There’s always a superb camera behind all great music videos. We all know that the music industry is booming rapidly. With this progress, there’s a growing demand for high-quality music videos. So for making your music video an absolute hit, what you need is a good camera with great image quality, frame rate per second, focus accuracy, and different lens compatibility.

DJ events and live streams also require good-quality camcorders and portable audio recorders. Whether you want to record a music video clip or a music festival, there are plenty of ways and cameras to go for. The options are countless, but taking under consideration the perfect features for the job, the list became tighter.

If you want to figure out what camera is good enough to shoot music videos or looking for the best camera for DJ concerts, you will come across many choices. We’ve selected the eleven best cameras to record music videos and DJ sets, that are available in the market today.

11 Best Camera To Shoot Music Videos in 2024

1. Sony a9 Full-Frame Mirrorless Interchangeable-Lens Camera

When we think of the best mirrorless music video camera, the Sony a9 is on the top spot.

It features a 35mm full-frame stacked CMOS sensor with integral memory that offers 20x faster speed for data readout. Moreover, this provides excellent image quality with high sensitivity up to ISO 204800. What more to expect from this iconic Sony camera?

Unlike other high-end DSLRs on the market, a9 presents black-out free shooting with no mirror. Easily record the spontaneous moments using continuous shooting mode with the highest speed up to 20 fps and shutter speeds higher than 1/125 seconds. During continuous shooting, it features high-frequency AF/AE tracking. For wide AF coverage, a9 features 693-point phase-detection AF with approximately 93% coverage.

No matter if you have to shoot silently for music videos, it comes with the silent shutter option. When it comes to distortion comparison, the a9’s anti-distortion electronic shutter is far superior to a conventional mechanical shutter. Get advanced image quality for your music video with 24.2 effective megapixels and full-frame 4k movies with no pixel binning. Hence, let your viewers enjoy the 6000 x3376 pixels clear music video.

We would highly recommend recording the sound with an external studio microphone and do not overestimate your camera microphone. 

Also, the 5.0-step 5-axis in-body image stabilization gives crystal clear movies. Besides, this a9 has a high-luminance finder 120 fps refresh rate. Moreover, it has a touch control LCD and a tilt screen. For fast operation, a9 comes with focus mode dials, dual media slots, and much more. A perfect music video camera for all beginners and professionals.

Pros:

• CMOS sensor
• Great battery life (480 frames on a single charge)
• Dust and water-proof camera body
• Compact and lightweight
• 60 AF/AE calculation per second
• Silent and vibration-free

Cons:

• It is expensive

2. Canon EOS 5D Mark IV Full Frame DSLR Camera

The best canon camera for music videos!

Meet all your photographic and movie shooting expectations with the Canon EOS 5D Mark IV camera. In a word, the versatile balanced performance is the hallmark of this Canon’s EOS series camera. It is an essential item for video productions for everything from YouTube uploads to blockbuster movies. The 5D mark 4 has 30.4 million effective pixels on its full-frame 36mm by 24mm CMOS sensor that additionally uses a single digit 6+ image processor.

Moreover, the processor is much improved from previous models by new color filters and photodiode construction. Also, the 5D mark 4 shoots 4K videos at 30 frames per second and full HD up to 60 fps. Adding up, it includes a high frame rate recording mode of 120 fps at 720p, adding to the flexibility of EOS mark 4 movies. Higher sensitivity is also offered by new noise reduction processing.

For video, the normal ISO speed settings are 100 ̴25600, whereas for full HD and 100 ̴12800 for 4K video. Moreover, the ISO settings are expandable to 102400. It also has an advanced LCD monitor with full touch screen control, just like the one you have on your smartphone.

Remember that you will also need to find the appropriate lens for your music video camera.

Pros:

• Easy and smooth shooting
• The high-resolution touch LCD screen
• Built-in GPS
• Wi-Fi and NFC function

Cons:

• No tilt screen
• No built-in flash

3. Sony a7 III Full-Frame Mirrorless Interchangeable-Lens Camera

The best 4K camera for music videos!

Sony a7 III is another one of the best mirrorless cameras to shoot your music videos. It features a new back-illuminated full-frame sensor that offers advanced image processing.

