It’s that time of year again. From new cameras and lenses to innovative software and accessories, there are plenty of great products out there that can take your videography to the next level. With so many options out there, it can be hard to decide which one is the best for you. That’s why our team has done the research and tested new products extensively, to bring you a list of the best new products for videographers in 2023.
To be considered as one of the best products of 2023, each product had to meet the following criteria:
- The product must be useful to the user and contribute to effective storytelling.
- The product should be easy to use for professionals and beginners.
- It must offer good value and quality for the price.
- It should be innovative and exciting for its users.
- It must be reliable on set, in an editing bay or wherever the product will be used.
- The product must be consistently effective for its users.
Now, let’s get into it.
Best software innovation
Adobe Premiere Pro
While there are few big names in editing software, Adobe Premiere Pro remains number one. And it’s easy to see why. It is arguably the most user-friendly professional editing software available and is used by professionals and hobbyists alike. It has become the industry standard and allows users to migrate between Adobe apps such as Audition and After Effects seamlessly. With each update, users can expect normal bug fixes and improvements, along with added functions that help to streamline the editing process including unmatched AI features. For instance, the most recent update introduced text-based editing. With it, Premiere users can now choose to bulk delete text and pauses with the push of a button. This makes building a no-nonsense timeline that much easier. Other notable updates for Adobe Premiere Pro 24 include Audio Auto-Tagging, Recovery Mode for lost progress and simpler color settings.
Best Mac desktop
Apple Mac Studio with M2 Ultra
There are a number of ways to configure the Apple Mac Studio desktop. We’ve found that you can’t go wrong with the M2 Ultra chip if you have the budget for it. In recent years, Apple has revolutionized the way we think about computers with their silicon chips, making Mac computers faster and more efficient than ever. Additionally, the M2 Ultra chip is built to withstand the complicated computing processes that come with intense video editing.
Best Mac laptop
Apple MacBook Pro with M2 Max
If you prefer MacOS and value the portability of a laptop, then look no further than the Apple MacBook Pro configured with the M2 Max chip. This beefed-up MacBook packs all of the power the M2 Max chip has to offer packaged in a lightweight, mobile workstation. As with any Apple computer, the MacBook Pro can be configured in a number of ways. The M2 Max chip works great for any editor who works with very large files and performs advanced editing regularly.
Best smartphone
Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max
The iPhone 15 Pro Max is the most capable iPhone yet and our favorite smartphone of 2023. It’s jam-packed with video features like sensor-shifting image stabilization, 4K recording of up to 60 frames per second, log video recording and more. Additionally, the 6.7-inch all-screen OLED display acts as an effective viewing monitor when shooting cinematic video.
Best cinema camera
Blackmagic Design Blackmagic Cinema Camera 6K
The Blackmagic Cinema Camera 6K by Blackmagic Design has incredible image quality thanks to its massive full-frame sensor. It has a native resolution of 6048 x 4032, allowing the user to resize and crop their footage based on its destination, without compromising quality. The Blackmagic Cinema Camera 6K is also able to capture accurate skin tones, rich colors and striking contrast.
Best hybrid camera
Canon EOS R6 Mark II
If you’re looking for the best hybrid photo/video camera, then look no further than the Canon EOS R6 Mark II. Along with its 4K video recording capabilities (and 6K when used with the right external recorder), the EOS R6 Mark II’s DIGIC X image processor makes it a capable stills camera as well. It has improved low-light performance and significantly fast autofocus.
Best monitor
Dell UltraSharp 32 6K Monitor
If you are capturing and working with 6K footage, it’s natural that you would want a 6K monitor to edit with. Coming in as the best monitor of 2023 is the Dell UltraSharp 32 6K Monitor. It uses IPS Black panel technology allowing for a full range of vivid colors and deeper contrast while reducing low blue light — without compromising color quality. Additionally, its many connection points and advancements to its built-in webcam make it an excellent monitor for livestreaming and taking video calls.
Best specialty camera
DJI Osmo Pocket 3
The best specialty camera of 2023 goes to the DJI Osmo Pocket 3. It fits right into your pocket or purse and has built-in three-axis stabilization. Its one-inch CMOS sensor can capture stunning 4K footage of up to 120 frames per second with impressive stereo sound. This along with other features makes it a great buy for influencers and vloggers who need a portable, high-quality video camera.
Best drone
DJI Mini 4 Pro
There are a lot of great drones on the market this year, but the DJI Mini 4 Pro takes the cake for the best of 2023. It has active 360-degree tracking to help the user achieve effortless subject-tracking shots as well as object detection that assists the user when flying it into tight spaces. These features combined with its extended battery life and compact design make it an excellent drone for professional and novice pilots.
Best shotgun mic
DPA Microphones 2017 Shotgun Microphone
The DPA Microphones 2017 Shotgun Microphone is a sophisticated directional microphone that captures crystal-clear sound. It’s suited for location recording, theater, TV and film. It offers a 130 dB dynamic range and will pick up frequencies of 70 Hz to 18 kHz (at 23.6 inches / 59.9 cm).
Best ring light
Lume Cube Cordless Ring Light Pro
The best ring light of the year goes to Lume Cube for their Cordless Ring Light Pro. It has adjustable color temperatures that can be fine-tuned to make the subject look their best. It also offers the versatility and ease of use that comes with a remote-controlled fixture.
