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Choosing the best cameras for YouTube vlogging can set the foundation for building a successful YouTube channel and with a number of vlogging channel on YouTube, having an acceptable quality has almost become a must.
In this article, we break down top 5 best vlogging cameras on the market this year. Whether you’re looking for a budget option or if you’re looking to use the same cameras as your favorite vloggers, we have an option for you.
If you’re interested in finding out which vlogging camera will be best for you, then stay tuned because we have a number of different options on depending upon the type of vlogger you are. You may want a specific kind of camera so be sure to read till the end.
In this article, I will describe some of the best cameras in all price ranges. I will brief what kind of camera is recommended for which kind of vlogger along with its pros & cons.
Also, there is a special accessory for smartphone vlogger which could really help them in vlogging. So, do keep your eyes open.
But before that, let’s understand what is Vlogging because I have seen many people are confused with this term.
What Is Vlogging?
As per Wikipedia, A video blog or vlog is a form of blog for which the medium is video and is a form of web television.
Vlog entries often combine embedded video (or a video link) with supporting text, images, and other metadata. Entries can be recorded in one take or cut into multiple parts. The vlog category is popular on YouTube.
On a simpler note, it is a blog that contains video content rather than text content.
As per mediakix.com, globally around 44%, internet users watch a vlog every month which makes it a big business.
As digital video advertising is rising over TV advertisements, marketers are looking for popular vloggers to reach out to young, digital-savvy audience to represent their brand or products.
With that being said, now you know how popular is vlogging nowadays. Thanks to YouTube.
Features – Best Cameras For Vlogging
While buying Cameras, you should look for below features which I will discuss now. These features are a must to have in your ideal camera because you don’t want to negotiate with the quality of videos after spending bucks on it.
1. Wide Angle Lens (24 mm & Wider)
Now, this is important. While buying a camera, it’s important to have a wide angle lens. Consider, you are holding the camera while making vlogs.
Below is an example of wide lens photo/video. You can see that how much background it is capturing with these types of lenses which are great for vloggers.
It captures more within a frame which is actually a good thing for vlogging.
2. Size & Weight
Well, the size & weight of the camera depends on the type of vlogger you are. If you are a travel or home vlogger, then a small & lightweight camera will do the job because travel & home vlogging requires constant movability.
Camera’s are carried most of the time which will be tiresome if you have a heavy camera. Whereas, if you are beauty vlogger, Youtube roaster then a heavy & bigger camera is enough for you as you will be filming your videos in a seated position with the camera attached to the tripod.
3. Good In Low Light
Of all these features, this is one of the most important features to consider. I am sure you want to do Vlogging during evening or night time also i.e in low light.
But what happens is, the normal camera tends to record bad quality pictures & videos in low light as they reduce the frames per second which tend to give image noise. Here, the lens aperture plays an important role.
A good lens should have a wide aperture to record good quality videos in low light.
Always consider having a wide aperture lens while buying cameras because it enables to capture more light thus resulting in an increased quality of vlogs.
Obviously, who wants to compromise on the quality while spending your precious money. That is why do consider it.
4. Easy To Use
If you are having a hard time operating your camera i.e it takes time to set up & shoot videos or clicking pictures, then I would suggest choosing a camera whose working is user-friendly.
I mean, suppose you encounter something beautiful whether it’s an animal or a quick glance at something & you want to shoot it quickly. Then, it’s important that you set up your camera quickly so that you wouldn’t miss those amazing shots.
Keeping that in mind, your camera should be easy to use & have a user-friendly approach.
5. Image Stabilisation
Your camera should have the Image stabilization feature.
Now, what does image stabilization means?
If your camera has Image stabilization feature, then it will prevent motion blur caused by the movement of the subject or by extreme movements of the camera.
Although this feature isn’t that much necessary for Vlogging. But, it will help to record better videos while moving around which is a plus point if your audience dislikes shaky videos.
6. Audio
As audio & visuals are an essential part of the video, so you must look for cameras which have a satisfactory built-in audio system or should have microphone input to attach an external mic.
So, we have discussed all the necessary features required in a vlogging camera. Now, let’s see which are the best cameras for Youtube Vlogging.
Best Video Camera For Vlogging
Here are my top 6 best cameras for YouTube vlogging which you should consider while buying the camera. I have mentioned all price range cameras which you can buy if you are budget conscious.
