The 5 Best Video Cameras for Vlogging

Vlogging has never been so popular, nor has the production quality been so high. And, with so many choices on the market, it can be hard to decide what’s right for you.

The key features to look out for are:

Video quality – anything below 720p is basically unwatchable for most YouTube viewers, with 1080p being ideal. You could even future-proof by stretching to 4K.

Image stabilisation – lots of vlogging is handheld and involves filming as you move, so image stabilisation will help you avoid camera shake.

Autofocus – a good autofocus function not only helps when you’re moving around a lot, but it also speeds up filming and makes vlogging more intuitive.

Low-light performance – as vlogging is a DIY production, you won’t always have optimal lighting conditions. Therefore, it’s important to buy a camera that performs well in low light.

Flip screen – seeing as most vloggers are typically presenters and directors, it helps to see yourself in the frame as you shoot.

Portability – vlogging is often a spontaneous and active form of filmmaking, so you’ll need to take your camera with you nearly everywhere you go.

Microphone socket – once you have your camera, you’re more than likely going to want to upgrade to a mic for better audio, too.

WiFi functionality – sending your videos directly from your camera to your computer or phone makes the whole process more fluid, so built-in WiFi is really handy.

Now that we’ve given you the lowdown on a vlogging camera’s essential features, let’s look at the best models around. Whether you’re new to vlogging or looking to upgrade your kit, here are the 5 best cameras for vlogging.

 

Table of contents

1. DJI OM 4 + Smartphone
2. Canon EOS M50
3. Sony ZV-1
4. Panasonic Lumix DC-G100
5. Fujifilm X-A7

 

1. DJI OM 4 + Smartphone

Price: £139 for the DJI OM 4 (from Currys) – we’re guessing that you already own a smartphone.

This might seem like an obvious choice, but smartphone cameras are made to such a high spec these days that they’re impossible to ignore as a viable vlogging option.

Smartphones shoot in 1080p or better, they’re compact, and you likely already own one. These days, they even come with several lenses built-in, from standard to wide-angle and telephoto. That’s a remarkable range of shooting options to get you started.

That said, camera shake is one of the main drawbacks of using a smartphone, which is where the DJJ OM 4 3-axis gimbal comes in.

This clever piece of kit elevates your production quality tenfold and ensures every one of your shots is silky smooth, no matter how much your hand is moving. It’s packed full of unique, unexpected features, each of which makes shooting so much easier and creative. The magnetic phone clamp is a godsend, as is its orientation adjustment feature and wealth of automated shooting options.

With your smartphone and a DJI OM 4, you have a formidable setup to rival many dedicated vlogging cameras. Better yet, even if you invest in a dedicated vlogging camera eventually, the OM 4’s features are so unique, you’ll still never leave it behind.

 

2. Canon EOS M50

Price: £649.99 (from Wex Photo Video) or £729.99 for the vlogger kit (from Argos)

The Canon M50 look is the look of YouTube vlogs. It’s one of the most used vlogging cameras on YouTube for multiple reasons.

Firstly, it’s a mirrorless camera, which makes it compact and lightweight. As such, it’s ideal for holding at arm’s length while shooting or packing away in your bag to carry around all day. It also features a 3” side-articulating LCD screen. This will come in handy if you add a microphone to the camera, as they won’t be in each other’s way. The screen also flips to face you so you can see what you’re recording even when you’re the subject.

The M50 ticks all the boxes when it comes to vlogging requirements. It can shoot in 1080p or 4K and has impeccable autofocus and face-tracking features. These functions lend themselves to the on-the-fly nature of vlogging and make vlogging as simple as pointing and shooting.

As it’s a mirrorless camera, you’ll have an almost endless range of lenses to choose from and expand your vlogging kit with, so buying the M50 is only the beginning. Overall, it’s a very accessible and polished product designed with the vlogging market in mind.

