Why we shoot our videos with mirrorless cameras (and not video cameras)

We often get asked, 'Why do you shoot your show with mirrorless cameras instead of video cameras?' In this episode, we'll explain why we switched from pro video gear to mirrorless cameras for our production needs.
Read Jordan's article on DPReview explaining why he uses mirrorless:
www.dpreview.com/opinion/6349...
0:00 - Intro
1:07 - Public perception
2:16 - Audio
2:51 - Monitoring
5:25 - Stabilization
8:13 - Durability
10:32 - Photography
12:32 - The wrap
Music provided by BeatSuite.com
www.beatsuite.com
Rental equipment provided by The Camera Store
www.thecamerastore.com
-----------------------
DPReview.com is the world's largest digital camera review website. Welcome to our KZbin channel! Subscribe for new feature videos, reviews, interviews and more.
Discover the world's most in-depth digital camera reviews at www.dpreview.com

[@zfisher]

A reason I like this channel is because you focus on how you'd practically use each product, so I'm happy with videos like these that discuss how you use things behind the scenes

[@mirrorlessny]

I second this, they also often mention specific settings 🙏which is super important if someone wants to replicate specific look or effect

[@zfisher]

@@mirrorlessny yes absolutely. I know Jordan gripes about having to do it but especially when I was getting started it was so informative to have that information with each shot.

[@datdudeinred]

Its not because of the channel its because of just Jordan's & Chris' intellect.

[@drivingsports]

Great point at <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="600">10:00</a>. We're filming a race in Eastern Africa in a couple weeks and for that we're just bringing along a pair of GH5 MK2's for photo and video.

[@moncho33]

Looking fwd to that video on your channel!

[@RealBesty]

As someone who almost never shoots any video, this was genuinely interesting. Also, I very much liked the Olympus footage from the Leica shoot :)

[@arlynmcadorey3044]

Great Video. With regards to the Olympus, I think Jordan makes such a great point. I work in a breaking news/journalism capacity for a national network, and I've used Olympus E-M1 Mk. II for many years for fast-paced coverage. Always using the EVF mostly because people won't talk to us haha! Also, it gives you another point of contact so it makes it more stable. Lastly, for all you m4/3 critics out there, yes, Olympus footage is regularly used on National Networks in Canada/US.

[@johnsmith-gs4qf]

Great news from a proud owner of a Olympus E-M1 Mk. II !

[@FabriSlv]

IBIS is such a great invention! And yes, when it comes to outdoor shooting, MFT is such an amazing system. Smaller, lighter, cheaper wins the race when you're in a tough environment - and even just a casual ramble can become one easily, if you make a wrong step.

[@easterling9489]

Each episode is so full of positive and useful information, Chris and Jordan are like you favourite physics teacher in high school, you always wait for a new episode!

[@marinrealestatephotography]

Please shoot more of your videos on the Olympus E-M1 series, and please let us know your secret sauce for the picture profiles. That preview of the Leica M11 shot in NYC looked great.

[@HenryPiffpaff]

I'm not even into Video and you were constricted by Covid but even still you managed to produce a video that was very worth watching and very informative and understandable. Hats off!

[@TheRealMisterProtocol]

Thanks for this cogent interview detailing real-world experiences! It was entertaining and enlightening. Even separated you two make a good team. DPReview did a smart thing in hiring you.

[@markguerin6071]

I really enjoyed hearing the day-to-day reasons for the use of mirrorless cameras for cinema. I have no video experience so this content was very interesting and instructinal. Thanks, guys.

[@igeisendoerfer]

Absolutely agree and love how my G9 works for both!

[@andytee88]

Love how Jordan doesn't mind micro four thirds for video, you guys should do an episode on that

[@komandagleby_GB]

why should he mind? in the video even a 1" sensor is huge, and good stabilization is much more important than such a secondary parameter as DOF. I would use MFT gear too.

[@qbgabe12]

definitely!! do it, Jordan / Chris!!!

[@Durio_zibethinus]

Jordan with GH5 and anamorphic lens is just....😌👌

[@mirrorlessny]

great idea, go in-depth about sensor size pros/cons for both photo & video 📷🎥maybe even include cellphnes/gopro

[@joeaddison]

Fascinating to see behind the choices you guys make for the work that you do! Thanks for the great video!

