Videos shot with 4K camcorders will be much clearer and more accurate than 2K or FHD. In addition, 4K camcorders offer many more settings than a smartphone, allowing professionals to fine-tune their images and videos. With so many models available, it's hard for people to know which one is right for their needs. So which 4K camcorder should you choose?
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Our selection
"This Canon 4K camcorder captures high quality images and stunning video. It features an optical zoom of up to 20x, wide angle. Its stabilization system…"
"Small, but powerful, this 4K sports camera from Tectectec will accompany you everywhere. It will allow you to record all your highlights and keep good…"
"The Sony FDR-AX53 records 4K footage with 4 times the detail of Full HD footage. It gives images a dynamic, blur-free life at all times."
"This pack includes a Panasonic 4K HC-VX870 camcorder, a black case and a 32GB memory card. You have everything you need to record your special…"
This Canon 4K camcorder captures high quality images and stunning video. It features an optical zoom of up to 20x, wide angle. Its stabilization system is also one of the most powerful of the moment.
1 159 £ on AmazonThe Canon XA40 is an ultra compact professional camcorder. It is easy to handle so that you can capture videos easily. Its Dual Pixel CMOS sensor and its 20x optical zoom, in wide angle mode, give the possibility to record images accurately.
This model also has a slow-motion recording function and a timelapse function. Thanks to its 5-axis image stabilization system, the rendering remains homogeneous. In addition, the DIVIC DV6 processor supports MP4 formats in Ultra HD and full HD. This Canon XA40 is thus suitable for both amateurs and professionals in audiovisual in search of powerful equipment.
Small, but powerful, this 4K sports camera from Tectectec will accompany you everywhere. It will allow you to record all your highlights and keep good memories of your exploits. A real technological jewel.
55,99 £ on FnacRecord all your highlights and sporting achievements with this 4K camera from Tectectec. This model will allow you to film in Ultra HD up to 15 frames per second. But if you want, you can adjust in 1080p or even in 720p.
The Tectectec Xpro2 comes with a range of accessories for convenient use. You will be entitled to kits that allow you to hang it on a bike or motorcycle helmet. Note that this model is also waterproof. This means you can use it even during rainy weather or for surfing. As far as its operation is concerned, this camcorder benefits from practical features to improve the final result.
The Sony FDR-AX53 records 4K footage with 4 times the detail of Full HD footage. It gives images a dynamic, blur-free life at all times.
642 £ on FnacThe Sony FDR-AX53 offers a good grip. You can hold the camcorder comfortably with your hand and still easily reach the buttons on the top to take a picture, zoom in/out or the Record button on the right side. The compact and handy camera weighs about 655 g. It is activated by pulling the viewfinder or opening the 3-inch LCD touchscreen.
As an evolution of the AX33, the Sony FDR-AX53 inherits the Balanced Optical SteadyShot or BOSS image stabilization technology. The latter makes the lens move inside to compensate for the 4K camcorder's camera shake. BOSS is really great for recording video when you're traveling or taking a close-up video.
This pack includes a Panasonic 4K HC-VX870 camcorder, a black case and a 32GB memory card. You have everything you need to record your special moments with family and friends.
359 £ on FnacSuitable for family use, this pack includes a Panasonic 4K camcorder, a protective case and a 32GB memory card. You can now have good memories in videos of your outings or family vacations. Moreover, the rendering remains of excellent quality thanks to the integrated HDR video function. You can also pair it with a smartphone to have a dual camera and capture different scenes simultaneously.
The Level Shot function allows you to record stable content and avoid blurring in videos. This Panasonic HC-VX870 model also benefits from a Leica Discomar Lens to capture clear and sharp images in all circumstances. You can film your children having fun in the park without worrying about the quality of the images deteriorating.
Any specific needs?
The best entry-level 4K camcorder
The best high-end 4K camcorder
Your guide :
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| TOP OF THE TOP | CHEAP | TOP OF THE LINE | EXCELLENT | |
In accordance with our commitment, this buying guide does not contain any sponsored products. |
8/10 |
7/10 |
8/10 |
8/10 |
| OUR SELECTION |
Canon XA40 UHD 4K Camcorder
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Tectectec Xpro2 4K Camcorder
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Sony FDR-AX53
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Panasonic HC-VX870 4K Camcorder
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This Canon 4K camcorder captures high quality images and stunning video. It features an optical zoom of up to 20x, wide angle. Its stabilization system is also one of the most powerful of the moment.
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Small, but powerful, this 4K sports camera from Tectectec will accompany you everywhere. It will allow you to record all your highlights and keep good memories of your exploits. A real technological jewel.
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The Sony FDR-AX53 records 4K footage with 4 times the detail of Full HD footage. It gives images a dynamic, blur-free life at all times.
