo for $1299.

For the last few years, while creating hundreds of wedding and commercial video projects, we’ve turned to one software company in particular for many of our editing needs: Red Giant. Since the launch of their subscription-based plans, we’ve been able to access our go-to’s and explore even more tools to get the job done at a manageable price point. In case you’re new to the game, Red Giant has earned a reputation as a major producer of plugins for video editing software over the last decade. Filmmakers and motion graphics artists have long turned to Red Giant for the powerful and easy-to-use plugins featured in their collection of suites.

In this article, we’re going to share a brief overview of Red Giant Complete and point out some of our favorite plugins and features, including those used for eliminating video noise, simulating film, and correcting color, among others. Each of the suites that comprise Red Giant Complete includes its own relative compatibility info. Simply put, you can run all of the Red Giant tools on both Mac and Windows, and each is compatible with Adobe After Effects. Some of the tools also work in additional host-applications.

Let’s get started.

Trapcode Suite

Those looking to add motion graphics and visual effects to their production, including 3D effects, lighting effects, or organic particle simulations for creating fire, water, and smoke (among others) need look no further than Red Giant’s Trapcode Suite 15. The Trapcode Suite is a plugin set for Adobe After Effects, and it includes 11 unique effects used mainly for creating motion graphics and video animations.

While your needs will vary based on the type of work you create, this suite includes tools that you can put to use right away for some very practical applications. For example, one of the standouts in this set is Shine. Shine allows users to add realistic lighting effects to text (great for motion graphics animators) or replicate natural lighting effects to enhance a scene. It’s as easy as linking shine to a 3D light in the program for camera aware “3D volumetric effects.” The results are stunning and will work especially well for transitions or bumpers. If you want to create more involved environmental effects, such as topographical terrain or infinite backgrounds, this suite also provides the tools you need to make that happen.

All of these effects work in After Effects, and three of them work within Premiere (CC 2017 and newer). The effects you can create with this set have to be seen to be believed, and it’s easier than you think to create them.

Magic Bullet Suite

Magic Bullet Suite 14 includes a set of seven, highly customizable tools for color correction, finishing and film looks, perfect for stylizing and even “fixing” your footage. This suite is a go-to grading tool for many editors, and for good reason. Within its seven plugins, users gain access to powerful tools for real-time color grading, video denoising (or re-noising), and cosmetic retouching.

Here are some of the highlights from this collection of plugins:

• Colorista V: This plugin includes a complete set of grading tools that make it possible to create high quality color grades. Many of my colleagues prefer Colorista over the built-in tools for color correction found in Premiere or After Effects, and I have to agree. In order to save time, you can also use the presets in Looks or Mojo. It’ll take almost no time to color grade your footage and achieve professional results, worthy of big budget productions.

• Denoiser III: It’s not uncommon to have to edit underexposed, grainy footage. Sometimes, the “noise” is bad enough to render the footage unusable, even after attempting to remove the noise. With the Denoiser III plugin, however, it is easy to remove noise and retain definition in the details for professional results (see the images above).

• Looks: Looks is another favorite for color grading, and it is fully customizable. Users can create “looks” from scratch or choose from over 300 presets, which were designed to allow users to match the look of their favorite movies and TV shows. You can use these presets as is or modify them further with some of the tools you’ll find inside of Looks, which include customizable vignettes, cinematic grain, color palettes, LUTs, and more.
• Film: This plugin, which can be used to emulate the look of film stock, serves as a super easy-to-use yet highly impactful tool for stylizing your footage.
• Cosmo II: This plugin makes it easy (notice a pattern yet?) to make cosmetic changes in your footage. While you can use keying options in Colorista to achieve a similar effect, Cosmo allows users to touch up faces without having to dive too deep into technical know-how.

Magic Bullet Suite 14 works on most non-linear editing systems as well as After Effects, Premiere, Final Cut X, and Apple Motion.

