Best Cameras for Vlogging (for Beginner to Advanced Vloggers)

What to look for in a vlogging camera

Compact
Quick autofocus that detects the face
Shoots well in low-lighting conditions
Flip-screen
shoots at least 1080p (4k not required but nice to have)
good audio

First things first- do you NEED a vlogging camera?

It depends on what you’re shooting and what your current smartphone is. With a lot of smartphones these days, you don’t even need another camera. Especially if what you plan is to shoot is sitting down & talking to the camera or you’re shooting follow-me-around vlogs.

So if you think you can get away without having to buy a new camera, go for it. One of my golden rules when blogging is that I’ll use what I have right now and bootstrap my way to a better camera. But if your gut is telling you that you need one, then here are the best cameras for vlogging.

*I may collect a share of sales from links on this page. I’m very picky about the products & resources I promote. And I would only recommend the ones that are highly-rated or ones that I have had the best experience with. Read my Affiliate Disclaimer here.

Watch my video or scroll down to read

Best Cameras for Vlogging (from Beginner to Advanced Vloggers)

For the beginner on a budget: Canon Powershot SX740

Pros

Shoots 4k
Has image stabilization
Although a simple point-and-shoot camera, it has both auto & manual exposure controls
Long battery life
Great photo quality

Cons

Doesn’t shoot great in low-light
No viewfinder
Quality isn’t great when zoomed all the way
No input for an external microphone

Lens Specifications

24-960mm f/3.3-6.9

But if you already have a great camera on your smartphone to begin with, I would use that instead. Not this one. But if the camera on your phone isn’t great, then get this one.

Because it’s cheaper, it doesn’t perform that well in low light. So I would avoid shooting outside at night or in dimly lit rooms and shoot during the day or right by a window.

This camera will meet most vloggers’ needs, especially for beginners. It’s compact, easy to travel with, shoots great photo & video (as long as it’s not in low light), and overall, good value for your money.

But if you already have a smartphone with a great camera, I would stick with that. I wouldn’t get this camera anymore.

Get it on Amazon for $399 here.

For the beginner with no budget – Canon G7X Mark III

Lens Specifications

24-100mm f/1.8-2.8

Pros

Shoots 4k video at 30 fps
Has manual exposure controls
Shoots RAW photos
Shoots well in low-light
Great face-detection for autofocus
great image stabilization
Has an external microphone input (but no hot-shoe which will require a rig)

Cons

No viewfinder
4k video is not available for semi-automatic & manual mode
Sometimes overexposes your shots on auto mode

For years, this camera has always been the go-to vlogging camera for good reason. It’s easy to use, compact, and has great video features. Canon always updates this camera with a new version so this version is the latest.

It’s overall, a great vlogging camera. It’s easy to use & shoots high-quality video & photo. If that’s all you’re asking for and you don’t want any more bells & whistles, then this is your camera.

Get it on Amazon for $749 here

For the vlogger who’s not quite a beginner but also not quite advanced – the powerful and pocketable Sony ZV-1

This camera is also for the advanced vlogger who’s tired of carrying their equipment and just wants to keep things simple again.

Pros

Shoots 4k video
Shoots RAW photo
Has one of the best autofocus technology (quick & fast)
High-quality microphone
Has an external microphone & a hot-shoe input
Great ergonimics if you’re going to hold it on your hand while vlogging
Sony/Zeiss lens shoot great quality and are sharp

Cons

Video stabilization is alright
Plastic design not as durable
No viewfinder
Battery life isn’t great (be sure to bring have extra batteries with you)

Lens Specifications

24-70mm f/1.8-2.8

Another camera that’s also popular in the YouTube community is the Sony ZV-1. This camera is like a spin-off of Sony’s RX camera series which is what I suggest in my previous camera videos here. But this time, they made this camera specifically for vloggers who want to upgrade from their smartphones & beginner point-and-shoot cameras, but still want to keep it compact without additional accessories.

But, what I do like about this camera is that you have the option to attach an external microphone which is what was missing in the RX series. A lot of people were actually creating their own rigs to add an external microphone to it. And now Sony has fixed that by adding an external microphone input AND a hotshoe input on the top of the camera (that’s where to attach the microphone).

And if you’re wondering about which microphone to attach to any of the cameras mentioned on this post that have an external mic input, it’s the Rode Video Micro Compact On-Camera Microphone. You’ve probably seen a lot of YouTubers use this. I use it too, I’m actually using it right now in this video. So you can listen for that clarity and see if you like it.

Get the Rode VideoMicro Microphone on Amazon for $59 here.

Get the Sony ZV-1 on Amazon for $748 here.

For the minimalist who wants to keep things as simple as possible – iPhone Pro 12, Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Plus, Huawei P40 Pro

Pros on using a smartphone as your camera

Pocketable & already always with you
Very easy to use
As compact as it gets as you don’t need an additional camera
Plenty of vlogging accessories available for phones
You don’t have to learn how to use it

Cons

Can stifle your creativity if you’re looking for a camera with manual settings

If you think you can’t shoot high-quality vlogs with your camera, you need to see this video. And at the end of the day, it’s not about the camera you’re using, it’s about how you’re using it. So don’t think you can’t shoot great video with a smartphone.

If you’re wondering what are great smartphone cameras, it’s the iPhone 12 Pro, Samsung Galaxy Note 20, and the Huawei P40 Pro. These phones are always competing against each other in terms of cameras. I’m not going to do a phone comparison in this video. Plus, people have a preference towards Apple & Android but here’s a great review that compares the camera quality of all 3 smartphones.

More info on iPhone 12 Pro here.

More info on the Samsung S20 5G here.

More info on the Huawei P40 here.

For the travel adventurist – GoPro Hero9 Black

Pros

Shoots 5k video
Shoots slo-mo video up to 240fps
Full-color front display (great for selfie mode)
Great battery life
Has plenty of accessories to accommodate a travel & adventure lifestyle
Has HyperSmooth 3.0 – video footage will be smooth no matter how much you move
Great value

Cons

You’re stuck at a wide-angle
Bigger & heavier than the previous GoPro cameras (but still smaller than other cameras in this post)
Not great at low-light situations
Touchscreen rear display is alright
4k video hasn’t had much improvement since the last GoPro

This camera is very different than all the cameras in this video. It’s really catered to a specific vlogger. So if you’re a backpacker, an adventure junkie or both, this camera is for you.

I don’t know what else to say, GoPro cameras are a staple in my vlogger toolkit. I don’t always use it all the time because I’m not always in rugged conditions. But when I need it, it performs very well and it’s a very reliable camera. GoPro please sponsor me lol

Get it on Amazon for $449 here.

For the advanced vlogger who wants full creative control – Panasonic Lumix GH5

Pros

Shoots 4k
Has an external mic input + hot-shoe input
Colors look much richer but still neutral (great for color grading)
Great battery life
Great ergonomics
Weather-sealed body
Has a viewfinder

Cons

Slow autofocus (compared to the Sony ZV-1)
Not pocketable if you’re looking for something compact & travel-friendly

This is for the ones who don’t mind carrying a slightly larger camera and a lens or two. So I mentioned this exact camera in my previous camera post last year and it’s still here on this list.

So the quality on this camera is amazing. This is what filmmakers use to shoot short films, it’s what the crew used when I used to be a TV host. And the previous version, the GH4, is what I’ve been using in all my YouTube videos, even to my very first one.

So I’m a photographer by heart so it’s important to me that I have full creative control when it comes to video. But I also didn’t want a heavy SLR to film with. Enter: this camera, because it’s mirrorless. So it’s a lot less heavy than your typical SLR.

Get it on Amazon for $1297 here.