1. Canon Eos 70D Digital Slr (Best High End/high-quality)
It is the best high-end and the highest quality vlogging camera. Now, if you’re looking for top-of-the-line quality in the camera, I would look towards the Canon EOS 70D.
This camera is the DSLR meaning it will be heavier and less convenient to hold in comparison to the point & shoots action cameras mentioned below.
However many vloggers look for the highest quality footage and some of the biggest Vloggers on YouTube such as Casey Neistat, Jesse from prank vs. Frank and many others have looked towards DSLR cameras specifically towards a Canon 70D.
Build & Design
Canon was the first manufacturer to give DSLR a touch screen and the 70D has a 3-inch 1 million 40,000 dot LCD that can be used to make a setting adjustment and scroll through images and footage at the touch of the screen.
The touch screen is particularly useful for quickly setting the AF point in live view movie mode and it can also be used to set the autofocus point when shooting with the camera.
Just press the autofocus point selection button and then tap the desired point on the screen or use the navigation keys.
The viewfinder can also display an electronic level to indicate whether the camera is on an even keel (stable) or not. Although, you need to take care in high contrast conditions.
In many situations, the 63 zones evaluative metering system does a great job in delivering a perfectly exposed subject.
Performance
The camera’s images also have natural colors with pleasant saturation and contrast. But as ever, if it’s not your taste, you can tweak the camera settings to deliver whatever you want. The actual quality of the video is extremely impressive.
The 70D records HD footage at 1080p 30fps, 1080p 24 fps or 720p at 60 fps. quality in QuickTime format. You can choose from all I or IPV compression for any format. The footage is crisp and sharp.
There is some evidence of the rolling shutter effect when panning which causes the bottom of the frame to advance more quickly than its top.
There’s an internal mic most will be happy with for doing a casual recording. But if you’re doing serious video work, you want to hook up an external mic.
I would recommend pairing this with a Gorilla Focus Camera Tripod & a Rode video mic pro. By the way, you can check out other best mic for YouTube Commentary
There’s a standard 3.5 mm connector and levels can be adjusted via the menu. But there are no headphone jacks.
You won’t be able to monitor audio in the field. Despite having a mini HDMI port, the 70D doesn’t support uncompressed output over HDMI.
Important Specifications
- 20.2 MP APS-C CMOS sensor and DIGIC 5+
- Built-in flash with integrated Speedlite transmitter and hot shoe
- 1080 (30, 25, 24 fps) and 720 (60, 50 fps) HD video (H.264/MPEG-4/MOV)
- SD/SDHC/SDXC memory card
- Built-in stereo or external microphone terminal
- ISO 100-12800, expandable to 25600
Pros
- Great Image quality
- Low noise
- Large viewfinder with on-demand guides
- Touchscreen display
- 1080p recording
Cons
- Live View AF only satisfactory for slow moving objects
- No built-in GPS
- Slow shot-to-shot times in Live View
Bottom Line
The bottom line is, at a price tag at just under $1000 this isn’t exactly a bargain. But it is well worth the quality & good vlogging cameras to use.
For those who are interested, good news though, this camera does tend to have used versions for sale on Amazon at a decent discount and I’ve seen them go for as low as 600 bucks but that’ll really depend on the day.
For those interested in this camera, but not looking to pay 1000 bucks, I would just look for the used version.
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2. Canon Powershot G7 X (Best Overall Value For Money)
Without a doubt, this is the most popular and widely used vlogging camera on the market right now and for good reason.
Build & Design
The pocket-friendly G7 X measures just 2.36 x 1.57 x 4.06 inches & weighs 10.7 ounces. The lens is a 24-100 mm 35 mm equivalent zoom, with the variable F 1.8 to 2.8 aperture.
The top plate has a pop-up flash, the on/off button, the zoom rocker, shutter release, a standard mode dial, and an exposure compensation adjustment dial.
The two dials are stacked with a mode dial on top, but both can be adjusted comfortably. There’s also control ring around the lens.
It has detent so it clicks as you turn it. By default, its function changes depending on your shooting mode.
Performance
The display itself is sensitive to touch so you can tap an area of the frame to choose a focus point. There’s also control surface at the right side of the LCD which allows you to expand the function of the front control ring on the fly.
The rear display itself is 3 inches in size with the 1040k dot resolution. It’s very sharp and bright.
