Five Fantastic Cameras for Both Stills and Video

To be fair, it is very hard not to find a camera that is great at both stills and video nowadays. But there are some that just excel one way or another. Let’s have a look at five different cameras, each from a different brand, to keep it nicely balanced.

Sony

When it comes to the Sony lineup, you just can’t go wrong nowadays. Sony has been known to push the limits of imaging technology for some time and whether you pick up the widely beloved a7S III, a7 IV, or any of the ZV-E models, you know you’re getting a pretty good and versatile body. Let’s have a look at an often-overlooked one today. The long-awaited APS-C flagship, the Sony a6700.

Unassuming on the outside but powerful on the inside. With its pretty fast 26-megapixel sensor, it can do both stills at very competitive frame rates as well as great video with minimal rolling shutter. It came as a much-needed upgrade to the already aging a6600, and while it hasn’t revolutionized much in terms of stills, that is nothing to frown upon as the a6600 was already very capable as a stills camera. It just needed a bit more love in the video department.

And the a6700 has most definitely delivered. Capable of 10-bit 4:2:2 4K recording out of the box, fast frame rates up to 120 fps, and 5-axis mechanical stabilization with an option of active stabilization after a slight crop, this makes it a very strong contender when you’re choosing a jack-of-all-trades camera. Yes, the body is tightly packed and does not leave much room for decent thermals, so do not expect prolonged recording sessions. Nonetheless, for short-form content, vlogging, family videos, quick introductions, or fast cuts, it will deliver!

Fujifilm

Back at the early beginnings of Fujifilm’s X-Series mirrorless cameras from 2012 to 2015, it was clear that video was just an afterthought for Fujifilm. But boy, has that turned around recently. So much so that I’d argue they’re currently producing one of, if not the best, crop sensor video/stills cameras on the market. Some of you already know which one I’m talking about. Of course, it’s the X-H2S.

The first camera in the fifth generation of the series came with a bang! Not only did it offer internal 4K 60p video at 10-bit 4:2:2, external raw output via a full-size HDMI, image stabilization, great AF performance, and a well-designed, perfectly ergonomic body with professional-level weather sealing, but it was also a Fujifilm, which meant all of those tasty Film Simulations were available to you in any of the video modes.

And that is not even the biggest draw of the X-H2S. It was the first and, at this time, still the only APS-C camera with a stacked sensor. This meant incredibly fast readout speeds, minimal rolling shutter, virtually non-existent flicker, 40 frames per second of full-resolution raw stills, and the ability to shoot perfectly silently in any environment.

One of the massive video benefits is the thermal design. I was unable to get it to overheat when recording 4K 60p at 10-bit 4:2:2 for over an hour. The only time it started getting a little too hot for comfort was during a 1-hour long 4K 120p session. But let’s be honest, who records 120p video for that long? And if you do, the X-H2S lets you attach a small, but well-built, accessory to the back of the body called FAN-001, which gives your camera an active cooling system, at which point the camera can record virtually indefinitely.

The Fujifilm X-H2S is still rightfully the flagship in the Fujifilm lineup. Even though that position is contested by other bodies like the X-H2 and the X-T5, each has its tangible benefits over the others. I’d also be wrong for failing to give an honorable mention to the X-S20—tiny, lightweight, but capable of beautiful image quality and great video properties. Have a look at our review.

Nikon

I’m sure many of you are aware of the ongoing joke comparing Nikon cameras to potatoes. But deep down, we all know Nikon cameras are damn good. Just look at their incredible lineup: the Z6 III, Z f, and Z9. All great for both stills and video. But the one I chose is quite possibly the best bang for your buck among all of these, and that is the Z8.

When the Nikon Z8 came out in May of 2023, many of us were baffled. It was so good. Too good even. It made no sense to go with the much bigger and more expensive Z9 over this. Apart from lacking GPS and not having a ridiculously large battery, it was internally virtually identical yet considerably cheaper. The great 47-megapixel stacked sensor offered capture speeds of up to 120 frames per second (in JPEG), the autofocus was very competitive and has been improving ever since, and the camera is neither massive nor tiny. It is a true professional’s workhorse!

