The 6 Best Vlogging Cameras to Start Your Own Video Blog
While spending time indoors during the pandemic, many of us pass time with new hobbies like baking bread, learning guitar, or starting a garden. Why not share your new hobby through another new hobby—vlogging. With the sheer dominance of social media in the world we now live in, a vlog—a portmanteau of video and blog—is one of the most popular and entertaining ways to share anything from your philosophical beliefs to everyday life. Whatever your topic, here are some of the best cameras available to get you started vlogging.
Check out quick reviews below of the top five vlogging cameras, then scroll deeper for more helpful buying info and full reviews of those models plus other high-ranking options.
Camera Features to Consider
While you can certainly use any run-of-the-mill camera or even your smartphone cam for vlogging, you may want to look for specific elements on a camera that make filming a vlog easier and create a better final product.
Since many vloggers simply hold their camera with their hand while on the move, your camera should be small and light enough to firmly grasp without fear of dropping it. If you plan to travel with your camera as well, it should be small enough to slip into a backpack or bag without adding a considerable amount of weight. While some shakiness can only be eliminated with the use of a tripod or gimbal, the camera you choose can also have a marked effect on the stability of your video. Reliable auto focus and image stabilization will do some of this work for you to provide clean, stable video—without you needing to be an expert videographer.
Some other features to consider include battery life, ruggedness, and compactness versus quality. If you plan to take the camera with you on long day trips, you’ll want a long lasting battery to eliminate the weight of extra batteries. Depending on where you plan on shooting or the activities you will be participating in, you may also wish to purchase a ruggedized camera such as the GoPro HERO7, which is waterproof, drop resistant, and has excellent stabilization features. Finally, consider carefully whether you prefer a compact camera or exceptional footage. Unfortunately, you often have to choose. While smaller, lighter cameras may be able to provide decent footage, they will ultimately not be on par with the resolution and image quality of a mirrorless camera or DSLR. If you are looking for a crisp, clean image, you may do well going slightly bigger.
Mirrorless vs. DSLR
While DSLRs used to be the be-all and end-all of quality footage, that is no longer the case. Since you can now purchase a basic DSLR for less than some mirrorless cameras, the differences can cause some confusion for beginners, but here are the key features of each to help you pick the camera that’s right for you.
DSLR: Standing for Digital Single Lens Reflex, DSLR cameras work by shooting light off the lens at a 45 degree angle, which then reflects into your eye, showing you the image you will then capture. This allows you to see the image more organically, without any digital processing. While DSLRs can be heavier and more expensive, they also tend to have tons of battery life, since its power isn’t wasted on constantly processing images.
Mirrorless: Obviously, this camera does not utilize a mirror. Instead, light goes through the lens and is processed by a sensor, showing you a digital recreation of the image you will then take. The image that is captured is a copy of the digital rendition that you can see. While these tend not to have the longest battery life, they make up for it in lightness and tend to have better autofocus than DSLRs. However, you may be better off going with a cheap DSLR rather than a cheap mirrorless, since they’re more likely to give you a better image quality for less. Nevertheless, high-end mirrorless cameras can compete with many DSLRs, and they will be much lighter and more portable.
How We Selected and Rated Them
We researched expert sources such as Wirecutter, TechRadar, and Digital Trends as well as 3,000 consumer reviews to select the top six vlogging cameras of the year. Our Consumer Score represents the percentage of customers who rated the product at least four out of five stars on retail and review sites like Amazon, Home Depot, and manufacturers’ websites.
—FOR BEGINNERS—
Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III
Total Expert Score: 85/100 | Consumer Score: 90% gave it 4 stars or more
An entry-level camera that you will want to hold onto.
Type: Mirrorless | Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | Max movie resolution: 4K 30p | Size: 125 x 85 x 50mm | Weight: 414g
Despite its vintage looks, this Olympus camera has some incredible video specs that make it a great option for vloggers and photographers alike. Since most vlogs are filmed with a handheld, you will also want to make sure that your camera has good stabilization to help eliminate some of the shaky motion that comes from walking or even the instability of your hand. While it does lack a headphone jack (which can be a deal breaker for some vloggers), it has a reliable external microphone and a vari-angle touchscreen that makes framing a cinch. Though it may be on the expensive side for a beginner camera, it is a solid choice if you want to avoid having to upgrade in the future.