The G7 X starts and captures an in-focus image in about 1.8 seconds, There are two main focus modes, Face AiAF and One point.
The former automatically chooses the focus point or points, with the priority on focusing on faces.
If you want to control the focus point yourself then, one point mode allows you to do that. The video is recorded at up to 1080p at 60 fps quality and mp4 format. The footage is crisp, put accurate colors and sharp details.
Exposure compensation is available via a touch can control when rolling a footage. But other manual controls are not available. You can opt the focus manually, but you’ll have to set it up before you start recording the clip.
There’s no way to change focus during recording. If you want the G7 X to focus while recording, you need to enable autofocus.
But be aware that the sound of the lens refocusing can be heard on the soundtrack. The lens is also audible when moving in and out and there’s no way to connect an external microphone to get around this.
Specifications
- 20.2 MP High-Sensitivity CMOS Sensor combined with Canon’s powerful DIGIC 6 Image Processor
- f/1.8(W)-f/2.8(T), 4.2x Optical Zoom (24mm-100mm), 9-blade iris diaphragm and IS equipped lens
- Selfie-ready multi-angle capacitive 3.0″ touch panel LCD
- Capture stunning 1080p/60p Full HD video with up to 60 fps
- Built-in Wi-Fi and NFC
Pros
- Able to autofocus in very low light
- Very good image quality
- Compact body & size
- Built-in Wi-Fi wireless networking
Cons
- No EVF or support for an external one
- Average battery life
- Built-in flash is weak
- No hot shoe
Bottom Line
Overall when you want a camera that’s convenient, capable of filming in selfie mode, has touch screen focus and has high quality even in low lighting situations.
It’s no surprise, this is the most loved vlogging camera.
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3. Gopro Hero 5
You can almost think of the Hero 5 black as GoPro’s greatest hits compilation. This is one of the best cameras for daily vlogging.
It has some best features from its previous versions & adds a smattering of new functions too.
However, if you don’t wanna spend too much on GoPro, there are many alternative action cameras that are a lot cheaper than this.
Build & Design
It retains its familiar rectangular shape but the Hero 5 black is now coated with the grippy rubberized material. It’s far more rounded at the corners too.
The dimensions of the camera have changed which can mean, it might not play well with the select few older accessories and mounts.
So that’s something to keep in mind for previous GoPro users. As a bonus, the Hero 5 black weighs at about 30 grams less than hero 4 black which makes it slightly less noticeable if you have to have it attached to a helmet or on your body.
On the side of the camera, you’ll find a button for power and a button for jumping between shooting modes. There’s a shutter button on the top too.
The small LCD panel remains on the front and if you do want to change settings while viewing the camera from the front you can dive into the familiar menu by holding down both buttons together.
The touchscreen lets you change the shooting mode from video to capturing stills and it change the settings for each mode such as the resolution or frame rate.
Performance
The hero 5 black sensor has the same capabilities as that is a hero 4 black, that means it tops out at 4k resolution at 30 fps jumping down to 1080p and you can go all the way up to 120 fps or down to 720p at 240 FPS for super slow-motion video.
The sound quality on the hero 5 supersedes that of the hero4 black in its case. The microphones are able to take up far more sound and do a great job of capturing usable audio.
Specifications
- Stunning 4K video and 12MP photos in Single, Burst and Time Lapse modes.
- Durable by design, HERO5 Black is waterproof to 33ft (10m) without a housing
- Additional GoPro HERO5 Black Features + Benefits below on item page.
- Preview and playback your shots, change settings and trim your footage, all on your GoPro.
Pros
- Waterproof without a case (up to 10m)
- Great microphones
- Great design
- Superb image quality
- Effective electronic image stabilization
Cons
- Poor touchscreen responsiveness
- No EIS in 4K
- Old batteries incompatible
Bottom Line
On the whole, it has a lot more to add immersion to your video. Overall this camera makes the list because of its versatility and its price.
It’s very reasonably priced for 4k camera coming in at under $400. You can also check out best GoPro alternatives
If you intend on getting some very unique vlog shots at the beach and the water, playing sports or more, then it could make the perfect option.
Although it’s not quite good as a standalone in-home camera with regards to quality, it is a great pick for those looking to go on some adventures and start a travel vlog.