VFX Suite

The VFX Suite includes a set of nine unique plugins for keying, tracking, cleanup, and visual effects compositing inside After Effects. The tools in this set help simplify the process of creating seamless composites and make it possible for editors to quickly and accurately track motion and replace/remove objects. You can also find beautiful glows, distortions and lens flares in this collection of tools. The learning curve up front may take some time to work through, but the results make it worthwhile.

Here are just a couple of highlights from this set. I strongly encourage you to check this suite out on Red Giant’s site for more in-depth information:

• VFX Supercomp: I’ve said it before, but this plugin has to be seen/used to be believed. Simply put, Supercomp is a compositing environment that uses GPU-accelerated context-aware tools to allow users to easily create complex, seamless composites. Light and atmospheric effects interact with the layers and the elements of a scene to produce realistic results.
• Spot Clone Tracker: The Spot Clone Tracker allows for quick and easy object removal. It uses a built-in tracker for moving footage. Users can also use this tool in a similar fashion to the spot healing tool in Photoshop to fix blemishes or remove unwanted items. And this is one of the coolest features: Spot Clone Tracker can automatically match your lighting, and you’re given options for how to clone light, color, and texture. Best of all, it’s easy to use. Be sure to check out one of the tutorials for this feature. You’ll be amazed at its effectiveness and simplicity.

All of the plugins in this suite work for both Mac and PC in After Effects (CC 2018 and newer), and four of them, including Knoll Light Factory, Primatte Keyer, Optical Glow, and Chromatic Displacement, also work in Premiere Pro (CC 2018 and newer).

PluralEyes 4

It’s as easy as this. I can confidently say that you’ll find Pluraleyes to be the go-to plugin for syncing audio and visual footage. As noted in the product description, you can sync audio and video in seconds with the touch of a single button. There are occasions in which you may have to fine tune the sync, but for the most part, this time-tested plugin has proven itself reliable.

Universe

Universe includes a set of powerful video transition and effects plugins for motion graphics artists and video editors alike. With Universe, you can stylize your footage with authentic retro and modern day looks, including VHS and 35mm film effects, among others. Universe also makes it easy to generate pro quality looping backgrounds, glows, text animations and other effects. While you may not need all of the effects offered, as a number of them are highly stylized, you will most likely find several that you use quite often, including some of the available wipes and dissolves.

At the end of the day, Universe will likely give you better results than the native editing app you’re using.
PC and Mac users can both take advantage of this plugin.

Conclusion

I hope you found this brief overview of Red Giant software helpful. Each of the plugins covered above contain multitudes of information that can be researched in greater detail, and that is something I would encourage you to do. For the scope of this article, however, the goal was to identify what I consider to be some of the best plugins for filmmakers and help lead you in the right direction for further exploration. You can learn more about all of Red Giant’s editing tools here.

If you’re interested in purchasing Red Giant software, they offer monthly or yearly payment options that vary based on the user (individual vs. student/teacher vs. business, and so on). It may also help to know that you can take a trial run with all Red Giant programs. Like all trials, these typically run for a limited time-limited, but they include access to all of the regular features, which will help give you a better opportunity to see how these programs can improve both your workflow and final product. As noted above, you can expect to face a learning curve when using these programs, especially if you’re new to video post-production. I highly recommend diving into some tutorials and guides even before you begin any trials. With a full-featured test run and ample help from tutorials and a built-in community, it’d be hard to go wrong with Red Giant.

Adorama has recently announced its latest Create No Matter What Creative Challenge on Cinematic Storytelling. Presented with filmmaker Aidin Robbins, the challenge encourages participants to submit their one-minute cinematic videos. In the video announcing the challenge, Aidin shares his tips and advice on how to create beautiful and epic videos with a focus on how to put it all together for this challenge. Adorama’s Create No Matter What Challenge urges creatives to explore and learn by themselves or with family, and let’s face it, there’s no better time than now to creatively explore and develop new skills.