Additionally, this interchangeable-lens camera has 24.2 effective Megapixels resolution with fine highlight and shadow details giving natural skin tones on the screen. It also features a highly advanced hybrid autofocus system with a sharp and accurate electronic viewfinder. Sony a7 comes with higher sensitivity that is expandable to 50 ̴204800 for stills and 100 ̴102400 for movies.

You get 5-axis image stabilization for handheld freedom and wide 693-point AF 93% image area coverage with phase and contrast detection to improve focus. For stimulated movies, this 4K camera has a fast AF response and steadfast tracking. Moreover, the eye AF revolutionizes portraiture for great quality and distortion-free images when you are turning around, part of the face is obscured, looking down or face in partial darkness.

Get the best full-frame 4K HDR movie with oversampling, which delivers exceptionally clear and clean footage. Shoot in continuous mode with AF/AE featuring a speed of 10 fps bursts and silent shooting to capture the moment. Manual AF point positioning is made easy by a joystick. The high-end large Z-type battery lets you take 710 shots per charge. Bigger battery and dual SD card slots make a7 III a more practical camera for video shooting.

Here is a quick guide on how to edit your DJ videos.

Pros:

• High battery performance
• Quick data transfer
• Great wide coverage
• Easy control and viewing
• Fast operation

Cons:

• Little distortion with fast-moving objects

4. Canon EOS R Mirrorless Camera

This is the first camera by Canon to have a full-frame mirrorless design with the RF mount. It features a high-resolution 30.3 megapixel CMOS 35mm sensor that is capable of dual pixel autofocus and 4k video shooting. The EOS R incorporates an electronic viewfinder and touch-sensitive and tilting LCD rear screen.

The RF standard zoom lens offers high versatility and mobility. Also, this is the first L-series lens to have a Nano USM image stabilizer. It provides high-speed autofocus for stills shooting and smooth autofocus for video recording. The advanced autofocus system is capable of accurately tracking moving subjects with 88% by 100% of the total frame. The improved eye-detection AF operates with high precision for people that are far away. AF is improved when it comes to low-light shooting; it can operate great in dim light as EV-6.

Shoot 4k UHD movies using the RF 50mm with a maximum aperture of F 1.2. It has an ISO range of 100 to 40,000, with the ability to shoot 8 frames per second. This camcorder also has a 3.69 million Dot OLED viewfinder with a touch-screen LCD. To check camera status and settings with ease, it has a Dot-matrix LCD panel. It uses an LP-E6N battery.

Pros:

• High image quality
• Eye-detection AF
• Multi-function bar
• Control Ring with 12 pin connection
• Lightweight and compact

Cons:

• Little lag to view images after the shot5.

5. GoPro HERO8 Action Camera

The best action video camera for DJs and live streaming!

Our list could not be missing the king of action cameras. GoPro Hero 8 is the latest addition to the series, and the improvements to hardware and software add up for an excellent starter camera to record your music video.

The maximum bitrate for 4K videos has been increased to 100Mbps. Your high-resolution video shots will look like professional-looking footage. Plus, you can now Livestream directly to Facebook or Youtube in Full HD 1080p resolution.

The stand-out feature is the amazing HyperSmooth 2.0 electronic image stabilization. In clubs and festivals, where the loudspeakers and movement on the dance floor create constant vibrations and camera movements, image stabilization is a must. You can even turn it off in case you want to add a little shake to your videos.

GoPro Hero 8 is the best camera for DJ events; period. If you have ever seen a live DJ set featured on Cercle, Be-at.tv, MixMag, or Boiler Room, then you have probably noticed the GoPro camera on top of the DJ setup.

If you do not want to spend a fortune on a DSLR or Mirrorless Camera, then the GoPro Hero8 is an affordable alternative.

6. Nikon D850 FX-Format Digital SLR Camera

Are you looking for the best DSLR camera? The answer is Nikon D850, a DSLR camera that features 45.7 megapixels FX-format backside illumination CMOS sensor. The camcorder can shoot up to 30 frames per second for ultra HD and 120p at full HD. The ISO reaches from 64 to 25,600 which is achieved by 5 image-processing engines. 

