Have you ever been in a situation where you are in front of the camera thinking that you are being recorded, acting and posing only to realize later that you actually didn't press the record button properly, or battery ran out and it stopped recording? If your camera has a fully articulating screen, there may be small 'REC' word on the screen but it is generally hard to see from a distance or the screen is blocked by a piece of your rig. The ultimate solution is to have a camera with a 'Tally Light'.
What is a Tally Light?
A Tally light is an indicator lamp on a video camera that turns on when the camera is recording. It is located on the front side of the camera (although some cameras also have one on the top and/or backside of the camera too) where it is easily visible by the people that are being recorded. Until recently, tally lights were limited to professional video cameras but these days more consumer/semi-pro level Hybrid cameras are implementing this feature.
Sony ZV-1 Tally Recording Light
Among all the cameras that we have in Camera Decision database, only 6 of them features a Tally light. 5 of these cameras are video focused Mirrorless ILCs and only one, Sony's ZV-1 is a compact point-and-shoot camera. ZV-1 is a camera that specifically targets vloggers which is one of the groups that takes most benefit from the front side tally lamp, or recording lamp as Sony calls it. Panasonic S1H is the first camera in our database to have this feature and even 3 years after its introduction, it is still a great video camera! ( Many thinks the new Panasonic GH6 is even a better video camera than the S1H despite its much smaller MFT sensor but that is a topic for another post.)
Here in this post, we just wanted to show you the options you have in 2022 incase you are looking for a camera that sports a Tally Light (or a recording light) and below you can find the specs of these cameras, followed by a table that compares all these six cameras hopefully to give you more detail.
1. Panasonic Lumix DC-S1H
Panasonic Lumix DC-S1H
Panasonic S1H Key Specs
- Announcement Date: 2019-08-28
- 24MP - Full frame CMOS Sensor
- ISO 100 - 51200 ( expands to 50 - 204800)
- Leica L Mount
- Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
- 3.20" Fully Articulated Screen
- 5760k dot Electronic viewfinder
- 9.0fps continuous shooting
- 6K - 5952 x 3988 video resolution
- 240fps High-Speed Video
- Built-in Wireless
- 1052g. 151 x 114 x 110 mm
- Weather Sealed Body
- Read the Review
- Check Price at: Amazon, B&H Photo
Check Panasonic Lumix DC-S1H at: B&H Photo / AmazonUS / AmazonCA / AmazonDE / AmazonES / AmazonFR / AmazonIT / AmazonUK / AmazonIN / AmazonAU
2. Canon EOS R5 C
Canon EOS R5 C
Canon R5 C Key Specs
- Announcement Date: 2022-01-19
- 45MP - Full frame CMOS Sensor
- ISO 100 - 51200 ( expands to 50-102400)
- Canon RF Mount
- 3.20" Fully Articulated Screen
- 5760k dot Electronic viewfinder
- 12.0fps (20.0fps Electronic) continuous shooting
- 8K - 8192 x 4320 video resolution
- 120fps High-Speed Video
- Built-in Wireless
- 770g. 142 x 101 x 111 mm
- Weather Sealed Body
- Read the Review
- Check Price at: Amazon, B&H Photo
