It goes without saying, of course, that your camera needs to be switched to ON and the lens cap needs to be off.Ĭheck that both the lens and the camera switches are both pointing towards Autofocus. This has happened to me one too many times, so I have now come up with a system of troubleshooting in the quickest time possible on the spot. Where do you start? Or perhaps you have just changed lenses and suddenly nothing works. All eyes are on you, and the pressure is on to quickly fix the problem.
Your shutter and AF-ON buttons (if using back-button focusing) do not seem to work. We prefer to select the best products from each category and link to our reviews, lab tests and news articles to help you make a smart purchase.You’re in the middle of a photoshoot and suddenly you notice nothing in your viewfinder is in focus.
Of course, we can’t list everything, that would be pointless. Our goal is to help you make the best choice when buying new gear. In our Gear Guides, you’ll find a variety of cameras, lenses, lights, and more. The difference here is no longer in image quality (at least not as much), but mainly in the lack of pro-level connectivity options such as TC, external lens control systems, and built-in mounts for pro batteries. In summary, cameras in the sub-$5,000 category offer both a great entry point into high-quality image acquisition and the ability to build a complete set with other higher-end cameras. In this case, a C200B, for example, would be worth a closer look. Let’s say you have a Canon C500 Mark II and want to complement it with another, but lower priced B-cam. A-Cam or 2nd UnitĪnother typical scenario for cameras in this category is to use them as a supplement to an existing high-end camera. You need high-end slow-motion recording, for example 4K120p? Then the Sony a7S III is exactly what you need! Other neat features include pro-grade audio preamps, tiltable screens, connections for external recording, you name it. But you have to be careful, as most of the cameras in this category also lack some important things, such as internal ND filters (although the BMPCC 6K Pro has them). Most mirrorless cameras in the sub-$5,000 category offer many features that are usually only available on high-end cameras. Take the Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 6K Pro (what a mouthful!), that’s a beast of a camera, but it’s still priced just under $2,500. A few years back these cameras would have been super expensive (or even impossible to build), but nowadays things have changed. In the $2,000 to $5,000 range, there are many really great cameras to be found. Image credit CineD Gear Guide – Best Cameras under $5,000 Sony FX3 and Sony a7S III – Non Identical Siblings. So let’s take a look at the middle ground.
On the other hand, a full-blown high-end cinema camera might be a bit too much for both your needs and your wallet. So filming is more than just a hobby for you, and you want something real to work with. Check out our Gear Guide to the Best Cameras – under $5,000 for a good selection of decent filming machines. It’s much more important what you are filming than what tool you are using. Sometimes a decent upper mid-range camera will do. To achieve pro results, you need a high-end camera, right? Well, not so fast.