4. Canon Powershot Elph 300 HS
Build & Design
This one is considered as the worlds thinnest digital camera. It is packed with 12.1 MP CMOS and DIGIC 4 Image Processor which enhances low-light shooting without the need of flash & also gives faster speed.
It also has 5x Optical Zoom & gifted with a 24mm ultra Wide-Angle lens.
The build quality is very small and sleek with a metallic body. The camera feels solid & robust despite its small size. If you have large fingers, then a good news for you. It has large buttons so you don’t have problems while operating it.
Performance
If we talk about performance, it delivers quite good performance but also has some flaws. As I talked earlier, the startup time is quite good which is essential when you want to record quickly something that suddenly becomes available.
It is reliable in managing autofocus even in low light. Snap-to-snap time is somewhat ok which is around 3 secs. As mentioned before, it records in 1080p so the video quality is awesome.
However, the recording will automatically be stopped if the file size is full or the recording time reaches around 10 mins in HD mode & 1 hour in normal mode.
How can we forget Image stabilization? It is embedded with optical stabilization. It records video in a high quality that is 1920 x 1080 resolution (full HD) at 24 frames per second with stereo sound.
Even though it doesn’t have a microphone input, but it still does an amazing job in recording audio which I think is good for vlogging. Also, Super Slow Motion Movie mode allows you to record at up to 240 fps.
Specifications
- 24mm ultra Wide-Angle lens
- 5x Optical Zoom
- 12.1 MP CMOS
- DIGIC 4 Image Processor
- Full 1080p HD Video
- High-speed shooting with a point-and-shoot camera
- Super Slow Motion Movie Mode
Pros
- Startup time is good.
- Awesome Functional design
- High-Quality Video
- Low-light shooting is good.
- Face Detection Focusing
- Stereo audio quality
Cons
- Occasional overexposure
- Location of flash is inconveniently placed
- Port covers are poorly attached.
- Low battery life
- No external memory included
Bottom Line
The Canon Powershot ELPH 300 HS is a very good camera according to its price range. The building structure is solid & it packs up with solid features. Although, it has some flaws. But which camera doesn’t have flaws?
The quality of the lens is quite good which generates very little distortion & gives darn good images & videos. Though overexposure may sometimes be a little problem.
The camera is pack with some interesting features such as Movie Digest mode. To be honest, there is more to appreciate rather than complaining.
5. Canon Powershot S120 (Mid-range Camera pick)
Build & Design
The s120 is truly pocketable, measuring just 1.14 x 3.94 x 2.32 inches and weighing in at 7.7 ounces. The lens features a 5x zoom ratio which sounds low compared to super zoom models with smaller image sensors but it’s fairly standard for cameras in this class.
It has 24 to 120 mm focal length & f/5.7 minimum aperture. It offers a fairly wide angle and a medium telephoto range. There are just a few controls on the S120 body but adjusting the shooting settings is pretty straightforward.
Performance
The S120 also used to the same Wi-Fi implementation that Canon put them in its other point to cameras. The S120 can start and capture a photo in about 1.5 seconds.
At the midpoint of a zoom which is a 61 mm equivalent, the maximum aperture narrows to f/4.
It manages 2317 lines here with sharp edges that approach 2000 lines. Distortion is still noticeable at about 2%. At the 120 mm equivalent, maximum aperture dips to f 5.7. Video is recorded in mp4 format at 1080p at 60fps.
The footage is sharp with excellent colors in detail and the camera is quick to adjust to changes in focus. Audio quality is clear.
There is some evidence of the rolling shutter effect which causes the bottom of the frame to advance more quickly than its top and performing quick pans, but it’s only slight there are standard.
There are standard mini USB and mini HDMI ports and Canon includes an external battery charger in the Box. SD SDHC and SDXC memory cards are supported. The Canon Powershot S120 is an impressive pocket shooter.
Specifications
- Built-in Wi-Fi technology
- Upload virtually anywhere on your iOS or Android device with free download of the Canon Camera Window app
- Capture beautiful 1080p full HD video in stereo sound and play back videos on an HDTV via the HDMI output
- 12.1 megapixel high-sensitivity 1/1.7-inch CMOS sensor combined with the Canon DIGIC 6 image processor for exceptional low-light performance with an ISO range of 80-12800
- Bright f/1.8 lens with 5x optical zoom and 24mm wide angle view
Pros
- Built-in flash
- Compact size
- Light in weight
- Record clips in high speed
Cons
- Shorter battery life
- Lacks an external mic jack
- Fixed screen which is less flexible
Bottom Line
Canon Powershot S120 brings a few much-needed upgrades to the S series with notably faster performance and improved video mode.