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This pack includes a Panasonic 4K HC-VX870 camcorder, a black case and a 32GB memory card. You have everything you need to record your special moments with family and friends.
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Video quality
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Ultra HD and full HD
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4K, Full HD and HD
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4K UHD (3840x2160 pixels)
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4K in HDR
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Optical zoom
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20x (Wide angle: 29.3 mm)
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20x optical zoom / 30x-40x Clear Image zoom
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Intelligent OFF: 20x/ ON: 4K (25x)-FHD (40x)/Digital: 60x
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Focal length
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3.67 to 73.4 mm
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4.4 - 88 mm
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4.08 - 81.6 mm
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Display
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Sensor resolution
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21.14 Mp
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16 Mp
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8.29 MP
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18.91 MP
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This is what will determine the real value of the camcorder:its quality and price. By quality, we meanfeatures, specifications,craftsmanship, etc. Just because something is expensive and you have an unlimited budget doesn't mean it's a smart purchase. The same goes for cheap products.
The less bulky and heavy a 4K camcorder is, the more malleable it will be. It will be much more convenient and easy to use.
A well-designed handle is always important, and especially when it comes to camcorders, since they are usually heavier than compact cameras or an average DSLR. Therefore, the quality of the grip is something that should not be overlooked, especially since camcorders are intended for prolonged and continuous use.
Image quality also refers to video quality in this context. It is important to check the image quality carefully in daylight AND when the light is low. Too often this last point is overlooked when purchasing.
Don't forget to check that the camcorder you want to buy is flexible enough to handle a wide variety of situations. Unless you have very specific needs. Accessories and computability play an important role in this regard, so it's important to look at these features as well.
4k video refers to a screen with at least 8 million active pixels. The resolution you'll see on TVs that support 4K is 3840 x 2160.
For camcorders, theresolution is 4096 x 2160. Compare that to the previous standard - HD, which was 1080p (1920 x 1080). It's easy to see that 4K resolution is about four times that of the old HD standard.4K is much sharper and translates into greater clarity.
Of course, this assumes that you have a display that supports 4K and that you have native 4K source material in order to watch it in that resolution.
Such high resolution quality means you'll need to be prepared to upgrade some of your equipment. For example, by getting additional memory cards, 4K capable monitors, etc.
Gently wipe the body and lens with a soft cloth such as an eyeglass cleaning cloth or other microfiber cloth. Moisten the cloth with a little water and wipe gently, but not too hard, especially when cleaning the lens. Then dry with another soft, dry microfiber cloth.
Be careful not to scratch or damage your lens in any of the following ways:
There are mainly two types of 4K camcorders on the market:the full size and the action cam.
Many digital devices can capture video, including basic cameras, smartphones and tablets. But when it comes to filming important events, it's essential that your videos are clear, sharp and well-framed. The 4k full size camcorder meets these requirements.
Advantages:
Disadvantages:
Who is it for?
This kind of camcorder would be best suited for people who have asemi-professional to professional use
. This camera, because of its size in particular, is better suited for filming events or making reports than for use at any time.
The
action cam does not look like a conventional camcorder, nor does it behave like one. It looks more like a small square box with a protruding lens than a stylishly designed camcorder. However, the action cam is a specific type of camcorder: the characteristics are more or less the same for the full size camcorder and the action cam. Except that the latter is designed for hands-free operation.
Advantages:
Disadvantages:
Who is it for?
This type of camcorder is suitable for people who want to capture every moment of their adventure, or trip. It is ideal for filming in quite special conditions: diving, climbing, etc.. The action cam is suitable for use at any time.
The 4K camcorder is a device that allows you to record videos with very high quality images. The 4K resolution displays all content at 3840 x 2160 pixels, which is four times higher than Full HD. You'll get absolutely vivid colours on your screen, as well as remarkably smooth saturation and contrast.
The technical specifications of the 4K camcorder are top-notch because they are based on recent research. The lens, the sensor, the stabilizer, each component has quality configurations to give you stunning images. Additional features such as Wi-Fi add to the modernity of the 4K camcorder.
With a good brand of digital camera, you can instantly capture photos and videos in HD or Full HD. With a small LCD screen on almost all models, you can preview your various recordings to see what adjustments are needed to the angle or lighting.
The compact size of the digital camera makes it easy for you to take it on the go. Depending on the model, the digital camera comes with a number of accessories that will help you make the most of it (handling, transfer options, etc.).
If you have to choose between a 4K camcorder and a simple digital camera, we advise you to invest in quality. The 4K camcorder gives you well-detailed images and its revolutionary properties guarantee ease of use and remarkable efficiency. However, if you are a frequent traveller, you can always opt for a good brand of digital camera for space reasons.
