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The 3 Best Cameras For Guerrilla Filmmaking On a Budget

Since launching my blog over 5 years ago, there’s been one question I’ve been asked more than any other over and over again: “Which is the best camera to buy for filmmaking?”

This of course is an impossible question to answer from such a broad perspective, since everyone’s needs, budgets, and creative intentions are vastly different. Typically when I’m asked for camera recommendations I’ll throw the question right back at the filmmaker. I’ll ask – What types of projects are you shooting? What specialty features are important to you? Do you plan to operate the camera yourself, or will you have a focus puller? What’s your target budget range? Etc, etc, etc.

More often than not, many indie filmmakers (especially those working on micro-budget productions) have similar needs. They’re looking for something affordable that can deliver beautiful image quality, will be easy to operate in run and gun environments, and won’t draw too much attention. In other words, they need a tool that will make their lives easier when shooting guerrilla style.

So with that in mind, I’ve decided to put together a list of my top 3 cameras for guerrilla filmmaking.

Here we go –

BLACKMAGIC POCKET CAMERA

Who says a camera needs to be brand new to make it on this list? The Pocket Cam from Blackmagic was originally announced 4 years ago, but it’s still as relevant as ever – especially for guerrilla filmmakers. While more recent Blackmagic cameras like the URSA Mini 4.6K or even the Micro Cinema Camera have largely stolen the spotlight, the Pocket Camera has some unique advantages of it’s own that are hard to deny even today.

For one, the image quality off of this camera is absolutely incredible, and it’s color science is amongst the best of any camera on the market under $10,000. But perhaps more importantly for run and gun shooters is the fact that (as the name suggests) this camera has a tiny footprint. It is truly minuscule in size, and it’s physical shape loosely resembles many of today’s DSLRs or point & shoot cameras. This is massively helpful when trying to blend into a crowd and remain inconspicuous while shooting.

It has a Super 16mm sized sensor, which makes it ideal for a single operator who is also pulling their own focus. Less depth of field = less room for error when focus pulling, but at the same time with fast/long lenses the camera is still capable of delivering shallow DOF when you need it to. It also allows for small vintage Super 16mm lenses to be used, which can help keep the overall footprint small too.

All that said, the small S16 sensor means it doesn’t have as strong low light performance as the other cameras on this list… So if you plan to shoot in little to no light, this may not be the camera for you. But if you are mainly shooting daytime footage, or have access to some fast lenses and some minimal lighting for your night scenes, this camera still has you covered.

The biggest drawback of the Pocket Camera (in my opinion) is its limited battery life, but there are a number of easy/DIY battery solutions out there that will allow you to power the camera all day without having to swap the internal batteries every hour, depending on how you shoot. Another consideration for some people is the lack of 4K recording, but quite honestly that is not a deal breaker for me. I shot my latest feature in 4.6K on the URSA Mini 4.6K, and am mastering it to 2K, which is essentially HD, and I have no regrets at all. If we had shot the film in 1080p or 2K it wouldn’t make any difference on the final product. So while 4K is certainly a nice option to have, I wouldn’t by any means say that it’s mandatory for most indie film productions.

I also want to point out that an alternative to the Pocket cam is Blackmagic’s Micro Cinema Camera. But because it lacks a monitor and generally draws more attention in public due to it’s form factor, I still recommend the pocket for most guerrilla shoots.

LUMIX GH5

This list couldn’t be complete without mentioning the Lumix GH5, which is currently one of the most sought after mirrorless cameras for good reason – it is extremely versatile, feature rich, relatively low cost, and delivers gorgeous images. All of these factors naturally make it a contender for just about any type of production, but especially run & gun/guerrilla shoots thanks to speciality features like internal stabilization.

While many cameras today boast internal 5 Axis IS (meaning the sensor will stabilize your image in-camera, even when shooting with non-IS lenses), not all cameras have quite gotten the formula right. Having experimented with the GH5 as well as many other cameras on the market offering IS, there’s no question that the GH5 is at least in the top 3 on the market… And again, this can be crucial for guerrilla style shooting. The smaller you can keep your footprint (by not relying on clunky rigs or other accessories) the better off you are, and useable internal IS goes a long way in achieving that goal.

Even with IS aside, few mirrorless cameras/DSLRs have the technical capabilities of the GH5 in other respects, such as focus peaking, internal Log color space, 400Mbps recording, and much more.

Like any camera, it’s not perfect in every respect and in particular it’s color science still leaves a bit to be desired (although it’s certainly above average even in that department). But for filmmakers that need a true all round camera for maximum versalitily under run and gun scenarios, the Lumix GH5 could be the right camera for the job.

You can cherry pick just about any one single feature of the GH5 – such as it’s low light capabilities or it’s dynamic range – and could likely point to a competing camera that can outperform it in any given area. But what those competitors don’t do is deliver it all in one package, or at least not as well as the GH5 does… Again, it is a true all rounder.