[@SirMo]

That Leica episode looked fantastic. e-m1x performed great. But also kudos to Jordan for obviously having the know how.

[@JonathanPetersonlisten2EITS]

Great episode, gents. Very interesting to hear this explanation.

[@grumpywiseguy5992]

One item here that was NOT mentioned is the power zoom on the consumer and prosumer camcorders. For what I am looking at doing, it is essential to have a power zoom lens. It is also essential to have the ability to change out batteries, or change the battery type. Camcorders allow this and they are not prone to overheating. For the short clips that you guys do, this is not a problem. Also it never gets really hot in Canada either. Try Arizona or New Mexico in 115 degrees Fahrenheit in the daylight and a 30 minute clip. Finally, I have seen mirrorless cameras that are just as caged up with accessories as any cinema camera. Oh, you did miss the point that given a large sensor camera, the mirrorless hybrid cameras aew a LOT less expensive. A good 1 inch sensor camcorder is 2 grand at least. In conclusion, it all depends on what the task at hand is as to what equipment you use. If you don't believe that, try woodturning on a lathe.

[@Planeviz]

Correct. I live stream airplanes and the power zoom is absolutely required. I have a Panasonic X1500.

[@ryanehoward]

I always appreciate finding out how you guys make things. Stay healthy!

[@studiosnch]

When I planned my academic department's equipment purchase in 2019-2020, I used the same rubrics that Jordan and Drake had for choosing mirrorless. Additionally since the cameras and accessories were to be used by students, it was important as well for the device to have an easy learning curve to use but provide great results for them to use for both stills and video; basically give them confidence to produce their content. Plus as a government institution we are definitely limited on funds. So anyway I ended up choosing the Fujifilm XT-30 and a ton of lenses (21mm, 35mm, and the default 16-50 zoom), which has so far helped up produce great content for the university.

[@johnsmith-gs4qf]

I'm a big fan of mirrorless cameras (especially micro 4/3). I've gotten great still images and videos from my Panasonic and Olympus cameras.

[@peternavanac9310]

True professionals. Great insight. So appreciated.

[@techntravel24]

I love this Episode Guys! You both make excellent points for new and old shooters to think about.

[@barryobrien1890]

Makes sense to me. Canada can get pretty cold, and mechanical stuff has a habit of just snapping off. Besides the slight advantage in dynamic range, and a few codecs, you really don't sacrifice much. Great video guys ❤️

[@jeremytheoneofdestiny8691]

Excellent video! So many points I had never fully considered.

[@EricGibaud]

Fantastic reasons! Thank you!

[@Digmen1]

I like the fact that you two guys always work together well. There is no real rivalry. Its a great partnership Thanks

[@allenanddansbigshow4575]

The newer model GoPro’s have perfected the smooth handheld shot. I was so impressed I shot a feature film with the Hero 9 black and it’s won 3 best comedy film festivals and accepted into 6 different festivals.

[@mmmfuhlendorf]

This is a great video, an example of why I love your content. Today's camera coverage is so skewed toward specs and sensor size, the forums are overflowing with people with too much time and money who buy tens of thousands of dollars in expensive gear to shoot brick walls... And here you still talk about choosing the right system for the job, how sometimes micro four thirds is best and sometimes a Red dsmc is the thing to get. Please keep doing this excellent work ❤️

[@kateblachers169]

I recently sold off my blackmagic for very similar reasons. While the iq was difficult to beat the ergonomics and rigging required kinda took the joy out of shooting. Switched to a "hybrid" mirrorless and have been enjoying shooting a lot more. Another point as well, and I think an important one is the workflow with cinema cameras is often a lot more involved than I'd like it to be. Working with massive raw files actually sucks, especially when the end result is going up on KZbin anyway.

[@rusinsr]

Wow, this video was much more interesting than I had anticipated :D

[@SteveMorton]

Thank you for answering this question! And stay safe guys.

[@ericcutler5463]

Awesome video! Thank you guys!

[@frankbosco293]

Very nice. Enjoyed the elucidation of the POV.

[@weench]

This is a really good question that has always interested me. Thank you for the answer!

[@richpoinvil9618]

Guys, I'm only half way thru. GREAT video. LOTS of info. No pauses!.