Check Canon EOS R5 C at: B&H Photo / AmazonUS / AmazonCA / AmazonDE / AmazonES / AmazonFR / AmazonIT / AmazonUK / AmazonIN / AmazonAU
3. Fujifilm X-T4
Fujifilm X-T4
Fujifilm X-T4 Key Specs
- Announcement Date: 2020-02-24
- 26MP - APS-C X-Trans CMOS 4 Sensor
- No Anti-aliasing (AA) filter
- ISO 160 - 12800 ( expands to 80 - 51200)
- Fujifilm X Mount
- Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
- 3.00" Fully Articulated Screen
- 3690k dot Electronic viewfinder
- 15.0fps (20.0fps Electronic) continuous shooting
- 4K (DCI) - 4096 x 2160 video resolution
- 240fps High-Speed Video
- Built-in Wireless
- 607g. 135 x 93 x 64 mm
- Weather Sealed Body
- Replaced Fujifilm X-T3 Compare
- Read the Review
- Check Price at: Amazon, B&H Photo
Check Fujifilm X-T4 at: B&H Photo / AmazonUS / AmazonCA / AmazonDE / AmazonES / AmazonFR / AmazonIT / AmazonUK / AmazonIN / AmazonAU
4. Panasonic Lumix DC-GH6
Panasonic Lumix DC-GH6
Panasonic GH6 Key Specs
- Announcement Date: 2022-02-22
- 25MP - Four Thirds CMOS Sensor
- No Anti-aliasing (AA) filter
- ISO 100 - 25600 ( expands to 50-25600)
- Micro Four Thirds Mount
- Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
- 3.00" Fully Articulated Screen
- 3680k dot Electronic viewfinder
- 14.0fps (75.0fps Electronic) continuous shooting
- 5.7K - 5760 x 2880 video resolution
- 300fps High-Speed Video
- Built-in Wireless
- 823g. 139 x 100 x 100 mm
- Weather Sealed Body
- Replaced Panasonic Lumix DC-GH5 II Compare
- Read the Review
- Check Price at: Amazon, B&H Photo
Check Panasonic Lumix DC-GH6 at: B&H Photo / AmazonUS / AmazonCA / AmazonDE / AmazonES / AmazonFR / AmazonIT / AmazonUK / AmazonIN / AmazonAU
5. Sony ZV-E10
Sony ZV-E10
Sony ZV-E10 Key Specs
- Announcement Date: 2021-07-30
- 24MP - APS-C CMOS Sensor
- ISO 100 - 32000 ( expands to 51200)
- Sony E Mount
- Digital only Image Stabilization
- 3.00" Fully Articulated Screen
- 11.0fps continuous shooting
- 4K (UHD) - 3840 x 1920 video resolution
- 120fps High-Speed Video
- Built-in Wireless
- 343g. 115 x 64 x 45 mm
- Read the Review
- Check Price at: Amazon, B&H Photo
Check Sony ZV-E10 at: B&H Photo / AmazonUS / AmazonCA / AmazonDE / AmazonES / AmazonFR / AmazonIT / AmazonUK / AmazonIN / AmazonAU
6. Sony ZV-1
Sony ZV-1
Sony ZV-1 Key Specs
- Announcement Date: 2020-05-27
- 20MP - 1″ BSI-CMOS Sensor
- ISO 125 - 12800 ( expands to 80 - 25600)
- 24-70 mm F1.8–2.8 Zoom Lens
- Optical Image Stabilization
- 3.00" Fully Articulated Screen
- 24.0fps continuous shooting
- 4K (UHD) - 3840 x 2160 video resolution
- 960fps High-Speed Video
- Built-in Wireless
- 294g. 105 x 60 x 44 mm
- Read the Review
- Check Price at: Amazon, B&H Photo
Check Sony ZV-1 at: B&H Photo / AmazonUS / AmazonCA / AmazonDE / AmazonES / AmazonFR / AmazonIT / AmazonUK / AmazonIN / AmazonAU
Comparison of cameras with Tally lights
| FEATURE and SPECS COMPARISON | |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| Model | Panasonic Lumix DC-S1H | Canon EOS R5 C | Fujifilm X-T4 | Panasonic Lumix DC-GH6 | Sony ZV-E10 | Sony ZV-1 |
| Sensor Resolution | 24.0 MP | 45.0 MP | 26.0 MP | 25.2 MP | 24.0 MP | 20.0 MP |
| Announced Date | 2019-08-28 | 2022-01-19 | 2020-02-24 | 2022-02-22 | 2021-07-30 | 2020-05-27 |
