16 Best 4K Cameras to Buy in 2024 (DSLR, Mirrorless, and Drone)

The Sony a7S III is the company’s newest flagship camera explicitly targeting low-light and video shooters. It houses a 12.1MP full-frame mirrorless sensor and an upgraded Bionz XR image processor. Additionally, the user interface has received a facelift compared to the previous model (the Sony a7S II), making it more user-friendly.

The first video feature that jumps off the page is that the A7S III records uncropped 4K videos with frame rates as high as 60 fps (frames per second). Moreover, it captures 4K/120p footage with a minimal 1.1x crop factor.

Another area where this camera is unmatched is video autofocus. It uses a hybrid phase-detection autofocus (AF) system that automatically locates faces, heads, and eyes and seamlessly tracks them without ever losing focus.

One more killer feature that you can’t overlook is the in-body stabilization that adds up to 5.5 stops of exposure. It significantly reduces camera shake and makes handheld shooting a walk in the park.

If you’re considering buying this model, have a look at these specs comparisons first:

• Sony a7S III vs Sony FX3
• Sony a7 II vs Sony a7S III
• Sony a1 vs Sony a7S III
• Canon EOS R5 vs Sony a7S III
• Canon EOS R5 C vs Sony a7S III

The Panasonic Lumix GH6 is a high-end hybrid camera and the successor to the Panasonic Lumix GH5. It has a brand new 25.2MP Micro Four Thirds sensor and the most advanced Venus Engine image processor. The pair work hand in hand to deliver stunning quality 5.8K videos and equally impressive photos.

Furthermore, the image sensor boasts the highest resolution ever seen in a Micro Four Thirds camera, and the readout speeds are off the charts. Whereas rolling shutter issues were sometimes present in older models, in the GH5, you’ll never have to worry about it. Also, thanks to the new built-in cooling system, there is now no video recording limit.

• The following camera comparisons will give you more info on how it matches up to other models:
  Panasonic Lumix DC-GH5 vs GH6
• Panasonic Lumix DC-GH5 II vs GH6
• Panasonic Lumix DC-S5 vs GH6
• Panasonic Lumix DC-GH6 vs Sony A7 III
• Panasonic Lumix DC-GH6 vs Canon 90D

The Canon EOS R5 C is a powerful full-frame mirrorless camera that takes all the best traits of the original Canon EOS R5 and adds advanced video features typically only available in high-end cinema cameras. Its 45MP full-frame CMOS sensor and DIGIC X image-processing engine allow it to record videos at resolutions of 4K, 6K, and even 8K!

A cool design characteristic of the Canon EOS R5 C is the new Photo/Video toggle switch that replaces the traditional power switch. It boots the 4K Canon camera up in two distinct shooting modes that use separate operating systems and menus. This gives users more control than ever and significantly increases work speeds.

Other features worth highlighting are 12-bit RAW video files, a built-in fan to prevent overheating, and dual-pixel autofocus.

The Fujifilm X-T4 is one of the iterations of cameras in Fuji’s lineup of premium APS-C cameras. It hit stores in April 2020 (replacing the Fujifilm X-T3) and immediately became one of the most sold mirrorless cameras globally. A 26.1MP APS-C sensor and a sophisticated X-Processor 4 image-processing engine are at its heart.

The first thing people love about this video camera is its size. Measuring 135x93x84mm and weighing only 607g, it is significantly smaller and lighter than most full-frame cameras. This makes it ideal for landscape, adventure, and travel videographers.

On top of that, it has a robust set of video features that include uncropped 4K video, 1080p slow-motion playback at frame rates of up to 240p, and best-in-class sensor-shift image stabilization technology.

The Sony Alpha a6100 is undoubtedly one of the best 4K cameras for those searching for a killer deal. It’s Sony’s entry-level mirrorless camera. It features a 24.2MP APS-C CMOS sensor and a speedy Bionz X image processor.

The Sony a6100 captures sharp and detailed 4K/24p videos using the entire sensor and only applies a minimal crop factor when recording video at 4K/30p. Additionally, the slow and quick (S&Q) mode can record 1080p, full-HD, slow-motion, and fast-motion clips directly in the camera.

While there is no in-camera stabilization, most Sony E Mount lenses have OSS optical image stabilization that improves the quality of handheld footage. It’s the perfect first camera to learn all the basics of photo and video for beginners and children just getting started in photography.