[@jacobpm723]

Really interesting conversation! Love mirrorless systems for their versatility!

[@stuartcarden1371]

I'm not a video guy at all but I still adore the video chops many of the modern hybrid cameras have. It's nice to know that my stupid 10 second clips of nothing in particular are still going to look good.

[@aldolega]

Jordan's point about the importance of having an EVF is so true. I love shooting from the EVF with my S1. I just wish the camera companies would be brave and start adding tilt functionality to their hybrid/mirrorless EVFs, like most handycam-styoe video cameras have. I find looking down into a tilting EVF with my elbows tucked in against my body is super stable.

[@TheFraziers]

Another reason for me sticking with mirrorless in addition to the points here, is that I don't really feel like I'm missing much of anything in the video quality department anymore. My Panasonic S5 with 4k 10bit recording really never disappoints me with its quality even after heavy color grading. A cinema camera would be more expensive and complicated, and wouldn't really make a substantial-quality improvement either.

[@TheFraziers]

@KitJames The s5 only has long gop

[@TheFraziers]

@KitJames I’ve never edited all I so I can’t say. The s5 footage edits pretty smoothly on da Vinci resolve if I set the timeline setting to 1080 and switch back to 4K when I actually export. My machine specs can be found in a video on my channel.

[@TheFraziers]

@KitJames Thanks! I believe the long gop but rate on the Gh5 in 10 bit is the same as the s5 so it should give you a good idea.

[@joyoffilming9500]

Awesome insights. Thanks for sharing!

[@view23015]

Being focally challenged since I was 10 years old, I was already struggling to focus accurately until Canon brought out the EOS cameras . Fast forward to today with the insanely good good job that my R5 can do for video and stills , I can get sharp focusing . Like Jordan , I do use the flip out screen to set the screen and then try as best I can to use the EVF for landscapes , but my eyesight isn’t fast enough for anything past slow-moving subjects . Again , just a solid video from you guys - well done as usual and very useful. Sadly , this will get a fraction of the viewers of Bambi’s latest tik Tok video, but at least those who watch your videos are feeding our brains 🧠 with substance :)

[@supervalentin42]

As an Olympus shooter, you guys praising some M43 cameras makes my heart melt

[@mojojoe-jo2170]

I'm looking forward to the companion video where you compare and contrast cine lenses vs photo lenses for mirrorless/full frame cameras.

[@brianmckeever5280]

Nicely done gentlemen! Stay safe!

[@I4get42]

Awesome Video as usual!

[@DigiDriftZone]

In terms of audio, the Rode Wireless 2 is phenomenal, I use it both with lavs but also with shotgun mics and with the on-board high quality recording, it really simplifies capturing high quality audio without relying on cables or dealing with potential wireless signal drop outs.

[@johnpavett68]

With the latest firmware updates the Panasonic G9 is a very capable hybrid camera. I use one for wildlife stills and a little video and another in a cage with a smallrig follow focus for environmental scenery video. Love it

[@mcfl1]

The right tool for the right job. Good stuff, guys.

[@Durio_zibethinus]

"For the kind of work we do..." is a must use sentence for ending coversation with a stranger fanboy on the street.

[@gewglesux]

Thanks for answering this I’ve always wondered this

[@AllThingsFilm1]

I shot a feature film with the GH5. Because of its low profile, it was very easy to shoot much of the film gorilla style. Avoiding the need for permits because of it. Now, I have the Sony A7iv and I'm confident in being able to shoot another feature film with this as well. The low profile of mirrorless cameras is one of their strongest selling points.

[@mirrorlessny]

YES good point about gorilla style, compact gear helps with easier portability/handheld/run&gun/dynamic style of videography

[@MichaelKefeder]

sorry for the nitpick but both of you mean guerilla-style. Body only I agree, you can fly under the radar. But fully rigged out with cage, external screen, v-mount battery and matte-box there's not too much difference to a cinema cam size wise.

[@problemat1que]

@@MichaelKefeder I, too, LOVE shooting gorilla style, if you know what I mean XD

[@unusualphotography3684]

@@MichaelKefeder I suppose muscling a big enough cine rig would be "gorilla" style shooting . . .