One winner will receive a Panasonic prize package worth over $3,000, featuring a Panasonic Lumix DC-S5 Mirrorless Digital Camera with Lumix S 20-60mm f/3.5-5.6 L-Mount Lens, a BenQ SW271C 27″ 16:9 4K UHD Adobe RGB PhotoVue Photographer IPS Monitor, a Capture One Pro 21 Photo Editing Software, Download, a NanLite Forza 60B Bi-Color LED, and more! Runner up will receive a LaCie 5TB USB 3.0 Type-C Mobile Drive, Moon Silver.

Some of the Tips Aidin suggests in the video are;

• Make an outline of the video
  • including logistics, gear, theme, & style
• Get a variety of coverage
  • it’s better to have more and not need than need and not have
• Never Underestimate Sound Design
  • Audio is at LEAST 1/2 of your video so it’s important to keep that in mind when you start shooting

To enter, participants can upload their videos (500 MB max for each upload) HERE by April 8^th, 2021 at 11:59 PM (ET). The winner will be announced on April 9^th, at 12 noon ET.

Those being the expandability/customization of the system aimed at dedicated video shooters & filmmakers instead of the “little bit of both” kind of shooter. Like the Sigma fp, there’s no viewfinder, but improved over the fp is the optional top handle, AND a fully pivoting touch screen display, making it easy to see, and make quick changes no matter which way you use the system.

The new FX3 has a 10.2 Megapixel backside-illuminated full-frame sensor that has an iso sensitivity range of up to 409,600 ISO, and 15+ steps of dynamic range in SLog-3. It also has a built-in cooling system, 5-axis IBIS, and 627 point phase-detection autofocus system with Eye-AF in video modes and real-time tracking AF in every one of its video modes. Making this system even more attractive is it’s designed to work with your existing E-mount lenses!

FX3 Product Highlights:

• Compact and lightweight body design with high operability for hand-held shooting, gimbal, and drone-mounted work
• Multiple 1/4-20 UNC threaded mounting points to easily attach compatible accessories
• Detachable XLR handle unit with two XLR/TRS audio inputs and one 3.5mm stereo jack
• S-Cinetone look – inspired by the color science of the digital cinema camera VENICE – which is also used in FX9 and FX6 Cinema Line cameras
• Built-in cooling fan enables effective heat dissipation to support uninterrupted 4K 60p recording
• Records up to 4K 120p
• 10.2 megapixel full-frame back-illuminated CMOS Exmor R sensor and BIONZ XR image processing engine
• Ultra-high sensitivity with ISO expandable to 409,600 for very low light conditions and 15+ stops of dynamic range
• Fast Hybrid AF (Autofocus), Touch Tracking (real-time tracking) and Real-time Eye AF, also used in other Alpha cameras
• 5-axis in-body image stabilization with “Active Mode” supports handheld movie shooting

If you’re someone who already has a collection of Sony gear, and are looking to do more in the videography side of things, this camera seems to be a no-brainer in terms of its worth buying, given the price point is only about $3,900, it’s an easy/affordable entry-way into a professional cinematography system.

Read the Full Press Release Below;

Sony Electronics Inc. today announced the FX3 (model ILME-FX3) camera that combines the best of Sony’s industry-leading digital cinema technology with advanced imaging features from Alpha brand mirrorless cameras to make Sony’s coveted cinematic look accessible to more creators.

As the latest addition to Sony’s Cinema Line, the FX3 delivers a cinematic look and professional operability and reliability in a camera that is accessible to early-career creators, as well as suitable to be used alongside Sony’s VENICE, FX9, and FX6 cameras. The new model provides outstanding image quality and usability for small-scale and one-person shooting. The FX3 boasts industry-leading autofocus capabilities, 5-axis in-body image stabilization with Active mode, handheld shooting design, and advanced heat dissipation for extended recording times. All this is combined in a compact, lightweight body that provides the performance and mobility to meet the growing demands of today’s content creators.

“The FX3 is the perfect tool for content creators looking to enter the world of cinematography,” said Neal Manowitz, deputy president for Imaging Products and Solutions Americas at Sony Electronics. “It combines everything our customers love about Sony’s video capabilities in our Alpha lineup with a new body optimized for videography. We are excited to add to Sony’s Cinema Line and continue to support the world’s creators with the best tools possible.”