The video files can be recorded in MOV, MP4, with a color depth of 8 Bit. Nikon included some useful features for filmmaking like focus peaking, zebra, and focus magnifier, which can be adjusted and changed. It also has an internal video stabilization mode. Manual audio control, a 3.5mm microphone jack input, and a headphone jack are available on this model so you can listen to what you are actually recording. It has continuous shooting mode with a speed of 7 fps. The 0.75x large optical viewfinder lets you concentrate more on shooting.

Get reliable, focusing on portraits to action with the 153-point AF system. Take full advantage of wide-angle lenses to shoot full-frame 4k videos even in low light with the creative lighting system. To make it easy for you to use, it comes with a touch-screen, tilting 3.2 inches 2359k-DOT monitor.

D850 offers superb image quality and exquisite detailing, even in diverse situations.

Pros:

• Fast data read/write speed
• Greater versatility
• Smooth and comfortable operation
• Raw batch processing
• Good built quality
• Easily accessible buttons

Cons:

• Large-size camera

7. Canon EOS-1DX Mark II DSLR Camera

The perfect camera to shoot music festivals and concerts!

If you want an HD camera to record your music videos, this Canon EOS-1Dx Mark II is a great option. Let’s begin with the performance; this camera lets you shoot through the viewfinder at 14 fps speed with full AL servo autofocus and resolution. In live view, it is capable of shooting 16 fps with exposure and focus locked.

The shooting speeds can be adjusted to match your needs. Isn’t this great? Plus, it also offers silent shooting with 5 fps. It features a 20.2 megapixel 35mm full-frame 24 by 36mm sensor. This high-end DSLR contains 2 new digit 6+ imaging processors, which help in image enhancement.

To make the best video for your music track, the EOS-1DX shoots DCI 4k high-resolution video. The DCI video is wider than the UHD video format and also shoots 1920 x 1080 full HD video in .mov or mp4 format. It is equipped with dual pixel CMOS AF giving you the best control for shooting. Taking about the sensor, it has a split photodiode to achieve phase-difference detection AF for acquiring focus with both full HD and 4K. This lets you have reliable focus control in all video modes.

There’s a new touch-control monitor that allows touching the screen to obtain focus on an area of the image or subject. The one 2.0 C fast memory card slot with one CF card slot allows for tremendous burst rate capability.

Pros:

• High image quality
• Great performance in low-light
• ISO range of 100–51200
• 61-points autofocus
• Dust-proof rigid body

Cons:

• Touchscreen limited to one function

8. Sony Alpha a6500 Mirrorless Digital Camera

The a6500 is Sony’s top-end mirrorless camera that features live-view continuous shooting at up to 11 frames per second with high-density autofocus tracking technology and minimal display lag. The advanced 425 point AF system provides wide-area and 84% frame coverage.

Furthermore, it has 0.05 sec of AF speed with contrast and 425 phase detection. It is easier to track moving objects and a huge buffer for up to 307 frames in 36 seconds. It features a 24.2-megapixel sensor with ISO reaching up to 51.200.

The new feature included in the Sony a6500 is the optical 5-axis image stabilization, which will benefit both the video shooters and for stills making it easy to capture a steady shot without the tripod. The touch-sensitive 2.95 inches rear screen panel offers intuitive touch focus even while monitoring the EVF. Just swipe the finger on the screen to change the focus point. Plus, there is an improvement in menu systems, which makes the a6500 more appealing for filming than its predecessors.

The a6500 offers excellent still image and 4k high-resolution video quality with rich details using 2.4x oversampling. Overall, a6500 is an excellent compact mirrorless camera that appeals to all video makers and photographers.

Pros:

• 4D focus
• Continuous shooting
• Great 4k movie
• Easy operation
• Reliable and accurate tracking
• In-body stabilization

Cons:

• Poor battery life
• No tilting screen

9. Nikon D750 FX-format Digital SLR Camera

Nikon D750 is a full-frame DSLR for all those enthusiasts that want to upgrade from DX to FX format. Generally, for those of you who shoot video and looking for a compact DSLR to bring a production to life, D750 is a perfect fit. The ergonomic layout, along with the slim styling of D750, allows for ample grip space and comfortable holding. Hence, this is helpful for those musicians who want to record a music video with a fast responding camera.

