Investing in a mirrorless or DSLR camera is an increasingly viable option for amateur filmmakers who want to produce high-quality videos without spending a fortune on professional video equipment. In fact, most consumer stills and hybrid cameras now offer some pretty advanced video capabilities, with many cameras now supporting features like 10-bit color depth and 4:2:2 chroma sampling internally—some even support high-quality Apple ProRes codecs and other features previously reserved for dedicated cinema cameras. Generally speaking, when looking for a movie camera, you should consider the camera’s video resolution and frame rate capabilities, whether or not you need In-Body Image Stabilization (IBIS), and design features like dual memory card slots and ports for connecting peripherals such as which are microphones or external recorders. Of course, budget and ergonomic preferences also play a big role in determining which camera is best for you.

We don’t currently test cinema cameras, and since cinema cameras range from affordable professional models to astronomically expensive professional models, this article focuses primarily on consumer stills and hybrid cameras. Also keep in mind that your chosen lens will significantly affect your camera’s performance, including its stabilization and autofocus performance.

We’ve bought and tested more than 100 cameras in our lab, and below you’ll find our recommendations for the best hybrid cameras for aspiring filmmakers and videographers. If you’re looking for simpler options for creating videos for online media platforms, check out our recommendations for the best cameras for YouTube or the best cameras for vlogging. If you want to record sports videos, you can also try the best video cameras for sports. Otherwise, check out our best cameras in general.