And as the title suggests, not just for stills. The video capabilities are still, to this day, seriously unique for a mirrorless camera. The reason is simple: RAW recording. Being able to record 12-bit 4K RAW footage has been out of reach for mirrorless cameras due to a patent tug-of-war with RED, unless you wanted to resort to an external recorder like the Blackmagic Video Assist or Atomos Ninja V. Well, the Nikon Z8, like the Z9, can not only record 4K 12-bit RAW video internally but can do so in 8K as well. We`ve gotten to a point where most cameras wildly surpass the needs of most photographers. But a professional who is serious about his craft can truly feel limitless when using such a camera. If only both card slots were CFExpress for faster backup.

Canon

To many, even just the name Canon is synonymous with photography. You don’t even need to be a photographer to know the brand is a world-class camera manufacturer, so it shouldn’t come as a surprise that they have plenty of cameras great at not just capturing stills but recording video as well. After all, it was Canon with their legendary 5D Mark II who started the whole trend of recording high-quality video with stills cameras. Well, today we are going to have a look at yet another Mark II in their repertoire—more specifically, the R6 Mark II.

Canon’s entry into the mirrorless market wasn’t exactly thrilling with the EOS R and EOS RP models. They both lacked some very important features compared to the competition, and some odd design choices made them uncomfortable to use for some. But Canon took notes and followed up with two brilliant models, the R6 and R5, which were just perfect for Canon DSLR users to finally bite the mirrorless bullet. The successor has stayed true to what made the original R6 good and improved everywhere else.

First and foremost, the R6 Mark II offers an incredibly fast sensor, especially considering it is not a stacked one. Capable of truly fast readout speeds, 40 frames per second in full-quality raws, great autofocus, and improved subject tracking capabilities. Many portrait photographers also swear by the famous “Canon look” with warmer skin tones. It is a fully professional body that many working photographers rely on for their living.

The R6 Mark II made it to this list, so of course it is a powerful video camera as well. As is the trend nowadays, it is able to record 4K 60p video with no problems. But combined with its awesome low-light performance due to its 24-megapixel full frame sensor and the aforementioned subject tracking, all you need is good image stabilization and you’ve got yourself a winner. Luckily, the R6 Mark II has a pretty decent IBIS mechanism built in. My only gripe with the camera is the Micro-HDMI connector on a body of such size. But that should only bother those using external monitors.

Panasonic

It is true that Panasonic has unfortunately strayed away from stills and concentrated heavily on video. But you can’t deny they do know a thing or two about video. After all, their GH5 was the first-ever mirrorless camera to record unlimited 10-bit 4:2:2 4K video internally, and it took years for the competition to catch up.

That being said the S5 II is honestly a camera that can do both well. Its 24-megapixel full frame sensor gives plenty of detail while staying very capable in low light, the compact body lets you carry the camera on you at all times, the dual card slot lets you shoot once-in-a-lifetime events without worry, and the ergonomic body is comfortable to use for many.

6K 3:2 10-bit open gate video recording (at 4:2:0, 30p), 4K up to 60p, dual native ISO, improved subject tracking courtesy of the phase-detect points on the sensor, and Panasonic’s V-Log flat profile make it already a tasty option to go for. What makes it stand out the most, though, is the insanely clever implementation of an active cooling system in the viewfinder housing. This ensures you never have to worry about the camera overheating. Recording with no time limit is extremely important to many, and while most cameras technically can nowadays as the import laws in certain regions have eased, manufacturers still use arbitrary recording limits due to overheating. Well, the Panasonic S5 II does not need to worry about any of that. Press record, and as long as you’ve got enough power and storage, you are good to go.

To improve on all of the features of the S5 II, Panasonic followed up with an all-black S5 IIx with raw output through HDMI and the most interesting feature: being able to use an external SSD as storage.

No Real Winner or Loser Here

Any of the above-mentioned cameras will do a great job at capturing stills or recording video. And you don’t even need to spend too much considering they’ve all been on the market for a while now meaning you can most definitely get any of them used for a reduced price. Have a look at MPB.com for all five of these cameras and many more. Or if you already own one of these let us know how it is. Are you happy with your decision? Let us know in the comments.