No matter whether you want to work for a video agency or start your own video production start-up, you will need to first acquire the skills required to provide video services professionally. You will need to know basic photography/cinematography, editing and direction in the least.  

Of course, running or working in a video production company requires more skills than just that. However, we will not be discussing those for the purpose of this article. Besides these skills, you will also need related equipment.  

While you do not need to spend on expensive equipment right from the start, you will need to acquire beginner equipment to hone your skills. A camera will be the primary equipment you will need for video production.

While it’s true that nowadays, most videos are recorded on a smartphone, a device with decent manual settings will cause you a monetary setback. Also, you can obtain satisfactory video quality from DSLRs and digital cameras and do not need to invest in a camcorder anymore.

If you want beginner shooting equipment, it is better to survey the following beginner cameras for 2020 instead – 

Panasonic Lumix G7 – If you crave impressive video content quality as a video production trainee, you will be happy to know that the Panasonic Lumix G7 can shoot videos at 4K resolution. You can also use this 4K res facility to reframe your shots if you are using the output at a lower resolution. The camera is lightweight and provides excellent color representation.

Canon EOS M50 – Small and lightweight, unless you buy the entire kit – the Canon EOS M50 can shoot videos in 4K resolution and as much as 1080p at 60fps. The camera boasts of dual pixel autofocus and inbuilt stabilization. You can use the 3.5mm jack to insert your external microphone and shoot some vibrant and colorful videos with this camera! 

Panasonic FZ2500 – The Panasonic camera model offers 4K recording at 30fps. If you want to shoot videos with slow shutter speed, you can utilize the inbuilt ND filters which make doing so easy. The camera provides 20x optical zoom and accurate and time-efficient autofocus. You can even use this camera to shoot time-lapse videos.

Canon EOS Rebel T5i – Canon’s extremely affordable DSLR offering provides low noise, sharp colors and crisp images. You can shoot videos in full HD 1080p at 30fps. A stereo microphone is provided. The Canon Rebel camera is incredibly easy to use and offers 3x optical zoom, enabling your video production activities.

Sony DSCW830 – Don’t let this humble point and shoot camera fool you. It comes armed with 20.1mp Zeiss lens with 8x optical zoom. It is so compact that rivals the portability of a smartphone. Your one-man video production agency need not suffer. There’s a built-in flash, and you can shoot your videos in low-light too.

Sony Alpha a6400 – An ideal camera for independent video production mavericks, the Sony Alpha a6400 allows you to shoot your 4K videos at 30fps in the XAVCS format up to 100mbps. You can shoot full HD videos at up to 120 fps at the same bitrate. The HDMI output port enables you to plug into any external recorders. The wonderful auto-tracking provided by this camera means that you will never lose focus on your subject.

Panasonic Lumix GH4 – The Panasonic Lumix GH4 has been in the market for the last five years but continues to be one of the best entry-level video cameras available. The camera comes equipped with a micro 4/3rds sensor which enables it to shoot UHD 4K videos at 24/30 fps. Full HD capabilities can be stretched to 60fps. The 49 point AF ensures you don’t miss your subject. The camera comes with a mic jack, a headphone jack and a pretty good audio preamp for a mirrorless camera.

Get started already!

If your goal is to work in the video services sector, you will need to acquire the skills and equipment which will enable you to provide video services in a professional capacity. To do this, you will have to practice with similar low-budget equipment before you start turning in a profit and can afford high-quality alternatives. Our list discussed seven beginner video cameras that will help you work towards your video production dream in 2020.