Even it’s sensor size (Micro Four Thirds) offers shooters a happy medium between Super 16mm and Super 35mm. It is still highly adaptable to so many different lenses thanks to it’s mirrorless mount and small-ish sensor, but it’s also capable of producing really shallow depth of field and pretty solid low light performance, especially when paired with a Metabones Speed Booster. And of course, as a small DSLR-style camera, the Lumix GH5 will blend in easily when shooting in almost any environment.

SONY FS5

I’ve ragged on Sony quite a bit on this blog over the years – mainly due to their lackluster color science (sorry Sony!) – but there is no denying that they are doing a wonderful job of pushing the technical boundaries of what is possible on consumer and prosumer level cinema cameras. Sony and Panasonic seem to have a similar philosophy in that regard, as they both wholly understand the value of versatility in today’s filmmaking landscape.

Many of Sony’s most popular cameras, such as their FS7 or their A7 line, are clearly designed with this ideology in mind… But in my opinion, the often overlooked FS5 is especially well suited for the guerrilla filmmaker for a number of reasons –

The first of which is the camera’s ergonomics. DSLRs or mirrorless cameras such as the A7S have been all the rage over the past few years, but even with features like internal stabilization they can still be tricky to operate in a run and gun scenario. The FS5 on the other hand is far easier to shoot with from an ergonomic standpoint, and allows director/DPs to change settings more easily, have more control over their camera movement, and shoot for longer periods of time without a rig, all thanks to the camera’s design.

The same argument could be made for Sony’s FS7, but again because this list is all about guerrilla filmmaking, I am favoring the FS5 based on its small footprint. It is substantially smaller than it’s bigger brother, but includes many of the same features, and in some cases even beats out it’s much more expensive counterpart.

While the FS7 trumps the FS5 in certain respects – 4K capture vs. UHD on the FS5, higher bit rate recording, etc. – it is also a larger, heavier, and more expensive, but has nearly identical image quality. So for guerrilla shooters that want an all in one package that can truly do it all, but don’t want to work with a system as large or costly as the FS7, the FS5 is an excellent alternative.

The FS5 is still a bigger camera than the other two on this list, but it doesn’t require any accessories, so when it’s paired with a small lens and used stripped down it can blend in almost as easily as the GH5 or Pocket Camera. After all, this is still a prosumer level camera that you can buy off the shelf, and it wouldn’t be unheard of to catch a tourist with deep pockets walking around with one on vacation.

It’s also worth pointing out that the larger sensor (Super 35) on the FS5 makes it optimal for shallow DOF and a more traditional 35mm cinematic look, not to mention it is incredibly good in low light. At the same time, the biggest drawback of the FS5 is it’s color science. Of the 3 cameras on this list, in my opinion it has the poorest color science, so if you are mainly shooting narrative and are picky when it comes to your color palettes and skin tomes, that may be something to consider. But if thats a non-issue for you, or if you do a lot of documentary work, it’s a tough camera to beat.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Oddly enough, the cameras that I personally shoot on most frequently are not on this list. Not because they aren’t also great tools, but simply because they don’t necessarily fit the bill of the perfect run and gun camera. For instance, I absolutely love my Fuji X-T2 and will happily use it for guerrilla shoots, but it doesn’t have internal IS and some of the other filmmaker-friendly bells and whistles that make these other cameras optimal for run and gun.

Similarly, I shoot a ton of my URSA Mini 4.6K as well, but compared to the FS5 it is a larger camera, isn’t as good in low light, and seems to draw more attention from onlookers. But this all goes to show the bigger point of this article: No one camera does it all.

If you are fortunate enough to have multiple cameras, you can pick whichever tool you need for any given situation. And in that respect, you don’t need a swiss-army knife of a camera that can do it all. But if you’re shooting a lot of guerrilla material and need a tool that will have your back in a variety of unpredictable scenarios, the 3 on this list are all great options in their own right.

What are your thoughts? Let me know if you agree/disagree with my top 3 in the comments!

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About Author

Noam Kroll is an award-winning Los Angeles based filmmaker, and the founder of the boutique production house, Creative Rebellion. His work can be seen at international film festivals, on network television, and in various publications across the globe. Follow Noam on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook for more content like this!

17 Comments

  • LUMIX GH5 is good for beginner Filmmakers?

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    • Yes! Blackmagic cameras are even better for learning on in my opinion though, since they are more like motion picture cameras in their design.

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  • Andrew Baer
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    Considering your post regarding the making of The Mechanic short, and Cannon’s color science, why isn’t the C 100 MK II on the list?

    I am a retired physician with experience in photography. I have been thinking of doing some documentary and narrative work. After reading so many articles, despite some draw backs, the cinema like quality , ergonomics, and XLR mic inputs make the C 100 Mk II a good run and gun choice. That is what I am thinking of getting.

    Reply
    • It is a great choice, Andrew! If this was a top 5 list, I’m sure it would be on here… Certainly a camera I would be confident shooting with any day of the week.

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  • Hi Matt!
    I just bought the LUMIX GH5, and am curious, do you ever take prime lenses when filmmaking? I’ve seen some amazing filmmaking video make with LUMIX GH5. Amazing blog, keep up the great work!

