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Whether you want to record soccer games so that you can study certain plays, or you just want to capture fun moments of your kids on the field, you’ll likely want to use camera other than the one on your smartphone. The best video camera to record soccer games needs to be reliable and high quality enough so that you can clearly capture all of the plays and watch them back in detail.
Contents
- Our Top Video Camera Reviews to Record Soccer Games
- Best Overall Video Camera to Record Soccer Games: Sony A7III Full Frame Mirrorless Camera
- Best Soccer Games Video Camera for UHD Quality: Panasonic Lumix S5
- Best Sturdy Video Camera to Record Soccer Games: GoPro Hero10
- Best Versatile Video Camera to Record Soccer Games: Panasonic Lumix G85
- Best Compact Video Camera to Record Soccer Games: Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III
- Features to Consider in the Best Video Camera to Record Soccer Games
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Final Thoughts
Our Top Video Camera Reviews to Record Soccer Games
The best video camera for soccer games comes with an advanced autofocus performance that can quickly lock and track down the player and the ball. The image stabilization system in soccer cameras allows you to record smooth videos even amid rowdy fans.
Best Overall Video Camera to Record Soccer Games: Sony A7III Full Frame Mirrorless Camera
The Sony A7III Full Frame Mirrorless Camera is a high-quality full-frame camera with a hybrid autofocus system that can reliably track the player and the ball without losing focus.
The autofocus mechanism in this camera uses a combination of 693 phase-detection points and 425 contrast-detection areas, ensuring the autofocus is fast and accurate.
Unlike GoPro Hero10, this camera can record Ultra HD 4K videos with up to 30fps, ensuring you capture finer details that can escape the naked eyes of the fans.
Keeping in mind that some stadiums are dusty, this camera comes with a weather-sealing, relieving you of the worries of operational failures due to dust or moisture.
The NP-FZ100 battery that comes with this camera gives you a battery life of around 200 minutes continuous video recording time, allowing you to capture the entire soccer game without recharging.
With a weight of 1.44 pounds, this camera is 0.33 pounds heavier than the Panasonic Lumix G85 and might make your wrist hurt if shooting handheld for the entire soccer duration.
Pros
- The large capacity battery allows you to record the entire soccer session without recharging
- The Ultra HD 4K recording capability allows you to capture even the finest details
Cons
- Although you can set up a quick menu, the default menu has critical settings such as ISO hidden deep into the menus
- Although the LCD is a touchscreen, you can only use it for focus settings
- Advanced 24.2MP BSI full frame Image Sensor w/ 1.8X readout speed
- 15 stop dynamic range, 14 bit uncompressed RAW, ISO 50 to 204,800. Compatible with Sony E mount...
- Up to 10fps silent or mechanical shutter with AE/AF tracking. Battery life (Still Images): Approx....
Best Soccer Games Video Camera for UHD Quality: Panasonic Lumix S5
The Panasonic Lumix S5 Full Frame Camera is a distinguished video camera for recording soccer games, thanks to the Ultra HD 4K 60 10-bit internal recording capability.
Unlike the Panasonic Lumix G85, this camera comes with an updated Venus Engine and a full-frame 24.2 megapixel CMOS sensor, which balances speed and sensitivity to ensure you capture the finer details of the game.
The 3-inch rear LCD in this camera allows you to monitor your shooting, ensuring you don’t lose track of the players. Furthermore, the touchscreen design of the LCD allows you to quickly change the camera settings depending on the changing dynamics of the soccer game.
With a weight of 3.74 pounds, this camera is the heaviest on our list, making it unsuitable for prolonged handheld shooting. The dual SD memory card slots in this camera allows you to record into two SD cards simultaneously, ensuring you have a backup if one card becomes corrupted.
Even when shooting handheld, the sensor-shift image stabilization system in this camera allows you to record smooth videos with minimal camera shake.
Pros
- The touchscreen LCD allows you to monitor and change the camera settings for enhanced recording performance
- The dual memory card slot allows you to record and save the soccer sessions separately
Cons
- Although it has dual SD card slots, only one SD card slot can support can support UHS-II read and write speeds
- The contrast-based autofocus mechanism sometimes loses track of the player and the ball
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Best Sturdy Video Camera to Record Soccer Games: GoPro Hero10
The GoPro Hero10 is a sturdy and responsive video camera that you can shoot amid rowdy fans. Keeping in mind that fans might get excited and disorderly during soccer sessions, this camera’s tough and rugged build quality eliminates worries of breakdowns after accidental falls in such situations.
This camera features the HyperSmooth 4.0 digital image stabilization mechanism, allowing you to capture smoother videos without a gimbal. The large-capacity 1720mAh lithium-ion battery allows you to continuously shoot video of the entire soccer session without recharging or swapping batteries.
