There’s no such thing as the perfect camera — only the perfect camera for the type of work that you do.

If you’re just starting out in videography and have reached out to me for camera recommendations, chances are that I recommended a Canon or Sony camera.

There are tons of great camera brands out there, but as a beginner, I would recommend sticking to either Canon or Sony because just like Honda Civics, both brands:

• • • Have been in the videography game for decades
    • Are commonplace, which means that fixing or replacing spare parts is much easier
    • Produce a great final product

   

Just like how you wouldn’t compare a Honda Civic to a Ferrari, there’s no use in comparing Canon or Sony DSLRs to an Arri cinema camera — they’re two completely different products with completely different consumer needs!

If you’re new to video creation and are looking to invest in your first-ever camera, you’re in the right place! Below I outline the pros and cons of Canon and Sony cameras to give you some insight on which brand might be best for the work that you plan to do.

Canon:

Pros:

• • • Great colour science, so your colours look great straight out of the camera.
    • Their lens collection is more established and has far more options to choose from.
    • Canon lenses typically cost less than Sony lenses.
    • If you decide later down the road to switch to Sony, you can use your Canon lenses on Sony camera bodies!
    • Most of their gear is weather sealed, making it a good option for documentary shooters who spend a lot of time outside in the elements.
    • Great battery life.
    • Super reliable cameras that won’t shut off mid-recording.
    • Screens and buttons are easy to use and understand.
    • They are leading the industry with their autofocus capabilities.

   

Cons:

• • • Don’t have a ton of mirrorless camera options/budget options for beginners.
    • Don’t have the best low light capabilities.
    • Most of their cameras don’t have in-body stabilization yet.
    • Canon has been slow to innovate and has been investing primarily in their cinema line, which is far too expensive for new videographers.

 

My recommended “starter” camera (Canon)

My recommended “intermediate” mirrorless camera (Canon)

 

Sony:

Pros:

• • • Great low-light capabilities and in-body stabilization.
    • Small and compact, making them easy to travel with.
    • Have tons of affordable camera options for beginners.
    • Sony has been incredibly innovative over the last few years and has been releasing better cameras every single year.

   

Cons:

• • • Colours require a little bit more work in editing to achieve good skin tones and true-to-life colour.
    • Lenses are far more expensive than Canon, and aren’t often compatible with cameras from other brands.
    • If you choose to switch to Canon cameras later down the road, you will not be able to use your Sony lenses on your new cameras.
    • Sony cameras have a tendency to overheat in high temperatures, and have been known to shut off mid-recording if overheated.
    • Battery life isn’t great, which means you’ll have to invest in tons of extra batteries if you plan on doing longer shoots.
    • Screen layouts and buttons are not very intuitive and require a bit of time to get used to.
    • Autofocus capabilities are improving (especially in their mirrorless cameras), but Canon still reigns.

 

My recommended “starter” camera (Sony)

My recommended “intermediate” mirrorless camera (Sony)

 

That said, you might be a Canon shooter if:

• • You already own several Canon lenses
  • You require weather-sealed video equipment for outdoor shoots
  • You have have limited experience with colour grading
  • You use tripods and monopods for the work that you do

 

You might be a Sony shooter if:

• You’re on a budget
• You shoot video in low-light conditions
• You prefer shooting handheld over using tripods or monopods
• You’re looking for a camera that is compact and can easily be taken with you on shoots, while travelling, etc.

 

So what do you think? Are you #TeamCanon or #TeamSony? Let me know in the comments!