[@mrdarryljones1]

Great reasons! 👍🏾

[@mahaganpatiproductionsgoa.2142]

Very informative. Thank you

[@MrTaco-ei5hl]

Having a small mirrorless camera where you can snap a great photo or shoot high quality video is a god-sent. I used to shoot 16 mm film back in the day🤦‍♂️ Great video . Stay safe Chris. Another big thumbs up for the Fun camera dynamic Duo👍

[@mirrorlessny]

agree portability is very important factor, it's amazing to see cameras like full frame Sony a7C which is the size/weight of apsc a6600 😵 & has ibis

[@lemmontree1]

Very interesting! Thanks so much!

[@JonSnowxx]

Fascinating talk!

[@koolkutz7]

Great points of view guys. I used to use a Canon video camera with a shotgun microphone & 7" monitor attached for filming wildlife and people used to think I was from the BBC News! I think a good mirrorless camera with a decent EVF is great for filming most things nowadays. The only niggles that some cameras have is focus-breathing, jerky movements when zooming, poorer access to batteries/memory cards when hot-swapping and the lack of built-in ND filters.

[@Hennir_97]

Great insight! I found that there is so much more to consider when looking at cameras mainly for video than there is when looking at cameras mainly for photos. I know it also comes down to the individual's/business/work requirements, but there is still so much to look at! Honestly I find it a bit overwhelming at times since that's how far technology and availability has come. At least when I finally have the budget to go and buy a camera for video I will be very well informed when I need to make my decision! Thanks a lot for posting.

[@ShaneBaker]

Thanks. Very informative. I must say that while I rarely shoot video, it's nice to know that I can switch from still to video and back again on my Z6ii with just a flick of my thumb.

[@JBoy340a]

Great video. I always enjoy using my mirrorless cameras for video and still. And now that is settled, I am interested to get your thoughts on full-frame versus m4/3 for video.

[@goal7779]

Thank you guys👍👍👏🏻

[@dodgy1954]

Good stuff. Some very interesting comments!

[@datdudeinred]

These guys are gems of photography world.

[@problemat1que]

Great real life points about finding the sweet spot between features / quality and being too conspicuous / not mobile enough. Would love to see similar discussions for photography for use-value outside of pure features. Like IBIS for portable video and sound accessories, there are a lot of scenarios to discuss in photography, such as: leaf shutter compact cameras for being able to bring a smaller flash (like a TT350 or a budget manual flash), smart adapters to gain access to cheap replacements for damaged or lost lenses while traveling, ultrazooms vs primes / pancakes for packing light. There are so many decisions to make when deciding on the best gear for the job, would love to see more than the usual reach for highest quality and "moar bokeh". Come to think of it, would definitely love to see more outdoor flash photography on this channel!

[@tw9535]

Great video. Especially about drawing less attention (both official and unofficial attention) while out and about . Question: what is your favorite way to get synced timecodes between your video recorder and audio recorder?

[@tr4x1ymus]

did you just tease the GH6 there at the end? (GH4 user very interested in upgrading)

[@dragonflymedia3979]

Brilliant, thanks guys

[@nickowenwilliams]

Thanks so much Jordan & Chris for another insight-packed video! For me the only thing missing was a discussion of internal NDs vs screw-on NDs. Not having to stick a VND out on the front of my lens is the main thing that pulls me towards a ‘cine’ camera. Any thoughts?

[@golight1]

thank u for this vid. its been useful. one thing i'de be happy if ud get into, as u have briefly mentioned it: can u do a cold test for cameras? i live in a hot climate, yet in winter the desert can be extremely cold. went in minus 2 Celsius to shoot the sunrise, and my d850 did not function properly. maybe it had something to do with the back screen starting to freeze. so, for the sake of those a bit of snow is an attraction for, would be happy to know how a frozen, yet dry, environment effect my gear and what to do- apart from warming it. (i ended up replacing my battery with a fresh and warmed one, and rapping the gear with my neck warmer).

[@rajivdharmaseelan7865]

Always happy to see your videos!

[@edwardlin2941]

Nice video… yes like others who commented, I appreciated your description of how you use the cameras.

[@shilohdocumentaryfilms443]

Watched your Sony A1 review- got one and love it! Have a Sony FX9 and FS5, all great cameras, but love the mirrorless hybrid to be able to shoot photos and film in 8K!