Additionally, it is the first full-frame Nikon camera that features a tilting 3.2 inches LCD monitor that can be used comfortably for low and high-angle compositions in the live view mode. It’s 91,000 RGB sensors together with a 51-point Autofocus system.

Furthermore, it has different photo and movie shooting menus that suit your relevant shooting needs. For more intuitive operation, the camera also has a newly designed info display and easy to understand control panel.

After all, Nikon D750’s 24.3-megapixel sensor offers more pro-level build quality as its chassis comprises of magnesium alloy mainly. Moreover, it has the latest EXPEED 4 processor with an expandable ISO up to 50, 1200. Like other DSRL models, D750 also has continuous shooting mode with a 6.5 fps speed. Moreover, video is captured at 60 fps in 1080p, and the camera body has a built-in microphone and mic ports to connect an external microphone.

To make high-quality movies, it additionally offers flat picture control for versatile post-production color correction and zebra stripes.

Pros:

• Built-in Wi-Fi
• Tilting screen for easy angle adjustment
• Comfortable grip
• Lightweight and compact
• 1230 shots per charge
• High-speed continuous shooting

Cons:

• No image stabilization

10. Canon Mirrorless Camera Body [EOS M50]

The EOS M50 is a lightweight, compact, and easy-to-carry DSLR camera that is even more lightweight than the existing EOS rebel series. Also, it has an interchangeable lens option and is a great option for anyone who is looking for a good low-budget 4K camera to record music videos. Looking at the features, firstly, this camera has a 24.1-megapixel APS-C size sensor with Canon’s new imaging processor DIGIC 8.

Secondly, it has powerful CMOS dual pixel autofocus with the addition of eye-detection AF, which is great for sharp and detailed portraits. Therefore, this is the first compact camera that can capture UHD 4k video at 24 fps. You can also shoot in full HD 1920 x 1080 at 60 fps. In slow motion, it offers 120 fps in 720p HD. Plus, it has a continuous shooting speed of 7.4 fps with full servo AF.

The LCD on the EOS M50 is a full Vari-Angle touchscreen along with intuitive pinch, zoom, and scroll features. It also has a built-in 2.36 million dot OLED 0.39 type electronic viewfinder for a high-resolution view of the subject and lets the user see clearly even in low and bright light. 

Furthermore, you can shoot without camera noise being a distraction with the silent mode. Hence, share your pictures or music videos instantly with people, thanks to built-in Wi-Fi NFC and Bluetooth connectivity.

Pros:

• Dual sensing image stabilization
• Powerful processor
• High-speed AF
• Comfortable shooting
• High image quality

Cons:

• Less battery life

11. Fujifilm X-T20 Mirrorless Digital Camera

For all those who want affordable and mid-range DSLR cameras to record their music videos, Fujifilm X-T20, is for you. This SLR-style camera features the same 24.3-megapixel APS-C sensor also used in high-end professional shooting cameras. Additionally, an improved autofocus system in this camera makes X-T20 a great upgrade for an entry-level camera. It also comes with extensive direct control points for instant access to focus and exposure settings.

Moreover, the improved image sensor captures detailed images and also records 4k videos. Also, positioning the autofocus points in stills and video shoot has been made easy with 3 inches touch-control and tilting LCD panel. Another noticeable feature is the great JPEG engine, which makes it easy to get good-looking photos printed straight from the camera.

If you want a camera for recording piano or any other short clip, the X-T20 is a good budget choice.

Pros:

• 4K video
• User-friendly handling
• Excellent image quality
• Highly precise EVF
• High-speed continuous shooting (8 fps)

Cons:

• 10 minutes limit for 4k video

These were our top picks for the best music video camera for live-streaming, DJing, and shooting video clips!

Check out these concerts of electronic music and live orchestra to see some great camera action and recording of music and DJ events.

Final Thoughts…

Professional camera equipment for music video shooting can cost up to 10.000 $. However, all 4K cameras we reviewed will do a great job recording a music video without breaking the budget. You cannot go wrong with any of the above. The brand names of Sony, Canon, and Nikon leave no room to doubt their quality. These cameras are used by professionals all over the world and in every niche. 

If you want a camera for music clubs or DJ events, then the GoPro Hero8 is the best way to go.