Unlike other cameras on our list, this camera allows you to capture 30 seconds of video before you press the record button, ensuring you don’t miss out on those unexpected moves in soccer.
Also, this camera features a built-in microphone with wind noise reduction features, allowing you to capture the fans’ chants without recording the background wind noise. Unlike the Panasonic Lumix S5, you might strain your eyes to monitor the small 2.3 inches LCD screen.
Pros
- It is the most lightweight on our list, allowing you to shoot handheld without exhaustion
- The rugged design makes it ideal for use without worries of breakdowns when the fans are rowdy
Cons
- You might strain your eyes to monitor your recording on the small LCD
- Although it can record 1080p full HD, its video quality can’t match that of the Sony a7iii
Best Versatile Video Camera to Record Soccer Games: Panasonic Lumix G85
If you’re looking for a versatile and flexible camera that you can use to capture both video and stills in soccer games, you can’t go wrong with the Panasonic Lumix G85. This camera comes with a 16 megapixels Live MOS sensor, capable of capturing sharp Ultra HD 4K video.
Considering that Panasonic Lumix G85 is a micro four-thirds camera, the image quality can’t match that of the full-frame cameras such as Sony a7iii. The flexible ISO range of 200 to 25600 allows this camera to shoot bright videos in a wide range of lighting conditions.
Like the GoPro Hero10, the built-in microphone in this camera allows you to record the fans’ voices, making the resulting video lively and pleasing.
The microphone also comes with an integrated wind-cut filter which helps record cleaner audio even in windy stadiums. The depth-from-defocus autofocusing technology in this camera intelligently locks onto subjects in motion, allowing them to easily follow the player and the ball.
Pros
- The wind-cut filter in the microphone allows you to capture cleaner audio quality
- The wide ISO range allows you to shoot bright videos even in low light conditions
Cons
- Considering it is a micro four-thirds camera, the cropped image quality can’t match that of the Panasonic Lumix S5
- The autofocus has a delay of around one second, which can impact your results during the quick and unexpected movements in soccer
- Fine Detail Performance: 16 megapixel micro four thirds sensor with no low pass filter resulting in...
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- Class Leading Dual Image Stabilization: In body 5 axis dual image stabilization works in both photo...
Best Compact Video Camera to Record Soccer Games: Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III
If you are looking for a compact camera you can use to record soccer games in crowded stadiums, Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III might be the best option for you.
This camera features the TruePic VIII image processor and 20.4 megapixel CMOS sensor, allowing you to shoot Sharp and bright videos regardless of the stadium lighting conditions.
Like the Panasonic Lumix G85, this camera is a micro four-thirds, and the image quality can’t match that of full-frame cameras such as the Panasonic Lumix S5.
This camera’s 5-axis sensor-shift image stabilization mechanism allows you to capture videos with minimal camera shake effect even when shooting amid rowdy fans.
This camera features an advanced autofocus mechanism that employs both the 121 contrast-detection areas and 121 on-chip phase-detection points, ensuring quick and accurate tracking of players.
With a weight of 2.6 pounds, it’s the second heaviest on our list, making it unsuitable for prolonged handheld shooting. The autofocus limiter function in this camera allows you to control the focusing range for more responsive performance.
Pros
- The advanced image stabilization system allows you to capture stable videos even amid rowdy fans
- The phase-detection autofocus system in this camera allows you to accurately track the player and the ball
Cons
- What is the second heaviest on our list, making it unsuitable for shooting handheld
- The battery of offers around 80 minutes of continuous video recording, falling short of the 90 minutes soccer session
- 20MP live MOS sensor
- Portable, weather sealed design
- 121-point all-cross-type on-chip phase detection AF
Features to Consider in the Best Video Camera to Record Soccer Games
Soccer games consist of quick and unexpected movements, and you need a video camera that can track the player to capture those moments. Considering that video cameras vary in build quality and performance, check for the following when choosing one to record soccer games.
The table below provides you with a breakdown of some of these features.
| Product | Megapixels | Sensor Size | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Panasonic Lumix G85 | 16 MP | Micro Four Third | 1.1 lbs |
| Sony A7III | 24.2 MP | Full Frame | 1.44 lbs |
| Panasonic Lumix S5 | 24.2 MP | Full Frame | 3.74 lbs |
| Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III | 20 MP | Micro Four Third | 2.6 lbs |
| GoPro Hero10 | 23 MP | 1/2.3 inches | 0.34 lbs |
Build Quality
The camera build quality refers to the overall sturdiness of the camera to withstand extreme weather and accidental falls. If the soccer stadium is not covered, there are risks of high humidity during winter or the field getting dusty during summer.
In such cases, you need a camera that comes with weather sealing, such as the Sony a7III. Typically, this will allow you to continue recording even if it starts to rain before the soccer session ends.
Even if the stadium is covered, sometimes the fans get rowdy and disorderly, hitting your camera and even causing accidental falls. The best camera to use in such conditions is a camera with a rugged design, such as GoPro Hero 10.
