Thinking of starting your own YouTube channel? Maybe you’d like to start making some home movies to remember the precious moments spent with your family? Whatever your reason might be for getting into filmmaking, you can count on us to help you find the right tools for the job.

The first thing that every filmmaker needs is - you guessed it - a camera. Thankfully, investing in a camera today is nowhere near as daunting as it used to be. In fact, while only a few years ago 4K cameras were seen as the go-to option for professionals, today there are plenty of manufacturers producing great quality kit at affordable prices.

In this blog, we’ll run through some of the best 4K cameras available for under £500. Perfect for budding pros and amateurs alike, here are our top picks.

DJI Osmo Pocket - £329

For filmmakers on the move

Buy this camera if: you’re looking for a well-designed, easy-to-use video camera for capturing content on the move. The Osmo Pocket is awesome for vloggers too.

Do not buy if: you’re an advanced shooter that works primarily in manual mode with a choice of lenses. You may find this particular camera quite limiting.

With the ability to capture 4K video up to 60fps, DJI’s Osmo Pocket packs a heck of a lot into its modest body. What we love most about the Osmo Pocket is its in-built 3-axis stabilisation gimbal, making it easier than ever to capture silky smooth footage on the go - whether you’re tracking a hiker in the hills, or filming your friends at a festival.

With only two buttons used to operate the camera, plus a swanky touch screen to browse through the various menus, the simplicity of the Osmo Pocket is definitely a big plus. Whereas other cameras can take what feels like an eternity to set up, the Osmo Pocket can be switched on in seconds, making it even easier to catch those unmissable shots.

This beast also works neatly alongside your smartphone should you wish to view your composition on a bigger screen, while its ability to capture 20MP stills adds a nice touch.

It’s also worth mentioning that with just a few clicks of a button, the camera can swing a full 180°, allowing the user to see themselves on the screen - perfect for selfie lovers and vloggers alike.

When it comes to editing footage from the Osmo Pocket, users can do so using DJI’s native Mimo app, or by uploading their clips to their chosen device (PC or Mac) directly from the camera's MicroSD or via a USB-C cable.

Panasonic Lumix LX100 - £449

A retro-looking shooter that packs a punch

Buy this camera if: you vibe hard on vintage looks and manual shooting.
Do not buy if: you’re looking to capture scenes from a distance - you’ll definitely struggle with a max focal length of 75mm.

Looking towards more traditional options, the Panasonic LX100 combines the vintage appeal of a retro film camera with all the mod cons typically associated with modern day compacts.

At the top of the spec sheet, the LX100 offers a bigger sensor than those found in similarly-sized digital cameras, shoehorning a micro four thirds sensor to provide impeccable image quality whether you’re shooting stills or video.

For manual shooters, the retro-looking dials on the camera’s body allow everything from ISO to white balance to be adjusted in seconds, while the manual aperture ring on the camera’s 24-75mm Leica lens lends its hand to those working in low light.

Unlike the Osmo Pocket, the start-up time of the LX100 may leave the more impatient filmmaker wanting. However, complete with its superior dynamic range and sharp image quality - we think it’s well worth the wait.

Panasonic Lumix TZ100 - £369

Getting closer to the action

Buy this camera if: you need something cheap, easy and practical to work with as you start out on your filmmaking journey.
Do not buy if: you need a moveable screen for vlogging or struggle with fiddly dials and controls.

So you like the look of the LX100 but fancy something a little easier to use? Look no further than the LX100’s cheaper cousin, the Panasonic Lumix TZ100.

As you might expect for a camera coming in at £80 less, the TZ100 features a smaller sensor to that of the LX100 (1-inch CMOS compared to the LX100’s micro four thirds). However, with a crisper monitor on offer and a significantly higher megapixel count (20.1MP compared to 12.8MP), you’d be foolish to dismiss it on that basis alone.

Being a compact camera, the TZ100 provides a light, easier-to-navigate option that’s perfect for newbies. What’s more, with its Leica zoom lens offering a focal length of 25-250mm, filmmakers hoping to capture scenes from a distance will be equipped with everything they need straight out of the bag.

Being part of the Panasonic family, the TZ100 boasts 4K shooting capabilities at up to 30fps, with in-camera cropping enabling wide-scale compositions to be improved and down-sampled to full HD at the click of a button.

GoPro Hero 8 Black - £329

The ultimate 4K action camera

Buy this camera if: you require a robust camera for capturing the action in all weathers.
Do not buy if: you love the classic functionality of compact digital cameras. A traditional option this aint.

Capturing 4K video is all well and good, but if your camera can’t handle getting wet now and again, what’s the point? If this sounds like you, and you’re a filmmaker with aspirations of capturing footage in all weathers, the Hero 8 Black by GoPro may just be the perfect choice.

Unlike every other camera listed in this article, the Hero 8 Black is the only one capable of capturing stunning 4K video in super-harsh conditions. Whether you’re skiing down a mountain or surfing down at the beach, the Hero 8 Black won’t let you down.

Similarly to the Osmo Pocket, the GoPro Hero 8 Black also offers image stabilisation - only in this case, without the use of a 3-axis gimbal. Instead, the Hero 8 Black optimises GoPro’s best-in-class image stabilisation in-camera, with stunning results:

The Hero 8 Black also comes with a ton of other features, including live burst photos, low light image processing and super smooth time lapse capture. Combine that with the camera’s whopping 100Mbps bit rate for both 4K and 2.7K videos, and you’ve got one nifty piece of kit for less than £350.

Panasonic HC-VX870 - £449

Our top camcorder pick

Buy this camera if: you want to shoot video and only video. It’s a real must for anyone that’s serious about including audio in their work too.
Do not buy if: you need a crossover that’s just as comfortable taking stills as it is video.

Remember in the 1990s when everyone invested in handheld camcorders? What ever happened to those guys?

The truth is, as digital cameras became more advanced, the demand for camcorders dropped, with more people choosing to spend their money on cameras that could capture both stills and video - much like those listed in the article. Unfortunately, that left the trusty camcorder behind. Until now, that is.

Enter the Panasonic HC-VX870 (catchy name, right?). Offering a 3” tiltable screen, 20x optical zoom and built-in wifi, the HC-VX870 aimed to target filmmakers with one thing in mind - capturing stunning 4K footage and nothing else.

Our favourite feature on the HC-VX870 is the adaptable shoe that fixes into the camcorder body, allowing filmmakers to add shotgun mics and video lights to their setup with ease. And while this may not sound like much to anyone intending to add a soundtrack to their videos, for those looking to include crisp, clean audio in their work, it’s an absolute must.

Standby for more content coming soon

Keen to learn more about 4K cameras? Maybe you’re interested in becoming a filmmaker but aren’t sure where to start? Keep your eye on our blog - we’ll be producing tons more content in the future, specifically designed to help you on your journey to becoming the next big thing!

Best 4K video cameras under £500