Not everyone needs a special video camera: our phones have great cameras that are pretty good most of the time. However, there are important reasons why you might want a separate camcorder.
The quality of the lens
Your phone may have two or more built-in lenses, but a camcorder is still the best choice if you need the versatility or range of a long zoom lens. Not only does this give you the ability to shoot subjects farther away, but camcorders also use powered lens motors that provide a very smooth zooming action.
Battery life and recording time
If you want to shoot an event for a long time, using a camcorder is much more relevant in terms of battery life. Especially since mid-range and high-end camcorders often come with multiple battery types, with high-capacity options designed for such situations.
Sound quality
The phone is not such a good one for recording audio, especially in a noisy environment. A 4K camcorder not only has better built-in microphones, but you can also connect an external microphone to get the best results in a particular situation.
With a 4K camcorder, you'll capture images so sharp that you can retrieve a still image from a video for professional use: an advertising or marketing campaign. The 4K technology will allow you to extract an image ~ 8 Mpx from your video. This is enough for a good size print or even a magazine ad.
In our opinion, the best brands of 4K camcorders in 2022 are :
Sony is the leading camcorder brand. Sony's model lineup includes a very high-end professional/consumer 4K camcorder, a high-end 3D-compatible 3D camcorder, and a variety of low- and mid-priced high-definition Handycam camcorders that record to internal memory and memory cards, some with built-in projectors capable of projecting content from external devices. Sony also offers a range of sports-oriented, Wi-Fi enabled action camcorders.
Panasonic offers a wide range of high-definition, Wi-Fi enabled camcorders that record to media cards and flash memory. The brand regularly produces good to very good models that are very easy to use. In addition, Panasonic offers a high-end model that can record Full HD in 3D, and an innovative waterproof POV (point of view) action camcorder that has a separate lens.
Canon is a key player in the camcorder market. The brand offers high-definition camcorders that record to media cards and flash memory, and consistently deliver good to great performance. Its models offer Wi-Fi connectivity and are compatible with Eye-Fi SD memory cards.
GoPro offers a range of high-definition, waterproof and shockproof Hero HD video cameras. Available accessories allow for mounting on a variety of flat or curved surfaces, such as bike helmets and surfboards. Additional accessories include a 3D kit and a Wi-Fi backpack.
Samsung offers a limited variety of entry-level and mid-range camcorders that record to SD memory cards and offer easy one-touch uploads to YouTube.
The diagram below will help you to get an idea of the typical prices for each price range (entry-level, mid-range and high-end).
However, more expensive does not necessarily mean better.
We therefore advise you to always consult our ranking before deciding, rather than blindly relying on price ranges.
Consider your lighting needs before buying a 4K camcorder.
One of the main differences between 4K camcorders is their ability to operate in low-light environments. A low-end 4K camcorder will need plenty of light - and conversely, a high-end model is more likely to take great video in the dark. If you plan to shoot mostly outdoor video during the day, you may not need to spend much money.
Regularly transfer images and videos from the SD card in your camera to your computer.
Even
if you have a lot of space left on your storage card, get into the habit of emptying it regularly. This will help ensure that none of your videos are accidentally deleted from your camera, and it will free up space on your SD card so you can keep taking long videos.
Invest in a tripod if you need really stable shots.
Even
if you think you have the safest hand in the world, trust us: viewers can still tell the difference between smooth video and handheld video. A tripod ensures that camera movement will never distract your audience. Pay particular attention to how different 4K camcorders work with tripods; some have a built-in mount for a standard-sized tripod, while others will need a specially matched tripod.
Activate the zoom
Excessive zooming is a common problem that impacts video quality, or worse, disrupts viewing comfort. If you need to zoom in and out, do so slowly and steadily, and don't switch between them too abruptly.
Avoid backlighting
Too
often, backlit shots produce a bright, uncomfortable light that haloed a dark silhouette with no visible features, preventing you from seeing the targets' expressions
.
The best 4K camcorder depends on your needs and budget. Read our buying guide to find out which products are the best right now.
An Ultra HD camcorder that has the ability to record at a resolution of 4096 x 2160. HD cameras record in 1080p with a resolution of 1920 x 1080.
An Ultra HD camcorder has a much higher resolution than a 1080p HD camcorder. This big difference in resolution makes 4K recording much clearer and sharper compared to 1080p.
Ultra high definition or UHD refers to the recording resolution of 4096 x 2160. In 4K video cameras, the recording resolution is considered Ultra HD. Therefore, UHD and 4K mean the same thing.
Many recent models have been designed with good waterproofing. This will allow you to film your underwater expeditions.
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