I think the Blackmagic Studio Camera 4K is the camera most churches should be using for their live stream in the $1,000 price range. We’ve been using it for a few years now, and I’m still blown away by the image quality, especially at this price point.
And yes, it’s still using the same sensor from the 2018 Pocket Cinema Camera, but honestly? It still holds up in 2025 and will for years to come. You’re not going to find much that can compete in this price range.
Rather than just talk about it, let me show you how it performs in different lighting scenarios. It goes without saying that you need to have decent stage lighting for this camera to look its best.
That’s the case with any camera. The more light you can give the sensor, the better off you’re going to be. If your lighting is less than ideal, focus on upgrading that before your camera.
In our case, we have the stage appropriately lit, but it honestly could still use a little bit more. We’re maxing out our two Chauvet Eve fixtures for key lighting. It helps a ton if you can afford to get lenses that have a constant f/2.8 aperture.
For instance, if you were to get the version of a lens that has a constant f/4 aperture, you would be letting in half as much light as the 2.8 variant.
Then, if you opt for the version that goes from f/4 to f/5.6, when you extend to the end of the zoom range, your f-stop will only go as low as 5.6, which is a quarter of the amount of light of f/2.8. So lens choice is very important to get the most out of your camera sensor.
This camera looks really good on our stage at f/2.8 (See video). I’m boosting ISO to 2dB to get the exposure I want, which puts my skin tones around 65% on a luma waveform. Ideally, you want to keep your camera at its native ISO setting.
This will give you the cleanest result with the best dynamic range. Zero dB, or ISO 400, is the native setting for this camera, but boosting ISO past it is forgiving.
It also still looks great when we boost to 12dB for our worship lighting, which is dimmer. The Studio 4K actually has two native ISOs: 0dB and 18dB. It's still usable if I set ISO to 18dB and rely only on the overhead room lighting without any stage lights on.
The noise does look a little funky, but not bad considering what I’m asking of it. Noise is always more noticeable against a grayish-black background, so keep that in mind if you don’t have any lighting on your background.
If you’re still trying to figure out how to dial in your camera settings, grab my free camera settings cheat sheet linked in the description. It will help you get the most out of any camera.
1. Image Quality
Even with an older sensor, the dynamic range and sharpness are impressive, especially with decent lighting and a good lens. You really don’t need anything better than this for a live stream.
2. HDMI and SDI Flexibility
You can send out just about any resolution or frame rate up to 60 frames per second. No weird limitations like you get with some DSLRs. On all of the G2 models, you get HDMI 2.0 and 12G SDI connections.
3. Built-In Color Profiles
The extended video profile gives you more dynamic range without needing to go full LOG. You can even load LUTs or tweak things straight inside your ATEM. These flatter color profiles can give your camera a more cinema look. However, if that’s not your taste, you can just stick with Standard; it looks great as well.
4. ATEM Integration
You can control every function of your camera from any ATEM switcher. That’s huge if your camera is mounted up high and hard to reach. We have focus controls and quick ISO changes mapped to a Stream Deck, which changes all cameras at the same time.
5. Built-In Tally Lights
If you’re running a multi-cam setup, this makes a big difference. It shows your operator which camera is live, no guessing.
6. Great for Pre-Recorded Content
Just know you’ll need to record externally in Blackmagic RAW. The files are big, but they look amazing. You will need Blackmagic software to process and export, but it’s free.
1. No Autofocus Tracking
You can tap to focus, but it won’t follow your subject. If you need that, this might not be the right camera.
2. No Internal Recording
It only records externally to a USB drive and only in Blackmagic RAW. Again, the files look great, but they’re huge and take extra steps. I recommend going with the lowest bitrate if you do record. It looks great and saves space.
3. Fixed Screen
It’s a nice touchscreen, but it doesn’t flip or tilt. So if the camera’s mounted high, you’ll need an external monitor or ATEM control.
4. No Battery Power
You’ve got to use the included power supply. We use barrel plug extenders to make the cable longer and easier to manage.
Studio Camera 4K Plus
The Gen 1 was originally made for ATEM Mini users and only has HDMI out. But the newer G2 version adds SDI output, so make sure you know which one you’re getting if you buy used.
Studio Camera 4K Pro
This one allows you to stream in 1080p directly from the camera, which is great for simple one-camera setups. It also adds an XLR input and a 10Gb Ethernet port, which can send and receive all the connections and power the camera from one Cat6a cable. It also has a better display with higher brightness and HDR.
Studio Camera 6K Pro
It has all the features of the 4K Pro, but utilizes a Canon EF lens mount and a larger 6K sensor. This camera will give you even better image quality and low-light performance. Keep in mind that although you have better, more professional lens options with an EF mount, they are going to be more expensive than Micro Four Thirds lens options.
Micro Studio Camera
This modular, compact camera has all the features of the 4K Plus, but it uses micro SDI connections and doesn’t have a built-in display. You’ll need to buy an external display to change settings. However, you do have the option to run it off Canon LP batteries, which is nice.
You could also pick up a Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 4K or 6K. It’s not a bad choice either, but it’s not quite as optimized for live streaming, no tally lights, and the form factor is a little awkward for long-term setups.
If you’re wondering which lenses to use, Panasonic Lumix lenses are a great option that balance quality and affordability. They even have some good f/2.8 variants. Look into getting a deal on them used. I got ours on MPB.com.
If you want to get the most out of these cameras or really any camera, focus on lighting, use the right lens, and take time to dial things in inside your switcher. That’s how you get pro-level results. Let me know if you have any questions in the comments, and be sure to check this video to see our 3-camera Studio 4K setup in action.