[@andreasbulowhansen9413]

I subscribe to many of your arguments but also love the quality of cinema cameras, there is something organic and less digital about the footage. Which is why I use both, namely a gh5 and a zcam s6. Found that combo to be killer for almost every kind of shoot and very easy to match in post.

[@markshirley01]

Nice to hear a bit about stabalisation. The clip you showed from the Z9 actually looked ok considering you were walking. I've heard the Z9 stabalisation is quite good.

[@zhaowei2236]

Very true experience.

[@adammacsween3230]

Great video guys. Always get a giggle at you two. Wouldn’t it be nice if Olympus made an OM-D 1X mark 2 with better IQ. Almost indestructible that camera.

[@bobuk5722]

Hi Jordan and Chris. First, I wish you well Chris, no aftermath. Thanks both of you for a very interesting and informative talk. I'm in the market for a grandson chasing camera - I want to do something better than mobile phone footage. Bulk and image stability are big considerations for me and I need a three point hold with a built in viewfinder - it's one major reason why I've not gone for the C70.

[@corkeuro]

great point about the evf I love having the E.V.f money saver for the camera makers but I will stick to the a7siii for that reason.

[@DynamixWarePro]

I have had people come up to me in the past when I was shooting video and one or two people thinking I was shooting video for the news, especially when I was using a tripod so I totally get it. For the audio point, cinema cameras don't usually have good audio as you would normally have the audio recorded externally onto dedicated audio recorders, and really reguardless of what camera you use and what audio attachment you plug into the camera, you should really record audio to an external audio recorder for best quality, not through a camera. Reguarding durability, while I have never used a cinema camera, the one and only time I dropped any camera was my Panasonic GH4. When that happened it made a crack from the lens mount and along the body and it didn't even fall that far just onto concrete ground so I can't speak for durability unless cameras have been improved since then but I have no plans to find that out for myself. Two days ago, I dropped one of my lenses (Olympus 12-40mm f/2.8 PRO) when attaching it to my Panasonic GH5, but luckily it was totally fine, it just ended up with some dirt on it.

[@599miata]

A very interesting video. 👍👍👍

[@mipmipmipmipmip]

Fuji apparently accept a fuji version of the Tascam XLR digital hotshoe adapter on the x-s10 and the x-t4, although they seem to not tell anyone about this

[@samuel.gabura]

Everybody is different. For me it was a lot of times about runtime. I want to be able to record long clips without running out of storage, battery, or time limit, or having a camera overheating issues. Previous only video cameras could achieve that. But now with new EU regulations, USB-C and better thermal management (depending on brand lol)I can have that in a hybrid body.

[@marcel9568]

What about the electronic viewfinder’s oled? It’s colors will change over time.

[@cameronvanhooft]

After finishing a film Diploma I was one of the very few people to go down the Hybrid Mirrorless path. Most of the students went out and bought BMPCC4K, 6K and 6K Pro's because they thought having a 'cinema' camera would magically give them the better footage. I went and bought a Panasonic GH5 and S1 and it was the best investment. Having gear that is this versatile means I can generally capture MORE. I'm able to do Run N' Gun filming much easier and also do photography if wanted too. Yes RAW video formats is nice, but it is not needed in most scenarios. Heck, if I really wanted to I could buy a Ninja V for the S1 and output 5.9K 12bit ProRes Raw WITH IBIS and in full frame glory. (Regarding durability, an imbecile in the Diploma dropped one of the campus' Blackmagic URSA 12K Pro cameras and in turn destroyed it.. so there's that)

[@hamidrastin5895]

great video

[@TonyVRailfanning]

The two reasons I would shoot video on a video camera is 1, much better image stabilization a must if you zoom in a long way to the subject and 2, a much smoother zoom control. I do however agree that a camera can do a much better job if your not changing the zoom and have the equipment that stabilizes everything . Video cameras also cost much less when you factor you get the lens included as well as in my case on the Panasonic HXC2000 all the microphone inputs. Great video

[@Narmi804]

Most video centric KZbinr: NOT ENOUGH DYNAMIC RANGE!!! Chad Jordan: NOT ENOUGH IBIS!!!