Resolution
The resolution is the number of pixels in each frame. The resolution of the video depends on the megapixels of the camera you are using. Usually, the resolution determines how realistic and detailed your video appears.
Since you’ll want the finer details of the player to be visible even when the recording plays on a large display screen, go for a camera that can record full HD (1920 x 1080 pixels), such as a Panasonic Lumix S5.
Sensor Size
Unlike megapixels which is the number of pixels in the camera sensor, the sensor size refers to the surface area of the photoreceptors. That means cameras with the same number of megapixels can have different sensor sizes depending on whether it is a full-frame, aps-c, or micro four-thirds sensor.
Typically, a larger surface area of the photoreceptors allows capturing of more light, resulting in brighter videos. Therefore, it is advisable to use a full-frame camera such as the Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III if you’re shooting in a covered stadium where the ambient lighting might not be adequate.
Image Stabilization System
Although the name of this system varies with camera brands, most modern cameras come with an inbuilt image stabilization system. The image stabilization system consists of internal elements that readjust in the opposite direction of tiny camera movements.
Keeping in mind that soccer fans can get disorderly and shake you, you will want a camera with an advanced image stabilization system to shoot smooth videos. However, the effectiveness and efficiency of the image stabilization system depend on technological advancements.
The Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III uses an effective 5-axis sensor-shift image stabilization mechanism to minimize the camera shake effect when capturing video.
Autofocus Performance
Instead of the tedious manual focusing, the camera autofocus helps to lock the subject in focus, and you only need to pan and tilt the camera to track it. The autofocus performance depends on how advanced the camera is.
Keeping in mind that there are many quick and unexpected movements in soccer, you will want a camera that can quickly focus on those moves.
The autofocus system in Sony a7iii uses a combination of 693 phase-detection points and 425 contrast-detection areas and can accurately track the player and the ball.
ISO Range
The camera ISO refers to the sensitivity of the camera sensor to light. Increasing the ISO amplifies the light signal, making the resulting video brighter. On the other hand, reducing the ISO lowers the camera sensor’s sensitivity to light, making the video darker.
Considering that soccer games can happen at different times of the day and in different lighting conditions, you will want a camera that will offer ISO range flexibility.
The wide ISO range of the Panasonic Lumix G85 allows to shoot quality videos even in poorly lit stadiums.
Battery Life
The battery life of a video camera refers to the duration the battery can last on continuous video shooting before you recharge. The camera batteries come in different capacities depending on the brand and model.
Typically, you will want a camera battery that can last the entire soccer session before recharging or swapping. That means you’ll need a video camera that has a battery life of more than 90 minutes such as the Sony a7iii.
Note that the battery life will also depend on whether you use the viewfinder or the LCD. Usually, the live view consumes more battery power, and it is advisable to switch to a viewfinder if your battery is running out before the soccer session ends.
Weight
The camera’s weight is an important feature to consider if you’re planning to shoot handheld. Different camera models will have different weights depending on the construction materials and the camera’s size.
For example, full-frame cameras are bigger than micro four-thirds, so they end up weighing more. On average, you will want a camera that weighs less than 1.49 pounds if you are shooting without a tripod. The Panasonic Lumix G85 is 1.1 pounds, so it a great option for handheld shooting.
LCD
Most modern video cameras come with an LCD screen to allow you to monitor your video shooting. However, the size and quality of the LCD vary with camera models. Some LCD screens are touch screens, and you can use them to change the camera settings.
Considering that soccer involves simultaneous activities, a larger LCD will allow you to track the activities without missing out. Usually, a camera with a touch screen LCD like the Panasonic Lumix S5 can allow you to quickly change the camera settings and capture your target moves.
Microphone
The chants of the soccer fans are one of the aspects you don’t want to miss out on when capturing soccer videos. However, the cleanliness of the audio quality will depend on the quality of the camera microphone.
Since you might be capturing the video in windy stadiums, it is advisable to use a camera with a noise reduction filter in its microphone. For instance, the GoPro Hero 10’s microphone features a noise reduction filter that helps eliminate the background wind noise.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Many Video Cameras Do I Need to Record a Soccer Game?
In most cases, you will need to deploy 12 to 20 cameras to be able to capture every angle of the playing field. However, if your intention is not for a major production, you can use one high-quality camera that can zoom and capture high-quality videos from one designated position.
Can I Use a Camera Tripod When Recording Soccer Game Videos?
You can use a tripod when recording soccer game videos to help record smooth and stable videos throughout the soccer session. However, it will depend on whether tripods are allowed into the stadium.
Final Thoughts
The top video camera to record soccer games should have a wide ISO range to allow you to shoot in varying lighting conditions. Although the best camera will depend on your preference, the above cameras are high-quality, lightweight, and versatile.
