20 Best Live Stream Cameras for Church

After a spike in interest at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, church live streaming is here to stay. Live streaming church service allows members to attend remotely, even if they can’t make it to church. Additionally, live streaming your service on the Internet helps you spread God’s Word to an even wider audience.

Choosing the best camera for recording church services is essential if you plan to live stream consistently. Read on for a guide to the best church live streaming cameras on the market today.

What to Look for in the Best Cameras for Church Live Streaming

With all the choices, it’s challenging to choose the best streaming camera for church events. Look for these features when you’re picking the best camera for church photography and live streaming:

USB Connectivity

You’d need extra hardware like an Elgato Cam Link to connect a camera to a computer. Buying a camera with USB-C connectivity eliminates the need for extra hardware and lets you connect the camera to your computer directly.

AC Charging Capability

Church services can take hours to finish, and not all cameras can last that long on one charge. The best camera for live streaming church services should have AC charging capabilities to prevent interruptions in the stream.

Great Resolution and Frame Rate

Church members attending live streamed services generally want high-quality videos. The best camera for streaming church services should output videos in 1080p resolution. If you’re on a budget, don’t go lower than 720p resolution.

A good frame rate is also essential to capture the entire sermon seamlessly. The best digital video camera for church events should record in 24 to 30 frames per second.

Best Cameras for Recording Church Services and Live Streams

Picking the best camera for live streaming church services ensures a great experience for viewers at home. Here are our 20 best live streaming cameras for church services: 

1. Panasonic AG-CX-350 4K Camcorder

Price: $3,695

Resolution: Up to 4K

Framerate: 1 to 120 fps

This Panasonic camera is one of the best options if you have the money and want a full 4K church live streaming experience. Additionally, it boasts integrated zoom, so you don’t need extra lenses.

2. Logitech C922 Webcam

Price: $99.99

Resolution: Up to 1080p

Framerate: 30 fps at 1080p, 60 fps at 720p

As one of the best live stream cameras under £100/$120, the Logitech C922 is an affordable yet powerful pick for smaller church streams. We recommend using this if you’re holding church services from home because it’s designed to sit on top of a monitor and offers a direct USB connection to your computer.

3. Canon Vixia HF R700

Price: $299.99

Resolution: Up to 1080p

Framerate: 60 fps at 1080p

This Canon camera is one of the best cameras for live streaming church services if you’re on a budget or still just dipping your toes into streaming. Boasting a 1080p resolution and lightweight construction, the Canon Vixia HF R700 is a great all-around beginner choice.

4. Canon EOS Rebel T7i

Price: $739

Resolution: Up to 1080p

Framerate: 60 fps at 1080p

The Canon EOS Rebel is a good camera for recording church services if you want a two-in-one package. This camera can live stream and take photos, giving you more than your money’s worth.

5. Mevo Start

Price: $399

Resolution: Up to 1080p

Framerate: 30 fps at 1080p

The Mevo Start is a small, unintrusive camera that slots in nicely anywhere in your church. This camera also supports direct connections to your church’s video sharing page, making it one of the best cameras for Facebook Live at church.

6. Canon Vixia G40

Price: $1099.99

Resolution: Up to 1080p

Framerate: 60 fps at 1080p

This camera is a semi-professional camcorder for church live streams boasting two hours of battery life and great low-light capabilities. It also offers excellent image stabilization, so you can use it as a handheld camera.

7. Canon FX-105

Price: $2,499

Resolution: Up to 1080p

Framerate: 60 fps at 1080p

If you’re willing to spend money for professional-looking church live streams, the Canon FX-105 is a great choice. It’s compact but provides numerous features like a built-in stereo mic and two memory card slots for extra storage.

8. Sony HXR-NX100

Price: $2,239

Resolution: Up to 1080p

Framerate: 60 fps at 1080p

The HXR-NX100 is one of the best cameras for live streaming church services professionally, thanks to its handheld, compact design. It also boasts a 24x zoom that helps you capture every detail in the service.

9. Canon PowerShot G7X Mark III

Price: $749

Resolution: Up to 4K

Framerate: 30 fps at 4K, 60 fps at 1080p

The Canon PowerShot is one of the best cameras for Facebook Live on your church’s page because it’s made for vlogging and boasts a direct live streaming menu. It also features a 3.5mm mic jack if you need a stronger audio input to capture the sermon. 

10. Elgato Facecam

Price: $169.99

Resolution: Up to 1080p

Framerate: 60 fps at 1080p

This is one of the best cameras for Facebook Live if you’re on a budget. The Elgato is best used for smaller church streams with a speaker delivering sermons from home since it’s a webcam that sits on your computer monitor. 

11. Canon XF405 Camcorder

Price: $3,180

Resolution: Up to 4K

Framerate: 60 fps at 4K

The Canon XF405 can shoot a whopping 16 hours of video in one go, making it an excellent option for long church services. It also boasts great low-light capabilities, retaining rich color even under poor lighting conditions.

12. Canon XA55

Price: $2,699

Resolution: Up to 4K

Framerate: 30 fps at 4K

This camera lets you mix and edit footage on the fly, giving you a head start on post-production – perfect if you plan to upload the service recording online.

13. Sony PXW-Z90

Price: $2,798

Resolution: Up to 4K

Framerate: 30 fps at 4K, 120 fps at 1080p 

The Sony PXW-Z90 is a “grab-and-go” camera, meaning you can turn it on and be ready to shoot within moments, making it great for live streaming on short notice.

14. Canon Vixia GX10

Price: $2,499

Resolution: Up to 4K

Framerate: 60 fps at 4K

This consumer-grade camcorder is extremely easy to set up, helping you live stream church events in 4K without spending too much time tinkering with the settings.

15. Panasonic X1500

Price: $1,699

Resolution: Up to 4K

Framerate: 60 fps at 4K

The Panasonic X1500 is an accessible camera that offers professional-quality footage thanks to its 4K resolution and hybrid image stabilization that prevents camera shake.

16. Canon XA11

Price: $1,199

Resolution: Up to 1080p

Framerate: 60 fps at 1080p

Often used by amateur documentarians, the Canon XA11 is an affordable and robust camcorder that offers great image quality even at high zoom levels.

17. Canon XA40

Price: $1,479

Resolution: Up to 4K

Framerate: 30 fps at 4K

The Canon XA40 is one of the market's more affordable 4K professional cameras. Even with its low price tag, it comes with excellent performance, a robust image stabilizer, and a 20x optical zoom so you can shoot every detail.

18. Canon Vixia G50

Price: $1,044

Resolution: Up to 4K

Framerate: 30 fps at 4K

This camera is a budget- and user-friendly option geared toward beginner videographers. You don’t need complicated setups for this camera – just switch on, point, and shoot.

19. Sony FDR-AX43 

Price: $849

Resolution: Up to 4K

Framerate: 30 fps at 4K

This compact and affordable option from Sony boasts a proprietary stabilization feature that keeps your shots in focus. Its lens also allows shallow depth of field shots to capture the richest details.

20. PTZOptics-20X-SDI

Price: $1,699

Resolution: Up to 1080p

Framerate: 60 fps at 1080p

This camera is purpose-built for live streaming and provides connectivity with your video production kit if needed. The PTZOptics-20X-SDI also boasts video noise reduction to give you the clearest footage.

Conclusion

Choosing the right live streaming camera helps make the best live streaming experience for your church family. Determine what kind of camera your church needs and choose the one that fulfills your needs best!