[@Excalibr101]

I do the exact same thing of checking the EVF then monitoring via LCD.

[@bcleste]

What do y’all think about the r5c?

[@dsdddsd4543we]

I’ve had the GH5 since 2017. It is built like a tank. Lots of mirrorless bodies still don’t have key features like focus peaking, shutter angle, and anamorphic modes. I Would love to get an R5C after thorough testing and reviews this year.

[@johnleighdesigns]

This was great to see - As a hybrid video and photographer still on a budget canon 700d for 9 years Ive been looking at video options like 2nd hand EOS M mirrorless combined with magic lantern to achieve raw video workflow but I am drawn to the idea of a mirrorless with IBIS and EVF - could I get your wisdom whether I could consider something like a 2nd hand fuji or other suggestion im aiming at $400 ish kind regards from London UK

[@adimatis]

So, what are those "exciting new cameras" Jordan talks about?! :) Wow! :) and h6 I hope!

[@Niberspace]

I came to this video with ambitions to flame, but these were all solid arguments. I've been fantasizing about getting the DJI 4D but I've never really considered what would happen if I were to drop it. I once knocked over a mirrorless on a tripod onto concrete, and all that happened was the lens-hood snapped, that was it.

[@davidmorgan9803]

Love it! Do camcorders have any place today?

[@ebinrock]

Eh, you gotta use the right tool for the right job. For me, I couldn't live without my 1" camcorder with the 20x zoom lens (try to find an affordable 20x cinema or even mirrorless lens - or try to find any 20x full frame at all, affordable or not!). I've had projects where I've had to show everything from helicopter rescue training exercises to construction sites where I had to be some distance away, and I love that I can go super-wide or super-tight in an instant without having to change lenses - and to do so slowly and gracefully within the shot if it calls for it, thanks to servo zoom. And I can do it all within a self-contained 5-pound package without a lot of cables, gears, and rigouts, and very affordably. And a 1" sensor is a good compromise where you can get some decent bokeh, even if it's not Hollywood-creamy smooth. I just feel there's SO much attention on mirrorless cameras these days that the 1" camcorder hardly gets any love anymore. Oh yeah, and I can have more than one shoe mount (unlike mirrorless with even an XLR adapter on top, which often has only one mount), so I can mount a wireless mic receiver AND an on-camera LED light if I need it in darker places. The viewfinder is also rotatable if I need adjustment, although I wish they'd also make it where you could rotate it DOWN to see well for high-angle shots (the ol' bulky shoulder-mount ENG cameras let you have almost 180 degrees of rotation for the viewfinder).

[@stevestruthers6180]

I'll be picking up my new Sony ZV-1 tomorrow. I plan to use it for some, but not all of my videography projects. It's light, compact, fits on a gimbal, and produces decent video that will easily outclass the video that any smartphone can render. Plus, I can stick it in a pocket and take it with me pretty much anywhere I go. For any really serious videography where I need a lens with a greater range of focal lengths, I'll use my Sony a6600, although I don't think it's likely I'll have many such advanced projects.

[@stevesvanderpool8653]

Awesome!

[@electronicbox6990]

I can add one of your older but valid comment, the cinema camera menu is still a lot slow and clunky compared to mirorless ones.Great topic!

[@RicochetForce]

Mirrorless cameras absolutely have made their place in photography and videography. Thanks for the video, we all know these cameras don't nee to justify themselves for any purpose folks put them to.

[@pawelbrzozowski3899]

I really give a damn about video, but just love watching you guys.

[@davidp158]

I agree with your assessment of mirrorless cameras. Shooters often long for what they don't have, only to realize what they have is sometimes the more appropriate solution. I appreciate the convenience of my EVA1 camera (built-in ND filters and XLR inputs), but the portability of my mirror less cameras (GH5 and S1H) often win out. It usually comes down to what kind of shoot situation I'm faced with, but in many cases I can get the results I need with mirrorless cameras. The distinct benefit of mirrorless in tight spaces, shooting in public, and flying on gimbals is pretty obvious. Years ago, a client would cringe if you brought anything "less" than a bulky cinema camera on set, but that is much less the case now. Options are good!

[@Ranblv]

I don't make videos but I did wonder what were the reasons for jordan's choices. very interesting