Best camcorders for any video shooter — 2025

Professional camcorders are often smaller, lighter, less expensive, and have more controls than other camera options. With so many choices on the market, from affordable cinema cameras to DSLRs to mirrorless cameras, the advantages of a fixed-lens camcorder may not be as easy to see as they once were, but they're definitely still there.

Read the article

Blazing Fast USB4 NVMe Portable SSD for Video Professionals

Brief Description: Video professionals know that offloading massive RAW, 8K, or VFX-heavy files demands more than just a large drive. You need speed, efficient thermals, and broad compatibility that will not bottleneck your workflow. The OWC Express 1M2 80G delivers with real-world throughput exceeding 6,000 MB/s when paired with USB4/80Gb/s or Thunderbolt 5 hosts. Its passive, deep-finned aluminum heatsink keeps performance rock solid during long exports or previews without noisy fans or external power. Available as a build-your-own module for 2280 or 2242 NVMe drives or as a ready-to-run prebuilt unit, it works seamlessly with Macs, PCs, iPad Pros, Chromebooks, and Surface devices. Whether you are a DIT, colorist, working on set, or editing in the studio, the Express 1M2 80G provides desktop-class performance in a portable form.

Learn more

Today's top stories

ProGrade has quickly fixed an issue affecting its SD cards on certain Canon cameras, including the EOS R5 Mark II, EOS R5 and EOS R3, with a new update to its free Refresh Pro software. The cards weren't being recognized after recent Canon firmware updates, but version 4.0.4 of Refresh Pro changes how the software sanitizes and formats SD cards, allowing them to work properly again. ProGrade users just need to download the update and re-sanitize their cards to restore full compatibility.
Photoshop's beta now supports third-party AI models for the first time, adding Google's Gemini 2.5 Flash Image (nicknamed "nano banana") and Flux.1 Kontext Pro to its generative fill tool. Users can swap between Adobe's Firefly and these new models to expand, edit or reimagine images directly inside Photoshop without leaving the app. Standard Creative Cloud subscribers get 100 lifetime credits per model, while Pro subscribers get 500 daily credits, with unlimited use until Oct. 28. Adobe says outside models won't train on user content, though commercial rights may differ from its own Firefly models.
Fujifilm has confirmed that the X-T30 II is still an active part of its X Series lineup despite a temporary "discontinued" label on B&H Photo earlier today that sparked false reports. The retailer likely pulled listings due to inventory uncertainty rather than any official decision by Fujifilm, which says there are no signs of a successor camera coming soon. Launched in 2021 as a light upgrade over the original X-T30, the X-T30 II features a 26.1 MP APS-C X-Trans CMOS sensor, X-Processor 4, and burst shooting up to 30 fps, though it remains difficult to find in stock at major U.S. retailers.
A U.S. court ruled the Pentagon can keep calling DJI a "Chinese Military Company," rejecting the drone maker's lawsuit to remove the label. Judge Paul Friedman said the Department of Defense has broad discretion under federal law and found enough evidence, including Chinese state subsidies and ownership stakes, to justify the designation despite rejecting several weaker claims. The decision comes as DJI faces a looming U.S. import ban on new drones this December, though the company says it's weighing an appeal and remains committed to serving U.S. customers.
President Donald Trump has signed an executive order approving the sale of TikTok's U.S. operations to a group of American investors, valuing the new TikTok U.S. entity at around $14 billion and pausing enforcement of a national security law that would have otherwise banned the app. The deal, which has China's approval, according to Trump, transfers TikTok's U.S. algorithm, source code, and moderation system to American control, with Oracle overseeing security and infrastructure. Oracle, Silver Lake, and Abu Dhabi-based MGX are expected to take a combined 45% stake, while TikTok U.S. will form a new board of directors to ensure the app's data stays secure and operations remain fully American-run.

Lessons from the field

Controlling exposure – useful tips and tricks

"Exposure" is the amount of light that hits the photo-sensitive element in a camera. Exposure controls the gradations of brightness you see on your screen – most consumer digital video cameras support 100 gradations between light and dark. (Your eye can distinguish about 10,000 gradations, and film can distinguish about 1,000.) Read more.

Creator Handbook: YouTubers aid FBI in dismantling a $65 million scam ring that targets seniors

YouTubers known for exposing scams played a key role in helping the FBI dismantle a $65 million multinational fraud ring that targeted thousands of elderly victims, including a 97-year-old widow of a Holocaust survivor who lost her life savings. The federal operation led to the indictment of 28 individuals linked to a complex conspiracy involving phone-based scams and money laundering. Read more.

How to make an awesome shot list for your film or video project

What makes for a smooth production? Simple answer: proper planning. A shot list is a detailed list of every shot the filmmaker or video producer intends to capture during production. It's a helpful step in the pre-production process.

Taking the time to break your script down into individual shots helps set and manage the production budget and shooting schedule. Plus, it helps keep the production organized before the cameras start rolling. There's no project — big-budget Hollywood blockbuster or microbudget indie film — that can maintain an effective shooting schedule without preparation. So, before you grab your gear and hit record, let's break down the basics of a shot list and why you need one for your production. Read more.