—MOST COMPACT—
Sony ZV-1
Total Expert Score: 90/100 | Consumer Score: 80% gave it 4 stars or more
A portable and affordable option for on-the-go recording.
Type: Compact | Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | Max movie resolution: 4K 30p | Size: 105 x 60 x 43mm | Weight: 294g
For vloggers who don’t want to tote a big camera around with them, but want to be ready to capture footage, a compact device can be just what you need. Measuring just over four inches in length, it can easily be held and controlled by one hand. Plus, it has some great stabilization that makes up for a shaky one-hand grip. While it may not have image quality quite on par with the Olympus Mark III, it well exceeds other compact cameras. It also uses a microUSB as opposed to USBC which can mean its a bit slower to upload. But it costs less than $1,000 and it’s small enough to slip in your pocket, so the pros outweigh the few nagging cons.
—FOR TRAVELING—
Canon EOS M6 Mark II
Total Expert Score: 82/100 | Consumer Score: 89% gave it 4 stars or more
A small mirrorless camera packed with great features.
Type: Mirrorless | Connectivity: Wi-Fi, NFC, Bluetooth | Max movie resolution: 4K 30p | Size: 120 x 70 x 49mm Weight: 408g
You don’t want to sacrifice features for size. With the Mark II, you won’t have to. Small and portable, it is more than capable of capturing your adventures—all in HD. It allows for uncropped 4k recording, and the screen flips completely around, allowing you to frame perfectly and easily every time. While it is certainly one of the smaller vlogging cameras, it has the same high-resolution 32.5 megapixel sensor as the Panasonic Lumix 90D DSLR, which costs $200 more. The M6 Mark II also has a markedly faster processing unit than the previous version.
—GREAT VALUE—
Sony Alpha A6100
Total Expert Score: 81/100 | Consumer Score: 86% gave it 4 stars or more
Inexpensive with great autofocus, this mirrorless option is optimal for beginners.
Type: Mirrorless | Connectivity: Wi-Fi, NFC | Max movie resolution: 4K | Size: 120 x 67 x 59mm | Weight: 396g
If you are new to vlogging or just finding your way around a camera, the Alpha might be a good fit for you. For under $600, it has some solid features that will help you get the most out of your filming. One of the best features is the commendable continuous tracking autofocus which helps to keep your vlog clear and focused even with a lot of motion. It also features a flip-up, touch sensitive display to improve framing and focusing. Despite being a compact six-by-six inches, it has more features than its sibling, the A6400—which is larger and more expensive—including an external mic port and hot shoe.
—FOR ADVENTURERS—
GoPro HERO7
Expert Score: 92/100 | Consumer Score: 79% gave it 4 stars or more
This action camera can hang for all your adventures.
Type: Action | Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | Max movie resolution: 4K 60p | Size: 66 x 49 x 28mm | Weight: 126g
If you plan on vlogging your most extreme outdoor adventures, chances are you will need a camera that can hold its own. The GoPro Hero7 is affordable, durable, and captures darn good video for the price. Since GoPros are often used to film in high motion situations, they are equipped with some top-notch stabilization technology—this one is designed to give you gimbal-like quality without having to actually use a gimbal. Many cameras can be ruggedized with the addition of a case, but the GoPro is hard core on its own. It is drop proof and waterproof up to 33 feet. Hands full? You can also operate it through voice control, so it turns on and takes photos or starts recording without having to touch a button.
—BUDGET OPTION—
DJI Osmo Pocket
Consumer Score: 85% gave it 4 stars or more
Built-in gimbal and an impressive image.
Type: Compact | Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Lightning and USB-C | Max movie resolution: 4K | Size: 122 x 29 x 40mm | Weight: 116g
This certainly does not look like your typical camera, but it has some great features for a low price that make it a unique and practical option for vloggers on-the-go. The Osmo Pocket has a built-in gimbal, making it ideal for outdoorsy types or for videos that will have a considerable amount of motion. It is also ruggedized and weather proof, allowing it to hold up in wet and windy conditions. While it strictly takes video (no photos!), it records in 4k quality, which can be monitored on the small attached screen, or by pairing and attaching your phone. “Easily surprised me at how great and easy the Osmo Pocket (OP) is to use,” wrote an Amazon reviewer. “Hard to believe in a gimbal camera this size you can do time lapse, motion lapse, slo-mo, panorama, excellent images and 4K videos.”
You Might Also Like