 

3. Sony ZV-1

Price: £699 (from Amazon)

The Sony ZV-1 is the 2020-2021 winner of the Expert Imaging and Sound Association Best Product award for vlogging cameras – and with good reason. As it’s designed for vloggers, the ZV-1 has all the essential attributes of a vlogging camera. These include a multi-directional screen, portability, 4K resolution, image stabilisation, and more. This camera meets every one of the criteria outlined at the beginning of this article.

It even goes one step beyond our above checklist, as it comes with its own in-built, vlog-ready high-quality microphone, complete with a windshield. A feature like this is usually an additional purchase, but in the ZV-1, Sony has given you everything you need from the off.

Our favourite feature of the ZV-1 is its Product Highlight mode, which quickly adjusts the autofocus to transition from the presenter’s face to an object they’re holding close to the camera. The focus then shifts back to the presenter’s face when the object is removed. This is an invaluable feature given the range of product reviews, makeup tutorials, and tech videos published by vloggers.

It’s this acute attention to detail and Sony’s deep understanding of the demands of YouTube content creators that make the ZV-1 one of the best vlogging cameras on the market.

 

4. Panasonic Lumix DC-G100

Price: £679.99 (from Very)

Like many cameras on this list, the Panasonic Lumix DC-G100 is a purpose-built vlogging camera. It’s also the world’s smallest camera with an articulating touchscreen, so you can be sure it won’t be a pain to carry around or shoot with. Don’t be fooled into thinking this means it skimps on features, though – it’s a solid contender in the vlogging camera market.

It features 4K recording at 30FPS, with 1080p at 60FPS, 5-axis stabilisation, and a smooth smartphone file transfer process. It also features a Video Selfie Mode, which ensures your face and background are always in focus. We all know the frustration of watching a YouTube video that constantly adjusts its focus. Well, this solves that issue.

Where this camera trumps its rivals, however, is its audio system. The G100 has three internal microphones using OZO Audio technology developed by Nokia. This means audio can be recorded from multiple directions at once for an immersive surround-sound feel, or prioritised to pick up audio in front or behind the camera. This is clearly of enormous benefit to vloggers.

Better yet, the OZO Audio technology can link with the G100’s face recognition feature to track your voice wherever it’s coming from. The camera then automatically adjusts the microphones and recording parameters to give you the best audio. In many cases, this negates the need for a dedicated microphone.

 

5. Fujifilm X-A7

Price: £499 (from Amazon), or £549 with the vlogger kit (from Amazon)

If you’re currently using your smartphone for vlogging, the Fujifilm X-A7 is a logical step up. The 24.2-megapixel APS-C sensor is over 14 times larger than a standard smartphone sensor, meaning you’ll get much better performance in low light and improved performance in good light.

The X-A7 doesn’t quite leave the smartphone in the dust though. The newly designed smart menu makes navigating options familiar and easier than ever for Fujifilm cameras. Furthermore, the X-A7 comes with in-built filters and aspect ratio pre-sets for streamlined uploading to social media platforms. In a nutshell, the X-A7 is designed to do what a smartphone does already, but better.

The 3.5” articulating LCD screen is reminiscent of a smartphone too, and it’s actually larger than you’d typically find in a vlogging camera. You’ll be thankful for it when filming yourself from a bit further than arm’s reach. Speaking of which, the X-A7 films in cinema quality 4K resolution, which is actually shot at 6K and sampled down to get the best quality possible.

Shooting in 4K doesn’t crop the video either, which is unique for the vlogging camera market. This means that, unlike some other vlogging cameras, the X-A7 allows you to shoot in selfie mode without appearing too tight in the frame.

The X-A7 addresses many shortcomings in vlogging cameras and smartphones and presents a solid option for the novice vlogger making a transition to intermediate.

 

Specialist photography insurance from Ripe Photography

If you’re a vlogger, or aspiring to be one, you’ll no doubt already take your camera everywhere you go. For this reason, you need to make sure it’s protected.

At Ripe Photography, we offer specialist photography insurance. That means we’ll cover your camera and accessories against theft and accidental damage, whether you’re at home or out and about. We even include laptops and mobile phones, and you can tailor everything to your exact needs.

Find out more about our camera insurance by clicking the link above, or get an instant online quote and see what we can do for you.