Cinematic Look

The FX3 boasts Sony’s industry-leading image sensor technology to achieve high processing speeds and outstanding image quality. The full-frame, back-illuminated Exmor R CMOS sensor (approximately 10.2 effective megapixel count for video recording and approximately 12.1 effective megapixels count for stills) and the BIONZ XR image processing engine team up to ensure high sensitivity with low noise. The standard ISO range is 80 to 102,400 (expandable to 409,600when shooting video), and the dynamic range is an impressively wide 15+ stops.

In response to a growing need for more expressive depth, the FX3, along with FX9 and FX6 Cinema Line cameras, allows users to create a cinematic look without post-production using the S-Cinetone color matrix. Inspired by the color science used in Sony’s flagship VENICE camera, S-Cinetone delivers natural mid-tones, plus soft colors and smooth highlights that are essential to create a cinematic look.

Creators can record in 4K at up to 120 frames per second. Extraordinarily smooth slow-motion imagery (up to 5x) at QFHD (3840 x 2160) resolution with autofocus provides new expressive capability.

Designed for Comfortable Solo-Shooting

Our most compact and lightweight Cinema Line camera is ideal for handheld shooting, gimbal, and drone-mounted work. It weighs just 1.58 lbs. (715 g), including the battery and memory cards, and the body is only 5.11 in x 3.33 in x 3.06 in (77.8 mm x 129.7 mm x 84.5 mm). The camera grip has been carefully designed to provide optimum flexibility, stability, and comfort for long shoots.

Designed for mobility and efficiency, the FX3’s body features five 1/4-20 UNC threaded mounting points to easily attach compatible accessories while remaining light enough for handheld shooting and making it easy to set up and carry. The supplied XLR handle securely attaches to the body via the Multi Interface Shoe without any special tools and provides three additional threaded mounting points for accessories. Optional accessories such as external monitors, recorders, wireless microphones, or other add-ons can be securely attached.

To enable 4-channel 24-bit audio recording, the supplied XLR handle includes two balanced XLR/TRS audio inputs and an additional 3.5mm stereo 2-channel jack. With an optional XLR or TRS microphone connected, the XLR adaptor on the handle takes care of the A/D (Analogue to Digital) conversion and DSP (Digital Signal Processing), and transfers the digital audio data directly to the camera for outstanding audio quality.  Because the XLR adaptor is integrated into the handle and does not require any additional cables or batteries, it offers an easy setup. If the handle is not being used, the FX3 includes a 3.5mm stereo mic input on the camera body.

The FX3 provides Fast Hybrid autofocus (AF) by using the 627 points focal plane phase-detection system during movie recording. The camera is further enhanced with Touch Tracking (Real-Time tracking) where simply touching the desired subject on the monitor screen initiates autofocus and tracking on that subject. Precise and smooth focus is maintained with Real-time Eye AF – technology that pinpoints the eye even when subjects are looking down or up at steep angles. Additionally, other AF features have been included and refined in response to feedback from professional users, including AF Transition Speed, AF Subject Shift Sensitivity, intuitive control, and AF support when focusing manually. These AF features have been implemented in the FX3 to ensure stable, flexible, and precise focusing in any situation and are easy to operate for solo shoots.

The FX3 features 5-axis optical in-body image stabilization – highly effective for handheld shooting. A high precision stabilization unit and gyro sensors have made it possible to provide an Active Mode that is dedicated to movie shooting in each format, including 4K. In-body image stabilization means that effective stabilization can be achieved with a wide range of E-mount lenses, including those that do not include stabilization on their own. Alternately, the FX3 records image stabilization metadata that can be adjusted during post-production using Catalyst Browse/Prepare.

Expandability and Operability for Content Creators

Operability

FX3 was designed to optimize professional operability. The controls frequently used in movie shooting such as ISO, iris, and white balance adjustment are located on the grip and on the top of the body for easy access. In addition, 140 functions assignable to 15 custom keys allow for ultimate efficiency.