Best budget light
Lume Cube RGB Panel Pro 2.0
The Lume Cube RGB Panel Pro 2.0 is a full spectrum RGB panel that’s equipped with 204 bright but dimmable LEDs with multiple effects, controlled by the Lume Control App. It’s small enough to fit in your pocket and includes a soft travel case, a diffuser to soften the light output and a cold shoe mount for easy mounting.
Best tube light
Nanlite Pavotube II 30X
Nanlite is known for their Pavo series, and the best tube light of the year goes to their Pavotube II 30X. It’s a 4-foot-long full spectrum RGBWW tube light with multiple effects that are all adjustable, ¼-inch-20 mounting points on each end and an input for DMX control. It’s easily mounted from its center point with the transparent tube holder that’s included in the box and is magnetic for mounting to metal surfaces. There are multiple kits and different lengths available, so there’s a Pavotube for nearly any budget.
Best NAS
OWC Jupiter Mini
The best NAS (Network-Attached Storage) of the year is the OWC Jupiter Mini. It comes with five drive bays that can be configured for 20-100 TB of total storage, providing a massive amount of storage space that its users can access simultaneously from anywhere. Its user-friendly software is safe and secure, and automatically checks your data integrity regularly, making it an ideal NAS option for businesses and work groups.
Best mirrorless camera
Panasonic LUMIX S5IIX
The Panasonic Lumix S5IIX was released at the beginning of 2023 and is geared toward professional videographers and hybrid photo/video shooters. It has a 24.2 MP sensor and can record 30 minutes of consecutive video in 6K resolution. The S5IIX is fully equipped to meet the needs of even the most demanding users.
Best budget mirrorless camera
Sony a6700
The Sony Alpha line has remained a popular group of mirrorless cameras, and for good reason. Each one offers a great balance of features, performance, and price — the a6700 is no exception. It has a 24.2 MP APS-C CMOS sensor with BIONZ X image processing and an impressive autofocus system. It can shoot 4K video at up to 30 fps and 1080p HD video at up to 120 fps, making it a very capable camera for photographers and videographers of all levels.
Best PTZ camera
PTZ Optics Move SE
The Move SE by PTZ Optics is a versatile and capable camera. It captures 1080p HD video with 20x optical zoom, with advanced auto-tracking features that allow it to follow its subject around the room seamlessly. The Move SE has many other exciting features all packed into a compact, sleek body.
Best webcam
Razer Kiyo Pro Ultra
The best webcam of the year is the Razer Kiyo Pro Ultra. This pro-level streaming camera packs a punch with its huge sensor and streaming capabilities. It has AI-powered video imaging and can record stunning 4K footage at 30 fps, and 1080p HD footage up to 60 fps.
Best USB mic
RODE NT1 5th Generation
Whether you live stream often to a huge following or simply want your voice to come in clearly on a video call, you’ll want to invest in a solid USB Microphone. The RODE NT1 5th Generation microphone has a number of innovative features including the world’s first “unclippable” 32-bit float digital output. This allows you to record everything from a whisper to a scream without ever clipping your signal.
Best livestreaming switcher
Roland VR-6HD
The Roland VR-6HD is a beast of an AV mixer. It’s very versatile and has many features that make it ideal for a variety of applications from live streaming corporate presentations to conducting large, multi-camera shoots. The VR-6HD is compact and lightweight enough to take with you anywhere.
Best mobile storage
Samsung T9
Everyone needs a reliable, no-nonsense portable drive to work off of. With read/write speeds of up to 2,000 MB/s, the Samsung T9 is the best of the year. Aside from its speed, other notable features include its advanced thermal solution and its rugged, drop-protective exterior.
Best wireless mic
Sennheiser EW-DP ME 2
The Sennheiser EW-DP ME 2 features a lightweight, compact transmitter and a discreet omnidirectional lavalier microphone. It uses digital transmission to deliver spotless audio while giving up to 12 hours of transmitter battery life and seven hours of receiver battery life. It’s an excellent option for videographers and content creators who need clearer audio for their videos.
Best prime lens
Sigma 50mm F1.4 DG DN Art
The best prime lens of the year is the Sigma 50mm F1.4 DG DN Art lens. It’s a fast lens with excellent image quality and beautiful bokeh. With a focal length of 50 mm and quick, accurate autofocus, this lens has a variety of photo and video uses. It’s quite affordable when compared to other lenses of similar quality, making it a great value.
Best zoom lens
Sony FE 16-35mm F2.8 GM II
The Sony FE 16-35mm FF2.8 GM II lens offers a great range of wide focal lengths making it versatile for a number of applications. It’s a high-end lens with impressive image quality, speedy autofocus and improved dust and splash resistance than the previous version. If you’re looking for the best zoom lens on the market, look no further than this exceptional lens.
Best stabilizer
Zhiyun Weebill 3S
This year’s best stabilizer is the Zhiyun Weebill 3S. It’s a powerful and easy-to-use tool equipped with a six-axis stabilization system that can take on larger camera and lens combinations. It has a long battery life with an integrated fill light, making it ideal for shooting smooth, stable footage in almost any situation.
Those are our picks
This wraps up our picks for the best products of 2023. Lots of exciting new technology has been released in the past year and with so many innovations constantly in the works, we can’t wait to see what’s in store for 2024.
Contributing editors include Tony Morales and the Videomaker Editorial staff.