    Reply
  • Cindy Hill
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    Any thoughts about the Panasonic AU EVA-1? It looks like I am going to have to do a lot of solo doc shooting and while I really, really like this camera, I worry about the lack of an affordable internal zoom lens that can capture a broad range of frames needed for docs. I can’t be changing lenses every 10 minutes. I wonder if the FS-5 is the way to go.

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    • Great question, Cindy. Lens-wise, what are you looking at for the FS5? I might be able to recommend something similar if you were to go EVA-1…

      Reply
  • William Mills
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    I really enjoy your blogs and videos and find them helpful.

    I have the BMPCC and the Fuji XT-20. I am still trying to figure out the best settings for video on the Fuji. So i am looking forward to your opinion.

    Are you still trying to make Classic Chrome your final look? I downloaded your CC LUT and plan to try it on my BMPCC footage. I am also thinking it might help me match Fuji and BMPCC footage. But I haven’t tried that yet.

    Reply
    • Lately I have been shooting in Pro Neg Std almost exclusively (without modifying other settings very much in camera). I’m finding it gives me the most flexibility in post, but I still do love the CC look and often grade to achieve it, even if I shoot in a different picture profile. Please let me know if you have any questions about the LUT in the future!

      Reply
  • Daniél
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    Thank you for this. Black magic for my dive into youtube production. Your expertise; logical and doable. Especially for a str8d overthinking.

    Reply
    • Thanks Daniel!

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    • Patrick
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      Not one Blackmagic is made for hard weather conditions, we made a documentary about the wildlife in the Torngat Mountain National Park in Newfoundland & Labrador (Canada). Both Blackmagic’s died over night in a isolated hard case, like we used before for other cams too. Lot of bucks where gone, it wasn’t a warranty they said, I still have the email from the dealer…he was like:” You can’t leave the camera in a freezer over night!”
      What we learned since then, never film with two the same camera’s 😉 As the budget was really down and we had a contract to continue, we got a Lumix GH5 and as a back up cam the Pentax K1-Mark II, which turns out really really good! I just love the fact that Pentax is weather resistant, it saves you a lot of time if you have to be very quick with the set up…in our case for example, a Wolverine Mama walks with her kids thru the bush, until she smells you and disappears or attacks you 😛

      Please don’t get me wrong, I would not say the Blackmagic is a bad cam, I or we can’t recommend it if you gonna film outdoor at -35 to -50°C for more than 4 weeks, or just one day 😀

      Cheers guys! Happy filmimg.
      Pat

      However, the Pentax was a big surprise! It’s just perfect for any weather condition, the quality of filming is OK, it’s not a Blackmagic or the GH5, but at the end the people don’t appreciate a work like this, they download you movie and watch it on a Smartphone – That’s the reality.

      Reply
      • Great point, Patrick! Always gotta make sure you are prepared for weather issues – most cameras are unusable at those temperatures…

        Reply
  • […] Kroll, N. (2017). The 3 Best Cameras For Guerrilla Filmmaking On a Budget. Noamkroll.com. Retrieved 14 December 2017, from http://noamkroll.com/the-3-best-cameras-for-guerrilla-filmmaking-on-a-budget/ […]

    Reply
  • Piotr Naumowicz
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    Hi Noam,
    Some time ago you post about xt2. I know that is not a topic of this post, but I wonder what are your feellings after using it for some time. I would love to see some proper narrative work where you use xt2 as main camera 😉 Back then we had a brief discussion about 5d mkiv and xt2. You picked fuji, I’ve returned to canon. Both cameras are obviously not on your current list, fuji probably ticks more the boxes than canon in that regard. Both lacks some key features that make videographers lifes easier. Both (in my humble opinion) beats sony and panasonic in terms of colours. What I’m trying to say is that ultimately picture IQ is the thing viewers will judge and this is a part where we weight of the decission should be put. I’ve never used gh5 so is hard to judge it only from what I’ve seen online, but sony picture is hard to get right, and I would discurage people of making this decision only by specs. Pocket is a hell of a tool but need some accessories to make it work (olpf is a must, speedbooster is a nice thing to have – it makes poor lowlight managable. Then you need a loads of batteries and deep pockets to carry them. Some kind of loupe on pocket screen or small external monitor would help to judge log and focus better but adds a lot of bulk.) That said picture wise I would choose pocket over sony, panasonic, canon and fuji. Personally use micro camera beacuse of 60p and much faster sensor readout. But when you add all those accessories it isn’t micro anymore and it isn’t pretty too 😉 and it’s really hard to travel with.

    Reply
    • You’re right Piotr – no camera can do it all! Including those on this list. I am actually working extensively with the XT2, but I didn’t include it here (even though I personally prefer it), as I was aiming to share the most well rounded cameras for filmmakers on a budget with varying needs…

      These days, it’s becoming harder and harder to make decisions on gear because there are so many great options. But I suppose thats a good problem to have!

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  • peter rios
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    Your favorite XT2 cinematic settings coming soon?

    Reply
    • Very soon. For now I can tell you I’ve mainly switched over to Pro Neg Std.

      Reply

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