The 10 Best 4k Cameras For Live Streaming
This wiki has been updated 18 times since it was first published in December of 2018. Whether you're putting together a professional broadcast or just looking to increase your follower count on YouTube, the 4K cameras for live streaming on our list will ensure that you do so in ultra high definition. We've included a few pricey models for any serious professionals out there, as well as some affordable options for those just interested in a simple, but effective, solution. When users buy our independently chosen editorial recommendations, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.
1. Sony Alpha a6000
2. Nikon Z50 Compact
3. Blackmagic Design Pocket Cinema
Editor's Notes
July 29, 2020:
With each passing year, more and more companies are catching up to the ability to not only shoot video in 4K, but to be able to stream it, as well. As much as we wish we could have put the latest GoPro on here, its live stream is still limited to 1080p, and 720p when streaming through your cell phone. We said goodbye to the Samsung 360 Round, as it was too cumbersome, expensive, and confusing, and we sought out some exciting new offerings like the Blackmagic Design Pocket Cinema, which shoots in 6K and is an outstanding choice for live production, especially when paired with one of the company's outstanding production switchers.
We replaced the full frame Sony mirrorless SLR from our last list with the Sony Alpha a6000. It is admittedly a step down in sensor size, but no live stream is going to make it through a platform's compression system with the benefits of full-frame intact, so it seems like an unnecessary cost when the live streaming settings on the a6000 actually outperform most of the company's full frame offerings in its ability to offer continuous autofocus and to keep its screen active, which is ideal for one-person-band operations.
January 04, 2019:
There were a lot of 4K cams out there that also had the ability to stream video through HDMI, but the vast majority of them could only send 1080 or worse in a live setting. Blackmagic has by far the best camera if you plan on using an outboard monitor, but Canon's XF705 offers a bit of everything. It doesn't boast the interchangeable lenses of a Sony FS5 or even the a7 iii, but it's still the best bang for your buck.
4. Canon EOS 90D
5. Panasonic Lumix GH5S
6. Sony Super 35 FS5 Mk II
7. Canon XA55 Professional
8. Sony RX100 VII
9. Aida Imaging UHD6G-200
10. Logitech Brio Ultra HD
Daniel Imperiale holds a bachelor’s degree in writing, and proudly fled his graduate program in poetry to pursue a quiet life at a remote Alaskan fishery. After returning to the contiguous states, he took up a position as an editor and photographer of the prestigious geek culture magazine “Unwinnable” before turning his attention to the field of health and wellness. In recent years, he has worked extensively in film and music production, making him something of a know-it-all when it comes to camera equipment, musical instruments, recording devices, and other audio-visual hardware. Daniel’s recent obsessions include horology (making him a pro when it comes to all things timekeeping) and Uranium mining and enrichment (which hasn’t proven useful just yet).