Best video cameras under $1,500

The A6700 records 4K 120p, which the X-S20 and Z5 IIc do not, and it shoots 4K 60p at full width instead of cropping in. Footage is 10-bit 4:2:2 S-Log3, and its measured readout of 15.9 ms is shorter than the X-S20's 20.3 ms, so pans skew less. Five stops of in-body stabilization, weather sealing, mic and headphone jacks, and a battery rated at 570 shots make it a practical all-day body. Subject detection covers people, animals, birds, insects, vehicles, aircraft and trains.

The sensor is APS-C, so low-light headroom and background blur trail the full-frame Z5 IIc and S9. Five stops of stabilization is less than the X-S20's seven. There is no raw video, no open gate, one SD slot and a micro HDMI port. Shooters who want full frame should look at the Nikon Z5 IIc. Those who want open gate for vertical crops should consider the Fujifilm X-S20.

The Z5 IIc pairs a 24.5MP full-frame sensor with internal N-RAW recording, which the Lumix S9 lacks. It records 4K 60p in 10-bit with N-Log, autofocus is rated down to -10 EV for dim rooms, and 7.5 stops of in-body stabilization help with handheld shots. Weather sealing, a fully articulating screen, and mic and headphone jacks round it out. The full-frame sensor also gives shallower depth of field than APS-C bodies such as the Sony A6700.

4K 60p crops 1.5x, which narrows wide lenses. Color is 4:2:0 rather than 4:2:2, clips stop at 125 minutes, and there is one SD slot. No lab readout figure is available yet. At 620 g it is heavier than the Lumix S9. Shooters who need uncropped 4K 60p should pick the Sony A6700. Those who want full frame in a lighter body should look at the Lumix S9.

The X-S20 pairs seven stops of in-body stabilization with Fujifilm's full video toolkit. It records up to 6.2K 30p and 4K 60p in 10-bit 4:2:2 with F-Log or F-Log2, and open gate leaves room to cut horizontal and vertical versions from one take. ProRes RAW or Blackmagic RAW can go out over HDMI. Battery life is rated at 750 shots, longer than the A6700's 570, and it has mic and headphone jacks, a fully articulating screen, and autofocus rated down to -7 EV.

Measured readout is 20.3 ms, so fast pans skew more than on the A6700. There is no weather sealing, one SD slot and a micro HDMI port, and at 491 g it is heavier than the X-M5. The APS-C sensor trails full-frame bodies such as the Z5 IIc in low light. Those who want 4K 120p and weather sealing should consider the Sony A6700. Fujifilm users who want a smaller body and can work without stabilization can look at the X-M5.

The S9 puts a 24.2MP full-frame sensor into a 486 g body, lighter than the full-frame Nikon Z5 IIc. It records 6K 30p and 4K 60p in 10-bit 4:2:2 V-Log, supports open gate for cropping vertical and horizontal versions, and has 6.5 stops of in-body stabilization. Battery life is rated at 470 shots. The full-frame sensor gives shallower depth of field and more low-light headroom than APS-C bodies such as the X-S20, and it uses the L-Mount shared with Panasonic's larger full-frame cameras.

The shutter is electronic only, 4K 60p crops 1.5x, and its measured readout of 22 ms is slower than the A6700's 15.9 ms. It has a mic jack but no headphone jack, no weather sealing, no raw video, one SD slot and a micro HDMI port. Shooters who want headphone monitoring and internal raw in full frame should look at the Nikon Z5 IIc.

At 355 g, the X-M5 is lighter than the ZV-E10 II, which makes it easy to hold at arm's length or mount on a small gimbal. It records 6.2K 30p and 4K 60p in 10-bit 4:2:2 with F-Log and F-Log2, supports open gate, and can send 12-bit raw over HDMI at up to 6.2K. Its measured readout of 20.3 ms matches the X-S20. It also has mic and headphone jacks and subject detection for people, animals, birds, vehicles, aircraft and trains.

There is no in-body stabilization, 4K 60p crops 1.18x, and the mechanical shutter tops out at 1/4000 s. It uses one UHS-I card slot, battery life is rated at 330 shots, and there is no weather sealing. Fujifilm users who want stabilization and a longer battery rating should choose the X-S20. Those who want full frame in a small body should consider the Lumix S9.

The Z50 II brings 10-bit N-Log and 4K 60p to a compact Z-mount body, and the mount is shared with Nikon's full-frame cameras, so lenses can carry over later. Autofocus is rated down to -9 EV and covers people, animals, birds, vehicles, aircraft and trains. Its measured readout is 21 ms. It has a fully articulating screen, mic and headphone jacks, and a 2.36M-dot viewfinder with 1.02x magnification.

The trade-offs are clear. Its 20.9MP sensor has less resolution than the 26MP Sony A6700, there is no in-body stabilization, and 4K 60p crops 1.5x. Color is 4:2:0, there is no raw video, clips stop at 125 minutes, and battery life is rated at 230 shots, well below the ZV-E10 II's 610. Shooters who want stabilization and uncropped 4K 60p should look at the Sony A6700. Those who want to stay with Nikon and move to full frame should consider the Z5 IIc.