In the last decade, vlogging has become more and more popular. These days, you can record your whole life on your cell phone or camera and throw your videos up on websites like YouTube for the world to see. What is vlogging you might be asking? Vlogging or video-blogging is the practice of filming yourself and making videos on a consistent basis that you then share with the world. It wasn’t that long ago that to film your own videos you’d have to spend hundreds of dollars just to get a half-decent camera. Back in the ’90s, it was expensive to make videos at home and even if you could, there was no way of editing them or sharing them unless you worked on TV or for a big company.
Why Would You Want To Vlog on YouTube?
Smartphones and editing apps have made the cost of entry into the video production world open to everyone and they’ve also made it very affordable. To have a successful vlog that attracts viewers, you need to upload your videos to the world’s number one video sharing site: YouTube. However, why would you want to make a vlog and post your videos on YouTube?
There are many benefits to uploading your vlogs on YouTube. First of all, it’s where everyone goes to watch videos, so you’re going to attract more viewers than if you uploaded your vlogs to other sites and it’s very easy to do. With the click of a button, you can upload your videos from your camera onto YouTube for the world to see.
Another reason why you might want to upload your vlogs on YouTube is to make money. Yes, that’s right, the more views you get, the more money you can make through advertisements running on your videos before they start. If you make some really interesting vlogs around certain subjects like tech, you can attract some big-spending advertisers and eventually make uploading your vlogs a full-time job!
To build a successful vlog, you need to start with an amazing camera that shoots in full HD so we’ve rounded up the 5 best cameras for vlogging on YouTube to get you on your way.
Sony ZV-1 ($698)
Type: Compact | Sensor size: 1-inch | Resolution: 20.1MP | Effective focal length: 24-70mm | Viewfinder: None | Monitor: 3.0-inch vari-angle touchscreen, 0.921-million dots | Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | Max movie resolution: 4K 30p | Size, weight: 105.5 x 60.0 x 43.5 mm, 294g
Sony has been making the best cameras for decades so it’s going to be no surprise that the Sony ZV-1 is top of our list. This vlogging camera is compact so it won’t take up loads of space and features the best real-time tracking and Eye AF technology. It also features a built-in ND filter for color grading. This nifty vlogging camera is great for popping in your pocket and getting on your way.
Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III ($899)
Type: Mirrorless | Sensor size: Four Thirds: | Resolution: 20.4MP | Effective focal length: N/A | Viewfinder: EVF, 2.36 million dots | Monitor: 3.0-inch vari-angle touchscreen, 1.04 million dots | Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | Max movie resolution: 4K 30p | Size, weight: 125.3 x 85.2 x 49.7mm, 414g
The Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III is the all-round vlogging tool. Whilst it is on the more expensive side of this vlogging list, its powerful features make it perfect in our opinion. You’ll get the option to shoot a film in Cinema 4K at 34fps and a 237Mbps bit-rate whilst regular 4K footage at 30fps is equally impressive. Whilst you can connect to Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, there is no headphone jack which might put some users off if you want to hear back your audio. It has an older looking design but it comes with modern techs under the hood.
Canon EOS M50 ($649)
Type: Mirrorless | Sensor size: APS-C CMOS | Resolution: 24.1MP | Effective focal length: N/A | Viewfinder: EVF, 2.36 million dots | Monitor: 3.0-inch vari-angle touchscreen, 1.04 million dots | Connectivity: Wi-Fi, NFC and Bluetooth | Max movie resolution: 4K | Size, weight: 116 x 88 x 59mm, 390g
The Canon EOS M50 is a solid choice if you want to shoot vlogs in full HD. However, if you’re after a 4K camera then you might want to look at different models as this camera doesn’t come with the option of 4K. This isn’t too much of an issue if you’re used to making vlogs on your smartphone and want a bit of an upgrade with a better frame rate than your phone but you won’t get a much larger field of view than your phone compared to other vlogging cameras that shoot in 4K. Still, it’s an upgrade from a smartphone and won’t break the bank.
Fujifilm X-T4 ($1.699)
Sensor size: APS-C | Resolution: 26.1MP | Viewfinder: 3,690K dots | Monitor: 3.0-inch tilt-angle touchscreen, 1,620K dots | Autofocus: 425-point AF | Maximum continuous shooting rate: 15fps (mechanical shutter), 30fps (electronic) | Movies: 4K at 60p | User level: Intermediate
The Fujifilm X-T4 is more expensive than all others on this list of best vlogging cameras but it is an all-round vlogging machine. It features in-body image stabilization (IBIS), improved autofocus and a big battery. The camera features a microphone input socket but no headphone jack which may put some users off completely. Still, with its impressive image stabilization, it makes for a perfect vlogging camera of high quality. Not only that but with the ability to shoot film in Cinema 4K, you’re getting the best result every time you shoot a vlog.
DJI Osmo Pocket ($249)
Type: Compact | Sensor size: 1/2.3-inch | Resolution: 12MP | Effective focal length: na | Viewfinder: na | Monitor: 1.0-inch touchscreen | Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Lightning and USB-C | Max movie resolution: 4K | Size, weight: 121.9 x 28.6 x 36.9mm, 116g
This is a more quirky vlogging camera but we feel it deserves a place on the list of best vlogging cameras because it’s so unique. It features a three-axis gimbal which is ideal for vlogging on the whole. Because it’s so good at stabilizing images, it’s perfect for walking videos, something that most vloggers do. You can also use this device to perform pans and tilts, something other vlogging cameras can’t do! Another reason why we love this vlogging camera is because of its size. You don’t need to carry a bag with you because it fits in your pocket! You can shoot in 4K with this small device and it has great face-tracking available. Probably the best part about this vlogging camera is the price though.
