Best Video Camera for Green Screen 2023 & Top 5 Models Reviewed

Capturing some video shots before a green screen is one of the best ways to be in a position to change the background of your videos. But as it turns out, not all cameras are fully ready for the task. And that’s why in the next few paragraphs we’ll help you find just the right camera for the job.

Video Camera for Green Screen – Comparison

Want to capture some awesome shots in front of a green screen? Here’s a Table of cameras to consider. Beneath the Table is an in-depth review of each one of them.

1. Sony Alpha a7S II ILCE7SM2/B Mirrorless Camera

Sony Alpha a7S II mirrorless camera is great for videography and a good option for doing green screens. It boasts a 12.2 MP full-frame Exmor CMOS sensor which is large; providing a wide dynamic range. In addition, the camera has 4K shooting capabilities up to 30 fps and 1080p up to 120 fps which are perfect for green screen videos.

Further, it has great low light performance thanks to the high ISO.

Internally, the camera uses the XAVC-S 8-bit 4:2:0 at 100Mbps in 4K and 50mbps in Full HD which is an acceptable bit depth for green screen videos.

Just as importantly, the camera has many lens options. Therefore, choosing a suitable lens for green screen videography is simplified. A lens that includes features of short focusing distance and wide angle view.

Pros

• It is an excellent videography camera
• The camera has many lens options
• It provides HD videos
• Excellent for indoor lighting conditions

Cons

• It is expensive

2. Panasonic-GH5 Lumix C4K Mirrorless Camera

Panasonic-GH5 Lumix is a camera ideal for high-quality green screen videography.

The camera records videos at 4K at 60p, 30p, 25p, 24p. You can save the files in various formats. The recordings are Ultra-HD videos and one of the best videos with a high level of detail.

In addition, it has a 10.2MP Digital live four-thirds MOS sensor which delivers detailed images. The camera offers raw files saving for easier post-processing, where you can change the green screen if you wish to.

Further, the camera has various lens options available for four third sensors which provide an opportunity to get a lens with the right focal length and aperture size ideal for green screen videography.

What’s more, it has a built-in microphone and Mono speaker for best audios. More so, It has two ports, one for an external microphone and the other for external headphones.

It also has a face detection focusing. Besides that, it can be remotely controlled using a smartphone.

Pros

• The camera is excellent for video shooting
• Various lens options available
• Raw files recording which provides post-processing possibilities of changing the green screen

Cons

• It is quite expensive

3. Panasonic AG HVX200 HD Camcorder P2

Panasonic AG HVX200 is a professional camcorder with balanced features that works like a movie camera. It is suitable for shooting TV commercials and makes a great green screen camera.

The camera has high definition recording formats of 1080/60i, 1080/24p, 1080/24p, 1080/30p, 720p.

It has an XLR input for microphones for professional quality audios. The video noise is low and has perfect color retention. The camera is a three-chip (CCD). It has an aperture of f/1.6 and suitable for low lit conditions. What’s more, it has remote controlling for your convenience.

Pros

• It is competitively priced
• It is a high-definition video camera
• It has remote controlling
• It has a perfect color rendition

Cons

• It takes time to learn all the features of this camcorder

4. Blackmagic-Pocket Cinema Camera Micro Four Thirds Lens Mount

Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera is packed with professional videography features and comes at a pocket-friendly price.

Its video recording capacity is a 1080HD resolution which provides incredible quality and is great for green screen videos.

It features a 4/3 sensor which provides 4k recording at 60fps with 13 stops. It also has a high ISO for low lighting. More so, the camera is compatible with micro four-thirds lenses and there is a wide range to suit green screens.

Besides, it has raw recording features which allow you to edit the green screen during post-production.

More so, it provides high audio recordings with the mini XLR input and built-in microphones.

Pros

• It is competitively priced
• Great images requiring little post-production
• It records at an HD of 1080
• You get to choose a lens option suitable for green screen videography

Cons

• Takes time to get acclimatized to

5. Canon EOS-Rebel T6 DSLR Camera Certified Refurbished

Canon EOS Rebel T6 camera comes with versatility which accommodates green screen videography.