The zoom lever located on the top of the grip not only controls compatible powered zoom lenses, but also allows Clear Image Zoom to be used with unpowered zoom and prime lenses – reducing the number of lenses required for many projects. This lever also enables smooth zooming that is difficult for manual zoom-ring control.

Recording lamps (tally) are provided on the top, front, and back of the camera, so that the operator and talent can easily confirm recording.  A side-opening vari-angle touch-panel LCD monitor allows for easy operation and is suitable for gimbal-mounted shots, complicated angles, handheld operation, and more. Flexible Exposure Mode allows the FX3 to have a similar Auto/Manual switch operation as other FX series cameras for iris, shutter speed, and ISO, which can be set independently.

Reliability

Creators need more than just refined features and performance; they also need reliability and durability. The FX3 combines a fan for active cooling with effective heat dissipation resulting in uninterrupted 4K 60p recording without thermal shutdown. The newly developed fan provides high-efficiency cooling by drawing air into the camera via the bottom panel and exhausts via the side.

The new camera also features a dust and moisture resistant design and durable magnesium alloy chassis. Moreover, USB PD (Power Delivery) supports fast charging for uninterrupted recording.

Expandability

The FX3 is compatible with several recording functions including S-Log3 gamma and S-Gamut3.cine, which record in a high dynamic range and wide color gamut. It also supports internal recording in XAVC S (MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 Long GOP) and XAVC S-I (MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 Intra) formats in 4K (QFHD) and FHD, and XAVC HS (MPEG-H HEVC/H.265, 4K only) format. 4K 60p video in 10-bit 4:2:2 or 16-bit RAW format can be output to an external device via the FX3 full-size HDMI Type-A jack.

The FX3 also offers two fast, future-oriented media slots that contribute to unprecedented shooting freedom by being compatible with either CFexpress Type A or SDXC cards. The same data can be simultaneously recorded to both cards for backup and a “relay” mode will automatically switch to the second media card when the first media card becomes full during recording.

The new camera has been developed with advanced connectivity features to better assist professional creators with high-speed wireless LAN functionality (2.4 GHz or 5 GHz band) and wired LAN connection via a compatible USB-to-Ethernet adaptor. The FX3 supports video and still file transfers to a specified remote FTP server.  This FX3 also allows for remote shooting from a PC using the Imaging Edge Desktop application’s “Remote” function via Wi-Fi, or Superspeed USB 5Gbps connection over USB Type-C® terminal.

About Cinema Line

Cinema Line is a series of cameras that have a filmic look – cultivated from Sony’s long experience in digital cinema production – plus enhanced operability and reliability that respond to the wide variety of creators’ high demands.

Cinema Line includes the digital cinema camera VENICE, highly acclaimed in the feature and episodic production industry, the professional camera FX9, which is popular for documentary and drama production, and the FX6, for grab and shoot action and content creation. With the addition of the new FX3, the most compact camera in the series, Sony offers a true line up of versatile creative tools for all types of visual storytellers.

Pricing and Availability

The new FX3 full-frame Cinema Line camera will be available in March 2021 for approximately $3,900 USD and $5,000 CAD. It will be sold at a variety of Sony’s authorized dealers throughout North America.

Exclusive stories and exciting new content shot with the new camera and Sony’s other imaging products can be found at www.sonycine.com and www.alphauniverse.com, resources designed to educate and inspire all fans of Sony’s technology for content creation and photography.

For detailed product information, please visit:

• (US) – ILME-FX3
• (CA) – ILME-FX3

Adorama | B&H | Amazon

Let’s face it, 2020 hasn’t been the best year for the creative industry, but the team at LensRentals want to brighten things up a bit with their first-ever Pitch Contest for filmmakers, (with sponsors Filmconvert, Frame.io, and Musicbed) offering up a prize package valued at over $5,000 including a $2,000 rental credit and $1,000 in cold-hard-cash!

The judges are looking for entries from people who want to make a short film (5-7 minutes) with an original idea & execution, and all they need….is your pitch! Simply submit a script and video pitch of your idea to their panel of judges. From there, they will select their favorite idea, and you’ll receive a prize package worth an estimated $5,000.