The major knock against this camera is the fact that there is no selfie mode. This could be a major issue for some, especially vloggers.
Previous versions also didn’t feature this ability, but with a price like this, you’d expect this to be a feature.
6. Canon Powershot SX 710 HS (Best Cheap Vlogging Camera)
Build & Design
It is one of the best cheap vlogging cameras & it feels quite solid in the hand thanks to a solid build and a comfortable front hand grip.
It measures 2.6 x 4.4 x 1.4 inches and weighs 9.5 ounces which are fairly typical for a camera of this type.
It’s 30x optical zoom covers a 25 to 750-millimeter full-time equivalent field of view with an F 3.2 to 6.9 aperture. Controls are also typical for a camera of this type.
The top plate house is just the power button, movie record button, shutter release, and zoom rockers.
The top plate house is just the power button, movie record button, shutter release, and zoom rockers. The 3 inch rear display is sharp and has 922 K dots display resolution.
It’s bright enough for outdoor use and offers a wide viewing angle high-resolution. LCD is expected to the camera that cost this much.
Performance
The SX-710 HS starts and shoots in about 1.5 seconds which is fairly quick for a cam with such a long zoom lens. At the widest angle, it locks focus at about 1.05 seconds.
It flows to about 0.9 seconds from zooms all the way in but that feels quick for a super sim being able to pull up the camera quickly.
It captures a high-quality shot in a hurry is a key feature for vloggers so this is great news. The SX 710 HS records video in an mp4 format. Add up to 1080p and 60fps quality.
You’ll have to turn the mode dial to movie mode to record at 60fps. If you simply want to record a clip in another mode, the camera is limited to 30fps a 1080p 720p or 480p.
The footage looks good, it’s full detail, the motion is smooth and the camera is quick to adjust focus as the scene changes.
The optical image stabilization does a good job at the steady handheld video even if the lens is zoomed to a telephoto focal length. Canon compact cameras are always great & are one of the best cheap video blog cameras.
Specifications
- 30x Optical Zoom (25–750mm)
- 20.3 Megapixel High-Sensitivity CMOS sensor combined with the DIGIC 6 Image Processor
- Built-in Wi-Fi allows wireless transferring of images and video to compatible mobile devices
- Large 3.0-inch LCD with a screen resolution of 922,000 dots allows easy viewing even from a wide angle
- Capture stunning 1080p Full HD video (60p/30p/24p options)
Pros
- 20.3 Megapixels
- Built-in Wifi with NFC
- Smartphone remote control
- 1080 60p video
Cons
- Screen is not touch sensitive
- No RAW, panorama or slow motion video
- No viewfinder
- Inconsistent battery indicator
Bottom Line
Canon compact cameras are always popular. The Powershot SX 710 HS is one solidly built reasonably priced and rife with features.
For those under hard budget constraints looking for a convenient camera to start the journey of vlogging, this would be a good place to start with.
But based on video quality, convenience, and practicality, this is still the best vlogging camera for its price range.
Bonus Tip For Smartphone Vloggers
I am talking about Popsocket. It is a unique phone grip/stand, unlike anything we’ve really seen before. It is attached to the back of your smartphone.
What it does is, it acts as a media stand. So for example, it can be used as a stand for video recording.
It can be pulled out to act as a grip while recording videos & vlogs for better stability. It is portable and can be easily be shrunk to fit in your pocket.
So, if you are not yet planning to invest in cameras, then this is a great option for you.
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Conclusion – Best Cameras For Vlogging
Wrapping it up, the camera listed here are some of the best cameras for YouTube vlogging to invest upon for your vlogging journey. You can consider all the price range cameras to see which fulfills your expectations.
I would like to know what you think about these choices. So, feel free to comment below. Also, do share it with your friends & families who are too confused about buying a camera.
>>Read Next: Tips to Search Engine optimize videos for YouTube
Hey Mahesh,
Thank you for the detailed suggestions, I use my Samsung s8 for my vlogs but have been looking for a dedicated camera for it. I do interview style vlogging. So your suggestions really helped me.