The camera has an 18MP APS-C CMOS sensor and a DIGIC 4+ image processed for Full HD videos recording at 1080p at 30fps.

In addition, it has a wide range of ISO up to 12800 suitable for low light situations.

More so, it also uses the EF-S lens mount which provides a range of lenses to work with.

Further, it has nine-point phase-detection autofocus which allows high degree accurate focusing in all kinds of lighting conditions

Pros

• It is quite affordable
• Records videos at an HD of 1080p at 30fps
• It is perfect for all kinds of lighting situations
• It is compatible with many lenses

Cons

• Comes with a low-quality lens (you’d need to upgrade it)

Video Camera for Green Screen – Buying Guide

The first thing you need to consider is the quality that the camera is capable of capturing. If possible go for a camera that can record 4K quality content.

Besides that, you want to choose a camera with a decent shutter speed. If you’ll be dealing with a fast-moving subject, then you want to go for a camera with a high FPS (30FPS) and above. But if you’ll be recording a still subject, then you can always use your low FPS camera.

Why Green Screen?

There are so many reasons why most photographers prefer using a green screen background. To start with, if you record a video on a green background, you can easily “key out” that color. As a result, you will be left with a transparent background behind your subject. Consequently, you can layer other motion graphics, images, or even backgrounds behind the subject.

Another benefit of using a green screen background is because the sensors on video cameras are very sensitive to this color. Therefore, it’s able to produce the cleanest key.

What’s more? The green color is the furthest away from human skin tones when it comes to the color spectrum. As such, it’s able to offer a great contrast between the screen and your subject.

Tips for Shooting a Green Screen Video

You need the best video camera to get a professional green screen result. Besides that, there are some other aspects to take into account including:

Light evenly and smoothly

You need to light the screen as evenly as possible with a soft light to ensure consistency in your background. You can use two or more backlights to help separate the subject from the screen.

More importantly, you need to have a separate light that is aimed at your subjects. Generally, the more soft lights, the better. This is because using hard light can result in unevenness and hot spots of your background.

Minimize your spill

A spill is the unwanted tinge of green light which results from light bouncing off the green screen. Unfortunately, if the tinge is not avoided, it can make your subject have a greenish tint.

So, to reduce the spill, it’s advisable to move the subject away from the green screen. This, coupled with some lighting techniques can help minimize the spill.

Keep the camera still

For simple shots, you should keep the video camera still. You can do so by locking the camera to ensure the subject does not look like it’s vibrating against the background.

Basically, you should not zoom in or out as you record your videos. Doing so can make your subject appear to either grow or shrink in size.

Don’t shoot with the lens wide open

It’s a common trend for photographers to have a shallow depth of field in most of their shots. However, this is something worth avoiding during a green screen shoot. Generally, it can be hard to get a clean key when shooting with the lenses wide open.

Frequently Asked Questions

Moving on, let’s take a quick look at some of the common questions photographers ask about video cameras for green screen.

What is the best material for a green screen?

Any material that is made of nylon spandex fabric. The material should also stretch and be smooth when hung in a frame.

Can I use a green sheet for a green screen?

Yes you can including a painted wall, poster boards, and fabrics as long as the color is uniform and completely flat.

What shade of green is the best one for a green screen?

Any shade of green can work well provided the background color has no shadows, excess light, and is consistent.

Which Is The Best Camera For The Green Screen?

Although there’s no one-size-fits-all kind of camera, we’d recommend the Panasonic-GH5 Lumix C4K Mirrorless Camera. It has the ability to capture high-quality 4K content and has a pretty decent FPS score as well.

Final Thoughts

So, the key to finding a great camera for the green screen is by first understanding your unique needs. Don’t cut corners, if you can afford to dig deeper into your pockets for good quality, don’t hesitate to do so.