The Prizes

With the help of our sponsors Musicbed, Frame.io, FilmConvert, CineMatch, and others, the prize package will be given to the best pitch as judges by our panel of judges. The prize package, valued at over $5,000, includes —

• $2,000 rental credit from Lensrentals.com
• $1,000 cash
• 1-year Business subscription to MusicBed
• 1 year Pro subscription to Frame.io
• 1 FilmConvert Plug-in Bundle
• 1 CineMatch Plug-in
• A feature on the Lensrentals Blog

The contest runs from December 28th, 2020, until January 29th, 2021.

[Related Reading: Lensrentals Breaks Down Their Most Rented Photo & Video Gear of 2019]

Read the full contest details and more on the official LensRentals Blog or just skip ahead and click the following link to submit your pitch on FilmFreeway Here! Best of luck to all of you!

Update – Winner Announced

Well, we’ve gotten the news on who won the first Pitch-Contest from Lensrentals and it’s a well deserved one at that!

The Winning Pitch – Gongoli from Darrell Lake

Read the full press release below;

Selected as a finalist by our team here at Lensrentals, and then picked as a favorite by our guest judge, Charles Haine, Gongoli was a clear winner for the contest, blending real-life experiences of Darrell Lake’s childhood in a modern horror story. As Charles Haine tells it —

“Gongoli first struck me for having that rare ability to be a story that is both very specific to its creator and their past, but also told in such a way that it will be approachable and engaging to a wider audience. Beyond that, I engaged with the theme, of the inescapability of the past, and I liked that, true to cinematic form, it gave the past a visual talisman to create menace. I responded to the fact that it works within the horror genre but tries to bring new insights and content to that format, since we keep genre’s alive by keeping them fresh. I also connected with the previously material created by Darrell Lake that convinced me he would be able to turn this pitch into a truly exceptional short film.”

Filmmaking isn’t a new passion for Darrell Lake and has always been a way for him to express his life experiences to a broader audience. As Darrell tells us, his interest in filmmaking came to him at a very young age. Originally born in the UK, and growing up in Sierra Leone in West Africa, his background has always been reflected in his experience in Africa. And after moving to the United States 17 years ago, Darrell was deadset on sharing his experiences growing up in Africa through his love for filmmaking; or as Darrell tells me – “A lot of my work is moved and inspired by my own life experiences.”

And Gongoli is exactly one of those experiences, brought into the modern era. The Gongoli mask was a pivotal part of Darrell’s upbringing and a place where a lot of fear lived in his youth. “Gongoli is this mask people would wear, and do this crazy erratic dance. So as a kid, you’re told so many stories about it, and were terrified by it.” Darrell explains. “The mask is used for celebration, and the adult wearing it would perform and dance and help bring excitement.” While its intentions are for celebration, the Gongoli mask can certainly be terrifying to a child. With its accentuated features, the Gongoli mask traditionally has a protruding forehead, with large, misshapen features, and is largely shrouded in mystery. Pairing that with an erratic and odd dance, the Gongoli often has an almost supernatural feel to it.

While I was able to chat with Darrell Lake, we were able to talk a bit about his background in filmmaking. By far the biggest challenge when creating a short film is the budget, or as Darrell tells me – “I’ve always self-funded, alongside Kickstarter campaigns, and occasionally a grant. So I’d guest act on a TV show or film, and take that money and use that money to shoot a film.” And Darrell’s acting experience has been able to help him create films like the award-winning ‘Land of Dry Bones‘, and Comedic Short Form series like ‘The Incredible Life of Darrell‘. As the titles suggest, much of his film work is based on his own experiences. “A lot of my work is moved and inspired by my own life experiences,” Darrell tells us.

Stay tuned as Darrell starts his production on Gongoli once Covid-19 restrictions get lifted, and all the pre-production is done. Until then, be sure to check out more of Darrell’s work on his website, and give him a follow on Instagram.