| Camera Type | Pro Mirrorless | Pro Mirrorless | Advanced Mirrorless | Pro Mirrorless | Entry-Level Mirrorless | Large Sensor Compact |
| Sensor Type | CMOS | CMOS | X-Trans CMOS 4 | CMOS | CMOS | BSI-CMOS |
| Sensor Size | Full frame | Full frame | APS-C | Four Thirds | APS-C | 1″ |
| Sensor Sensitivity | ISO 100 - 51200( expands to 50 - 204800) | ISO 100 - 51200( expands to 50-102400) | ISO 160 - 12800( expands to 80 - 51200) | ISO 100 - 25600( expands to 50-25600) | ISO 100 - 32000( expands to 51200) | ISO 125 - 12800( expands to 80 - 25600) |
| Lens Mount | Leica L | Canon RF | Fujifilm X | Micro Four Thirds | Sony E | Fixed lens |
| Image Stabil. | Sensor-shift ( up to 6.5 stops) | Digital only | Sensor-shift | Sensor-shift ( up to 7.5 stops) | Digital only | Optical |
| Eye Tracking Focus | | | | | | |
| Weight | 1052g | 770g | 607g | 823g | 343g | 294g |
| Dimensions | 151 x 114 x 110mm | 142 x 101 x 111mm | 135 x 93 x 64mm | 139 x 100 x 100mm | 115 x 64 x 45mm | 105 x 60 x 44mm |
| Weather Sealing | | | | | | |
| Animal Eye Tracking | | | | | | |
| Focus Stacking | | | | | | |
| Post Focus | | | | | | |
| Focus Bracket | | | | | | |
| Minimum Shutter | 60 sec | 30 sec | 30 sec | 60 sec | 30 sec | 30 sec |
| Maximum Shutter | 1/8000sec | 1/8000sec | 1/8000sec | 1/8000sec | 1/4000sec | 1/2000sec |
| Continuous Drive | 9.0fps | 12.0fps | 15.0fps | 14.0fps | 11.0fps | 24.0fps |
| Max Video Reso | 5952 x 3988 | 8192 x 4320 | 4096 x 2160 | 5760 x 2880 | 3840 x 1920 | 3840 x 2160 |
| Video fps at Max | 24p | 30p,24/23.98p | 60p,50p,30p,25p,24p,23.98p | 120p,60p,50p,30p,25p,24p | 30p,25p,24p | 30p,25p,24p |
| Video Formats | MPEG-4, H.264, H.265 | MPEG-4, XF-AVC, H.264, H.265 | MPEG-4, H.264, H.265 | MPEG-4, H.264, H.265 | MPEG-4, XAVC S, H.264 | MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S |
| High Speed Video | 240fps | 120fps | 240fps | 300fps | 120fps | 960fps |
| Storage Slot | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Battery Life | 400 | 320 | 500 | 360 | 440 | 260 |
| Battery Model | DMW-BLJ31 | LP-E6NH | NP-W235 | DMW-BLK22 | NP-FW50 | NP-BX1 |
| RAW Video | | | | | | |
| Webcam | | | | | | |
| Anti Flicker | | | | | | |
| Microphone Port | | | | | | |
| Headphone Port | | | | | | |
| Wifi | | | | | | |
| Weather Sealing | | | | | | |
| Timelapse | | | | | | |
| Screen Type | Fully articulated | Fully articulated | Fully articulated | Fully articulated | Fully articulated | Fully articulated |
| Top LCD | | | | | | |
| LCD Size | 3.20" | 3.20" | 3.00" | 3.00" | 3.00" | 3.00" |
| Screen dots | 2330000 | 2100000 | 1620000 | 1840000 | 920000 | 921600 |
| Touch Screen | | | | | | |
| Viewfinder | | | | | | |
| Viewfinder Type | Electronic | Electronic | Electronic | Electronic | None | None |
| NFC | | | | | | |
| Selfie Friendly Screen | | | | | | |
| High Resolution Mode | | | | | | |
| AF Joystick | | | | | | |
| Bluetooth | | | | | | |
| Full-size HDMI Port | | | | | | |
| Gyro data Stabilization | | | | | | |
| Price | Amazon, B&H Photo | Amazon, B&H Photo | Amazon, B&H Photo | Amazon, B&H Photo | Amazon, B&H Photo | Amazon, B&H Photo |