The Canon EOS 5D Mark IV is a professional hybrid DSLR with a 30.4MP, full-frame, CMOS sensor and a DIGIC 6+ image processor. The two work together diligently to deliver out-of-this-world photos and videos. While it’s slightly older than most Canon cameras on this list (released in September 2016), there are no other DSLR cameras that match its overall lineup of features.

Because of its high-quality 4K video and superb dual-pixel video autofocus, event photographers and documentarians are two groups who can’t get enough of this camera. Locating and tracking moving subjects is a breeze, and the image colors come out looking bright and natural. My only complaint is that the 1.27x 4K crop factor limits how wide you can shoot video.

The Nikon D850 is a high-resolution, intermediate-level DSLR featuring a 45.7MP back-side illuminated full-frame sensor and an Expeed 5 image processor. It was the first Nikon DSLR to shoot uncropped 4K video using the entire sensor. And it captures detailed footage at frame rates of 24, 25, or 30 fps.

While the camera is on the large side, its handling and ergonomics are terrific. The tilting touchscreen LCD helps when filming at difficult angles, and the illuminated LCD on the top of the camera means you can easily adjust the camera settings even when in the dark.

Another awesome feature is the Time-Lapse mode. A built-in interval timer generates drool-worthy 4K and 8K time-lapse movies.

The Canon Rebel EOS SL3 (EOS 250D in Europe) is an entry-level 4K DSLR. It’s ideal for people on a budget. A 24.1MP APS-C CMOS sensor and a DIGIC 8 image processor are at its core.

Unfortunately, it applies a significant 1.7x crop to 4K footage. But the quality is excellent, and the straight-out-of-the-camera colors are bold and bright.

Its compact body, fully-articulating rear LCD, and long-lasting battery make it a favorite of YouTubers and travel vloggers alike. Additionally, the new Guide mode gives newbies step-by-step instructions on how to get the most out of the camera. On the downside, one crucial thing to note—there is no USB charging.

The Sony Cyber-shot RX100 VI is Sony’s flagship point-and-shoot camera. It boasts a large one-inch 20.1MP stacked CMOS sensor and a lightning-fast Bionz X image processor. The pair makes this one of the most advanced compact video cameras and produces ridiculously sharp photos and videos.

It films uncropped Ultra HD 4K videos at either 24 or 30 fps and has a mode that captures smooth slow-motion 1080p HD video clips. Furthermore, the high-quality Sony Zeiss lens has an 8.3x zoom and is fantastic for everything from street to landscape photography.

It’s on the expensive side, but in my opinion, the price is well worth it. If it’s out of your price range, check out its cheaper predecessor, the Sony Cyber-shot RX100 V.

Another popular point-and-shoot camera is the Fujifilm X100V.  It’s a high-end camera with a 26.1MP APS-C sensor, an X-Processor 4 image-processing engine, and a 23mm pancake prime lens. It borrows many video features from the Fujifilm X-Pro3 interchangeable lens camera and boasts the best 4K video quality ever for a camera with a fixed prime lens.

While the 23mm f/2 lens may not have the versatility of a zoom lens, it excels in low-light shooting and produces buttery bokeh effects in both photos and videos. Moreover, the built-in four-stop ND filter widens the dynamic range, improves shadow and highlight detail, and improves post-production video editing.

The Pansonic Lumix ZS200 (TZ200 in Europe) is a pocket-sized compact digital camera featuring a one-inch 20.1MP CMOS sensor and a Venus Engine image processor. While its overall speed and Ultra HD 4K video quality are impressive, its true standout feature is the high-quality Leica Zoom lens.

The lens has a remarkable 24-360mm equivalent focal range, equating to 15x optical zoom. However, during 4K video recording, a 1.5x crop factor is applied. This changes the focal length range to 36-540mm. While this limits the camera on the wide end, the longer focal length helps film animals and wildlife.

The Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark III is another hybrid point-and-shoot video camera. It is powered by a one-inch 20.1MP BSI-CMOS sensor and a DIGIC 8 image processor. It delivers good quality 4K/30p videos, but Canon decided to omit 4K/24p shooting. This shouldn’t be a dealbreaker for most people, but if it is, you should go with one of the three compact video cameras above.

While it has solid 4K video capabilities, still shooting is where the Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark III shines brightest. The 24-100mm f/1.8-2.8 zoom lens is sharp at every focal length.

Plus, courtesy of its low max aperture and optical image stabilization, it performs well even with less light. Also, its 30 fps continuous shooting speed (8 fps with AF) captures sharp, in-focus sports and action shots.